'Like walking into Disneyland': The story behind the whimsical $4M home for sale in White Rock, B.C.
Outside, there are life-sized dolls perched along the railing of the upstairs balcony. Inside, a miniature train moves from one flamboyantly colourful room to the next, passing through holes in the walls on a track hanging from the ceiling.
Needless to say, the two-storey home for sale on Marine Drive in White Rock, B.C. – which an onlooker might fairly describe as a human-scale dollhouse – is unlike any of the other multi-million dollar properties that line the city's waterfront.
"It's beyond your imagination," said Cindy Russell, the realtor representing the property. "To be quite honest, it's like walking into Disneyland somewhat. It gives you that feeling."
There's the miniature ferris wheel on the rooftop. The iron bathtub in the living room. The sea of pink walls, patio umbrellas, bedspreads and upholstery – not to mention the pink water fountain.
Then there are the countless eye-catching knickknacks and keepsakes that adorn the walls, mantles and cabinets – much of it collected during the owner's lifetime of travel.
"It's just the most amazing, unique, artsy, flamboyant place you'll ever see," Russell said. "This house is alive."
With an asking price of just under $4 million, any potential buyer will need to have deep pockets – and Russell acknowledged that might come with expensive tastes that don't quite align with the current owner's penchant for whimsy.
"It's not everyone's décor," she said. "But it would be shame to see it cleared out. It was a labour of love, down to every fixture."
(Cindy Russel, eXp Realty)
The owner, Susan Strangway, did not want to be interviewed about the property, but was happy to share some of its history. She moved in back in the 1990s, after her father – Dr. David Strangway, former chief of geophysics for NASA and longtime president of the University of British Columbia – asked her to come care for one of his aunts in White Rock.
Over the years, Strangway and her partner Weave Cleveland made the property their own, gradually turning it into an eccentrically iconic part of the waterfront area. Their philosophy, Russell said, was to buck the boring norms of interior design in a way that would bring instant joy to those who stepped inside.
"And it's true, you can't be unhappy in that house," the realtor added.
(Cindy Russell, eXp Realty)
Russell was approached about representing the property after meeting the owner at a block party. The two clicked instantly, and it's not hard to see why – Russell is known to get around town in a pink range rover, and holds a magic wand in her advertisements.
Naturally, she jumped at the chance to list the home.
"I've been selling real estate for 25 years, it's the most unique house ever, bar none," she said. "I would not change anything about it if I bought it."
So why is Strangway leaving after all these years? The answer is as fanciful as the home itself.
"Everyone's asking why is she moving, because it's such an incredible property," Russell said. "It's because she wants to move to France. Her dream is to move to France and buy a castle."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.