Grandeur


	story HARRIET ANN DY photos STEVE UHRANEY Organic architecture is the key theme in this estate home nestled in the heart of Doulton Drive, Mississauga’s own Bridle Path neighbourhood. Designed by Fred Roman, principal of the Toronto-based Predrag K. Roman Architects, the property sits on two acres of prime suburban real estate. It was originally built in the mid-1970s with the idea of creating a house that emphasizes a comfortable marriage of structure and nature. The design easily calls to mind the architectural harmony of Fallingwater, the iconic residential home built by American superstar architect Frank Lloyd Wright for the Kaufmann family in Pennsylvania. According to Roman, it took 20 months alone for the concept to come to life on paper. An internationally-known expert, Roman is a veteran designer of luxury residences in equally prestigious addresses in Montreal, New Brunswick, Jamaica, Florida, Englewood, New Jersey, and of course, Toronto. Once the architectural drawings were approved by the original owner, construction on the house took more than a year. The master bedroom alone took two months to finish, while the floating stairs took almost four months. It has a unique octagonal diamond feature between the roof and the interior ceiling in the main great room, all surrounded by exotic stone chimneys. The main entrance is a large, floor-to-ceiling door with intricate copper detail. It has over 10,000 square feet of finished space, with fine details like caviona flooring, Brazilian rosewood paneling and trim in the interiors, and Appalachian stone from Quebec on the exteriors. It also has five bathrooms, 12 parking spaces, six fireplaces, a gym room, a cold room and a wine cellar. A large, kidney shaped indoor pool offers fantastic views of the treed property. The master bedroom, recreation room, and living rooms are shaped octagonally, with large bay windows to welcome the outdoors indoors. This natural harmony is a recurring theme throughout the house. Most impressive is the octagon-shaped acoustic room, which boasts 20-foot, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a detailed, sculptural ceiling treatment. There are four skylight windows in the main floor. Four open patios in various rooms, a balcony for the living room and a walkout deck from the kitchen surround the house. Each of the five bedrooms also has a walkout opening onto the expansive gardens. A waterfall/rock garden lends a serene touch to green space. The property is only one of two ravine lots that overlook the Credit River. “It is perfect from every viewpoint indoors,” says Roman. And did you know? The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards liked the house so much he rented the place for $40,000/week when he was in the city, according to torontolife.com. Roman says the meticulous craftsmanship and the quality of the materials used makes it seem like “the house was just built yesterday.” This custom-designed home at 2350 Doulton Drive is currently listed at $8.9 million. GL	ABOVE: The custom-designed home at 2350 Doulton Drive in Mississauga