2 TARLTON RD., TORONTO
Asking price: $3,850,000
Taxes: $13,362.10 (2014)
Lot size: 75 by 104 ft.
Agent: Joseph Gatto, salesperson, Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage
With new builds, it’s easy to forget that the impressive new house sits on a plot of land. Generally, any land left around the building is extra; like fat trimmings on a steak.
But that’s not the case with 2 Tarlton Rd. It was built to showcase the little bit of ravine left along the north side of Chaplin Crescent just before Eglinton Avenue West. This home peeks out from behind a light layer of evergreens and the geometric nature of the house works with the slope of the lot.
“I really appreciate how the structure blends with the landscape. Most builders don’t have the finesse. What you tend to see is a structure sticking out like a sore thumb,” agent Joseph Gatto said.
“In this case, you have a structure made out of organic material – a natural stone – so it becomes one with Mother Nature. It seems like they belong together.”
The back story
Part of the reason why the home is symbiotic with the land is because the owner, Peter Louch, and his wife had a very clear idea of what they wanted when they bought the property in 2011.
“My wife could see the shape of the house that could be built there,” said Mr. Louch, adding that she was the major creative force behind the design.
“The house is a combination of blocks, which is totally unusual for that area,” he said. “We wanted to create a layered modern look.”
So they worked with architect Milosh Pavlovicz to build an Australian stone and stucco exterior to hide among the land and large picture frame windows throughout and walkouts on every floor to allow as much access to the outdoors as possible.
“From the upper-floor walkouts, you get a beautiful, panoramic vista and a view of the trees,” Mr. Gatto said.
The walkout from the master suite is 180 square feet and the one that the second and third bedrooms share is 300 square feet. The home is aptly named the Terrace House for this reason.
It took nearly a year to build the house, with only slight delays when Mr. Louch found out the lot was designated a “ravine” by the city.
An added condition was that they had to work with a landscape planner. But in doing so, they decided to enhance the greenery around the home, bringing in both nascent and older, 30-foot evergreens.
“It’s like being in a Tom Thomson painting,” Mr. Gatto said.
To work with the grade of the land, there are actually two entrances. One brings you to the ground floor, which has a great room (currently set up as a gym), a workshop area, the laundry room and an extra bedroom, bath and kitchen.
The second entrance is off of Tarlton Road proper and it leads you into the open living and dining room areas, which is slightly cordoned off from the breakfast nook and kitchen.
And the top floor, which is recessed from the ground and main floors, has three bedrooms, each with ample closet space and ensuite bathrooms.
“It’s not a formula house,” Mr. Louch said. “It’s not designed for a particular buyer but for the living experience.”
Favourite features
Mr. Gatto echoes that sentiment and points to the deliberate choice of materials used through the house, from the book-matched statuary marble in kitchen, to the volcanic stone sink basin in the ground-floor bathroom.
“This is a home with high European styling and the most skillful use of colour, texture and material,” he said.
When it comes to favourite rooms, Mr. Gatto says he appreciates the ground-floor workspace.
“This is a great room, especially if you’re into sketching and painting or even if you’re a filmmaker. It would make a great studio,” he said.
But for Mr. Louch, he is going to miss the black-and-white, Boffi kitchen when the home sells.
“Kitchen is my favourite room. It is very open and has a great, 13-foot long island,” he said. “It’s really quite spectacular.”
“My favourite thing to do in the house is the sit at the breakfast table [just off of the kitchen], work on my laptop and look out at the view,” he added.
It is the marriage between the outside and the inside that both Mr. Louch and Mr. Gatto say makes this house so unique and gives it a peaceful feel.
“How does your home make you feel when you live it. That’s what it’s all about for us,” Mr. Louch said.