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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

What house off Major Mac would be complete without a great glass floor, an ecclesiastical kitchen, a pop art mural and an outdoor pizza oven?

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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Location: Vellore Village, Vaughan Price: $6,995,000 Size: 6,500 square feet Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Real estate agent: Barry Cohen, Cohen Homes and Estates


The Place

A four-bedroom, four-bathroom standout in Vaughan that wouldn’t look out of place in the Bird Streets of Los Angeles. Modernist on the outside and earthy on the inside, the house is surrounded by protected green space, including the Greenbelt, and comes with manicured gardens, a forest’s worth of walnut millwork and a futuristic terrace. It’s a short drive from downtown Vaughan and about an hour’s drive from Union Station.

Related: $5.9 million for a built-from-scratch green fort just off Avenue Road

The History

The home that once stood on this plot was purchased in 2013 by architect Frank Di Sarra. He immediately tore it down with the goal of creating a brand new family home with design top of mind—the culmination of his career learnings. Di Sarra partnered with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to ensure environmental stewardship. The build took about two years.

The Tour

The property was built atop a hill for the nature views. All of its portrait-like windows are custom, framed in matte black.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

This is actually the foyer, lined with walnut cabinets and a solid walnut floor.

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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Di Sarra was inspired by both art deco and mid-century modern styles—a marriage most evident in the kitchen. Here, the gold accent wall and brushed gold hardware counterbalance all the straight lines, wood and leather.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

A reverse shot showcases the granite counters, accent wall and sculptural walnut feature wall bathed in sunshine thanks to the four skylights above.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Also in the kitchen: a six-burner Wolf range with an integrated exhaust fan, a panelled Thermador fridge and freezer, a camouflaged Bosch dishwasher, and a Marvel bar fridge.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

This brass-panelled archway leads to the dining room, which is kept warm by heated hardwood floors and a wood-burning fireplace. Those windows overlooking the forest are 10 feet tall.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Here’s the living room, equipped with heated black slate floors and a bespoke media unit.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

The living room’s glass walls can fold open, a common feature in this home’s Hollywood counterparts.

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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Now for the staircase, which faces a three-storey glass wall and has walnut ceilings and riser steps.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

The family room serves double duty as an office. It has more folding window walls, black marble flooring, built-in bookshelves and a leather-topped hutch.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Talk about a prime corner office.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Here’s the main bedroom. Its most compelling features: the granite headboard as big as a billboard and the lounge with a view.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

The walk-in closet has a built-in bench, pull-out drawers, lots of leather and integrated lighting.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

And here’s the nine-piece ensuite, with a separate water closet, a double glass shower, Hansgrohe brushed gold faucets, a 12-foot floating vanity, a steam generator, and both aromatherapy and light therapy systems.

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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

This is one of the secondary bedrooms, with a view of the nearby ravine. Nice TIE fighter.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

It also has an ensuite, this one with Caesarstone counters, porcelain floors and an Aquabrass shower system.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

This other bedroom has a pull-out laundry hamper.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Down the hall is the laundry room, with Whirlpool appliances and a farmhouse sink plus a built-in ironing board and hanging rack in the closet.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

There are glass floors on each storey, allowing residents to peer from the top of the home to the bottom.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

The fitness centre is a bit more humble.

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Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Moving outside reveals the covered terrace and funky pop art mural.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

The backyard comes with a concrete saltwater pool, a cabana with a kitchenette, and a full outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and a Weber gas grill.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

Finally, here’s a look at one of home’s two driveways. This one melts snow.

Surreal Estate: $6.9 million to live in the Vaughan home of an award-winning architect

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

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