Home of the Week: Bridle Path estate with an eat-in pool
Home of the Week, 28 Country Lane, Toronto. Asking price $6.995-million. Owners Wendy Sokolowski and Steven Pezim were inspired by their travels to Florida, Italy and France and sought to recreate some of the elements from their favourite destinations in their new home, built on land carved from the former Windfields Estate of business tycoon E.P. Taylor.
The couple worked with luxury home builder Joe Brennan to design and build the residence, which was completed in 2002. ‘It’s not just the large garden,’ says agent Eileen Farrow. ‘It’s a park, which goes and goes.’
The L-shaped house was built around the pool, which was designed to accommodate a dining table.
The swimming pool can accommodate a dining table - enabling diners to dip their feet while eating - and still leaves room for laps. The pool is surrounded by a stone terrace and formal gardens. Stairs lead down to a lawn area large enough for a tennis court.
The living room has 12-foot ceilings and a large gas fireplace. The large kitchen and family-room combination was the hub of the house while the couple’s two children were growing up. A hidden butler’s pantry connects the kitchen to the dining room. ‘It’s back of house for serious entertaining,’ says Ms. Farrow of the servery and wet bar.
A private library is panelled in lacquered mahogany.