Hawkridge Farm, Estate of the Day
This huge country manor is so large that it could easily be pressed into business as a unique hotel. The estate is 150 acres that includes forests, a freshwater stream, cattle pastures, walking trails, gardens and a pond. The home includes a large living room, formal dining room, a large kitchen, 11 bedrooms and an indoor pool.
The home belongs to George Ross Eaton, a Canadian department store heir. It was designed by Thierry Despont and building of this expansive over 28,000-foot mansion began in the late 1980s but didn't finish up until 1996 at a reported cost of $20 million Canadian. A few years later, facing tax problems, Eaton put the home on the market for that price but didn't get any takers. He later took the house off the market. An article I found on Canadians For Properly Built Homes, details a fascinating saga in which Eaton alleges a number of problems with the home. Another piece, in the Toronto Star, reports on a lawsuit in which the Eatons claimed they suffered fatigue, headaches and respiratory problems while living in the home. They say they spent over $4 million repairing the home.
Now the home is on the market for an undisclosed price. It's a rather particular home, heavy on the wallpaper and velvet, lavish certainly but old-fashioned and even a touch gloomy. Larger pics of this white elephant in the gallery or a all at once after the jump.
[Thanks, Sean!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mehul Kamdar Sep 19th 2007 2:11PM
The exterior and interior designers don't seem to have been on talking terms. But, the funniest thing is the listing which says that the price is $ 0.
Hey, I'll take it and I'll take everything that goes with it. Headaches welcome at this price!
bubba Sep 19th 2007 5:07PM
um........was there a pink and green sale or something?
plain old formica for the kitchen's center island? yech
Joel Sep 19th 2007 6:22PM
Whoever buys this needs to set aside at least a couple million for a redo - it has the capacity to be fantastic, but it's going to take some work and several decorators. What views though!
jeff Sep 20th 2007 12:57PM
Are you sure they wish to sell the house?
You can tell which rooms are actually used; look for pet accessories. Many things that should be removed for a real estate photo are not; the vinyl pool table cover, the toilet plungers, and the bathtub oil collection should not be photographed.
This comes off as very fussy, with no art work to fortify the bones. Plates don't count as art work. Honest. I love the wondows, however. It's a shame they hid most of the second story behind fugly curtains.
Hdtex Oct 29th 2007 4:18PM
More money than taste....AGAIN!