A Cut Above

Baywood Estate Homes takes lakeside living to the next level with interior views that reveal astounding layouts from above and below.

Adventurous, glamorous, and nestled on the shores of Mahogany Lake, Baywood Estate Homes fully explores the upside of innovative design through a classically modern interpretation of French Chateau architecture. A natural fit that celebrates creative swagger, style, and lakeside living.

Always on the edge with their uniquely engaging designs that explore flourish and flair, Baywood Estate Homes is extremely comfortable colouring outside the box. For over a decade they have been recognized for their creative risks, raising the bar with impeccable form and exemplary function.

“Every Baywood Estate Homes design is born from a set of imaginative ideas that are created under the meticulous direction of our design and management teams,” shares master builder Jim Groenewoud, whose close working relationships with clients, suppliers, and trades allows them to capture and embrace the extraordinary.

“We begin with the lot and land and our designs take advantage of its best features. That’s our focus,” explains Jim. An in-house design developed by himself and codesigner Ian Cassley, The Oxford boasts a French Chateau aesthetic with a modern twist. Hosting an inner courtyard with gated charm, its memorable façade invites lingering looks and second glances.

“One of our challenges was that many of the sister lakefront lots are lottery show homes. We wanted to come up with something unique and stand-out to compete,” admits Jim of The Oxford that started as spec home with show home aspirations. Building upon castle-like character, they landed on curved exterior rooflines and re-created old-world features and finishes. “We oriented the floor plan towards views of the lake, which all the common rooms share.”

Given its lakeside setting, generously scaled windows were cleverly arranged at the rear of the home with rear deck and walkout patio areas maximized to capture the lake, beach club attractions, and its own private dock.

An exceptional and original layout, The Oxford hosts 5,400 square feet of seamless integration and fluid flows. Through the use of ceiling transitions, it distinguishes common rooms with singular appeal. “We used brick in the kitchen, wine rooms, and the home theatre. It was a styleappropriate finish and ties the home together,” cites Jim.

Displaying astounding open spaces in front of the stacked wine rooms, funneled light spills onto all three levels, for a riveting, one-of-a-kind feature. “When you are at the second floor wine room you can see clear through to the basement and the bar below,” notes Jim. The open, executive-style kitchen reveals a butler’s pantry behind an inviting display of millwork where opposite, the 24-foot fireplace exhibits Chateau-esque style with subtle flair.

For a home of impressive scale, energy-efficiency was equally regarded in the build. “We used extensive use of spray foam insulation and low-e, argon-filled windows. The boiler system further heats surfaces in the garage and basement with electric heat warming the upper floor tiled surfaces,” states Jim. The exterior foundation was wrapped with two-inch rigid insulation to prevent heat loss through basement walls for comprehensive efficiency.

“In Mahogany we have three different architectural styles to choose from and chose the French Chateau style because it gave us a lot of design flexibility that advanced the innovations we were looking to achieve,” offers Jim, who wanted to capture a special look for that special lot.

A strong set of values and professionalism form the foundation of Baywood Estate Homes. “We are committed to improving the quality of life of our clients through a strong commitment to design, craftsmanship, innovation, and imagination,” asserts Jim, who upholds the values of honesty and integrity in every aspect of his builds.

Purchased on Christmas Eve, the clients were able to make some personal finish selections. “We were looking for a lake property with an open concept layout, viewscale windows, and high ceilings throughout,” share the homeowners. “It had one-of-a-kind features we did not expect and liked how the mix of traditional finishes—brick and beams—took on a modern look reminiscent of industrial loft designs. People stop to admire our home with many thinking that it’s a new lottery home.”

Admitting that they didn’t have too much to change, as the finishes selected were so beautiful, they add. “Jim allowed us to pick our fixtures, paint, and flooring and felt very grateful that he afforded us the opportunity. He is awesome and so his is wife,” commends the lady of the house. “We really love it here.”

Engineered white oak hardwoods feature an oiled finish, anchoring main floor layouts beneath a woodclad beamed ceiling. Dovetail drawers host soft close function with a maple Charcoal island and perimeter cabinets in Cloud White all built on site. A tumbled brick Iron Works veneer clads backsplash features with mounted wall sconces for period charm. The stainless steel farmer’s sink features matte black faucets that match handles. Adjacent, a railing edges another opening that invites views of the family room below.

Photos by Caydence Photography

Dual wine rooms host identical styling with the main floor feature displaying cutouts above and below with eye-catching ingenuity. The maple railing with slender wrought iron spindles is stained to match the oak hardwood, which is repeated on the wine room ceiling. Stainless steel, wall mounted wine racks complement the comprehensive tumbled brick finish.

The corner gym in the basement hosts rubberized flooring next to the home theatre. A 21-foot window rises to the main floor level, afforded captivating views of the lake from the kitchen.

Vinyl flooring hosts an oak aesthetic in the basement area that was chosen for its durability and easy maintenance given the lake access. Charcoal stained cabinets host a Shaker door style with flat black metal handles and brick wall features. White quartz countertops add smooth contrast beneath the cut away above with views to the upper floors.

A full-height, 24-foot gas fireplace chase enhances the great room where viewscale mullioned windows overlook the lake and beach club beyond. Clerestory windows and a period-style chandelier lend additional light.

Brick columns with flattering wall sconces accentuate the home theatre room that hosts three tiers of comfortable theatre-style seating and a dual entrance. The 129-inch projection screen affords cinema scale entertainment with full soundproofing.

The main level hosts a captivating overview of open concept charms, stacked wine rooms, and a decorative display of ceiling transitions. The overlook acts a bridge between the staircase and the hallway that leads to bedroom access.