THE DESIGN ISSUE
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SPRING 2017 • VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 1 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA michelle@dolce.ca Director of Operations ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO angela@dolce.ca
ART DEPARTMENT Co-Founder/Creative Director FERNANDO ZERILLO fernando@dolce.ca Web Project Manager STEVE BRUNO Senior Graphic Designer CHRISTINA BAN Junior Graphic Designer AXL VALDEZ Web Designer YENA YOO Web Developer JORDAN CARTER
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Fashion & Home Decor Editor MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA Beauty & Travel Editor ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO Copy Editor and Proofreader FRANCETOAST EDITING Senior Writer AMANDA STOREY Writer REBECCA ALBERICO Contributing Writers CEZAR GRIEF, AMANDALINA LETTERIO, RICK MULLER, SALLY RUTHERFORD Contributing Photographers JAY L. CLENDENIN, DYLAN + JENI, GREG COX, GEOFF FITZGERALD, MIKE FORD, ROBIN GARTNER, TAYLOR JEWELL, JESSE MILNS, DIEGO NOSSA, MARTA O’BRIEN, JORGE PARRA, CARLOS A. PINTO, BELA RABA Social Media Manager SARAH KANBAR
VIDEO DEPARTMENT Videographer CARLOS A. PINTO
ADVERTISING Director of Marketing ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO angela@dolce.ca Director of New Business Development SUSAN BHATIA susan@dolce.ca Senior Account Manager MARIO BALACEANU Account Manager CHRISTINA BONO
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Dolce Magazine is published quarterly by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789, Toll-Free: 1-888-68-DOLCE, F: 905-264-3787, info@dolce.ca, www.dolcemedia.ca Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675. All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publisher. Dolce Magazine reaches over 900,000 affluent readers annually through household distribution across Canada. Dolce Magazine is also available to over 100 million digital consumers of Magzter Inc. and Issuu. Inquiries about where else Dolce Magazine is available for sale may be directed to Dolce Media Group: info@dolcemedia.ca or 905-264-6789. The yearly subscription fee is CDN $34 and US $48. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9, Canada The opinions expressed in Dolce Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Media Group does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is in no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 21 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers. ISSN 1206-17780 Next Issue: Summer 2017 ©2017 Dolce Media Group. Printed in Canada. Follow us at:
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE & DO SOMETHING EPIC!
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Y
ou may have heard that “hard work and ambition can take you anywhere.” Since we have a high regard for this “carpe diem” philosophy, it’s no surprise that we would choose Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as our front cover man — the highest-paid actor in Hollywood (according to Forbes, last year alone, he brought in over $64 million). Pretty epic. But his narrative of becoming an actor started off with the scratch-and-claw mentality needed to get work in Hollywood. In our interview, he reveals how as a young man growing up in Hawaii he struggled with a lot of personal issues. Yet, once he decided to get his act together and fashion his life after his two idols — Stallone and Schwarzenegger — through hard work, discipline and bodybuilding, he got closer to his goals of gaining confidence and self-respect. A true testament that even the most successful personalities do not start that way. To achieve success is to overcome obstacles. Success is a seed that blossoms over time with perseverance and hard work. More importantly, Johnson reminds us not to forget our heritage and
defining moment that could alter the final design of what one’s life will look like. Take the Terroni phenomenon: the story of Cosimo Mammoliti, whose journey began as a dishwasher 25 years ago. Today this maverick is exploding on the T.O. and L.A. restaurant scenes, but had he not accepted that initial job he may never have gotten there. Because design is everywhere, it is meant to be discovered, interpreted and discussed. Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the perfect design duo to carry on such a saucy conversation. We had the pleasure of visiting their indulgent condo, brimming with new and some old things — and, given my gravitational pull to all things vintage, I confess I was in heaven. See story on page 30. We hope you enjoy this issue of Dolce Magazine and feel inspired to do something epic, or at the very least … to tear down a wall and infuse more design into your life. After all, given all the stories of people who are making a mark with their design interventions in our city, or who are designing lives that are intertwined with design, I daresay this is a “Rock”solid issue (no pun intended) … proving that design does not discriminate, but actually has the ability to unite us.
PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO
Michelle Zerillo-Sosa
our struggles — both pivotal to his involvement with children’s hospitals and preventing bullying. Story on page 42. The first time we were intrigued by the exhibits at the Design Exchange was back in 2013, when we experienced Stefan Sagmeister’s The Happy Show. The show impressed us, to the point that we wrote about this man and his purpose to prove the correlation between design and happiness (brilliant!), then published his interview in City Life Magazine, our sister publication. Coincidentally, this was also the first exhibit that Shauna Levy, CEO of the Design Exchange, oversaw. It’s this sort of instinct to bring exhibits to the city that are not typical, combined with her belief that exhibits should educate and inspire (not intimidate) design lovers of all ages, income brackets and backgrounds, that makes Levy one of the design voices we wanted to hear from in this issue. Story on page 20. But design is not just something that lives in museums or exhibits. It’s all around us. My personal favourite sources are the landmarks throughout our city, with their historical architecture, like the Gothic-style Casa Loma and Old City Hall. Their juxtaposition among modern, glass highrises makes them appear even more eccentric. These buildings retain their enchantment from a bygone era, each one built over 100 years ago by architect E.J. Lennox. Like champagne and strawberries, this meeting of architectural styles is a happy union, and epic sightings like this throughout our city will continue to be admired for many years to come. Story on page 69. But design can also apply to life plans, in that epic moment when luck meets opportunity. That
Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
michelle@dolce.ca @dolcetweets |
@amorebagstoronto
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CONTENTS SPRING 2017 / VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 1
42
DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON:
With a string of fabulous flicks both behind and ahead of him, listen in on Dolce’s real talk with Hollywood’s big-hearted macho man
22
THE RAD HATTER:
From rose-inspired fascinators to bejewelled teardrop earrings, cranium couture has never been so glamorous
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ASTON MARTIN: The legendary automotive company presents a Mark Shaw photography exhibit in London — sneak a peek here
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ON TOP OF TORONTO: We’re smitten with Colin and Justin, the Scottish transplants who’ve taken over Canadian decor
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THE IMMORTALITY OF E.J. LENNOX:
54
From Casa Loma to Old City Hall, step inside the works of the man who built Toronto
COSIMO MAMMOLITI: The Maverick of Terroni
34 IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS: Bespoke design agency FDM Designs Inc. is redefining finery in the home sector 65 PASTORAL PERFECTION: Refresh your eye for design by exploring the stylish depths of this South African home More stories inside ...
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B a r h
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DOLCE WAS THERE 1
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SAG AWARDS 6
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
On January 29, the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards honoured the best and brightest in film and television. Taking top honours was Julia Louis-Dreyfus for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series, and the cast of Stranger Things took home outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. Outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture went to Hidden Figures. www.sagawards.org
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1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus 2. Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Amy Adams 3. Kevin Spacey, Natalie Portman 4. Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman 5. Meryl Streep 6. Emma Stone, Emily Blunt 7. Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin
Giovanni Soldini and the Maserati Multi70 team finish a close second in the RORC Caribbean 600 Race, an exciting 600-mile offshore race that takes competitors around some of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean. The Maserati Multi70 was designed by Van Peteghem LauriotPrévost (VPLP) and a former member of the Team Gitana racing stable, and optimized by French designer Guillaume Verdier. www.maserati.soldini.it WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE AT WWW.DOLCEMAG.COM
Francesco Malingri, Francois Robert, Oliver Herrera, Giovanni Soldini, Guido Broggi, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Carlos Hernandez
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMES MITCHELL
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DOLCE WAS THERE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUKAS SCHULZE, IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN/GETTY IMAGES
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IWC AND LAUREUS Luxury Swiss timepiece maker IWC Schaffhausen celebrated the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco this past February. The event included a bike tour with Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg and the official launch of the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.” www.iwc.com
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1. Nico Rosberg 2. Chris Grainger-Herr, Fabian Cancellara 3. Usain Bolt 4. Lisa Banholzer 5. Boris Becker 6. Sports celebrities and influencers 7. Andy Griffiths 8. Nico Rosberg, Fabian Cancellara
DIESEL LAUNCH
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACOPO RAULE/GETTY IMAGES
Ducati and Diesel unveil the new Ducati Diavel Diesel during Milan Men’s Fashion Week 2017. The sexy motorcycle boasts a sleek aesthetic, with the design inspired by a postapocalyptic, retro-futuristic world; there are only 666 in existence. The bike is the product of a collaboration between Andrea Rosso, creative director of Diesel Licences, and the Ducati Design Center. www.diesel.com 1. Francesco Facchinetti, Renzo Rosso, Andrea Rosso 2. Renzo Rosso, Melissa Satta
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DOLCE WAS THERE 1
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DAVID YURMAN
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
Premier luxury jewellery brand David Yurman hosted its first-ever men’s collection during Milan Men’s Fashion Week, January 14 and 15, 2017. The breathtaking exhibition took place at the historic Chiesa San Paolo Converso. A total of 14 unique showcases designed by sculptor, painter and performance artist Anthony James housed pieces from the men’s jewellery line. www.davidyurman.com 1. Mads Mikkelsen, Hanne Jacobsen 2. Tim Blanks 3. Robert Rabensteiner, Evan Yurman
In January, FIFA and Hublot came together in Zurich, Switzerland, for the first ever Best FIFA Football Awards. The high honour aims to recognize “the best of the best” players and coaches in the world of soccer. Hublot also presented a special timepiece to each award recipient. www.hublot.com
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FOOTBALL AWARDS
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1. Diego Maradona, Eva Longoria 2. Big Bang Unico Retrograde Chronograph 3. Silvia Neid 4. Carli Lloyd 5. Claudio Ranieri 6. Cristiano Ronaldo 7. Mohd Faiz Subri
In a partnership with Raffi Jewellers, Rolex recently opened its flagship store in Mississauga’s Square One Shopping Centre. The space is a timepiece lover’s paradise, with endless varieties of the Swiss-made treasures to explore and knowledgeable associates to help clients find the product that suits them best. www.rolex.com Garbis Garabetian, Peter Garabetian, Bonnie Crombie, Vahe Garabetian, Luca Bernasconi
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PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM SANTOS/ GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOGRAPHY
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DESIGN
Design is
As co-founder of the Interior Design Show in Toronto and the president and CEO of the Design Exchange, Shauna Levy is one of Canada’s topmost design authorities
PHOTO BY MIKE FORD
Everywhere
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As she celebrates her fifth year at the helm of Canada’s Design Exchange, Shauna Levy looks back on the progress she’s made as a champion for authentic design, the lifeblood of creativity — and is making larger-than-life plans to continue her mission of using design to better the planet
W
hen Shauna Levy was 25, she sold her belongings and booked a one-way flight to Paris with nothing but a scrap of paper in her hands. On this piece of paper she’d scrawled the names and phone numbers of people she didn’t know — friends of friends, family members of former co-workers. After a few months of living in the City of Light, Levy had managed to turn those anonymous scribbles into new friendships, a place to live and even a job. While she only stayed in Paris for a year and a half, the experience caused a shift in Levy’s life. As the daughter of Steven Levy, founder of Toronto’s One of a Kind Show, she had grown up with an appreciation for craft, but in Paris she’d fallen in love with not only the city but one of its driving forces: design. “I discovered that design really was part of every aspect of life,” says Levy. “I found it so cool and exciting. To me, it represented something I hadn’t experienced before.” A lot has happened since then. Levy has become one of Canada’s most trusted authorities in the world of design, having cofounded the renowned Interior Design Show (IDS) with her father. She has also helmed the Design Exchange for the past five years, and throughout her time as president and CEO of the now internationally acclaimed design hub, she has helped further Toronto’s status as a worldclass design destination. The success bloomed from Levy’s sharp, progressive and curve-ball-throwing leadership style, which she’s used to champion true design and make it more accessible for all Canadians. This is the mission of the Design Exchange, providing a space for all people to gather, get educated about and appreciate design in all its forms. It’s also a place for design to stretch its legs. When Levy initially stepped into her role at the DX, the first exhibition she oversaw was The Happy Show by graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister that chronicled an experiment in which he used design to increase his happiness. Then came the Christian Louboutin show in 2013, which, Levy says, “was an opportunity to talk about the magic and the artistry of design.” A year later came the
WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
chance to take the sometimes abstract concept of design and bring it back down to earth via the wildly popular 2014 exhibition This Is Not A Toy, curated by Pharrell Williams. “When [Williams] was asked why he did it for us pro bono, he said it was because it was an art form that he felt was accessible,” says Levy. “There are people who are intimidated by that
“I DISCOVERED THAT DESIGN REALLY WAS PART OF EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE”
conversation, people who don’t feel welcome in a museum, who feel that it’s not for them. This was an opportunity to actually work with and present an art form that was really accessible to everyone. We were getting phone calls from young people asking what the dress code was, because they had never stepped foot in a museum before.” This year, Levy is furthering that agenda by launching Expo for Design, Innovation & Technology (EDIT) in September, in partnership with the United Nations. Taking place in the former Unilever Detergent Factory in Toronto, the 10-day design festival is meant to stir discussion on how design can be used to make the world better for everyone, summoning 100,000 influencers and enthusiasts to ponder the event’s four themes: Shelter, Nourish, Care and Educate. EDIT, which Levy is planning as a biennial, world-scale festival, is a testament to how far Toronto has come to earn its place in the spotlight
on the industry’s international stage, but it’s also proof of how big Levy’s role has been in that progression. Ever since that milestone chapter in Paris, she has developed an eye for finding untapped potential in the design market. After returning to Toronto, the young Levy was working for Designers Walk, which was exclusive to industry professionals, and was inspired to found a publically accessible show — and shortly after, IDS was born. The Levys didn’t know what to expect that inaugural weekend, but the success was overwhelming, even though the event was darkened by a power outage. “I remember Brian Gluckstein had a flashlight and [gave] flashlight tours of his space,” Levy says with a laugh. “Then we all went back into the show office and we ordered pizza and drank beer, and we were so upset but at the same time so happy about how well things had gone.” Today, IDS is one of the most celebrated design shows in the world, luring the brightest of the industry to come and make waves for the forthcoming seasons with authentic and inspired craft. And come September, it appears Levy will be one-upping herself with the highly anticipated EDIT, which she hopes will educate and inspire design lovers of all ages, income brackets and backgrounds. “It’s important to give people different types of experiences,” says Levy. And I think design is something that runs through it all, so it is easy for us to talk about music, for us to talk about art, for us to talk about major grand challenges, because design is a part of all those things. We have the flexibility and the ability to move all around that continuum of cultural experience.” Design is the lifeblood of the creative world. It appears in toy stores and in homeless shelters, on runways and in display cases. It takes the form of a child sitting at a table sketching a city, beginning to understand that they have a say in how the world works. It’s a 25-year-old woman boarding a plane to Paris and turning a list of names into a future. www.dx.org @designexchange
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ACCESSORIES
THE RAD HATTER
The Rose by Arturo Rios is comprised of a black pillbox covered in taffeta and Russian netting, adorned with an oversized foam rose on the side / www.arturorios.com
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TEXT BY AMANDA STOREY / PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTURO RIOS
You don’t have to be off to the races to enjoy the oldworld splendour of a wellmade chapeau or glittery accessory. This season, dress to the nines for any occasion, with the help of these daring accessory designers
Arturo Rios’s Electra is a wing headpiece covered in black goose feathers atop an oval base / www.arturorios.com
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTURO RIOS
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1. The Xian earrings from the Circulos de Fuego Collection by Carrera y Carrera shine with yellow gold, blue topaz, onyx and diamonds / www.carreraycarrera.com 2. The timeless simplicity of this ring by Gucci wows, making it a surefire companion to any ensemble / www.berani.ca 3. Crafted by renowned design house Royal De Versailles, this ring boasts rose-cut diamonds and a venomous vibe / www.royaldeversailles.com 4. From the Grupo Corpo collection by jewellery wizard H. Stern comes this masterpiece of a butterfly-shaped gold ring / www.berani.ca 5. Nothing dazzles more than gems on top of gems, and this ring by Royal de Versailles delivers with a layer of diamond atop a smoky quartz stone / www.royaldeversailles.com
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The shadows become you. Slip into something elegantly daring that exudes your inner siren / Dress, Holt Miami; Vintage Headpiece, C.Madeleine’s; Sandals, Max Mara
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H eart of
Darkness
TEXT BY AMANDA STOREY
Spring has a dark side. Pick your poison, from lace bewitched by midnight blues to veils of metallic mystery
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Rule the night in soft pastels and a delicate Victorian air that hints at the power within / Gown, Jovani; Earrings, Rodrigo Otazu; Sandals, Gianvito Rossi
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Nothing summons the fiercest version of yourself quite like black lace and a daring silhouette / Dress, Holt Miami; Vintage Headpiece, C.Madeleine’s; Sandals, Max Mara
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PHOTOGRAPHER: JORGE PARRA ASSISTANT: REY PINEDA MODEL: LAUREN NICOLE PEGUES HAIR AND MAKE UP STYLING: JESUS BRAVO FASHION STYLING: ROMINA SERGI
Outshine the moon in a curvehugging bandage gown that blurs the line between sultry and sexy / Gown, Hervé Léger; Necklace, L George Designs
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Dolce spends an afternoon in the sundrenched suite of design duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan to talk trips to Grand Cayman, jet-setting to Britain and falling in love with Canada’s design scene — all while overlooking a sparkling Toronto, 39 storeys below
The couple’s cat, Beamer, is a quiet fellow but loves good design as much as the next guy, and can be found enjoying the sunshine in the sky-high living room
Top On of
Toronto WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
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olin McAllister and Justin Ryan are on top of the world. Or at least on top of Toronto. The Scottish design duo’s 39thfloor suite is an ultra-stylish aerie, perched directly above the Rogers Centre with a perfect view of the city’s two good sides: the heart of the metropolis shimmering to the north and the steely grey waves of Lake Ontario to the south. It’s a beautiful sight, of course, but even this most flattering view of Toronto is outshone by the home’s interior.
The space is everything that a “Colin and Justin” fan would imagine their abode to look like — an embodiment of the couple’s formula for balancing spaciousness with cosiness. A contemporary kitchen, designed to feel more like a bar, divides two sitting rooms: one is a plush and roomy lounge area furnished with just the right number of treasures, a transparent hanging egg chair and a squishy but chic couch (the kind that beckons you until you’ve sunk deep within its cushions, a coffee-table book about style on your lap and a glass of merlot in your hand), while
the other is a quieter, more broken-up space that marries modern, clean shapes with traditional wooden features. It’s hard to believe this suite was once an allbrown bachelor pad with about four more walls than it has now. “I like taking down walls,” McAllister says proudly, waving his arm at the now open-concept space bursting with the natural light flooding in from the east-facing, floor-toceiling windows. Of course, they love a good makeover. As personalities behind many decorating shows — from Million Pound Property Experiment, the U.K. hit that launched their now-storied television career, to Colin & Justin’s Cabin Pressure — McAllister and Ryan are world-renowned beautifiers. The couple has been together for more than 30 years now, and their yin-and-yang dynamic is responsible for the on-screen banter and bickering that fans adore. McAllister lifts every sentence with a smile or a laugh, while Ryan weights his charm with moments of profundity. Their distinct personalities are tied together by exuberance, and of course creativity. This season, when they’re not shooting shows, McAllister and Ryan are workshopping ideas for new productions. The couple is actually fresh off a plane, having just returned from a 10-day stay in the Cayman Islands. Now that they’re home — and nestling back in with their newly adopted cat, Beamer — the aftertaste of travel is inspiring new concepts. It happens every time they take a trip. They’re toying with the idea of investing in a fixer-upper villa in Grand Cayman, and making a show out of it. In the meantime, the duo is making biweekly appearances on Cityline with Tracy Moore, penning regular columns for the Toronto Sun, 24 Hours Toronto and Vancouver and Huffington Post, on top of their own blog. Four years ago they launched a collection of products, Colin+Justin Home, which supplies homeowners with luxe cushions, throws, bedding and other tokens of the boys’ hallmark homey-chic style. And then, of course, there’s the plethora of appearances at local and international design shows, from the GTA Home and Reno Show in the winter to the Ideal Home Show in Scotland in late spring. Their plate is full, and they like it that way, but after more than three decades working in two intense creative industries — design and media — McAllister and Ryan have not only mastered the art of a makeover, but of penciling in personal time. On weekends throughout the year they can be found at their cottage in Haliburton, Ont. — or, as they call it, “Halifornia” — the subject of Cabin Pressure, which aired on Cottage Life TV for three
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PHOTOS BY ROBIN GARTNER
CELEBRITY
While Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have officially called Toronto home for the past 10 years, they haven’t severed ties with their hometown of Glasgow. The couple flies back about once a month to enjoy their 19thcentury home there and to appear on some of Britain’s most popular design shows
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Having built their nest 39 storeys above Toronto’s core, McAllister and Ryan shaped their stunning condo into an entertainmentfriendly space that balances cosiness with chicness
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The Toronto-based design duo has traveled the world and uses international inspiration when working on their own home as well as clients’. Infusions of global culture can be found all throughout their apartment, in everything from art pieces to coffee-table books
“TORONTO AND THE GTA ARE VERY GOOD AT MAKING HOMES THAT ARE LAYERED AND INDULGENT. IT’S A FRIENDLY DESIGN. IT’S NOT AN AUSTERE, HARD-EDGED DESIGN” — Justin Ryan
seasons. Otherwise, the two spend their free time exploring the city they’ve come to call home. McAllister and Ryan never planned to move to Canada. It was 2006, and their Britain-based show Colin & Justin’s How Not To Decorate had just started airing here when they were asked to fly to Toronto and Vancouver for a media appearance. They penciled it in, packed their bags and flew over, under the impression that no one would know who they were. It turned out, thousands of Canadians came to see them that day, some of them sporting kilts and Scottish football shirts. “It was a bit of an event, and it blew our minds!”
says McAllister. “And what blew our minds was how alike, but also not alike, Canada was to Britain. There was enough here to make us feel comfortable, but also enough not here to make it exciting.” The country charmed them so much they decided to buy in. They purchased the 39th-floor suite, and over the past decade it has become one of their favourite homes. Other holdings include a 19th-century house in Glasgow and a pied-à-terre in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood. “Toronto and the GTA are very good at making homes that are layered and indulgent,” says
Ryan. “It’s a friendly design. It’s not an austere, hard-edged design — it’s comfortable. And I think that’s why we succeed [here], because we’re all about layering people’s homes, adding colour and vibrancy, and that seems to speak to people’s appetites.” Having touched down in the world’s most design-centred cities, McAllister and Ryan draw heavily from international influences. They might design a client’s house in North York using bits and pieces they picked up while touring Italy, or infuse a tropical holiday house with inspiration from their stays in Barcelona. Having worked primarily out of Canada for the past decade, McAllister and Ryan are now setting their sights on the U.K. again. It’s been a while since they produced a program on their home continent and are in talks with networks about doing something on their old stomping ground. Wherever they land next, McAllister and Ryan will do what they do best: making themselves completely and beautifully at home. “Design is the best job because it changes someone’s life,” says McAllister. “They get to walk into it, touch it, pick it up and interact with it, and it makes a difference. And we love that.” www.colinandjustin.tv @colinandjustin
CHECK OUT OUR IN-CAR INTERVIEW WITH COLIN & JUSTIN IN THE ALL NEW Q7, COURTESY OF UPTOWN AUDI/DFC AUTO GROUP AT WWW.DOLCEMAG.COM
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INTERIOR DESIGN
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Through bold accents and an arresting overall vision for each project, Flora Di Menna Designs Inc. has refined the standards of design WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
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FLOR A DI MENNA Spearheaded by president and principal designer Flora Di Menna, FDM Designs Inc. is an award-winning design firm based in Toronto
ccording to world-renowned designer Flora Di Menna, gone are the days of the “one size fits all” living space. Admired globally for her innovative take on classic style and innovative trends, Di Menna and her team at Flora Di Menna (FDM) Designs Inc. have crafted a flavour of design that’s all their own — a bright interpretation of their clients’ personalities mixed with their unparalleled expertise in the industry. “Homeowners are straying from the more traditional style and instead viewing their space as a blank canvas,” “My goal, first and foremost, is to grab the client’s vision and strive to make it a reality,” says Di Menna, president and principal designer at FDM Designs Inc. “We help the client channel their unique vision and personality into their
home through seasoned skill and boundless imagination.” Her method has rippled the fickle design industry, creating waves and earning a bounty of awards and recognitions. FDM Designs Inc. has won more than 35 awards internationally, and in 2015 and 2016, it took home the International Property Award for World’s Best Interior Designer in the residential category in London, England (and is up for the same award this year, for the third time in a row). It’s the firm’s refreshing approach to design that has placed FDM Designs Inc. on the international industry map, not only pushing the standards of local design but also inspiring the global design culture. Having touched down in world-class destinations — from the Caribbean to Beijing — the firm is making its mark around the world and stirring up inspiration with every project.
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Even the simplest of shades make a statement when accented with textural surprises like this unique wall and ceiling design
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FDM Designs Inc. is known for taking advantage of every corner of a space — even the floor and ceiling, the “fifth and sixth walls”
“The beauty of the design industry today is that it allows for complete creativity,” says Di Menna. “Whether we’re working with a family or a business owner, it’s always a fulfilling experience to see the client’s vision come to fruition. The result is always magic.” www.fdmdesigns.com @fdmdesigns
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Fusing timelessness with innovation, FDM Designs Inc. creates dwelling spaces that will inspire for decades to come
“MY GOAL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS TO CAPTURE THE CLIENT’S VISION AND STRIVE TO MAKE IT A REALITY” 37 spring 2017
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In every space by FDM Designs Inc., fine details come toget together in a crescendo of memorable memorab design
“THE BEAUTY OF THE DESIGN INDUSTRY TODAY IS THAT IT ALLOWS FOR COMPLETE CREATIVITY” 38 DOLCE MAGAZINE
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Situated just north of Toronto, the Chateau Le Parc event venue was designed to bewitch guests with its luxurious atmosphere, characterized by its classic colour scheme and dazzling accents
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HOME DECOR
PHOTO BY GEOFF FITZGERALD
Pirbhai’s work has been featured at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Windsor Art Museum and galleries in Yorkville. Exhibits of his work have also appeared across Europe, in countries in countries including Switzerland and France
Behind the curtain
Meet Camal Pirbhai, the Canadian-born Swiss-raised textile artist behind the most beautiful, bespoke soft-furnishing work in the country. Through his brand, Studio La Beauté, Pirbhai has been producing haute handmade drapery for high-end North American and European clients for more than 20 years
WRITTEN BY REBECCA ALBERICO
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SIDERIS, ELEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
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A custom-made curtain tie-back made of feathers, handblown glass, antique silver trim and fiberoptic strands
tep foot into Studio La Beauté’s chic downtown workshop and you will swear you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. There isn’t a corner or crevice in the workspace that isn’t occupied by eclectic worldly treasures, trinkets and textiles — and everything has a story. At its centre, two large sewing tables and a team of seamstresses are hard at work on Pirbhai’s latest drapery commissions from high-profile clients. Sprawled across the tables next to the projects are Pirbhai’s hand-sketched designs “I purposely [draft] by hand. It has to be imperfect. There’s something human about it,” he says. This is the idea behind a simple concept that has kept the artisan in business for more than 20 years. Pirbhai’s creative journey began when he was 18, after a brief stint in university proved to be a constricting path for an inventive mind. “I did a year of fine arts and philosophy and realized I needed to learn to do something. My uncles are all bakers and carpenters; I grew up thinking people made things,” says Pirbhai, who spent most of his
formative years growing up in Switzerland before returning to Toronto as a teen. His unusual path led him back to a plane bound for Switzerland, ready to take the reigns of his uncle’s bakery. It was a blessing that there were no direct flights to Geneva. Pirbhai’s trip began with a layover in London, England, and ended in an impromptu year-long apprenticeship with a local curtain maker. The incredible luck of that layover might lead one to believe that there are, in fact, no coincidences and that Pirbhai was meant to pursue the path he’s on. Although he credits European artisans for preserving the ancient method of handsewn drapery, the young seamster couldn’t get past the urge to try things his way. “The rebellious side of me wanted to do different things that I wasn’t going to be able to do [in London] without getting into a fight,” jokes Pirbhai. He eventually decided to return to Toronto to pursue his “out-of-the-box” method, slowly landing jobs with designers who were willing
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PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SIDERIS, ELEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Casual fine dining. As it should be.
A snapshot of one of Pirbhai’s works in progress: a handpainted motif on linen sheer using the trapunto technique
to push the envelope. “We’re lucky we live in a country where we get to choose what we do, and I am proud of that,” says Pirbhai. Tassels, beading, patterns, metals, silks, pleats — he brought it all. What’s more, he folded those novel techniques into a business model that stood alone in North America at the time: a high-end custom-order drapery service that would change tastes in a market accustomed to factory-made furnishings. His goal was, and still is, to put Canada on the map as ‘the place’ to look to for high-quality, handmade soft furnishings. The artisan lives for the challenge of taking the bleak and boring and exceeding expectations — finding elegance in simplicity. “The genius is taking ugly, small windows and making them beautiful, that to me is way more interesting than making things shiny and pretty,” shares Pirbhai. Pirbhai dances between artisanry and artistry as his vision spans way beyond the seams of the soft furnishings work he’s commissioned to produce by high-profile designers and architects. Even though most of the time Pirbhai is sworn to secrecy while working on client projects, he is zealous when it comes to his personal artistic endeavours and collaborations. He’s spending the spring, for example, gearing up for the Canada 150 exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario called Every. Now. Then: Reframing Nationhood, curated by Andrew Hunter. Pirbhai is collaborating on the project with fellow artist and friend Camille Turner, to mesh his love of design with the exhibition’s theme of “addressing the mistakes of the past, rewriting and reclaiming history, and moving into the future with new insight.” Pirbhai’s life as an artist perfectly complements his work as a true artisan, as one fire fuels the other and the two worlds coexist in perfect harmony. In other words, it’s a good thing he didn’t catch that connecting flight. Otherwise, the Canadian designscape wouldn’t have been the same. “Maybe a flight delay or a different ticket, I would’ve been a baker.” www.studiolabeaute.com @studiolabeaute
The creators of Terra, Sarpa and Rusty’s at Blue restaurants bring you Francobollo Posto Italiano — the next great neighbourhood restaurant. Offering quality ingredients and a seasonally rotating menu, Francobollo distinguishes itself with the warmth and sincerity you would expect from a traditional Italian meal.
Francobollo Posto Italiano 1959 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ont. | 416-481-3888
www.francobollo.ca
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“THE ROCK” DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON HAS WOWED US BEFORE, AND HE’S ABOUT TO DO IT AGAIN — AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, WITH UPCOMING RELEASES JUMANJI, BAYWATCH AND THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS. DOLCE CATCHES UP WITH THE BELOVED TOUGH GUY BEFORE HE TACKLES HIS NEXT CHALLENGE
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WRITTEN BY CEZAR GRIEF
s Helen of Troy’s face is supposed to have launched a thousand ships, one could easily say that Dwayne Johnson’s famed raised eyebrow launched hundreds of media appearances, wrestling matches and movie roles. As the son of a pro wrestler, Johnson’s wrestling career as “The Rock” was an instant success, and his tongue-in-cheek personality is a big hit with the fans.More than any of his peers, he’s always had this ability to break the fourth wall and connect directly with the audience. But Dwayne Johnson’s acting success didn’t come overnight. Taking acting lessons, steadily working his way up to bigger parts, sometimes playing against type, he started getting noticed in movies like The Mummy, The Scorpion King and The Rundown. Action, comedy, drama, children’s movies — Johnson seems to not have any limitations, making him not only the natural heir to classic action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, but an allaround solid actor with great range. He even returned to wrestling in 2011 and met the same success he had 10 years prior. Cue 2017. Johnson is now one of the world’s most in-demand A-list stars and has almost 80 million followers on Instagram. Last year, he and longtime girlfriend welcomed their second daughter, and this year is poised to be another
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PHOTO BY JAY L. CLENDENIN
He came, he saw and he conquered two of the toughest industries. Today, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is king of both Hollywood and the wrestling ring
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TRYING TO FIND WORK IN HOLLYWOOD, I HAD THAT SCRATCH-AND-CLAW MENTALITY WHERE YOU JUST KEEP PUSHING AND FIGHTING banner year for him. He stars in two back-to-back movies this spring, first a big screen adaptation of the cult 90s TV show Baywatch, and then the 8th installment of The Fast and The Furious franchise, in which he reprises his role as Luke Hobbs. He will end the year by starring in the remake of Jumanji. Can you smell what Dwayne Johnson is cooking? It’s smelling very good! DOLCE MAGAZINE: Dwayne, you’re at the pinnacle of your career these days. You’re not only the toppaid actor in the business but you’re also The Sexiest Man Alive? DWAYNE JOHNSON: [Laughs] It’s exciting and it’s very gratifying. But anything I’ve accomplished is the result of having great self-belief and determination to succeed in life. I had to pick myself up off the floor and work very hard to make my way back in life. Trying to find work in Hollywood, I had that scratch-and-claw mentality where you just keep pushing and fighting until you get one job, then the next, and keep moving forward. I hope a lot of people can look at my life and see that hard work and ambition can take you a long way. DM: You’re getting work on all kinds of movies these days. You did an action comedy with Kevin Hart [Central Intelligence], you voiced an animated character in Moana and now you have The Fast and The Furious and Baywatch coming up. DJ: I always believed that I needed to do all kinds
of movies including comedies and family films and not just action movies if I wanted to grow as an actor. I’m also very comfortable doing comedy because I love to laugh and [making] other people laugh. I think it’s important to have a healthy spirit and I want to be able to share my spirit and enthusiasm with everyone. DM: You often visit children in hospitals or lend your support to children’s charities. Was your love of children one of the reasons that made you want to do Moana? DJ: I’ve done family films before and this one was very special. It was great to work with the people at Disney [which produced Moana] and be part of a movie that children and families can enjoy. I also embrace the aloha spirit that is part of the film and which is very meaningful to me and to Polynesian culture. Whenever I go to Hawaii or other islands in the Pacific I always feel the energy of those places, and a movie set in that world resonates very deeply with me. It’s my culture, and while I was working on it the grandmother in the film is very much like my own grandmother. That really touched me, and I can tell you that never in my entire career have I ever cried as much as I did making Moana. It was a very special experience. DM: You went through some difficult times growing up in Hawaii. Are there still some sad memories attached to your life there?
DJ: It was tough for me and for my family. I had a lot of personal struggles I was going through and I was lost and getting into lots of trouble as a teenager. I needed to straighten myself out and thanks to bodybuilding I was able to gain selfrespect and set definite goals in my life. I tried to model myself after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone and I knew that one day I would get into acting. DM: Were you bullied in school yourself? DJ: Oh, yeah! I was bullied a lot when I was in junior high school and I know how terrible that can be and how it ruins your self-esteem. You need to be able to reach out to people who are going to be able to do something to make sure that the bullying stops. Most kids don’t have the gumption or physical capability to stand up to bullies. It’s very destructive and degrading and no one should be subjected to that because it’s going to leave scars that are hard to erase. You can’t just hold it all in, the humiliation and fear, you’ve got to be able to communicate with your teachers, your counselors, your principal, your brothers and sisters, your parents. Your high school years are very defining and it’s important for kids to be able to develop into who they are without the kind of stress and psychological damage that bullying can cause. DM: You are also very proud of your Polynesian heritage. You have a noble title, don’t you? DJ: Yes. I’m a High Chief in Samoa. That’s the highest title you can have bestowed on you by the king. It was a very big day for me, the most meaningful moment in my life, second to the birth of my daughter. Fifty thousand people were gathered for the ceremony, which was very long and very spiritual. It was an amazing day and experience for me. DM: You have some tattoos that relate to your heritage as well. DJ: Tattoos are very meaningful in Polynesian culture. Tattooing is a rite of passage. It’s spiritual. It tells a story. Symbolically these are stories that have been around for thousands of years. They tell a story of one’s life. And my tattoos tell the story of who I am and my journey in life. DM: How did you develop the kind of life skills that enabled you to succeed in life and which might be a lesson for others to follow? DJ: The worst time in my life came after I was finished as a pro football player. That had always been my dream and suddenly the dream was over and I was left feeling empty and devastated. I was lying on my sofa crying. I didn’t want to do anything or see anyone. But I had some good friends who helped pull me out of that and at one point I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and find a new dream.
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Johnson currently stars in and executive produces HBO’s football-centric hit Ballers. The show was renewed in 2016 for a third season, which is expected to air in mid-summer
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HBO CANADA
I turned to bodybuilding because that was something I knew I could do and enjoyed the feeling that training gave me. That led to me into wrestling where I was able to use some of my natural charisma and all the emotions that I was used to bottling up inside me. DM: You seem to be very open and engaging as an individual. Have you always had that kind of outgoing, larger-than-life spirit? DJ: Thank you for saying that, first. I always had that inside me, I think, but it took me a long time and a lot of ups and downs to bring me to the point where I was able to communicate my emotions. I went through a lot of turmoil and suffering until
I learned how to better communicate my thoughts and deepest feelings. I learned how to express my emotions, I learned how to listen and interact with others, and that was the most important change I made in my life. I’ve felt so much better ever since and it made a huge difference in my career and in my personal relationships. DM: You exude a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. But there’s also a sense that you must have developed a certain level of mental toughness to get to where you wanted to go in life. DJ: One of the great things that I have in common with Kevin [Hart] is that we had to learn to scratch and claw in life. He was working his way up the
comedy circuit and I used wrestling to make a name for myself and get into the film business. That mentality comes through when you’re trying to make a transition to Hollywood. You get a rejection — a studio or a network says, “No, we don’t like your show, go pitch it to someone else,” or “You’re not right for this role, we’re going to give it to this other guy.” That mentality is still there. So if you tell me no, I’m going to say, “Okay, no problem. I’m going to keep driving forward.” DM: You learned a lot about the art of performing during your wrestling glory days in the WWE. Were you always thinking about conquering Hollywood at some point?
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DJ: It was always my dream to be an actor. Watching Rocky changed my life and that character became my role model. I got into wrestling because that was a family tradition and that it would be a good way of making a name for myself that one day could lead to Hollywood. I actually developed my own Hercules project long before I actually got to play in the film but no one took me seriously. I had to slowly, very slowly, work my way into the business doing films like The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King and even after that it was very hard for me to get parts. I made it a point to learn everything about how the business works and do whatever it takes to succeed. So I tried doing comedies like Be Cool and Get Smart because comedy came naturally to me and I knew I was good at it.
The star is proud of his Polynesian heritage, and was even given the title of High Chief in Samoa — the most distinguished title one can be given by the king
YOU’VE GOT TO LISTEN TO THAT LITTLE VOICE INSIDE YOU THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH
PHOTO BY TAYLOR JEWELL
DM: Do you ever miss your wrestling days when you would appear before massive crowds or is acting a much easier way to earn a living? DJ: Wrestling in front of a live audience is an extraordinary feeling. You feel such an incredible energy when you’re in the ring. It takes a physical toll on you, but it’s incredibly exciting. Acting is very different, of course. You need to be able to show a wide range of emotions and create many different kinds of characters as opposed to one. Up on the screen, I get to fall in love, be funny or be very dramatic. When you’re in the ring, the beating you put on your opponent is the only thing that counts. [Laughs]. DM: You have two children [Jasmine, 1, from longtime girlfriend Lauren Hashian and 15-year-old Simone, from his first wife, Dany Garcia, who still works as his manager]. How have you evolved as a man and a father over the years? DJ: I think it takes time for guys to figure out who they are and what kind of life they want. Gradually you realize, “Oh, this is who I am. This is who I’m comfortable being,” and you begin checking off all those boxes about what you’ve dreamed about achieving and that gives you more confidence. And as you get older, you find that there are more boxes out there and more goals that you set for yourself. DM: What is the most important advice you can offer to your children? DJ: The number one thing is to have confidence in yourself. You need to believe that you are good enough and that you can accomplish what you set your mind to do. You’ve also got to learn how to block out all the noise and all the things that distract you from your dreams and ambitions. You’ve got to listen to that little voice inside you that tells you that you’re good enough and that you can realize your dreams. @therock
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FASHION
WHEN IN
ROME
TEXT BY REBECCA ALBERICO / PHOTOS BY S. DRAGONE - G. PALMA / LUCA SORRENTINO
Altaroma, one of Rome’s most treasured fashion weeks, took place at the Ex Caserma Guido Reni from January 26 to 29. The biannual four-day spotlight on couture is the place to steal a peek at spring’s hottest haute collections and for young designers to cultivate relationships with the industry’s big names.
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Known for his fun party styles, Rani Zakhem debuts his Spring/Summer ’17 collection, a tribute to the golden era of New York’s legendary Studio 54. Zakhem’s elegant designs cater to the fashionconscious femme looking to celebrate her silhouette. His creations have come alive on the red carpet, on celebrities like Giuliana Rancic, Zendaya, Carrie Underwood and Hilary Duff. www.ranizakhem.com
PHOTOS BY S. DRAGONE - G. PALMA / LUCA SORRENTINO
RANI ZAKHEM
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CAMILLO BONA
Camillo Bona (top) and Sabrina Persechino (bottom) debuted their best nudes (and darks) on the AltaRoma catwalk. Bona’s floor-length designs are the picture of sophisticated glamour and explore eye-catching floral details in patterns, textures and trims. Similarly, Persechino wowed with geometric rigour and masterful tailoring in her very sleek, linear collection of silky ensembles. www.camillobona.it | www.moda.atelierpersechino.com
SABRINA PERSECHINO
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Legendary photographer Mark Shaw captured this intimate moment with Jackie and Caroline Kennedy
ASTON MARTIN
PRESENTS MARK SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT AT NO. 8 DOVER STREET IN LONDON WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER
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n the 1950s, the world embraced a new spirit, unburdened by the darkness of The Great Depression and World War Two. And few photographers captured the decade’s emboldened sense of possibility as adroitly as Mark Shaw. His legendary fashion and advertising work is the subject of a new exhibit, “Mark Shaw: A Moment in Time,” at London’s Aston Martin Boutique that opened on February 23 and runs until August.
Shaw’s images – including shoots for Life magazine, Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar – are a lucid reflection of London’s celebrity culture on the cusp of the Swinging Sixties. Following his untimely death in 1969 at the age of 47, much of his oeuvre went into storage and, remarkably, remained unseen for more than 40 years. The carefully curated new exhibit at Aston Martin presents Shaw’s iconic portraits of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot,
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MARK SHAW, THE JOHNNY CASH OF PHOTOGRAPHY
COPYRIGHT MARK SHAW/ MPTVIMAGES.COM
Grace Kelly, Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Coco Chanel alongside fashion photography for Balmain, Dior and Givenchy. All of the pieces are limited-edition prints; no more than 30 of each are available worldwide and some of their notable owners include Ralph Lauren, Cindy Crawford, Tommy Hilfiger and Jennifer Aniston. Aston Martin at No. 8 Dover Street is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. www.markshawphoto.com
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1. This stunning snap for Givenchy preserved the glamour of the brand’s midcentury designs 2. Shaw caught Audrey Hepburn in a refreshingly unstyled moment 3. A moody and moving capture of Henrietta Russell, Duchess of Bedford
COPYRIGHT MARK SHAW/ MPTVIMAGES.COM
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COPYRIGHT MARK SHAW/ MPTVIMAGES.COM
COPYRIGHT MARK SHAW/ MPTVIMAGES.COM
Known for his grassroots-y and intimate captures that gave viewers a glimpse into the lives of their most beloved fashion icons and celebrities, Mark Shaw was one of the original editorial photographers in the ’50s and ’60s who dened the industry for generations to come.
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OBJECTS of
What will your spring fling look like? From glittering jewels and rapturous rugs to superyachts and meals with memorable views, our editors have curated this season’s hot list
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BE JEWELLED: These pastel pink and diamond-encrusted teardrop earrings will have you floating on a cloud this springtime | www.rovian.it
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2BETWEEN THE LINES: Shape up your entertaining room with this modern “Milan” coffee table | www.zillihome.com
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COSY UP: It’s time to abandon your heavy jacket — but stay toasty and trendy in a hoodie from Anime artist Yuumei | www.jacleg.com
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TICK TOCK: The Angelus U10 Calavera timepiece will keep you ontime and the centre of attention with its Day of the Dead-themed face www.angelus-watches.com
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A-PLUS AUDIO: The AK70 digital music player from Astell&Kern will make you love your favourite songs even more | www.astellnkern.com
TAKE A SEAT: The eye-catching Fétiche Pouf by French designer Hervé Langlais can be found at Negropontes Gallerie in Paris | www.negropontes-galerie.com
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FLOOR PLAY: Award-winning designer Erbil Tezcan designed this rug, which is handknotted in silk and wool | www.weaversart.com
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THE NEXT GENERATION: Ermenegildo Zegna’s campaign “Defining Moments” stars Robert De Niro and McCaul Lombardi, and focuses on the fashion house’s new vague www.defining-moments.zegna.com
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GAIN SOME MOMENTUM: Exude the elegant essence of a Bentley vehicle by spritzing on the brand’s new scent, Bentley Momentum | www.bentleymedia.com
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A BAG WITH BITE: The shark “Bolide” by Hermès is the cutest (and toothiest) travel companion. Bring this conversation-starting tote with you on your next adventure | www.1stdibs.com
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HIGH STEAKS: Unwind and get inspired at Amsterdam hub Mr. Porter’s Steak House, operated by international hospitality company Europe Hotels Private Collection www.mrportersteakhouse.com
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HOT YACHT: Time to return to the waves. Own the ocean with the Sunseeker 52 Manhattan, a yacht fully equipped with a retractable hard top on the flybridge and a grilling area that tucks away when you don’t need it www.executiveyachtcanada.com
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BEST FOOT FORWARD: In honour of NBA All-Star Week in New Orleans this winter, the famous Jordan All-Star Collection released three new iridescent shoes | www.nike.com
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Restaurateur and owner Cosimo Mammoliti celebrates 25 years in business this coming December
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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
CUISINE
PHOTO BY DYLAN + JENI
Each Terroni location inhabits a unique nook of the city, while maintaing the winning alchemy of its original restaurant
Cosimo Mammoliti:
The Maverick of Terroni
If one thing epitomizes Italian culture it’s food and family. No one seems to know this better than Cosimo Mammoliti, the successful restaurateur who has crystallized that country’s gastronomic culture in this city’s beloved eateries Terroni, La Bettola di Terroni, Bar Centrale and Sud Forno WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER, WITH FILES FROM REBECCA ALBERICO
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t’s been said that the heart of Italy is family, its soul is the kitchen and its passion is its people’s love for food. This is the very essence of Cosimo Mammoliti, a restaurateur of heart, passion and soul who personifies all things Italian. Mammoliti wears his heritage and his passion proudly, traits reflected by his Terroni restaurants and Sud Forno bakery, soon to open its second location this spring. Perhaps nowhere in the world provides us with the stunning visuals of the southern region of Italy. Charming villas, rolling hills, vineyards, olive trees, lakes and rivers combine to create a pleasing palette for any eye. Tuscany embodies the best of the sights, scents and romance of the Italian countryside. To spend an evening at Terroni is to embrace the unmistakable magic of an Italian hillside. The murmur of laughter and conversation from family and friends enjoying good food, wine, and true warmth and companionship — that is what
sets the Italian feeling apart from that of the rest of the world, and that is what Mammoliti has created with Terroni: the most authentic Italian eating experience possible. It is real, it is rustic, it is romantic and even the name reflects its simple origins; loosely translated, Terroni means ‘peasant.’ “Italian traditions and values are a great balance and I’ve always been very passionate about keeping things traditional,” says Mammoliti, a man who normally does not speak to the press, yet granted Dolce an exclusive interview. “My Italian heritage is my identity as a restaurateur and I have stuck with that from day one. Using only the best products, bringing everything in from Italy, like chocolate, meats, wines, flours, tomatoes, olive oils … it is what sets us apart and has been the foundation of our success.” From starting with a four-stool panini shop on a suspect stretch of Queen Street West in 1992, Mammoliti now has six restaurants in Toronto, three of them Terronis, with his other ventures including a bakery, a wine agency and
two Terronis in Los Angeles. He employs more than 550 people in Toronto and another 125 in Los Angeles — an impressive accomplishment from a man who left school early and started in the business as a lowly dishwasher and later, a bar runner. “The classroom and I never did get along but when I left school my father told me to quickly get to work, that there was not going to be any free ride,” recalls Mammoliti. “In 1985 I found a job as a bar runner and I worked like crazy and learned every day. But then every summer I spent in Italy, immersing myself in the Italian culture. I not only fell in love with Italy but I met my wife Elena there as well.” There were humble beginnings with his first shop on Queen Street West, but it was the right place at the right time, just as Queen West began its cultural evolution. “We eventually grew to 28 seats and we started making pizzas by hand and got a liquor licence,” says Mammoliti. “We began to grow, but we were
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Mammoliti prides himself on using fresh and simple ingredients for each of his menu items like the bruschetta
Terroni’s decor is reminiscent of a classic Italian cucina, incorporating accent pieces typical of the motherland
“Exciting for me is finding new places and building it all up from scratch,” says Mammoliti. “Sud Forno is a perfect example. It was supposed to just make bread, but it grew into others things like pizza and desserts and became a full Italian bakery, just a beautiful little jewelry box.” A second location of Sud Forno will open in June, with 200 seats on two floors, table service and a more extensive menu. An even more ambitious project is on the horizon
Subtle touches like customized traditional pitchers add to the authentic experience — it’s all in the details
as Mammoliti has become a joint venture partner with Eataly Toronto to open a 55,000-squarefoot restaurant on Bloor Street in 2019. Beyond the success in business, there is a genuine warmth and humility to Cosimo Mammoliti. He and his wife are proud parents to four children now in their teens and early 20s, some of whom may also choose to enter the restaurant business because they so enjoy the warmth and atmosphere. “Looking back, the balance in my life is what
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PHOTO BY DYLAN+ JENI
careful to grow organically, and slowly, and with friends. We made everything by hand, we began making pastas and we began to attract a stable and faithful customer base and reputation for quality. We moved to a 60-seat restaurant and thought people would just trickle in, but the first day we got absolutely killed, we were so busy we had to close. We had to hire more people and I think that was an important learning experience.” Leveraging its reputation for authenticity and quality, growth was steady, constant, but extremely calculated. “I never took anything for granted in our growth,” says Mammoliti. “I’d think about everything, forever, before making another move. I thought the Yonge and Balmoral location would be perfect, and it was. That location gave us both lunch and dinner, our first full-day business — a very big step in our growth.” Those early years were exciting times for Mammoliti and his staff, who would wake early to go to the Ontario Food Terminal to hand-select their vegetables, return to the restaurant to make everything and work in the kitchen to deliver meals just as their customers expected, with an unsurpassed attention to detail. “I actually miss working in the kitchen,” says Mammoliti. “It’s such a rush and you create such a special bond working with everyone in a kitchen. Having great people around me has been a big part of my success.” Beyond the high quality of the food and wine, the look and feel of Mammoliti’s establishments is another difference-maker. There is a definitive vibe to Terroni, from the smells, lighting and colours to the overall design. “In the beginning on Queen Street, we used anything you could find — chairs or tables from any old place,” says Mammoliti. “Now we know what we want to create, and design is very important. A place where people can come in, relax, feel comfortable and at home. I’m very hands-on with my architect and my design artist. We do the best with our food and wine and it’s just as important with the overall design and feel. And we don’t just sit back, we’re always looking at new ways to do new things.” A man of understated elegance and impeccable taste, from his cashmere cardigan down to his super-polished leather shoes, Mammoliti has a passionate attention to detail and thrives on consistency, one of the hallmarks of Terroni. Very few restaurants deliver as expected every time — each Terroni is just that restaurant and is just that good. Today, one of the most satisfying aspects of running a successful restaurant business for Mammoliti is the question of what’s next, which finds its answer in the opportunities that continue to present themselves as his success continues to grow. While his restaurant ventures are successful and his establishments always busy, Mammoliti never sits back. He is always moving forward, reflecting the Italian tradition of hard work.
Mammoliti has shaped his restaurants after traditional Italian values, placing an emphasis on quality time at the dinner table and recipes that are authentic to the core
PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
“ITALIAN TRADITIONS AND VALUES ARE A GREAT BALANCE AND I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT KEEPING THINGS TRADITIONAL”
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Terroni’s Bar Centrale offers casual dining and an extensive selection of indigenous Italian wines
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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS
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1. All of Terroni’s pasta is homemade using the finest flour imported from Italy 2. Mammoliti stocks his bars with a handpicked selection of unique imported wine varietals, sourced through his importing company Cavinona 3. In 2013 Mammoliti opened Sud Forno and centralized all of his bakery needs, including fresh sourdough bread and desserts for his restaurants
PHOTO BY DYLAN + JENI
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I am most proud of,” says Mammoliti. “The restaurants were never ‘chef-specific,’ which allowed me to have other people come in [so I could] spend evenings with my family, the most valuable thing to me. The most successful thing to me is that I did not miss my kids growing up — that is incredible to me and I am so thankful for that.” A family-centred life is among the most admired Italian traits and Mammoliti points to his mother and father as providing the best guidance in his life. Rita and Vincenzo immigrated to Canada from San Giorgio Morgeto, Calabria, Italy. “The best advice I ever received is from my father, who was a carpenter. The advice is hard work, respect and being honest. He never sat me down to say these words to me, but these traits were personified by his actions, and that sticks with me the most.” After retirement Mammoliti’s father would continue to work at Terroni, helping out, and his mother still takes the subway to Terroni every day where she has lunch, chats to customers and lends a hand where needed. Mammoliti is also grateful for the support of his wife and siblings. Elena is Terroni’s brand marketing director, Mammoliti’s brother Vince is executive general manager and product development director, and his sister Anna is executive general manager and director of Cavinona, Terroni’s own wine importing agency. “I feel blessed more than anything else,” says Mammoliti as he looks back on his career, which has spanned more than a quarter-century. “I know that I am extremely fortunate to have been dealt a good hand, and I know I’ll only continue to do this as long as I’m having a good time.” Mammoliti is the proud continuation of the Italian traditions of food, family, friends and artistry, passed down through hundreds of generations. And in such good hands as Mammoliti’s, these are time-honoured traditions future generations will enjoy and embrace for many years to come. Warmth, food, wine and laughter are a recipe for a long, happy and loving life. A recipe served daily by Cosimo Mammoliti and his staff at Terroni and Sud Forno. Viva Terroni! Viva Italia! www.terroni.com
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GREY MATTER
TEXT BY AMANDA STOREY
This season’s dress code is as profound as it is pretty. Step into its depths with the elegance of dark frills and florals and the romance of lighthearted hues
Even the gloomiest of skies make gardens stand out. Complement the season’s darker days in a dazzling floral pattern designed to draw all eyes to you / Dress, Gucci
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Boldness and beauty never went together so well. Combine four of spring’s strongest colours for a winning ensemble / Jacket, Gucci; Cardigan, Gucci; Skirt, Gucci; Shoes, Aldo
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THE SULTRY GREYS OF SPRING ARE THE PERFECT BLANK CANVAS FOR POPS OF COLOUR AND
ADVENTUROUS PATTERNS
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Feel buoyant in a combination of rose-pink and crisp white, accented by the ever-feminine frills and cinches / Dress, Marc Cain; Shirt, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel; Shoes, Jimmy Choo
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Moody accents like dark flowers and studded heels balance out the ultrafemme feel of this gown / Dress, Alexander McQueen; Shoes, Sonia Rykiel
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PHOTOGRAPHER: BELA RABA STYLIST: LOIZOS SOFOKLEOUS HAIR ARTIST: ZOE FULLER MAKE-UP ARTIST: MARIA LOIZOU VOTSI, BABOR MODEL: GEORGINA UDOLPH, MODELWORK PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS: QUENTIN STROHMEIER, CHRISTOPHER STAVRINIDES
Channel your inner enchantress in an ensemble rich with tulle and sumptuous layers / Dress, Zimmermann; Shoes, Dolce&Gabbana
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HOME DECOR
PASTORAL PERFECTION Simplicity, authenticity and practical magic deďŹ ne the traditional Cape Dutch homestead at Babylonstoren
PHOTOS BY GREG COX
WRITTEN BY SALLY RUTHERFORD
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he air, heavy in the late afternoon sunshine, hums with the work of countless bees in Babylonstoren’s garden of Eden. Here owners Karen Roos and Koos Bekker grow over 300 varieties of edible or medicinal plants in the extraordinary gardens inspired by the farms that resupplied ships passing the Cape of Good Hope in 1692, when the farm was first granted to burgher (citizen) Pieter van der Byl, a junior officer in Stellenbosch’s mounted infantry. Today, the werf (farmyard) and its structures remain among the finest unspoilt examples of traditional Cape Dutch architectural styles in South Africa’s Cape Winelands. Roos’s deft touch and nuanced appreciation of tradition are unmistakable in its Owners’ House, which has been not so much restored as reinvigorated. When Roos and Bekker first bought Babylonstoren as their weekend retreat, one of its many attractions for Karen was that the farmhouse, which was built in 1777, had been largely unchanged since 1931, when a Victorian renovation that had removed the gables was corrected and the gables replaced. Roos, a former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa, has gone to great lengths to restore the 17th-century Cape Dutch farm house, which includes the manner house. Her husband owns one of South Africa’s largest media companies. The clearest evidence of Roos’s commitment to authenticity can be found in the central sitting room. Here she supervised the painstaking removal of 23 layers of paint to reveal the original ochre wall paint finely edged with stripes of teal, cream and dark brown. The colours were exactly matched and the room carefully repainted in its original hue. “It has the benefit of downplaying the heaviness of the dark wood built-in cupboards the Dutch loved so much,” says Roos. “They have the potential to be overwhelming if the walls are whitewashed but here they just melt in.” The home’s traditional H-shaped layout has been preserved and original fittings throughout have been returned to their original splendour – worn flagstones polished to a high gloss, wide yellowwood floorboards and ceiling beams, wooden windows and sills set deep into the thick clays walls built by the Dutch to beat the African heat were refinished. Despite its grand heritage, Babylonstoren is still a farmhouse and, fittingly, much of the action takes place in its kitchen, which serves as a cooking space and gathering place. In front of the open hearth is an enormous refectory table where the family reconnects and refuels, and friends visit. Cooking takes place at the AGA Gas Hob and woodburning stove. In true Roos style, the kitchen chandelier – made from an antique wine-bottle drier – is rustic yet contemporary. The home is no museum: its sensibility is authentic but unfailingly modern.
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1. Built in 1777, this ancient farmhouse was given new life after its Victorian renovation in 1931 2. For owners Karen Roos and Koos Bekker, eye-catching details are as integral to the home as the structure itself
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3. Located in the beautiful Cape Dutch in South Africa, the home makes an idyllic place to rest 4. Roos and Bekker complement the centuriesold home with their eccentric yet refined taste 5. Many windows and doors allow for a breezy and beautifully lit space
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6. Roos takes a sunny stroll through the estate’s ancient grounds 7. Although it’s been given new life over the years, the home’s historic charm lives on in its old-world architecture and accents 8. By bringing in conversationstarting details, the owners have made the entire home something of a cabinet of curiosities
Minimalism prevails in the bedrooms and sitting room, where contemporary linen, leather and steel furnishings impart a feeling of coolness and calm. A scarlet-covered couch is the perfect place for an afternoon nap in front of the fireplace lined with narrow handmade bricks, or klompjes. The library-cum-study, meanwhile, is a veritable wonder room. Cabinets of curiosities are filled with fascinating collections and objets, from shards of pottery dug up on the farm and original VOC Delftware to massive ammonites and an encyclopedic collection of butterflies. The ensuite bathrooms evoke a grand Edwardian spa and the lavish luxury of indoor plumbing. You may find yourself looking for excuses to splash about in the massive circular bath or languish under the rain shower in the wet room. Babylonstoren Manor House has been continuously occupied for 240 years, and in Roos’s hands is a fresh, living celebration of Cape Dutch style. In her interpretation, the house connects the past to the future in the most gracious and subtle way, making it feel like a modern home that hasn’t forgotten its history.
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ARCHITECTURE
THE IMMORTALITY OF E.J. LENNOX As Toronto’s skyline reaches higher, the city’s heritage buildings remain strong and silent below — especially those of master builder E.J. Lennox, the man who built Toronto. Dolce takes a stroll to visit the famed architect’s works and considers what they mean to a modern Toronto WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
RENDERING COURTESY OF MCGILL LIBRARY DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
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onge and Dundas Square is lorded over by shiny, flashy structures — buildings like the sprawling CF Toronto Eaton Centre and 10 Dundas St. East — that have become synonymous with the city centre over the past century. But Marta O’Brien’s favourite piece of architecture in the area sits a little further south of the commotion: the old Bank of Toronto building at 205 Yonge St. Like a grandpa at a fraternity bash, the neo-classical, Beaux-Arts edifice has withstood Toronto’s decades-long condominium surge with grace, though it’s been vacant for years as it awaits approval on a revitalization plan to make modern use of it. Staring up at the magnificent, white stone structure, one gets the feeling that the building knows it’s not going anywhere — not only because it is protected under the Heritage Act, but also because there’s something in its immense beauty that suggests it has a soul preserved within its walls. This is the case for all the remaining works of E.J. Lennox, who is known as the man who built Toronto. “If there is something about his buildings that they have in common, it is that they’re excellent, and that’s why so many of them are still standing,” says O’Brien, an architecture historian and lecturer who founded Citywalks, which gives tours and talks about the city’s best buildings. “They’re obviously well built, they were beautifully executed [and] the details are very rich. There’s lots to see — you can stand at one of his buildings and look for a long time and you’ll keep noticing things.” Wandering the streets of Toronto is like an E.J. Lennox treasure hunt. From Casa Loma, the Gothic Revival fortress that overlooks the city, to the houses of the Annex neighbourhood, for which he famously coined a Romanesquemeets-Queen Anne style of architecture, Lennox was a true Torontonian artist. His detailed and diverse works were seemingly predictive of the cultural and stylistic mishmash that would define the city a century after his time. Unlike most of his peers, Lennox didn’t specialize in one particular type of building, nor was he committed to a particular movement.
Rendering of 205 Yonge St. from The Canadian Architect and Builder, circa 1906
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E.J. LENNOX, THE BUILDER OF TORONTO: Having constructed some of the city’s most memorable buildings, from Casa Loma to Old City Hall, Toronto-born architect E.J. Lennox was known for the ornate beauty and quality of his work — and also for his cheeky personality.
“THERE’S LOTS TO SEE — YOU CAN STAND AT ONE OF [LENNOX’S] BUILDINGS AND LOOK FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU’LL KEEP NOTICING THINGS” — Marta O’Brien
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBERTY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Casa Loma remains Toronto’s most unique piece of architecture
“He was a bit of a magpie,” says Michael McClelland, registered architect and founding principal at ERA Architects in Toronto. “He could understand what larger trends were happening internationally and bring them to Toronto. And I think the same – that those two things play into current contemporary architectural ideas, that you could have a local tradition of building but you can also be open to international ideas.” The son of an Irish immigrant, Edward James Lennox was born and raised in Toronto. He’d always had a knack for designing and building things, so when he was old enough he began shopping around for an architectural apprenticeship. He found one with William Irving of Sheard and Irving, the firm that erected the Italian Renaissance-style Ontario Bank Building, and after five years of being a fly on the wall in that office, Lennox officially started practising in 1876. At the time, the city’s population was a meek 70,000. Lennox entered the field with a sense of confidence that teetered on the edge of cockiness, and a head full of never-before-seen ideas that would make a lasting impact on the city for decades to come. Lennox’s Toronto was in the midst of a growth spurt, and little did he know that most of his structures would one day survive another, much more forceful evolution — that of the early 21st century. The gargantuan Old City Hall is Marta O’Brien’s favourite Lennox structure. Bulky and box-like in the architect’s signature Richardsonian Romanesque style, the building that caps the southern stretch of Bay Street is one of the most recognizable in the city. Hidden throughout the design are also a few longstanding examples of Lennox’s cheeky personality. “When the building was completed, Lennox was very proud of it and asked the city if there could be a plaque on the building saying he was the architect,” says O’Brien. “But they said, ‘Absolutely not’ — they were furious with him because of how much it had cost and how long it had taken.”
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PHOTOS BY MARTA O’BRIEN
So, Lennox did two things: first, he commissioned an artist to etch a series of sillylooking faces into the base of the stone pillars at the entrance. These faces are allegedly those of the councillors he was fighting with. And in the middle pillar he had his own face etched, handsome and serious. Secondly, he secretly had the words “E.J. Lennox, Architect” etched into stones all along the eaves line, one letter at a time. “He was a bit of a rascal,” says O’Brien with a laugh. Walking north on Bay, one has a hard time looking away from the jutted redbrick tower at the end of the street, sandwiched on either side by the looming metallic buildings of the Financial District. Like a giant tombstone, it marks the life of an architectural style of the past, but as one of Toronto’s busiest courthouses, the building’s buzz of activity reminds the city that it’s no ghost. It’s a survivor, after nearly being consumed by the Toronto Eaton Centre in the ’60s and saved, just in time, by the Friends of Old City Hall. The reason for its survival was not only its bold beauty, but also its functionality: it was sturdy enough to be used for decades — centuries, perhaps. It’s not unlike Casa Loma, the ornate architectural wonderland that sits pretty in the on the northwest corner of Spadina Ave. and Davenport Rd. More than a century after Lennox built it for a very imaginative and demanding Sir Henry Pellatt, it’s held onto its title as Toronto’s architectural piece de resistance. Nick Di Donato still remembers the first time he wandered through Casa Loma. “The home was built as a fairy tale,” says Di Donato, president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group, which took over the operations and management of the property in 2014. “It was a spectacular, eccentric home for one of Canada’s most successful financiers and industrialists. And I remember the first time I walked through it as a young kid on a field trip, and experienced the fairy tale-like glamour of this castle I hadn’t even knew existed in a place like Toronto.” Today, Di Donato has an intimate relationship with the building, as its head facilitator and longtime admirer. While the castle was built as a private home, Di Donato and Liberty Entertainment Group have brought the castle to life as Toronto’s favourite party place, hosting galas, conferences, fashion shows, even weddings in its opulent depths. In November of 2016 it was named Best Venue for Weddings and Events in North America at the Bizbash Event Style Awards. “It’s incredible to have [won] that kind of award 100 years after the space was designed,” says Di Donato, who also sits on the marketing committee board for Tourism Toronto. “It has been mostly a tourist attraction for many years, but we’ve changed it so that Torontonians are using it much more, as an iconic location for them to enjoy their history.”
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On the southeast corner of Queen and Bathurst Sts. is a carefully restored building that houses a Crate & Barrel store. Given its location — and its current, modern tenant — most passersby might not suspect it’s the work of an early 20th-century architect. But as small and seemingly insignificant as the structure may appear at first glance, it is yet another testament to the longevity and potential of every Lennox building. “[That building] has had different functions over the years — it was even a night club in the ’80s called The Big Bop, and the exterior was all painted over,” says O’Brien. “It’s a good building, an effective building, and it’s an attractive part of that corner. Lennox didn’t only design landmarks.” The irony is, Lennox was building during a much earlier growth spurt for the city, a time when Toronto was undergoing a massive transformation: the 19th century became the 20th, and as technological advancements were made, buildings became more complex — and more tailored to the city’s booming population, which rocketed to half a million by the time he retired his 40-year career in 1915. Lennox’s works were both reminiscent of movements past and ahead of their
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1. Lennox cheekily had his own likeness etched into Old City Hall 2. Lennox’s design for Old City Hall was deeply inspired by American architect H. H. Richardson 3. The dome topping 205 Yonge St. is widely admired by architectural historians 4. The intricate details found in 205 Yonge St.
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5. Old City Hall currently houses the Ontario Court of Justice 6. Old City Hall was almost knocked down in the ‘70s 7. 205 Yonge St. may soon be revitalized for modern use 8. The interior of Casa Loma is as ornate as its facade
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time, as though the architect had a premonition about how the city would develop — and designed buildings to suit those needs, just as much as the needs of his day. Snaking into the city via the eastbound Gardiner Expressway, Toronto’s skyscrapers glitter hot pink in the February sunset. From here, Lennox’s buildings are invisible — lost in the sea of glass and metal monsters. They, like most of the city’s remaining historic structures, have become antique treasures left for locals and visitors to find. But thanks to his uniquely ornate style, Lennox’s works are easy to spot in the rough, appearing distinctly out of place, yet exactly where they belong. They are a reflection of both Toronto’s past and its future — the grandparents of the city’s explosive skyline. Like all of Lennox’s work, these buildings are as necessary and assertive as they ever were. And the character that emanates from them suggests that Lennox is still here, helping to build up the city, chiseling his likeness into its architectural landscape. www.citywalks.ca
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBERTY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
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t h g i l r S ta
In the sultry heat of a Miami evening, the brightest stars are found not above, but strutting through the city. Ignite the night wherever you are by donning some of the season’s most luminous pieces VISIT WWW.DOLCEMAG.COM TO WATCH BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE FROM THIS SHOOT IN THE HEART OF MIAMI
Playful patterns, denim and a shimmery, textured top — this unexpected ensemble proves that more is more / Top, Bar III; Jumper, Guess; Shoes, Saks Fifth Avenue
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Quench your lust for luster by slipping into some sparkle-on-sparkle — and don’t be afraid to pair rich colours / Dress, Alice + Olivia; Jacket, Cinq á Sept
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PHOTOGRAPHER: DIEGO NOSSA STYLIST: FLORE TOUSSAINT HAIR AND MAKE-UP: JENNY DYSON MODEL: TALITA SANTANA, NEXT MODELS MIAMI PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: MANUEL ROMERO
Channel the mystical allure of a full moon in silver’s many shades, from matte charcoal to a velvet, icy ash / Dress, Adelyn Rae; Jacket, Free Press
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REAL ESTATE
18 storeys above a golden beach in Miami is a sumptuous paradise in the sky. Residence 18, one of the most luxurious abodes in the affluent Regalia condo tower, just hit the market for $9.9 million. Will you make it yours? WRITTEN BY AMANDA STOREY
A lengthy patio juts out over the ocean, turning every day off into a date with the sea
PHOTOS BY DANIEL PETRONI
LIFE’S A BEACH
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M
iami has a style of luxury all its own — an intoxicating concoction of elegance and fearlessness that turns any visit into a modern-day fairytale. The famed Regalia condo tower is the ultimate example of the Miami lifestyle: this seaside structure is everything you know and love about the tropical town. And a little slice of heaven just opened up on its 18th floor. Known as Residence 18, the $9.9-million suite occupies the entire storey — all 7,615 square feet of it. Composed as an ode to Miami itself, the space was fully designed and furnished for more
than $1.5 million by iconic local interior designer Charles Allem, president and CEO of CAD International, Inc. — a design firm that’s widely recognized as one of the world’s most influential. The coastal décor brings the outdoors. The blue and peach beachscape is echoed inside the suite by a sandy-taupe, turquoise and bronze palette, walls of buttery leather, oversized silk-and-wool rugs and, of course, panoramic views of the sea below. In true Miami fashion, the abode aims to feel like a resort at home. Mission: accomplished — aside from the fresh and beachy look of
the place, no expense was spared while padding it with means of comfort. From a collection of plush sofas to the natural light that streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows in most rooms, Residence 18 is not only a home, but also a hideaway. The comfort level is balanced evenly by Allem’s sense of elegance as seen in the clean lines and sophisticated touches like the contemporary coffee tables, architectural lighting fixtures and the oval bathtub in the sigh-
“Room with a view” takes on a whole new meaning on the 18th floor of the Regalia condo tower in Miami
IN TRUE MIAMI FASHION, THE ABODE AIMS TO FEEL LIKE A RESORT AT HOME
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A nautical colour theme is complemented swimmingly by chic contemporary flourishes
This is the kitchen dreams are made of, complete with two Sub-Zero refrigerators, two Miele ovens and more
worthy master bathroom, which is totally stone clad and offers infinite ocean vistas. The kitchen was designed to be 100 per cent kosher and makes any amateur chef ’s dreams come true with three preparation areas, two Sub-Zero refrigerators, two Miele ovens, two sinks, two dishwashers and four freezers, all complemented by the suite’s signature view of the water. The design of the Regalia tower itself makes it appear as though it is one with the waves and the sand. Conceived of by architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, founding principal of the Miami-based Arquitectonica, its sculpted form gives a sense of movement while the surplus of shimmering glass boosts the building’s oceanic vibe. “Limited edition living on the ocean in Miami” is the slogan that’s splashed on the development’s website, and the sentiment is even truer on the 18th floor, where the ocean meets the sky in a cloudlike, luxury oasis unlike any other. www.regaliamiami.com @regaliamiami
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This gorgeous floral set from Fazzini will bring a breath of fresh air to your bedroom
A DV E R TO R I A L
THAT Spring FEELING It’s the season of renewal — so while refeathering the nest, don’t forget to bless your bed with a set of beautiful new sheets from David’s Fine Linens
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othing feels quite like snuggling up in a fresh, crisp set of bed sheets. Now that the season of spring-cleaning is here, David’s Fine Linens is wrapping every bedroom in the soft, plush luxury of new duvets, pillows and other accessories. Enhance your nest with exclusive brands like St. Pierre and La Perla by Fazzini, which boast pieces composed of regal Cleopatra pure cotton satin, as well as Fendi and Versace, in all their ornate, high-fashion splendor. Whether you’re simply breathing new life into
your bedroom with a mint set of sheets, or you seek a fresh start for your abode with a totally new style, David’s Fine Linens houses the ensemble that will truly make your bed beautiful. www.davidsfinelinens.com
The “Vita Nova” sheet set from La Perla by Fazzini is as soft and as pretty as can be, boasting luxe fabrics and pastel hues
Renaissance Commercial Plaza 8099 Weston Rd., Unit 25, Woodbridge, Ont. 905-264-7778 Bayview Village Shopping Centre 2901 Bayview Ave., North York, Ont. 416-590-7311 Toll-Free: 1-877-591-1115
Big Night at The Green Barn
LOCAL EXPERTISE, GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
June 7, 2017 at 6:00pm
Join us to celebrate growing and sharing good food! Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street Enjoy a magnificent, four-course, family-style meal inspired by classic Italian home cooking and prepared by some of the city’s finest chefs, including Mark McEwan, Lorenzo Loseto, and more! Proceeds from this event will support The Stop’s critical food access and community-building programs.
For tickets and event details: bignight.thestop.org
In today's real estate market, local, national and international exposure is now paramount: it is what attracts the most qualified buyers and the highest price. Get your home placed in front of a global, affluent audience with the largest global luxury network.
CONTACT ME NOW TO GET YOUR FREE 2017 SELLER'S EGUIDE
Janice Williams
Broker
416.960.9995 jwilliams@sothebysrealty.ca luxurybyjanice.com 1867 Yonge St. Suite 100, Toronto, ON M4S 1Y5 Sotheby's International Realty Canada Brokerage is Independently Owned and Operated. Sotheby's International Realty is a registered trademark.
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AUTO
WRITTEN BY AMANDALINA LETTERIO
Lamborghini just achieved automotive nirvana with the launch of the Aventador S, its most impressive vehicle to date
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iura, Islero, Countach, Urraco — so many Lamborghini models give you that vibrating growl and adrenaline rush that drivers expect from the brand. But the Aventador S, perhaps more than the others, seems made to race. With classic Lambo features and noticeable upgrades, the Aventador S has better aero efficiency, four-wheel steering and, most excitingly, more power. The look of this Aventador isn’t a radical departure from earlier models. It takes a close inspection to really see the modifications to the exterior. To match its newfound power, the Aventador S was given a more aggressive nose, which is no longer a body-coloured panel but a
black insert shaped for the splitter. The splitter itself is longer and spreads out toward the sides of the front bumper. This redirects airflow and improves the aero efficiency while keeping the engine cooler. According to Lamborghini, the new design elements provide an increase of 130 per cent in front downforce. The car maker has also added a customizable all-digital dash. Of course, the display screen is a top-of-the-line TFT screen that displays different features depending on what mode you’re in. In driving mode, Apple CarPlay allows both the driver and passenger to control voice activation and entertainment from their mobile devices. This new Aventador can also be ordered with the Lamborghini telemetry system — if you’re willing to pay for it. It was created for the customer who
goes to the racetrack and can record lap times, trip data and track performance — not necessarily a feature everyone needs. The Aventador S is considered an upgrade to the LP700-4. One of the biggest criticisms the LP700-4 received was its frequent understeering at the limit, a defect that is common with AWD vehicles. When that car turns a corner at a high rate of speed, the front of the vehicle travels faster than the back and the front wheels drift outward. Lamborghini decided to install a four-wheel steering system in order to solve this problem. According to the Italian brand, the new S behaves more like a rear-wheel drive vehicle, meaning that at low speeds the back wheels move in the opposite direction to the fronts, giving the car the agility of a vehicle with a shorter wheelbase.
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THE AVENTADOR S HAS THE HEART OF THE ALREADY RENOWNED AVENTADOR, THE NOSTALGIA OF SOME OF THE CLASSIC S MODELS AND MANY METICULOUS UPGRADES GENERAL SPECS Engine: V12 Transmission: 7 speed ISR Horsepower @ RPM: 730 @ 8400 Torque @ RPM: 508 @ 5500 Displacement: 6.5 L 0—60 time: 2.9 sec.
According to the iconic brand, this S model was given the same heart that beats in all Aventador models: a colossal 6.5-litre, V12 engine with a monstrous 740 horsepower that gets not only the car’s blood pumping but the driver’s too. That’s an extra 40 horsepower to release on the road compared to the older model. Along with 509 pound feet of torque, the Aventador S revs higher and has a more profound yet understated roar, a result of the weight-saving titanium exhaust system. However, as exhilarating as it is to gain more power, the top speed remains 217 mph and the still car goes 0 to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds. Still, the Aventador S has the heart of the already renowned Aventador, the nostalgia of some of the classic S models and many meticulous upgrades – especially the improved aerodynamism and weight-saving titanium exhaust system that perfected its purr. And even though added power didn’t give this Lambo extra speed, it will go to good use, pumping adrenaline through the veins of anyone who gets behind the wheel. www.lamborghini.com
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Fill your senses, not just your shopping cart. SEE FOR YOURSELF, EXPLORE OUR WORLD OF FINE FOODS FOR THE EVERYDAY AND FOR THE MOST SPECIAL OCCASIONS. SHOP, DINE-IN AND TAKE-AWAY.
6 GTA LOCATIONS: Avenue Road | Yorkville | Bayview Village RioCan Oakville Place | CF Sherway Gardens CF Toronto Eaton Centre pusateris.com
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THE BIGGEST COLLECTION OF LUXURY VILLAS IN ST. TROPEZ
In our collection you will find villas with stunning sea views, contemporary interiors, helipads, tennis courts and more. Enjoy full security and impeccable service from maids & babysitters to chefs & chauffeurs. All 100 villas are in excellent locations. They are situated no further than a few minutes drive from the St. Tropez centre and the beaches of Pampelonne.
www.sttropezhouse.com
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