Decorating & Design
This Toronto Apartment Building Redefines Rental Living
Published on October 25, 2018
Millennials in Toronto are starting to forgo home ownership in favor of renting (just half of those under 35 own their home compared to 83% of Boomers). A new development opening this October, The Selby is cashing in on that thinking: it’s a rental unit in downtown Toronto that backs the 150-year-old Gooderham Mansion.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom unit is about $2,000 — let’s take a look and see what boutique-hotel amenities (hello, dog spa!) that covers, which are targeted to tempt the Millennial set.
Located in historic St. James town, The Selby encompasses The Gooderham Mansion in front of the new 50-storey tower. Designed in 1883, the mansion was owned by Charles Gooderham (of the distilling dynasty Gooderham & Worts), who bought the land for this house for $24,000.
At one time the mansion served as host to Branksome Hall girls’ school and a dance bar, as well as the Selby Hotel, where Ernest Hemingway stayed in 1923 while working for the Toronto Star. Its Victorian design has made it a popular location for movies and television shows, such as SCTV.
Part of the original mansion has been converted to a games room, which is kitted out with a pool, ping-pong tables and arcade video games. The adjoining lounge area has a fireplace, bar and home theater.
The main floor lobby is clad in marble, and dominated by a copper fixture for a pairing with major impact.
The second-floor lounge area of the Selby features a clean white palette with a traditional Victorian fireplace set against panelled walls.
A model suite depicts a Scavolini kitchen with Caesarstone counters. The building contains 502 pet-friendly rental units with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Some units are equipped with wine refrigerators and walk-in closets with organizers.
A lounge deck with a BBQ area and dining tables is the perfect arena for an alfresco meal with friends, or for mingling with new acquaintances.
Hotels and restaurants have embraced the rooftop pool as a glam, Insta-worthy nexus for the selfie set. An 18-meter salt-water pool ringed by designer lounge chairs sets the stage for summer snaps on the second floor.
Spas are de rigeur at hotels, and this version follows suit with a wet and dry sauna, a dedicated meditation area and a yoga/spinning studio and fitness center.
Courtesy of The Selby