Ingenious infill

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This article was published 23/12/2022 (636 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just over two years ago, the management team at Paragon Design Build had a vision.

After custom building many luxury homes in Tuxedo over the years, they’d fallen in love with the majestic, storied area.

And, as much as they’d poured their creativity and collective imaginations into every home they’d built, they longed to find the perfect lot, one on which they could build a true Tuxedo Classic.

“We wanted to do something really special,” says Nigel Furgus, president, and co-founder of Paragon. “Our vision was to build an old-world classic that was filled with modern touches and unparalleled quality.”

Eventually, they found that perfect lot, a 75-foot by 130-foot parcel of land at 425 Kelvin Blvd.

A little more than a year later after the original residence was knocked down, a 2,526-sq.-ft. masterpiece — more specifically, a California-style bungalow — sits proudly on the expansive, mature lot.

“It’s just a magnificent home,” says David De Leeuw. “Paragon’s design team, which was led by Krista Webb, thought everything down to the tiniest detail. You just don’t see this level of detail anymore. The craftsmanship is simply incredible from start to finish.”

The first thing that hits you when you step inside the sprawling bungalow — its stone clad exterior looks amazing — is how bright and spacious the home’s interior is.

“That comes from a 12-foot ceiling and huge, floor-to-ceiling fibreglass windows on the rear wall of both the kitchen and great room,” he says. “Tons of natural light pours in through the black-trimmed windows, and the finishes are absolutely gorgeous, starting with the kitchen.”

In this instance, Paragon’s design team deftly combined cutting-edge finishes with classic design details.

“Stunning Moonrock quartz countertops on the rift oak island and around the range combine with 10.5-foot-tall cabinetry, a stately Corbel-style hood fan with plaster finish and old-fashioned pendant lights to give the area a modern yet timeless feel,” notes De Leeuw. “There’s a brass pot filler over the stove, and a pantry with storage featuring a built-in ladder with brass railing.”

He adds that the mudroom to the rear of the kitchen is something to behold.

“It possesses modern function with its 14-foot ceiling and all its space, yet it also has a classic feel with custom oak cabinetry with brass hardware and grey and white heated tile floor that’s set in a classic diamond orientation.”

The service area — mudroom, kitchen, and elegant dining area — then transitions smoothly into a breathtaking living room with a striking chandelier and dimmable pot lights.

“It’s incredibly spacious and features wonderful finishes such as the same white oak engineered hardwood flooring seen in the kitchen and dining area, a gorgeous gas fireplace with light grey tile trim, pewter grey mantel and built-in storage on either side,” he says. “The black trimmed windows really pop on the off-white walls, and the circular chandelier is fittingly grand.”

Then, there’s the private bedroom wing, which holds a spacious laundry room, luxurious main bath, two oversized secondary bedrooms with walk-in closets — and the primary bedroom.

“The only word to describe it is spectacular,” says De Leeuw. “The bedroom itself is spacious, light-filled, and features a gorgeous grey shiplap wall behind the bed. A bronze chandler surrounded by LED pot lighting adds a wonderful, functional touch of class.”

Next comes the bedroom’s piece de resistance, an opulent ensuite.

“It’s simply spectacular with its curbless shower with hand-formed tile surround, heated tile floor, stand-alone soaker tub with vintage polished nickel Kohler faucet and dual oak vanities with built-in make-up station. There’s also a generously proportioned walk-in closet with tons of custom built-in storage.”

Not surprisingly, the home’s peerless design continues downstairs in the fully finished lower level.

“More quality and style is showcased in the form of an ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation, structural wood floor and a fabulous rec room with more white oak engineered hardwood flooring and a gas fireplace set in a limestone surround,” he says. “Ceiling height is nine feet.”

Not surprisingly, the rec room is only the beginning.

“There’s a wet bar area, media room, gym, main bath and two more bedrooms,” De Leeuw says, adding the home is fully automated. “Overall, this house blows me away. It has the craftsmanship and style you see in 100-year-old homes yet offers modern function in every area. A lot of love went into the design of the home, and it shows.”

lewys@mymts.net