But even that can't prepare you for what's inside the exclusive penthouse suite upstairs.
You see, the owners of the condo in southeast Winnipeg -- Sherwood Developments' Fausto Pereira and his wife, Lorna Winterburn -- not only designed the whole building, they also designed their personal living space with the same exquisite attention to detail.
"We ultimately decided to live here because of the setting," says Pereira. "The setting is incredible -- the river, mature trees, for starters. The area is also full of abundant wildlife like deer, eagles, foxes, coyotes and ducks. The views are incredible and we regularly take walks on the trails that run through Henteleff Park. You don't need a cottage when you live in a place like this."
As much as Pereira and his wife have revelled in living at the riverside location, they're planning to move to another riverfront penthouse, this time at The Excelsior (another Sherwood Developments property) on Waterfront Drive in the Exchange District, once construction of that unit is complete.
"It's going to be tough to leave," he says. "This is a magical place to be, especially at night. The ethereal feel you get from the surroundings and the way the unit is lit at night will be difficult to recreate."
Pereira's sentiments are entirely understandable; every detail of the penthouse, which measures in at a substantial 1,770 square feet, has been meticulously conceived. Perhaps the most notable feature is the ornate granite tile flooring that runs throughout the entire unit.
"We were in Florida and saw it featured in a condo magazine," he recalls. "Eventually, we found it at Western Marble and Tile. We brought in 15 samples, and none matched what we wanted. Finally, we just ordered it. When we opened the box, it was exactly what we wanted."
To provide a dramatic entrance, the tile in the foyer was then inlaid with circular water cut Black Galaxy granite (and lit with vibrant Neutron lighting). The hallway leading to the kitchen/great room/media room area also has a cultured stone feature with granite and glass art niche. A custom arch entrance then welcomes you into the unit's main living area.
What lies beyond the foyer and custom entrance is equally -- if not more -- impressive: 11-foot ceilings with curved triple-dropped bulkheads (that create a tray ceiling) and eight-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows, including a five-panel bay window. With four more floor-to-ceiling windows framing the dining room, the view is, well, panoramic; great vistas abound to the front and sides.
The finishing materials in the kitchen, great room and living room are also out of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, from the sequenced, tiger-orange anigre wood back wall in the dining room (and on the two-person eating nook), to the black galaxy countertops and dark oak island and cabinets in the kitchen. All the pocket doors are on state-of-the-art rollers, and slide with just the touch of a finger.
Add to that a soundproofed media room with stainless steel facade, built-in surround sound and a curved tempered glass window (to maintain views of the trees and river while watching TV or a movie, says Pereira), and the list of interior amenities is impressive. Oh, and that doesn't include the master bedroom and ensuite.
While an arched window provides yet another great view, the real star of the show is the ensuite, where you feel like you've stepped into a Mediterranean spa. Finished in the same marble found through the foyer and kitchen/great room area, the ensuite has a domed ceiling with cloud mural, floating dark maple vanity, steam shower and huge jetted tub set in marble.
"It also has heated floors and ceiling-mounted speakers with wall-mounted volume controls. We designed it to be our personal, year-round spa. It's fit the bill perfectly," says Pereira.
We should also mention the condo's most-used area isn't even found indoors. Off the kitchen's large dinette area is an expansive covered balcony finished with multi-coloured slate tile flooring, baked aluminum basket-style railings and elegant ceiling arches and columns.
A Napoleon gas fireplace with stainless steel trim and stone surround with mantle and raised hearth and Boston wall-mounted speakers finish the area off to perfection. Again, the Mediterranean feel is undeniable.
"That was the idea," he says, adding the river views are that much more spectacular from the balcony. "The fireplace really makes it; it prolongs the seasons -- we actually celebrated last New Year's Eve out on the balcony. That's how much the fireplace can warm the area up."
Needless to say, Pereira and Winterburn are going to miss their exquisitely -- and tastefully -- decorated penthouse, which also comes with three storage lockers, six parking stalls and a workshop.
"As I said before, it's tough to let it go -- everything works so well for us. However, much the same thing has happened at The Excelsior as happened here -- we started working on the suite, and it began to feel like home," he says. "It's time to move on to a new chapter of our life. We'll have great memories of this place, and hopefully, the new owners will enjoy it as much as we have."
Details
Address: 3400-1960 St. Mary's Rd.
Size: 1,770 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 2 plus soundproofed media room with a view
Bathrooms: 2
Price: $799,900
Contact: David De Leeuw @ 791-5450
Key Features: Incredible river and park views from Mediterranean-style balcony and through five-pane bay window in great room; ornate, tastefully decorated interior with heated brown granite tile floors, Black Galaxy granite countertops, and sequenced anigre wood wall in dining room; marble ensuite with steam shower, jetted tub and domed ceiling; open-concept design with two large bedrooms.
