80 Yorkville Ave., unit 302, Toronto
Asking price: $1.275-million
Square footage: 1,350
Agent: Peter Moazzani (Sotheby's International Realty Canada)
The Building
Many Torontonians cannot remember a time when Mount Sinai Hospital was located in the centre of Yorkville, but that's where the venerable institution opened its doors in 1923. When the hospital moved south to University Avenue, the old site languished.
The façade of the old Mount Sinai building was preserved by Hariri Pontarini when the architectural firm designed the two condominium buildings - 80 and 100 Yorkville Avenue - which now occupy the old site at the top of Bellair Avenue.
The design combines boutique stores and offices below with condo units above.
The two buildings are alike but not identical, linked by a communal courtyard with water features.
The east building, number 80, has 92 units in 17 stories.
The architects designed number 80 with an entranceway that is removed from the bustle of the intersection of Yorkville and Bellair. The lobby and common areas were designed by Brian Gluckstein of Gluckstein Design Planning.
The amenities include 24-hour concierge service, valet staff, two guest suites, a fitness centre and a yoga floor. Number 80 is also the one with the lap pool, wet steam sauna and whirlpool.
Unit 302
The owners are both surgeons putting in long hours at their respective practices and they needed a comfortable place to return home to, says real estate agent Peter Moazzani of Sotheby's International Realty Canada.
They had the unit custom-tailored, but now the family is expanding so they are moving to a house. The condo unit recently sold for $1.225-million says Mr. Moazzani.
When they purchased, the couple struck an agreement with developer Invar Building Corp. to acquire raw space so that they could take charge of completing the two bedroom, two-bathroom unit.
They brought in designer Richard Eppstadt of Eppstadt Design Inc. who set about creating a floor plan that suited the couple's lifestyle.
The new plan did away with a den and enlarged the master bathroom to provide a bigger shower enclosure and a walk-in closet. Custom built-ins provide storage throughout the unit.
Mr. Eppstadt said the challenge he faced was in reconfiguring the walls to make a better lay-out while keeping the plumbing in pretty much the same place. In a 17-storey building, all of the toilet stacks have to line up.
Once those challenges were sorted out, Mr. Eppstadt chose dark hardwood floors and a neutral colour palette. Clients today favour luxurious kitchens and bathrooms, he says.
"We like to get a 'wow' factor out of both of those areas," he said.
The kitchen is modern in style with cabinet faces in glass and wood.
"The graining of the wood softens things quite a bit," he says.
Mr. Eppstadt says the stone used throughout the unit is honed and the wood has a matte finish.
"We're living in an age where we as designers are bombarded with new materials constantly. I have a preference for things that look natural."
The Best Feature
The master bedroom provides a quiet haven for the owners, says Mr. Eppstadt, who points to a slightly rough-hewn wall as his favourite element in the room.
The porcelain tile was imported from Japan and artfully installed to lend the appearance of a stone wall.
"It really gives the room an amazing amount of texture," Mr. Eppstadt said.
The designer also points to the Italian-made built-in cupboards, which provide shelves and hanging space for clothing. In European cities, he says, where people live in ancient apartments, they often don't have closets at all. As a result, European companies are far more advanced at designing solid cabinets with fine details.
Doors lead to an outdoor terrace which has been transformed with a wood floor, wood planter boxes and a row of evergreens for privacy.