Return to Roots: Paulette's Primrose Hill Manor
Sometimes houses are just made for certain people. With Primrose Hill Manor, the pairing couldn't be more perfect. Located near Kawartha and built in the 1880s, Primrose Hill Manor has a long history as a historical landmark in the region. Designated as a heritage property, Primrose Hill Manor boasts incredible woodwork, multiple fireplaces with marble inserts, palatial verandas, and more. This gem of a property needed to find the right fit, and in Paulette, it did.
Paulette, pictured with her previous city home, moved from one gorgeous home to another!
Familiar with the region, Paulette saw the pandemic as an opportunity to change her life, and Primrose Hill Manor was the place to do it. The stars aligned when Paulette discovered that her dream home had been listed. Daena and I had the pleasure of working with her on the successful purchase. Things continued to align as we sold Paulette’s previous Toronto home in under a week.
Paulette has buckets of taste and a personal style that showed her previous home gorgeously, and will no doubt elevate the incredible Primrose Hill Manor, something Toronto Life recently covered in a profile of Paulette’s purchase of the estate. I'm delighted to introduce Paulette, as well as Primrose Hill Manor– a magical location that Paulette is working to restore to its previous beauty.
Your story is all about returning to your roots. Tell us more.
The pandemic has changed my lens. I've spent decades on planes, trains and automobiles, and it took a pandemic for me to stop and access how I wanted my life to unfold in the next chapter.
This was the perfect location for you to do so, given you were so familiar with the area. You've decided to call your home "Primrose Hill Manor" – I love that. What is the significance of the name?
The home has been known in the area as either The Janetville Mansion or The Doctor's House for years (Editor's note: the house actually has a history of being inhabited by a succession of doctors!). There is nothing wrong with those names; however, I wanted to celebrate its new owner (me) by giving her a more feminine name.
Primrose is a beautiful spring flower that is native to Ontario, and although it's not on a hill per se, it does represent the hills of the area. It has a perfect ring to it!
Primrose Hill Manor is a gorgeous estate– what features of the home drew you to it?
The house had me at "mouldings." Plus, the Italianate verandas, the Jacobean staircase, the high ceilings... I could go on and on!
(Editor’s note: The home is so well appointed and rich with history. Featuring a gargoyle from 1235, Wedgewood detailing, and parquet floors- walking through the home is akin to a museum visit, steeped in history.)
You've shared that you're excited to share the magnificent Primrose Hill Manor with others– what are your plans for the home?
It will be a primary residence for me, first and foremost. I have many ideas that include micro-weddings, small corporate retreats, and maybe a Victorian Christmas market. I will flesh out those ideas in due time, of course.
What excites you most about relocating from a house in downtown Toronto to a more rural setting?
I feel like I haven't seen a proper night sky in decades! I can't wait.
What has surprised you about relocating? Any obstacles you've encountered?
I haven't encountered any obstacles yet. I think I'll need some time getting used to winter driving, but that should come back fairly quickly. Slow and steady (or stay home) will be my motto. Also, going back to a well system will be different. I grew up with one, so I think I'll get used to it pretty quickly.
What advice would you give to someone else considering relocating to the country/a small town?
The world has changed! Working from home has given all of us permission to change how we work, and where we live. I see no downsides to a change like this. I simply cannot wait!
