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The details
THE HOUSE: Two storey detached house at 57 Fenn Avenue, Toronto
ASKING PRICE: $1.649-million
TAXES (2007): $13,508.00
LOT SIZE: 50.08 by 130 feet
HOUSE SIZE: Approx. 4,200 square feet
NUMBER OF BEDROOMS: Five
NUMBER OF BATHROOMS: Seven
AMENITIES: Wolf stainless steel gas cook top and Dacor stainless steel wall oven; exercise room; 10-foot high corner shower and whirlpool tub in master ensuite.
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2 to 4 p.m.
LISTING AGENT: Barry Cohen, Broker, Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., Brokerage, 416-223-1818.

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When Taruna and Yogesh Dandiker moved to Toronto four years ago from England, they looked for a house that would replicate the brick and pillar look they had grown used to when living in a quaint country village just outside London.

They were surprised to find what they were looking for in a newly-built 4,200 square foot home close to the busy intersection of York Mills and Bayview.

Made of red brick in the Georgian architectural style, the house had a number of Old World elements that instantly appealed to the thirty-something purchasers.

Fluted pilasters demarcate the elegant foyer with its limestone tile floor and crown moldings. The adjoining living room has classical Greek columns, and a gas fireplace with a carved granite surround suitable for the manor born.

The dining room has wainscoting, cherry-stained hardwood floors, and nine-foot ceiling with medallion and chandelier. On the other side of the family room, is a powder room with a gilded sink set in a solid wood antiqued commode.

A spiral wrought-iron staircase decorated with a delicate floral motif leads to the second floor where a large pyramid-shaped skylight floods the area with natural light. There are five large bedrooms, each with an ensuite, and a laundry room with a built-in stainless steel sink and Whirlpool appliances.

Downstairs, the French country kitchen features thick granite countertops and creamy white cabinetry. Double French doors open onto a fenced back yard, with a two-tier deck.

"It reminds us of England, which is why we like it," says Mrs. Dandiker, a mother of two small children. "It has that old feel, but everything is new, with a beautiful, elegant sense of flow."

Originally from Gujarat, India, she put her own stamp on the home, merging a number of classical Indian details with the home's overall classical Western look.

Framed silk paintings and hand-carved mango wood furniture from Jaipur lend a sensual accent to the living room, while in the main floor library, built-in cabinetry houses a Hindu shrine honouring the elephant-god, Ganesh.

In the dining room are photographic prints of large-scale Buddha sculptures that the couple -- both involved in the pharmaceuticals industry -- purchased during one of their frequent trips to South East Asia, in this case a temple in Bora Bora.

Perhaps not surprising given the proliferation of religious iconography, not to mention the harmonic proportions of both the interior and exterior design, the house feels very tranquil.

"It is a home that has always brought me a sense of peacefulness and calm," says Mrs. Dandiker. "If we didn't have to move for work reasons, I would never leave."