By Rosie Prata
Photography by Henry Shephard, Alex Rothe and Silver House Real Estate
On Old Forest Hill Road in Toronto’s highly coveted Forest Hill neighbourhood, luxury is a given. Every house is beautiful, every lawn manicured, every lot expansive. The question becomes: How does a home stand out? In a private residence conceived by visionary designer Omid Taba of OE Design, and newly built in 2023, the answer comes from abiding by an unwritten rule among those accustomed to quality: true elegance doesn’t shout, it whispers.
This stately home, which enjoys a lavish footprint of 10,500 square feet, is a testament to quiet sophistication. With its circular driveway, it is graceful and striking in its simplicity, with a distinct architectural sensibility that relies on clean lines and an abundance of large glass panelling. Even the door to the garage is designed to integrate with the windows to create a sense of unbroken symmetry.
OE Design founder Taba believes that “a home should be immersive, telling its story through every deliberate and thoughtful detail.” To allow these details to shine in the spotlight, the home is decorated in a neutral, refined palette of soft whites, warm greys and cool silver. This allows texture, materials and smart architectural features to occupy centre stage.
Polished Bianco Vanilla stone floors sparkle and gleam in the bright light that streams in through the many windows. Living areas offer an atmosphere of openness and intimacy, with curved arches gracing doorways to soften transitions. Furnishings are plush and inviting, and the overall atmosphere is one of warmth and comfort, aided by the inclusion of multiple fireplaces throughout, to be used on chilly winter nights.
The home features six bedrooms and eight bathrooms and is perfectly equipped for those who love to entertain. In the kitchen, a monolithic island that doubles as a seating area makes a sculptural statement beneath suspended wire-basket lighting, while seamless cabinetry conceals state-of-the-art appliances. A breakfast nook is located beside tall windows to create a picturesque backdrop that changes with the seasons. “Every home is a masterpiece waiting to be brought to life,” says Taba.
“A home should be immersive, telling its story through every deliberate and thoughtful detail.”
The kitchen opens onto a double-height living area flanked by windows that extend up nearly two storeys. The ceiling itself, which is decorated with a light fixture that resembles a string of pearls, features graduated levels. The effect is subtle, but the impact is profound and illustrates Taba’s point: “Our commitment is to serve and astonish.”
Concealed behind the fireplace, there is a bar for preparing refreshments, and the room opens onto a vast deck that overlooks the garden.
Upstairs, which is accessed via elevator or sweeping staircase, which boasts a glass banister, is the spacious primary bedroom equipped with two generously proportioned walk-in closets and a large ensuite bathroom. A dignified office area and a second bedroom are also located on this level. On the next level, there are three more bedrooms, all with walk-in closets and deluxe ensuite bathrooms, as well as an entertainment area with a built-in wet bar.
Throughout the home, fixtures are understated yet beautifully crafted; every handle, hinge and light switch is chosen with the same consideration as a work of art.
Perhaps the most captivating feature of the home is its indoor swimming pool. Encased in floor-to-ceiling glass, the pool area is a study in serenity, with soft lighting, a minimalist waterfall feature and a refined palette that echoes the rest of the home. Large glass panels open onto a private courtyard, allowing natural light to flood the space while maintaining privacy. A dry sauna, home theatre and entertainment area, also located on this lower level, set the stage for maximum relaxation.
In this Toronto residence, every element, from the architectural layout to the smallest interior detail, has been orchestrated to support a lifestyle of elegance and simplicity. This is modern living, distilled to its purest, most luxurious form—and Forest Hill is all the better for it.