3 PHEASANT LANE
- WHAT: A large, custom-built bungalow with elaborate millwork and unique design elements, constructed about 10 years ago in the exclusive Thorncrest Village community.
- SIZE: more than 4,200 square feet
- LOT SIZE: 55 by 247 feet
- ASKING PRICE: $4.35-million
- TAXES: $14,000 (2007)
- AGENT: Sutton Group-Old Mill Realty Inc. (Susan Tallarico)
The amenities
- The residence includes three bedrooms, seven bathrooms, multiple fireplaces and walkouts from the main floor and lower level. That level emerges at the rear because of the contour of the property.
- There are fireplaces in the library, living room and great room. The dining room is next to the kitchen, where there are several built-in appliances, an island and breakfast area with double doors to a south-facing balcony.
- In the sleeping quarters at one end of the house, the master suite has two dressing rooms, a walkout, a fireplace, as well as five-piece and three-piece ensuite bathrooms.
- Nearly half of the lower level is taken up by an entertainment lounge with a fifth fireplace, a wet bar and easy access to a second kitchen and wine cellar.
- This level also has a separate wing for two bedrooms, which share a semi-ensuite bathroom and sauna. An office and two laundry rooms rounds out this floor, which opens to the double garage.
- The property is equipped with systems for central vacuum, security, lighting and surround-sound.
- The landscaped grounds feature a limestone patio and walkway to the formal gardens, gazebo and water feature.
The house has more than 4,200 square feet on the main floor and has a 4,000-square-foot basement. (Sutton Group-Old Mill Realty Inc.)
Photogallery
When custom builder Tony Gornik wants to show potential clients his work, he doesn't rely on photographs. They can't capture the full impact of an 18-foot ceiling, the intricacies of woodwork in a panelled library, or the welcoming atmosphere of a grand foyer.
Rather, Mr. Gornik takes his clients to any one of about 10 private residences he has built over the years in Etobicoke.
Among the homes he's most proud of is this bungalow in Thorncrest Village, an exclusive community of about 200 homes north of Rathburn Road, between Islington and Kipling avenues.
"It's probably one of the more elaborate and formal homes we've built," he says. "I've closed many a deal showing that home."
Even agent Susan Tallarico — who specializes in selling high-end homes in the Kingsway and surrounding communities — had him build a home for her after she visited this house.
"This is one of his milestone properties," she says. "It's just over 10 years old, but when it was built, it was ahead of its time. [Yet] all the materials that were used are still very current."
Mr. Gornik's company, T. Gornik Build/Design Ltd., has constructed or renovated about 85 homes the area — he had 10 to 15 under his belt before constructing this one.
"He wasn't as known then as he is now, but we trusted him," says the current owner, who prefers to remain anonymous. "I envisioned a certain thing and he translated it for me very well."
Located at the end of a crescent, the house sits on a premium, pie-shaped lot that's 55 feet across the front and 246 feet along one side. This spaciousness allowed the owner to have more than 4,200 square feet on the main floor. The basement contains another 4,000 square feet.
"It's hard to find a one-level home of this calibre," Ms. Tallarico says.
"That's considered a luxury to have everything on one level."
It took roughly two years to complete the house, but the time was well spent fine-tuning its design, selecting upscale finishes, handcrafting multiple pieces on site and installing advanced mechanical systems.
For instance, at the time this home was built, it was uncommon to have an automated lighting and sound system, or a temperature-controlled wine cellar, Ms. Tallarico notes. It has both.
Then, there are its timeless architectural elements, such as the elaborate millwork Mr. Gornik's father created on site.
"He's a craftsman from the old times, so he really pays a lot of attention to the detail in the home," Ms. Tallarico says.
The library is a prime example, with Honduras mahogany panels on all four walls and a masonry, wood-burning fireplace framed by built-in bookcases. Another example is the wine cellar, which features built-in display shelves and extensive racking.
"It's fairly consistent with the way we're doing things today," says Mr. Gornik, adding that his 72-year-old father is one of several tradesmen that are still on his team.
The living room features a unique cambered ceiling that mimics the curve of the Palladium windows and arched entryway. "That was the first time I did that," Mr. Gornik recalls.
For the owner, the design not only fulfilled her request for high, coffered ceilings, it surpassed her expectations.
"It's one thing to see something on paper, and it's quite another when it's right in front of you and you can actually see it," she says.
"The living room is one of the most beautiful rooms in the house."
The oval windows in the dining room dictated the ceiling treatment — a unique oval coffered ceiling. The breakfast area, meanwhile, has large picture windows, cornice moulding and a coffered ceiling with a matching ceiling medallion.
"There's a lot of character in every room you go into," the owner says.
In the bedroom wing, the master suite has a fireplace and separate his and hers dressing rooms with built-in shelves and organizers, in addition to two marble bathrooms, a setup that's "not something I've seen too much," Ms. Tallarico says.
Both ensuites have shower stalls; the larger five-piece bathroom also has a whirlpool tub and a custom vanity with twin display towers.
"It's really nice when you have to get ready for the same function," the owner notes.
Just as much attention went into creating a basement as welcoming and inviting as the main floor.
"It doesn't feel like a lower level," Ms. Tallarico says. "It's got a high ceiling, and because it has a walkout to the garden, it has a lot of light, so you just feel like you're in a resort."
The extra space in the entertainment lounge — complete with a wet bar, wine cellar and second kitchen — is also handy for accommodating large groups.
"I've held sit-down dinners for 100 people," says the owner. "When you're sitting there, you're looking out to your garden."
The owners brought in Bolliger Landscapes Ltd., based in Caledon, Ont., to create a limestone patio, walkways, tiered gardens, a gazebo and a water feature.
"We like barbecuing, so we sit out there almost every night in the summer," the owner adds.
Mr. Gornik was especially pleased with how the home's Quebec limestone facade and sloping roofline help it blend in with the existing streetscape. The garage is tucked in beside the house and can't be seen from the front.
"When I did the design, I tried to make it look like it wouldn't dwarf the other homes," Mr. Gornik says. "The home to the right is actually an original bungalow with no more than 1,200 or 1,300 square feet."
The neighbourhood's layout, with cul-de-sacs and winding streets that run from east to west, gives most houses direct southern exposure. Mature trees, cast-iron street lamps and wood signposts increase curb-side appeal.
Homeowners in Thorncrest Village also have the opportunity of applying for membership in a private clubhouse with tennis courts, pool and gym. Social events and activities are also held there.
"There are not many communities like that in Toronto, so it makes it very exclusive," Ms. Tallarico adds.
She also notes that the limited number of homes in the area means that they come on the market rarely.
"It's not a huge community," she says. "In Thorncrest Village, this is the only thing available."
Special to The Globe and Mail
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