Slideshow: 18 photos of the $17-million Vaughan palace that real estate watchers can’t stop talking about
For the past week, the $17.8-million “Versailles of Vaughan” has been Ontario’s most talked-about property. The wonderfully cheesy taste of the two GTA entrepreneurs who built it is delighting press both at home and abroad , and no wonder: the lavish mansion is a 24,000-square-foot tribute to more-is-more opulence. Here, five of the most outrageous details about the mini palace, plus a photo gallery so you can see it for yourself.
1. It was made as a wedding prop
Some couples splurge on an ornate cake or flowers, some build a Rococo chateau. The owners had their dream wedding at the house a year ago, with guests dressed in 18th-century Venetian costumes like the ones in the master bedroom. “I know this sounds corny, but we built the home to have our wedding kiss on the balcony,” the bride told the Toronto Star. (Uh, corny was not necessarily the word we were thinking of.) A few months later, they put the house on the market.
2. It has a heated Ferrari room
The “boy toy room,” as the bride describes it, includes a wall of mirrors, mural of a race track, and a black-and-white checkered floor. It’s the best of seven indoor parking spots, while the driveway fits 30 cars.
3. The Sistine Chapel-worthy ceilings were hand-painted
Artisans sculpted and hand-painted the many, many scenes on the ceiling, according to agent Michelle Anne Schipper’s listing, which also points out that the entry gates are gold-plated and describes the house as a good place to “entertain royalty and heads of state.”
4. There are three kitchens
And 12 bathrooms. And an indoor pool with two-storey windows and two change rooms. And a mini banquet hall.
5. It would cost upwards of $75,000 a month to live here
The annual taxes top $35,000, and even if you put 20 per cent down, the mortgage would still be in the vicinity of $70,000 a month. And that’s not even counting the army of housekeepers you’d need to keep all that gold polished and all those chandeliers dust-free.
240753 Front gates (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A001.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a001/ vaughan-mansion-a001 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240754 Central staircase (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A002.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a002/ vaughan-mansion-a002 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240755 Dining room (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A003.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a003/ vaughan-mansion-a003 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240756 Indoor pool (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A004.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a004/ vaughan-mansion-a004 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240757 Master bedroom (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A005.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a005/ vaughan-mansion-a005 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240758 Library (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A006.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a006/ vaughan-mansion-a006 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240759 Kitchen (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A007.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a007/ vaughan-mansion-a007 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240760 Family room (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A008.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a008/ vaughan-mansion-a008 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240761 Back exterior (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A009-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A009.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-A009.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-a009/ vaughan-mansion-a009 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240780 Ferrari room (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D007.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d007/ vaughan-mansion-d007 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240779 Fountain in the front drive (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D008.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d008/ vaughan-mansion-d008 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240778 Courtyard and garages (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D009-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D009.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D009.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d009/ vaughan-mansion-d009 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240777 Master ensuite (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E001.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-e001/ vaughan-mansion-e001 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240776 Master ensuite (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-E002.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-e002/ vaughan-mansion-e002 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240784 Front doors (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D001.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d001/ vaughan-mansion-d001 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240783 Second floor hallway (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D002.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d002/ vaughan-mansion-d002 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240782 The hallway’s painted ceiling (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D003.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d003/ vaughan-mansion-d003 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
240781 Indoor pool (Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage) $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion $17.8-million Vaughan Mansion https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/vaughan-mansion-D004.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/slide-show-versailles-vaughan-mansion/slide/vaughan-mansion-d004/ vaughan-mansion-d004 0 0
(Image: courtesy of Michelle Schipper, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage)
Too much money and no taste.
No matter what they did to this place the fact remains that it is in VAUGHAN! With all that money why would you choose to live in that nightmare of a Suburb!?!?
Despite its somewhat questionable cost/value and I can’t for sure say what design style this is ( roccoco maybe?) I find it hideous.
I lvoe Vaughan
“hideous” doesn’t do it justice.
Looks like my home.
ew and ew. hold on … ew.
way over the top, and not by any means whatsoever in a good way.
It’s so tacky though. :S
disgraceful low class and down right appalling – who are these idiots? no class whatsoever – with all of the people in this world without a decent meal to eat – disgusting excuses for human beings
Don’t be so presumptuous, for all you know he does donate a lot to charity and still has a lot left over to maintain such a lifestyle. Even if he didn’t give anything to charity, who cares, it’s his money that he worked for and a such he has no obligation to give to all those around the around. Stop being so sanctimonious and self-righteous, it’s appalling.
Perfect example of all that is wrong with western culture. The obsession with accumulation. Everything about this and these people is a joke.
KILL IT WITH FIRE
Can we move it to Florida?
Bad taste is just bad taste.
destroy bourgeois culture. take everything of value from this monstrosity for redistrubution and burn the building to the ground
Nay, rather than burning I say repurpose it as a public museum on capitalist excess.
I’ve never seen something with so much gold look so much like vomit.
What do you consider tasteful? A masterpiece home built in Ontario in our life time that will be around for hundreds of years. Hand painted ceilings, crafted fixtures, every room being enormous is warm with wood and murals. Built by people in love for a celebration of it, done in a way that is unimaginable for most of us. Just trying to understand the negative comments. I would love to see it myself I am sure the pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of the workmanship done. I’m sure every person that worked on building this lavish home is proud of their work.
Stay where you are then! We don’t want people like you in Vaughan
Way too busy in the interior and no exterior life to the house. With this much money you can hire professionals with taste.
lol, what are you, racist?
Anyone notice the library? Not a single book in it… just HomeFill™
Why are there no books on the shelves in the library?
Just knick knacks? I guess that’s what makes someone a bourgeois gentilhomme..
Who knew owning a dental hygiene school would make so much money?
I think it’s gorgeous. Obviously not everyone’s taste! I love all the woodwork and marble inlays. It’s art! Not crazy about Vaughn though.
Place this in Germany, France, Italy as it is, say some king lived there, charge admission and people would flock to see it. So what if it is in Vaughan. The bitterness and hatred expressed below simply reeks of jealousy, envy, and simply bad manners and verges on bullying. Stop the whining. It may not be your taste – do you honestly think the owners or builders would share your taste if it can even be called that. The craftsmanship exhibited here is wonderful and a great deal of pride went into creating this dream home – for those who actually know how to dream.
absolutely hideous and I couldn’t even make it through the thumbnails
ya gotta wonder why would anyone in their right mind want this????
Vaughn is huge.. there is still lots of empty land and neighbourhoods with mansions on 1-3 acres of land
is there nothng in this world worth spending all that money on rather then a house for a wedding only!!!! think of all the homeless and shelters you could help with just a fraction of the cost to build this place! unbelievable and actually down right stupid
этот кусок shitbox для русских бандитов мафии. Этот взгляд, как что-то Владимира Путина или КГБ подражатель бы. Его отвратительное
этот кусок shitbox для русских бандитов мафии. Этот взгляд, как что-то Владимира Путина или КГБ подражатель бы. Его отвратительное
Somehow I doubt this was built to last for hundreds of years. Considering that even the people who built it didn’t want to keep it, I’d be surprised if it survived the decade. Good riddance.
Gaudy.
Typical Canadian bleeding heart liberals…. because someone has money and wants to spend it their way, we expect them to give all their money to people in need. People who have made that comment appear to have judged these folks as greedy, self absorbed and oppulent without even knowing them and whether they donate of give to charities. In most cases, people with this kind of wealth give far more to charity than a vast majority of the public. Whether you like their taste or not, is none of our business. That will be between them and the prospective buyers but from what I can see, and what I know of many of the middle eastern cultures, they will not have any problem selling this house to anyone with a few million to spare. By the way, I’m sure buyers with this kind of money will have no problem forking over the money to redecorate in any manner they want. While many have said how much they hate it, if they could live there, would they? You betcha.
Ummm…no. It would cost way too much to maintain and most families would drown in that space if they could even justify it. No, only greedhead conservatives would even think of buying a ridiculously large place like that.
If a bleeding heart liberal means I care more about my fellow citizens than about greed and wealth, paint me proud pink or red! The greatest compliment I can receive is to be called a proud liberal.
Is there a queue to barf on the driveway? Is the queue to barf on the bride shorter?
Western?
No taste? this is luxury at its finest. Colours like orange, red, blue, green have no taste = childish colours.
No taste is when people buy nice upscale houses but put very little effort into interior design/furniture. Everything placed in this mansion complements the outside of the building.
Not impressed!! they could have housed the homeless for 17 million, that would have been money well spent
How do you know where their money came from?
You’re right – maybe it’s organized crime!!!
No you were right, just wanted to know how you knew what they did for a living
There are a bunch of articles on the “Versailles of Vaughan”; I believe it was the Toronto Sun that mentioned they owned a private dental hygienist school. Sun is less discreet than say, the Globe & Mail
overkilled and tacky as hell.
my girlfriend said it looks a little trashy… her name is Lauren Kohli from Chatham. Also some paintings don’t belong in the house according to her.
What mail order college did the ‘architect’ get his degree from. No person with any understanding of French architecture could ever have worked on this vulgar, tasteless, crass and historically innacurate mess.
Western culture abhors displays of opulent wealth so the hate here is understood. If I had that kind of money I wouldn’t do a house like that but it’s their money, let them do what they want with it. Don’t “hate” because they have more money than you do. We all secretly want to the rich you know….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1PllrfeiVw
Oh goodness what a waste of money, it’s so tacky.
No. Bad taste just isn’t your taste
Must be owner by a Russian.
who are these idiots???
The taxes are very attrocious. $70,000 a month? In 10 years, that’s more than $7 million.
I wouldn’t even pay the $35,000 in taxes/month if I had the money. But the building looks really nice.
People like you, Lisa Dozzi, I doubt deserve to eat. But I maybe judging there.
if this home was located in Europe, the comments would be very different. Love the craftsmanship this house portrays, however not my taste to live in, still a very beautiful display of art inside
the house has no soul. It compares to a very beautiful supermodel with super moody bitchy attitude.