I built my dream kitchen into this house, and that will be very difficult to leave behind! It has a spacious layout, a gas stove and double range for preparing multiple dishes at once, a sink in front of a huge sunny window that plants love, and a ton of natural light from the sliding doors. No matter how many kitchen gadgets I collected, I always had enough space for every single one. It’s a modern eat-in entertainer’s kitchen, a rarity among homes in this neighbourhood. I didn’t get to see through my dream of having the kitchen open up into a large walk-out deck for outdoor summer dining, but I hope the new owners are able to create a truly beautiful space. As it stands, I love sitting by the sliding doors in the morning enjoying my coffee and watching the birds in the back garden. Also, I came to love having our living room downstairs as it feels more private and separate from the rest of the home’s activity.

I’ll miss that beautiful backyard with its legacy plants like peonies, currants, and rhubarb, as well as the very convenient location and the wonderful neighbours. I’m convinced this is the best street in the neighbourhood north of Lakeshore. There’s so much within an easy walking distance, and there’s even more a short transit ride or drive away. Unlike many streets nearby, Third Street is two-way. It’s one of the widest and most picturesque streets in the area. The private driveway with direct access (i.e., not via laneway) is a definite highlight.

As for nearby restaurants, I’ll really miss Olive Kebab. The couple who own it are the loveliest people, and the food is healthy, fast, affordable and fresh. The Sydney Grind is a popular Australian-style coffee shop down the street. There’s a new place called We the Tacos that’s about to open up, and I’m hoping we’ll get to try it before we leave. By the time the new owners move in, there will probably be some other new hot spot since they constantly pop up around here!

Being within a short walking distance of Second Street Junior Middle School was a huge benefit when my daughter was younger, and they’ve since added French Immersion to their programming. There are other fantastic schools nearby as well, including Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School (one of the top 10 high schools in Toronto), and Humber College.

This house and the neighbourhood have been wonderful for us, and we truly hope the new owners will enjoy it as much as we have!