Ritzy, roomy and on the Rideau River
In any number of ways, home shows that Ottawa is not the city fun forgot
Pick your party style: big and loud, fun and games, or low-key and intimate.
The house at 12 Lodge Rd., in the south Ottawa neighbourhood of Hearts Desire, can host them all — from a quiet corner of the main-floor great room, the third-storey loft with expansive games room and cigar lounge, or spread over three spacious, well-appointed levels.
“You can even have a different party on each floor,” listing agent Christopher Lacharity suggests. Just the ticket for a multi-generational family or sociable host with diverse friends and interests.
But while entertaining may seem like the home’s main raison d’être, it has much more to offer besides a built-in wine wall, high-end chef’s and butler’s kitchens and an oversized back deck and lounge, says Lacharity of Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
For one thing, “the master (bedroom) is one of the nicest I’ve seen,” he says of the secondfloor suite with private balcony, opulent ensuite with soaking tub and separate glass shower that’s “big enough for 10 people.”
The walk-in closet has a window overlooking the great room and out onto the Rideau River flowing past the backyard. The house was built in 1976 and, when the current owner bought it in 2007, he spent almost two years doing “a total gut job” and redesign, according to the realtor.
“He did a great job,” Lacharity says of the homeowner, who works in the construction in- dustry. “Everything is highend.”
Massive carved doors open to a grand entrance where a sweeping staircase of oak and wrought iron draws the eye in and up.
With its two-storey ceiling and dual-sided fireplace, the great room is “very light and impressive,” Lacharity says, noting wall-to-wall windows across the back of the house were designed to capitalize on the views.
The property offers “resortstyle living,” with 100 feet of waterfront and private access to boating and water activities in a wake-free zone, he says.
The home’s lower level has a fully equipped, self-contained suite as well as a sauna and gym.
And about those parties: Among the most impressive entertainment areas, according to Lacharity, is the third floor where guests can play games, enjoy refreshments at the wet bar or relax in the fully ventilated cigar lounge that’s lined topto-bottom with reclaimed barn board.
The Plexiglas inserts in the floor of the games room are a “cool feature,” he says. “You can walk on it and look down the staircase to see who’s coming in.”
Downstairs, the butler’s kitchen tucked behind the big, open kitchen gives caterers all the space and equipment they need to feed large crowds or a big dinner party.
The family room, which features a fireplace for cosy gatherings, has glass doors leading to the deck where there’s plenty of space for outdoor lovers to revel in the sun or sunset. With numerous bathrooms and guest bedrooms, including a suite on the third floor, there’s an abundance of overnight accommodation for those who like to linger.
The tree-flanked house on a sparsely populated road 30 minutes south of Parliament Hill is a “bargain” at a shade under $3 million, Lacharity says.
As a high-end realtor who’s familiar with Toronto, he says it would be ideal for someone “who sold their home at the right time” in the GTA and can buy in Ottawa “for half that amount of money.”