Robert Gordon

10/14/2026

Good bones. Bad plumbing. And perhaps a little too much optimism.

There’s something special about buying a character home in Toronto. The proportions, stained glass, original woodwork and architectural details can offer a quality that survives fashion, neglect and the occasional unfortunate renovation.

But age alone does not confer greatness. A house can be architecturally excellent and mechanically exhausted. It can be worth preserving and expensive to preserve at exactly the same time.

In my latest blog, I explore the romance, reality and cost of good bones, drawing on a few personal experiences along the way:
https://lifeofluxury.ca/buying-a-character-home-in-toronto/

10/12/2026

Second Empire homes are instantly recognizable by their mansard roofs, a defining feature that creates a full additional storey within the roofline.

They’re less common on Toronto’s streets than many other Victorian-era styles, which is precisely what makes them so interesting. With their tall proportions, elaborate rooflines and often ornate detailing, they bring a distinctly European character to the city’s architectural landscape.

When a good one comes to market, it’s difficult not to take notice.

→ Read more about Toronto’s architectural styles on my website:
https://lifeofluxury.ca/what-homebuyers-need-to-know-about-torontos-distinct-architectural-history/

10/07/2026

If everyone agrees housing is too expensive, why do we continue making the business of producing and owning it more expensive?

A house today is apparently expected to provide shelter, finance retirement, support the municipal budget, stimulate economic growth and, preferably, save the Canadian economy.

That’s quite a lot to ask of a three-bedroom semi with a questionable basement.

In my latest blog, I look at housing, taxation, bureaucracy and Canada’s increasingly complicated relationship with the family home:

Get a new perspective on housing, taxation, bureaucracy and Canada's increasingly complicated relationship with the family home.

10/05/2026

Fall always makes me appreciate interiors with a little more depth and warmth. Rich burgundy walls, dark stone and aged brass give this powder room a wonderfully moody quality. It feels sophisticated, layered and just right for the season.

Proof that even the smallest room in the house can have plenty of personality.

Design by

09/30/2026

While other kids were practising slapshots, I was learning key codes and the difference between eggshell and semi-gloss. I grew up in a landlord family in the Annex, trailing my mother through century homes and collecting rent to the soundtrack of rock music and Caribana prep.

Decades later, the principles still hold: buy, hold, maintain beautifully.
Want the full playbook? Read my blog 'How to Be the Exception(al) Landlord':
https://lifeofluxury.ca/how-to-be-the-exceptional-landlord/

09/28/2026

1 Marlborough has certainly caught my attention.

Audax has described it as a building designed for homeowners rather than investors, and that distinction is an important one. Instead of chasing density or the broadest possible market, they're focusing on generous floor plans, carefully considered materials, bespoke detailing, and architecture intended to stand the test of time.

Whether they succeed remains to be seen, but I appreciate the ambition. Toronto needs more projects that prioritize enduring quality and thoughtful design over short-term trends.

I'd be very interested to see how 1 Marlborough comes together.

09/24/2026

Some buildings make their case immediately. The Oaklands takes a little more time, and I think that’s part of its charm.

Designed by Macy DuBois and completed in the early 1980s, it trades the usual condo corridor for something far more interesting: an internal pedestrian street filled with natural light, greenery, steps and stoops. Add generous suites, terraces and townhouse-style residences, and you have a building that still feels remarkably thoughtful more than 40 years later.

It’s a wonderful reminder that good architecture doesn’t need to be new to feel relevant.

Read my full guide to The Oaklands:
https://lifeofluxury.ca/the-oaklands-incomparble-living-in-midtown/

09/22/2026

Forest Hill = Kensington Without the Postcode Obsession

There’s a quiet confidence to Forest Hill. Beautiful architecture, established streets, excellent schools and generations of residents who simply don’t feel the need to leave.

Like Kensington, its appeal isn’t about being fashionable. It’s about enduring quality, privacy and a neighbourhood that has held onto its identity while the city changed around it.

Why does Forest Hill remain one of Toronto’s most coveted addresses? I explore it on my blog "The Best Neighbourhoods in Toronto and Their Iconic Global Counterparts":
https://lifeofluxury.ca/the-best-neighbourhoods-in-toronto-and-their-iconic-global-counterparts/

09/17/2026

After more than 25 years of preparing houses for sale, I’ve come to believe that the best staging doesn’t erase a home’s personality. It reveals it.

Scroll through enough listings today and a peculiar sameness begins to emerge. The same beige chairs, pale bouclé, ceramic vessels and carefully placed objects appear house after house. Eventually, you stop seeing the home and start seeing the staging inventory.

Staging can absolutely transform a property, but it should support the house. It should not become the house.

So, when did staging become so…staged? I explore that question, and a few staging memories from over the years, in my latest blog.

Read the full post on my website: https://lifeofluxury.ca/when-did-staging-become-so-staged/

09/15/2026

I've always believed that the most successful additions know when to step forward and when to step back.

That's what I appreciate about Bloom Architects' proposal for 8 Prince Arthur. The heritage building remains the visual anchor of the street, while the contemporary addition quietly supports it from behind.

Cities evolve. The challenge isn't whether they should change, but how they change.