House of the Week: $4.5 million for a designer Lytton Park home lined with exotic wood
(Image: Alex Roth)
Address: 31 Lytton Boulevard
Neighbourhood: Lytton Park
Agent: Kevin Michael McCarthy , Royal LePage, Johnston and Daniel Division, Brokerage
Price: $4,495,000
The Place: A, 5,000-square-foot, contemporary new build in Lytton Park, designed for a buyer with luxurious tastes.
The History: The home was completed in 2015 by ArtHaus , a developer known for upscale, contemporary uptown homes. Among the flashy finishes: West African wenge and walnut feature walls, heated marble floors in the bathrooms and a sleek, open kitchen with custom cabinetry and Miele appliances. The property was staged for sale with artwork from Katzman Contemporary , a gallery in the Junction.
Big Selling Point: The house has all the conveniences a buyer would expect for the price, including a heated driveway, security cameras and an elevator. There’s even a home automation system that allows the owner to manage household appliances using a touch screen.
Possible Deal Breaker: Once all the show furniture is gone, it’s going to be difficult for the new owner to make the interior of this place look anywhere near as sleek as it currently does. Any potential buyers had better have a healthy amount of extra money set aside for decoration.
By The Numbers:
• $4,495,000
• $13,992.02 in property taxes (2014)
• 5,000 square feet
• 11-foot ceilings
• 7 bathrooms
• 6 parking spaces
• 4 bedrooms
• 4 outdoor security cameras
• 3 storeys
• 2 gas fireplaces
• 2 furnaces
• 2 central A/C units
• 1 theatre room
• 1 wine cellar
• 1 elevator
319266 The house, completed in 2015, was designed by ArtHaus. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-1-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-1.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-1/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-1 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319267 The living room has a wood-burning fireplace and a wall made of West African wenge, a type of tan wood. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-2-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-2.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-2/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-2 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319268 The dining area is attached to the living room. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-3-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-3.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-3/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-3 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319269 The kitchen has an island with room for six stools. The drawers and cabinets are made from walnut, and the appliances are Miele. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-4-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-4.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-4/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-4 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319270 Next to the kitchen is the family room. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-5-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-5.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-5/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-5 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319271 There's a gas fireplace in the family room, and a door to the backyard. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-6-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-6.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-6/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-6 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319272 There are four bedrooms on the second floor of the house: three smaller ones and this spacious master suite. The sliding door opens to a Juliet balcony. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-7-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-7.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-7/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-7 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319273 The dressing room is hidden behind a wall made of more of that West African wenge. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-8-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-8.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-8/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-8 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319274 A window by the tub in the master en suite has a view of some treetops. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-9-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-9.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-9/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-9 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319275 The third floor is a little unusual. Rather than split it into bedrooms, the builder left it as an open studio space, complete with its own bathroom. A sliding door leads to a rooftop terrace. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-10.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-10/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-10 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319276 This is the basement rec room. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-11-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-11.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-11/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-11 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
319277 Also in the basement: a soundproofed media room. (Image: Alex Roth) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-12.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard/slide/toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-12/ toronto-house-of-the-week-31-lytton-boulevard-12 0 0
(Image: Alex Roth)
This house has been under construction for 2+ years. Much of that time it looked like an abandoned work site, with gaping holes in walls and rain and snow everywhere. Every now and then one or two guys would show up, hammer a tarp in place and then leave for another month or so. I wouldn’t trust the quality of the materials used and have no doubt that once sold, in a year or two, we will see trucks in front, showing that waterproofing / mold removal / repairs are needed. Caveat emptor.
I went to the open-house and this house it amazing. The pictures don’t do it justice at all. Wish I had an extra $ 1mil in my budget. Not surprised that it would take long to build it. It’s definitely not anything like the cookie-cutter McMansions that pass for “luxury” in Toronto.
I also noticed that construction was going on for a while but there was always something happening on the site. Have to congratulate the builder for creating something really unique.
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While not in the market a friend took me out to see this place. The article has it right, it has all the usual amenities you would expect at the price point (plus a neatly cloaked elevator). What impressed most, for me, was the airiness, spacing and sensible layout. The cost for larger houses/spaces, all too often, is a loss of intimacy – I’m not sure whether it was the windows, room sizes or ceiling heights – or maybe the minimalist design, or some combination of all the above – but whatever it is the designer/builder got it right – harmony comes out of the negative space – subtle, but unmistakably present. Perhaps an odd selling feature for a home, but one that worked on me – to walk it, is to want it.
gorgeous on the inside, horrendous on the out
Beautiful inside and out! Doing “modern” right is hard.I like how its understated, nothing extraneous.
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Just drove by, had to see it in person. Looks great from the outside.
Why seven bathrooms?