Living Luxe Magazine - Winter Issue 2019

Entertaining Spaces

TORONTO EDI TI ON

YAB U PUSH E LBERG

Trend Reports

Timeless Watches

Reno Tips

Expert Q&As

PASSION FOR P ERFEC TI ON

Jeanne Beker meets the design duo who came to rule the décor world

Suzanne Dimma defines what living luxuriously means to her

D E SIG N E R WAL L PAPER Discover how Christian Lacroix and others redefine wallpaper

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Winter Issue

STR IVIN G F OR SIMPLICITY

Photography by AB Studio

“A beautiful space starts from the ground up with a weavers art…” – Michael Pourvakil

Weavers Art has curated a collection of ten magnificent contemporary designs in current colour palettes. Made from natural fibers, being pure wool or combinations of silk and wool, our carpets are sophisticated and elegant to charm any space with glamour & practicality.

I would like to personally invite you to our showroom, located in the heart of the Castlefield Design District, to view this collection and be further inspired. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Top left to bottom right: Concrete Sky, Concrete Cliffs, Moon Rocks, Pixel - Teal, Trio Illusionist 3, Concrete Bloom, Pixel - Chartreuse, Moon Island, Honey Comb

Design Living Centre • 1400 Castlefield Avenue • Toronto, ON • 416.929.7929 • www.weaversart.com

D E S I G ND B EU S II G L DN B U I L D

Lavish Lavish Design Design Build Build is at is the at the forefront forefront of delivering of delivering EFFICIENT EFFICIENT AND AND SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE LUXURY LUXURY SPACES SPACES in the in the Greater Greater Toronto Toronto Area.

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Lavish Lavish focuses focuses on on bringing bringing in in toptop industry industry leaders leaders from from different different verticals verticals (Architecture, (Architecture, Design, Design, Project Project Management Management etc.) etc.) whowho share share a common a common passion passion in in creating creating innovative innovative andand timeless timeless builds. builds.

We We are are detail detail oriented oriented andand process process driven. driven.

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COLLECTION

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Here are some of the trending collections that will inspire you.

DXV toilets have been one of our best sellers this year, especially from their timeless collections, that adds luxury and sophistication to your bath design.

Check out their ‘Designinspired Vignettes’ at the IDS 2020, Toronto.

Culinary Center A complete kitchen solution With the new Franke Culinary Center the most important kitchen accessories are always at hand when you need them and neatly tucked away when you don’t.

The BELIEVE suite, in transitional style, now features rectangular freestanding bathtubs. Ergonomic as well as comfortable, they are also offered in many sizes, for those who like to bathe with a partner.

We have a good selection of Produits Neptune bathtubs on display at our showroom.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUIET LUXURY PG. 160

IN THIS ISSUE 41 Luxe Life 42 What’s New 44

Jewel Box by Jeanne Beker

46

The Edit by Suzanne Dimma

50 Rise and Shine 52

Stand Your Ground

56

Face Forward

60 Main Objectives 68

Stress Case

70

The Luxury of Passion

72

Raising the Bar

74

Jura-sic Cup

78

Covert Operation

82

Under One Roof

86

Kudos to Us

90

Party For a Cause

92

Party Time

94

Optimizing Your Health

149

The Market

156

All the Best

THE BEST WALLPAPER PG. 156

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Everyday • Luxury • Essentials

KNAR That glint. That sparkle.

That look in her eyes when she’s given a pair of Knar Signature Constellation Diamond Earrings.

TORONTO

•

OAKVILLE

KNAR.COM

•

GUELPH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO RISK, NO GLORY PG. 116

FEATURES 100

This is Yabu Pushelberg

108

Green Goddess

116

No Risk, No Glory

123

In a New York Minute

128

Glam Squad

134

Openly Organized

138

Mystic Magic

144

Fibre Optics

IN EVERY ISSUE 36

Letter from Karine

38

Masthead/Contributors

160

Luxe to You

Fibre Optics PG. 144

34

C B D G L A S S S

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Letter from Karine and Jennifer

New Beginnings As we close off 2019 and begin the new year, it’s always satisfying to reflect upon what’s to come.

I’m writing this as I’m going back and forth with my real estate agent over the fine print of our contract to accept an offer on our house, conditional upon a home inspection. (FYI: We actually paid for an inspection to be done before we listed to avoid any surprises and I highly recommend it.) For those of you who have gone through this, you understand: Selling one’s home is stressful and exciting. It’s an ending, but more importantly, it’s a new beginning. I love the fact that we have a blank canvas to build on, and we are starting a new chapter. It’s not unlike launching Living Luxe magazine.

Jennifer Lipkowitz, our chief operating officer, wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners, readers, clients and contributors for supporting us and being a part of our journey. We are so grateful to all of you.

a happy New Year and a wonderful 2020. Here’s to everyone’s health and wellness. xo

CORRECTION: In our last issue, we incorrectly credited the photographer of the story entitled, “A Ritz Revolution” –—the correct photographer’s name is David Khazam.

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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY, ALENA ROMANOVSKAYA. MAKEUP, TRICIA LANGENBERG-KEALY.

It is with many thanks that we wish everyone happy holidays,

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Contributors The theme of this issue is, “Passion for Perfection” so we asked our contributors: “If you could wake up in any room on earth, real or imagined, what would it look like?”

JEANNE BEKER

JANETTE EWEN

LIVING LUXE LIFESTYLE EDITOR, MEDIA PERSONALITY, AUTHOR

DECOR AND LIFESTYLE EXPERT

The most wonderful room I ever woke up in

favourite lemon-coloured caftan, relaxing on my

was a 12,000-sq.-ft. Georgian-style manor

new Florence Knoll sofa. My grandmother Mary floats

house in Ireland that once belonged to film

into the room with Margaretta, my other grandmother.

director John Huston. It was gloriously fur-

I look over my shoulder to see both my grandfathers

nished but the best part was the view out the

dressed for golf, cocktails in hand. We are Slim

window—endless acres of rolling hills and the

Aarons’ photo-worthy. I know we are about to have

most exquisite thoroughbreds running free.

a wonderful evening of conversation and cards.

COLIN FAULKNER

AMANDA AERIN

PHOTOGRAPHER

DECOR AND LIFESTYLE EXPERT

The essential ingredient I need in any space

My perfect space has soaring ceilings and a

is natural light. After that, it would include

view of the warm ocean. A room filled with

a view of the ocean or the countryside to

overstuffed white sofas, large black-and-white

connect me with the elements, high ceilings,

photos of my family covering gallery-style walls

a fairly spartan interior with a mix of modern

and welcoming brushed oak floors that step out

and vintage wooden furniture and, let’s not

onto a terrace to enjoy the warm fire, twinkling

forget, a highly functional kitchen to cook

lights and a glass of Champagne with friends.

It’s sunset in Palm Springs circa 1959. I’m in my

for friends and family.

Volume 1, Number 3, Passion for Perfection 2019

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jeffrey Boro

PUBLISHING

EDITORIAL

CREATIVE

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jennifer Lipkowitz

EDITOR IN CHIEF Karine Ewart

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sandy Kim

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Anthony Sirianni

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Jeanne Beker

DESIGN DIRECTOR Salina Vanderhorn

ASSISTANT TO THE C.O.O. Hana Rakovski

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jennifer Batler, Suzanne Dimma, Janette Ewan, Carla Lancit, Lisa van de Geyn, Joan Kelley Walker, Jana Webb

Advertising rates, deadlines and information, email anthony@livingluxe.ca For SUBSCRIPTION inquires and address changes, email subscriptions@livingluxe.ca livingluxe.ca | info@livingluxe.ca 7250 Keele St, Unit #40 | Concord, ON L4K 1Z8

DIGITAL SPECIALIST Eugene Leiderman LIVING LUXE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY LIVING LUXE, INC. COPYRIGHT LIVING LUXE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY COPYING OR REPRODUCTION OF THIS CONTENT WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LIVING LUXE MAGAZINE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. PRINTED IN CANADA.

38

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L U XE L I FE Jewellery

Fashion

Decor

Philanthropy

JUST ONE THING Inspired by forms found in nature, designer Lindsey Adelman’s sculptural light fixtures are dramatic scene-stealers. Suspended over a dining table or filling the space above an entryway, the sweeping arches and glowing pods provide a light that is almost heavenly.

Kingdom Collection, Hollace Cluny, hollacecluny.com.

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Thank You, Jeeves Rose Barroso, founder and project manager of Barroso Homes, a custom home-building company, has spent the last few years helping her clients manage the various tasks that all homeowners face. Never one to turn her back when someone needs her, she saw an opportunity to launch a concierge company that offers both a seasonal or an annual program. “Once you sign up, we will cater the services to the individual homeowner’s needs and everything will be taken care of,” Barroso says. Look for her full story coming in the spring issue of Living Luxe magazine.

Cool Colour Leave it to Benjamin Moore to surprise and delight everyone with their 2020 colour of the year.

Following last year’s cool, almost neutral grey called “Metropolitan AF-690,” this year’s soft, rosy “First Light” feels like a delicate, comforting embrace. Paired with either both bold or understated furnishings, it makes any room. benjaminmoore.ca.

Merry Merry When we were first introduced to Marisoles, we were impressed with their product and wondered why no one had thought of this before: Interchangeable sandals that are so stylish and unique? But even more interesting is the story behind the creators Courtney Gedeon and Julia Basden. And FYI: They were the footwear sponsor for Supermodel Canada Search 2019 and have worked closely with Canadian designer Joan Kelley Walker to match their sandals with her swimwear. marisoles.ca Open House—And More Our friend and colleague Jerry Hammond, president of Hammond International Properties, and his development team hosted an incredible event on October 29, welcoming more than 150 guests and sponsors to showcase his newest extravagant estate. “This is an example of how we display our business,” Hammond says. “It’s a win-win for our clients and our guests. We demonstrate to the market that we are the leaders in what we do, and we continue to work on new and innovative ideas to stand out.” We were thrilled to be media partners. hammondinternationalproperties.com. 10 Riverside Blvd., Thornhill.

42

HAMMOND PHOTOGRAPHY, TYLER MCKEAG.

WHAT’S NEW

Luxe Life / News

CLASSIC HAS NEVER BEEN SO MODERN

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Luxe Life / Jewel Box

“It’s really clear that the most precious resource we have is time.”

— Steve Jobs Time: It’s the most valuable commodity we have. Our latest luxury. That fleeting phenomenon that has the power to heal, change perceptions,

1

help things grow and sometimes crumble. As much as it often pains us to be reminded of the seconds, minutes and hours flying by, there’s no question that we all need to be regularly and reliably informed of the time. However, with so many of us married to our smartphones, forever being reminded of the hours and minutes on those ubiquitous mini-screens, some may question the necessity of actually wearing a watch in this modern age. Still, many others remain watch-obsessed,

PERFECT TIMING

and constantly crave wrapping a statement-making, quality timepiece around ones wrist—especially from those well-respected brands that stand for precision and ooze style. The revered Rolex has become a bona fide status symbol. Now, how about one with ten, round, brilliant diamonds and a mint green face? Or what about a sporty chic Chopard on an electric blue alligator strap, complete with

Why precious timepieces will never be a thing of the past.

By Jeanne Beker Photography by Tyler Boweditch Jewellery by Knar Jewellery

2

3

44

5 4

6

7

diamonds that float? Then there’s the magic of strapping the cosmos onto your wrist with what could be the ultimate romantic watch statement: A dramatic Frederique Constant timepiece that pays homage to the stars, enhanced by 68 round brilliant diamonds and a black alligator band. Philip Stein keeps you in sync in two different time zones with an elegant oval dual-faced watch, and then there are those irresistible sporty statements from brands like Tudor and Breitling that simply scream sporty-chic and are boldly emblematic of a fashionably fabulous time for all. Perhaps the main question is, is there time for all?

45

1. ROLEX Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust 28 watch with mint green dial set with 10 round brilliant diamonds, fluted bezel and Oystersteel, and 18k yellow gold Jubilee bracelet with Oysterclasp.

2. CHOPARD Happy Sport automatic watch with blue dial.,7=0.35ctw round brilliant floating diamonds, 38=1.96ctw round brilliant diamonds on bezel, and blue alligator strap.

3. PHILIP STEIN Stainless steel Modern mini oval quartz Wellness watch with mother of pearl dial and steel link bracelet.

4. BREITLING Super Ocean II stainless steel 42mm automatic watch with orange dial, black timing bezel and black rubber strap.

5. TUDOR Heritage Chrono Blue 42mm chronograph watch with opaline and blue dial, bidirectional rotatable bezel with fabric strap.

6. BREITLING Chronomat 44 stainless steel and 18k rose gold automatic watch with onyx black dial, gold sub dials, black crocodile watch strap and steel deployment buckle.

7. FREDERIQUE CONSTANT Slimline Manufacture Moonphase stainless steel automatic watch with black dial with stars, 68=0.4972ctw round brilliant diamonds on dial and bezel, with black alligator strap and deployment buckle.

Luxe Life / The Edit by Suzanne Dimma

IN THE DETAILS In the Groove A slatted surface on this clever coffee table design allows for a series of trays to be set in place and slide along the surface, or rotated to hover above it, making cocktail hour a breeze. Works as both seating and as a surface. Ban Bench, (in solid oak or walnut), EQ3, eq3.com.

From caned furnishings to perforated cabinet pulls, today’s most sophisticated homes feature an array of textures for a fully tactile experience.

Golden Years Play up the linear impact of this iconic design by opting for the full Platner dining set, now available in 18- karat gold to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its design. Platner dining set, Knoll, knoll.com.

Cast in Concrete Made in Greece, Casson’s cast concrete pulls (or hooks) have a wonderful pitted texture that catches the eye, offers an easy grip and is reminiscent of Greece’s ancient architecture. Pomolo Knob

by Urbi et Orbi, Casson Hardware, cassonhardware.com.

Tree of Life Cover a feature wall with this large-scale digital-print mural, which turns the detailed concentric rings of a pine tree into a work of art.

By Tres Tintas Barcelona. Digital print on non-woven or vinyl.

138 in. w x 106.5 in. h., Newwall, newwall.com.

46

Ripple Effect The subtle etchings in the metal surfaces of this triptych of tables artfully mimic the hypnotic patterns of rippling water. Syro triptych cocktail table by Emilio Nanni for De Castelli, Studio B, studiobhome.com.

THINK DIFFERENT Hammond International Properties – connecting you to the world of luxury

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A Refined Estate of Distinguished Provenance 8 Steele Valley Road Offered at 6.818M

Steele Valley 48 Steele Valley Road Offered at 4.48M

Trailwood Estates 65 High Oak Trail Offered at 5.98M SOLD with our pleasure

An Exceptional Custom Built Estate Home 219 Cavell Ave Offered at 4.48M

Avignon 7071 Bayview Avenue PH4 Offered at 3.8M SOLD with our pleasure

At Hammond International Properties, we connect the world’s most selective buyers and sellers with the finest properties available on the luxury home market today.

To find out more about how your property could be considered, call us for your confidential counsel.

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Offerings are subject to errors, omissions, prior sales or withdrawal without notice. 2019 Hammond International Properties Limited, Brokerage.

Not intended to solicit sellers or buyers currently under written contract with another Realtor. * Hammond International Properties provided the buyer

Luxe Life / The Edit by Suzanne Dimma

Ring In the Year Sometimes the biggest impact comes from simple details like a set of napkin rings with elegant grooves that are as chic as they are practical.

Bernadotte Napkin ring by George Jensen, Hopson Grace, hopsongrace.com.

In the Round The Taizu tub gives a nod to the quietly elegant ceramicware that flourished in the Song Dynasty. Emperor Taizu, the dynasty’s founder, would have loved the tub’s perfectly round form, and we love its modern simplicity. Taizu Tub made from English Volcanic limestone, 60 in. diam., available in six colours, by Steven Leung for Victoria & Albert, The House of Rohl, houseofrohl.com.

About Face With graphic appeal reminiscent of a barcode, this weighty bronze-faced cabinet casts an everchanging display of light and shadow and features a bronze antique mirrored top and black lacquered body.

Serge cabinet for Venicem, Southhill Home, southhill home.com.

Framed In With solid walnut lattice panels, the Belle Reeve sofa is striking from every angle, making it the ideal piece for a large open space. Belle Reeve sofa by Luca Nichetto, Mjolk, mjolk.ca.

Rock Steady This hand-knotted area rug is a rich combination of silk and wool has its differing thickness provides a delicately textured feel underfoot. Gradient area rug by Lori Morris, Weaver’s Art, weaversart.com.

Cane Craze Natural caning is showing up everywhere in the world of design and we can’t get enough of its lightweight appeal. The Moniker dining chair features an Acacia wood frame, comfortable black leather seat and a handwoven cane back that brings warmth to the dining room. Moniker chair, CB2, cb2.ca.

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Inspire Create Perform

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Luxe Life Feature / Philanthropy Slug

1994, helping them reach their full potential one breakfast at a time. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and serving more than 243,521 nutritious breakfasts daily in 1,809 schools throughout Canada, this program is creating an impact by making sure children have an equal chance to learn. I have had the privilege of visiting some of these schools and have seen how this community-based initiative is making a difference every single day. A child smiling because they are full and happy is priceless.

Food insecurity and poor lifestyle choices have significant repercussions on the health When I became a mother, my entire life

and education of our youth because when

changed. For those of you who are parents,

students attend schools on an empty stomach,

I am sure you can relate. Your heart expands

their energy levels, problem-solving skills,

so wide, it knows no borders and the love for

creativity, concentration and behaviour are

your child knows no boundaries. We often

negatively impacted. When a child receives a

RISE AND SHINE

hear the common phrase, “having a child is like

consistent healthy breakfast, positive changes

watching your heart walking around outside

are a result. The program alleviates hunger-

of your body,” and doesn’t it feel like it, too?

related stress in children, it promotes greater

I wasn’t expecting this awakening—one that

nutritional awareness and provides greater

even stretched beyond my own children. Every

access to healthy food choices.

Contributing Editor Joan Kelley Walker on why she feels so passionately about the Breakfast Club of Canada.

basic needs are met. The thing I never imagined opportunity to give to others, to find even small

Joan busy (and happy) at Thorncliffe Public School in Toronto.

time I saw a child, I hoped that he or she felt

When I think about giving back I am inspired

loved and had his or her basic needs (food, edu- by the domino effect it has. The Breakfast Club cation and shelter) met. My husband and I do

of Canada program not only fuels a child’s

a lot of philanthropic work with organizations

stomach and brain, it also fuels his or her heart.

around the world like missions with World

Children have the opportunity to get involved

Vision Canada. Mission trips overseas ensure

and feel connected to their peers. They have the

is that there are children who are not getting

ways to help those in need and become active in

sufficient nutrition in my own backyard.

the community. Inspiring a generation to give is

The truth is, one in four children in Canada might not eat breakfast today. This is the most

something we can all feel good about.

One thing is certain: There are many reasons

recent statistic provided by the Breakfast Club

why children may arrive at school with empty

of Canada. I believe that no child should be

stomachs and it is never their fault. I believe it

a statistic and children should be hungry for

is important to provide them with proper nutri-

knowledge, not food.

tion, which gives them the opportunity to reach

When I pursued my dream of creating a

their full potential. This is why it is so important

fashion line that gives back, I wanted to align

for all of us to do what we can. It only takes $2 a

with a foundation that focused on the health

day to feed a Canadian child a nutritious break-

and well-being of children in Canada. That was

fast. For every purchase made of the Joan Kelley

when I was introduced to the incredible work

Walker collection, a donation will be made to

and vision of the Breakfast Club of Canada.

the Breakfast Club of Canada. You can learn

They have been feeding young Canadians since

more at www.breakfastclubcanada.org.

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Feature Slug

R E A L

E S TAT E

S E R V I C E

F O R

M O D E R N

H O M E S

IVA PELAIC

SALESPERSON DIRECT: 416-567-3932

R I G H T AT H O M E R E A LT Y I N C .

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G TA M O D R E N H O M E S . C A 65

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Luxe Life Feature / Company Slug Spotlight

COMPANY NAME

Allan Rug Company YEAR FOUNDED

1958

SPECIALTY

Carpeting, rugs and flooring FOUNDER

Eli Montekio

STAND YOUR GROUND

There’s something endearing about a family-run business that’s lasted beyond a generation—it’s an impressive entrepreneurial feat, there’s no doubt about that, but it also shows the strength of family bonds and the importance of a loyal clientele.

Eli Montekio started the Allan Rug Company 61 years ago; it was 1958. He worked for a good 30 years, building his flooring empire, before handing the reins over to his sons, Alan and

Meet the minds behind this 61-year-old Toronto institution.

Robert Montekio, the president and co-director, respectively. Starting as a supply-and-install company, back in the early 1960s it was just Eli and an installer who kept the store afloat, offering clients top-notch customer service and durable,

By Lisa van de Geyn

stylish products. Eli grew the business by word

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Luxe Life / Company Spotlight

ABOVE: Allan Rug Co. specializes in supplying clients with the most beautiful carpeting and rugs—they take absolute pride in the workmanship of their stunning product lines.

of mouth—referrals and repeat customers became the company’s bread and butter, and he enthusiastically sold

bleached colours are in demand) and vinyl.

What’s truly inspiring, though, is that the company is

beautiful wall-to-wall broadloom to his patrons. “We

still very much run in the same style Eli ran it. “It’s 60

have shoppers today who are the children and grand-

years later but we have great customer service. We also

children of my father’s customers. We’ve serviced three

have a wonderful selection, but it’s really the service

generations of families. It’s common for customers to

that keeps our clients coming back.” After six decades

come in and say our father sold carpet to their parents,”

in the carpet business, the Montekios are looking to the

says Alan. “We’ve had families stick with us for more

next generation of their family, wondering if they’ll get

than 60 years.”

to pass the torch. “My son is 18 and in business school,

Yesterday’s Allan Rug Co. was about supplying

and he’s still undecided as to whether he’d like to join

wall-to-wall carpeting, but the offerings soon grew to

the company,” says Alan. “That said, both mine and my

gorgeous area rugs—everything from hand-knotted

brother’s kids come in during the summers and work.

vintage Persians to super-modern pieces with a plethora

It’s a real family atmosphere.”

of texture and colour. The business, in the Castlefield

As for the older generation, Eli is now 94 and he’s still

Design District, still caters to clients who want broad-

in the rug game. That is, he’s a frequent visitor to Allan

loom (wool and sisal are popular these days), but they

Rug Co. “He usually comes into the store two or three

also offer an impressive collection of custom rugs, shags,

times a week and chats with customers,” Alan says.

animal hides, hardwood (wide planks in natural and

“It’s always great to have him here.”

54

ALEXANDRA NARANJO INTERIOR DESIGN

True elegance & classic design never go out of style.

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Luxe Feature Life / Anti-Aging Slug

“Facelift surgery is without a doubt the most transformative anti-aging procedure available,” says Dr. Philip Solomon, MD, FRCSC, Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon, practicing in Facial Plastic Surgery. “Facelifts have been around for many years, however previously, this surgery may have left tell-tale signs of an ‘overdone or operated’ appearance that may have turned people off.”

Dr. Solomon says there was a time when facelift surgeries were operations that were costly or assumed to only be available to the upper echelon of society and associated with movie stars or the very wealthy. “Today facelifts are sought-out by people from a larger demographic and socio-economic background,” says Dr. Solomon.

The procedure itself has changed over the years as well, as has the age at which people are choosing to embrace this surgery. “We are now living

FACE FORWARD

in a time when facelift surgery is performed on a broad range of both men and women, ranging in age from their mid-40s to mid-70s,” and occasionally even older. Dr. Solomon continues, “Facelift surgery can provide a radical improve-

How to shave decades off your face. Read on to learn about the Deep Plane facelift technique.

ment to someone’s appearance, helping them look years younger by enhancing the contour of the jawline, middle face and neck.”

As we have seen in our parents and grand-

By Karine Ewart

“There has been a tremendous amount of time and resources spent in the ‘anti-aging’ world,

56

PHOTOGRAPHY, ALVARO GOVEIA.

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Luxe Feature Life / Anti-Aging Slug

“ There has been a tremendous amount of time and resources spent in the ‘anti-aging’ world, looking for devices to replace the facelift. ”

looking for devices to replace the facelift. While

nique, my patients’ experience has improved. In

some innovative technologies have evolved that

my opinion, my patients’ results are better than

can help slow down the aging process or lessen

ever. It is rare that I will perform a facelift now

the appearance of aging, nothing has come close

without performing a Deep Plane technique.”

to replacing the facelift using a non-invasive

According to Dr. Solomon, a facelift is the

approach. What has evolved over time are surgi-

gold standard of treatment for the aging face.

cal techniques and technology,” he says.

“That being said, it doesn’t fix everything. Some

“Throughout North America, Europe and

patients also benefit from adjunct procedures,

parts of Asia, there has been a shift toward

such as laser resurfacing, as well as blepharo-

what’s known as a ‘Deep Plane’ facelift, which

plasty (upper or lower eyelid surgery), and often

addresses the deeper structures of the face. The

facial fat grafting.

SMAS layer is what covers the facial muscles and

He points out that laser resurfacing is often

when lifted and repositioned, can provide results

necessary to improve ones’ skin texture and

that are longer lasting and more natural-looking

overall appearance. Eyelid surgery, by surgically

than alternative, less complex facelifts,” says Dr.

removing excess skin and removing eyelid bags,

Solomon. There are different degrees of a Deep

can make one appear less tired and more youth-

Plane Facelift, and in Canada there are only a

ful. Fat grafting or filler replaces volume loss and

handful of surgeons who offer this technique.

can enhance the patients’ facelift outcome.

Dr. Philip Solomon performs Deep Plane

Dr. Solomon’s theory is that one plus one plus

facelifts at his uptown private surgical facility,

one equals 10, meaning one procedure alone isn’t

The Solomon Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgery

going to be the only solution. “By combining

Centre, or alternatively in the hospital, depend-

multiple modalities, we can often reach a 10.” It’s

ing on his patients’ preference. “I have found that

a formula. And it’s a formula that Dr. Solomon

since I have added the Deep Plane facelift tech-

knows well.

58

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Expert FeatureQ&A Slug

MAIN OBJECTIVES We asked industry experts their thoughts on how their company achieves their passion for perfection.

Here’s what they told us.

INDUSTRY EXPERT: Nancy Saavedra COMPANY NAME: Art Boulle Q: The theme of this issue is “passion for perfection.” How does that theme fit into your company’s philosophy?

A: At Art Boulle, we love what we do. We strive to bring our clients the most unique designs with great attention to detail, the highest quality and personalized customer service.

Art Boulle was born from a heartfelt passion for the arts, inspired by the work of Andre Charles Boulle, who was the most famous French cabinet maker and the preeminent artist in the field of marquetry, also known as the “inlay.” Each custom-made piece has come to adorn luxury homes all over the world—whether classical, ornate or avant-garde, we employ only the finest materials and the most skilled artisans.

Most of our clients want custom and we take that seriously! Essentially, we do everything the old-fashioned way—by hand. Our capabilities with regard to complex designs are limitless. They are cast in the rough; the tools of the chaser give them their sharpness, their minute

60

ESTABLISHED IN 1990

For over 30 years, we have specialized in bespoke cabinetry and furniture.

Every project is completely customizable from our cabinet interiors to the external materials and finishes. We have in-house designers to help bring your project into reality.

If you are a home owner looking to build your dream kitchen or an architect, builder or designer looking for someone to execute your projects, please give us a call or send us an email.

905.564.3148

info@flexwood.ca

flexwood.ca

Expert FeatureQ&A Slug

Art Boulle continued finish and their jewel-like smoothness, top craftsmen (sculptors, gilders and ornament makers) are the devoted team dedicated to creating Art Boulle’s works of art.

We voraciously pursue the knowledge and techniques of past eras, recreating not only the forms but the techniques of these masters for more than 30 years. Our team has created museum-style pieces that will be endured for centuries to come.

Our objective was to bring an eco-friendly product line. It was a major goal for us to have a green business model. We create our unique collection with recycled aluminum and all of our patinas and finishes don’t hurt

INDUSTRY EXPERT: Dave Jurinic

the planet.

COMPANY NAME: Toronto Custom Concepts

We are working on many exciting new projects. One that I am particularly proud

Q: The theme of this issue is “passion for perfection.” How does that theme fit into your company’s

of is a project in Mississauga. The owners

philosophy?

trusted us with a whole renovation and

A: We’re passionate about perfection by providing “first quartile service at second quartile

allowed our team to use our creativity and finishes that are unique to the interior design field. I can’t wait to unveil it in the New Year.

pricing.” This basically means that our passion for perfection is driven by providing high-quality work and service while ensuring clients are receiving competitive and excellent value for that work and service. When it comes to striving for perfection, as a design build company, we are also passionate about being thoroughly prepared from the start of the project. From the initial consultation, the client will be comforted by a systematic process, concept-planning, budgeting and our team approach. Striving to get it right and photo-worthy the first time is the focus. We take great pride in the work and service we deliver. We treat each project and every home or space we work on like it is our own.

I’ve seen my industry evolve over the years from building-code improvements to increased product options. It is inherent of the industry to use average, every-day, run-of-the-mill products that don’t provide the longevity and quality leading into increased service calls. With Toronto Custom Concepts, it was a no-brainer to provide all projects with better-quality products, which enabled us to provide renovations that started looking richer and grander and magazine-worthy.

As a result, we evolved into the higher-end market, providing quality products and quality service. That’s really where our passion derives from—it’s not just a job for me or the Toronto Custom Concepts team. Our passion comes from taking something in its current state and making it that much better for our clients. Our passion for perfection provides our clients with extremely high-value renovations that they are able to enjoy and appreciate for years to come.

62

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Expert FeatureQ&A Slug

INDUSTRY EXPERT: Jack Verchenko COMPANY NAME: Laqfoil Q: The theme of this issue is “passion for perfection.” How does that theme fit into your company’s philosophy?

A: For me, my passion is all about bringing my very niche industry to Canada. Our stretch ceilings integrate technology and design, and Laqfoil’s services include design, production, delivery and installation of products.

I got interested in this business more than a decade ago—I felt a passion for stretch-ceiling products and realized both manufacturing and installation weren’t readily available in the Canadian marketplace.

These are a contemporary solution for finishing any surface, but especially ceilings, and can be used in any type of residence or commercial facility where ceilings or walls are constructed. (Think of them as an alternative to drywall, stucco, concrete and ceiling tiles.)

Stretch ceilings allow for practicality and creativity in one package. Back then, I had a job working for the government where I had full benefits, pension, etc., but there was a lack of creativity in my field, so I decided to explore the stretch-ceiling market. The business was an unknown industry on this side of the world, and I travelled to Europe to learn about it. I ended up training, learning the business and installation, and in 2010, I started the company. I very quickly realized people here were interested in other options for their ceilings—they wanted to enhance their living spaces. I knew I could allow clients to customize their homes in a bigger way. I decided that my company would encompass design work, manufacturing and installation to fulfill our clients’ needs—an all-in-one service that didn’t exist in Canada prior to Laqfoil.

We’re proud to be a manufacturer, distributor and installer in North America—a company that does the whole job from start to finish. But the reason we’ve been able to make a name for ourselves is because I believe in the product and love what I do. Our product allows people the freedom of creating in their homes—it lets them choose the atmosphere they like and it’s second to none when it comes to added value and benefits. Bringing unique, one-of-a-kind concepts to life is like an artist creating a masterpiece. I’ve brought passion to my industry.

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Custom Builds Project Management Bespoke Renovations

barrosohomes.com 416.723.9984 barroso@bell.net

Expert FeatureQ&A Slug

INDUSTRY EXPERT: Tania Pacitto COMPANY NAME: Beaver Valley Stone Q. The theme of this issue is “passion for perfection.” How does that theme fit into your company’s philosophy?

A. Perfection for us refers to our customer service, the materials we supply and the knowledge we bring. We only deal with top-of-the-line, reputable suppliers. If they don’t guarantee their product, we won’t offer it. Quality assurance for our customers is key and, frankly, the foundation of our company. That, and natural stone. That is, after all, what we are known for. We’ve educated our clients to know that mixing concrete products or other materials with natural stone indoors and out is not taboo and is, in fact, exactly what can take a space to the next level.

The other way we have educated our clients is by coaching them on how to anticipate their projects and think ahead to save time and money. With spring around the corner, have your plans done and your materials ordered now so your project stays on track, whether your project is uptown, downtown or in cottage country, since we deliver anywhere in Ontario.

Another way we strive for perfection is by ensuring we offer our customers everything they need to get the job done right. We are a one-stop shop for landscaping. We offer everything to start and finish your job. We even sell the shovels you need to dig it with.

66

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Luxe Life / Health

STRESS CASE If you type the word “stress” into Google,

men. These nerves run through the spine and

your search result will claim: “Stress is a

connect to the right side of your brain. One of

state of mental or emotional strain or tension

the functions of the right brain is the relaxation

resulting from adverse or very demanding cir-

response. This response slows down heart rate,

cumstances.” We all know stress can be good

promotes blood flow to internal organs (which

if you are about to get attacked by a bear or

promotes optimal digestive function), produces

if you are an athlete and about to endure

DHEA (a hormone that keeps us youthful),

a hit from a 400-pound linebacker (that’s

as well as HGH (the human growth hormone,

when your fight-or-flight response kicks in),

which allows the body to repair and recover).

but for most of us, it’s a huge problem that

It also helps promote sleep and allows your

can be detrimental to our health.

body to run more efficiently. And the best part

Jana Webb weighs in on why the word “stress” has become such a blanket term that’s losing its meaning, and the impact it has on our mental and physical wellbeing.

The key to implementing this practice into

a hormone that can impede our human system

your life is to become aware of what triggers

from functioning properly. It can impact our

your stress. Is it a particular person or envi-

cognitive behaviour, emotionality, digestive

ronment? For example, if you’re in traffic and

system, sleep patterns, the food choices we

you feel road rage coming on, become aware

make...the list goes on. Even if you think you

of your physiology and then see what happens

are making good food choices and going to

when you don’t react and instead take deep

the gym, you may not see progress or results

breaths. If you’re having a confrontation with

if you have too much cortisol.

your partner, become aware of your physiology

So, what’s the solution? Put simply, you need

and see what happens if you first stop to take

to learn to relax. Easier said than done, I know,

a deep breath. Rinse and repeat this strategy

particularly when you are living in our world

with all of your stress triggers.

that demands so much of you every day. But

We have all heard the saying, “Life is one per-

there is one simple physiological thing you can

cent what happens to us, and 99 percent how

do to offset stress, which will alter your central

we react to it.” If you want to find some peace

nervous system: Breathe.

of mind, do a little work on yourself. Under-

You’ve most likely heard the saying, “just Jana Webb Wellness expert and entrepreneur

is it can be done anywhere and at any time.

stand and become aware of what stresses you

take a deep breath.” While it may seem like

and start to make little changes in your reac-

rather trivial advice, it actually works. When

tions. Soon you will have created a new healthy

you take deep, belly breaths, you activate your

habit. And the bonus? You will look and feel

parasympathetic nerves in the lower abdo-

better, and be a better person to be around.

68

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When you are consistently stressed, your body produces an excess of cortisol, which is

C

onsider David’s Fine Linens your VIP pass into the industry’s most exclusive bedding brands. Brimming with the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Frette, Missoni, Fendi, St. Pierre and Sferra, this high-fashion linen destination will add luxurious comfort to any bedroom. Apart from his commitment to carrying only the finest names in the business, founder David Saini welcomes all clients with a tailored customer service experience.

Whether you’re looking to enliven the master bedroom or revitalize the guest room, Saini and his team provide a shopping adventure that is both personalized and intimate. Homeowners are invited to stop by one of his two locations to touch and feel his extensive inventory, which boasts Marzotto’s 100 per cent cashmere blankets and throws; a full and available stock of the world’s finest eiderdown duvets, as well as silk and cashmere coverings and sheets.

“We think it’s vital to invest in comfort,” says Saini. “And at our stores, we’re committed to providing that through superb service and the finest products we can deliver.”

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LuxeFeature Life / Wellness Slug

THE LUXURY OF PASSION What’s your passion? Three words, one question. It should be simple to answer, but we all know it’s anything but.

By Janette Ewen

The older and, to be honest, the more successful I am, the more I am asked the question above. It’s almost as if in the board game of life, having a passion comes after perceived career success: “Yes, we see you have achieved well enough in X, now we need to know about Y.” In modern day society, defining one’s passion isn’t easy. For example, if I answered, “I am quite passionate about a new lover, a pair of rare sneakers or my bedding,” I could potentially be seen as vapid, materialistic and even a tad naughty. No, in today’s world, passion is something that must be altruistic, marketable, intriguing, photographable and Instagrammaat a dinner or cocktail party is met by excite-

passion become an essential element of a suc-

and instead ask, “What tickles your heart?” and

ment and intrigue.

cessful life? Why do I have to have one? If one

hope for an answer that isn’t fancy, calculated

In order to have a “worthwhile” passion,

doesn’t have a passion, is it another clause for

and rehearsed, but rather, honest and true. For

you better have access to time, money and

judgment? I don’t have children, so I feel like

me, my current passion…whoops! I mean, my

high-profile people. I’m not negating anyone’s

in order to be seen as a decent human being,

current heart tickle is finding out more about

passion—many of these passions are produc-

I should have two to three passion projects

the people I meet and speak with every day.

tive, help others and shine light on worthy

always on the go.

What makes them tick, laugh and smile?

causes. But are they really passions? When did

Maybe we should stop asking about passion

70

I suppose I have a passion for passion.

PHOTO COLLAGE, JANETTE EWEN.

ble. It must be something that when unleashed

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Luxe Life Feature / Company Slug Spotlight

COMPANY NAME

Forest Hill Private Residences YEAR FOUNDED

2013

SPECIALTY

Residential development FOUNDER

Zev Mandelbaum

RAISING THE BAR A new, exclusive property at Toronto’s St. Clair Avenue and Forest Hill Road, with units starting at $1.8 million, is coming to market in 2020.

Zev Mandelbaum, President and CEO of Altree Developments, comes from a long line of developers and his experience speaks volumes. The firm’s latest project, Forest Hill Private Residences, is a luxury offering within the heart of the city’s most coveted neighbourhood of Forest Hill. Embodying timeless design and architecture, the building is a true testament to Mandelbaum’s vision of challenging the status quo and creating inspirational projects that build upon the culture of the community.

Located at 2 Forest Hill Road, this nine-storey, mid-rise building with approximately 90 residences will be a combination of townhomes and condominiums, with suites spanning from approximately 950 to 4,000 square feet.

“Most suites located from the third to ninth floors will have expansive terraces with grand outdoor exposure,” says Mandelbaum. “Each unit provides a bespoke and tailored experience, a truly unique offering that we know residents will love.”

Forest Hill Private Residences will possess many sophisticated concierge and amenity services, including an impressive hosting room, as well as a top-of-the-line full-service gym with yoga and pilates instructors, personal trainers, nutritionists and massage therapists.

Homeowners will experience incredible views of the neighbourhood overlooking the thriving and lush green hues of the Forest Hill area, while also enjoying the downtown access and convenience of a central location. Mandelbaum continues, “Creating a building with the best-in-class services, with elements of a private environment, will allow us to achieve our vision of creating a location that residents will call home for years to come.”

Forest Hill Private Residences is set to begin selling units in early 2020. To learn more about this iconic project, please visit ForestHillResidences.com. The project is now accepting registrations.

72

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73

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Inside the showroom at JURA’s stunning Hospitality Centre.

There are machines on display (and available to test) and a service area behind the glass.

JURA-SIC CUP

Luxe Life / Company Spotlight

Coffee is a serious business, mostly because those who drink it know exactly what they want. Leave it to this company to take customer service to a whole new level.

By Carla Lancit

Coffee lovers can be quite particular about their hot beverages, and rightfully so. The perfect bean, the precise ratio of milk to coffee, even the height of the foam—these factors come into play when creating “your” cup.

The JURA Hospitality Centre in Mississauga, Ont., is a Mecca for coffee aficionados. Part showroom, part repair studio, the centre showcases coffee machines made by JURA—an award-winning Swiss company.

These machines range from the slim ENA 8, which is designed for condo living, to the new GIGA 6, which features two grinders.

Each of their machines is on display, and every one of them is “live,” meaning that the customer can have a full demonstration of the machine’s features. And yes, that includes a taste-test.

Behind a glass wall, service technicians work on machines in need

74

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Luxe Life / Company Spotlight

LEFT: The first coffee machine JURA brought to the Canadian marketplace. There have been newer models and more advanced versions since.

RIGHT: The JURA Z8 with the cool control 0.6L is one of the newest machines on the market.

of care. “We want to show people how we take

and retailers to a representative via video chat.

care of their machine,” says Joe Di Donato. If

Through JURA Live, customers anywhere in

there’s anyone who understands how to take

Canada can have a real-time demonstration of

care of coffee machines (and their owners), it’s

any JURA machine, and will be able to consult

Di Donato. His family business, Faema, has

with a representative in order to choose the

been serving coffee lovers for 61 years, and has

machine that best suits their lifestyle and

been the main distributor of JURA machines

beverage preferences.

in Canada for 20 years.

JURA machine owners can also use JURA

Perhaps it’s this experience that helps

Service Live for troubleshooting, enabling

them anticipate the needs of their customers.

technicians to demonstrate minor repairs

Need a repair and can’t come to Mississauga

that can be completed without bringing the

during business hours? No problem—just

machine in for servicing.

drop your machine off using JURA 24/7—a

All of these services mean more time with

secure after-hours drop box. Can’t lift a

your machine—and that perfect cup of coffee.

heavy machine? Use JURA Concierge and

For Di Donato, that’s a flat white—an Austra-

a representative will safely transport your

lian espresso-based drink similar to a latte. But

machine inside.

that’s a personal preference, and he encourages

But don’t worry if you can’t make it to their

every coffee drinker to experiment. “It’s like

location, they’ve planned for that too. Starting

wine—you have to try different blends and see

in January, JURA Live will connect customers

which one suits your taste.”

76

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Luxe Life Feature / Company Slug Spotlight

COMPANY NAME

Bluemar Marble YEAR FOUNDED

1994

SPECIALTY

Marble

FOUNDERS

Michele (Mike) Carabetta

COVERT OPERATION For the longest time, this expert was relatively unknown to the general public. Until now, that is.

By Karine Ewart

In his stunning, state-of-the-art showroom, Joey Carabetta quietly and methodically works on the design of a new marble fireplace mantle for a very special client. Mantles are a new item garnering momentum for his company, Bluemar Marble. “Whether it’s natural stone, porcelain or quartz— we offer a variety of materials—it’s one element that designers are currently gravitating to us for.”

Joey, along with his three brothers, Frankie, Anthony and Mikey, and their father, Mike, work with some of the most prestigious interior design firms in the country, and they are one of their best-kept secrets. “Initially, we were solely designer-focused and that allowed us to enter into the realm of

78

We are the GTA’s leading upscale exterior remodeling company specializing in stucco and stone masonry finishes.

647-222-1818

exteriorbydesign.ca

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984

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Feature Slug

at his highest capability. “He wanted to create something that could evoke a sense of pride and was intensely personal.” Joey says. “It wasn’t a job requirement to continually improve, more of an inner calling to raise the standard. It was the kind of passionate conviction that sparks fascination and obsession.”

Joey goes on to say that one of his father’s favourite quotes is from Michaelangelo: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”.

Mike’s drive to produce only the best items and his quest for knowledge working with only high-end clients,” he says, respectfully declining to men-

was passed down to his four sons. “Speaking on behalf of everyone at

tion some of his favourites. “With that comes the need for confidentiality.

Bluemar, everything we do is steeped in value. In our business, we place

It’s kind of like a two-sided coin: In one aspect, you get to work with some

enormous value on loyalty and trust—it’s intrinsic to our personal relation-

of the best people in the industry, but the downfall to that is that it is very

ships and essential to how we conduct our business.” Joey continues, clearly

difficult to scale it.” Thankfully, while designers are still their priority (“it

caught up in his passion: “Valuing personal connections at a time when so

takes a lot of time and effort to establish these indispensable relationships,”

many people sit alone in front of screens; aspiring to build human relation-

he says), their doors are open to the public, preferably by appointment.

ships in an age when many issues polarize so many; and acting ethically,

His father, Michele (Mike) Carabetta started the family-owned busi-

even if it costs more, in an industry when corners are routinely cut—these

ness in 1994. “He started in the stone industry at the age of 13 in a small

are honourable pursuits, at the core of what we set out to be. Our process

southern town in Italy,” Joey says. “It wasn’t the pay that intrigued him—he

is meticulous from start to finish. Our approach tailored to each challenge.

made 80 cents per day—but the creation, the birth, the development, the

Our work is a reflection of the passion and commitment Bluemar has to

fine-tuning of nature’s gift that could withstand the test of time.”

maintaining our customer’s experience. We strive to be a place where the

And it was the products’ durability that convinced him to produce whatever he was working on, which was usually for a neighbour at that time,

respect for the product transfers to the customer.” In other words, they won’t stop until they find their clients’ angel.

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DESIGN SERVICES • RENOVATIONS • NEW BUILD • PROJECT MANAGEMENT • SPACE PLANNING CUSTOM DRAPERY, BLINDS, BEDDING AND SHADES • CUSTOM FURNITURE • IN-HOME CONSULTATIONS

416-710-3086 | www.tapestrydecor.ca 81

Luxe Life Feature / Company Slug Spotlight

COMPANY NAME

First Class Flooring YEAR FOUNDED

1986

SPECIALTY

Hard flooring FOUNDER

Johnson Debra

UNDER ONE ROOF

Back in 1980, Johnson Debra was working at a carpet factory when he realized there was an opportunity in the flooring business. He considered his options, quit his job and decided to open his own retail store. “My dad went into broadloom—wall-to-wall carpeting that was

This family-run business truly has staying power, thanks to its timeless dedication and creative innovation.

very popular at the time. This was the original store called First Class Carpet,” says Ralph Debra, the owner of Toronto-based First Class Flooring. “Eventually the trends in flooring changed from carpet to hardwood, and for the

By Lisa van de Geyn

last 10 to 15 years, I’d say we’ve been doing 98 percent hardwood, vinyl and laminate.” It was also around this time that Johnson decided it was time to retire and Ralph, who had worked

82

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ACO Systems, Ltd. • info@acocan.ca • www.ACOShowerDrain.ca • www.quARTzbyACO.ca

Luxe Life / Company Spotlight

for his father, was ready to take over. “I spent a number of

showroom in Ontario. It’s a stunning space—light, airy and

years working with my dad but at one point I left to work

inviting; comfortable but beautiful. “It’s a small measure of

for other flooring companies, where I learned the hard

our success, but it means a lot to our clients.

surface side of the business. With over 22 years of expe-

“Under one roof you get a boundless display of inspira-

rience in the flooring industry, I knew I had a passion for

tion, an unrivalled selection of products from around the

hardwood, so when my dad retired, I took over the store

world and the opportunity to get the perfect design to suit

and made hardwood flooring a focus.”

your space,” Ralph says. “We wanted to create something

While there’s still a market for broadloom, the industry

no one else in our industry has done—we give our clients

has grown and so has First Class Flooring. Today, the com-

an amazing shopping experience. There’s even a bar in the

pany specializes in a host of different types of hard flooring,

middle of the facility so you can have a glass of wine and

including unfinished solid and engineered hardwood.

look for the perfect flooring. I’ve always dreamed of having

They’re known across the country as the biggest distributor

displays and elements like this in one space.”

of “rift and quarter sawn” in both unfinished and prefin-

The showroom—which is as educational as it is strik-

ished. The big news, though, is their new location in Eto-

ing—and the rest of the office space is certainly a departure

bicoke: In March 2018, they moved from a 15,000-square-

from the 3,000 square feet Johnson had 30 years ago. “My

foot spot to a palatial 40,000-square-foot space with a

dad is quite proud,” Ralph says. “Parents want to see their

10,000-plus-square-foot designer gallery showroom.

children doing well. It’s been a great experience for him to

They now officially have the largest hardwood specialty

see the way we’ve grown the business.”

84

PERSONALIZED DESIGNS WORLD CLASS CRAFTSMANSHIP

Stรถrmer: Linea Orrizontale | Cera White Marble & Verde Comodoro

NEW SHOWROOM LOCATION 130 Queens Quay E, #1016, Toronto, 647-499-1150 | By appointment only www.onixdesigns.ca

Luxe Live / Events

KUDOS TO US! On September 27th, we threw ourselves a party to celebrate the launch of Living Luxe and to thank our very special staff and board members, as well as our contributors, clients and readers. It was a lovely night, and we can’t wait for our next event.

Above: Hela and Jeffrey Boro.

Right: Deena, Karl Wolf, Jennifer Lipkowitz.

86

PHOTOGRAPHY, VLADIMIR KEVORKOV.

Top, from left: Anthony Sirianni, Karine Ewart, Michael Pourvakil, Jeanne Beker, Joan Kelley Walker, Karl Wolf, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Deena, Sam Sousi, Salina Vanderehorn, Suzanne Dimma, Sandy Kim. Bottom right: Mary Symons Jeanne Beker, Candy Signorini.

Feature Slug

Toronto’s premier beauty choice for modern and new-age cosmetic procedures

87 Scollard Street, Toronto

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416-475-5820

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Luxe Live / Events

Clockwise from top right: Vladimir Fridman Edgar Sigal, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Anthony Sirianni. Peter De Simone and friends. Norm Shubat, Gary Cohen, Alisa Cohen. Rose Barroso, Ralph Debra.

Above: Nancy Saavedra and Michael Pourvakil.

88

Dr. Olena Klipitch, DDS

D R . O. K . M E D I CA L A N D D E N TA L C E N T R E Everybody wants to be OK! Celebrating 10 years of growth to meet the needs of our Etobicoke community.

Medical 路 Dental 路 Pharmacy 路 Cosmetic Procedures 路 Diagnostics

1 2 7 8 T H E Q U E E N S W A Y, E T O B I C O K E 4 1 6 - 8 4 8 - 9 7 9 0

Special Event Feature / City Slug Moguls

PARTY FOR A CAUSE The City MOGULS Runway Show launched in 2016 to much acclaim and has become one of Canada’s most coveted events.

By Karine Ewart

In celebration of noteworthy entrepreneurs, the City MOGULS annual Runway Show highlights the accomplishments of the city’s most innovative entrepreneurs (a.k.a MOGULS) and their commitment to notable causes. Through the fusion of fashion and philanthropy, the event culminates in an unforgettable night of entertainment and networking. The yearly event attracts professionals from a variety of industries including fashion, media, finance, marketing, art, business, health, beauty, journalism and much more. Each year, MOGULS are nominated by the public and selected by City MOGULS producers, committee and advisory board to strut their stuff on the runway rocking Canadian brands to raise funds for Canadian charities.

Living Luxe was thrilled to Clockwise from top left: Dani Kagan, Victoria Marshman, Monica Gold. Dr. Philip Solomon, Oksana Ringsma, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Anthony Sirianni. Anthony Sirianni, Iva Pelaic, Karl Wolf, Jennifer Lipkowitz. Julia Basden, Max Jamali, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Courtney Gedeon. Anthony Sirianni, Dr. Philip Solomon, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Joan Kelley Walker, Christine Rezvanian.

be a part of the evening.

90

Food & Entertaining

Unexpected guests?

Last-minute entertaining?

Ada and Grego can help you look like the most effortless host with this great recipe.

A new channel on Youtube has been giving us a giggle, thanks to two BFFs who love to entertain.

When we first met Ada Mlostek and Grego Minot, dear friends and co-hosts of “Kitchen Party with Grego and Ada,” a fun and often funny new Youtube channel, we were smitten.

Sometimes fun and passion are perfectly captured by a couple of four-letter words— we’re talking food and wine! Put two creative girlfriends together in the kitchen, add a glass of vino and a passion for food, and sparks of fun and excellent meals fly. (And they both do it all in heels!) Their cooking segments whisk

DIRECTIONS 1. Lay out the crackers on a serving platter and carefully spread a large spoonful of hummus evenly overtop of each.

2. In a medium bowl, mix avocado and cilantro with the bruschetta.

3. Top each cracker with an equal amount of the bruschetta mixture and a sprinkling of feta cheese. Serve directly after preparing for freshest flavour.

4. ENJOY!

you away on a journey of inspiration, creativity and culinary excitement as they share simple yet delicious recipes your whole family will no doubt enjoy. (And, watch out, their energy is contagious!)

Don’t miss surprise celebrity guests join them to reveal special, unique and exotic recipes that will both entertain and impress you.

Check out “Kitchen Party with Grego & Ada” on youtube.com and look for the episode with special guest Sangita Patel.

92

BOTTOM PHOTO , ANGUS FERGUSSON.

PARTY TIME

Avocado Bruschetta Hummus Tostadas Makes 6 to 12 tostadas INGREDIENTS 1 Summer Fresh Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (283 g/10 oz.)

1 Summer Fresh Bruschetta (227 g/ 8 oz.)

6-12 crackers 1 Avocado, diced ½ tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

Luxe LifeFeature / Integrated Slug Health

PROGESTERONE. “As women age and enter

perimenopause and menopause, many have a much harder time losing weight and that has to do with their estrogen/progesterone balance.

When your progesterone starts to drop, you can burn up to 300 calories less per day than you used to.”

INSULIN. “Basically, the way we tend to eat

OPTIMIZING YOUR HEALTH

increases the risk of insulin resistance, which means you need higher levels of insulin to get sugar into the cells to produce energy. When insulin is high, it tells the body to store fat and also prevents the breakdown of fat, making losing weight a challenge.”

’Tis the season for fresh starts, but before you begin a new health regimen, read on to learn the 10 main reasons you are not losing weight despite your best efforts.

THYROID. “If your thyroid isn’t optimal, then

your metabolism is off, making losing weight more difficult.”

CORTISOL. “Your stress hormone is also so im-

portant. There are plenty of studies that show women who are stressed become carb sensitive, which means eating one piece of bread is

By Karine Ewart First we indulge during the holidays, then we

like eating three.”

make resolutions that this year, we will put our LEPTIN. “This is a hormone that sends signals health at the top of the priority list (again). But to the brain to tell us to stop eating. But in for some of you who are trying to lose weight, you may be surprised to learn that cutting calories and increasing physical activity does not

leptin resistance, the switch is broken and that doesn’t happen. Being stressed and eating carbs contributes to leptin resistance.”

necessarily lead to success. We spoke with Dr.

INFLAMMATION. “When we are inflamed, we of-

Shari Caplan, MD, FCFP, FAARM, specializing

ten have elevated CRP (an inflammatory mak-

in regenerative medicine and gynaecology, and

er), which prevents binding leptin in the brain

founder and medical director of Vitality MD,

(see above). Inflammation can cause issues with

an Integrative and Functional Medicine clinic

your gut, joints and mood. There are many

and Medi Spa on Avenue Road in Toronto, who causes for this but the one that a lot of people outlined why your scale may not be moving in

have are food sensitivities. Knowing which

the right direction.

foods are causing problems for you is key.”

94

Luxe LifeFeature / Integrated Slug Health

GENETICS. “We are all genetically different and how we metabolize and

excrete our environmental toxins varies as well. And guess where toxins get stored? In fat. Actually, fat can be a protective mechanism because the fat tries to neutralize toxins. So if you have more toxins in your body, or if you are a poor detoxifier (that is, you don’t have the ability to excrete toxins), you are going to be heavier. Doing genetic testing to learn about your detox pathways may prove to be effective in assisting in weight loss.”

NUTRIENTS. “If you are low in B12, magnesium and/or vitamin D it can

increase the risk of insulin resistance. In addition, B vitamins can be very important for carb and fat metabolism. So if you are low in certain nutrients, you are again working against the grain to lose weight.”

STRESS. “Stress causes insulin resistance, leptin resistance, inflammation, ABOVE: Dr. Shari Caplan.

RIGHT: The Scarlet RF—Dr. Caplan’s newest offering.

elevated cortisol and sleep issues. It also causes you to have less willpower to make good food choices. So, you can see how important it is to manage your stress. In fact, stress trumps everything when it comes to diet and lifestyle.”

SLEEP. “During sleep is when you repair and regenerate. So when you

are sleep deprived, you can become inflamed, you increase the risk of insulin resistance, you tend to crave sugary foods for energy and gravitate toward comfort foods, which are often processed and higher in carbs and fat, and all this leads to weight gain.”

Working on all of these issues will not only help you lose weight but improve your overall health.

In addition to their multifaceted, custom weight-loss services, including bio-identical hormone therapy, personalized fitness programs, stress management and functional nutrition, Vitality MD offers everything from IV therapy, genetic testing and a Medi Spa that specializes in anti-aging and rejuvenation treatments. The Avenue Road location is simply stunning and can be rented for private events, corporate wellness retreats and group fitness parties. And currently, Dr. Caplan is most excited about her newest offering: Scarlet RF. “Scarlet is like microneedling on steroids,” she says. “It’s revolutionary technology that gets amazing results. It lifts, tightens and brightens skin and does so much more with zero downtime. What more could you want?”

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Feature Slug

Comfort Zone ’Tis the season to embrace what we love most and start to focus on what comes next.

Be inspired, and get creative.

99

This Is Yabu

What started out as an interior design firm, Yabu Pushelberg is now in a league of its own.

By Jeanne Beker Photography by Colin Faulkner

Pushelberg 101

102

PHOTOS, VIRGILE SIMON BERTRAND.

Four Seasons Kuwait

“Slow and steady wins the race.”

Jeanne Beker Lifestyle Editor

It’s an age-old adage that smacks of a con-

servative approach, but it’s also been the modus operandi of one of the world’s hippest and most successful design teams. From the very start, Canada’s George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg have made it their business to exercise restraint as they toiled to develop their technical expertise and hone their striking creative aesthetic. Now, 40 years later, Yabu Pushelberg is arguably one of the most revered and in-demand design firms on the international stage, with untold residences, retail spaces and luxury hotels, to its credit.

Certainly among the most vibrant feathers in this country’s creative cap, Yabu and Pushelberg met while studying interior design at Ryerson University in the 1970s. By 1980, they’d discerned that two heads are better than one, and, as life partners, planted the seed for their small Toronto company that was destined to grow into a global design game changer. “Our DNA is Canadian,” states Yabu, across the lunch table at the duo’s glamourous Leslieville headquarters. “That helped us

Four Seasons Kuwait.

with a slow, continuous and constant rise in our work. We knew about these big flames that just sort of burn out and you never hear from the people again. We were very conscious of that and sort of pulled back.”

Pushelberg concurs. “We’re hardworking, hard-thinking… not just based on BS or marketing. We just keep moving and that creates a slower burn, rather than this quick burn out.” But Pushelberg is quick to point out that safety certainly doesn’t mean stagnation. “We’re always growing and changing,” he notes.

The couple reminisce about how The Power Plant contemporary art gallery asked them to do an installation about 20 years ago, but they declined, because they didn’t feel they had the chops yet. “In fashion, it happens very quickly, season by season, and you have to get it out there fast, fast, fast,” notes Yabu. “But in architecture it’s different.

Think of Frank Gehry. He turned 66 when he was at his apex. So, it takes a long time. You have to hone your craft, develop your expertise.”

Yabu and Pushelberg themselves are now both 66—but judging by their youthful demeanor and effervescent charm, they’re very much in touch with their inner adolescents and unlikely to have reached their “apex” just yet. As a matter of fact, their newest baby is an accessible design line of home products that ooze simple elegance, from coffee cups to tables and towels. It’s called Departo, and it’s being sold online and at various pop-up shops, with more permanent stores to come.

103

Glenn Pushelberg and George Yabu.

104

The line will eventually include hats, clothes, bicycles and maybe even their own Departo hotels.

“For years, we were doing all these five-star brands, like the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, and it was becoming a formula, too easy,” admits Pushelberg. “So now we’re doing the ultra high-end brands and creating them. But on the other hand, we’ve also done these micro-hotel projects, like New York City’s Moxy, with 100- or 150-square-foot rooms, and we’ve been designing the furniture for these rooms. But they’re also really interesting projects, because they have very limited budgets with high design principles. And from those projects—150-square-foot hotel rooms—we thought, okay, let’s make

Four Seasons Kuwait.

collapsible, foldable furniture that you hang on the walls and bring down when you need it so the room feels more spacious. And then we looked at this stuff and thought it had legs,” Pushelberg continues. They teamed up with a Japanese partner with factories in China, and the new affordable brand was born.

Yabu Pushelberg’s foray into actual product design began a decade ago. Adamant about trying to make interiors work better, they

BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO, NIKOLAS KOENIG.

Times Square Edition.

105

Park Hyatt Shenzhen.

them as consultants with imaging and rebranding.

That’s also exciting for us,” says Yabu.

The eclectic variety of projects coming their way is really what ignites Yabu and Pushelberg’s enthusiasm. One of the jewels in their crown will be the private club that’s opening next year at the top of the Freedom Tower (also know as One World Trade Centre) for the presidents of the US and China to meet and greet senior diplomats.

One can only imagine how fierce the international competition is for these weighty contracts. “We used to compete with a very high level of design, like the David Rockwells of the world,” says Yabu.

“But now we’re competing against (famed British architectural designer) Norman Foster. At that rarified level, there are fewer jobs, which we prefer.

We prefer to do fewer interiors now.”

“You do have to think harder,” adds Pushelberg, “because the challenges are greater.”

With only two active projects here in Canada out of their 40 active projects around the world, started hiring industrial designers to design furniture. After all, there

Yabu and Pushelberg still remain proudly Canadian. Out of approx-

was a dearth of Canadian industrial designers and great schools, and

imately 125 employees, two-thirds of their staff is based in Toronto,

very few places for them to go. “So, we kept growing the team, and

with the other third located in New York. And while the company’s

now we have about nine or 10 people in New York and Toronto and

two visionaries seem to spend most of their time on airplanes, they do

we’re designing for the biggest companies on earth,” says Pushelberg,

relish their three disparate personal nests—a Toronto house nestled in

proudly. “We’re even designing faucets and sinks and beautiful kitchens

Bennington Heights, backing onto a ravine; a 4,000-square-foot space

that we’re putting into the Aman Hotel project in Tokyo.” The cogs kept

on the second floor of a Richard Meyer building in New York’s West

turning and soon Yabu Pushelberg began hiring fabric designers as well.

Village (which they call a “modern, horizontal home);” and their most

“And the patterns on the carpets got better and the fabrics got better.

beloved beachside respite between Montauk and East Hampton, New

So now we’re doing custom fabrics and carpet programs for people.”

York, with doors that open up and present a panoramic view of the

Lighting designers came next. And now, the unstoppable team is mas-

ocean. “It’s our kind of barefoot luxury,” explains Yabu.

terminding entire buildings, even though they’re not licensed architects.

It’s precisely this kind of “barefoot luxury” that’s driving a lot of Yabu Pushelberg’s design aesthetic these days. “At the high end of design,

a new version of the famous Raffles Resort, on this little island. We’re

where you have these super luxury, very rarified clients, we’ve kind of

doing the master planning, the architecture, the interiors, the uniforms,

gone from layers to more ‘high humble,’” Pushelberg explains. “Make

the whole guest experience. We have a more complete set of ideas, and

sure it’s all high- quality, that the scale and proportion of things can be

this is what keeps us moving. It’s exciting and we’re learning and we’re

grand, and spacious, because space is luxury, and the attention to detail

teaching and we have this vast amount of experience.”

and ease of use is luxury, and the impact through colour and pattern is

Now clients are coming to Yabu Pushelberg with entire chains of

kind of more distilled.”

hotels, not sure how to reposition or program them. “So, we’re helping

“Our aesthetic is more straightforward,” pipes in Yabu. “It’s more

106

PHOTO, VIRGILE SIMON BERTRAND.

“We have a project in Singapore now,” says Pushelberg. “It’s kind of

straightforward. It’s luxurious, but not according to the old notions.”

that great design should not be disposable. That is definitely at the core

The key here is design that is never ostentatious. “And no ‘shiny shiny,’”

of their new Departo line. “If I buy that beautifully designed coffee cup,

Yabu elaborates, “with marble and gilt and all that detail. But it still has

or a well-designed piece of furniture, why would I ever throw it away?”

that powerful impact, like using solid timber in one piece.”

asks Pushelberg. “Instead of this notion about getting something cheap

“We have a bunch of projects for Aman resorts, and we think that a

and cheerful until you can afford something better, we’re giving great

multimillionaire or billionaire has seen everything and done it all,” says

design at an affordable price. And when we want to keep it, when we

Pushelberg. “All they want to do is go to a tropical forest, take most of

want it in our homes, that’s the test.”

their clothes off, and have the most comfort possible—especially this

But success can be an intensely delicate balancing act. And picking

new generation. It’s a kind of barefoot luxury…. They don’t need more

and choosing directions to pour one’s passions into can sometimes be

of what they get every day, which is a lot of everything.”

overwhelming, especially when you don’t want to lose your momen-

Redefining luxury is on everyone’s mind these days, and as we

tum. “We’re trying to reinvent ourselves to keep relevant and maintain

move away from this age of excess, a kind of simplicity and purity is

our curiosity,” says Yabu. “We want to wake up and still have a sense of

creeping into the fray. “That’s why our furniture works so well,” says

wonder about what we’re going to discover or decide to do.”

Yabu. “It’s not designed by an architect or interior designer. It’s gone

“Without bragging,” continues Pushelberg, “do you know what our

beyond set design. You can’t fake it at that level. Everything has to

biggest problem is right now? The buffet table is way too huge. There

be done to a T. I knew if we going to go into designing a sofa, it had

are so many opportunities.”

to be the best engineered sofa, using the best Italian workmanship.

But both Yabu and Pushelberg are very grateful that the world is

We were asked to design a sofa 10 years ago, but we said we weren’t

their oyster. And that they found each other at such an early stage of

ready. So, our design aesthetic hasn’t really changed, but we’re just

their careers. “We’re lucky we have the same aesthetic and drive and

trying to get closer to a qualitative kind of perfection. Everybody

passion,” opines Yabu. And Pushelberg adds, with a twinkle in his eye,

has a different definition of perfection—but as for ours—we’ll never

“Two makes it so much easier.”

achieve it, but the goal is to get there in a straight and consistent

When it comes to dishing out practical advice as to how we can

line and not take a shortcut. We’ve never veered from our roots in

create our own ideal spaces, Yabu and Pushelberg urge us to be true to

Toronto. We always had that thought of just staying the course. Our

ourselves, because there’s almost too much interior design around these

aesthetic hasn’t changed, it’s just become refined.”

days, too many options. “It starts by asking yourself what is your emo-

Of course, the other big conversation today is about sustainability.

Yabu and Pushelberg are of the opinion that less really is more, and

tional self and what gives you peace, serenity, happiness and joy?” says Pushelberg. “And how do you emotionally translate that? Forget about what the trappings are and what they represent to other people. What brings you emotional joy? Is it a big kitchen, ’cuz that’s the heart of the

Four Seasons Kuwait.

home? Is it a big place with a fireplace that you feel good about? Is it looking out at nature? Is it the cocoon of a bedroom? What gives you happiness? And then if you go to the root of what you want, you forget about whether you’ve made the right decision. Nobody cares! If you just think about what gives you and the ones around you happiness, if you start there, you’ll find your solution.”

We’ve figured out not to get attached to things,” says Yabu. “We love beautiful things. But we’ve trained our brains to experience it and

PHOTO, VIRGILE SIMON BERTRAND.

enjoy it while you have it but when it’s gone, don’t be morose about it. It’s just a thing, an inanimate object. People and relationships and dynamics are more important and that’s what keeps you living and gives you longevity.”

Green Goddess

While this wasn’t the designer’s typical project, the homeowner’s desire to take a chance on Alexandra Naranjo’s fearless use of colour made it a perfect match.

By Lisa van de Geyn Photography by Stacey Brandford

109

PHOTOS, VIRGILE SIMON BERTRAND .

110

It’s safe to say this wasn’t the typical design project Alexandra Naranjo is usually hired for. The homeowners of two properties, sitting on a whopping 500 acres outside of Toronto, are from Dubai, but quickly fell in love with the Canadian landscape and ultimately planned to build their dream vacation homes on the land.

The property would include a main house that Naranjo would create using her elegant, opulent signature design, as well as a guest house done up in full English-country style. While it’s not her typical go-to, Naranjo says this is one of the most creatively interesting projects she’s worked on. “I really liked creating this estate,” she says. “It shows a different side of me.”

Naranjo was brought into the project because of her unapologetic and confident use of colour. While the homeowners gave her carte blanche to follow her design instincts, they did have one request—they wanted her to take colour to the next level. “Their other homes in other parts of the world, including Dubai and London, are very lavish but neutral spaces. They wanted a wow factor for this location,” she explains. The owners also needed Naranjo to make sense of the guest

ABOVE: The benches in the extra-wide hallway add seating and character, and the colour works beautifully with the green beadboard.

house by creating a functional floorplan—the first time she saw the space, it was completely open. “It was one big room and looked like a banquet hall,” she says.

She immediately went to work and had several jumping-off points

LEFT: Naranjo almost always infuses blue into her designs, but this house is full of various greens—everything from deep forest shades to emerald tones.

she knew she wanted to pursue including the creation of a great room, bringing in plaid wallpaper, using various shades of green and ensuring the incredible views of trails and a lake remained visible at all times. Naranjo had her design assistant, Melissa McMorris, working on renderings, and brought in M-Squared Contracting to bring her vision to life. Together they had to decide where each room would be and where walls would be put up. She quickly took inspiration from traditional English-country design and chose plaid Mulberry Home wallpaper and green beadboard in the entrance and extra-wide hallways. Finding the right hue for the beadboard was a project all of its own. “I thought about doing it cream and cranberry and was debating about the right shade, but one morning I woke up and decided on green. I knew this was it. It had the warmth I was looking for, so I carried the shade throughout.” The chandeliers are focal pieces that also tie into the theme—they’re brass with an equestrian feel, complete with leather straps.

111

“ I want them to feel like they’re sitting in a lodge somewhere in the Rockies.”

For the great room, she designed two fireplaces made from local stone facing each other with a huge window and sliding door along the back to bring nature into the space. “I also had to do something big for seating,” she says, adding she opted for two 14-foot-long sofas in green velvet to compensate for the scale of the room. There’s also a strong sense of the Great White North in the room—not only does the ultra-Canadian moose make an appearance, the art flanking each fireplace depicts our country’s four seasons.

“There is an English influence in the home, but it definitely has Canadian touches for visitors from afar,” she says. “I want them to feel like they’re sitting in a lodge somewhere in the Rockies.”

The bedrooms, each with two queen beds and spacious seating areas, were also given the

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English treatment and focused on greens and nature. “I wanted these rooms to feel like coach houses and I pulled in elements from the rest of the home to tie them together,” says Naranjo.

One bedroom brings in a more aqua-turquoise palette with grass cloth in blue and white tones on the wall; the other is inspired by fabric the homeowner chose based on their granddaughter’s love of birds. Grass cloth covers this room, too (this time it’s sage green), and there’s a botanical-toile pattern in the drapery. No detail is overlooked—the chairs, for example, bring in plaid from the hallway, and include beautifully ABOVE & LEFT: Naranjo kept the nature theme going in the bedrooms—the inspiration for this room was the bird-motif fabric covering the window.

custom piping and brocade.

The complete renovation and design of the two houses on the property (they’re about 150 steps from each other) spanned a year and a half. “This project was my baby. It took a long time, and everything had to be perfect for the couple. They put a lot of trust into me and asked me to do my thing and make it next level,” she says. “They were so trusting that I asked them not to come into the space after a certain point in the process and promised a reveal party and private tour of their own home. It was no surprise that the reveal went just as perfectly as we’d planned.”

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No Risk, No Glory

Jeanne Beker Lifestyle Editor

Meet Izzy Sulejmani, a Toronto gallery owner who meticulously gained the trust of some of the world’s most legendary artists, celebrities and collectors.

By Jeanne Beker

KATE MOSS AND I WERE HAVING CHAMPAGNE AND OYSTERS at London’s Soho House in the spring of 2017 when I brought up my friend Izzy’s name. As one of the iconic model’s biggest fans, Izzy Sulejmani had briefly met Kate a year earlier, outside his Yorkville photography gallery. He was smitten, and had been entertaining the notion of inviting her to come back to Toronto, where he’d present an exhibit in her honour. When Izzy heard I’d be seeing Kate in London, he asked me to remind her that she had an open invitation to return to his gallery. “Oh, I adore Izzy!” gushed Kate. “Let’s get him on the phone.”

Moments later, I had Izzy on the line. “Someone wants to talk to you,” I impishly informed him. The next few minutes proved to be a love-in, as Izzy, incredulous on the other end of the line in Toronto, listened to Kate as she promised to come back to his gallery so he could present his fantasy show. The following September, Kate arrived in Toronto to be fêted at a private opening at Izzy’s gallery. It was the ultimate tribute to Izzy’s cool.

That swish event was merely one night in a long string of impressive openings that Izzy has staged since establishing his photography gallery in 2011. Run with the help of his brother Damir, it’s a mecca for collectors who appreciate the art form: Izzy exclusively represents a roster of 15 international photographers, many of them bona fide legends. From Albert Watson, Melvin Sokalsky and Frank Horvat, to Erwin Olaf, Mary McCartney and Arthur Elgort, Izzy’s high-end stable of artists is a contemporary-photo-lover’s dream. And with many of his shooting stars rooted in fashion photography, the work Izzy displays is a magnet for style-savvy collectors who long for fashion’s old glory days.

Izzy, who left his native Serbia in 1991 and spent a year in Greece framing art before moving to Canada, didn’t grow up with any kind of art education or appreciation for the subject. But his wife, Deana Nastic, a Serbian artist who studied in Belgrade, exhibited in Greece and taught at the Art Gallery of Ontario after arriving in Canada, managed to teach him plenty. Inspired by her innate passion for art, the pair opened a gallery

Naomi With Blindfold. 2012, Albert Watson.

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Kate Moss With Elephant. 1992, Arthur Elgort.

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in midtown Toronto in the 1990s, framing and selling oil paintings. But in 2005, while visiting a gallery in the Hamptons, New York, Izzy came across a huge photograph of Marilyn Monroe, shot by the late Bert Stern, one of the last photographers to shoot the legend before her death in 1962. Mesmerized, Izzy couldn’t get the image out of his mind. He tried to get the gallery to give him a deal, but the piece was far too costly. Three years later, the financial crisis erupted and consumer mentality changed. “People understood that less was more, and they were looking for value in their purchases,” notes Izzy. He called the Hamptons gallery again and they offered him a great deal. With Deana’s urging, he brought the photograph back to his gallery.

“I used to think anybody could take a photo. But Deana made me realize the caliber of these images—they were collectible and a good investment.

I didn’t sleep for two weeks because it was so expensive.” Quickly though, it sold. “And then I bought another one—and that’s how it started.”

Getting some of the world’s most important contemporary photographers to trust you to represent them is no easy feat. Izzy says the common feeling among the cynical international masters was, “Who is this guy in Canada with this new idea?” His work was cut out for him. “You really have to prove yourself in a big way,” he reflects. Izzy discovered the work of the late Harper’s Bazaar fashion photographer Lillian Bassman, who was still alive at the time, and, at 92, was still working. He wanted to blow up her photos and exhibit large-scale images of her work. She was reluc-

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Izzy Sulejmani, Ellen von Unwert and Damir Sulejmani. Izzy, Deana Nastic, Albert Watson and Damir Sulejmani. Isidora Sulejmani-Nastic, Kate Moss, Damir Sulejmani, Deana Nastic and Izzy.

tant at first, but after she gave him carte blanche to choose the images he would put in the show, she applauded his taste and agreed to do the show. But just before it was set to open, Bassman got cold feet, convinced that these large pieces wouldn’t sell. Desperate to stage this monumental

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exhibit, Izzy promised Bassman he’d buy every piece personally— even though he didn’t really have the money at the time. Bassman agreed. The show sold out, giving Izzy the cred and confidence to pursue other greats in the field.

October 2014. Izzy Gallery hosts “The Big Picture,” featuring the incredible fashion photography of Arthur Elgort.

“If you have instincts, you learn,” says Izzy. “So then I had the guts to call Albert Watson.” Watson, the wildly successful Scottish photographer, globally recognized for his

fashion, celebrity and art images, was one of Izzy’s heroes. He proposed that he’d simply purchase Watson’s works, and as soon as he’d sold them, he’d buy more. “There was no risk to Albert—this wasn’t a matter of selling things on consignment,” explains Izzy. “This was the turning point for us.

Once we gained Albert’s trust, we could pretty much get anyone.”

Izzy’s talented eye has continued to evolve, as have the strong relationships he’s built with photographic masters. They trust his taste and appreciate his easy-going, no-nonsense attitude. “With so many of these artists, I’d go to their archives, get down on my knees to search through the negatives, and often find images that no one was paying attention to.

And I’d say, ‘‘This is amazing!’ And the artist would say, ‘You think so?’

So we’d put the image in the market, and it would sell out within a year.

That’s how I earned the trust of so many,” he says.

Izzy is particularly proud of his recent partnership with the Herb Ritts Foundation, and being able to represent that late photographer’s legendary work. And this past summer, Izzy joined forces with superstar Bryan Adams to present a collection of his riveting photographic work.

A true bon vivant, Izzy also loves a good party, hosting buzzy openings at his gorgeous 1,900-square-foot Bay Street gallery. There’s a lot of serious buying happening at these events, and it’s usually beyond investment purposes. His passion for every piece he exhibits is infectious. “I believe if you love what you’re selling, it sells,” says Izzy. “People feel it. If I bought the idea that a piece was right, that’s reflected to my clients. Once I fall in love with a piece and buy it, it’s easy to convince my clients.”

“Art shows your sadness, your happiness, your past, where you are Cindy Crawford Shadows.1989, Albert Watson.

now,” he says. “It shows everything. So for me, a house without art is such an empty place.”

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Gone With the Wind. 2012 Ellen von Unwerth.

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Getting some of the world’s most important contemporary photographers to trust you is no easy feat, but Izzy has been successful.

Glam Squad This Mississauga, Ont., home is designed to inspire and create awe from the moment you walk into the magestic foyer.

By Carla Lancit Photography by Jac Jacobson Photography

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Talk about making an entrance!

The client, a not-to-be-named

celebrity, asked Lavish Design Build to create a luxurious home where they could entertain their TV-industry colleagues. “They wanted something chic and elegant, not too busy,” says Suzi Kaloti, owner of Lavish Design Build.

Kaloti and the Lavish team responded with ornate furniture using a simple colour palette. “The pieces have a lot of detail in them, so we used a creamy white colour scheme to create a modern look,” says Kaloti. “If you look at the pieces of furniture, they have carvings, silver leaf—there’s a lot of detail once you’re in the space.”

The result is a residence that feels light and airy—not modern, but not traditional either. To up the wow-factor, the Lavish team sprinkled opulent design elements like wall panelling with stainless steel inserts and ceilings with plaster mouldings throughout the home.

In the living room, stately columns frame silver-leaf chairs by Christopher Guy, selected from Import Temptation. Glossy marble floors, an Italian chandelier and metal accents add elements of glitz.

The sophisticated colour palette continues into the dining room, where plush oval-backed chairs surround a white-and-gold pedestal table. Baroque-inspired wall sconces and a unique elongated chandelier add ambience.

But one of the house’s most unique design features stemmed from a challenge. The homeowner hated an existing internal courtyard, and

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asked for it to be enclosed. Lavish Design Build turned the space into a conversation room with dramatic black velvet chairs and floor-toceiling Calacatta slabs. In a nod to the room’s origins, the designers incorporated a skylight to allow more light in, and a window that peeks into the kitchen. The result is a space that feels separate, yet still open to the rest of the house—the perfect spot for a tête-à-tête.

The aura of luxury extends to the home’s private spaces. The master closet, for example, is designed to look lavish and showcase the homeowner’s wardrobe. “The homeowner wanted the closet to look like a piece of jewellery,” says Kaloti. “We added a lot of mirrors.” Glass cabinets and specialized lighting display an extensive shoe collection, and a built-in makeup table houses the client’s jewellery.

Sounds like the perfect place to primp for a glamourous party, or just unwind at the end of the day.

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Openly Organized By paying close attention to the needs of her clients, this designer was able to give them exactly what they needed, along with a pleasant surprise.

By Karine Ewart Photography by Vincent Lions

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“This project was for a lovely family with five daughters under the age of 10,” says designer Beverley Binns, of Binns kitchen + bath design. (She represents the third generation of the family-run business celebrating their 56th year.) “Their existing space wasn’t living up to their current needs and lifestyle.” They needed proper living and dining spaces to accommodate their young family. Also, because of their culture, the way that they entertain needed to be considered. “That meant that they wanted both a private family space as well as a place to entertain larger groups.”

The family frequently host community gatherings so they needed something that could

cabinetry is a warm, light grey, almost like

accommodate a lot of people, often 20 guests or

a creamy putty. The island may appear to be

more. “I created a very large, very casual family

white, but it’s actually an ecru-type laminate.

openness and flow is Beverley’s calling card.

living room right off the kitchen so when

We mixed modern, flat-panel textured doors

“I always group the functions of the space

people are prepping food, there is a very open,

with more classic shaker-style cabinets to

together to create the proper segmentation,”

spacious, circular movement between the kitch-

create a juxtaposition between the styles.”

she says, explaining that that doesn’t mean

en, family and dining spaces to allow guests to

The decision to add a butler’s pantry where

larger, more traditional kitchens these days.”

Dividing living spaces without losing the

closed-off rooms. “It means that you may see

their old dining room once was became an

some walls built or some groupings of things

‘aha!’ moment and it ended up affecting how

put together. These architectural details en-

they had seen some of their work and were

the rest of the first floor was laid out. “I de-

hance the space. For example, in this room, the

attracted to the modern, classic aesthetic the

signed it so there was a secondary prep area,”

appliances are separated by a wall, and then

company is known for. “They wanted their

Beverley says. “It provides a transition space

you have the hood fan segment, which is the

home to be timeless,” Beverley says. “They

between their formal dining room and their

cooking zone, and then you have the servery.”

knew they didn’t want features like crown

casual kitchen space. It allows them to close

moulding and other traditional elements. They

off the kitchen for more privacy.” It includes a

people’s stories,” says Beverley. “For these

wanted it to be very clean and fresh.”

sink, countertop, storage, a refrigerator and a

homeowners, I really wanted to understand

built-in Miele coffee unit. “It’s a proper servery,

their family, their culture and their lifestyle so

bright colours, but the family requested she

which is a huge trend in kitchens.” she says.

I could come up with a new plan that would

avoid an all-white palette. “The majority of the

“These ‘little kitchens’ get used more so than

accommodate what they needed.”

mingle without feeling confined,” Beverley says.

The homeowners approached Binns because

In keeping with that, Beverley chose light,

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“I approach design with the goal of telling

Mystic Magic

The statement-making turquoise rug is unexpected but fits perfectly, thanks to some of the homeowners’ small pieces they collected while travelling that feature the pretty hue. “The room needed extra life and the turquoise really pops,” says designer Amanda Aerin.

OPPOSITE PAGE: De Simone decided to split the New York City cityscape photo across two 14-foot-by-14-foot walls for greater impact.

RIGHT: De Simone chose to do the ceiling beams in black and white to add contrast.

(Millwork was done by Tempo Designs.)

By listening to her clients, this designer was able to deliver exactly what the homeowners wanted —even before they knew themselves.

By Lisa van de Geyn Photography by Larry Arnal Styling byMatthew Bettencourt

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The family’s foyer is simple but it shines when you walk in the door.

Aerin changed the spindles but left the original black newel posts.

She also enhanced the floor by adding a black tile border.

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Sleek lanterns in the kitchen add a sense of whimsy and architectural interest. Aerin included these stunning lights to add contrast against the white cabinetry.

The square cabinets and the kitchen island are gilded with Italian gold leaf and was hand-applied by artisan Miriam Tollis.

The glass dining room table blends beautifully with the gold chairs and black velvet upholstery. “It was all about the fabric here. That feeling of luxury needs to be backed up with textures.”

BELOW: There are no upper cabinets in the kitchen, so Aerin was able to keep the space bright and airy with these large windows.

It’s important for a house to reflect a homeowner’s personality. When interior designer Amanda Aerin first stepped into her clients’ Toronto home, she immediately felt a disconnect. “They love entertaining, they’re funny, well-travelled and easy-going, but the house felt very stuffy and didn’t feel like the people I met,” says Aerin. “One of the things I’m good at is seeing clients in a light they don’t see themselves in. I get their history, find out how they want their house to feel and the plans come to me—I get a visual for a space that matches their personality.”

Before contacting Aerin, the homeowners weren’t sure about their vision for their space. They were literally debating between loving or listing their home. For them, it was hard to see the potential, but when they weighed the pros of keeping their abode—it’s on a pretty cul-de-sac and has a stunning yard and pool—they realized it was time to invest.

Tasked to renovate and redecorate the dining and living rooms, kitchen, bathroom and front entry, Aerin says she knew she wanted

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There’s nothing like a moody powder room. He wanted this one to feel very subdued—he didn’t want vibrant colours or bright lights. That said, there’s still quite a bit of glamour in the space—for example, the sconces are crystal and brass, and the turned leg detail on the vanity adds interest.

ABOVE: It’s hard to tell where one room stops and another starts when you’re working in an open-concept design, says Aerin. The mural and custom built-in cabinetry in the dining room helps ground the space.

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to brighten the house and make it much livelier—it

so one of the must-haves was to include an island.

had been very dark and a bit old-fashioned. Her first

She also wanted an integrated fridge, a second oven

order of business was to do a main-floor shuffle. The

and I was able to give her a lady cave at the back of

floorplan needed an update, and Aerin chose to turn

the kitchen so she could have a quiet place to pay bills,

the existing living room into the kitchen. She also

organize kids’ activities, etc.,” says Aerin. The kitchen

knew she needed to go much brighter and airier. “The

has an airy feeling, and even though there’s lots of

house was full of dark reds that felt as though they

shaker-style cabinetry and drawers, it isn’t over-

were carrying the weight of the world,” she says.

whelming or messy because of the integrated look.

“The homeowner mentioned she liked white, grey

“It feels quite timeless and won’t go out of style.”

and marble, and she wanted a softness added to the space. That’s where we started.”

The dining room is used for entertaining, and the large custom tables work beautifully when the

Marble was brought into the living room—the

family hosts. The mural in the room immediately

showstopping piece is the fireplace. Aerin walked

catches the eye—not only does it add a sense of

through the stone yard to find the perfect slab. The

richness, but it helps ground the dining area in the

stone was then sliced through the middle and spread

open-concept space. “When I presented a mural, it

out, creating an incredible focal point. “I liked the neu-

sounded a bit old-fashioned and the homeowners

trality of the stone and the colour really gives balance

thought, ‘Why include a traditional element like

to the kitchen that’s right beside the living room.”

this when we’re updating the house.’ But it really

For the room’s accessories, Aerin had noticed objects and tchotchkes the homeowners had collected from travels far and wide and asked them to pick

adds soulfulness to the home and it’s very balanced,” she explains.

“The great thing about these clients is they trusted

the pieces that were most significant. The built-ins

us to make decisions. A renovation this size demands

installed on either side of the fireplace were the per-

many months of work, and homeowners really need

fect place for these items. She covered the back of the

to trust their designers to use their expertise and

built-ins in grass-cloth wallpaper and added lighting

develop the right plan for their space,” she says. “It’s

to the glass shelves, then she framed and displayed

like a camera lens that eventually comes into focus.

their cherished pieces and photography. The smoky

It’s blurry at first and hard for clients to see my vision,

leather chairs, moody grey sofas and unexpected tur-

but when I present renderings, textures, colours and

quoise rug were fabulous additions to the room.

plans, they start to envision what I see. It wasn’t long

When it came to the kitchen, Aerin had a mandate.

“The homeowner is a real foodie and loves to cook,

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before this couple realized they couldn’t see the room in any other way.”

Feature Slug

Fact: One-third of our lives is spent sleeping. We asked an industry expert how to make your bedroom the most luxurious sanctuary with these gorgeous trends.

Fibre Optics

By Carla Lancit

Fazzini.

Updating your linens can give your

Make a Splash

bedroom a whole new look. David

Do you live for lime green? Crave the

Saini and Carla Virgona of David’s

richness of ruby red? Go for it. Bold

Fine Linens, one of Toronto’s largest

colours are back, and can be found

bedding retailers, recently spoke

in abstract florals, graphic zigzags

with Living Luxe about new trends,

or solid accent pieces. If you’re still

perennial favourites and what to

not ready to make a big statement,

look for when shopping for bedding.

look for a neutral duvet with a pop of colour in the trim, ribbons or embroidery. Or simply add a colourful accent pillow or throw blanket to a neutral-hued palette.

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Missoni, made in Italy.

LEFT: Sferra, made in Italy.

BELOW: St. Pierre flannel sheets, 100% cotton, made in Portugal.

BOTTOM: La Perla collection, made in Italy.

Keep it Natural The most luxurious bedding is made from natural fabrics like cotton, silk, cashmere and bamboo. For Saini, the ultimate luxury is bedding made of Micromodal®, an ultra high-end product made of European beechwood.

Saini warns it’s a fallacy that thread count is the biggest indicator of a quality product. “You can have cheap sheets with high thread count that feel like sandpaper.” Instead, he recommends that customers focus on the quality of the yarn. A lower-quality yarn will have many loose ends, leading to a rough-feeling sheet. How can you tell? Touch the sheet. If it feels good, it is good.

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White on White It’s classic, it’s clean and it can be modern, traditional or anything in between. It’s no mystery why white is still the most popular choice for bedding.

For a designer look, layer shades of white in different textures—say a cashmere throw over silk sheets. When going simple, it’s especially important to pay attention to details like embroidery and workmanship.

This is where luxury products really shine.

Sferra, made in Italy.

Fendi, made in Italy.

La Perla, made in Italy.

Warm It Up After years of cool steel grey, warmer shades are enjoying a resurgence. Colours like mocha and greige look great with the gold accessories and natural wood accents that are currently popular in home decor. But don’t fret if you’ve already invested in bedding—you don’t have to replace everything. A warm terracotta throw looks great tossed over a grey duvet.

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RIGHT: Roberto Cavalli.

BELOW: Missoni, made in Italy.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Roberto Cavalli.

Fashionista Finds Why shouldn’t your bed be as well-dressed as you are? Designers like Roberto Cavalli, Missoni and Fendi create exquisite linens perfect for showing off your good taste. If you love Missoni’s zigzag or Roberto Cavalli’s jungle print but find the full set too dramatic, choose one or two pieces and mix in complementary neutrals.

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PLUMBING PLUMBING

DRAIN SERVICES DRAIN SERVICES

WATERPROOFING WATERPROOFING

Don't Let Water Ruin Your Interior Design Don't Let Water Ruin Your Interior Design ...Unless You Got A Boat ...Unless You Got A Boat Water Guard Plumbing Water P L U M B Guard I N G D OPlumbing NE RIGHT PLUMBING DONE RIGHT

The Market Buyer’s Guide & Directory

Undoubtedly a statement piece in any home, this stunning leather sofa projects a regal ambiance, lending elegance to any room you place it. Available in a variety of leathers and fabrics.

DECORIUM 363 Supertest Road, North York. decorium.com. 416-736-6120.

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The Market / Buyer’s Guide

The new contemporary crank and cover for Lepage Casements and Awnings windows features a modern, sleek, straight-line design.

The contemporary crank and cover are both made of metal and available in six colours— white, black, oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, satin chrome and satin nickel.

If you love the rugged beauty of nature, you’ll love the natural inherent style of the Evard dining table. Custom options available.

DECORIUM 363 Supertest Road, North York. decorium.com. 416-736-6120.

CHATEAU WINDOW & DOOR SYSTEMS 90 Tycos Drive, Suite 1, North York. chateauwindows.com. 416-783-3916.

We’re loving the new Fazzini Henriette duvet cover set in 100-percent sateen, and the 100-percent cotton velour pale pink pillow. Made in Italy, this is part of Fazzini’s spring 2020 collection.

This faucet blends in perfectly with your marble finish, offering a truly unique experience with a variety of marble and brass options. Amati can help you design your very own unique faucet. Check the GRAFF Mod+ collection and visit the store for assistance.

DAVID’S FINE LINENS Bayview Village, 2901 Bayview Avenue, North York. davidsfinelinens.com.

416-590-7311.

AMATI CANADA 105 Doncaster Ave, Thornhill. amaticanada.com. 905-709-0881.

The new BainUltra Vibe’s design was inspired by the city skyline and architecture of cosmopolitan cities, offering a minimalist and contemporary flair to smaller bathrooms.

AMATI CANADA 105 Doncaster Ave, Thornhill. amaticanada.com. 905-709-0881

Working as a professional artist for more than 40 years, Pietro Adamo is a pillar of the Canadian abstract community.

His “Giardini Series” is highly textured and is an excellent example of the vibrancy and energy he imbues in his creations.

This local artist is one to collect. Pietro Adamo, “Columbus”, 60 in. x 60 in., mixed media on canvas.

CRESCENT HILL GALLERY 2575 Dundas Street West, Mississauga. crescenthill.com. 905-820-2233.

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The Market / Buyer’s Guide

This fully transparent and accessible sliding window is light, sleek and seamlessly extends the house’s interior to the outside. Despite the minimal visual sidelines, the systems high strength allows Hi-Finity to carry the weight of a large sliding glass pane up to 750 kilograms (fixed panels up to 1,200 kilograms).

EUROSTAR WINDOWS 55 Administration Road, Unit 2224, Concord. eurostarwindows. ca. 416-633-5921.

This innovative double-leaf design offers flexibility from everyday family use to hosting big outdoor barbecue parties.

This extension table is made of rust-free aluminum material that’s extremely durable and low maintenance. When the table isn’t extended, both extension leaves simply fold and can be stored underneath.

GENERAL PRODUCTS INC. 160 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill. gppatio.com. 905-709-1162.

The New York Loft Collection features a light wire brush, colour variation and multistained hardwood, inspired by an East Coast vibe in a range of contemporary colours. From the rich warm tones of nature, the New York Loft Collections offer a variety of styles and designs selected from the finest domestic and exotic wood species. Some of the most recent colours from this collection include Centre Stage, Rockaway Grey and Kings Bridge.

Applying printed artwork onto the ceiling is another way of customizing the atmosphere in your home. From an illusion of being under tropical trees or a sunny sky, to kids’ favourite cartoon scenes and a starry night view, ceiling art is something you don’t get tired of looking at. In-house printed, using state-of-the-art, eco-friendly equipment, Laqfoil prints on any type of stretch ceiling material.

ALLAN RUG COMPANY 103 Miranda Avenue, York. allanrug.com. 416-787-1707

LAQFOIL 2-20 Magnetic Drive, North York. laqfoil.com. 416-663-1708.

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LET’S CELEBRATE TOGETHER! Join us on January 24th to welcome in the new year with Living Luxe magazine.

We only have 100 spots on the guest list, so get your RSVP in.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

RSVP joanne@livingluxe.ca* * This will be a first-come-first-serve priority guestlist.

PHOTOGRAPHY, VLADIMIR KEVORKOV.

In addition to our friends, family, contributors and clients, we want to thank you, our readers, for being so supportive.

Come celebrate and find out what exciting things are coming from Living Luxe.

The Market / Buyer’s Guide

The brass inlays within this natural stone is executed with superb workmanship. It radiates glamour and elegance for discriminating detail-oriented design connoisseurs.

Lustrous 3D custom marble slab wall panelling is available in a variety of designs and will make a lasting impression in any room.

BLUEMAR MARBLE 8201 Jane Street, Concord. bluemarble.com. 905-761-7666

Inspired by historical doors in Paris, this intricate ornamental work is cast in aluminum, has a jewel-like smoothness, it doesn’t have visible welding particles and it’s carefully finished in bronze with patina.

ART BOULLE 7250 Keele Street West, Suite 41/42, Vaughan. artboulle.com. 905-878-6833.

Our strongest relationships blend together to form a comfortable mould erasing any barriers, while those in our routine networks are predictable, forming patterns that represent specific positions. Crafted in natural fibres of silk and wool, Nexus 25 adds ambience to the atmosphere.

An amusing reminder of our solar system, Stellar 151 creates a peaceful atmosphere with these circular motifs gliding gently underfoot to create a tranquil space. Created in two-pile heights and constructed in the softest materials to charm all audiences.

WEAVERS ART 1400 Castlefield Avenue, York. weaversart.com.

416-929-7929.

The JURA GIGA 6 establishes the highest level for exquisite specialty coffee at home.

This professional luxury model incorporates the premium Swiss brand’s latest technological developments including the simultaneous preparation of coffee and hot milk/milk foam and automatic grinder adjustment.

JURA 115 Matheson Boulevard East, Mississauga. ca.jura.com/en.

905-501-8600.

The grey oil finish of this Panaget hardwood is modern and will elegantly complement any interior, as it enhances the natural beauty of the wood in a very trendy style. Grey knots contribute to give a subtle aspect to this character grade.

FIRST CLASS FLOORING 10 Marmac Drive, Etobicoke. firstclassflooring.ca. 416-740-6183.

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The Market / Buyer’s Guide

Looking to renovate? Whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom, fireplace or that accent wall you’ve been dreaming about, natural stone and concrete veneers can make your dreams a reality.

BEAVER VALLEY STONE 8081 Woodbine Avenue, Markham. beavervalleystone.com. 905-886-5787.

This engineered hardwood flooring from Biyork is absolutely stunning. It features a beautiful wire- brushed or hand-scraped finish and is sized at 8½ in. wide x ¾ in. thick x 86 in. long. The installation of this product is also simple—it’s a tongue-and-groove system and radiant heat system compatible. It comes with a 30-year warranty and is also indoor air quality certified.

BRENTO TILE 1310 Dundas Street East, Unit 17-19, Mississauga. brentotile.com. 647-946-1441.

The Hide House features more than 100 early Canadianstyle-inspired furnishings made with solid North American white pine in a variety of antique-inspired colours and finishes. Their charming Canadian-styled kitchen island features a tilt-out bin with hard plastic insert for compost recycling material shelves, storage space front and back and a solid maple top for food preparation and entertaining. 47 in. x 22 ½ in. x 37 in.

THE HIDE HOUSE 49 Eastern Avenue, Acton. hidehouse.ca. 519-853-1031.

This contemporary glass bar with a frosted ice look has a modern design that truly enhances the natural feel. The “White Onyx” glass top with LED light creates a spectacular atmosphere of this unique interior.

The Samsung QLED 8K Q900R takes you into a nearly infinite depth of realism, like you’re walking through each scene as you experience details so precise you can almost touch their presence. It’s a whole new dimension of picture quality with super-high resolution.

TRUTONE ELECTRONICS, INC. 980 Dundas Street East. Mississauga. trutone.ca. 905-270-3440.

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CBD GLASS STUDIOS 1440 Whitehorse Road, North York. cbdglass.com. 416-398-6890.

The Market / Buyer’s Guide

Why someone hadn’t thought of this sooner is beyond us: sandals that feature interchangeable uppers and soles resulting in endless combinations.

MARISOLES marisoles.com.

1-877-899-6362.

Woven stretch crepe Savona blazer with structured shoulders, notched lapels, side vents, ¾-length sleeves and a fabriccovered button. Get the full power suit by completing the look with the Savona pants.

Made-to-measure and made in Canada.

THE TARA RIVAS COLLECTION tararivas.com.

This emerald-green stretch wool skirt is from Italy. Boyfriend blazer cropped with no closure and a notch lapel.

Mini A-line skirt with a side-zip closure. A custom fabric tie detail was added to the waist and cuffs as a personal touch.

NICOLE BACH, LTD. 121 Richmond Street West, Toronto. nicolebach.ca.

LEFT: The Diversity Cover-Up reminds us that we are all unique. The beach-to-bar dress with an alluring crochet back is a flowing maxi-dress that’s great for a poolside cover-up or as a sundress.

Also available in black.

RIGHT: Available in two vibrant colours (burgundy and navy), the Luxe Dress is a soft-stretch velvet, making it a stylish choice for any special occasion. Rounded neck and knee length. Made in Canada, machine washable.

The standard-fit blazer and tapered trousers shown here are made from 130’s Italian plaid wool. This suit features contrast blue lining, matte black buttons and a ribbon racing stripe detail. Made-to-measure and made in Canada.

NICOLE BACH, LTD. 121 Richmond Street West, Toronto. nicolebach.ca.

JOAN KELLEY WALKER COLLECTION joankelleywalker.com.

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All the Best

Wallpaper

Christian Lacroix

You’re likely familiar with Lacroix— the Paris haute couture fashion house is more than 30 years old.

Christian Lacroix’s women’s collections were often opulent, flamboyant and luminous, and the company eventually expanded to men’s fashion, accessories and soon lifestyle products, including stationery, tableware, candles and wallpaper. Today, the iconic wallpaper collection features lots of botanical prints and lush vegetation. The Paradis Barbares collection is full of the company’s signature swirls and curved lines and brings in Mediterranean influences; and there are “merry birds and flowery fronds” in the Histoires Naturelles line of wallpaper. christian-lacroix.com.

Petronella Hall

Having run a business designing wedding gowns and kids’ clothes, and spending time as an illustrator, Petronella Hall launched her wallpaper collection in 2015 after an inspirational trip to Antigua. Her work often embraces nature—she has an affinity for incorporating tropical, woodland and animal themes.

Her first collection, featuring her signature Pelican wallpaper, won an award in 2016. petronellahall.com.

While it has been around since before the 17th century, wallpaper never goes out of style as long as you invest in the best brands the industry has to offer.

By Lisa van de Geyn

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All the Best

Boråstapeter

Sweden’s oldest and best-known wallcovering brand, Boråstapeter was created by Waldemar Andrén early in the 20th century and soon became the leading wallpaper manufacturer in the Nordic countries. Their product line has a really classic, timeless look that fits beautifully on this side of the world—they specialize in that “rustic, homey feel,” with lots of meadow florals, natural colours and patterns you could imagine in both cottages and manors in Sweden. Each pattern is named after a Swedish woman who made a significant mark on the country’s history. borastapeter.com.

Erica Wakerly

Erica Wakerly’s wallpaper is best known for its graphic, linear style. While she tends to gravitate toward more subdued colours (Wakerly’s work features bold designs, but not bold hues—she follows the “less is more” philosophy), she takes inspiration from metallic finishes and often includes silver, gold and copper foils to her creations. Her architectural approach to design brings in lots of repetition, reflection and shape. ericawakerlywallpaper.com.

Mulberry Home

Mulberry Home has been a mainstay in leather bags and accessories in England since 1971, but it was two decades before their wallpaper line was launched.

While the company still draws inspiration from its heritage, they bring in a plethora of colour and designs in their wallpaper—each collection has a theme, including lines that bring in Bohemian romance, modern country and heirloom-style patterns. gpjbaker.com/ brands/mulberry-home/.

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A luxurious photographic experience We create artwork that just happens to be your family or fur babies!

Beautiful portraits don’t just happen at the click of a button. They take time, experience and a connection. To ensure your artwork is personal, beautiful and tells your story, we go on a journey with each and every one of our clients.

647.692.6774

www.fablestudios.ca/portraits

info@fablestudios.ca

Luxe to You

QUIET LUXURY

Contributing editor Suzanne Dimma gives her definition of what living luxuriously means.

Photography by Colin Faulkner

LEFT: It has been wonderful to watch the resurgence of wallpaper over the last decade. Our home is a historical Victorian house so it felt right to wrap the dining room in a rich wallpaper designed by Timorous Beasties through Newwall.

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TOP: I bought this settee, upholstered in a pink and red velvet and linen fabric by Tricia Guild, at Trianon more than 15 years ago and I still love how it acts as a feminine counterpoint to the more modern elements in our home.

What does living luxuriously mean to you?

For me, living luxuriously means having peace of mind and enough free time to explore the world with ease. My biggest passion is travelling, and the sense of discovery that comes with it. If I had immeasurable amounts of time, I would choose to travel in comfort and explore as much of the world as I could. Being able to splurge on something truly magnificent and of the utmost quality is also a great luxury.

What components (real or imagined) play a role in allowing you to live your best life?

Time. There is never enough of it. So many of us are living at breakneck speed and jamming far too many things in one day. If we all had more time, we could enjoy the journey more.

Peace of mind. Perhaps the greatest luxury is living worry-free. This is a tough one, as anxiety is rampant and it can be crippling. I have found daily mediation to be a great way to set the tone for peace of mind.

Nature. My appreciation for and love of nature keeps me connected to the beauty of our planet. Twelve years ago, my husband and I set the goal of designing and creating an offthe-grid, lakeside retreat in Northern Ontario.

We’re still discovering beauty every time we visit. It allows us to escape the incessant pulse of the city and recharge in nature together.

person who runs her hands over everything to assess how it feels—from the smooth organic quality of honed marble or the weave of wool upholstery to the softness of a silk rug underfoot or the crispness of white bed linens and standout patterned fabric framing a windo What, if anything, would you tell others about living their most luxurious life and/or how to continue to strive to be their personal best?

Simplicity is the key. I often find that when I

Does “passion for perfection” speak to you in any way?

simplify things, focus my energies and stream-

Yes, definitely. I’ve spent a good part of my life

luxurious—more relaxed, spacious, quieter,

striving for perfection. It can be a rewarding endeavor but it’s also terribly exhausting. What I’ve learnt is that always striving to do one’s best is important but it’s as important to enjoy the journey. I don’t think perfection should be the end goal. Keep your passion to do your best, yes, but don’t pretend that you will ever arrive at a perfect life. It doesn’t exist.

BOTTOM PHOTO , ANGUS FERGUSSON.

with beautiful drapery and upholstery. I’m that

line obligations, my life seems to become more easier, happier. I also believe that we have to appreciate wherever we are in the moment.

Enjoy the journey. Sometimes the journey is the best part.

And even if you are incredibly busy, make space to treat yourself. Even when my work schedule was beyond hectic, I made regular visits to my favourite spa to have a massage,

What objects do you surround yourself with to

followed by a glass of wine. It was entirely lux-

inspire your everyday growth and why?

urious and a worthwhile investment in myself.

I find the sense of touch to be so important

Finally, take time to meditate. It helps to slow

in the world of design. I have a passion for

down and relax a bit every day. This way, every

fabrics and patterns so I like to surround myself

day can feel a bit more luxurious.

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TOP: My husband and I designed our open-concept cottage to be as elemental as possible.The focus is placed on the outstanding views overlooking a private bay and the surrounding forest. Set high among the treetops, it is like a modern treehouse.

BOTTOM: For me, good design is about wellconsidered details that create memorable moments.

I had this brass railing custom made to resolve a difficult transition between an original staircase and a new addition, and It became the highlight of the space. The wallpapered pocket door makes it even more unique.