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Real Estate News

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex

By Fraser Abe
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The house for sale at 36 Lowther Avenue
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Address: 36 Lowther Avenue
Neighbourhood: The Annex Agent: Eileen Farrow, Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited Price: $9,495,000

The place: Probably the city’s most unique Victorian mansion: a five-bedroom, four-bathroom palace just steps from Avenue and Bloor.

The history: Built in 1883, this home has been owned by artist Vivian Reiss for almost 30 years. There are updates everywhere, lovingly undertaken over the past three decades, like patterned marble floors, 12-inch crown moulding, hand-cut parquet, a custom kitchen—and, less exciting, a new slate roof, added in 2015.

Big selling point: The master bathroom—with its grand, mirrored bath—has Hollywood credentials: Tom Cruise took a dip there in the 1988 movie Cocktail.

Possible deal breaker: The home’s inimitable style is pretty much a “love it or hate it” proposition for most potential buyers. The level of personalization here may turn off anyone looking for a less grandiose place to live.

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By the numbers:

• $9,495,000 • $30,385.06 (2015 taxes) • 5,600 square feet • 5 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms • 4-car heated garage (plus a 3-car driveway) • 1 fancy bathtub that may still contain a few molecules of Tom Cruise’s skin and/or hair

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The living room has walnut floors with hand-cut parquet borders, a chandelier of Venetian crystal and stained-glass window inserts.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Across the hall, the music room has more of that parquet—and more than enough room for a grand piano.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Out in the sunroom, another chandelier.

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House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The dining room has custom marble flooring to match the paintings on the walls.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The kitchen is extravagant, but not in the usual way. All the cabinetry is custom-carved, and the surfaces are covered in painted ceramic tile.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

A pair of French doors lead to the garden terrace.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The family room, at the back of the house, is set up as a dining area.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Here’s a better look at that amazing blown-glass chandelier.

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House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The office has a nocturnal vibe.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

And the powder room has fancy hex tile floors, because why not?

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

There are three bedrooms on the second floor of the house.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

This bedroom has elaborate ceiling decorations and a painted floor.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Another bedroom, another painted floor. This one comes with built-in glass cabinetry.

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House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The bathroom has a fairy-tale tub.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The master bedroom has some plush carpeting and an extra-high ceiling.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Another view of the master bedroom.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

And here’s the master bedroom’s en suite bathroom, with the famed mirrored whirlpool tub that Tom Cruise once bathed in during the filming of Cocktail.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

There’s a large loft space on the third floor.

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House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

Like, really large.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

And there’s a rec room in the basement, in case all that other square footage just isn’t enough.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

And there’s plenty of extra room in the garage, too.

House of the Week: $9.5 million for one of the most ornate Victorian mansions in the Annex
(Image: Alexander Rothe)

The backyard comes pre-landscaped.

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Correction
December 3, 2015

This post originally said, incorrectly, that 36 Lowther’s driveway is heated.

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