PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPH STRUBE
MUSKOKA MEETS MILAN The rustic, cottage-y exterior of the Baldassarra home embraces Segreti’s neoclassical interior handiwork
FAMILY FOCUSED A growing family is one of the Baldassarras’ most important commitments, so Segreti designed a home that would accommodate — and inspire — an abundance of guests
“I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ IN PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN’T REALLY SEE IN THEMSELVES” — HEATHER SEGRETI
the master ensuite, which boasts a floor entirely built of the rock. To the untrained eye, the understated elegance of these creations betrays no hint of the painstaking process it took to bring them to life: imported from Italy, the slabs of statuario were strategically pieced together to mesh flawlessly. “Some people might not see that connection,” says Segreti of minute details such as this that often go unnoticed. “But they’ll feel that connection.” The showstopper, Segreti admits, is the great room. With its sky-high ceiling and angularity, the room is a testament to Segreti’s flawless melding of classic and contemporary. Without a colonial pillar in sight, it’s a successful stray from the neighbourhood norm. “When I look at my home, I say, ‘That’s the house I was looking for for a long time,’” says Carlo, who moved in with 54
DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE
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FALL 2013
www.dolcemag.com
SMART HOME With over 45 years of experience in the construction industry, Carlo Baldassarra ensured his family’s new home was pinpoint perfect from the inside out
his wife this past March. As the owner of Sora Construction for over 45 years, Carlo understood how vital it was to take the building and design process slowly — a decision that paid off many times over. The house, which holds three guest bedrooms on the second floor to accommodate four grandchildren and another on the way, is the materialization of what the Baldassarras envisioned four years ago. And with a slew of sought-after features accenting the home — from the heated driveway to the wall-mounted home-automation devices, which allow Carlo to control the property from the likes of Florida or Italy, to the threedoor garage that houses Carlo’s Ferrari 458 Spider, to the ensuite bathroom decked with a waterfall shower, heated towel rack and waterproof TV — Segreti didn’t miss a beat of the couple’s unique style. When asked what inspires her to include these concepts, the designer claims it’s her endless curiosity that allows her to really listen to clients and uncover which features will complement their lifestyle — a process she explains is almost like mind reading. “When [the client is] telling me something, I’m listening to them but I’m also watching their body language. I’m looking at what they wear, I’m looking at what they show me in images that they like,” Segreti explains. “I have to be able to read in people what they can’t really see in themselves.” www.segretidesign.com