In The News

Home of the Week, 7 Ashley Park Rd., Toronto. Asking price: $3,998,000. Rose Barroso, owner of Barroso Homes, did not originally set out to build 7 Ashley Park for her own family, but it ended up that way. She designed the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom house to suit a large family, and it became a home that fit her family perfectly.
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

To build the 7,200-square-foot house, Ms. Barroso worked with architect Ali Malek-Zadeh of Urbanscape Group. She credits Mr. Malek-Zadeh with introducing her to contemporary design, admitting that at first she was hesitant for fear that the home would lack warmth. She says the result has been just the opposite.
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

The extra-large kitchen island on the main floor is a place where the kids can touch down when they first come home from school. It is the hub of the main level, which includes the family room, dining room and living room, as well as a guest room with an en suite bathroom and walk-in closets.
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

‘I wanted everything [on the main floor] to be in common,’ Ms. Barroso says. ‘I want the children to be watching TV, and I want to be in the kitchen and still be able to see what they are watching.’
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

‘I think it’s the layout. It’s very comfortable, very family-oriented,’ says Ms. Barroso. ‘Plus, not everything in the house is white. Yes, there is a lot of white but there are punches of grey and red.’
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

For agent Ana Santos one of the most impressive features in the home is its technology. The house uses a Control4 app to control everything from blinds to heating to security and even electronics. ‘Ms. Barroso has the TVs set up in her kids’ rooms instead of having alarm clocks for them,’ says Ms. Santos. ‘At 7 a.m., the TV turns on to their favourite cartoon channel. And at 7:20 a.m. it turns off, so they know that when it goes off they better be ready and coming downstairs for breakfast.’
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

The massive master suite has its own foyer and a dressing room as well as a private balcony.
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

The master en-suite bathroom.
(Robert Holowka/birdhousemedia.ca)

The home is laid out and set up to be ideal for entertaining, inside and out – especially if you’re holding a party down in the lower level’s rec room with its adjoining wet bar. The back wall of the bar is actually fully-displayed wine cellar that Ms. Barroso built out of tempered glass that is treated to control temperature and prevent light from affecting the 900-plus bottles that can be stored inside.
(Robert Holowka)