A refuge in heart of urban neighbourhood
East side residence is airy, bright and provides multiple levels for entertaining
RIVERDALE Location: 280 Withrow Ave., Pape and Danforth Aves. Asking price: $1,699,900 Size: about 2,000 sq. ft., including a finished lower level Lot: 19-by-140 feet, no garage, lane drive, two parking spaces Taxes: $3,652 (2017) Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3
Custom-built with a seven-year warranty, this three-storey detached home is a rare find in the popular and established east side of downtown Toronto.
With a third-floor master bedroom retreat, a unique split-level main floor and a finished basement, this modern family residence has plenty of space for privacy while being set in a thriving urban neighbourhood.
“Although this home has never been lived in, we have called Riverdale home for the past 24 years,” homeowner Kim Machado says.
“When we found ourselves in the unique position of building a custom home, it was important to us that we blend the traditional look of a typical Riverdale home with more contemporary design elements. We also wanted the living space to feel airy, bright and provide multiple levels in which to entertain,” Machado says.
“For example, the open-concept living/dining room overlooks the kitchen. The kitchen extends right into the backyard patio . . . We also created a catwalk between the two main levels to flood the basement family room with light, which was especially important given the basement’s nine-foot ceiling height,” Machado adds.
The house is walking distance to all the shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés of Greektown, as well a grocery store and a mall with big box stores. It’s also walking distance to the subway and Withrow Park with its playgrounds, an outdoor ice rink and offleash dog area.
“This home is unique in that it is a new build, as most other premium homes in the neighbourhood are renovations. It was custom built by Bachly Construction. The exterior and interior of the home were designed by homeowners Kim and Joe Machado, with input from many of the subcontractors who worked on the project,” listing agent Ben Ferguson says.
“The overall intention, for all levels of the house, including the basement, was to bask the interior with natural light and views of the lush greenery, which the age-old neighbourhood offers,” Ferguson adds.
This home has a brick exterior, two bay windows and curved third floor balcony in front, with a manicured lawn, stepping-stones and shrubbery.
The foyer has a hardwood floor and pot lights, and opens to the staircase with a modern glass barrier/rail. There is a niche below the staircase, perfect for a credenza and art work.
Living and dining rooms are combined and open-concept. The dining room has a bay window, hardwood floor, and gas fireplace bordered by built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves. The living room has a hardwood floor and pot lights as well as a hanging light fixture, and a partial glass rail that overlooks the kitchen and the lower level.
Steps from the living area is the spacious kitchen with a centre island/ breakfast bar, pendant lights, quartz counters, subway tile backsplash, ceramic tile floor, and stainless steel appliances including a sixburner gas stove and a built-in microwave oven.
Other features include a barn-doorstyle pantry with pullout cabinetry, and a double glass door walkout to the backyard flanked by windows.
On the second floor are two bedrooms, both with hardwood floors, pot lights, closets. One bedroom has a double glass-door walkout to a private balcony, the other has a bay window. There is a second-floor laundry room and a four-piece bathroom.
On the third level is the master bedroom retreat with a hardwood floor, pot lights and wooden door opening to a front balcony. The four-piece master ensuite includes a glass-enclosed separate shower stall.
Featuring nine-foot ceilings, the lower level is partially open to the main floor and can be overlooked from the kitchen and living room. It has a family room with a laminate floor and pot lights, an open-concept den, storage space, a three-piece bathroom with an oversized shower stall, and a rough-in for a kitchenette or wet bar.
The fenced backyard has a large interlocking stone patio, a shed, a mature tree, stepping-stones and garden beds.
The home has a built-in security alarm system and central vacuuming, as well as a two-car parking pad.
To have a look at this property contact listing agent Ben Ferguson and Matt Casselman, Re/Max Hallmark Realty, Brokerage, 416-465-7850; mattandben.ca; Although we try to provide the most up-to-date information available, we cannot guarantee features as listed. Please contact the realtor for latest details. To make a submission to Home of the Week, email