Grace & Co. Magazine Fall/Winter 2021

Pablo Picasso. Blue Roofs, Paris, 1901. Oil on millboard, Unframed: 39 x 57.7 cm. The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Bequeathed by Frank Hindley Smith, 1939. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2020), Photo © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.

LONG WINTERS, SHORT LINES 2021 PRIVATE SKI CLUB GUIDE

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THE CATHARSIS OF PICASSO: THE BLUE PERIOD COMES TO THE AGO

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editor's note

W

What a magical Fall we have experienced this year! Warmer than usual temperatures and vibrant tree canopies lining our local streets have been the pick-me-up that many of us have needed - whether we knew it or not.

In this Fall/Winter edition of Grace & Co. Homes and Lifestyle magazine, we are embracing the Winter weather ahead by showcasing a number of Ontario ski clubs and asking Beachers what they love most about their clubs. We also offer a local gift guide for the holidays, as small businesses continue to be the lifeblood of our community. Listen to my thoughts about the ever desirable 50ft lot, get to know Ian Blakey, one of our extraordinary Realtors at Grace & Co., learn about the AGO’s latest exhibit, Picasso: Painting the Blue Period, get tips from some amazing interior designers and explore Canada’s Indigenous artists currently in the spotlight.

We also feature a gorgeous condo with a priceless view, an only 8-year-old home that was completely transformed by our staging team and an old Toronto semi-detached whose owners saw their home sell for an additional $250,000 by allowing our Design Team to transform their home on a $45,000 budget!

In market news, over the past year, Toronto real estate has experienced a tremendous run. October’s average house price reached an all-time high and closed out 19.31% higher than last October. The story is really one of supply and demand.

As you will see on our market update page, the number of homes selling is significantly lower than a year ago and that is because there are less properties for sale. At the same time, demand remains very high. Looking into 2022, we do expect interest rates to begin to rise, but at the same time, the borders are opening and immigration is set to resume to pre-COVID levels.

Market conditions aside, determining what real estate move is best for you requires a tailored approach. One where we listen to your story, evaluate your goals and help you put together a real estate plan that fits you.

Our family has lived in the Beach since 1986, and we have been selling homes here since 1989. So, if you are looking to move, are curious what your home is worth or simply want to chat real estate, we’re here to help!

Geoffrey Grace, Sales Representative & Editor @Grace_Homes @GraceHomesToronto

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CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

A KIM CRAWFORD PRODUCTION

SOIRÉE STARRING SAUVIGNON BLANC

PINOT GRIS

CHARDONNAY

ROSÉ

Please drink responsibly.

MAKE THE MOMENT

PINOT NOIR

CUSTOM HOMES RENOVATIONS ADDITIONS

1997 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario stratasdesign.com @stratasdesignbuild

in this issue

70

Alpine Ski Club

40

30 REAL ESTATE 10 Stage, Style, Sold!

3 Hunt Club Drive

25 Lot Size Deconstructed

Is a 50ft Lot For You?

54 Grace & Co. Listings

40 Art & Reconciliation

78 Making Sense of

the Market

46 Holiday Gift Guide

Real Estate Refined

A Snapshot of the City

Bay of Spirits Gallery

From Your Local Retailers

70 Long Winters, Short Lines

2021 Private Ski Club Guide

30 Strategic Improvements

LIFESTYLE

34 Feature Listing

16 Take Your Space from

Cool to Cozy

ON THE COVER

50 Eastside, His City

38 Dining Room Revival

197 Snowdon Avenue Hunt Club Terrace

Ian Blakey on Home & Homes

with Designer Trisha Isabey

with Designer Louis Duncan-He

18 The Catharsis

of Picasso

The Blue Period Comes to the AGO

STAGE, STYLE, SOLD!

G R ACE & C O. H O MES AN D L I F E S T YLE FA L L / WI N TER 2 0 2 1 V O L U ME 2 EDITORS Geoffrey Grace Lauren Lowe CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kelsey Kennerell GRAPHIC DESIGNER Cat Haynes CONTRIBUTORS Louis Duncan-He Geoffrey Grace Trisha Isabey Tammy Leigh Tara MacIntosh DC Rutherford Mike Spry PHOTOGRAPHERS Trevor Cooper Birdhouse Media Olive & Ivy Photography ADVERTISING admin@gracehomes.com PUBLISHER

PREFERRED PUBLISHING PreferredPublishing.ca Published in Canada

gracehomesandlifestyle.com Information is subject to errors and omissions.

Not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.

over 15 years' experience!

Your local mortgage broker was in the Top 75 brokers in Canada again this past year!

Jason Georgopoulos Phone: Fax: Email: Web: Address:

MORTGAGE BROKER

416.690.1502 | Toll Free: 1.866.690.8631 416.690.1164 Jason@betterborrower.ca www.betterborrower.ca 2301 Queen St E, Toronto ON M4E 1G7

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Staging is the best way to visually represent the maximum usage of each room while showcasing its beauty.

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B

Stage Style Sold!

uyers smile a little brighter when presented with an Instagramworthy home. At Grace & Co., we understand that properly staging each room in a home not only makes buyers' hearts beat a little bit faster, it also showcases the picture-perfect lifestyle they crave.

Real estate staging has evolved through many phases over the years.

At Grace & Co., we view staging as a step towards showcasing what every inch of the home is capable of.

After all, the buyer is purchasing the property and the prestigious way of life the home and neighbourhood have to offer.

There are many ways to ensure a home is staged to display its full potential, including using properly scaled furnishings and mimicking high-end retailers to modernize a home's feel. Staging is the best way to visually represent the maximum usage of each room while showcasing its beauty, ensuring buyers feel an instant and lasting connection to the space.

STAGING THE PRESTIGIOUS

3 HUNT CLUB DRIVE Creating an airy flow is a crucial part of staging a home. We want each room to tell a story through texture, style and color as buyers scroll or walk through the space. With repetitive patterns, accent colours and wellplaced design pieces, a home puts its best foot forward, encouraging buyers to fall in love with the possibility. This is exactly what we did at 3 Hunt Club, giving the rooms a uniform look with matching colors and textures, as well as eye-catching modern lighting.

T

he furnishings used to stage the prestigious 3 Hunt Club were carefully selected to reflect the potential of each room. The Grace & Co. staging team used some furnishings found in the home and chose to update others to allow for ease of flow from room to room. The stagers re-arranged the furnishings in the front family room to have the larger sofa by the window.

The two chairs facing the sofa allow the buyer to visualize how larger pieces of furniture fit into the room with ease.

This arrangement provides openness and space, giving a better flow.

The staging team also brought in a larger sofa and chairs to fill out the space in the back living room. A new rug and matching end tables were added to complete the look. There was also a home office space set up to showcase the multi-functionality of the room.

Our team displayed the vast potential of the room above the garage by adding a bed to create an additional bedroom. This expansive room can have multiple usages, but it is essential to show buyers that a bed can easily be accommodated if desired. A bedroom is where we all go to relax and recharge; therefore, it is necessary to stage every potential bedroom with upgraded furnishings, modern end tables, and luxurious bedding and accessories. Perfectly placed wall art and modern lighting complete the look, providing that HGTV feel buyers dream about.

We love nothing more than working with our sellers to put their best foot forward when going to market.

A

t Grace & Co, staging to us is on par with haute couture. Like on the runways of Paris, where innovative fashion makes its debut each season, modern home décor and design follow the changing trends. In style, trends come and go. Homeowners cannot be expected to keep up with popular colours and the latest design innovations. With the help of our professional staging team, homeowners can update the style in their homes with ease. The staging team at Grace & Co. will recommend which paint colours are the current choice of top designers and provide the furnishings and accessories found in the latest style guides making every Grace & Co. staged home magazine-worthy. At 3 Hunt Club, a crisp white paint colour

was selected, reflecting the current trends, brightening the home with a neutral pallet.

We love nothing more than working with our sellers to put their best foot forward when going to market. Our experienced staging team will make suggestions to ensure the best features of each room are undeniable. We work with our sellers to help move and store any furnishings that will be removed, making the process as seamless as possible.

To view more of our staging magic, visit gracehomes.com/staging. If you are thinking of selling and would like to discuss the advantages of working with our staging team, let's connect today. gracehomesandlifestyle.ca

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STRESS-FREE SELLING EXPERIENCE

By carefully listening to the wishes of our sellers, we implement the perfect sales strategy targeting the ideal buyer. Our tested and proven strategies allow our sellers to experience minimal interruption to daily life with less time on the market. With years of experience on our side, we are pleased to make your selling experience as quick and stress-free as possible.

(416) 699-9295 | GRACEHOMES.COM

@GRACEHOMESTORONTO

@GRACE_HOMES

CREATE THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS

At Elite Construction and Renovations, our clients’ needs come first. Upon your initial meeting, you’ll know you’re working with a company that cares about your project as much as you do.

We promise to work with our clients to help them fulfill their vision of their dream home.

INFILLS | ADDITIONS | RENOVATIONS | UNDERPINS | INTERIOR & ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

If you love your neighbourhood, but find the layout of your home is too small or just isn’t working for you, Elite Construction and Renovations can help.

ELITE-CONSTRUCTION.CA 416-888-8417 | info@elite-construction.ca

cool cozy

TAKE YOUR SPACE FROM

to

While these seasons shift, the temperature extremes can pose distinct decorating challenges. Here are some tips to consider:

1) THINK "LAYERS" Much like your wardrobe when the temperature drops, layering your decor can warm up your home, both aesthetically and physically. Pack your lighter linens and cottons away until next spring, and replace them with heavier fabrics like velvets, corduroy, faux fur and chunky knits.

Layer pillows and blankets, window coverings and rugs. Doubling up on your drapes and layering area rugs instantly creates a cocoon to curl up, come the colder months ahead.

While your textiles are the obvious way to achieve layers, also consider how colour and pattern plays into a warmer visual effect as well.

2) LIGHTING Regardless of the season, every home needs a layered lighting plan

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that includes ambient, task and accent light sources. This is especially true during winter's short days and long nights. Ensure each area of your home is well lit from overhead, with focussed lighting in activity areas such as a reading corner, desk and dining area.

Also pay attention to the temperature of your light bulbs.

Bulbs range from cool white, which lean to the blue side of the colour spectrum, to neutral "daylight" and warm light, which is yellowish.

Simply swapping out your light bulbs can have a dramatic warming effect on your space, and it's easily and inexpensively done.

Dimmer switches are a great way to customize your lighting on demand.

Have dimmers installed on every light switch to set the mood based on the season, occasion or preference.

3) ACCESSORIZE Art and collections are an often-overlooked but highly effective way to update your space to suit the season.

Combine different materials such as wood, leather and mixed metals to warm up a neutral space. Pull everything together with a bold burst of colour, such as a rug or a piece of art.

With winter approaching, now's the time to indulge in wool sweaters and adding in layers of cozy comforts at home. Embrace the season with these simple seasonal switchups for the home, to warm your body and soul in spite of the temperature outside!

Photos: Trevor Cooper

Trisha Isabey is the Creative Director and Principal Designer for award-winning Isabey Interiors. The Kelowna-based design firm has excelled for over a decade creating thoughtfully curated designs. The sought after design team offers a diverse range of design services throughout Western Canada and nationally.

Isabeyinteriors.com | @isabeyinteriors | @furnishbyisabey

gracehomesandlifestyle.ca

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THE CATHARSIS OF

THE BLUE PERIOD COMES TO THE AGO

By DC Rutherford

An empire loses its grip on a legacy of colonialism. The credibility of the government is undermined and a coup d’état threatens from dark corners of populism. A parliamentary system is defined by polarity, as anarchism and fascism pull a nation to corners, to opposition, and apart. The proletariat confronts issues of race, gender, and the socioeconomic divide and the bourgeoisie cling desperately to the power of inequity.

The effects of systemic change, coupled with technological and ideological revolutions, impose a particular hardship on youth. A recent CDC study found that “18- to 24-yearolds reported the highest levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression” amongst all age groups. The manifestation of this depression leaves a legacy felt for generations, one that provides perspective, solace and understanding of the human condition. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the work of our masters.

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The world that surrounded Pablo Picasso at the turn of the century is frighteningly similar to the one that we inhabit today. As we entered the 1900s, the struggling artist entered his 20s and began what would become known as his “Blue Period”, an artistic attempt to reconcile not just unrest in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, but the inherent struggles of burgeoning adulthood, anxiety and artistry. Picasso was troubled by mental health and the death by suicide of his friend, Carles Casagemas, the Catalan painter and poet who was the subject of several of Picasso’s works and with whom he shared a studio. The resulting work could not possibly be more engaged with our current challenges, and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s new exhibit, Picasso: Painting The Blue Period (October 6th, 2021 to January 16th, 2022) is a living monument to the beauty and catharsis that can be born of struggle.

Pablo Picasso. Woman and Child by the Sea, 1902. Oil on canvas, 81.7 x 59.8 cm. Pola Museum of Art. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2020), Photo: Pola Museum of Art / DNPartcom

THE BLUE PERIOD (OCTOBER 6TH, 2021 TO JANUARY 16TH, 2022)

IS A LIVING MONUMENT TO THE BEAUTY AND CATHARSIS THAT CAN BE BORN OF STRUGGLE.

Pablo Picasso. The Blue Room, 1901. Oil on canvas, 50.5 x 61.6 cm. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC. Acquired 1927 © Picasso Estate /SOCAN (2021)

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During this time Picasso was, a “young up and coming, very ambitious young man and quite cocky” notes the AGO’s Interpretive Planner Gillian McIntyre, who worked with the gallery’s own curator Kenneth Brummel and Dr. Susan Behrends Frank of Washington, DC’s The Phillips Collection in concert with the Musée national Picasso-Paris in building the exhibit. The colliding storms of brashness and melancholy, the inspirational tempest of so many artists, brought the world such seminal pieces as “Crouching Beggarwoman”, “The Soup” and “The Blue Room”, which serve as the foundation of the exhibit. Picasso’s indulgence in blues, greens, and only a few other colours in exploring lower classes, outcasts, and the marginalized, was a reflection of how he saw himself at the time in his status and depression.

The opportunity to gather “more than 100 objects from 15 countries, including paintings, sculptures and works on paper by Picasso as well as works by artists the young Spaniard is known to have studied before and during the Blue Period” was a vivid surreal experience for McIntyre. “The curator in Washington sent me plans of the apartment Pablo Picasso. La Miséreuse accroupie, 1902. Oil on canvas, Overall: 101.3 x 66 cm. Art Gallery of Ontario. Anonymous gift, 1963. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2021) 63/1

and the studio he was living in and pictures, it’s just around the corner from the Moulin Rouge. And so it becomes very real.”

The legacy of such an exhibit in Toronto can not be lost on the community. Generations of artists and audiences who get to experience Picasso: Painting The Blue Period will see Picasso’s hardship manifest in their work and their lives. The innocent engagement that children will have is nearly as priceless as the works themselves. As McIntyre recalls the divine reverie of previous visits:

Pablo Picasso, Melancholy Woman, 1902, oil on canvas.

Detroit Institute of Arts, Bequest of Robert H. Tannahill, 70.190. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2021)

“I sat them down in front of this huge painting and one of the parents was there and she said, ‘this could be a still life’ because they were so absorbed and they were all telling me what they saw. And it was wonderful, we had a great conversation, a really free, stimulating [conversation] and they literally were just – they don't get that normally on school tours, a lot of the art teaching is quite poor or non-existent.

So people wouldn't expect kids to be able to sit in front of an abstract expressionist painting because they’re not judging, they’re not saying it doesn't look like anything.”

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Pablo Picasso. Blue Roofs, Paris, 1901. Oil on millboard, Unframed: 39 x 57.7 cm. The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Bequeathed by Frank Hindley Smith, 1939. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2020), Photo © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.

McIntyre invokes essayist and novelist Pico Iyer when she imagines the lasting virtue and impression of art. “He said one of the things galleries should sell is silence – we’re not a cathedral, so you don't have to be silent here.

But for me, one of the best definitions came from a Scottish curator (I can’t remember his name now) who said galleries were where you can go to think and feel what it means to be human. And I think that is what I love about a place like this, is that you're not being fed. It's open, and you are invited to respond to it.”

The exhibit takes audiences through the Blue Period but ends with a glimpse of The Rose Period, Picasso’s next phase. There’s something inspired about ending on a hopeful note, assembling the manner in which the AGO wants its audience to progress through the works – perhaps an intentional way to mimic or mirror our present realities.

“I think that's a wonderful contemporary take on the exhibition. I don't think that was truly the intention – it was just a sort of logical

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progression. It was just marvelous to be able to get all these paintings together because it's hard to get Picasso’s as you can imagine. So lovely that we were able to, and we own one from that period so we have it now nestled amongst others.”

There is something uncompromisingly uplifting about art born of sadness. It is as if artists and their ghosts can reach out from the static documents of their own engagements with struggle to comfort those of us who endure similar struggles. To walk the AGO and be surrounded by Picasso’s confrontation of society and self, discomfort and depression, is to be wrapped in the amenity of knowing. And to be so lovingly led from Blue to Rose, is to revel in the promise that this gets better, that this too shall end, that these times will soon be ghosts as well, and generations will be able to wander the graveyards of our confrontation to learn, to love, and to indeed, “feel what it means to be human.”

THERE IS SOMETHING UNCOMPROMISINGLY UPLIFTING ABOUT

ART BORN OF SADNESS. IT IS AS IF ARTISTS AND THEIR GHOSTS CAN REACH OUT FROM THE STATIC DOCUMENTS OF THEIR OWN ENGAGEMENTS WITH STRUGGLE TO COMFORT THOSE OF US WHO ENDURE SIMILAR STRUGGLES.

Pablo Picasso. Two Women at a Bar, 1902. Oil on canvas, Unframed: 80 × 91.4 cm. Hiroshima Museum of Art. © Picasso Estate / SOCAN (2021)

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MAXIMUM RETURN ON INVESTMENT Our staging and strategic improvements services modernize our sellers’ homes by showcasing the functionality and high-fashionable aesthetic each room offers. Our experienced team of professionals transforms a home, leading to fewer days on the market and maximum return on investment.

To view more before and afters, visit gracehomes.com/staging

(416) 699-9295

@GRACEHOMESTORONTO

@GRACE_HOMES

LOT SIZE

DECONSTRUCTED: IS A 50 FOOT LOT FOR YOU? There are so many reasons to love living in the Beach.

The mature canopy and varying size and style of homes make each street unique. And, while each one of us may have different visions of our dream home, for many, the fifty-foot lot is the holy grail of Beach real estate.

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F

or those seeking to purchase their forever home, a fifty-foot lot offers many advantages. Quite often, setbacks from the street are further on streets lined with fiftyfoot lots allowing for additional landscaping on the property and a buffer from the nearby hustle and bustle. The more expansive lots also allow for privacy and breathing room between neighbours. The wider frontage means an overall larger lot area, enabling homeowners to build extensions on their home with greater ease than with a smaller lot.

As we navigated COVID over the past two years, the importance of our outdoor living space has become paramount. With parents working from home, children were encouraged to play in the backyard, and our outdoor spaces were used to entertain more than ever before.

With the expansion to outdoor living, the demand for in-ground pools skyrocketed. The ability to create a truly customized backyard oasis is amplified with a fifty-foot lot – outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and pools with cabanas are some of the most popular improvements to these roomy backyards throughout the city.

In the Beach, you will find a large array of homes on fifty-foot lots ranging from homes in great disrepair needing to be torn down or completely rejuvenated, to wonderful family homes that have been kept up over the years, to newly built homes with modern bells and whistles. Because of this, the value of a home on a fifty-foot lot can vary widely and may appeal to a number of potential buyers.

Buyers looking for fifty-foot lots have varied intentions, the common thread being they are looking for a modest home on a large lot. The first group of buyers are happy with the home the way it is and continue to lovingly maintain it over the years. The second group of buyers have larger plans and commission substantial renovations or additions to the existing home. The third group of buyers search for an existing newly built luxury home or are willing to purchase a lot with a small or tired home to build their dream property. The final group of buyers are investors. They are looking for fifty-foot lots with the potential to tear down a home and replace it with a state-of-the-art new construction home which they can then sell to the earlier group of buyers seeking a turn-key dream home. But, increasingly, investors are

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FOR THOSE SEEKING TO PURCHASE THEIR FOREVER HOME, A 50 FOOT LOT OFFERS MANY ADVANTAGES.

looking for fifty-foot lots that can be severed down to two twenty-five foot lots. With custom homes on twenty-five-foot lots now creeping towards $3.5m, the economics behind splitting a lot and building two new homes is very compelling.

When I write about fifty-foot lots, thoughts of strolling down Balsam, Kingswood or Munro Park come to mind. On these streets and those similar, nearly all, if not all, lots are fifty feet wide. The uniformity of a street lined with large lots is what draws many buyers to these locations. The city recognizes this and has measures to protect the uniformity of lot sizes on the street. Severing a fifty-foot lot down to two twenty-five foot lots is next to impossible on these streets.

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But, some fifty-foot lots exist in other areas of the Beach, around Kew Gardens or on the Tree Streets, that are anomalies. They are the remaining large lots on streets filled with detached homes on twenty to twenty-five foot lots and semidetached homes on even narrower lots. These are the remaining fiftyfoot lots that are of most interest to developers looking to sever and build two new homes because the city sees the reduction of the larger frontage as creating a more uniform street.

The Beach real estate market remains red hot and demand for properties on fifty-foot lots has never been higher. An important strategy when selling your home is to consider who your buyer will be, then market to that demographic while leaving the door open to unexpected buyers.

Determining your target buyer helps us tailor an individualized marketing plan for you and your home – from the best market timing, the right pricing strategy, whether there are strategic improvements that will help you maximize your

sale price, to the level of staging required. For some sellers, a quick off-market sale at a price they are happy with is the best approach. For others, a full-fledged staging and marketing plan with MLS exposure is the right way to go.

And, if you are looking to purchase a home on a fifty-foot lot, it would be our team’s pleasure to hit the streets and find you the home you are looking for, even if it’s not publicly available on MLS!

THE BEACH REAL ESTATE MARKET REMAINS RED HOT AND DEMAND FOR PROPERTIES ON FIFTY-FOOT LOTS HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

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a modern arti s t PENNY LAM ORIGINALS

pennylamoriginals.com @pennylamoriginals

SNOWDON AVE

STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS

A

buyer creates an emotional connection to a home when they first lay eyes on it. An overwhelming feeling of warmth and excitement makes them fall in love by envisioning living a rich, full life in the space.

At Grace & Co., we work with our sellers to create this magical feeling for potential buyers.

When sellers hire Grace & Co., our goal is to maximize return on investment for our valued clients. As we prepare a home for market, we will offer strategic improvement and staging options to showcase the property's full potential.

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Grace & Co. began by offering our clients a trusted list of contractors and professionals to help improve their property before going to market. We have evolved to engage our team member Sheila, an expert in interior design with over 20 years of experience, to assess our sellers' homes for strategic improvements that will dazzle buyers with personality and flair. Making strategic improvements where necessary modernizes the space and renders the home move-in ready.

Buyers are captivated as they see themselves living in a fashionable home and creating the lifestyle they have always dreamed of living.

As part of our strategic improvements service commitment, Sheila will suggest improvements based on a client's budget and desired outcome.

To make the process as seamless as possible, we manage the contractors, sourcing of materials, and scheduling details from beginning to end.

The unmistakable upgrades delight our sellers, and the goal is to have the return on investment exceed their original contribution.

With Sheila's help, the homeowner's budget, ranging from two thousand and up, will be spent where it will make the most significant impact going to market. Sheila works with the homeowners to create dynamic strategic improvements that excite buyers, such as eyecatching light fixtures, minor repairs to walls and kitchen cabinets, hardware upgrades and countertops. If budget allows, updates can also include backsplashes, bathroom fixtures and

mirrors, flooring, window dressings and beyond.

With Sheila's experience and keen eye for design, she will ensure each dollar invested will generate a wow factor in the home.

In this three-bedroom semi-detached feature property, we set the intention to modernize the home by opening up the space. Grace & Co. worked with the homeowner to strategically improve the main floor, transforming it into a modern open-concept floorplan. Sheila used her design vision to alter the main floor design by removing the wall separating the kitchen and dining room. By removing the wall, it updated the home's layout resulting in one bright and spacious room. Once the main floor construction was completed, the team outfitted the new kitchen with luxurious floating shelves, adding additional storage and counter space. A desirable and space-saving counter-depth

A buyer creates an emotional connection to a home when they first lay eyes on it. gracehomesandlifestyle.ca

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The biggest question homeowners ponder is where to spend their money to WOW potential buyers.

One last important detail was modernizing the curb appeal by removing the California shutters on the outside of the home, allowing natural sunlight to flood in. fridge was installed, creating a state-of-the-art aesthetic. The main level was completed by removing the original hardwood flooring and replacing it with natural wide plank white oak floors allowing the space to feel open and bright. Sheila comments, "My goal is always to create a cohesive visual flow enticing buyers to continue scrolling through the photos online and ultimately encouraging them to book an appointment to see the property in person."

The staircase to the second floor was refreshed with a new coat of neutral paint, inviting buyers to explore the improved upper level. Once arriving on the upper level, the hardwood flooring in the bathroom was replaced with appropriate bathroom flooring. Sheila remarks, "a property looks complete and move-in ready if rooms have a thread of connection. This can easily be achieved by repeating colours, textures, and materials." The lower level was updated with new flooring adding texture and depth to the room.

The seller of this featured home spent less than fifty thousand dollars on strategic improvements with a return of over $250,000. With Sheila's design talents and a well-managed two-month renovation, the sellers enjoyed increased taxfree profits.

The biggest question homeowners ponder is where to spend their money to wow potential buyers. Your dollars will go far with Sheila as the project head responsible for bringing her vision to life by hiring the contractors, managing the installations and upgrades, and keeping to a pre-determined schedule. Grace & Co. is committed to a stress-free experience for all our sellers.

At Grace & Co., our team will ensure your investment is in line with the market value of your home. The seller has the final word on the budget and where to allocate those dollars. We work together every step of the way as happy clients are our greatest reward.

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HUNT CLUB TERRACE When the owners of a gorgeous suite in the Hunt Club Terrace contacted Grace & Co. to sell their property, Geoffrey Grace knew the location would be both a positive and negative for potential buyers.

The positives of this location were evident from the moment you walked into the suite - unobstructed views of the Toronto Hunt Club from the living room, dining room and kitchen. To take full advantage of those views, a 26ft-long balcony lined the southern face of the condo, offering a place to relax and enjoy the canopy, 7th fairway and the pond with water feature.

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ow could there be a negative?

Well, at nearly $2m for a condo, the pool of buyers willing to look East of Victoria Park shrinks.

At that price point, buildings close to the boardwalk usually draw most of the attention. It was for that very reason that the listing of this suite was strategically delayed until a similarly

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priced suite at Queen & Woodbine had sold – reducing the options for potential buyers to cross shop.

The condo itself was stunning! The clients purchased this suite preconstruction. This allowed them the opportunity to blend what was originally planned as two units into one roomy

and smartly-designed 1,922ft residence with 2-car parking and a large storage locker. This layout allowed for an open living space – anchored by a stunning Aya Kitchen. The kitchen was adorned with Thermador, Miele and Bosch appliances and featured an oversized island with a custom breakfast table using the same quartz as the counters and backsplash. The primary bedroom was magical. Not only did it feature a walk-through closet and 4-piece ensuite bathroom, but the owners had a double sided fireplace installed between the bedroom and family room while sliding glass doors walked out to a 515sq.ft rear terrace. That terrace featured two gas lines – for a BBQ and fire pit – and was finished in high-quality synthetic decking. Rare in a condo was a fullsized family room with three walls of windows and its own custom bar, which also walked out to the terrace! The second bedroom featured its own walkin closet and 3-piece ensuite bathroom while a powder room served guests, and a full-sized laundry room housed plenty of storage.

hroughout the unit, flooring, wainscotting, internal doors, door trim with deep back bands, remote controlled blinds and designer light fixtures were all upgraded and customized. As you can likely tell by now, this was one special condo! And, this level of customization didn’t come without cost. There were approximately $250,000 in upgrades in this unit!

Appealing to downsizers, a number of members of the Toronto Hunt Club who lived in Midtown, Forest Hill or North Toronto viewed the suite and were drawn by the idea of living across the street from their beloved club. But all decided to remain in their communities and continue commuting to the course, as they wanted to remain close to children and grandchildren. A handful of Beachers visited the suite with some wanting to remain West of Victoria Park and others not quite ready to make the move from their empty nest to a condo.

In the end, the perfect buyer fell in love with the view, layout and finishes, and our clients sold for a price, and with a closing, that satisfied all their needs!

If you find yourself beginning to plan a downsize from your own home to a condo like this, let us know! We have a client looking to sell their gorgeous 2,100 square foot condo this Spring.

THE PERFECT BUYER FELL IN LOVE WITH THE VIEW, LAYOUT AND FINISHES VIEW THIS LISTING ON PAGE 60

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DINING ROOM

REVIVAL

BY LOUIS DUNCAN-HE

W

e’re all craving opportunities to leave our homes and to spend time with our friends and family without worry. The last year has proven to be unpredictable, making it unclear when we can go back to booking dinner reservations at our favourite restaurants and freely celebrating at social events. When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, it’s unlikely that the year will be resolved. With that in mind, homeowners are keen to bring that same sense of intimacy and festivity of “going out” into their own spaces. Catered dinners, private chefs, to customized cook-it-yourself meal kits, the culinary industry has made it possible to create memorable dining experiences at home, leading homeowners and designers to pay more attention to how they present their dining rooms.

The dining table provides optimal chances to decorate and build a narrative for the evening.

Mixing in sculptural end chairs with your regular dining room setup is a playful way to ensure scale and balance is achieved while creating a bigger visual impact. Decorative candles and festive floral centerpieces are simple and inexpensive methods to liven up and personalize the table.

Drapery is another great tool to infuse richness without distracting from what else is in the room. Finding creative ways to include texture and colour into a space without introducing new freestanding elements will make the space appear more refined and less cluttered.

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irst impressions are everything and lighting is sure to make an impact early on when invited into your dining room. If comparing a dining table and chairs to a t-shirt and jeans, the lighting fixture is the layering piece or statement scarf that elevates the look. A group of pendants can be the perfect accompaniment to a large table and a simple dining hutch can become more interesting with a piece of artwork highlighted by a picture light. Whether it be a dining room or another space, I believe designing boldly makes for the best outcomes.

A chandelier that is slightly too small looks like you were afraid to commit, where a larger piece looks confident and makes a statement. Being bold doesn’t just hint to size, but also materiality, colour and shape. Selecting pieces that incorporate gold, copper or brass tones adds touches of elegance, while utilizing natural and distressed woods can add just the right amount of cottagecore to your space.

Crafting an unforgettable dinner goes beyond the meal itself; what makes it is the harmony between the people, atmosphere, and menu.

When leaving a dinner party, I tend to think about the overall experience rather than a specific dish or drink I had. With many dining rooms being further removed from the rest of the home, it can serve as the perfect space to take that creative risk you’ve always wanted to.

Texture and colour are simple and effective tools to create an expressive space that packs a punch. Incorporating these design elements can be as easy as featuring a colour saturated piece of artwork by the table or as elaborate as installing wallpaper or panelling to the ceiling.

Colour is emotive and it can alter our perception of a space. With that in mind, picking a colour that excites you for your dining space can dramatically change how we feel about the room.

CREATE MEMORABLE DINING EXPERIENCES AT HOME

Award-winning Calgary designer Louis Duncan-He, principal of Louis Duncan-He Designs. With his signature West Coast perspective, he creates rich spaces that are relaxed, refined and restorative to the soul. www.louisdhe.com | @louis.dhe

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ART&

Reconciliation: BAY OF SPIRITS GALLERY

By Mike Spry In an age of cultural reckoning, Canada has found itself face to face with the horrors of its flawed and often forgotten history.

Our malicious treatment of Indigenous communities is a scar we conceal in a thin veil of jingoism and vanity—often casting ourselves as the world’s polite, proper and steadfast pillar of reason and virtue.

But the national discourse on Indigenous people has risen to the top of our patriotic concerns, and on September 30th of 2021, Canada observed its ​​first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Pageantry in the face of atrocity, but a step towards muchneeded reconciliation.

Canada’s Governor General Mary May Simon, the first Indigenous person to hold the role, noted of our challenges that, “This pain has been felt from generation to generation, and it continues today.

These are uncomfortable truths, and often hard to accept. But the truth also unites us as a nation, brings us together to dispel anger and despair, and embrace justice, harmony and trust instead.

Reconciliation is a way of life, continuous, with no end date. It is learning from our lived experiences and understanding one another. It is creating the necessary space for us to heal. It is planting seeds of hope and respect so that our garden blooms for our children.”

Art and culture are crucial contributors to the peace and reconciliation processes in a post-conflict society, and the works of Indigenous artists—past and present—are being held up as a lens through which reconciliation can be recognized and magnified. The Bay of Spirits Gallery

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has been promoting Indigenous art for over 25 years in the heart of Canada’s cultural capital. As one of Canada’s preeminent art galleries, Bay of Spirits boasts the works of both established and up-and-coming Indigenous artists such as Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray, and hundreds of others.

Bay of Spirits Gallery’s Veronica Adetuyi has seen the evolution and revolution of Indigenous art in her two decades at the gallery. While in the early days of her work with the community in Toronto, more than eighty percent of the Indigenous artists being promoted in Toronto had west coast associations. The late-90s saw a rise in interest and celebration of artists beyond Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation (PNIAI, known as the Indian Group of Seven) and Ontario-based First Nations artists.

As for art and reconciliation with our history and this moment, Adetuyi notes, “artists are always incorporating the stories of their people” into their art, the difference now is that Canadians have become acutely “aware of the truths” of our

FLOYD

Kuptana Floyd Kuptana was an Inuvialuk artist whose work and presence were prominent at Bay of Spirits Gallery. Born in a remote and disparate corner of the Northwest Territories, Kuptana was inspired and apprenticed by his artist cousins, Francis Ruben and Abraham Anghik Ruben, as well as Bill Nasogaluak and David Ruben Piqtoukun. By the early 90s, he was producing his own work, work of which Métis Nation of Ontario classical singer and writer Robyn Grant-Moran celebrated as “basing his imagery on traditional Inuit beliefs and lore, with common themes of transformation and struggle. Quite simply, he made beautiful monsters, though his work was anything but simple.”

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past and are “appreciating the contributions of Indigenous artists.” So, as with most issues within this conversation, the work is being done, but now the awareness is on the rise.

“Toronto needs to step up [and Canada] needs to start showcasing Indigenous art,” Adetuyi adds in discussing the need for more promotion of Indigenous artists and their work, wondering aloud why Toronto doesn’t have a state-funded museum dedicated to the community. “It’s very important that the Indigenous community sees their art on the wall.”

As Métis Nation writer of Indigenous stories, Cherie Dimaline, wrote of our reclining in her 2017 novel The Marrow Thieves, “We go to the schools and they leach the dreams from where our ancestors hid them, in the honeycombs of slushy marrow buried in our bones. And us? Well, we join our ancestors, hoping we left enough dreams behind for the next generation to stumble across.” The dreams of the First Nations appear in the work of its artists, and it is our newborn purpose to stumble across as many as we can.

Kuptana was known as a charismatic and gifted artist, who passed away in May of this year at just 57 years old. Though his life was short, the work he leaves behind speaks loudly, boastfully, to a life of struggle and its own reconciliation evident in his striking sculptures and paintings. Richard D. Mohr, professor emeritus of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, called Kuptana “Canada’s Basquiat” and is a noted scholar of the artist’s work. As he wrote in a 2017 article Kolaj, a journal of contemporary collage, on Kuptana’s work, his “spookiest use of collage is to cut out detailed facial features and make them appear to shine forth from within skulls which imprison them, and of these the most rattling have collaged eyes set on far less detailed acrylic grounds. The juxtaposition rouses textural pop and visual whiplash, while suspending the viewer over a bottomless crevasse of unease.”

His work is filled with tension and confrontation, in particular with the oppression of the dominant white culture, as Mohr notes, “He tweakingly appropriates white folks’ popular culture, their distinctive ideas (like universal surveillance — an inukshuk comes to life as a panoptic guard tower), their social forms (like gender bending– the head and legs of the Creature from the Black Lagoon bracket a one-piece bathing suit to form a gender sandwich), and their art movements.”

Kuptana left behind a legacy of work and engagement with his community that will be felt for generations, in the artists inspired by him and those moved by their own engagement with his work.

As Grant-Moran notes, “He was so much more than a gifted artist to them: he was a complex and cherished friend and community member who lived life on his own terms [...] laughing, and transforming his demons into art.”

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JAY BELL

Redbird

Jay Bell Redbird was an Ojibway painter and member of Wikwemikong, an unceded Indigenous reserve on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario. The son of a painter, poet and writer, Dr. Duke Redbird, the selftaught artist’s work confronted its subjects with bold, bright colours and stunning engagements with Indigenous transitions and mythology.

Redbird’s work considered the connection of mind, body and spirit, and he prescribed the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth. “He would explain all of the lines that means to follow the good road, that always has obstacles, but there are never ever closures, there’s always a way around,” his partner and artist Halina Stopyra marveled upon his sudden and unexpected passing in 2019. “Each time you encounter an obstacle, it’s a lesson.”

Redbird said of his work, “I paint from my heart and soul, viewing Aboriginal people through their life ways as they once lived, and as they strive to continue to live as loving, caring and peaceful people. The teachings and stories I learn flow to the canvas expressing ideas and images through my detailed woodlands style of art, a style that I connect with as part of my history passed down from generation to generation. I paint legends and dreams, which bring to life the animal spirits and all of Creation.”

Redbird was a champion of his community, ensuring to spend equal time mentoring it as contributing work to it. That community defied borders, literal and figurative, and he touched all those who he met or who met his work.

“IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SEES THEIR ART ON THE WALL.” bayofspirits.com

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DOSSO

Custom Carpentry & Construction

Specializing in Quality Renovations and Custom Carpentry for Over 20 Years JONATHAN DOSSO | 416.888.9780 | JONATHANDOSSO@HOTMAIL.COM

FROM YOUR LOCAL RETAILERS

LOVEFRESH EXFOLIATING BODY SCRUB: This sugar scrub is gentle enough to use daily. You don't even need to follow up with a moisturizer! Say goodbye to dry skin and hello to a silky, smooth glow. Available at Collected Joy | collected-joy.com

HANDMADE GREETING CARDS: Toronto based artist, Carolyn Draws, produces some of the most joyous, delightful and enjoyable greeting cards.

Comes with coordinating 100% recycled envelope.

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FRAAS ROSE WRAP SCARF: Beautiful wrap scarf that feels amazingly soft. Can be worn in a variety of styles: in a casual loop around the neck, tucked in like an infinity-scarf, or as a trendy accessory for extra warmth draped over the shoulders.

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POM POM SLIPPERS: These 100% natural wool pom pom slippers are completely hand felted by women artisans in Nepal. Available in Dark Grey and Rust (shown).

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DINADI MERINO THICK RIB HAT: With its clean, minimalistic design, the merino thick rib hat is a winter classic. Made from 100% extra fine merino wool which is sustainable, naturally insulating, breathable, light-weight, non-itchy, wicking, dirt resistant, durable, and biodegradable.

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ANTO YUKON 4OZ SOAP: Bring a breath of Canada’s wildness into your everyday life. Each small-batch bar is infused with all-natural ingredients and essential oils, and then hand-wrapped in a Meghan Hildebrand art print.

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FOR THE KIDS! SEGWAY NINEBOT ZING E8: We Have Saved the Best for Our Children! Fun and vibrant colors for the exterior and the vehicle is compact when folded. Exciting new adventures await!

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GRIMM'S 1001 NIGHTS BUILDING SET: 54 colourful and chunky pieces create a fantastic tool for creativity with this beautiful Grimm's puzzle. Available at Ava's Appletree avasappletree.ca DREAMING OF UNICORNS SLIPPERS: Comfy, warm and adorable slippers that will bring magical moments of happiness and all good things.

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B MAT YOGA MAT: The B Mat is ultra grippy and will keep you grounded and supported in any practice, even in sweaty conditions. Available at Afterglow Studio | afterglowstudio.ca

NANCHEN DOLLS: Soft and cuddly, these dolls are dressable and the mohair adds some realistic touch to each character. Available at Ava's Appletree avasappletree.ca

FOR THE FUR BABIES!

THE BEACH CITYSCAPE TEA TOWEL: Created by artist Julia Gash, this cityscape captures landmarks and shops along Queen St. East...including Pippins!

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RUMBL TREAT TOY: Super bouncy and crazy fun, West Paw’s dry treat-dispensing, puzzle dog toy, Rumbl, encourages healthy play.

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BECO FLAMINGO: Whether you’re playing tug-o-war, fetch or hide & seek, Fernando the Falmingo is here to help.

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SHERPA® 2-IN-1 PET BACKPACK + CARRIER: Perfect for travelling in style and comfort by plane or car, for an adventure or just a trip to the vet.

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CATIT FLOWER FOUNTAIN: Cat Drinking Fountain with LED Nightlight and Petal Top. Allows 3 water flow settings.

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RADICAL LD MAX ELECTRIC SCOOTER: The minimalist and innovative geometric design is unique, without any exposed wires, and is meticulously crafted. Available at Radical Wheelz | radicalwheelz.com

HOLY SHEEP PRINCESS DIANA SWEATER: Known as the Princess Diana Sweater, the holy sheep sweater or the black sheep sweater.

Made locally in Toronto with recycled cotton.

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LONG RIBBED KNIT CARDIGAN: With front pockets and a relaxed silhouette.

Made in Italy.

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FROM YOUR LOCAL RETAILERS

MARBLE LOTUS RING: One ring and so many different looks! It is so simple to change the marble to match your outfit!

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EXPEDITION BATH FIZZIES: All-natural bath fizzies that provide 6 aromatherapeutic bath or shower sessions. Infused with cocoa butter to nourish your skin while you soak. Available at Task | tasknewyork.com

GLASS HEART PENDANT: Beautiful necklace that comes in gold and silver. With 36 inch chain.

Available at Set Me Free | setmefreebeaches.com

EASTSIDE, HIS CITY:

Ian Blakey on Home & Homes

By DC Rutherford

The first thing I found in my research on Grace Homes’ Sales Representative Ian Blakey is a bold statement: “He believes Toronto is the best city in the world.” So, when we meet up over the phone in late October, I begin by asking him the obvious.

“So you’ve never been to Montreal?”

The good-natured ribbing is quintessentially Canadian—a born-and-bred Montrealer giving a blue-and-white blooded Torontonian the gears. A few jokes about the Leafs and a promise to send a link to Wikipedia’s page on what happens after the first round of the NHL playoffs follow. Ian takes the shots like a pro, and laughs them off as only a Leafs fan could. Grace & Co.’s newest Realtor is as Toronto as it gets.

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Having grown up in East York and the Danforth, he now lives in Leslieville and mainly lists properties in The Beaches. He knows the Don Valley trails like the back of Doug Gilmour’s hand and even has a family cottage up in the Algonquins. He knows the city, knows the neighbourhoods, knows the pubs, the people, the parks, the parkettes, the pets, the promenades, the… you get it. Ian Blakey knows Toronto, and when he says he believes Toronto is the best city in the world, not only does he mean it, but he wanted to be part of building the community so badly that he quit a successful career in project management to start anew in real estate in 2018.

Ian Blakey with Wife Karen and Daughter Alex.

Olive and Ivy Photography

“I looked upwards in the company and realized that everybody ahead of me either had to retire or [move on] and they were only in their forties and I thought, ‘it's going to take me 25 years to do anything more than I've done. I wasn't enjoying the work very much anyway so I thought I needed to switch.”

With a young family and a good, safe job, the decision was tough, but he made the leap.

Was it worth it?

“I love it. Meeting all the people I get to, working with all the people I get to—it's very rewarding. It's actually a lot more fun than

I ever expected,” he says, the joy and truth palpable in his voice. “It's absolutely more of a grind than I expected as well. It's definitely more challenging than we tend to make it look to the outside world. But it's been fun every day, even the worst days. It's been very rewarding and I'm making a healthy living, doing something that I really love.”

I mention to Ian how most of my time in Toronto has been spent on the west side: the Annex, Roncy, Ossington, High Park, and the Junction. Ian notes, while the west side has its established history and personality, the east side is now coming into its own.

The east side is now coming into its own. gracehomesandlifestyle.ca

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“I feel like the east side is still developing some of that history. And it's sort of learning how to be a cool area to live, while [the west side of Toronto] already established that. In the pocket of Leslieville, when I grew up, it was a neighborhood that was just rough. And it didn't seem all that bad, but the change in this neighbourhood since then—we regularly say, this is a place to be. There is a place called the Maple Leaf Tavern. One of those bars that had, you know a lot of regulars and were kind of rough around the edges.

Olive and Ivy Photography

And then all of a sudden five years ago it was suddenly this amazing family restaurant that has a five-star chef serving up food. And all the other restaurants are cafes that have come in as well, that just blows me away. It's a walkable area too, and I love that.”

Ian could, understandably, go on for years about the highlights of the neighbourhood.

The Vatican Gift Shop, Chula, Dineen Outpost, and Hailed Coffee are just a few of the landmarks that freckle our conversation.

"I love how Toronto comes together in a way; there's no me, they, them, it's just us."

But a good neighbourhood needs more than hip bistros and cafés—they need a sustainable community, where young families and young professionals can mingle, and older generations can sit back and watch the world they created zooming by. “​​The parks in the neighbourhood are huge gathering places; so many families are there, moms and dads. And it’s not even just like one parent goes and flips their phone open— they're actually talking to each other and hanging out.” Greenwood, Hideaway, and Leslie Grove are just a few of the greenspaces that the neighbourhood boasts, and indeed they’re more public meeting spaces and social venues than just parks.

“I mean, every time a house comes up on my street, I think I should probably tell every one of my friends, 'You should come and join us here.'” Ian lives in the community he’s helping

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build and populate, a testament to his affection for his home and the truth in having found his calling in real estate. “I just love the diversity of Toronto and that people love Toronto for Toronto. I meet so many people of diverse backgrounds and they all still want to be in the same neighbourhood. I love how Toronto comes together in a way; there's no me, they, them, it's just us.”

It’s hard not to ask Ian for listings, and I’m not sure I’ve ever spoken to someone with such an honest love for Toronto. And, if your home team is never going to see the second round, you may as well live in a burgeoning neighbourhood in a world-class city, framed by good cafés, bistros, parks, and great people.

Ian Blakey isn’t building a portfolio—he’s building a community on Toronto’s eastside, right around the corner from where he grew up. Quintessentially Canadian, in the city that defines the nation; diversity, culture, community.

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real estate refined gracehomes.com 54

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

4+1 BEDS, 4 BATHS, LISTED AT $2,100,000

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3 HUNT CLUB DR | THE HUNT CLUB

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10 YONGE ST #3101 | HARBOURFRONT

1+1 BEDS, 2 BATHS, LISTED AT $799,900 CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

3+1 BEDS, 4 BATHS

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99 MCRAE DR | LEASIDE

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20 BURKEBROOK PL #711 | LAWRENCE PARK

2+1 BEDS, 3 BATHS

159 SNOWDON AVE | BEDFORD PARK

4+1 BEDS, 5 BATHS CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

4+1 BEDS, 4 BATHS

144 ELMER AVE | THE BEACH

3+1 BEDS, 4 BATHS

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

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24 FERNCROFT DR | THE HUNT CLUB

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6B QUEENSBURY AVE | THE HUNT CLUB

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4+1 BEDS, 4 BATHS

READ MORE ABOUT THIS LISTING ON PAGE 34 2A QUEENSBURY AVE #502 | THE HUNT CLUB

2+1 BEDS, 3 BATHS CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

29 MCBRIDE LANE | WILLOWDALE

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

3+1 BEDS, 2 BATHS

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89 CODSELL AVE | BATHURST MANOR

3 BEDS, 3 BATHS

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197 SNOWDON AVE | BEDFORD PARK

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57 HIGHFIELD RD | LESLIEVILLE

3 BEDS, 2 BATHS

2+2 BEDS, 1 BATH CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

3 BEDS, 2 BATHS

21 CAMILLA CRES | CLAIRLEA

2+1 BEDS, 3 BATHS

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

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151 ELMER AVE | THE BEACH

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185 ROEHAMPTON AVE #1702 | YONGE & EGLINTON

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62 BELLEFAIR AVE | THE BEACH

2+1 BEDS, 2 BATHS

3 BEDS, 3 BATHS CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

8 RHYL AVE | THE BEACH

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

4+1 BEDS, 3 BATHS

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2 EAST RD | THE HUNT CLUB

3 BEDS, 2 BATHS

65

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44 CORLEY AVE | UPPER BEACH

2 BEDS, 2 BATHS

93 WILEY AVE | THE DANFORTH

2+1 BEDS, 1 BATH CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

real estate refined

6 WINSTON AVE | THE HUNT CLUB

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

2 BEDS, 2 BATHS

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35 BRIAN PECK #210 | LEASIDE

2+1 BEDS, 2 BATHS

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real estate refined gracehomes.com

22 WELLESLEY ST E #1206 | YONGE CORRIDOR

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2A QUEENSBURY AVE #301 | THE HUNT CLUB

2 BEDS, 2 BATHS

1 BED, 2 BATHS CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

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438 RICHMOND ST W #912 | FASHION DISTRICT

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

4+1 BEDS, 3 BATHS

gracehomes.com

83 WHISTLE POST | UPPER BEACH ESTATES

1 BED, 1 BATH

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LONG WINTERS, SHORT LINES 2021 PRIVATE SKI CLUB GUIDE

By Mike Spry

There are two types of Southern Ontarians: Those who count the seconds until winter arrives, and those who can’t wait until it ends. For those of us in the former category, now is the winter of our content. Meteorologists are predicting a long one, aided by La Niña and a robust lake effect sure to bring both heavy snow and yet warm breaks.

Sounds like the perfect winter for the slopes.

Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, or just an après-ski professional, skiing around the Greater Toronto Area presents some unique challenges.

The weather can fluctuate unpredictably, the traffic can be cumbersome, and snowfall absent altogether. And that’s before you even get to the hill, where long lines, poor grooming, and poorer company can make for a frustrating—and yet expensive—afternoon.

Private ski clubs are a marvel of a solution for GTAers who love to ski but are turned off by the pastime’s inherent challenges. These clubs offer what no other resorts can: short lines, state-of-the-art grooming and snowmaking, above-the-fray dining, and even daycare, among innumerable other amenities. Think of these resorts as country clubs for the chilled months—small communities of enthusiasts to spend your winters with.

Read on to see which private ski club is best for you. Bundle up, and invest in your family’s winter.

ALPINE SKI CLUB ust two hours north of downtown Toronto, on the eastern front of the Niagara Escarpment, lies the kind of winter experience one imagines demands a longer trip. The Alpine Ski Club boasts the most trails of any ski club in the region.

This Ontario gem promises thirty-six runs on 20km of beautiful marked trails, half of which are ideal for beginners, but plenty of challenges for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders, all readily accessible from five ski lifts. Panoramic hilltop views are spectacles, as are the runs.

SWEEPING VIEWS OF THE ESCARPMENT AND GEORGIAN BAY

The club was the winner of the 2021 Simcoe Reader's Choice Award for Best Ski Resort, Best Wedding Facility, Best Banquet Facility, Best Live Entertainment Facility, and Best Recreational Facility. But that’s just the tip of the summit. Alpine Ski Club is a private resort that allows its members the rugged joy of winter sport paired with the comfort of urban amenities. Spread over 120 acres at an elevation of 760 feet, the 45,000-squarefoot clubhouse has sweeping views of the Escarpment and Georgian Bay and offers private spaces, full food and beverage service, an adult lounge and fireside bar, plus childcare at the Little Kids’ Club.

NEW

45,000 SQ.FT. CLUBHOUSE

ROBUST SOCIAL CALENDAR OF

EVENTS

WORLD-CLASS

ON-HILL PROGRAMS (PRODUCING OLYMPIC-LEVEL ATHLETES)

EXTENSIVE NETWORK

OF SNOWSHOE, CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AND HIKING TRAILS

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BEAVER VALLEY SKI CLUB

SIGNATURE RUN CALLED

AVALANCHE; THE STEEPEST GROOMED RUN IN ONTARIO

n the steeper part of the Niagara Escarpment, and just a stone’s throw from the Bruce Trail is Ontario’s Beaver Valley, known for its apples, agrarian beauty, and winter recreation. At its heart is the Beaver Valley Ski Club, a private ski resort that offers 20 ski and snowboard runs serviced by six chairlifts, 12km of cross-country skiing, numerous snowshoe trails, a terrain park, and two clubhouses—all less than two hours up Highway 10 into the bucolic splendor of Southern Ontario.

Après-ski is as Canadian as hockey, and where better to wind down from a

GREAT

TERRAIN PARKS ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF

Saturday of skiing than with live music and a cocktail in the adults-only lounge.

But Beaver Valley is truly for the whole family, with registered Early Childhood Education staff at their Playschool childcare centre for kids 6 months up to 6 years old. Crafts, skiing, and outdoor activities are just some of the offerings for your little ones, plus private lessons for the shyer kids. Beaver Valley is “recognized as an industry leader and provider of progressive park features, outstanding park etiquette and safety, and high-level ski and snowboard events” and will surely make your family winters ones to remember.

CALEDON SKI CLUB

SNOWSHOE TRAILS

hat if I told you that you could be part of the Greater Toronto Area’s premiere family-oriented skiing, snowboarding, and multi-seasonal activity centre less than 45 minutes from the downtown core? Impossible? Not at all— welcome to the Caledon Ski Club, 55 acres of private majesty just outside the city.

CLOSEST

PRIVATE CLUB TO TORONTO FANTASTIC RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE PROGRAMMING, LEADING TO MEMBERS COMPETING IN BOTH PYEONGCHANG AND SOCHI

OLYMPICS

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fall/winter 2021

Just north of Mississauga, you’ll find one of the GTA’s greatest treasures where the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine collide, and just a snowball’s throw to the Bruce Trail. Here you’ll discover 25 runs for all ages serviced by 6 all-quad chairlifts and two magic carpets, plus 8km of snowshoe trails, a pristine outdoor ice rink, a 9-hole disc golf course, plus a terrain park for the progressive winter enthusiast. Your après-ski is catered to by contemporary cuisine and pizzerias in two lodges, childcare for kids ages one to five, shuttle service, a ski school, plus a host of off-season activities.

“We chose Caledon Ski Club because of its close proximity to Toronto and wonderful family environment, perfect for teaching your children how to ski and a variety of other activities for children and adults continually throughout the year.”

— Jeff & Natallia Hergott

CRAIGLEITH SKI CLUB BREATHTAKING

VIEWS

OF THE BEAUTIFUL ESCARPMENT AND GEORGIAN BAY STATE-OF-THE-ART

SNOWMAKING OUTSTANDING

TERRAIN

COMPETITIVE SKI AND SNOW BOARD PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES

or over 60 years, Craigleith has been offering Southern Ontario the best of winter fun along the edge of Georgian Bay. Thirty-two runs carved into the Niagara Escarpment powered by 6 lifts. Only two hours from the city, the hills are covered with the latest in snow-making technology (the best in Canada) from 500 automated snow guns converting 6000 gallons of water per minute to snow. Add in a base lodge filled with delectable eats, a full-service bar and a Starbucks in the lobby, Craigleith offers all the amenities you need for a winter wonderland.

“When considering where to ski in Ontario, community and programs ranked as important as the clubhouse and amenities for us. Our family chose Craigleith as we felt their brand and

values as a ski club were aligned with our personal ones. We enjoy the laid-back and social atmosphere. The check-your-ego-at-the-door mindset really makes for a fun and easy-going environment - free from politics and cliques. The friends who introduced us to the club, and the new ones we’ve made - whether through new circles or reconnecting with people from our past - have become an integral part of our lives both on and off the hill. Since the pandemic hit in March, we quickly made the bold move to commit to living in Craigleith for 3 years. We’ve been able to really form a fun group nearby the club that participates in not only skiing but hiking, biking, beaches, dinners, and more! We’ve really embraced being here and haven’t looked back!” — Steve & Jessica Cryer gracehomesandlifestyle.ca

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DEVIL'S GLEN COUNTRY CLUB

OVER

500 ACRES

ON SOME OF ONTARIO'S MOST SPECTACULAR COUNTRYSIDE

UNIQUE SIZE; ONE OF ONTARIO'S SMALLEST MEMBERSHIPS FOR A PRIVATE SKI CLUB

GROOMED TRAILS

THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE NORTHERN EXPOSURE AND

PROTECTION FROM WINDS

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fall/winter 2021

untroon, Ontario, is a delightful township known for its love of sports, proximity to the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment, and Devil’s Glen. Built on over 200 acres nestled into the Escarpment, Devil’s Glen offers 24 runs serviced by five lifts reaching an elevation of over 500 feet, plus 20km of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, 6 km that are groomed, traipsing along the Bruce Trail. All of this plus a pro shop; snowboard, ski, and racing instruction; state-of-the-art snowmaking and grooming; a terrain park, and so much more.

Truly a family spot in the spirit of the Greater Toronto Area, Devil’s Glen also offers its Little Devils program. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring safe and fun childcare for newborns up to six-year-olds, plus offers its Weekend Mini Club drop-in program so that the whole family can enjoy its muchneeded time on the slopes. Your aprèsski time is spent in what is perhaps the crown jewel of the property, the Eberhard Zeidler-designed ski lodge from the renowned architect who designed Canada Place, Ontario Place, and innumerable other Canadian landmarks. This is truly a modern amenity with a nostalgic feel—you can even see families setting up grills all winter long. A truly postcard locale.

TRULY A FAMILY SPOT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GREATER TORONTO AREA

THE GEORGIAN PEAKS CLUB ight hundred and twenty vertical feet. Eighty-six skiable acres.

Twenty-four trails. Five lifts.

Two levels of terrain parks. And the only ski area in Southern Ontario with enough vertical rise to hold a F.I.S. (International Ski Federation) sanctioned Giant Slalom race.

This is Georgian Peaks—a one-of-a-kind ski club experience burrowed into the Niagara Escarpment and within a ski spray’s distance of Georgian Bay. The club was founded in 1960, and the property has bragging rights to an elevation 250ft higher than any other club in the region.

They recently broke ground on a new

lodge, which will be the epicentre of an already majestic locale.

This club promises big hill runs, community, and energy, in the package of a small community just outside of Toronto.

The mountainside decks are framed in peerless views of the region—it’s like living in a postcard. Enjoy an après-ski with three licensed lodges and four food venues (adult-only Founders Lounge, the deli and salad bar, and the mountainside BBQ and pizza oven), plus over 20 beers on tap throughout, and three fireplace lounges.

And nothing extends après-ski like a kids' club and daycare so that the whole family can recover from a day on the slopes.

OVER 800 FEET IN

ELEVATION ALPINE PROGRAMS HAVE PLACED MORE ATHLETES ON

CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAMS THAN ANY OTHER CLUB IN ONTARIO

OSLER BLUFF SKI CLUB n 1948 two buddies from Quebec sought out shorter lines and privacy for them and their ski community.

Their journey took them to Collingwood, Ontario where the locals pointed them towards Osler Bluff. Two generations later, the ski club is an Ontario institution.

Osler Bluff has grown into a winter wonderland, a destination for discerning families featuring a 6.5 acre terrain park; a liquid-cooled ice rink; 27km of snowshoeing trails; a summer club with two tennis courts, heated pool, change house, and a play area for small children; a newly re-fashioned clubhouse, an upper chalet, the renowned Orchard Lodge; plus “a brimming social calendar, including themed après, buffet dinners, junior après activities, family events and much more.”

Plus ski hills. Osler Bluff boasts a number of things that many Ontario ski hills can’t: a staff with 90 years of service to the province’s ski and snowboard community, nearly 750 feet of elevation, one kilometre runs, and the most skiable acreage per member of all the region's clubs—all within two hours of Toronto’s downtown core. One hundred and thirty acres of pristine trails edged into the Niagara Escarpment promises long runs, long days, and winter wonder.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS

THROUGH SOME OF THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT'S MOST STUNNING ENVIRONMENTS ONE OF THE

HIGHEST SKI HILLS IN ONTARIO

A LIQUID-COOLED 50 X 100 FOOT

SKATING RINK

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AVAILABLE AT THE LCBO AND LCBO.COM #104299

Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2021 The Prisoner Wine Company, Oakville, CA

OUTPERFORM THE COMPETITION

We understand selling your home for the highest value includes capturing the best market timing, implementing the right pricing strategy, and maximizing your return on investment. With in-house staging and strategic improvement services, our proven methods allow us to outperform our competition leading to the best return on investment for our valued clients.

(416) 699-9295 | GRACEHOMES.COM

@GRACEHOMESTORONTO

@GRACE_HOMES

MAKING SENSE OF THE MARKET A SNAPSHOT OF THE CITY

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fall/winter 2021

TORONTO SALES

PRICES 1,161

-23%

895

DETACHED

$1,487,122 $1,778,928

421 SEMIDETACHED

$1,445,559 $1,304,504

-23%

325

365

+14%

$868,005

402 TOWNHOUSE

+20%

$930,056

-9% 1,549

$686,191 1,792

CONDO

+7%

+16%

$744,730

2020

+9%

2021

THE BEACH SALES

PRICES $1,654,992

30 30

DETACHED

0%

$1,946,518

42 25

SEMIDETACHED

6 TOWNHOUSE

2

$1,151,145

-40%

$1,295,023

+12%

$1,059,917

-67%

$1,511,000

12 CONDO

+18%

+43%

$770,418 16

+33%

$737,593

-4%

When reviewing this Fall's real estate market, October saw a marked decrease in the number of homes sold. That limited supply of available properties, paired with high demand from an active pool of buyers, led to significantly higher prices than a year prior. We expect this trend to continue through the upcoming Spring market, so if you have been putting off buying a home in hopes that prices will recede, we suggest you make the leap sooner than later!

2020 2021

QUALITY From the quality of our staging inventory to the architectural photography of our listings, we put quality above all else.

Because you wouldn’t expect less.

EXPERIENCE Having lived in the Beach for 35 years, and selling local homes for the last 32 of those years, our knowledge of the neighbourhood and its homes is an asset for both our buyers & sellers.

RESULTS Year in, year out. In buyer’s markets, seller’s markets and every market in between. We create value for our clients. Selling their homes for more and helping them buy for less.

(416) 699-9295 gracehomes.com

YOUR REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

GEOFFREY GRACE

GAIL GRACE

GEOFF GRACE

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Having grown up in the Beach, Geoffrey knows every street in the neighbourhood like the back of his hand. His prior career in marketing for a luxury car manufacturer positioned him well to market his clients’ homes. Geoffrey has earned designations as a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and a Certified Negotiation Expert, and brings those tools to the table for all his clients.

The one who started it all! Only 3 years after moving to the Beach, Gail began her career in real estate. Entering the market in 1989 meant she cut her teeth selling homes through the 90s recession. That experience, along with her strong interpersonal skills, desire to work a deal for her clients and intimate knowledge of the Beach and its homes, all make her an exceptional Realtor.

As a veteran of the Beach real estate market, Geoff is respected and admired by his peers. Geoff is an Ottawa native who has lived in Toronto for over forty years and, together with Gail, live in the first house they purchased 35 years ago – right here in the Beach. Ask anyone who has worked with Geoff and they will tell you his calm demeanor and rational approach is a true asset to his clients.

IAN BLAKEY

CHELSEA GRACE

SHEILA SHABSOVE

SARAH GRACE

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Design Manager

Business Development Manager

An East Ender through and through, Ian was raised in East York and now resides in Leslieville. Ian’s clients always comment on his attention to detail, level headedness and consultative approach.

Ian has strong relationships amongst his peers and works collaboratively with other agents to get great deals done for his clients.

When your parents have been selling real estate since you were 6 years old, it’s in your blood.

Chelsea has lived nearly her entire life in the Beach. That knowledge of the area is a valuable asset for clients looking to purchase a home or condo in the neighbourhood.

Chelsea cares deeply for each one of her clients and enjoys educating them so that they can make wellinformed decisions.

Sheila is a skilled interior designer with 20 years of experience not only managing design and renovation projects for her clients, but also renovating and building new homes for herself and her family. These experiences allow Sheila to help our clients manage strategic improvement to their homes to realize the most profit in their sale, with her taking care of all the details.

With a strong history in businessto-business sales, Sarah manages relationships with our suppliers and partners and works on strategic planning to ensure our team is running smoothly and efficiently.

Having worked in many roles on the team, she is able to have a birds-eye view and is constantly striving to develop the team with the #1 goal of continually improving the client experience.

CONTACT US TODAY! • (416) 699-9295 • gracehomes.com Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.,Brokerage independently owned & operated.

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© 2021 Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.

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