Stouffville
Room to breathe, with acreage inside and out.
Potential buyers will have to set aside a lot of time to tour this property to fully appreciate its offerings. An SUV ride around the 37.5-acre property, a walk through the forest and a pause to watch wandering wildlife and fish swimming in the creek is sure to delight. That will be fun time spent even before catching a glimpse of the massive mansion and its beautiful backyard.
The home has amazing curb appeal and the stone work is incredible, says listing agent Michelle Schipper of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. The house has an exterior made completely of granite, which is unusual because it is expensive and it’s difficult to bring in such a large quantity, she says.
The homeowner, a luxury custom-home builder, is “a believer in quality” and has included upgraded finishes, including hand-carved cabinetry and inlaid hardwood floors.
The property was purchased in 1999. An existing 3,500-sq.-ft. house was demolished, 10 acres were cleared and the approximately 18,000-sq.ft. mansion was built in 2001. It has 10- to 40-foot ceilings and “amazing views” through floor-to-ceiling windows, Ms. Schipper says.
Designed to “live like a bungalow,” the main floor has a living room, a dining room, a gourmet kitchen, a great room, a study and two bedrooms. A spacious foyer and “a couple of powder rooms” add to its practicality, she says.
Ms. Schipper’s favourite room is the great room, which measures 39x29-feet and has 40-foot ceilings, eight decorative columns and a woodburning fireplace. All the fireplaces in the home are woodburning, a feature the owner believed was more in keeping with the feel of a country home than gas or electric would have been, she says.
The living room/piano room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a vaulted ceiling.
The formal dining room has an oval-shaped domed ceiling with a hand-painted sky and clouds. Walkouts from the living and dining rooms lead to balconies.
The state-of-the-art kitchen has a vaulted ceiling, leaded-glass windows and granite counters. The mudroom has granite floors, and a staircase to the second floor and to the lower level.
The main-floor master bedroom has two fireplaces, one between the bedroom and its sitting area, and the other in the luxurious marble ensuite bathroom. The sounds and smells of a crackling fire can be enjoyed throughout the suite.
A second bedroom nearby is ideal for a younger child, while a teen or extended family members can claim the second-level suite. That private suite has a full kitchen, a living room and a bedroom.
Built into a hill, the home has lower-level walkouts leading directly to a backyard with a waterfall, a saltwater pool and views of the countryside.
The lower level also has a recreation room, a wet bar, a wine cellar, a gym and a shower and change area close to the pool.
An 1850s barn is also on the property, which is nestled in a neighbourhood of large estates, many 100-plus acres. The area has been enjoyed by “long-time millionaires and billionaires,” Ms. Schipper says. “There’s lots of money in the area.”
Buyers like the area because it offers country living but it’s close to Highway 404, downtown Aurora and an easy commute to Toronto’s financial district, she says.
Aurora was named in the top 25 places to live in Canada and the first in York Region by Money-Sense magazine for its access to medical care, public transit, employment, wealth and low crime rate.