Historic Toronto home filled with details from a bygone era hits market for $8M

There's something undeniably appealing about the idea of living in a sprawling country estate. The massive house, the beautiful gardens, the peace and quiet, and most importantly, neighbours who aren't close enough to see into your kitchen.

Unfortunately, most country estates come with one major downside: they're far from literally anything convenient.

But at 32 Sherbourne St. N., you can apparently have the best of both worlds.

The Great Room. 

Tucked away in Toronto's Rosedale neighbourhood, this century-old mansion has all the charm and privacy of a countryside retreat, except you're just minutes from downtown.

The back of the house. 

Built in 1910, the six-bedroom home sits on a massive 80-by-223-foot lot, with a third of an acre of land in one of Toronto's most sought-after neighbourhoods.

The pool and gardens. 

And unlike some Toronto mansions where the backyard is basically a glorified patio, this property has enough outdoor space to make you forget you're just a few blocks from the DVP.

Mature trees surround the property. 

The grounds are gated, beautifully landscaped and surrounded by mature trees and lush greenery, giving the whole property an almost country-estate feel.

The view from the back patio. 

There's a picturesque courtyard garden complete with a fountain, sprawling lawns and even a secluded outdoor swimming pool. 

Another lawn. 

Basically, it's the kind of backyard where you could throw a garden party for 50 people and still have room to avoid the guests you don't particularly like.

The front entrance. 

But as impressive as the outside is, the inside is where the home's 116-year history really shines.

An original wood door with leaded glass sidelights. 

This is old-school Toronto wealth in architectural form.

The breakfast nook with French doors and stained-glass windows overlooking the backyard. 

We're talking soaring 10-and-a-half-foot ceilings, elaborate plasterwork, intricate crown mouldings, hand-carved wood panelling and stained-glass windows.

The foyer. 

There's even a grand staircase that looks like it belongs in a period drama.

A bedroom with a fireplace. 

And because apparently one fireplace wasn't nearly enough in 1910, the house has five of them.

The living room. 

The main living room, or Great Room as the listing calls it, stretches an impressive 30 feet long, with huge windows overlooking the gardens.

Ornate moulding and a wood-burning fireplace add charm to the space. 

It's the kind of room that practically demands a grand piano, even if nobody in the family knows how to play it.

The dining room with a fireplace. 

The formal dining room is equally dramatic, with rich wood panelling and the sort of architectural detailing that would probably cost a small fortune to recreate today.

The family room. 

There's also a sunny family room and solarium, offering slightly more casual spaces to hang out when you don't feel like sitting in a room that looks like it belongs to a Victorian-era industrialist.

The kitchen. 

Thankfully, not everything in the house is stuck in the early 1900s.

The kitchen features stainless steel appliances. 

The kitchen has been updated with modern appliances, rich cabinetry and French doors that open onto the patio.

The pink bathroom. 

Several of the bathrooms have also been modernized, including an all-pink onyx bathroom that is truly a sight to behold.

The primary bedroom. 

Upstairs, the second floor is home to three bedrooms, including a sprawling primary suite with its own sitting room and walk-in closets.

The third-floor bedroom with a fireplace. 

And if three bedrooms aren't enough, there are three more on the third floor, along with laundry facilities.

An office space. 

So there's plenty of room for a large family, visiting guests, or just having an entire bedroom dedicated to clothes you swear you'll wear again someday.

Another bedroom with a walk-in dressing room. 

Of course, getting all the perks of country living without actually having to move to the country comes at a price.

The primary ensuite. 

The home is currently listed for $7,995,000, which is an eye-watering amount of money, but not even close to the most expensive house in the neighbourhood.

The solarium. 

Plus you're getting a pretty spectacular piece of Toronto real estate.

The view of the house from the street. 

After all, finding a 116-year-old mansion in Toronto is one thing. Finding one that comes with what feels like its own private park is something else entirely.