Sale of the Week: the $2.6-million new-build that proves contemporary homes can have lively interiors
Address: 14 Windham Drive
Neighbourhood: Bayview Village
Agent: Nora Akhbari, Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., Brokerage
The Property: This custom build sets itself apart from other modern homes with its use of wood materials, which warm up the interior colour palette. Also unusual: an open-concept design that splits the main floor into multiple tiers. A winding staircase leads to the bedrooms, each with its own en suite washroom.
The History: This mini-mansion replaced a wartime bungalow similar to those that still make up much of the neighbourhood. Construction began about a year and a half ago and ended last summer.
The Fate: Developers of contemporary homes, facing a dwindling number of buildable sites in Willowdale to the west, have turned to Bayview Village. The agent who sold this house thinks the recent uptick in cool, modern builds is behind an influx of young families to the area. The buyers of 14 Windham certainly fit that description.
The Sale: The home was listed for $2,749,000 in August to test the market. (The neighbourhood is unused to such large offerings.) The agent eventually relisted it for $2,650,000. After some serious offers fell through, the home received its final offer over the holidays, traditionally one of the toughest times to offload real estate.
By the Numbers:
• $2,569,000
• 5,600 square feet, approximately, including the basement
• 97 per cent of list price
• 93 days on the market
• 4+1 bedrooms
• 6 washrooms
• 2-car built-in garage
304991 The builder knocked down a wartime bungalow and built this in its place. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-1-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-1.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-1/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-1 0 0
304992 The interior incorporates a lot of wood, which makes this house stand out from others of its type. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-2-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-2.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-2/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-2 0 0
304993 The living room, with the dining area in the background. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-3-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-3.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-3/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-3 0 0
304994 A closer look at the dining area. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-4-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-4.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-4/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-4 0 0
304995 Here's the family room, with the kitchen in the background. The split-level design is unique, but it could be a little awkward for anyone who has trouble with stairs. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-5-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-5.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-5/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-5 0 0
304996 The living room has more of that same wood, and there's a fireplace, too. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-6-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-6.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-6/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-6 0 0
304997 The kitchen comes with plenty of fancy appliances. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-7-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-7.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-7/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-7 0 0
304998 The powder room looks like it was put together by Stanley Kubrick's production designer. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-8-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-8.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-8/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-8 0 0
304999 The winding staircase is a big selling point. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-9-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-9.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-9/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-9 0 0
305000 There are two bedrooms on an "in-between" level, sandwiched between the first and second floors. This is one of them. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-10.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-10/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-10 0 0
305001 And here's that bedroom's en suite washroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-11-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-11.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-11/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-11 0 0
305002 Here's a second floor bedroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-12.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-12/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-12 0 0
305003 And the master bedroom is also on the second floor. It has its own fireplace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-13-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-13.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-13/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-13 0 0
305004 The master bedroom's walk-in closet. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-14-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-14.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-14/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-14 0 0
305005 And the master en suite. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-15-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-15.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-15/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-15 0 0
305006 The basement rec room has a bar and a walkout to the backyard. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-16-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-16.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-16/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-16 0 0
305007 The basement steps. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-17-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-17.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-17/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-17 0 0
305008 And here's the backyard. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-18-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-18.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive/slide/toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-18/ toronto-sale-of-the-week-14-windham-drive-18 0 0
If I were not a middle manager, I would buy this house, get a big TV in the master above the fireplace, get in bed, and only get out for necessities, until spring. Also I hope it comes with a nice housekeeper who makes delicious soup and has excellent taste in scented candles.