Surreal Estate: $15 million for an old-world mansion with an arcade and two basketball courts

Surreal Estate: $15 million for an old-world mansion with an arcade and two basketball courts

What Armour Heights house would be complete without heaps of gold, a movie theatre, a grotto, soaring arches and planters imported from Europe?

This 12,000-square-foot mansion in Armour Heights is selling for $15 million.

Neighbourhood: Armour Heights
Price: $14,998,000
Size: 12,000 square feet
Bedrooms: 5+1
Bathrooms: 8
Parking spots: 12
Real estate agent: Adam Brind, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada


The place 

A six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion known as the Rosewood Estate, sitting on 1.1 acres of land at the southern edge of Earl Bales Park. The place comes with two basketball courts (indoor and outdoor), a palace-like dining hall and materials imported from France. It’s within walking distance of the Don Valley Golf Course, and motorists are a short drive from the 401. 

The history 

The house was originally built in 1939. The current owners bought it in 2016 and immediately began a three-year renovation to modernize the space. Now the North York manor is back on the market for a buyer seeking an old-world aesthetic and tons of recreation. 

Related: $8.5 million for Norman Jewison’s former office loft

The tour 

The estate sits at the end of a private drive and is surrounded by nature. Its façade is limestone with cedar roofing and comes with large stone planters imported from France. And yes, that’s an outdoor basketball court to the right of the stone walkway leading to the ornate front door. 

Those stone planters were imported from Europe.

In the foyer: Parisian-style plaster moulded ceilings and an original staircase with iron rails.

The Parisian-style plaster-moulded ceilings define the foyer.

There are archways, wide French doors and custom millwork throughout the home. 

There are wide French doors throughout the property.

Here’s one of the eight bathrooms, this one on the main floor. It has French wallpaper and a sink standing on gold legs. 

Plenty of funky wallpaper in this home's eight bathrooms.

The kitchen is equipped with twin walnut-marble islands, two dishwashers, gold detailing and tons of storage. 

Both the kitchen islands are walnut and marble.

A French-inspired home wouldn’t be complete without a double French gas oven by La Cornue. 

The French oven is by La Cornue.

The breakfast space has built-in bench seating and a view of the backyard gardens. 

The breakfast zone overlooks the backyard gardens.

Just next door is the living room, which comes with one of the mansion’s three marble gas fireplaces.

The living room holds one of three gas fireplaces.

This massive archway leads to the Victorian-style 18-seat dining room table.

An 18-seat dining table, framed by a stunning arch.

There’s also an office on the main floor, with walnut cabinets, retro sconce lighting and another marble fireplace.

The office is covered in walnut.

Now for the main bedroom, with jaunty French wallpaper, a fireplace and refinished hardwood floors.  

The main bedroom's vaunlted ceilings are covered in more French wallpaper.

Here’s the ensuite, complete with a soaker tub, a makeup station and a shrouded-glass shower. 

The glass shower here almost looks like a closet.

Also in the ensuite is this super-wide double vanity with gold and crystal accents. 

Gold fixtures adorn the ensuite vanity.

The place also has two dressing rooms. This one is loaded with custom shelving, perfect for sneaker heads. 

Here's one of the two dressing rooms.

This is the other dressing room, with blush-painted closets and built-in full-body mirrors. 

The scond dressing room looks like a Yorkville boutique.

The indoor basketball court comes with vaulted ceilings and a view of the surrounding forest. 

The indoor basketball court, overlooking the yard, of course.

Moving to the basement reveals the sunken entertainment zone, with more storage and Parisian ceilings. 

This sunken rec space is in the basement.

Nothing says fun quite like a trio of pinball machines.

Nothing more French than triplet of American pinball machines.

Down the hall is the 11-seat cinema, with soundproof walls and a vintage popcorn machine.

The 11-seat, sound-proof cinema.

The LeBron James–inspired gym has floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Future residents can work out like King James in the basement fitness centre.

The backyard grotto comes with an in-ground pool and pool house, plenty of lounging space, and dense greenery. 

The backyard descends into Earl Bales Park.

Finally, a shot of the manor at dusk. 

One final look at the home at dusk.


Have a home that’s about to hit the market? Send your property to realestate@torontolife.com.