225 WALMER RD.
- ASKING PRICE: $2.88-million
- TAXES: not available
- ANNUAL ASSOCIATION FEE: $2,500
WHAT:
A double-sized townhouse with three bedrooms and five bathrooms in 4,500 square feet near Toronto's Casa Loma.AGENT: Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. (Elise Kalles) and Forest Hill Real Estate Ltd. (Caroline Bokar)
AMENITIES: The living room has windows that soar to the ceiling and a two-storey granite fireplace. An olive tree stretches almost to the height of the three-storey atrium. A glass elevator glides up and down the four storeys from basement to bedrooms. Free-floating curved staircases have custom-designed stainless steel banisters. The library incorporates a home theatre with a projector and retractable screen. A second-floor den looks out over the street. In the kitchen, appliances include a Jenn-Air cook top with pot filler, a Jenn-Air wall oven and a Sub Zero refrigerator. A sound system with built-in speakers pipes music to rooms throughout the house. Downstairs, the games room has a wet bar. A spa with hot tub is next to the exercise room. The basement, which is entirely finished, provides access to a four-car garage. Outside, the house has two large terraces and three balconies.
The owners of 225 Walmer Rd. caused a sensation among the other buyers when the Georgian-style enclave known as Castle Hill was being designed by Gabor & Popper Architects in the late 1980s.
At the time, the couple purchased two units and had them finished as one. They ended up with a spacious living room, light-filled atrium, and a striking glass elevator moving through the spaces.
"It was amazing how the double unit created such a stir," says real estate agent Caroline Bokar of Forest Hill Real Estate, who worked for the developers at the time. "It's wondrous. You have no idea from the outside."
The homeowner says the combined spaces resulted in a house that's ideal for holding large corporate parties and smaller family occasions.
"It's got drama," says real estate agent Elise Kalles of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. of the spacious living room and atrium.
George Popper and Peter Gabor built the group of terraced houses directly south of Casa Loma and slightly north of a rail line. Interior designer Bryon Patton collaborated on the decorating.
Another element that had people talking was the two-storey high surround for the fireplace. The black granite was sand-blasted three times and still didn't look right, says the owner.
She lost sleep at the time, she says laughing now, because the fireplace dominated one wall of the living room.
Finally, one of the craftsmen suggested adding a new layer of polished granite over top.
That solved the problem and created an eye-catching focal point with a jagged mountain motif cut into the granite.
And if the neighbours were amazed by all of that, they were even more startled to see the olive tree arrive from Florida. It was brought up by truck and moved through the front window opening, says the owner.
The tree was planted right into the ground and surrounded by its own irrigation system.
The owner was worried that it wouldn't do well, but in fact the tree has thrived. It gets plenty of light and water, she says, and every few years she has a bit lopped off the top.
"It was something unique. I feel it really warms up the house," says the owner.
The living room walls were plastered by hand with a Venetian gesso finish.
"When the light shines on it in the evening, it's beautiful," says the owner.
Many of the homeowners chose to have elevators installed when the complex was going up. They're handy for zipping the groceries up to the kitchen from the garage or for quickly reaching the top floor from the bottom. The elevator in this house is enclosed in glass and has a European-style cage door.
The owners often take visitors up in the elevator for the view over the space below, then descend by the curving staircase with hand-crafted stainless steel banister, which was copied from a photograph of a similar railing in the former Barney's fashion store in New York.
A large dining room has a gas-burning fireplace and doors leading to a terrace. The kitchen has a breakfast area and its own set of doors to the outside.
"When you step out, looking north you see the top of Casa Loma, looking south you see the CN Tower," says Ms. Bokar.
Upstairs, the media room has walls panelled in oak, built-in cabinets, a fireplace, ceiling-mounted projector, retractable screen and two sets of French doors leading to a balcony.
The master suite provides a quiet retreat with fireplace, wet bar for cappuccino or drinks, and a six-piece bathroom clad in pink marble. A large dressing room has a ladder leading to a loft which offers plenty of storage space.
The house is ideal for people who want to live right in the centre of the city and enjoy having family and friends over for formal dinners or glamorous parties, says Ms. Kalles.
"I think it needs a sophisticated bachelor or couple," she says.
While the townhouse is considered to be a freehold property, the owners at Castle Hill pay an annual fee for outdoor maintenance.
The community is located within walking distance of the food, wine and home decorating shops of Dupont and Davenport.
And for outdoor recreation, Sir Winston Churchill Park, with tennis courts, children's playground, running path and ravine trails, is nearby.
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