By Adriana Ermter
Toronto living typically conjures images of big-city hustle and bustle. Skyscrapers abound, high-rise condominiums reign and busy streets burst with five-star restaurants, boutique clothing stores, sweet-smelling bakeries, Zen yoga studios and so much more. Anything and everything is available — there’s a vibe of seemingly endless possibilities. It’s truly the perfect place for coveted, tranquil and well-appointed homes like 103 Old Colony Road.
Standing at the end of an exclusive, affluent cul-de-sac in north Toronto, at Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road, this estate is the epitome of luxury living in the city. A refuge close to everything Toronto has to offer, this masterpiece boasts 21,000 square feet of exceptional living space. It’s an ideal sanctuary for any family. “Everything is at your fingertips,” affirms Barry Cohen, a broker for ReMax Realtron Barry Cohen Homes Inc. in Toronto. Golf courses, quality schools, highway access, grocery stores and shopping are all around the corner, and yet, the home is ensconced in an oasis of mature trees and surrounded by park settings, making it simultaneously peaceful and dynamic. “The architectural design of the house was inspired by the property itself, with all its natural elements,” says architectural designer and builder Lisa Mandel McCann. This $28.8-million contemporary estate sits on approximately an acre of land and offers superb outdoor living with lounging areas, a tennis/sports court, an innovative swimming pool/cabana design and a shimmering hot tub/arctic plunge. (Everything is protected by an underground filtration system designed in collaboration with hydraulic and soil engineers and Layfield Canada Ltd., as well as Westcon Concrete Drains, Atlas Plumbing and Hadid Soil Engineers.)
Driving up to this abode on the hydraulic-heated concrete driveway, you’ll notice concrete walls with built-in lights leading to a spacious parking area for more than 10 interior spots. When you step inside, you immediately see the lines are blurred between the indoors and the outdoors, thanks to natural woods in the home, stone walls that start outside and continue into the interior and absolutely spectacular views through large glass window walls. Landscape with a water feature, as well as smooth, contemporary brick with textured stone, provides a most welcome and engaging arrival. “It’s one of the most magnificent homes I’ve ever seen,” says Cohen, adding the home took almost two years to plan and another four years to build because of its uniqueness and the exquisite attention to detail. The complexity of architectural and interior design has been taken to another level rarely seen. A case in point is the nearly 12-foot-wide, voice-activated floating ambient back-lit fireplace and glass window walls that allow for incredible views to flood the home with natural light and become part of the interior landscape — it’s magnificent. “The overall aesthetic is really seamless and sleek, yet comfortable and warm,” says Cohen. “That’s a rare combination in an estate this spacious. This is a space that’s perfect for both small family gatherings and large events. You can picture a family with children living here. Teens would love the amenities and toys, and the fact that each bedroom is designed as a spacious suite with a cozy sleeping area, a place for relaxing and a dedicated workspace is a bonus.”
“This is the kind of estate where the rich and famous come to live and play”.
To say amenities are featured throughout is an understatement. Enriched airport-level security and a customizable and expandable ground-breaking 8K-ready technology system, provide the home with seamless compatibly throughout. The in-home entertainment centre/theatre package offers endless hours of amusement and includes karaoke, teleconferencing and virtual reality. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the indoor golf/sports simulator, and relaxing is made easy in the lavish spa with wet and dry saunas. It offers a true resort experience. For the wine connoisseur, a worldclass, commercial-grade wine room exclusively designed and built in collaboration with Halpern Enterprises, one of Canada’s premier and finest wine distributors, is a dream.
“This home is architecturally inspiring, and it will, without a doubt, stand the test of time,” Cohen says. “Once you’re here, you’ll never want to leave. This is the kind of estate where the rich and famous come to live and play.”
