Toronto Star

Big balconies offer panoramic views

Home has a ‘crow’s nest’ loft, walls of windows plus skiing and sledding outside the door

- ALLISON HARNESS SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Grey Highlands Location: 807035-25th Side Rd., Hwys. 7 and 40 Asking price: $1,399,000 Size: about 3,700 square feet Lot: about 10 hectares, two-car attached garage, private double drive Taxes: $5,667 (2017) Bedrooms: 3 plus 2 Bathrooms: 3 Overlookin­g the Collingwoo­d area’s Blue Mountains and nearby Beaver Valley, this estate has a huge, wraparound terrace, and a rooftop deck and garden, all providing spectacula­r panoramic views.

“For the past 17 years, our custombuil­t home with its energy-saving features has provided reliable shelter and comfort throughout all kinds of weather,” homeowner Egle Huminilowy­cz says. “With its floor-to-ceiling windows, we have fabulous views of the lush landscape. We have spotted wild turkeys on our property and have even had hawks perch on our porch railings.

“Over the years we have gone snowshoein­g, skiing and sledding on our land, watched tadpoles in the stream, harvested wild leeks and sat around nighttime bonfires. And when we wanted to take in a local farmers market, fine dining, a movie, a concert or shopping, these activities were only minutes away,” Huminilowy­cz says. “As we knew this property would be of interest to many types of buyers we chose two agents to collaborat­ively represent our property: one from the GTA and one from the southern Georgian Bay region,” Huminilowy­cz adds.

The home is just over a 10-minute drive to Georgian Bay, Thornbury and the Blue Mountains, and about a 30-minute drive to Collingwoo­d.

“With its southern exposure and many windows, just about every room is flooded with natural light. The location of the home is very private, yet close to Thornbury where there are shops, restaurant­s and many of the everyday necessary amenities. As well, local ski clubs and golf clubs are close by. The views of the valley and mountains are spectacula­r, particular­ly from the crow’s nest and roof garden,” listing agent Mike Kearns says.

“The home is about a 90-minute commute from the GTA. Superior constructi­on and energy-saving features are not obvious but, with people concerned about saving energy, buyers will appreciate them. The home’s overall design is timeless — its modern look and neutral finishes won’t go out of style,” co-listing agent Tony Fabiano adds.

This massive two-level home has a custom wood-siding exterior, upper and lower wraparound balconies, many windows and varied rooflines. It is surrounded by landscaped gardens, green space and mature trees.

The foyer features a tumbled travertine marble tile floor and a double closet, as well as double French doors that open to the living area.

Open and spacious, the living room has a hardwood floor and a curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a wood-burning fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling tumbled travertine surround and a built-in enclave to store firewood.

The dining room has a hardwood floor, two windows and a double French door walkout to the balcony.

Generous-sized, the kitchen has a large central space for a six-seater breakfast table. Other highlights include a full pantry wall, high-end stainless steel appliances, a European Marmoleum floor, pot lights, mosaic tile backsplash, a double sink with a small bay window above it and quartz counters. Adjoining the kitchen is a mud room with doors leading to the backyard, garage and loft.

There is a main-floor den outfitted with a hardwood floor, a ceiling fan, pocket doors, two windows and a double French door walkout to the wraparound balcony.

Located on the main level, the mas- ter bedroom has a hardwood floor, ceiling fan, many windows, a walkthroug­h closet and a four-piece ensuite with quartz counters.

A secondary bedroom features a hardwood floor and a ceiling fan. There is a four-piece bathroom with a quartz countertop to serve this bedroom.

The loft level or “crow’s nest” is spacious and open with the stairs centrally located in the room. It has potential for use as an office space and has a hardwood floor, a vaulted ceiling, floor-to-ceiling surroundin­g windows and a double French door walkout to an upper level wraparound deck and roof garden with green space and shrubbery.

Fully above grade, the lower level family room contains a hardwood floor, a double French door walkout to a patio, pot lights, a curved wall of windows and a wood-burning masonry fireplace flush with the wall with a built-in tiled enclave for firewood. There are two more bedrooms on this level, both with many above-grade windows, hardwood floors, double closets and pot lights, as well as a three-piece bathroom.

The vast rolling grounds have plenty of landscaped green space, a stream and many forested areas with mature trees and trails.

The property has very low property taxes — four hectares are forested land and classed as conservati­on lands, making them tax-free. The remaining six hectares, except for the 0.4 hectares surroundin­g the house, is taxed at a farm rate: 25 per cent of the residentia­l rate.

To have a look at this property contact listing agents: Mike Kearns, Royal LePage Locations North, Brokerage, 705-888-2888; mikekearns.ca and Tony Fabiano, Royal LePage Real Estate Profession­als, Brokerage, 416-402-5129; tonyfabian­o.ca. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date informatio­n available, we cannot guarantee features as listed. Please contact the realtor for latest details. To make a submission to Home of the Week, email soldhome@rogers.com.

 ?? ROYAL LEPAGE PHOTOS ?? The home overlookin­g the Blue Mountains has custom wood siding as well as large wraparound balconies.
ROYAL LEPAGE PHOTOS The home overlookin­g the Blue Mountains has custom wood siding as well as large wraparound balconies.
 ??  ?? Generous-sized, the kitchen has a large central space for a six-seater breakfast table.
Generous-sized, the kitchen has a large central space for a six-seater breakfast table.
 ??  ?? Open and spacious, the living room has a hardwood floor and a curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Open and spacious, the living room has a hardwood floor and a curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
 ??  ?? On the main level, the master bedroom has a hardwood floor, ceiling fan and many windows.
On the main level, the master bedroom has a hardwood floor, ceiling fan and many windows.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada