Design details of Pears on the Avenue townhomes flow from the foyer and dining area
Designer Brian Gluckstein adds bright, elegant touch to the Pears on the Avenue townhouses.
If there's one word to describe the five new townhouses situated near the corner of Toronto's Avenue Road and Davenport it's this: bright.
As part of the exclusive Pears on the Avenue condominium development – named not for the fruit, but its location on residential Pears Avenue – the townhouses perfectly encapsulate the personalities of the Annex and Yorkville neighbourhoods they border. Think intellectual elegance combined with a healthy dose of glitz.
That sense of smart and sophisticated luxury is exactly the tone designer Brian Gluckstein wanted to achieve when he embarked on the project – planning the 2,800-square-foot living space, choosing the finishes and even decorating the model home. Recognized nationally as Canadian House & Home's favourite interior designer, Mr. Gluckstein has created three levels of airy and light-filled space as ideal for curling up with a book in front of the fireplace as hosting a decadent dinner party for 12.
"The idea was to have these great open spaces ideal for entertaining," explains Mr. Gluckstein. "There's a sense of what I call modern luxury in this house."
Creating this space has meant building a large and open foyer separated from the kitchen by a modern brass screen. The adjoining living room, dining room and full-scale kitchen all benefit from the ample light that shines in from multiple sides of the house. Clever use of glass and layout on the top two floors create the same effect.
"When you walk in, it's jaw-dropping," says Janice Fox, director of sales for Menkes, the developer for Pears on the Avenue.
Condo style with townhome space
It's not surprising that developers such as Menkes are building sumptuous condo townhouses at the base of their tower properties. Townhouses are popular, particularly in hot markets such as Vancouver and Toronto where buyers are looking for new-build alternatives to older renovated homes. According to a recent Google trends report on Canada's housing market, "townhouse" has been a frequent online search word in those cities.
But Pears on the Avenue townhouses stand out on their own, offering an at-home experience with condominium amenities.
Homeowners simply have to slip out the door and visit the 20-storey Pears on the Avenue tower next door. There they can take advantage of the 24-hour concierge, indoor pool with cabana style seating, a fully equipped gym, a yoga and meditation studio, a media screening room and even a private board room. If there are more friends and family visiting than can comfortably fit in the townhouse's two bedrooms and upstairs den, they can spread out in a hotel-styled guest suite in the tower too.
Design details of Pears on the Avenue townhomes flow from the foyer and dining area, top, to the sleek full-sized kitchen, above right, and spacious balcony.
Natural space for a sense of place
Hosting an annual holiday soirée or summertime barbeque? The multi-purpose party room and terrace on the mezzanine level of the Pears tower offers a catering kitchen and wet bar, as well as a fire pit and ample seating outside.
"Our buyer is really someone who wants the convenience of condo living, but may not be ready for a condominium. They want the space a house offers," says Ms. Fox.
That also includes natural space. Each level of the townhouse provides outdoor access, from the small courtyard in front and second- and third-floor balconies to a rooftop deck set up for a gas barbeque and garden.
Private parking, personal elevator
But perhaps the biggest draw is not found outdoors, but underground. All townhouses have access to underground parking. Homeowners can then walk through their own secured basement door to a foyer – where their private elevator awaits. Each unit comes equipped with this elevator, which can access all levels of the house.
It's a perfect solution for boomers and retirees who plan to eventually age in place, a choice that 83 per cent of Canadians say they would prefer over living in a retirement residence, according to Royal Bank of Canada survey data.
With selling price starting at $2.4-million, Pears on the Avenue townhomes will be ready for moving day by the end of 2015. The Gluckstein-designed model home is open for viewing now.
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