Castle on the river

With equal parts of inspiration, envy and generosity, people flock to see the May Court's Homes of Distinction each year.

The six houses on the 2012 tour offer plenty to kick-start your imagination or turn you green with envy, at the same time you help feed hungry students.

"People get a lot of ideas on the tour," said Margaret Vetter, publicity chair for May Court. "Every house is different. Every house is unique. We just want them to come out and enjoy the tour."

The homes were suggested by Marcus Plowright of Anden Construction and Sue-Ann Richardson-Siarto, publisher of Our Homes magazine.

"I like them all for different reasons," said Cathy Egerton, co-chair of the tour. "The Waterloo Street house is a commercial property renovation. There are two complete makeovers, a heritage home and a custom-built. Each has its own character. People will like them for different reasons."

The custom-built house at 2955 Catherine St., west of Dorchester, is certainly a showcase. Picture a French fairy-tale castle, set on the river. Exposed stonework, an archway reminiscent of ruins, muntin windows with arched lintels and a turret create the look of a castle. The 2.4-hectare property was professionally landscaped. Gardens, tennis court, golf course, pool, patio and terraces are edged by a ravine and conservation area.

You enter a half-round walnut door in the turret. The second floor of the turret houses a baby grand piano. A bas relief carving of a prince and princess was built into the stone hood over the range in the kitchen by a Serbian plaster artist who lives in Stratford. Rich wood cabinets echo the arched windows in glass-fronted doors.

The open stairway divides the entry and living room as it frames the view to the river. The decor is inviting, and carries through the living room, den and kitchen. An arched doorway separates the formal dining room from the hall. A glass-topped table reflects light from the French doors leading to a walled terrace.

The house was designed as a gathering place for family and friends. The concept started with the squash court and grew. The lower level is a walk-out to the pool and patio. As well as a guest suite, it houses a spectacular bar with mosaic tile backsplash, a large table for games or dining and a cozy television room. A shower, sauna, locker room and two-story squash court complete the sports offerings.

Upstairs, the master suite is a luxurious escape overlooking the pool and golf green.

The limestone-lined ensuite is better than a spa retreat, and the walk-in closet has a place for everything, even the washer and dryer.

The fairy tale continues in the daughter's room with its hand-painted mural walls and chandelier. A large playroom offers a great place for a child's imagination to soar. Another guest room and bathroom are beautifully appointed with soft, earthy colours and rich textures.

Throughout the second storey, the angled ceiling lines create drama and interest. They follow the rooflines of that side of the house that is stick, hand-framed construction. The house took a year to build.

The homeowners had lived in London's Old North and wanted to incorporate the trim, the warmth of wood and a wood-burning fireplace they'd enjoyed in those houses. Personality is reflected in objects collected on travels and from the work of local artists. Craftsmanship is a theme throughout.

The idea for the exposed stone, done by an Italian mason, on the exterior came during a walk by St. Peter's Seminary.

Another house on this year's tour is across the road from the seminary. It is a classic, symmetrical Georgian Revival, built for Harry Sifton. The style was named after three English kings, during whose reign the architecture evolved as a variation of Palladian, with a balanced facade, simple ornamentation and few details. This sturdy Georgian also contains a dollhouse, a miniature version of itself. The original garage has been converted into a den.

Still in the Old North neighbourhood, a Craftsman cottage on Victoria St. has been remodelled to reflect today's tastes. Many of the houses on the street were built in the 1920s and influenced by styles popular in California.

A side-hall cottage on Sydenham St. also features renovation ideas. This cottage plan was popular in the late 19th century, but remodelling shows how it can function well more than 100 years later.

One of London's prominent architectural firms of the turn of the 20th century, Moore, Henry and Munro, designed the house on Waterloo St. for a wealthy cigar manufacturer.

It's an example of Queen Anne style at its finest: tower, dormer, fluted columns and Palladian window. A law firm owns the house and has retained many of the impressive details, including a vault in the basement, stained glass (reputedly Tiffany) and mahogany wainscotting.

The new house on the tour echoes the Georgian style of the Huron St. home. Located in Old South, it features a custom approach to blending old and new. Even the garage features a traditional exterior with new technology inside.

Passport holders are served tea at the Carolinian Winery & Eatery during the tour. It is newly renovated and reopened.

The tour is the main fundraiser for the group's school nutrition program. This year 96 schools received $45,000 in food certificates. More than 200 volunteers provide thousands of hours for the May Court's program to supply snacks, breakfasts and lunches.

"We give the schools certificates and the teachers manage the flow of food," Egerton said. "They know best who needs something - from the kid who forgot lunch one day to those who need it regularly."