Montreal-born, Toronto-based Glen Baxter is an accomplished bilingual broadcaster specializing in fashion, design, arts and entertainment. He is perhaps best known for having hosted CTV’s IN FASHION during its 10-year run and has interviewed the likes of Valentino, Tom Ford, Frank Gehry, Piero Lissoni, Tom Dixon, Marcel Wanders and many others.
Glen Baxter is always the epitome of style when seen out and about around Toronto so one shouldn’t be too surprised to see that his home is the perfect reflection of him. Located in downtown Toronto’s hip and chic King West neighbourhood, this modern condominium is sleek and cool and filled with amazing art and photographs (most of which were shot by Glen himself).
We sat down with Glen to discuss his real estate experiences and what he loves so much about his home:
1. Think back to the first place you lived in on your own, what were your walls decorated with?
GB: Like many of your readers, I’ve had my fair share of roommates over the years. So I definitely remember the first place I could afford on my own. I lived in a junior one-bedroom rental in St. James Town, in downtown Toronto. I had recently graduated from Ryerson University and landed at job at the nearby French CBC studios as an on-air arts and entertainment TV reporter. The only thing I can remember of the interior was my DYI bookshelf consisting of stacked bricks and plywood planks (the books were much better than the shelving!).
2. What did you love most about the first place you purchased?
GB: My first purchase was a true loft in a great downtown neighbourhood. What I loved most about it, were the 11.5 foot high ceilings and the 30 foot-long window offering spectacular views of the city.
3. How would you describe your interior design style now?
GB: I have a great appreciation for architecture and design. My style is contemporary and sparse. I don’t like clutter. I don’t like owning and collecting “stuff”. I like to see bare floor in my home. Less is more.
4. What room do you spend the most time in now?
GB: The highlight of my current condo, without a doubt, is the 350 sq. ft. outdoor terrace with one of the best unobstructed views of the city, but my open concept living room/kitchen is my favorite room. This is where I live and entertain. It is very spacious. You can only be in one room at a time, so in all my condos I’ve tried to design (pre-construction) the largest living room/kitchen I could afford. I would rather have one large room to enjoy than several small ones.
5. What is the #1 feature you’d look for in your next home?
GB: I can’t really think beyond or improve on my current home. A few years ago, I was able to purchase two adjacent condos pre-construction and design the floor plan from scratch with a great interior designer, Bryan Chartier formerly with Core Architects. It’s a unique one-of-a-kind custom space. It’s like a bespoke condo tailored to suit me and my current lifestyle.
6. What does your dream home look like?
GB: If I won the lottery, my dream home would be a beautifully furnished art-filled loft with a massive terrace overlooking New York’s Central Park or a contemporary glass house surrounded by trees on a hill top overlooking a lake somewhere in South America with a town a short bike ride away, or a white-washed house in coastal Ibiza or Majorca, Spain or… I could keep going, but I think I need to go and buy a lottery ticket right now.
Montreal-born, Toronto-based Glen Baxter is an accomplished bilingual broadcaster specializing in fashion, design, arts and entertainment. He is perhaps best known for having hosted CTV’s IN FASHION during its 10-year run and has interviewed the likes of Valentino, Tom Ford, Frank Gehry, Piero Lissoni, Tom Dixon, Marcel Wanders and many others. An accomplished photographer, over the last 25 years Baxter has traveled extensively in over 50 countries, always with his camera in tow. He has displayed his work in five solo exhibitions. Glen currently sits on Right to Play’s Board of Champions and is the Founder and Chairman of The Annual Right to Play Ball, raising money and awareness for the NGO (non-governmental organization). Glen’s philanthropic efforts were formally recognized when he was recently awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Visit www.glenbaxter.ca or follow @GlenBaxterTO on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more information.
Pssst… this is Glen’s favourite property on sothebysrealty.ca right now:
Photography by Omar Leslie, Freelance Photographer. Visit www.omarlesliephotography.wordpress.com or follow @shotbyo on Twitter for more information.
