A view from the summit
WESTMOUNT GEM rises above city skyline to offer panoramic peek of mountain ranges, river
After 2½ years in the making, there is a new residence in the uppermost reaches of Westmount that is sure to take its place among the cities’ most distinguished properties.
Located at 68 Summit Circle, the four-bedroom, 3½-bathroom dwelling rises above the city skyline and resembles a French manoir in the most classic style. Not only is the property dazzling from the outside, with its bold pillared entranceway, the interior is lined in the finest marbles and rich hardwoods, including mahogany and oak.
The 5,000 sq. ft. of living space is equally divided among the three floors, each of which, with their floor-toceiling windows combined, offer amazing views that spread southward, eastward and westward. In fact, from the second- and third-level balconies, you can see in one 180-degree panoramic span, two mountain ranges (the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondack’s of New York), two states (Vermont and New York), plus the mighty St. Lawrence River and its sequence of rapids.
It is a view to die for, as you stand looking out from balconies, high above the city, literally hanging over the brink of forested Westmount.
The inspiration behind the building’s construction was to design a French Château/parisian Manoirstyle residence. The structure is made of steel and concrete, covered with a limestone and brick finish, with intricate exterior detailing such as the 12 custom-made wrought-iron lanterns that light the property.
“The whole message here is that nothing was bought across counter from a dealer. It’s all custom work, like their very, own Taj Mahal. It’s custom throughout,” said RE/MAX broker Albert Sayegh, who is handling the $6,850,000 property.
You enter the residence from street level into a foyer with a creamtoned Jerusalem marble floor, cut and imported from the Holy Land to exact specifications for the home. Then your eye is caught by the winding marble stairwell. It’s locally forged-iron railing leads, like a flowered vine, to the third floor.
Off the foyer are a powder room, living room with built-ins and gas fireplace (one of three in the home), the dining room, dinette and a high-end gourmet kitchen with oversized Calcutta gold marble countertop. The marble flooring is radiant heated. The kitchen has all top-of-the-line appliances, including a Sub-zero fridge, Wolf gas oven range, a built-in Wolf convection microwave oven and an Asko dishwasher. All drawers and panels have custom-made polished nickel handles.
It is so well lit (even on cloudy days) by an entire wall of southfacing, floor-to-ceiling French glass doors, that there is no need to flick that light switch except for when darkness closes in. This level also has a mud room and garage, which has a heated driveway. So you can just throw away that old snow shovel, or donate it to your local antique shop because you won’t be needing it any longer.
The third floor has a full-floorlength master bedroom with en- suite. It is covered with custom-cut Bianca Carrara marble floors and counter tops. There is a Jacuzzi and a shower that doubles as a steam shower. Strategically placed mirrors and finite detailing bounce the light around the ensuite, causing shadows to hide away from the welldesigned location.
The third floor also includes his and her walk-in closets, a custom wood-panelled library/office, a ballroom, wet bar and a gas fireplace with beautifully carved mantle. It also has one of the two Parisian-style balconies with galvanized, handmade wrought-iron railings.
The first level has three bedrooms (one with its own ensuite), two bathrooms, laundry room, family room with gas fireplace and wine cellar. This level is best suited for children where they can play out of the way of their parents in their own, not-solittle paradise.
The wine cellar is custom-built in a Venetian style. It can hold more than 1,600 bottles of vintage and can be securely locked behind a solid monastery-like plank door with iron hinges.
The first level also allows access to the brick-floored patio area where cedar bushes line the boundaries of the property. A heated, saltwater in-ground pool highlights the patio, which has more than adequate space for outside entertaining.
The home has all French antique doors and windows, with Cremone hardware that open to the inside of the house, like old French chateaux do.
This residence is a “Smart home” where from the command of a laptop, you can control the lighting, heating and security. It also has a home cinema surround sound and Non-directional Hi-fi Totem Acoustics speakers installed throughout the property.
In a nutshell, this property is leading-edge modern, while retaining that French Château style and ambience. It is a place of coziness and warmth.
But not only that, it is a great escape from downtown where you are just eight steps away from the Summit Bird and Plant Sanctuary of Westmount. In the spring, the woods come alive with dozens of brilliantly coloured birds that use this mountain as a stopover from their wintering grounds in Latin America to their breeding areas throughout Quebec. It’s the complete great escape .