Thornhill Home Takes Cues From Artist's Palette,
The National Post, June 29, 2002

11 Erica Rd. (Yonge and Centre streets)
Asking price: $2.475-million. Taxes: $14,154 (2OO1)

Location is a plus with this 12-room multi-level home, which is on a 100x432-foot lot with mature trees, backing on to Oakbank Pond. The family room is just one of the many rooms to offer a beautiful view," says listing agent Hed-da Zaionz of Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. "The pond is beautiful in winter and people enjoy skating there."

The landscape and the pond were enjoyed by J.E.H. McDonald (1873-1932), a founder of the Group of Seven who lived in the area from 1913 to 1932. A plaque erected at the pond by the Archeological and Historic Sites Board and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities acknowledges Mac-Donald's contribution to Canadian landscape painting.

The six-bedroom, six-bathroom home, built in 1990 by Laureden Homes Inc., has 5,768 square feet of living space on the main and second levels, plus 3,746 sq ft on the lower above-grade level.

Open terraces and high ceilings allow the owners to take advantage of the tranquility and privacy that suggests country living. There also are many built-ins to showcase an art collection.

Two designers were hired to create a contemporary design with traditional influences. "Because of [the home's] style, there are unlimited design possibilities, suiting a casual lifestyle near the water or a more formal lifestyle. It successfully blends a feeling of California in Canada," says interior designer Annette Robicsek.

The fireplace, wainscotting and built-ins are the highlights of her French Renaissance design in the master bedroom. The two-storey foyer has a rectangular skylight and etched glass doors. An etched glass wall in the family room overlooks the main floor and outdoors. Annette Shapiro, the designer, gave the living and dining rooms rich warm colours and sculpted silk string drapery. She says it was exciting to decorate the house because of its unique architectural design, high ceilings, natural light and ceiling detailing.

Other features in the home are an open staircase of bird's eye maple with inlay and etched glass, and an oval kitchen with curved walls, built-ins and a bronze mirrored gas fireplace. It has multiple climate control zones, which allows for different temperatures throughout the house.

"It incorporates features people dream about in a home and rarely achieve," Ms. Zaionz says. The stuff of dreams: The multilevel home in Old Thornhill on : a lot backing on to Oakbank Pond has location, location, location. The oval kitchen, top, has built-ins and a gas fireplace. View from the foyer, above, with its high ceilings, skylights and windows takes advantage of the beautiful view at the rear.

— Coxxie Adair

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