Built in 1917, this grand estate was designed by the same prestigious firm (Darling and Pearson) that created two majestic public buildings, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Houses of Parliament. The house was originally owned by auto baron Sam McLaughlin, whose company eventually became GM. Its lavish interior is certainly fit for a tycoon: special features include a dramatic main staircase topped by a leaded glass dome. McLaughlin’s own suite of rooms and the formal art deco garden, complete with a reflecting pool and fountains, were designed by John Lyle in 1935. Don’t miss the enclosed Italian garden, a private room decorated with marble statuary and a pond.