Innehållsförteckning för Issue 1, 2023 från DESIGNLINES

Emily Smibert Smibert is a magazine editor and freelance writer with experience across numerous consumer and trade industry brands. Her byline has appeared in This Magazine, Elevate and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She resides in Toronto with her sheepadoodle named Waffles. When she’s not coveting renter-friendly wallpaper and luxe tablescapes online, you’ll find her hosting dinner parties and doing Pilates. In this issue Smibert curates a collection of striking paint and wallcoverings for your home. Find it on page 27. Iris Benaroia A design-crazed journalist with a knack for warm and cozy interiors, Benaroia covers a range of topics for publications such as House & Home and the National Post. She resides with her family in a “very messy” house in Toronto with plenty of books and toys.…

Shades of Pale Dose of Drama…

Set amongst the dense hospital buildings of Baldwin Village, the 1980s-era condo tower conveys nothing of the interiors found inside one young family’s unique condo. Devised by Rachel Quinn and Nicholas Luciani of the design-build firm Luciani Projects, the classically appointed space has been outfitted with chevron floors in white oak, graceful arched transitions, curved millwork, and oversized picture-frame mouldings more typical of apartments in Madrid or Copenhagen than here. “Our vision was to create a space that felt like a retreat from the busy streets of Toronto, reminiscent of a boutique hotel in Europe,” says Quinn. “We are not shy about completely changing the dynamics of a space and reimagining it through the use of architectural details,” adds Luciani. In its previous life, it was a builder-basic mélange of…

There is always chatter about people getting squeezed out of the city – economically, mentally or physically. There just isn’t enough room, it seems. And the price tags are jaw-droppers. And, even if you live in a larger home, there are compact corners to address and storage issues to tackle. But as more of us live in tight quarters, maybe we’ll all be getting out and enjoying the city more, adding to its vibrancy, and being a bit more European in our approach to life. In this issue, we’ve met homeowners and designers who know how to craft small spaces that don’t skimp on anything. We showcase three projects by Creative Union, a husband-wife duo adept at cajoling tons of living space from less square footage: a condo in the…

The work of artist-designer-educator JP King sits at the intersection of numerous design approaches. From installation art to experimental videos, each of his pieces are born out of a passion for storytelling. In conversation with Designlines, King spills on his conceptual influences, the truth about waste and his presentation at the Design TO Festival ‘Trash Talk’ Symposium. What does it mean to be an artist-designer-educator? I view learning experiences in the same creative and experimental way I make my art. While a lot of my work has an informative orientation, I choose to approach my teaching like performance art: the class is a stage, presentation tools are my props and my suit is a costume. How do you choose your art medium? I turn to video and animation when I…

Easy Does It Gold Standard…

Plywood, that most humble of materials, is often relegated to out-of-the-spotlight supporting roles in terms of design (think sub-floors, exterior wall sheathing, roof linings), but in this cute-as-can-be home, it takes a star turn. “The choice of plywood came very naturally and early in the planning,” says architect Etain Ho who founded Canalside Studio with architect Francis Lam. “We wanted a material that would give warmth to the space and create interesting shapes, while being on budget for the young couple who lives here.” The shapes conceived by Ho and Lam, along with the choice of maple plywood, conjure an animated playfulness that’s in step with the twenty-something owners’ love of jigsaw puzzles and Jenga, as well as their plans to start a family – it’s easy to imagine little…

313 Design Market Brothers Chris and Mark Siemicki agree: “Home is where the heart is.” The two opened 313 in their childhood abode to house their shared passion, fun and playful design-forward objects by cool international brands. Home accessories from Dusen Dusen, MoMA, Poketo and Areaware happily mingle with throws and pillows by David Fussenegger. Also: watch for installations, pop-up markets, design-related talks and workshops in this space. 313 RONCESVALLES AVE 416 537 2220 313DESIGNMARKET.COM AAVVGG AAVVGG is a collection of contemporary and classic home objects designed for everyday life. The revolving QW showroom’s founders hand-pick unique pieces from Japanese and European design houses. Find practical yet stylish counter and bar stools, as well as coat hooks in powder coated steel from Menu and, from Valerie Objects, multicoloured dining chairs…

From fields of fauna to the depths of the ocean, Tel Aviv lighting design studio Aqua Creations gathers inspiration from organic forms found in nature. A central piece of the studio’s growing portfolio, the Morning Glory floor lamp is reminiscent of bioluminescence – casting a dreamy glow through its sculptural, fungi-like body. Despite standing more than two metres tall, the lamp maintains a gentle and unobtrusive presence with a light-softening outfit of delicate raw silk. Designed by Albi Serfaty, founder and artistic director of Aqua Creations, the lamp has been the studio’s best-selling design since its inception in 1992. Over the years, its collection has added a number of pendants and wall lights with similar silk dressings as the floor lamp — folded to convey the appearance of coral, starfish…

A common way to discover the spirit of a city is by exploring its streetscapes. So, what happens to that spirit when the city’s visual markers begin to change? In Spacing’s eleventh book, the magazine’s publisher, creative director and co-founder Matthew Blackett teams up with local architects Kurt Kraler and Philip Evans to document the history, culture, and development of Toronto through its saga of unique signage. The Signs That Define Toronto explores how emblems adorning our city contribute to its visual identity and, subsequently, that of its residents. Over 150 years of signage are documented in pages of archival photographs, colourful illustrations and text that spark a delightful sense of nostalgia. Commercial designs like Eaton’s and the Mr. Christie water tower tell a story of Toronto’s industrialization, whereas the…

Welcoming amenities of chilled or warm, lavender-scented hand towels and cups of Madagascar vanilla-infused iced tea are the first intimation The Beach Motel is something special. “Our goal was to create a unique, boutique property with a guest-focused experience,” says Southampton native Dane Buttenaar. He and his wife, Samantha, purchased the ’50s-era motel in 2020, undeterred by its neglected state. “Our beautiful town of Southampton was lacking luxurious accommodations and we wanted to fill that need,” says Samantha. The couple are founders of DASA Properties, a company specializing in converting properties into quality rentals, so they already had their own building team in place, ready to tackle the project. Sarah Forster and Natasha Popek-Konieczko, co-founders of Toronto’s Common Good Studio, were brought on board to help conjure the dream of…

Dark Chrome Tara faucet in new Dark Chrome, price upon request. Available to order or purchase at any authorized Dornbracht dealer. Deep Black Sailing 3-hole washbasin tap by Fantini Rubinetti designed by Yabu Pushelberg. Shown in Deep Black, price upon request. Available at Canaroma. Black and Brass Occasion single-handle bathroom faucet, matte black with brass, $1,435. Available at Kohler Signature Store. Raw Copper Piet Boon by COCOON Wall-Mount Basin Mixer, shown in Raw Copper, $2,450. Available at Ginger’s. Gold, Brass or Copper Anello by Gessi, in Copper, Gold, Antique Brass finishes, price upon request. Available at Scavolini Toronto.…

What once stood as a simple one-storey place of worship along the railroad tracks in the Junction is now a residential property with three fully separate rental properties, one behind the other. Architect Gloria Apostolou of Post Architecture designed the final 700-square-foot, loft-style rental unit at the back, which has access to a private backyard. The demo and reconstruction of a former addition wrought with structural issues completes the trinity of suites. Each unit has distinctive cladding materials, which are unified by a gabled roof of varying heights, echoing the spot’s original incarnation. “I think it is such a great model and better use of space,” says Apostolou, in contrast to the traditional low-rise rental option found in a triplex.” Everybody gets daylight and a main floor,” she affirms, making…

Have you ever wondered how AI architecture is used in designing buildings? We’re here to tell you that it’s a lot more than just a trend. AI is quickly becoming an essential part of the design process, and it’s changing the way architects approach their projects. From self-driving cars to smart homes, AI is revolutionizing the way we design and build structures. We’ll discuss the implications for the future of the industry. So, if you’re curious about how AI is transforming the world of architecture, keep reading! AI has been transforming the construction industry for many years now. It is used in a variety of ways, from creating 3D models to speeding up the overall design process. It can be used to create detailed blueprints and plans, and then optimize…