Especially in the GTA, homes that truly combine the best of city and cottage living don’t appear very often. So when a house like this arrives in the market, you know it’s something special.
True cottage-in-the-city properties – with both the comfort and convenience of a city home and the views and laid-back vibe of a luxury lakeside cottage – are rare enough, and on those occasions when one of these gems actually comes on the market, they’re in very high demand.
Sometimes, these houses don’t quite live up to expectations. Either they’re close to the lake and have that wonderful relaxed cottage mood, but need work. Maybe you have to get in your car and drive, just to pick up a jug of milk or grab dinner. Or else the house is great, but priced out of reach. Or you have to share the waterfront with so many tourists and passersby that it hardly feels like your own.
Luxury lakeside cottage and fantastic city house rolled into one
Well, check out this Port Credit-area beauty. It’s a great city house and a great cottage rolled into one, and a great place to live all twelve months of the year.
Let’s start with the neighbourhood. Lakefront properties in the western GTA rarely boast good walkability scores. But here, Port Credit’s great restos, shopping and the vibrant Lakeshore-Hurontario nightlife scene are literally just steps from your door. The GO train station is just down the road. And you’ll enjoy the feeling of community here. There’s a young, urban vibe, a mix of families with kids and sophisticated professionals.
Set back from the street on a roomy 50-foot lot, the house welcomes you home from the moment you pull in the driveway. Inside, it’s airy and full of light, spanning over 6,500 square feet, and uniquely designed in such a way that you can see the lake from almost every room. Eleven-foot ceilings on the main level set off the expansive feeling of the open-plan design. From the beautifully finished chef’s kitchen and adjoining butler’s pantry, to the relaxed family room with its granite floor-to-ceiling fireplace, it’s tailor-made for kicking back with family, a quiet dinner with friends or a major gathering.
Top materials and five bedrooms with unique design
You can’t help but be impressed by the sheer quality of the construction. You’ll notice it from the moment you first walk through the front door. This is a home that was built to last, with real care taken in the architecture, choice of materials and finishing details. Underneath the elegant oak and stone flooring on all three levels, in-floor radiant heating set in poured concrete imparts a sense of solidity and strength. Classic features such as arched doorways, natural wood ceiling beams and oak architectural trim give it a timeless, almost heritage character. But make no mistake: this luxury lakeside cottage was built to modern state-of-the-art standards in every detail.
Each of the five upstairs bedrooms features its own unique design and ensuite. The primary bedroom, with its twelve-foot ceilings, fireplace and enthralling, floor-to-ceiling lakeside view, opens out onto a secluded deck overlooking the water. In summer, slide back the glass doors and let the cool breezes in. In winter, curl up by the fire with a glass of wine and watch the snow gently falling outside.
Space to play or sit back and relax
The lower level, with its own separate walkout, is the place to play. Down here there’s a second big, comfy seating area, perfect for watching the game with friends or snuggling up for a movie with the fam, while enjoying the warmth of a second big stone fireplace. For the kids, there’s plenty of space to run around, climb and play. For the grownups, a fully equipped gym. There’s also a full wine cellar, games room, and a nanny/in-law suite. After you come in from a dip in the pool – or the lake! – there’s a cedar-lined cabana area, with direct access from outside to change rooms, sauna, steam room and shower area.
While other people are packing up their cars and preparing to brave the traffic up to cottage country, your escape from hectic city life consists of merely stepping through your back door onto the patio. It progresses on three roomy levels. Organized into a multitude of separate places, you can catch some rays, kick back with friends or simply enjoy life. A true luxury lakeside cottage.
Outdoor delights: pool and barbecue
Straight out the patio doors is a covered seating and dining area with built-in barbecue. (You’ll want to live out here, from spring to fall.) Sit in the sun – or bask in the shade, if you prefer. Read, scroll through Insta, or watch the water. Later, throw a couple of steaks on the barbie or warm up in the hot tub.
A few steps further on this level, cool off in the gorgeous infinity-edge pool. Its farthest edge seems to melt into the lake, a beautiful, serene effect. At the side, the kids can burn off energy on the lawn. Or you can set up a game of bocce or badminton. Further down there’s a paved terrace high above the water. It’s tailor-made for sun worshippers, and arguably the best long-distance view on the whole luxury lakeside cottage.
But it’s the lowest level that makes your backyard escape truly different. Here, literally, is your very own piece of Lake Ontario. Along with fifty feet of privately owned shoreline, your property line extends a further 300 feet beyond the paved dock into the lake. You can moor a couple of Jet-Skis or kayaks here, and get out to play on the water any time you choose. Or power up the motorboat and head to the city for a hockey game or dinner. You won’t even have to think about city traffic.
Walk everywhere from your luxury lakeside cottage
But if you prefer to stay high and dry at home, there’s more seating and a second barbecue down here. Set picnics by the lake or hotdogs for the gang after a morning swim. As evening falls, warm up by the firepit and listen to the lapping of the waves at your feet.
It’s a great location for walking. You’ll have one of Ontario’s most sophisticated small communities just steps away. And Canada’s biggest and best city is a few kilometers down the shore. A beautiful, solid, turnkey home with everything from romantic lake views to great boating, swimming and relaxing, right at your door. This is authentic luxury lakeside cottage living in the city, and you won’t see the likes of it again any time soon.
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