1300 Yonge Street, Suite 100 Toronto, Ontario M4T 1X3 
Toronto Luxury Real Estate: 129 South Drive an Elegant South Rosedale Home
129 South Drive
Offered for Sale at $4,495,000
About the Home
129 South Drive is a hidden Edwardian gem in the heart of South Rosedale. The grandeur of this heritage home is apparent the moment you step inside and see its classic elegance, spaciousness, and the quality of the finishes. Grand and gracious principal rooms retain the old-world charm and blend with modern day living in the kitchen and main floor family rooms. The home was renovated by Walden Homes commencing in 2005, and further renovations and improvements continued over the years making this a fully turnkey opportunity in a coveted neighbourhood! The home has been impeccably maintained and is ready to be passed on to another family to enjoy for many years.
- 3,695 square feet above grade and a finished lower level of 1,570 square feet providing a total living space of 5,265 square feet (Real Floor Plans 2023)
Links to 129 South Drive floor plans:
Main Floor
Foyer and Hall
- Slate tiled front entrance vestibule with baseboard heating
- Mafi oiled white oak chevron floors from Austria
- Original staircase retained adding elegance to the foyer
- Stained glass window on stairs, circa 1903
- Linen closet on stair landing
Living Room
- This space is an elegant blend of old-world charm and transitional living
- Custom built fireplace with ornamental stone mantel and surround (currently decorative as the fireplace was capped, but could be restored if desired)
- Mafi oiled white oak chevron floors
- Antique chandelier restored by Turn of the Century lighting
- North and west windows provide wonderful natural sunlight to the space
- Painted wood panelling adds a lovely design detail
- Built-in bookshelves to showcase books and other collectibles
Dining Room
- This dining room is the perfect dinner party venue!
- The dining table can currently accommodate 12 people. The current owners have hosted 18
- Original (1903) plaster moulding
- Mafi oiled white oak oiled chevron floors
- Granite-topped bar cabinet also provides storage for linens, glassware, and entertaining serve ware
- East window provides natural light to the room
- A swinging door provides access to the kitchen and is original to the home, circa 1903
Kitchen
- The current owners are avid cooks and the kitchen was designed with the utmost function in mind
- Rosedale Kitchens custom cabinetry
- Black honed granite countertops
- A large undermount stainless steel sink has an instant hot water tap and garburator. The sink is nicely centred under a large west facing window
- Chef’s island provides generous food preparation space as well as breakfast seating and secondary sink for convenience
- Chef’s desk with upper glass cabinets, bulletin board and double pen drawers
- Chevron marble backsplash installed in 2023
- Oak hardwood floors with tung oil finish
- Four-shade under-cabinet halogens replaced in 2022
- Island light fixture installed in 2022
- Appliances include: Dacor warming drawer, Marvel beverage fridge, Wolf 36” dual fuel, six-burner gas stove with electric oven convection option, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator (2018), Miele dishwasher (2021)
Main Floor Family Room
- A wonderful spot to sit back and relax overlooking the south-facing English-inspired garden
- A wood burning fireplace with wood mantel and French marble surround and hearth
- Built-in bookcases and cabinets for storage
- French doors with matching screen doors with walk-out to the terrace and garden
- Oak hardwood with tung oil finish to match chevron floors
- South-facing windows for ample natural light
- Open to both dining room and kitchen
Main Floor Powder Room
- Pedestal sink
- Toilet
- Discreetly located off main floor foyer near the kitchen
Second Floor
Principal Bedroom
This elegant room has retained much of the home’s original character yet has modern updates.
- An elegant “Annex” fireplace mantel adds warmth to the decor. (Currently decorative though there is a gas line. The chimney was capped so work is required to properly vent the fireplace)
- Sash windows replaced in 2018 offer both north and east exposure
- Accommodates a king size bed
- Oak hardwood floors
- Walk-in closet with built-in storage
Principal Ensuite Washroom
- Bathroom was originally renovated in 2010 and was updated in 2022
- Statuario inspired tile throughout
- Painted vanity has two undermount sinks and white Ceasarstone countertops
- Large built-in mirror across the vanity with modern sconces
- Heated floors
- Spa-inspired shower with glass enclosure
- North window provides natural light
- Potlights
- Toilet
Second Bedroom
- East window with California shutters
- Oak hardwood floors
- Double wall-to-wall closets provide excellent storage
- A dedicated washroom is across the hall
Family Bathroom – dedicated to the second bedroom
- Large glass-enclosed shower with marble tile wall
- Basketweave marble tile floors throughout
- Dark vanity with marble countertop and undermount enamel sink
- Large built-in mirror
- Heated floors
- Toilet
- West window
Third Bedroom
- South-facing windows create a light-filled room
- Oak hardwood floors
- In 2022 the room was reconfigured to accommodate a large walk-in closet on the east wall
- Floating shelves to showcase art, books, or toys
Third Bedroom Ensuite
- Statuario inspired tile throughout
- Deep freestanding soaker tub perfect for bubble baths!
- Black faucets to create a dramatic contrast to the light fixtures
- Glass-enclosed shower
- White painted vanity with marble countertop and undermount white enamel sink
Second Floor Landing
- Provides a great spot for a desk area and includes a large closet for storage of files, linens, etc.
- Oak hardwood floors
- Second linen closet
Third Floor
This floor is a flex space. It currently provides a wonderful work from home area, coupled with an upper family room with a walk-out to a deck that provides southerly treetop and city views. It could easily be converted into two additional bedrooms.
- A bank of built-in bookshelves provides plenty of storage
- Built-in bulletin board for organisation
- Gas fireplace with wood mantel and marble surround
- North and south-facing windows
- West skylight provides wonderful natural light
- South-facing French doors with walk-out to deck
- Oak hardwood floors
- This space could be divided for more bedrooms
- Supplemental Panasonic wall unit for both heating and air conditioning
- Deck floor was replaced in 2021
Lower Level
Gym
- Mirrored wall
- Wood laminate flooring
- High ceilings making the space conducive to cardio, cross-fit training, or weight training
- Accommodates multiple pieces of cardio and weight equipment
- North window
- Ventilated
- Custom cabinetry for storage
- Window allows light into the other area of the lower level.
Laundry
- Samsung washer and dryer
- Built-in cabinetry with plenty of counter space
- A spacious room to allow for ironing, folding, and organising
- Could also double as a craft room or workshop
Recreation Area
- Wood laminate flooring
- Built-in bench
- Storage room
Back Room
- Wood laminate flooring
- Lots of storage in closets and built-in bookcase
- South-facing window
- Upper storage nook
- Bedroom potential
- Cold room storage
Lower-level Bathroom
- Vanity
- Tiled shower with built-in bench and glass wall, with a shower head that doubles as a hand-held providing a pet cleaning station if required
- Marble tiled floors
- Toilet
- Could be nanny/in-law suite bathroom
Notable upgrades to the home:
- A main floor renovation included a reconfiguration of the space increasing the kitchen size, moving basement stairway to the side of the house, and creating a main floor family room with wood burning fireplace, and converting a fourth bedroom into a master ensuite and walk-in closet, 2005
- Second floor renovation which included adding office space and renovating family bathroom, and opening up the third floor staircase to compliment main floor heritage staircase, 2010
- Bathroom for the second bedroom was completed in 2010
- Removal of the stucco facade and restoration of the handsome red brick facade at the front and sides of the home, Bell Construction, 2016
- Living room gutted, re-insulated and redesigned including new wall panels, Walden Homes, 2017
- Living room fireplace, custom built stone mantel and surround, Tartaruga Design, 2017
- Mafi white oak chevron floors from Austria installed 2017 in living room, dining room and front foyer. Kitchen and family room oak floors were refinished to match
- Updated master ensuite, 2022
- In 2021 the fence, shed, gate, and pergola were replaced as per original 2006 design
- Landscape lighting and irrigation system in both front and back gardens
- Gardens were refreshed in 2017
- Back terrace and stone steps re-leveled and repointed in 2021
- Reconfiguration of the third bedroom to accommodate a large closet and full ensuite renovation, 2022
- Third floor gas fireplace and built-in bookcases installed, 2010
- Basement waterproofing on roughly 75% of the basement with an internal membrane. Back basement room is waterproofed with external weeping tiles.
- Central air conditioning approximately 18 years old
- Panasonic Slim Jim heating and cooling installed on the third floor, 2010
- Sump pump was installed 2009 and was last serviced 2019
- New furnace, 2021
- New roof, 2014
- New third-floor deck, 2021
- New eavestroughs and screens installed, 2020
- 200 amp electrical service
- Rogers smart system security throughout the house with a camera at front door and phone app
About the Property
129 South Drive has been professionally landscaped with an English-style garden. The front garden has a tasteful assortment of plantings. The centre bed is planted with Virginia bluebells and English ivy surrounding three hazel trees. A pebble path and yew hedges provide complete privacy from the street.
The rear garden is a sophisticated yet low maintenance urban oasis continuing in the English-style garden theme. Landscape architect Amy Turner designed the gardens, pergola and shed in 2006. The garden shed is inspired by a Japanese lightbox that provides illumination of the garden. It complements the discreet garden floodlights providing the perfect ambiance for summer evening entertaining. A centre terrace under the mature kiwi vine-covered pergola is surrounded by beds planted with perennials including multiple species of Japanese ferns, a Japanese maple, dogwood trees, oak-leaf hydrangea, hostas, and astilbe with daffodils in the spring. Perimeter boxwood hedge (replanted 2022) surrounded by shade beds of English ivy and Solomon’s seal. The garden is surrounded by mature oak, elm and maple trees that provide a green canopy all summer and spectacular colour in fall.
Other Property Information
- Lot size 32 x 120 ft (irregular lot)
- Legal one-car parking, no licence required as it precedes the parking pad application era. It is listed as a legal spot on the City of Toronto front yard parking list
- Hot Water Heater is rented for $33.50 per month and there is a monthly service plan of $39.99
- Annual property taxes $15,469 (2022)
- Heritage “C”-rated property in the neighbourhood of South Rosedale
- A Carson Dunlop pre-home inspection is available for review Link: Summary and full report
Virtual Tour
About the Neighbourhood
129 South Drive is in the heart of South Rosedale! The home is just steps to the beautifully restored gates of Craigleigh Gardens, providing access to the park that was formerly the site of Sir Edmund Osler’s “Craigleigh” property. Beside the park is Milkman’s Lane, a path that connects to the extensive Rosedale-Moore Park ravine system. Visitors enjoy walking, cycling and a true escape from city life right at their doorstep including the Evergreen Brick Works, a combination nature preserve and event space.
Rosedale is a unique neighbourhood as it has a quiet suburban feel yet it is a mere fifteen minutes to downtown Toronto by car or subway. The Rosedale bus stop is located steps away for those aspiring to leave a greener footprint.
The shops and restaurants on Yonge Street and Roxborough Street are a walk away. The choice is incredible: Greenhouse Juice, Sorrel, Avant Gout, Quanto Basta and Terroni to name just a few. One can enjoy a walk to the flagship LCBO, created from a former train station just up Yonge Street a few blocks. Harvest Wagon, Pisces Fish, Nadege, and Olliffe Butcher Shop are the perfect spots to shop for ingredients when hosting a dinner party. There is a wonderful assortment of high-end fashion boutiques and home accessory stores from Crescent Road up to Woodlawn Avenue. Clementine’s, Tuck Shop Trading Co., Putti, Wolf and Moon, Thursdays, Narwhal Boutique, and Absolutely are all popular shopping spots. Juno Vet has just opened on Yonge Street for any of your pet needs.
Just down the street from the home is Rosedale Presbyterian Church. Rosedale United Church and other places of worship are also nearby. Mooredale House, the local community centre, offers a variety of programs and is close by on Crescent Road. The Toronto Lawn and Tennis Club, a private sports club, is nearby and the Granite Club is a quick drive up Bayview Avenue.
Across the Glen Road Bridge to North Rosedale there are the conveniences of Summerhill Market, Rosedale’s Finest, Dolce Moda, two dry cleaners, a flower shop, a design store, and a veterinary clinic.
For those looking for high-end shopping and further fine dining choices, Bloor Street’s Mink Mile and Yorkville are a mere two kilometres away.
Branksome Hall School, a private girl’s school, is a short walk away as well as Rosedale Junior Public School which has a 9.9/10 rating by the Fraser Institute.
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The Stop is more than just a food bank. It provides drop-in meal programs, a healthy food bank, perinatal support, good food markets, community kitchens, healthy cooking demonstrations, nutritional counselling, housing and legal advice. They also offer workshops on tenant and employment rights, movie screenings, arts and crafts, as well as urban gardens to provide fresh produce to those in need. I continually feel this is a wonderful organization to support.
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Casual elegance abounds the moment you enter the front gate of this lovely, bright and spacious property. The handsome brick home, elegantly landscaped garden and charming front veranda offer excellent curb appeal. This turnkey North Rosedale home was renovated in 2009 by designer Stacy McLennan and was featured in November 2013 holiday edition of Style at Home magazine. Situated on one of the best cul-de-sacs in Rosedale, there there is a strong sense of community among the wonderful neighbours, and the home is a convenient walk to parks, schools, ravine trails, and the shops on Summerhill Avenue. With nearly 3000 sf of above-grade space, this charming and tasteful home is the perfect entry into this signature neighbourhood for a growing family or could be a generous pied-à-terre for a couple.
The main floor layout is perfect for modern-day living. An elegant, formal living room at the front of the home was retained, while the rest of the layout was transformed into a tasteful, functional, open-concept space.
Dining Area
The Primary Suite
Second Bedroom
This spacious room is a flexible space. It was [are you staging this as a bedroom? If not, then say “is being” rather than “was”] used by the current family as an upper family room and office, but it also makes a wonderful spot for a bedroom 
30 by 145 lot size
The Neighbourhood
Rosedale is a unique neighbourhood as it has a quiet suburban feel yet it is a mere fifteen minutes to downtown Toronto by car or subway.
A little about what we do:
Living Room
Family Room
Office
The Property
The Neighbourhood
Rosedale is a unique neighbourhood as it has a quiet suburban feel yet it is a mere fifteen minutes to downtown Toronto by car or subway.
About Lower Village Gate 
Foyer
Kitchen
Principal Bedroom
Second Bedroom
