Dear reader, 

Next time you’re in the mood for a snack-size architectural tour, head over to Dagmar Avenue in Leslieville, the coolest little street you’ve probably never heard of. Stroll west down the roughly 200-metre stretch and you’ll notice that it’s packed with Victorian townhouses, classic craftsman homes, modernist boxes and cottage bungalows, a buffet of Toronto’s greatest hits from the last 100 years. 

Then you’ll see it: Leslieville’s most whimsical house, a cedar-shingled detached with a cartoonish silhouette straight out of The Wizard of Oz. And as Curb Appeal’s top post this week, it gets full marks for environmentalism—recycled materials, superior insulation, passive heating and cooling, and an EV charger out back. Beautiful, practical and respectful of its neighbourhood, this place is a home-building role model for the next century.

Also in this week’s newsletter: $8.8 million for a York Region home with a 5,000-bottle wine cellar. Plus, a seven-figure renovation in North York that took 18 months to complete. Visit torontolife.com for all our real estate coverage. 

This fantastical 1,400-square-foot detached just north of Dundas and Jones is split into two homes: a three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit above ground plus a separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit in the basement. It comes with a doggy door for Toto, an old marble fireplace and a backyard EV charger. And it’s currently on the market for $6,000.

What $8.8-million home north of the 407 would be complete without 16 parking spots, a snow-melting driveway, an open fireplace, a saltwater pool, a cabana with a bar and palm trees all over? 

Here’s a $2.7-million 3,000-square-foot new build in Parkwoods-Donalda. It has six bathrooms, a Scandinavian kitchen and a granny suite. Take the tour.

In the latest issue: how two faux-Inuit sisters cashed in on a life of deception. Plus, the city’s best cheap eats, a suburban holy war between religion and real estate, a bittersweet memoir about ditching Toronto, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.