Luxury real estate: It’s all about the amazing amenities

Luxury living lets you prioritize experiences over running errands

After a tumultuous three years living in a global pandemic, many Canadians are taking pause to reflect on their priorities and contemplate how they want to live their lives. They’re also looking at where they want to live, weighing the labour and obligation of home ownership with a lifestyle of luxury and more time to do the things they love.

“Saving time is perhaps the most valued benefit for our clients,” says Jana Korim, head of sales at North Drive Investments, the developer behind One Forest Hill, a new condominium and townhouse development in Toronto’s serene and family friendly neighbourhood of Forest Hill.

“A hallmark of life at One Forest Hill is the attention and care lavished on the residents and their guests. From the moment they arrive, a uniformed concierge greets them by name and a porter is on hand to collect parcels, groceries and luggage, and deliver them up to their suite,” Korim says. “Residents and their guests love the convenience of valet parking. It is an even more appreciated time saver during holiday times and weekends, when finding parking for extended family gatherings can be a challenge.”

Korim says one of the great things about One Forest Hill is that it offers residents everything they need but nothing they don’t.

“We offer essential spaces to enhance our residents’ already full lifestyles,” Korim says. “There is a well-equipped gym where they can meet a personal trainer. The fully stocked and fitted catering kitchen is the perfect space for larger gatherings with family and friends. And the beautifully furnished lounge offers a more intimate space for coffee chats with friends or a cozy retreat.”

According to Mansions Global, a digital destination connecting the world’s affluent real estate buyers with prestige properties across the globe, hotel-level service, gathering space and gardens are 2023′s top amenity trends, with luxury buyers demanding high-end dining, butlers, elevated landscaping and spectacular fitness amenities.

The brain trust behind an iconic new luxury development known as No. 7 Dale has taken great care to understand what buyers want. Recognized by Canadian Business Magazine as the ‘dean of condos,’ Hunter Milborne, president and chief executive officer of Milborne Group, and partners at Platinum Vista have spearheaded the luxury development in Toronto’s coveted Rosedale neighbourhood.

“We’re finding the single most important amenity our buyers desire is a very well-equipped gym,” Milborne says. “People are very health-conscious these days.”

In response, fitness became the focus of No. 7 Dale with a bright and open workout area that features designer finishes, free weights, kettlebells, subscription personal training, and Peloton and Tonal equipment. A large yoga room with privacy glass allows for relaxation sessions. The luxury marble change rooms provide privacy and individual spa features, including marble steam showers with body sprays and rain showers, and an infrared sauna.

Nature is everywhere at No. 7 Dale. Landscape designer Janet Rosenberg has created an oasis in the city where the rear of the building sculpts around 150-year-old trees and looks beyond to the restored ravine. A teahouse dating back to the 1950s has been transformed into a special place where residents can enjoy a beverage while overlooking the ravine.

“There is a significant amount of outdoor space. Some of the residences offer as much outdoor space as their interior space with the expansive terraces and ground-level patios,” Milborne says.

The list of carefully considered amenities at No. 7 Dale is long, with everything from fob access and secure parcel storage to 24-hour concierge service, owner licence plate recognition, electric vehicle charging stations, bike storage and a bike workshop.

Another rarity in luxury living for buyers who want more time to enjoy their lives is The Shores of Port Credit Retirement Residences and its luxury rental apartments for seniors nestled on Lake Ontario.

“We’ve paid attention to research and acquired a deep knowledge of our aging population and how they want to spend this next chapter of their lives. We’ve responded with a golf simulator, billiards room, hydrotherapy pool, indoor fitness centre, outdoor exercise circuit, piano room, library, movie theatre and more,” says Stephen Holland, general manager of The Shores of Port Credit.

With food a primary focus for bringing people together at The Shores, Red Seal-certified chefs cook up delicious creations with ingredients from the chef’s garden and local producers. Residents often gather at the wine cellar to taste their favourite vintage or at the bistro with its own bar menu. Private dining rooms in contemporary colours and with comfortable chairs are destinations of choice for visiting families and friends.

Worry-free living is the goal of DBS Developments and its exciting new take on luxury living in Toronto’s vibrant Forest Hills neighbourhood. 2Fifteen is next-level luxury living for buyers who want a more efficient home where everything they need is at their fingertips.

“It’s a bold vision,” says Brian Levy, chief executive officer of DBS Developments. “What we’ve done is actually motivated people who would never have considered selling their homes to change their minds because 2Fifteen is such an attractive and appealing option.”

Hotel-style services at 2Fifteen range from a designated doorperson and 24-hour concierge team to secure parcel management system, keyless suite entry and destination dispatch elevators. Resident security is front and centre at 2Fifteen, where guests must visit a central registration area before their visit. Virtual keys can be assigned to caregivers, dogwalkers or other service providers by using a smartphone application custom-designed and exclusive to 2Fifteen residents.

The WiFi-enabled lobby lounge is a stunning showcase for Canadian artists with a spectacular light designed by Canadian Zac Ridgely that hovers over the lobby fireplace. Residents can venture to the 17th-floor rooftop terrace for a barbecue or take in the unmatched views of the Toronto skyline from their seat at one of the firepits.

Men’s and women’s spas with saunas offer a reprieve from daily life. Fitness options are easily accessible with a state-of-the-art gym where residents can participate in expert-led fitness classes or take private sessions with a personal trainer. For cyclists, there is also a secured separate bike room with repair and wash services.

Making the decision to right-size has never been easier with new luxury apartment and condominium developments rising in Toronto that are built for worry-free living and exciting new experiences close to home.

THE SHORES OF PORT CREDIT

The Shores of Port Credit Retirement Residences project offers luxury rental residences as well as an assisted living building. Both communities have five-star amenities that tick the boxes on the lists of residents looking for luxury rental living.

2FIFTEEN

This luxury rental residence overlooking Forest Hill in Toronto has services that save time and hassle, such as a 24-hour concierge, and outdoor features that include dining areas with barbecues and rooftop terraces with firepits.

Amenities at 2Fifteen include, from top, a fitness room, games and theatre room, and a fully outfitted party room.

36 BIRCH

This development by North Drive Investments, which also is the developer of One Forest Hill, takes lavish living to the next level. A particular highlight is the landscaped rooftop terraces, below, which have stunning views.

NO. 7 DALE

This boutique residence in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood features numerous upscale amenities. The stylish lobby, below, offers 24-hour concierge services and garden views through large windows. There is also a residential lounge with a grand fireplace. Fitness amenities include a fully equipped gym, bottom, and yoga room. Residents can enjoy luxurious marble change rooms with individual spa features, plus an infrared sauna. And the entry garage has EV charging infrastructure, as well as bike storage and a workshop.

Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.