A Made To Measure Georgian Heritage Home

A newly built Georgian-style house with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood.

Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Johnson and Daniel Division (James Strathy Warren)

With 11-foot ceilings, the main floor features large principal rooms with dark-stained floors of quarter-sawn white oak. A library is panelled in mahogany, and has a coffered ceiling. A dramatic reverse staircase ascends from a centre hall.

At the rear is an open-concept space comprising the kitchen, family room and eating area, with doors opening to the garden. The countertops in the kitchen, wet bar and pantry are fashioned from Calacutta honed marble.

Some areas of the house feature heated stone floors.

A state-of-the-art system controls temperature, security and lighting. The house also contains Category 5 wiring and structured cable for high-speed internet, television and communication services.

Upstairs, mahogany doors lead into the master suite, where French doors open to a Juliet balcony overlooking the garden. A dressing room is lined with hand-crafted closets and includes a flat-screen TV. The ensuite bathroom has a separate water closet, cast-iron tub and honed marble flooring with in-floor radiant heating.

The two other bedrooms on the second floor have ensuite bathrooms. Located on the third floor are a bedroom and bathroom as well as a games room.

On the lower level, an “infinity” swimming pool is surrounded by limestone and enclosed in glass. A media room has built-in surround sound and a gas fireplace. Adjoining an exercise area is a bathroom with limestone floors and walls, as well as a steam shower.

A climate-controlled wine cellar is constructed of reclaimed brick and lined with Douglas fir wine caskets that accommodate 500 bottles.

Outside, the landscaped property includes a very private stone terrace in the rear garden. A more functional element is an in-ground irrigation system. The exterior features copper trim and a cedar roof.

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Monday, June 16th, 2008

Landscaping Rock No Comments

Master suite often is the crown jewel of renovation

One of the most frequent items seen on our clients’ wish lists is a master suite. Master suites are a relatively recent trend in home design, so most older homes do not have them.

And in our experience, the master suite often becomes the crown jewel of the renovation.

This happens because people love their master suites. One of our clients, Donna Bates, will tell you what her life was like before she got a master suite:

“We just had this little bedroom that was the same as all the other little bedrooms in the house, and we had to share a bathroom with the kids,” she says. With her eight kids, we should point out.

But now that Bates has a master suite, she calls it her “little sanctuary.” For the Bateses, like most of our clients, the master suite becomes a sanity space that is off limits to the rest of the family, an inner sanctum where adults can relax.

There are two ways to get a master suite: Rearrange or add on. If you have an extra bedroom in the vicinity of your master bedroom, this space can be transformed into the master bath and closet. Or you can add a master suite to the first floor by expanding into the yard, if your yard can accommodate such an addition. Alternately, you can consider adding a second story, which will mean a major renovation to your roof and giving up space on the main floor to add a staircase.
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A typical master suite consists of three functions: A bedroom large enough to fit a king-size bed, a couple of pieces of furniture, and possibly a sitting area; a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, two sinks and a toilet (often within its own room); and a master closet, which is typically a walk-in closet with built-in organizers.

All this will require about 400 to 800 square feet and will cost about $150 per square foot for a remodel and about $220 per square foot for an addition. The cost per square foot tends to be higher than in other parts of the house (except the kitchen) because a master suite often includes more luxurious fixtures and finishes %26#151; from a jetted tub and granite-lined steam shower to a private fireplace to cedar or mahogany closet organizers.

On the other hand, a master suite helps resale value, and you may eventually get much of that money back.

Of course you don’t have to go all out with your master suite if your budget won’t allow, but you will want to add at least a few touches of luxury so the master suite truly becomes your inner sanctum. Giving yourself a space all your own is truly a “suite” deal!

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Thursday, January 31st, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Fancy a dip in the ocean

1419 Lands End Rd. (South Ocean and Ocean Avenue)

Asking price: US$6.2-mil.

Taxes: US$40,000 (2006)

As its street name implies, this home is set where land gives way to water. The views are breathtaking, says real estate agent Jack Elkins of Corcoran Group Palm Beach, who has co-listed the property with Bunny Hiatt. “The best feature besides the home’s contemporary feel is that each room makes you feel as if you are on a boat or cruise ship.”

The 100×150-foot waterfront property is on a barrier island located between the mainland of Florida and the barrier island of Palm Beach, he says. “The island has always had a large appeal to foreign buyers because it is about one block from the ocean. The area offers many excellent restaurants and is centrally located between Boca Raton and Palm Beach.”

“We have seen a large increase with foreign buyers (including Canadians). As our U.S. dollar is weakening, the homes here are becoming very affordable and appealing to many buyers,” Ms. Hiatt says.

“This is an excellent place to invest in,” Mr. Elkins says. “About 83% of the homes on the island are waterfront, there are excellent boating opportunities, great fishing and diving in the area, water-skiing and, of course, some of the best shopping in the U.S.”

The property at 1419 Lands End Rd. has 100 ft. of water frontage, “clean tropical landscaping,” a 44×12-ft. pool and a two-car garage. There’s a dock that can moor up to three boats, a boat lift and a covered seating area.

“Being able to entertain and enjoy many different areas around the pool deck, upper deck and dock gives you a different place to relax with a different feel every time,” says Mr. Elkins.

The 12,918-sq.-ft. home comes completely furnished. “The home is a wonderful mix of modern and classic all under the same roof,” Mr. Elkins says.

He says his favourite room is the entertainment/personal theatre room, which is just off the whirlpool area overlooking the west and where sunsets can be enjoyed.

Other highlights include a master suite with a private office and an ensuite bathroom with an onyx sauna and a steam shower. The five-bedroom home also has a media room, a massage room, a surveillance system, five full bathrooms and two powder rooms.

“This home is for either young or old, bachelor or family who appreciates modern elegance with a splash,” Mr. Elkins says.

It would also appeal to buyers who want impressive neighbours. Celebrities and sports figures in the area include musician Yanni, boxing promoter Don King, singer Rod Stewart, real estate developer Donald Trump, golfers Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Jack Nicholas, and singer Celine Dion. Many major corporate CEOs also have homes in the area, he says.

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Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Landscaping Idea No Comments


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