At this price, Leslieville listing with a spa-like bathroom-bedroom suite, may be a bargain. What do you think?

#Wagstaff Location: 1B Ivy Ave., Toronto
Price: $1,999,900
The sellers: With three young sons and busy full-time jobs, Asher Lenz and Leslie Saliwonchyk wanted a turnkey house they could move into without worrying about having to make improvements.
They found it in an impeccably styled, detached red-brick home on quiet Ivy Ave., close to their kids’ schools and friends, that struck a chord with them the moment they walked in. It was in Leslieville, a neighbourhood where both have lived for decades.
“We loved the light hardwood flooring and the general vibe of the home,” says Lenz. “This house really shines in design synchronicity — everything looks and feels tied together.” All stairways are done in white oak hardwood, with railings with black metal spindles, and the unique light fixtures throughout complement each other, providing a consistency in style.
The house’s location has “interesting topography,” according to Lenz. Ivy Ave. is on a hill, overlooking extensive foliage, and almost every window in the house provides a view of trees.
“It has amazing privacy for a downtown location,” Lenz adds. “We have our morning flat whites (espresso-based coffee with steamed milk and foam) on the front porch, or, if you want more peace, you can go to the backyard. Leslie loves the rooftop patio, dubbed ‘the tree house,’ and we have walkouts on two floors.”
Saliwonchyk’s favourite space is the third-floor master bedroom suite, with its skylights and luxurious bathroom. “With four guys in the house (three sons and her husband), I need a retreat. It’s where I do yoga, I have my home office there, and it’s in the treetops. It’s very relaxing.”
Her husband says: “It makes sense why she loves it. It feels like a spa.”
The two other bedrooms are on the second floor. Both are spacious with large windows, each with its own ensuite and walk-in or walk-through closets. “People are usually smitten by the second floor. It feels like a hotel. Our boys are pretty spoiled in their living situation.”
The open-concept main floor has a living room facing the street, a family room in the back rear and the kitchen and dining area in the centre, plus a powder room.
“I like to be able to cook and chat and entertain at the same time,” Saliwonchyk says of the sleek kitchen with stainless steel appliances and mix of white and wood cabinetry. The large island with seating is known as the boys’ “smoothie bar.”
The huge walkout basement is mainly Lenz’s domain, where he has his workout space and, for a time, his music studio. (He’s a composer for TV and films). It also has a bathroom, laundry area, second family room, full-sized windows and heated floors. Sliding glass doors offer direct access to the landscaped rear garden yard and the oversized parking pad, which can hold two cars.
The couple appreciates that their family can walk to Greenwood Park, with its pool, splash pad, off-leash dog area, outdoor skating rink and play space, and to Wagstaff Drive, a hidden gem of a street, boasting unique businesses such as Pilot Coffee Roasters, Soul Chocolate factory and café, and Left Field Brewery. There are excellent schools in the area.
The realtor says: “This home is located in a fantastic family-friendly area with parks, great schools, transit, and appeals to a buyer craving the urban amenities that the fantastic Leslieville neighbourhood has to offer,” says Ashley McInnis, sales representative with Royal LePage Estate Realty Brokerage. “It’s just steps to shops and great local restaurants.”
With an interest-rate cut anticipated in September, McInnis sees this as “a fantastic opportunity for a buyer to purchase their dream home for a great price.”
Highlights include:
“Ivy Street is a quiet and safe enclave where everyone knows each other,” says Lenz. “Everyone knows each other and it’s a nice community. The home would be ideal for an executive couple that works from home, or for a family.”