Surreal Estate: $3.38 million for a mid-century Woodbridge bungalow from the architect behind Sherway Gardens

Neighbourhood: Islington Woods, Woodbridge Price: $3.38 million Previously sold for: $1.7 million in 2020 Size: 3,000 square feet, plus 2,500 square feet of outdoor living space Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 5 Parking spots: 12 Real estate agent: Lawra Marzetti
Staging: Defining Spaces

The place

A four-bedroom, three-plus-one-bathroom mid-century bungalow in Islington Woods. Inside, the house has a deluxe rec room with a gym, a bar, a kitchenette, a sauna, a billiard room and—oddly—a vintage gun closet. Outside, there’s 2,500 square feet of living space that includes a firepit, a pool, a change room, a lounge and a wrap-around deck. The place is a short drive from Highway 27 and the village of Kleinburg.

The history

This modernist classic, built in 1972, was designed by renowned architect Henry Fliess, notable for designing phases one and two of Sherway Gardens as well as hundreds of mid-century homes in Don Mills. Original owners Les and Lois Shaw (yes, those Shaws) tasked Fliess with crafting a luxurious family home. Today, many of the original finishes and millwork remain.

The current owners purchased the pad in 2020. Now empty nesters, they’ve put it back on the market and are looking to downsize.

Related: $4.5 million for a country manor in Caledon with a grand piano room

The tour

The original cedar and brick façade is defined by its three-car garage and backgrounded by a long gabled roof. There’s space on the driveway for nine cars.

The lush walkway is made of stone and large concrete slabs.

Before entering, residents can relax by the concrete firepit and appreciate the newly planted Japanese-style gardens. This subtle mix of styles sets the tone for the tasteful interior.

Now for the foyer. The brick and millwork, including the ceiling beams, are original. The travertine floors were installed in the 1990s. That’s a powder room on the left.

A wider view reveals the gabled ceiling and clerestory windows. The curved cedar wall and staircase to the basement are blasts from the past.

In the kitchen: custom cherry cabinetry, granite counters, double ovens, two sinks and a Wolf gas cooktop. 

Just beyond the kitchen island is the eat-in space, which walks out to the backyard deck.

Here’s that deck (more on it in a little bit). 

The dining room connects to the kitchen via an original cedar entrance flanked by built-in cabinets. 

Verdant views of the backyard conjure feelings of dining alfresco.

Down the hall is the grand living room. It has engineered white oak floors, a six-foot electric fireplace with a quartz storage unit beneath, fluted side panels with cedar finish and new sliding doors to the backyard deck. 

The backyard is an oasis, featuring a kidney shaped pool, concrete patio stone, a change room with a kitchenette and plenty of room for lounging.

There’s also an upgraded Douglas fir wrap-around catwalk, equipped with a glass railing that extends the length of the house. On the right is a covered lounge—an extension of the living room.

Here’s a closer look at the change room, which has a sink, a folding counter and an attached pergola.

Back inside, here’s a peek at the main bedroom. It also walks out to the backyard and comes with a lounge illuminated by an oversized skylight.

Its ensuite bathroom has original millwork, remote-controlled blinds, an open closet (not pictured) and a jet tub.

Also on the main floor: a secondary bedroom with a built-in bookshelf and a closet hidden in that cool cedar wall.  

Then there’s the basement, accessed via the front staircase or the living room’s spiral staircase. A sleek quartz bar, added in 2020, anchors the room.

The fitness centre has rubber floors and a frosted barn door.

Here’s the downstairs family room.

This is the kitchenette, with stainless steel appliances.

There’s also a stunning steam room and sauna down here.

And a full bathroom with quartz all over.

The cedar ceiling inset in the billiard room is a classy touch.

Finally, the gun cabinet, which might as well be a time machine to 1972.

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