36 Hazelton Avenue, Suite 5B is a labor of love in the deepest sense. It is a tour-de-force, the result of a familial collaboration between the owners and BCMR Custom Homes. Upon first setting eyes on the developer’s plans for a boutique condominium on the site of the historic St. Basil’s School in Yorkville, the future owners of Suite 5B recognized a singular opportunity to design their dream home. The developers allowed complete customization of the suite from its bare bones state, allowing the family to create truly unique design features. Planning for their design and finishes spanned over five full years dedicated to their talented and visionary ideas. The result is a residence unrivaled within all of Toronto.

Residences bearing such a level of customization and craftsmanship are highly prized, and this objet d’art stands out even among the best of the best. Its strategic 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 3,955-square-foot floorplan is the consummate layout for lavish gatherings or quiet family living alike. Warm tones of the earth have been utilized throughout to envelop residents in a calm, peaceful atmosphere. Durability was also paramount in selecting every material and finish.

As you would expect with a home of this quality, the jaws of your guests will drop the moment they enter. A 280-bottle, floor-to-ceiling, glass-enclosed, climate-controlled wine cellar is a work of art unto itself, standing front and center, accentuated by a steel cable suspension system and a backlit onyx column. Behind it, the grand dining room mesmerizes with a triple-tiered coffered ceiling featuring a stunning original Lindsay Adelman chandelier.

The formal dining room and kitchen offer separation and flexibility through the use of a creative sliding wall that features a geometric paneled design that was hand painted on-site by a quartet or artisans and is supported by commercial gliding hardware to accommodate its exceptional size and weight. The combined living and family rooms, separated by a one-of-a-kind Greystone marble-clad three-sided fireplace, offer multiple cozy spots to relax and unwind. From morning to night, you’ll enjoy ample natural light and panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The lavish gourmand’s kitchen is equipped with top-of-the-line Miele appliances, including dual ovens and dishwashers, and accented with Waterworks hardware, not to mention solid walnut millwork and natural quartzite stone countertops and backsplash. An expansive butler’s pantry houses a third sink and additional fridge.

Thoughtful planning led to this opportunistic floorplan that centralizes the kitchen while focusing living and entertaining spaces to the east wing, sleeping and private areas to the west. A spacious, flourishing terrace stands off the east wing, beckoning you to witness each invigorating sunrise, sunset and both twinkling stars and city night lights. Holbrook & Associates Landscape Architects designed the terraces, implementing an automated water feed to terrace planters, as well as alluring illumination.

A long gallery hallway transitioning from the living room to the sleeping quarters is a museum curator’s dream and perhaps the most visionary, detailed piece of this condominium. A hidden rail system runs just below the crown molding of the entire hallway, allowing your cherished artwork to be hung unobtrusively. Track lighting with fully adjustable heads permits optimal light wash to showcase pieces of varying size and placement.

A hideaway within a hideaway, the opulent primary suite defines elegance and luxury with layered textures and decadent amenities to pamper and refresh your soul. An extraordinary artisanal master headboard wall is made of multiple walnut and linen panels with thin brass channel inlays. Will your daily ritual involve the sophisticated steam shower with dual heads and benches, or a lazy soak in the elegant bathtub? The spacious primary closet employs beautiful woodwork and handles, including ochre horn cabinet pulls and custom-crafted leather-and-brass drawer handles.

Timeless 36 Hazelton Avenue is an address nonpareil in Toronto, regally sited in the heart of coveted Yorkville. Residents of the Queen City have been familiar with the stoic streetfront of the historic St. Basil’s School since it was erected by J.M. Cowen in 1928. In 2014, Quadrangle Architects, Alterra Group and Zinc Developments reincarnated the building as the most lavish boutique condominium complex in downtown, catering opulence to a select few fortunate owners. The school’s original Gothic Revival façade was dismantled and re-incorporated into the current sensuous seven-storey glass-and-zinc building.

36 Hazelton Avenue’s 24-hour white-glove concierge service has quickly become the stuff of legend, anticipating and artfully executing every owner need or whim. Residents retain full access to the building’s wealth of sterling amenities, including a sumptuous wine lounge with storage and tasting area, a holistic room, billiards room, board room, state-of-the-art fitness facility, plus dedicated car and pet wash stations.

Yorkville’s bohemian history still thrives today, even as the area has evolved into Toronto’s most refined and desirable neighbourhood. The abundance of upscale boutique shops, restaurants, museums and galleries is now matched, perhaps even exceeded, by the grandeur and variety of elite luxury living accommodations, which includes enchanting Victorian rowhouses and magnificent contemporary condominiums. Its reputation as a highly walkable neighbourhood has only grown through the years, as the charismatic alleyways and courtyards invite exploration. In season, the streets of Yorkville come alive with an endless schedule of festivals, concerts and social gatherings, including the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, the Summer Music in Yorkville Park series, and the Yorkville Murals celebration of art and culture.