Today, Cotswold House is a spectacular combination of old and new. When part-time contractor Derrick Saedel and his business partner decided to restore a home to its original splendour, they searched high and low to find exactly the right house. After searching through countless homes in Tuxedo, River Heights and Crescentwood, they happened upon 820 Wellington Cres. The rest, as they say, is history.
After taking possession in early 2008, Saedel and his partner began the arduous task of restoring the Wellington Crescent mansion. While structurally sound, the house was a bit outdated and needed some loving care. The result is a labour of love. Today, Cotswold House exudes the charm and character of an old heritage house, yet it feels as is you are entering a brand-new home.
"We kept the original craftsmanship and wanted to throw in what today's homeowner wants," says Saedel.
And that's exactly what they have done. At 3,000 square feet, Cotswold House is nothing less than a grand home. It is now being marketed by Becky and Gary Parkes of Royal Lepage Dynamic for a cool $989,000.
In restoring the house to its original grandeur, Saedel kept as much of the original craftsmanship as they could. It has the original doors with the original hardware and the original hardwood floors, which are in great shape. But it has been updated with all new windows and cove mouldings have been added to each room. The house has hot-water heat from the original radiators, but a new furnace and central air have been added.
"It's a compromise for many people living in River Heights who love the character of an old house, but don't want the maintenance," says Saedel. "We took that out of here."
The main floor of the house has a beautiful, sunken living room with French doors, large, bright windows and the original fireplace. The dining room exudes classic elegance. Two original corner china cabinets have been complemented with wainscotting around the room. Another set of French doors allows for privacy and a swinging door opens up to the fabulous kitchen.
The kitchen is truly a gourmet's delight. An abundance of white shaker cabinets is offset with an espresso-coloured island. Brand-new wide-plank, cherry wood floors add warmth to the room. A large bay window was added to allow more natural light to flood through. A second staircase, the old servants' access to the kitchen, was removed to allow for a recessed fridge, creating more floor space in the already spacious kitchen.
The kitchen has been outfitted with all the latest, high-end appliances, including a Wolff gas stove with a built-in pot filler and a state-of-the-art trash compactor. All of the appliances in the house are included in the sale.
"The kitchen is state-of-the-art," points out realtor Parkes. "Yet you walk in and don't feel like it doesn't fit in."
The main floor also features a modern family room with another wood-burning fireplace. A formal office was converted to a family room to allow for more usable living space on the main floor. With some restructuring, a wall was opened up to allow for access to the kitchen and patio from the family room. The main floor also features a convenient two-piece powder room off the foyer at the front entrance, which was original to the house.
A sweeping, grand staircase is the showpiece of the main floor and has been restored to its original glory. The second floor originally featured four bedrooms, but Saedel and his partner decided to eliminate one to allow for a larger master suite.
"As much as they didn't want to sacrifice the fourth bedroom, it was the best decision," notes Parkes.
The result is an absolutely sumptuous master suite. The original art deco chandelier sets the tone for luxury in this room. Large his and hers walk-in closets have been added with glass doors and pot lights. No expense was spared to create the luxurious ensuite. Travertine heated floors, a steam shower with multiple rain heads and an aromatherapy feature and a jetted soaker tub make this the perfect escape at the end of a long day. There is even a heated towel rack that can be programmed to have towels warm just when you need them.
"It's decadent," Saedel admits. "We said the final product has to be quality and it's very good quality -- we spent the time and the money."
Twin vanities have been equipped with heritage-looking medicine cabinets from Restoration Hardware. The toilet, or water closet as Saedel refers to it, is neatly tucked into its own area with a pocket door and a frosted glass window overhead to allow natural light to come into the small space.
The other two bedrooms are both quite spacious with large closets equipped with closet organizers. The main bathroom features a glass shower, pedestal sink and is finished with subway tiles to match the home's original character.
With two linen closets, Saedel and his partner converted the larger one to a small laundry area. The small space is large enough to house a brand-new, all-in-one unit that encompasses a washer, dryer and steamer in one handy appliance. While the main laundry room is in the basement, this adds a huge convenience factor.
Downstairs, the basement is fully finished. The original, dark wood panelled rec room has been updated with drywall, pot lights and a modern gas fireplace. A set of original double doors that have leaded glass insets open up into a wine cellar, complete with a wine cooler, bar fridge and a humidor cabinet for cigar aficionados. There's also an office, another modern bathroom and a mudroom that can be accessed directly from the back stairs.
Now that the restoration project is finally complete, Saedel says he is very pleased with the end result.
"Overall, it has been a great experience," he says. "At the end of the day, someone will be able to move into the house and not do anything."
tbryska@mts.net
