STEP INSIDE PAUL and Holly Miklas’s $15 million, 18,000- square-foot Bridle Path mansion and it’s hard not to feel at least a bit intimidated.
As the host of HGTV’s Mansions, a Toronto-based home design show that builds and designs — well — mansions, and founder and president of Valleymede Building Corporation, Paul has sizable credentials. But when the 47- year-old father of three bounds in through the back door, whistling, and skips over to shake my hand, I’m put at ease almost instantly. As the son of a developer, Paul learned his way around construction sites as early as age 13. He spent his summers surveying land.
By the time he was 19, he had been recruited by one of the top builders in Canada to work as an assistant supervisor. Upon finishing university, Paul was hired to one project as site supervisor, a position usually reserved for people in their 40s or 50s.
Paul’s construction experience is central to his role as host of Mansions. The show, which airs as part of Real Estate Wednesdays on HGTV, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design, construction and decoration of some of Canada’s most lavish homes. The first season of the show comprises 10 episodes.
“In each episode we’ve chosen one area of the house to focus on, such as the library or the indoor pool,” Paul explains. For each show, he travels somewhere to gain inspiration, places such as Casa Loma or Paris, France.
Before I can ask how he went from site supervisor to ultraexclusive home builder (responsible for five mansions in the Bridle Path area alone), Paul whisks me out of the formal dining room and into the grand foyer, where we are joined by his wife Holly, who is Mansions’ head designer. The elegant finishes, carefully chosen colour schemes and stunning original artwork are all attributed to Holly’s meticulous eye.
Holly and Paul are as compatible romantically as they are creatively. They met in their teens at a church dance and still laugh about that night that took them down to the CN Tower’s first birthday celebration. “Of course, when it came time to propose, I chose the CN Tower as the spot to do it,” says Paul, his wife blushing as he divulges the details of their romantic story.
But Paul certainly isn’t in the business of being shy. His grand Bridle Path home is the setting for many of Mansions’ episodes, and, like a proud artist, he eagerly shows off his work.
Our tour begins in the kitchen, with its soaring 15-foot ceilings, stunning granite countertops and elaborate custom cabinetry.
Just off the kitchen, the gorgeous octagonal breakfast room with floor-to-ceiling windows is flooded with light, even on this dull January day. The high-velocity heating and cooling system, coupled with heated marble floors, ensures the temperature inside the room remains optimal.
Despite the meticulous order of this spectacular home, there are signs of family life. Smack dab in the middle of the highly masculine, French-style study sits an elaborate drum kit.
“Our daughter is learning to play, and we didn’t want to send her down to the basement to practice,” says Holly, smiling. “This way her practice is integrated into family life.”
Though they’ve only been in this house for about four years, the Miklas family has resided in the Bayview and York Mills area for years. “I actually grew up in this neighbourhood,” says Holly. “We love the community feeling and the easy access to all the amenities.” As members of the nearby Granite Club, the Miklases stay active by swimming, skating and playing tennis. When the weather is warm, they take advantage of the walking and bike paths in Edwards Gardens. “We drive down on a summer day with the kids and try to see who can count the most brides in the gardens,” says Paul, laughing.
Our tour continues to the master suite. From the stunning walkout balcony overlooking the manicured property, to his and hers ensuite bathrooms (his equipped with a flat-screen TV where Paul watches sports highlights while shaving) to the most organized walk-in closet I have ever seen, this space is a haven of luxury.
While a show such as Mansions, with its overt displays of luxury and excess, might seem out of touch with the economic realities of the day, Paul hopes that it will be seen as a source of inspiration and entertainment. “And,” Holly adds, “the great economic benefit to building homes like these is that there are so many hands needed to complete a project and so many jobs created.”
While the average viewer may not be planning a multi-million dollar home purchase any time soon, the techniques and craftsmanship used on the show can be replicated in any home, no matter the size.
“We hope to inspire people with our decorating and renovation ideas,” says Holly. “It’s all about choosing the right colours and finishes — and you don’t have to spend a fortune to do this.”
“When I was a kid, I always wondered what went on behind the gates of mansions like this one,” says Paul. “So with this show, I really wanted to give the public a first-hand glimpse.”
“I hope the show never comes off as arrogant,” he continues. “These homes are a big part of our city’s landscape.”
Though they say they’re too old to be awed by the television experience, both Holly and Paul admit being surprised by the attention they’ve received as a result.
“We’ll be having coffee at the York Mills and Bayview plaza, and someone will come up to us and say, ‘Aren’t you Paul and Holly from Mansions?’” he says. “I can’t tell you how many free coffees we’ve been given.”
