French chateau-inspired Toronto estate will cost you a whopping $26 million
If you’ve ever fantasized about packing your bags and moving to the South of France —but, you know, without learning how to speak French or deal with the visa issues — then have I got the dream home for you.
Tucked along the scenic Beltline Trail in Toronto's Forest Hill South, 221 Forest Hill Rd. is less of a home and more of a full-blown French fantasy.
This house has a turret, arched windows with weathered-blue shutters, and a façade clad in hand-selected limestone.
The back of the house.
And that's just the outside.
The foyer.
The inside has an abundance of stunning moulding, checkered tile floors, and wallpaper that looks like it should be in Versailles.
A sitting area in the primary bedroom.
"I set out to create something truly timeless, something that felt like it had always been there," said the seller.
One of the bedrooms.
The home, when it last sold in 2021 for $6,995,000, was a pretty standard four-bedroom, five-bathroom house.
A den on the stair landing.
But since then, it got a big "ravalement de façade," as the French would say.
Arched entryway into the primary bedroom.
"[I was] inspired by the romance of the French countryside, I wanted every detail to evoke the feeling of being transported to Europe. It's not about chasing trends; it's about building beauty that lasts for generations."
A home office.
And beauty it is.
The backyard.
Designed and built by JTF Homes, Lorne Rose Architect, and Dvira Interiors, this home channels the elegance of a Provençal château while seamlessly integrating the kind of modern luxury that makes everyday life feel like a five-star vacation.
The sports court.
Spread across nearly 13,000 square feet on a 17,000-square-foot private lot, the residence opens with a dramatic "arcaded loggia" that leads to manicured grounds, lush gardens, a sports court, and a lap pool—all imagined by the landscape pros at Fitzgerald and Roderick.
The foyer.
Inside, it's a curated blend of old-world grandeur and contemporary sophistication.
The statement spiral staircase.
The main floor stuns with soaring ceilings, a statement spiral staircase, chevron-patterned white oak floors, and arched doorways that guide you through the meticulously designed spaces.
The dining room.
The formal dining room comfortably seats twenty.
The kitchen.
The kitchen, complete with hand-painted Portuguese tiles and custom Emanuele cabinetry, is both elegant and practical.
The family room.
The family room is anchored by a hand-carved fireplace and opens onto the gardens through French doors, offering seamless indoor-outdoor living.
A bedroom.
221 Forest Hill Rd. boasts six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
The primary bedroom.
But it's the primary bedroom that truly wows.
The dressing room.
With vaulted ceilings, whimsical wallpaper, a fireside lounge, and a two-storey couture-inspired dressing room with a spiral staircase and chandelier, it's giving Parisian palace.
The primary ensuite bathroom.
Add in the spa-like ensuite decked out in expansive stone and designer fixtures by Shirley Wagner, and it's basically your own private retreat.
The basement.
The lower level of the home continues the luxury with a recreation room, games lounge, prep kitchen, gym, cedar sauna, and a home theatre.
A massage room.
221 Forest Hill Rd. is listed by Marci Cook and Adam Brind for $26,000,000.
The front of the house.
So as a mere mortal it looks like I'll be saving up for that budget airline flight to Marseille instead...
