The Toronto-based interior designer and her husband, Russell Gozlan (owner of home-construction company Gozlan Group), are the duo behind some of the most interesting homes in Toronto.
“A Montana Labelle Home by Gozlan Group is more than a celebrity residence. It takes special talent to bring a classic expression of mid-century design to luxurious modern living,” said Sotheby’s realtor Jane Zhang.
To preserve its timeless artful elements, no expense was spared.
Previously, the husband and wife dream-team worked together on transforming their home at 21 Clarendon Ave. during the pandemic.
A custom marble vanity in one of the bathrooms.
It was a testing ground for Labelle’s ideas, and the result was a stunning modern home with clean lines and an uncluttered space.
The living room features an Italian Emperador fireplace and the television can be hidden away when not in use.
But as beautiful as 21 Clarendon Ave. was, Labelle and her husband soon set their sights on their next project – 11 Lynwood Avenue.
One of the bedrooms.
The four-bedroom, six-bathroom home near Casa Loma is a work of art as much as it is the laboratory for Labelle’s designs – although you’d never know it by the understated exterior.
The foyer has some impressive sculptures and art.
“It’s such a surprise when you walk in and see it in all its interior beauty,” said Gozlan.
The den with knotty pine lined walls.
Labelle and Gozlan worked together throughout 2022 to completely gut, renovate, and expand this home.
The kitchen.
The home boasts updated essentials, like a new HVAC system, plumbing, insulation, framing, and electrical, but the true draw of this home is the unique interior.
Beautiful arches and curves have serious aesthetic appeal and a soothing simplicity.
From the varied materials to the architectural elements, like arched doorways and luxurious finishes that can be found nowhere else, this home is nothing like you’ve seen in Toronto.
A walnut travertine marble dining table.
“We spend a lot of time in California, so we wanted house to have a California feel. We didn’t want it to feel like a typical Toronto house,” explained Labelle.
The wood-lined walls give the den a very retro ’70s vibe.
Throughout the home, you’ll notice plenty of mid-century elements, which are a classic nod to the Californian style.
Premium Marvin windows and doors are found throughout the house.
“It’s so LA that don’t feel like you’re in Toronto in that house. You’re kinda transported to that the beauty,” added Gozlan.
Venetian plaster throughout.
And unlike Labelle and Gozlan’s previous home where they played it safe, this house was all about taking design risks.
Unique Taiwanese lantern pendants.
Labelle, who designs homes in Toronto and around the world, noted that here in Toronto people tend to shy away from colour, preferring neutrals instead. But 11 Lynwood Ave. was a place to experiment.
The primary bedroom painted in Benjamin Moore cozy Terra-Cotta.
For example, Labelle opted for a terracotta colour and a custom-made Rosso Verona marble bed in the primary bedroom.
The Rosso Verona marble bed.
“If you proposed this to a client, they would say ‘Absolutely not!’ and even Russell wasn’t sure about it,” said Labelle.
Etherington two-sided vanity, additional finishes made of handcrafted microcement.
Although Gozlan now admits that the terracotta bedroom really is a soothing and zen space.
The large Lacanche stove and Jenn-Air appliances are also integrated into Labelle’s neutral palette.
Labelle also said that 11 Lynwood Ave. was a place where they could rectify some of the mistakes they made with their previous home.
Upper loft office with full ensuite and built-ins.
For example, she told blogTO that their last house was much more restricted in size, so Labelle made sure that this house had a larger footprint in some key areas – namely her closet and primary bathroom.
The expansive primary bathroom.
Speaking of, the primary bathroom is something else. The large space has been divided into what Labelle refers to as “three pods” in one of her videos detailing the renovation.
The primary bathroom tub.
The primary bathroom also features a custom marble tub in one pod, a his/her microcement vanity with a freestanding bronze mirror in the middle pod, and an open air double shower with natural sunlight flooding the space in the third pod.
The primary bathroom shower.
But obviously, the primary bathroom isn’t the only eye-catching thing about this home.
The dining room with custom shutters.
“There are so many amazing details incorporated into this home,” said Labelle.
The living room.
“Lynwood was a labour of love. Each detail is meticulously thought out,” added Gozlan, noting elements like the fluted fireplace and the white standing seam metal roof.
The kitchen with fully integrated appliances.
“You do not see that everyday in Toronto! The design is so unique. As well, the level of detail and craftsmanship is unmatched.”
The unique backsplash and Venetian plaster cabinets.
Perhaps the most impressive detail in the house is the mix of various types of marble.
The door to the powder room off the dining room.
“I’m in love with marble and love all different types of marble,” explained Labelle, who skillfully mixed an Italian Emperador, Italian green exotic, walnut travertine, and Rosso Verona marble all in one home.
Exposed beams in the kitchen add even more architectural intrigue to the space.
The listing also notes that there’s a generous list of built-in vintage collections and statement pieces, which can be found in the form of the Catherine Carroll ceramic backsplash in the kitchen, the Kit King sink in the powder room, and more.
The living room with the hidden TV.
And while most homes that look this good in photos are rarely practical, Zhang ensures us that the home really is easy to live in.
From ceiling to wall to cabinetry systems.
“It’s not only cool, it’s very practical,” she said.
The house is approximately 3,800 sq.ft.
“One of my favourite things about the house, that we did for practicalitly reasons, is a tumbled French limestone floor all through the house,” Labelle explained.
This home showcases how lavish finishes are dedicated to everyday relaxation.
“We have a 100-pound black Golden Doodle, so we wanted to make it less fussy for us so we don’t have to chase after him.”
The lower level exercise room with heated floors and full marble shower.
There are, of course, other practicalilties in this luxury home, like automated gadgets, top-of-the-line integrated appliances, and heated floors.
TORONTO – The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says home sales in October surged as buyers continued moving off the sidelines amid lower interest rates.
The board said 6,658 homes changed hands last month in the Greater Toronto Area, up 44.4 per cent compared with 4,611 in the same month last year. Sales were up 14 per cent from September on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The average selling price was up 1.1 per cent compared with a year earlier at $1,135,215. The composite benchmark price, meant to represent the typical home, was down 3.3 per cent year-over-year.
“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate cutting cycle, it definitely does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October,” said TRREB president Jennifer Pearce in a news release.
“The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices prompted this improvement in market activity.”
The Bank of Canada has slashed its key interest rate four times since June, including a half-percentage point cut on Oct. 23. The rate now stands at 3.75 per cent, down from the high of five per cent that deterred many would-be buyers from the housing market.
New listings last month totalled 15,328, up 4.3 per cent from a year earlier.
In the City of Toronto, there were 2,509 sales last month, a 37.6 per cent jump from October 2023. Throughout the rest of the GTA, home sales rose 48.9 per cent to 4,149.
The sales uptick is encouraging, said Cameron Forbes, general manager and broker for Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., who added the figures for October were stronger than he anticipated.
“I thought they’d be up for sure, but not necessarily that much,” said Forbes.
“Obviously, the 50 basis points was certainly a great move in the right direction. I just thought it would take more to get things going.”
He said it shows confidence in the market is returning faster than expected, especially among existing homeowners looking for a new property.
“The average consumer who’s employed and may have been able to get some increases in their wages over the last little bit to make up some ground with inflation, I think they’re confident, so they’re looking in the market.
“The conditions are nice because you’ve got a little more time, you’ve got more choice, you’ve got fewer other buyers to compete against.”
All property types saw more sales in October compared with a year ago throughout the GTA.
Townhouses led the surge with 56.8 per cent more sales, followed by detached homes at 46.6 per cent and semi-detached homes at 44 per cent. There were 33.4 per cent more condos that changed hands year-over-year.
“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for homebuyers,” said TRREB chief market analyst Jason Mercer.
“This choice will keep home price growth moderate over the next few months. However, as inventory is absorbed and home construction continues to lag population growth, selling price growth will accelerate, likely as we move through the spring of 2025.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.
Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.
Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.
The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.
Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.
They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.
The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.
Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.
Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500
Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438
Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103
Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359
Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent
How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
