I so often find myself standing outside of a building in Toronto, be it a new condo development, a building restoration or a certain set of warehouse lofts, wondering what it would be like to step inside. The Schoolhouse, a 19 unit conversion of the original Loretto College (now situated at St. Clair and Rosemount), is one of those buildings. The facade features the same (or similar) red brick that once stood, updated with vertical rectangular windows and a view of the sweeping balconies featured in the Penthouses.

It's warm and inviting, and a welcome change to the influx of pseudo-Bauhaus glass buildings that have swarmed the city in the past decade. The penthouse itself is spacious yet cozy, and features more outdoor space than one often sees in a development like this: a wrap-around balcony and private roof top terrace. I'd say the developers of this building ought to "school" the folks down at CityPlace on what makes a house (or condo) a home.

SPECS:

Address: 391 Brunswick Avenue (Penthouse 1)
Price: $1,749,000
Size: 2,092 sf
Bedrooms: 2 + 1
Bathrooms: 3
Parking Spaces: 2
Locker: 1 (oversized)
Monthly Maintenance: $$1,248.08
Taxes: $10,497.82 (as of 2012)
Building Amenities: Shared courtyard with barbecue

NOTABLE FEATURES:

380sf private roof terrace + 150sf balcony
Marble/granite ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi and stall shower
Gas oven/stove
NEFF kitchen feat. Viking appliances
Large walk-in closet
As noted on the site: surrounded by the intellectuals of Toronto, right?

GOOD FOR:

The "intellectual" home owner who prefers a building with a bit of character to the wash of glass-buildings popping up all over Toronto. A family man or woman who wants style and function married in one slick home.

MOVE ON IF:

The ghosts of your Catholic School past still haunt you. Or if you are buying a condo to avoid having to get a gym membership. They don't have one here.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

If you had the dough, would you buy this home? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.