Charming Beaches Century Cottage

Toronto is where I was born and raised to parents who came to Toronto from Asia and Europe. My entire education, from elementary school right up to university was in Toronto. I can speak three languages and can understand a forth! I spent my youth and adulthood exploring Toronto, from west to east, north to south and so I feel like I have an intimate connection to it, as I have seen it grow before my eyes. For over one decade I worked on Bay street in banking and recently changed my career to follow my passion in real estate. My husband immigrated to Canada from France. We often travel to Europe to visit our families there. We like to keep active and enjoy many outdoor activities including camping, skiing, sailing, biking and jogging. I enjoy fitness training at a local gym. My favourite cuisines are international: Indian, Thai, Japanese, Filipino, Greek and Italian, with a soft spot for comfort foods! Anything creative will catch my attention. As I host, I am enthusiastic to share with my guests places to go, see and do in Toronto should they seek my advice!

Our house is located in a coveted and picturesque neighbourhood in Toronto known as "the Beaches." Growing up, I had escaped to the Beaches in the summers and winters to wander and discover. I knew from early on that it was a very special place that enchanted me in my youth and still does. The streets are lined with huge trees and houses that are unique and beautiful ranging from architectural styles such as Arts and Crafts, Edwardian, Tudor, Georgian Revivals and Queen Anne. Besides the lake and vibrant Queen street full of independent, unique shops there is a ravine with a lot of wildlife and paths. In my adulthood, we gratefully became Beachers when we bought our charming century home. Circa 1890, it has had very few owners over the last 100 years. Her structure is proud and humble, cladded in typical Beach style, a large porch that wraps the front of the house with columns holding up the covered roof. We poured our sweat into our home and spent the greater part of a year renovating the interior and exterior, yet her historic charm and mystery remain. Our backyard is an oasis in the city, with shade coming from the great Oak trees. We find it so relaxing and we have thrown many epic bbq's parties there. The consensus is that it's hard to believe you're actually in the City! Our favorite thing about living here, second to being waterfront, is location and walkability. If anything is needed a short 5 minute walk will solve it! I enjoy my mornings that start with a cup of java from my barista, followed by a walk to the Boardwalk or play time in Kew Park. We are surrounded by nature and it makes it such a relaxing place to be in and stay active. We enjoy the vibrance of Queen Street and it's independent shops and restaurants. The streetcar is at our doorstep and it takes us anywhere in the City. And our neighbours, proud of being Beachers too, make it a very friendly place! We hope you enjoy it too!

Unique to our house is the access to the Beach and the boardwalk, 5 minutes away. This is a location that many people seek to visit as it is the largest beach in Toronto, with white sands, chairs for lounging, a boardwalk for taking long walks and the Martin Goodman trail for runners or bikers (stretches over 40km east to west). Though there is the tranquility of the Beach so close, the neighbourhood also has a bustling main street called Queen Street East filled with everything you could look for: shops, restaurants, baristas, bakeries, banks, fitness studios, doctor's offices, grocers, to name but a few. Public transport is at your footsteps, as well as bike shares. This little niche in Toronto offers quiet and calm, while offering the conveniences of a big City. Downtown Toronto is a short 10 min drive away! We have the best of all worlds here! Spanning our house, our large, sunny front porch is a great place to read, have a cup of tea, visit with a friend. The backyard offers a large outdoor area equipped with a 6-8 person dining table and sectional couch that seats 6-8. We have a deck that is over 400 square feet large, which makes it ideal for entertaining and relaxing in with shoes off! The interior with 9 foot ceilings and a charming layout is a welcoming home. The millwork is all original, brining some historic charm. Relax in the brightly lit living room, 300 square feet large. The dining room is a formal room of its own off the kitchen, well equipped to make a meal for many. The house might not be large, but the layout of the late 1800's was extremely clever. It feels spacious, yet cozy, and it exudes a certain charm from it's age and Beaches architectural heritage.