A $6 million Toronto house was rebuilt by prestigious designer

In Toronto's luxury real estate market, plenty of homes claim to be custom-designed.

Far fewer can say they were created by someone on Architectural Digest's prestigious AD100 list.

And fewer still can say they were built as the personal forever home of a luxury custom home builder.

The family room with a wood-burning fireplace and built-ins. 

Yet, 335 Cortleigh Blvd. can claim all those things.

The front hall. 

Currently listed for $6,249,000, the French-inspired neoclassical residence was designed by Katherine Newman, founder of KND Design and a three-time Architectural Digest AD100 honouree, and built by GH Building Group as the owners' forever home.

The kitchen and breakfast nook. 

Which helps explain why the level of detail here borders on obsessive.

An aerial view of the house. 

Set on a south-facing 50-by-135-foot lot in Lytton Park, the home offers more than 6,200 square feet of living space spread across four levels.

The view from the front entrance.

From the moment you step inside, it's clear this wasn't designed to follow trends.

The second level. 

Instead, the home leans into a timeless European aesthetic, with graceful archways, extensive custom millwork, marble details, artisanal wall finishes, and more than 35 individually selected paint colours throughout the house.

The dining room. 

That's right. Thirty-five. 

The living room. 

The main floor is built around large, elegant principal rooms that feel both grand and comfortable.

The kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances. 

The kitchen anchors the space, while a private office, formal entertaining areas, and custom built-ins throughout make the home feel thoughtfully tailored.

The primary bedroom. 

Upstairs, the primary suite is like a private luxury hotel.

The primary bedroom ensuite. 

The retreat includes a fireplace, heated floors, a spa-inspired ensuite with steam sauna, body sprays, an Ultra Naos whirlpool tub, and access to a heated balcony overlooking the backyard.

One of six bathrooms. 

The home also includes six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home theatre, fitness studio, nanny suite, and enough smart-home technology to satisfy even the most gadget-obsessed homeowner.

A lounge/office space. 

There's Lutron lighting, Sonos audio, Ubiquiti Wi-Fi, extensive security systems, and a 400-amp electrical service.

The garage. 

Then there's one of the property's most unusual features: a rare 3.5-car underground garage.

The backyard. 

Outside, the property transforms into a lush, resort-inspired backyard.

An aerial view of the backyard. 

Landscape architects Ferris + Quinn, the team behind Exhibition Place's Enercare Gardens, designed the grounds around a 17-by-34-foot saltwater pool, natural flagstone terraces, mature trees, motorized awnings, and multiple outdoor entertaining spaces.

The cedar cabana and bar. 

The star attraction, according to realtor Jane Zhang, may be the "iconic Orange Umbrella" cedar cabana and bar.

A bedroom on the third floor. 

But perhaps the most impressive thing about 335 Cortleigh Blvd. isn't any individual feature.

The home theatre. 

It's that despite the long list of luxury amenities, the home never feels like it's trying too hard.

A bedroom with custom built-ins. 

"Timeless yet contemporary, grand yet inviting, 335 Cortleigh Boulevard is a residence that transcends expectations. Few homes offer such a compelling combination of history, craftsmanship, innovation, and lifestyle," Zhang told blogTO.

Another bedroom. 

Maybe that's because it was originally designed for the people who planned to live there, not sell it.

The balcony off the primary bedroom. 

In a luxury market full of houses built to maximize resale value, 335 Cortleigh Blvd. feels like something rarer: a home built out of passion rather than profit.

The back of the house. 

And somehow, that's kinda moving.