By Lisa van de Geyn
Photography by DiGenova Media
DAVIDSON DRIVE IN VAUGHAN IS ABOUT AS SECLUDED AS IT GETS .
The quiet enclave is just a short stroll from one of the most beautiful golf courses in the city, The Country Club. In this prestigious area, west of Islington Avenue and east of the Humber River, the trees are mature, the lots are large and the families are affluent. It’s the perfect neighbourhood to raise a family, walk the dog, welcome friends for dinner or simply sit on your back patio and take in the view of your own private oasis.
When Robert Di Toro, president of Stonebrooke Homes, had the opportunity to purchase the property, he knew exactly what he wanted to do: He’d build the first in a series of luxury modern homes with the main purpose of inspiring professionals and lovers of good design to settle in Woodbridge. Designed and built from scratch by Di Toro and his team, this mansion is the epitome of a classic modern villa that pays homage to Los Angeles-style architecture and uses top-quality European finishes in its unique bespoke exterior and interior.
THE LUXURY STARTS BEFORE YOU STEP FOOT INSIDE THE HOME
“The nearly 6,200-square-foot home is the perfect balance between handcrafted statement pieces and more neutral, functional elements. The result is a very comfortable home fit for a modern luxury lifestyle,” says Di Toro. The luxury starts before you even step foot inside the home. The exterior façade is finished in imported porcelain from Spain. The aluminum windows and bifold doors are also imported from Europe. Not only is the driveway outfitted in snow-melt technology, but so are the terraces, the area surrounding the pool and all outdoor walkways and stairs.
When you walk inside the palatial entrance of the fully automated home (which has four bedrooms and a nanny’s quarters), you’re greeted by a sublime neutral palette, heated floors, natural gas fireplaces, black window casings and hardware and plenty of natural wood accents. The solid white oak doors with custom black imported hardware really make a statement in this contemporary space, as does the French 7¼-foot white oak engineered flooring on the second and lower levels. “Luxurious interior finishes include architectural custom millwork throughout, like suede fabric panelling and inlayed bronze mirrors,” Di Toro notes. Glass also figures prominently in the design and execution. Not only does it surround the impressive staircase, but there’s a glass wine display case (with backlighting) and a slew of huge glass windows throughout the home, allowing the sunlight to stream in. “There’s also a custom suspended see-through glass floor on the second level — it really adds an architectural element to the space. So do the custom oversized aluminum glass skylights, which add a ton of natural lighting.” The streamlined kitchen is done in neutral shades and features a Miele kitchen appliances package, which includes a panelled fridge and freezer, warming drawer, dishwasher, hood range and espresso machine — all built-in for efficiency and for a sleek, modern look. The office has its own private quarters — the desk is surrounded by windows and dark built-ins that offer a contrast to the light floors.
The lower level is outfitted with a theatre room with suede walls, a gym, a custom cedar sauna and Zen four-piece steam shower room, a kitchenette, laundry room and mudroom. And outside, the yard boasts a large salt-water pool and pool house, with full wet bar, built-in beverage fridge and a three-piece bathroom and change room. “The professionally landscaped property has an outdoor prep and grill station, a concrete natural gas firepit and custom concrete walkways in a limestone finish,” he says. “The house is exquisite indoors and out. It’s the kind of property you fall in love with when you see it. It’s really quite remarkable — from the private location and the design to the execution and craftsmanship of the build, it’s exactly what homeowners are looking for today.”