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home of the week
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Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The listing: 238 Davenport Rd., suite 302, Toronto

Asking Price: $2,950,000

Taxes: $12,141.33 (2018)

Monthly maintenance fees: $1,524.12

Agents: James Warren and Christopher Killam (Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd.)

The back story

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The unit is in a building designed by the prominent Toronto architectural firm Brisbin Brook Beynon.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

Mark Wheaton was an esteemed deal maker in Toronto’s financial district and Marilyn Byrne-Wheaton was honing her skills in interior decorating when the couple decided to move full-time to the Caribbean island of Nevis.

Leaving behind mergers and acquisitions to live in a luxurious villa at the Four Seasons resort was an abrupt change of pace, Mr. Wheaton acknowledges, but he was ready to enjoy the activities he had spared little time for during a 38-year career. In between rounds of golf, the couple spent time planning and building a much larger house on Nevis.

They also knocked down their rambling cottage on Martha’s Vineyard and worked with an architect to build a new house there.

“When I retired, I made the transition from Bay Street investment banker to the interior design assistant to Marilyn,” Mr. Wheaton jokes of that time in the early 2000s.

After a few years in their Caribbean idyll, the couple realized that their residence wasn’t the reason for their restlessness: They both found they yearned for life in Canada – including the snow.

“We just weren’t good at living away from Canada,” Mr. Wheaton says. “We really found we missed it a lot.”

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The living room boasts soaring 18-foot ceilings.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

They decided to return to Ontario but they weren’t sure they wanted to settle in the big city again.

“It seemed to us Toronto was built for work, not for play,” Mr. Wheaton says.

They decided to move a couple of hours drive around the edge of Lake Ontario to the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

But they also wanted a pied-à-terre in Toronto so they could venture into town for the symphony, theatre and forays to Summerhill Market in their former neighbourhood of Rosedale.

They started out looking at suites in high-rise towers with expansive views, Mr. Wheaton says.

But Ms. Byrne-Wheaton says she preferred living closer to ground level. They shifted their search toward finding a loft in a boutique building.

Five years ago, they purchased one of the seven suites at 238 Davenport. The building, designed by the prominent Toronto architectural firm of Brisbin Brook Beynon, is set in the design district near Davenport and Avenue Road.

The two appreciated the architects’ emphasis on privacy in the hallways and elevators, where residents rarely encounter each other, Mr. Wheaton says. The low-profile building is inconspicuous from the street, with no concierge and few common areas.

The open and modern interior of the suite also appealed to them.

“We liked the design,” Mr. Wheaton says. “That’s what attracted us to it.”

The walk to favourite restaurants in Yorkville is about seven minutes, Mr. Wheaton says.

A private drive at the rear of the building leads to an underground garage.

“When we come in, the car’s in the garage and we don’t take it out again until we leave.”

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The suite today

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Heated, quarter-sawn oak floors run throughout the unit.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The two-storey suite has 2,205 square feet of living space.

Floors of quarter-sawn oak are heated throughout.

Guests arrive to a foyer that leads to an expansive open-concept living area with a ceiling 18 feet high.

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The upper cabinets' frosted-glass doors keep the kitchen's appearance light.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The modern kitchen has a large stone island with waterfall sides and a breakfast bar. The base cabinets provide extensive storage while frosted glass doors on the upper cabinets keep the appearance light.

A solid oak bar with a built-in wine fridge separates the kitchen from an adjacent dining area, which has a floor-to-ceiling window and doors opening to an outdoor terrace with a gas-fuelled barbecue.

A high-tech system lets residents control heating, cooling, lights, blinds, music and the television.

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A staircase leads to the large master suite on the upper level.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

A floating staircase with glass rails leads to the upper level and its large master suite.

The loft bedroom has a bay window which overlooks the living room below and brings in morning light when the blind is open. In the sitting area, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to allow breezes to flow in from the terrace.

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The master bedroom has a bay window that overlooks the living room.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The ensuite bathroom has his-and-hers sinks, a steam shower and a large soaker tub.

The large dressing room has built-in cupboards and a leather topped dressing table, with a laundry room nearby.

The second-storey den overlooks the living room.

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The ensuite bathroom features this soaker tub.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The Wheatons have decorated and furnished 11 homes in their 40 years together.

Mr. Wheaton figures the loft on Davenport is their most satisfying project.

“Finally, we got it right.”

The best feature

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The spacious living room gets plenty of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows.Alexander J. Rothe/Alexander J. Rothe

The living area has a gas fireplace, expansive walls for an art collection, and a ceiling that soars to 18 feet high.

Natural light floods in from the north and the east during the day.

“It’s just a lovely room to sit in any time of the day or night,” Ms. Byrne-Wheaton says.

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