Living Luxe Magazine - Spring 24 • VOL. 06 - ISSUE 01

TITANS IN UNION

PLAYERS IN HOSPITALITY

Nick Di Donato, Kevin O’Leary and Mitch Marner, the dynamic visionaries steering Blue Bovine, Toronto’s new steak-and-sushi hot spot

CREATIVITY UNLEASHED

The Living Luxe Design Show celebrates Toronto’s design talent

POWER WITHIN WOMEN

The Women Who Inspire program honours eight trailblazers

HIGH-IMPACT DESIGN

A downtown-Toronto penthouse terrace is a serene refuge

“Make your living space the topic of conversation with a weavers art...”

– Michael Pourvakil

NInspired by...

ature’s marvels never fail to captivate with their beauty: the intricate patterns of a rock formation, the graceful meander of a river, and the disposition of sediments. The latest designs from our signature collection celebrates the enchanting unpredictability of these phenomena, showcasing the unique transformations wrought by wind, rain, and time upon landscapes. The creative outcomes are the remarkable offspring of ordinary stripes; they exude richness without extravagance, are softened of harsh edges, and brim with fluidity.

Casper in Ocean Blue

Dakota in Sand Latte

Showroom Location

Idaho in Natural Grey

No matter what the indulgence, your flooring will truly make your space a sanctuary worth coming home to.

10 Marmac Dr., Etobicoke, ON M9W 1E6

DESIGN YOUR UNIQUE SPACE

Explore our diverse selection of tailor-made sofas and sectionals, offering power reclining and non-power options to cater to your needs. Immerse yourself in our array of ottomans, recliners, beds, and accent chairs, featuring an extensive selection of luxurious leather and fabric choices to match your unique style. For an unparalleled experience, visit our showroom and experience the exceptional quality of our custom designs firsthand. Visualize your personalized creation on our interactive touch screen, ensuring your furniture perfectly complements your vision.

LIVING LUXE DESIGN SHOW AN EPIC SPACE SHOWCASING THE LATEST DESIGNS & INNOVATIONS IN THE INTERIOR & EXTERIOR DESIGN WORLD FUSED WITH A FASHION FLAIR.

THE TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE (NORTH BUILDING)

650 DIXON ROAD, ETOBICOKE

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Toronto, We love you

Dear Toronto,

From your majestic lakefront to your captivating skyline, you stole our hearts with your beauty and your brilliance. But that’s not all that made us fall for you. We love the energy that fills the air as the love rolls above your bustling streets.

We love your vibrant communities, your thriving cultural scene, your welcoming spirit. We love you.

Thanks to you we have become Canada’s leading Luxury Real Estate Firm. Love,

SUCCESS STARTS BY DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Hammond International Properties is doing what other brokerage firms have never done before. By disrupting the market with engaging real estate content and leveraging data, branding, and amplification to redefine the paths in which buyers and sellers connect, we’re providing an elevated service experience that positions our clients, partners, and agents for success.

Access the worlds most qualified audiences.

The Downsview cabinetr y collection is custom crafted in Nor th America and available exclusively through select kitchen design showrooms

To experien ce the Collect ions visit one of our exclusive sh owrooms

DOWNSVIEW KITCHENS GTA

2635 Rena Road, Mississauga, ON (905) 677-9354 www downsviewkitchens com

YORKVILLE DESIGN CENTRE

87 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON (416) 922-6620 www yorkvilledesigncentre ca

DOWNSVIEW KITCHENS 2635 Rena Road, Mississauga, Ontario

Dr. Philip Solomon OTOLARYNGOLOGISTHEAD & NECK SURGEON PRACTICING IN FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

The Art Of Surgery

ESTATES

#1 in Toronto For Homes Sold $3,000,000 - 35,000,000, since 2008*

No one has sold more luxury real estate in this decade than Barry Cohen Estates. * The reason is obvious. In addition to our unmatched negotiation skills, we provide the greatest exposure for your home. By utilizing the very latest in print and online marketing strategies, enhanced by our exclusive international affiliations, more local and foreign buyers see our homes. Simply put, we do more for our clients than our competition. The proof is in the numbers.

Toronto’s Luxury Leader

We are inspired by the unique vision of each client for their dream home. With the convergence of polished design and optimal performance, you will find what you need with us.

Inspire Create Perform

CHO O S E Y O U R

CARPET | LUXURY VINYL PLANK | HARDWOOD | AREA RUGS | STAIR RUNNERS

CARPET | LUXURY VINYL PLANK | HARDWOOD | AREA RUGS | STAIR RUNNERS

A REFINED FAMILY HOME

Left to right: Nick Di Donato, Kevin O’Leary and Mitch Marner

Photography by Natasha Gerschon

Photography venue Blue Bovine at Union Station

“What is the first thing you do to welcome spring into your home?”

JENNIFER DOUGLAS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

“One of the first things I do is bring fresh tulips into the house. The vibrant colours and natural scents instantly evoke the essence of spring. Opening windows to let in fresh air, and incorporating lighter and brighter decor, always welcomes the season.”

TRACEY MACKENZIE

FENG SHUI DESIGNER AND ARTIST

“When spring rolls around I clean and declutter every room and open all the windows to get rid of any stagnant energy. I then infuse the house with the scent of rose water to freshen things up. This brightens my mood and starts the season off on a good note.”

PUBLISHING

PUBLISHER

Jennifer Lipkowitz

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Anthony Sirianni

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Hana Rakovski

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Zoe Teufel

DIGITAL SPECIALIST

Eugene Leiderman

VIDEOGRAPHER

Frazier de Mesa

Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2024

SUSAN KELLY

WRITER

“Spring is all about new life and fresh starts, and for me fresh flowers say it all. Plus, by March we’re all starved for colour! My annual ritual is a floral blitz of public markets, bringing back armfuls of bright and cheery cut blooms for indoors and potted flowering plants for my drab urban balcony.”

GREG KOLODZIEJCZYK

PRESIDENT, PROSPECT CONSTRUCTION

“When spring starts, it always brings a meaning of new beginnings to me, a fresh start after the winter. One way I welcome spring into my home is by opening the windows to get a fresh scent of spring air circulating through my house. This is a natural way to connect with spring for me.”

CONTRIBUTORS

Adriana Ermter, Julie Gedeon, Reetu Gupta

Susan Kelly, Natasha Koifman, Tracey MacKenzie, Adrienne Kakoullis, Lily Li, Virginia Munden, Phillipa Rispin, and Dr. Philip Solomon

CREATIVE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jennifer Douglas

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Katie Sweiger

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Stephanie Whittaker

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Jeanne Beker

e Living Luxe Design Show — Come And Visit Us

I hope you have had a restful holiday season. This year, winter break felt like spring, with the surprisingly mild weather and the sun shining brightly. My children and I seized the opportunity and drove to Niagara Falls to spend time together, wandering the streets and sharing moments filled with laughter. These are the times that mean the most to me. It was a short trip, but it was a gentle reminder to pause amidst life’s hustle and bustle. As we embark on this new year, I like to reflect on all that I am grateful for: my family, the opportunities I have been fortunate enough to experience, and the supportive people I have met along the way. In addition to cherishing all of this, I look forward to all that is to come this year and the plans that I am excited to share with you.

Our philanthropic event City Couture will take place on April 18 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This is its second year and, buoyed by the success of the 2023 City Couture event, our committee and I want to double the amount we raised last year. We’re aiming to raise $100,000 for SickKids Foundation. This event is near and dear to my heart, and I want to thank Rogers and all of our wonderful sponsors who are making it possible.

My team and I have been working day and night on the Living Luxe Design Show, which is only a few weeks away. It’s amazing how quickly life moves; it feels as if just a few weeks ago we had the first LLDS. This year, we’re expanding the festivities by hosting events each night: an opening party on Friday, April 19, followed by our Awards Show on Saturday, April 20. These events are not only opportunities for everyone to meet and network, but also celebrations of Canada’s extraordinary design talent. I want to express my gratitude to someone who has been an integral part of this: my show director and partner, Diana Pires. In addition to recognizing her remarkable talents, I am so happy that Diana has become a cherished friend. Her tireless hard work and unwavering dedication have brought these events to life.

I am thrilled to announce that ticket sales for our exhibition and all of our events have just opened. You can purchase a ticket at www.livingluxedesignshow.ca. Also, check the back of this issue to view the Living Luxe Design Show’s floor plan, which illustrates all our exhibitors. You can also use the QR code there to buy tickets. We hope you’ll join us, visit our exhibitors’ booths and see their creations and, of course, stop by to say hello.

Warmest regards,

Jennifer Lipkowitz Publisher

Warm Days Ahead — Time for Spring Cleaning

And so it begins: more daylight, more warmth, more reasons to venture outdoors. I believe the reason Canadians love spring so much is because of the severity of our winters. That love is demonstrated by the occasional hardy soul who wears shorts to the St. Patrick’s Parade in mid-March. Like those eager-for-spring Canadians, I love this time of year, too, but I’ll wait until June to don shorts.

Spring stirs in me an excited anticipation for the gardening season and for the opportunity to hang laundry on the clothesline (yes, I’m old-fashioned that way). Wearing lightweight clothing and dining al fresco are other reasons to celebrate spring’s arrival. But with great seasons comes great responsibility. We can’t really enjoy spring until we’ve taken care of the many things that have to be done in our homes and gardens for the seasonal changeover.

I make an exhaustive list and take pleasure in crossing off each task that brings spring just a little bit closer. The season begins officially once I’ve cleaned windows, switched out winter drapes for lightweight curtains, replaced winter bedding with cotton coverlets, shampooed upholstery and rugs, flipped over mattresses, and tidied out closets and cupboards. Then, on the first really warm day, I fling open windows and allow the fresh air to swish in. After that, the hard work begins: preparing the garden for the growing season ahead.

If you have a similarly arduous to-do list, here’s a suggestion: Reward yourself once you’ve finished by putting your feet up and enjoying this issue of Living Luxe. Our cover story is about a sparkling new restaurant, created by Liberty Entertainment Group, in Union Station. It’s a story of haute gastronomy, elegant interior design and celebrity.

We also feature a story about a spectacular downtown penthouse terrace designed by Lisa Aiken of Terra Firma Design. And we tell you about the Spanish-language television network El Break’s celebration of International Women’s Day with an event called Women Who Inspire. You’ll also want to read all about the Living Luxe Design Show at the Toronto Congress Centre from April 19 to 21. As always, we give you news of the latest trends in fashion, art and interior design, and of the many fundraising events that benefit the Toronto community.

Enjoy the warmer, longer days. And while you may be tempted to wear shorts now, perhaps it’s advisable to wait a while.

Stephanie Whittaker Editor-in-Chief

LUXE LIFE PHILANTHROPY

What could be more inviting on a spring day than an opportunity to lounge on this penthouse terrace? Designed by Lisa Aiken of Terra Firma Design, the terrace features seating that was custom-weighted to resist the high winds at this height. The accent cushions were custommade with fine-quality imported exterior fabrics. The cushions contain a custom fill for weight and comfort. Aiken custom-designed the firepit to mimic the curved sides on the furniture.

terrafirmadesign.ca

WHAT’S NEW

By Tracey MacKenzie

SCULPTURAL SEATING

This exquisite chair with an Art Deco flair has been meticulously crafted with pine veneers and finished in charred black. It will add a touch of curvy sophistication to any room, from den to home office. Available at Decorium. www.decorium.com.

ILLUSTRATED ILLUMINATION

LARGE LUMINESCENCE

showstopper wherever

century Italian opera as

The conversation-starting Fornasetti Frutto Proibito Peccato Candelabra, is a showstopper wherever it’s placed. It depicts the face of the early-20thcentury Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri. The eyes are open on one side and closed on the other. So, as a dining table centrepiece, it gives guests a different view of the famous diva depending on where they sit. The red apple atop Lina’s head also opens to reveal a candle with the uplifting Frutto Proibito citrus scent. www.fornasetti.com/ca.

Prefer an indoor look in your outdoor spaces? If so, the Antonangeli Miami outdoor floor lamp from Casa Di Luce bestows indoor beauty on your backyard patio. Completed with fibreglass, it casts a soft and cozy light and is produced to be waterproof. It’s available in satin steel and natural white

to

www.casadiluce.ca.

SPRING TAN TREND

No time to tan this spring? No problem. The multi-awardwinning Eco Tan by Sonia Driver is an invisible tanning cream that both moisturizes and tans your skin to glowing perfection. Perfect for face and body, this selftanning cream is fast-drying and good for all skin tones. Eco Tan is also organic, vegan, cruelty-free, contains no parabens, and arrives in eco-friendly packaging. www.ecotan.ca.

DESIGNER DIGS

If you love British interior design, your spring reading just might be British Designers at Home. It’s a visual feast of colour and pattern, played out in the homes of some of Britain’s most famous interior designers. Visually engaging, British Designers at Home takes us into some exquisite homes and examines the work processes of many of the greats, including Nina Campbell, Kit Kemp and Edward Bulmer. Available at Indigo. www.indigo.ca.

fibreglass, and has a Serizzo stone base, bringing outdoor lighting

a new level.

Natasha Koifman President, NKPR

SPRING INTO BEAUTY AND WELLNESS

From basic-black fashion and healthy hair to fine cuisine and inspired architecture, this season’s fresh beginnings beckon.

By Natasha Koifman

Spring arrives in Toronto, heralding a season of new beginnings and sun-kissed trends, and signaling a time to refresh wardrobes and enliven spaces. There is a new kind of bloom coming to Toronto—the flowers of Takashi Murakami. Meet the all-in-one design and construction firm that will bring your home renovation dreams to life. Edit your sugar intake without compromising fun and delicious flavour. And when it’s all done, at the end of the day, join friends, family or clients for dinner at one of Toronto’s hot spots for authentic Indian cuisine.

Our focus for the year is wellness, including the restorative power in beauty products. Spring couldn’t be more promising, except for one elegy to fashion that I’m excited about: all black everything! Spring with us into a world where design and beauty trends, like nature, are in a constant, beautiful flux.

If you have a product you would like to submit for consideration in our Market Trends roundup, please DM Natasha on Instagram at @natashankpr.

Audax Human Architecture

As winter yields to spring, Audax’s “Human Architecture” emerges as the blueprint for home transformations. The Toronto-based architecture-design-build firm, led by Gianpiero Pugliese and Mariya Naumov, blends the warm, tactile details of traditional design with modern luxury. Villa Cortile stands in Toronto as their masterpiece, where Italian inspiration meets contemporary elegance. It features a limestone courtyard and interiors dressed in luxe wood, stone, and precious metals. Audax’s holistic approach extends from architectural innovation to bespoke interior details, embodying a home that is as culturally rich as it is luxuriously modern. Audax.ca

Adrak Yorkville

When it comes to authentic, fine Indian cuisine, Adrak Yorkville is a culinary renaissance, presenting an array of dishes that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the palate. Infused with the vivid hues of a spring garden—fuchsia, deep reds, and lush greens—the menu features such standout dishes as the Anjeer paneer tikka with its sweet touch of figs, the robust Awadh lamb shank korma and the coastal flavours of the Alleppey prawn curry. Each creation is an artful expression of taste and tradition, ensuring Adrak Yorkville offers not just a meal, but a multisensory journey into the heart of spring’s bounty. adrakyorkville.ca

Aveda’s Strengthening Hair System

Need perfect shiny locks this spring? Aveda’s Botanical Repair™ strengthening hair system breathes life into all hair types with botanical technology. The Strengthening Overnight Serum works magic with nangai oil to mend split ends and strengthen hair while you sleep. Achieve a flexible hold and frizz control for up to 72 hours with the vegan Bond-building Styling Creme. The Intensive Strengthening Masque: Light instantly bestows softer, shinier locks, making each strand a testament to the system’s restorative power. aveda.ca

No Sugar Co. and Joyburst

No sugar, I am sweet enough! That’s the mantra coming from No Sugar Co., filling out the better-for-you space with a delicious array of zero-sugar products such as Sandwich Cookiez, Keto Bombs, and Edible Cookie Dough—perfect for keto followers or anyone cutting out sugar without sacrificing taste. Wash down your new favourite snack with Joyburst, the brand’s sugar-free, calorie-free beverage, energized with natural ingredients and caffeine derived from green tea, making healthy living both joyful and flavourful. Enjoy a variety of flavours of hydration beverages and energy drinks, such as Peach Mango, Frosé Rose, Lime, Grape, and Elderberry—something to suit every palate. thenosugarcompany.ca joyburst.ca

Freed Hotel and Residences

When do flowers bloom in hospitality?

Freed Developments brings to market the first-ever Freed Hotel and Residences, located at the corner of Adelaide and Duncan Streets. The 63-storey skyscraper will be a landmark in Toronto, and home to the first Katsuya Restaurant in Canada, with artwork by renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami featured prominently in the hotel lobby. freeddevelopments.com

Serious Black

An “all black everything” fashion trend? Yes, please! Spring ’24 heralds an unexpected sartorial shift as “serious black” takes centre stage. While the trend appears as a profound reflection on the human condition, paired with an imagination to soar freely, I think black always looks chic and stylish. At the forefront of this movement are the usual suspects: Alaïa, Saint Laurent, Rick Owens. But some newness this season from Christian Dior replacing customary navy with black for spring ’24. And the reveal of Gucci’s SS24 brings us back to the brand’s true essence of rich storytelling, steering away from recent colourful departures back to classic-black looks. I love that designers are embracing the depth of darkness with the lightness of dreamlike escape, through fabrics and design.

#NKAllBlackEverything

BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

Artist Max Jamali moves into threedimensional art with life-sized pieces made of the opulent materials for which he’s known.

Max Jamali’s art celebrates luxury. Jamali is a mixed-media artist who integrates sumptuous materials into his works: reptile leather, Swarovski crystals, diamond dust. At the 2023 Art Basel Show in Miami, Jamali unveiled his most recent works: large resin butterfly sculptures that signify a foray into a different kind of luxury.

Living Luxe: Max, the sculptures you unveiled at Art Basel depart from the art you’re known for. Why did you start creating three-dimensional pieces?

Max Jamali: I wanted to challenge myself and explore new creative avenues. I’ve always regarded my art as an extension of interior design, and I wanted to design a sculpture that would use the colours and textures of its surroundings.

LL: Describe the materials and process used.

MJ: The Wings of Desire Butterfly Sculpture Series is created by combining shades of colours in resin on an acrylic base to portray a specific personality and feeling on each wing.

LL: Your brand is luxury. How have you integrated luxury into the sculptures?

MJ: There are four elements that create that sense of luxury: conceptual design, high-quality materials, precision in craftsmanship, and limited editions. My goal is to create a luxury sculpture with a strong conceptual design that conveys depth, dimension and emotional expression. Colours are often associated with emotions, and I love how layering different hues allows me to evoke emotions. High-quality materials and precision in craftsmanship are two of the most important elements. I spent months ensuring the sculptures are up to my luxurious standards to represent my brand. Limited editions of these sculptures create exclusivity and collectability.

LL: Butterflies are a recurring theme in your work. Why?

MJ: I’ve always been captivated by their beautiful and delicate nature. Butterfly sculptures remind me that even in the midst of life’s challenges and struggles, there is always the potential for beauty and transformation. The sculptures are a symbol of hope and transformation.

LL: How do you want viewers to experience the sculptures?

MJ: One of the elements about sculpture that fascinates me is 360-degree exploration. Walking around and exploring the artwork from different perspectives can reveal details and forms. And because these sculptures are translucent, there’s an interplay of light and form.

LL: What luxurious elements did you use as inspiration?

MJ: The sense of luxury in my sculptures comes mostly from the four elements I described. I am currently customizing a one-of-akind, eight-foot-tall sculpture that I launched at Miami Art Basel 2023. This original ultra-luxury sculpture—called The Enigma—is layered with five carats of genuine diamonds and three layers of diamond dust and crystals. The Enigma is my first one-of-one, ultraluxury sculpture at this large scale. It’s valued at $100,000 US.

MINI, BUT WITH MAJOR RESULTS

Why the mini faceli is a popular cosmetic procedure among Millennials and Generation X.

The desire to hang on to a youthful appearance has been around as long as civilization, with the first recorded faceli being performed in 1901 in Berlin. What has changed is the age at which people have started seeking interventions such as injectable treatments, energy devices and surgical procedures. The mini faceli has become one of the most popular surgical procedures among Millennials and Generation X.

Dr. Philip Solomon MD, FRCSC, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon, practising Facial Plastic Surgery in Toronto, discusses the mini faceli and its benefits to these age groups.

By Dr. Philip Solomon & Nancie Heiber

Dr. Philip Solomon MD, FRCSC

Living Luxe: Dr. Solomon, why is the mini-facelift ideal for Millennials and Gen Xers?

The mini-facelift can address multiple concerns in one procedure. Sagging and excess skin, deep nasolabial folds, both fine and deep wrinkles, and a drooping jawline can all be addressed in just a matter of hours with a mini-facelift. This procedure can deliver the commonly sought-after “snatched” jawline that has become synonymous with looking youthful. It can also provide a lift to the mid-face where gravity and collagen loss start to play a role in our third decade of life. By the time Millennials and Gen Xers reach their 30s they have already been dabbling in non-surgical treatments for aesthetic enhancement and anti-aging, and want a permanent solution for their aging concerns. A mini facelift is often within their comfort zone as it addresses the mid-face only, and the downtime is between two and three weeks on average.

LL: How have social media impacted the demand for cosmetic surgery?

There is no question that social media have redefined beauty standards. Platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook have helped to shape Millennials’ perception of beauty and aging, but have also been a main resource for information on how to defy the aging process. Social media often feature images of faces and bodies that have been filtered or edited to enhance their appearance. This can create unrealistic beauty standards and low self-esteem amongst all ages but especially amongst Millennials who regularly use social media apps. Millennials (and some Gen Zers), between the ages of 23 and 38 have increased the demand for plastic surgery due to their exposure to social media, and they’ve become significantly more preoccupied with self-care. Millennials are of the age group that has grown up with social media and are often credited with the rapid rise of its popularity. They’re also often contributors to the platforms whether for personal reasons or work.

LL: Why the mini facelift?

The mini facelift vertically lifts the face, reversing the downward pull of gravity. The mini facelift techniques have come a long way from just tightening the excess skin and delivering the old-fashioned “windswept” look, the result of a horizontal pull, as opposed to a vertical lift. The mini facelift can incorporate the deep plane and a shortened scar, both of which appeal to Millennials who have done their research on how to achieve the most natural and long-lasting facelift result. Addressing the deep plane provides a more fluid and structural lift, repositioning the mid-face while also alleviating the need for additional non-surgical interventions such as dermal filler or thread lifts. The mini facelift is essentially a one-stop procedure that delivers a natural, snatched look that can take Millennials well into their 50s. The mini facelift also allows patients to maintain their

youthful look without going through the aging process and then reversing their appearance with surgery at an older age. It can allow for a flawless transition into mid-life, looking youthful every step of the way. The mini-facelift scar is also what many younger patients prefer as it is well concealed in front of the ear, along the tragus. The scar does not extend behind the ear which could expose signs of surgery for those who wear ponytails (depending on healing).

LL: What is the best way to choose a surgeon and what is the cost of a mini facelift?

The cost of a mini facelift ranges depending on the expertise and experience of your surgeon. Things to look out for when choosing your mini facelift surgeon are their education, credentials, and how frequently they perform the mini facelift. You should also review surgical results (website photos) and on-line testimonials of previous facelift patients. Understand the technique your surgeon uses when performing a mini facelift and meet your surgeon’s team as they will play an important role in the patient experience.

Dr. Philip Solomon is a double board-certified Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon practisqing Facial Plastic Cosmetic Surgery in Toronto and has specialized in mini facelift surgery for more than 20 years, delivering exceptional results to his many patients.

Dr. Philip Solomon MD, FRCSC

EVERYTHING WITHIN REACH

The Well is much more than upscale condo living;

it’s

an urban community with every amenity its residents need.

By Susan Kelly

Spring 2024 brings the full flowering of The Well, Tridel’s acclaimed master-planned community in downtown Toronto. Now in its final phase, an exceptional opportunity to enjoy upscale living has blossomed, says Samson Fung, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Tridel. “With only 98 units in total, you might say the Signature Series condos are a very limited edition,” he says, “and offer a select boutique condo lifestyle that perfectly complements and integrates with the unique one offered at The Well.”

Flourishing over almost eight acres of Toronto’s downtown core, The Well is a veritable village unto itself. Within the $1.4 billion project, people who live in the 1,700 suites in six upscale residential buildings can shop and do their banking there, drop the children at daycare, visit

the health club and more. Further embodying the “live, work, shop, eat and play” motto, they can stop to pick up a baguette or latte at the bustling European-style Wellington Market. Or enjoy dinner at Wellington restaurants, where renowned chefs and mixologists vie to make it a destination.

Ready for occupancy in spring 2024, the Signature Series provides a rare opportunity to do so in an intimate setting. With fewer neighbours than in a high-rise tower, residents have more opportunity to get to know each other and gain a sense of community. Architect Rudy Wallman, of Wallman Architects in Toronto, designed the striking 14-storey building on the northwest corner of the larger project. On a quiet tree-lined stretch of Wellington Street, it overlooks a grand promenade below. It lies near the Fashion District, home to a mix of professionals and creatives, all of whom enjoy the many nearby amenities. Fung says the area has a sophisticated bohemian vibe similar to New York’s Greenwich Village. “It’s a very walkable area and close to the King West neighbourhood, entertainment and financial

“HAVE A UNIQUE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE UPSCALE URBAN LIVING AT ITS FINEST.”

districts and the lakefront,” he says, “not to mention the rest of The Well’s incredible services and restaurants.”

The exclusive units range in size from 1,468 to 3,259 square feet, with prices starting at $2.1 million. The luxurious and spacious interiors are defined by exquisite architectural detail, luxury finishes, nine-foot ceilings, and an abundance of natural light. Layouts include two or three bedrooms with an equal number of full bathrooms and powder room. All units have private balconies, and many have a den space as well. To help people visualize how the select interior finishes can be combined, Tridel’s award-winning design team has come up with chic options. Five model condo suites showcase them and may be toured by appointment booked online. On view: “Forward but timeless architecture and magnificent condominium units,” Fung says. “Add the superior amenities and vast array of walkable attractions nearby and you have a unique chance to experience upscale urban living at its finest.”

Reetu Gupta Contributing Philanthropy Editor

TAKING PHILANTHROPY TO WORK

My journey is a narrative—rich in dreams, hard work, and a deep desire to effect change. I am Reetu Gupta, and my story is taking shape in Toronto’s diverse and vibrant landscape. This city—a tapestry of cultures and perspectives—has been my classroom, teaching me about diversity, resilience, and the power of community.

My foray into real estate and hospitality began at a tender age. Watching my father at age 14, I was captivated by the intricacies of the hospitality field, and it propelled me into the industry. These initial steps were more than just career beginnings; they were invaluable lessons in hands-on involvement and understanding the importance of every organizational role. My education at the University of Toronto and Schulich School of Business wasn’t merely academic; it was a transformative journey that honed my vision for leadership, deeply rooted in inclusivity.

Ascending to the role of president and chief executive officer of Easton’s group of hotels and The Gupta Group in 2018 was a significant milestone. This role allowed me to blend my long-standing passion for the industry with a commitment to innovative and compassionate leadership. My career path has been intertwined with personal experiences that have profoundly influenced my perspective,

As an award-winning executive in the hospitality industry, Reetu Gupta applies the philanthropic principles of “giving back” to her workforce.

By Reetu Gupta

especially on societal issues. Addressing racism firsthand, I led initiatives to eradicate discrimination within the hospitality sector, aiming to cultivate a workplace that embodies respect and equality. Authentic leadership transcends business savvy; it’s about setting precedents and dismantling barriers. At The Gupta Group, we’ve made strides in gender equality, with women in 60 per cent of our management roles. This achievement goes

PHILANTHROPY HAS BEEN A GUIDING LIGHT IN MY LIFE.

beyond mere statistics; it’s a testament to our dedication to a balanced and fair workplace.

Philanthropy has been a guiding light in my life. Through The Gupta Family Foundation, re-established in 2020, I strive to create long-term solutions to global challenges, marrying my passion for social betterment with strategic action. Being a board director with entities such as the Princess Margaret

Cancer Foundation reflects my commitment to empowering communities and individuals.  Being honoured in the Women’s Executive Network’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women awards, and receiving the 2018 Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce is both humbling and motivating. These accolades are reminders of the impact that we can achieve through unwavering dedication. However, true fulfillment comes from witnessing the positive transformations we facilitate in people’s lives. My book Auspicious: Embracing the Path Toward Courage, Conviction, and Confidence, is not just a recounting of my journey; it’s a source of guidance for those charting their paths in life and career. My story is one of continuous learning, commitment to making a difference, and a drive to inspire change and foster innovation and inclusivity. I am Reetu Gupta, a believer in the power of determination, the beauty of diversity, and the importance of making a meaningful impact on the world.

LUXURY WRIT LARGE

Classico Roma’s eponymous owner works on a grand scale.

By Phillipa Rispin

Roma Adil thinks big—big ambitions, big ideas, big concepts, big houses—and she designs furniture, lighting and homes to reflect her enthusiasm. While it’s quite possible to obtain the perfect compact, sleek piece of furniture through her company, Classico Roma, the exuberant

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAJMUL KIRMANI

“I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE FURNITURE AND LIGHTING IS DESIGNED BY ME.”

and energetic Roma also delights in fulfilling larger-scale or more elaborate desires. As proof, consider her first-ever project after she came to Canada from her native Dubai: decorating an empty penthouse in a luxury condo building. The owner gave her carte blanche to cover the full spectrum of turning large, empty spaces into a welcoming home, from choosing the wall colours and furniture to providing soft furnishings and decorative accessories.

“The owner gave me the keys to the penthouse, went away, and then when I was done she walked in and said ‘I love it,’ ” Roma recounts. Buoyed by success and increasing word of mouth, she expanded her business. “I’ll help clients consult with builders,” she says. “I’ll do work on the complete interior design, from scratch. The only things I don’t do are construction and wall design.” Roma has a degree in architecture and, during her studies, she opted for an interior design option.

She began working as a salesperson, but her competence and talent soon had customers urging her to strike out on her own—thus, Classico Roma. “I’m very daring,” Roma says. “I’m not scared of failure, and that has made me very successful.” The company has a staff of designers and specialists in computer-aided design. It also offers a large area with examples of unique furnishings that “show our qualities, our ideas,” she says. Clients can have a piece reproduced to order, or request new designs, and Classico Roma is happy to oblige.

“This is not a walk-in business,” Roma says. “We have only luxury, niche customers. I’m proud to say that about half of the furniture

and lighting is designed by me. Nearly all our exclusive items are manufactured in Canada. We source other items from artisans in Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United States. We also carry, exclusive to us, some high-end furniture from Italy. People come to us for more formal-style furnishings, and we do massive sizes.”

Roma says that contemporary design will never go out of style, but there’s plenty of competition even in the luxury marketplace. “We focus more on transitional styles with presence. I call it ‘modern classic.’

THE ART OF PIVOTING

These European-manufactured pivot doors, designed by artisans using unusual materials, are created to stand up to the Canadian climate.

By Julie Gedeon

Imagine a large front door textured in a once-liquified metal. Or having that metal resemble a fine leather that resists the outdoor elements. Making a grand entrance takes on a new meaning with RK Pivot Doors, now in Canada and exclusively showcased by Eurostar Windows. Some homeowners will take an immediate shine to the glass finish that resembles wood from the curb but reflects its guests at the doorstep. Others will be dazzled by the doors with hexagonal edges. “We also have models with Patagonian marble panels backlit to fully reflect this stone’s beauty,” says Norm Shubat, Eurostar Windows’ director

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of operations. Hinged at the top and bottom a third of the way across, the pivot doors can be significantly heavier to accommodate larger heights of 10 to 13 feet and widths of six to eight feet. “These doors are definitely a luxurious home’s focal point,” Shubat says.

RK has addressed the challenges of Canadian winters. The exterior and interior aluminum components are separated by a thermal bridge that prevents the outer panel’s lower temperature from penetrating the inner core. “A hydraulic damper automatically comes down and seals itself against the threshold when you close the door,” Shubat says. “There’s also a damper above the hinges that retracts when the door opens and then automatically lowers to make the door airtight.”

RK prides itself on the quality and originality of its products.

“Our founder, Robert Karasek, is great at business, but also has an artist’s soul,” says Jakub Siemiatkowski, RK’s commercial director. The artistry is what takes the doors to another level by having renowned artisans from around the world use ceramics, bronze, and other outof-the-ordinary materials. RK’s latest collaboration is with Venetian craftsmen who specialize in engraving, beveling, and/or layering glass and mirrored surfaces. Once a design is established, the utmost care and craftmanship is used to reproduce it. “The liquid metal to create a unique texture on the aluminum structure can take 55 hours to apply because it’s all done by hand,” Siemiatkowski says. “That’s after a team member has spent a couple of days out in nature looking for unique patterns to replicate.”

After manufacturing its own products for years, Eurostar Windows began importing doors in 2003 on a small scale, learning along the way how European products had to be modified to meet Canadian standards. “Once half our sales became European imports, we began looking for something truly special to represent exclusively,” Shubat says. “When we visited RK’s premises, we could see the passion that goes into making these doors.” Eurostar Windows is unveiling the RK Pivot Doors at The National Home Show (March 7 to 10) and will display them at The Living Luxe Design Show (April 19 to 21).

DOUBLING DOWN ON LUXURY

Oakville firm’s identical twin owners bring shared love of art and architecture to upscale home design.

By Susan Kelly

To meet the principals of Lucid Homes—an upscale residential design firm based in Oakville—is to see double: co-owners Pamir and Aamou Rafiq are identical twin brothers.

“There have been some amusing moments when a client encounters us side-by-side for the first time,” says Pamir. “But we share the same vision when it comes to refined design and commitment to excellence.”

It’s a vision that since 2018 has led to the company’s swift ascent to designing upwards of 100 luxury single-family homes per year. An impressive portfolio showcases projects throughout the GTA and southern Ontario, and as far afield as Miami, Turks and Caicos, and Africa. The brothers grew up in Germany and have engineering “in their veins,” with several relatives in the profession. They also synced through a passion for art early on in life. After they moved to Canada as teenagers, architecture, which has both aesthetic and technical sides, seemed the natural vocation.

Both gained certification as architectural designers and pursued

divergent careers in the architecture and building industries for some years. Now reunited, Aamou handles more of the operations and overseeing the team of eight designers, planners and project managers. Pamir focuses on business management and development, including initial meetings with clients. “We chose to specialize in luxury estate homes because there is more leeway for creativity,” Pamir says. “We approach every project as a work of fine art, seeking to create a one-ofa-kind masterpiece that beautifully reflects the people who live there.”

And they do it in a big way. Each year Lucid Homes designs around 10 houses that exceed 8,000 square feet in floor space. Past realizations include a 43,000-square-foot mansion in Stouffville, complete with indoor pool and basketball court. The company does take on smaller mandates, such as homes in the 4,000-to-6,000-square-foot range, or designing house expansion or renovation projects.

Big or small, each project stands out for its bespoke design that embraces the homeowner’s unique tastes and lifestyle. From exterior

“WE SHARE THE SAME VISION WHEN IT COMES TO REFINED DESIGN AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.”

facade to interior layout, there is a meticulously crafted continuity, a seamless fusion of aesthetics and functionality.

Customized elements, such as arched doorways and panoramic windows that frame breathtaking views, lend a sense of elevated luxury.

“We specialize in facades and entranceways that are modern yet evoke a classic grandeur,”

Aamou says. “As well, our painstaking attention to detail truly sets our designs apart.”

Every Lucid Homes realization stands out as a fresh take on a current trend or classic design. And the designers ensure that some of the owners’ stories are incorporated so they feel a deep connection even before crossing the threshold. “For most people, the day they receive the key to their dream home is one of the most exciting times of their lives, one they’ve sometimes waited a lifetime for,” says Pamir. “And we want them to know that we respect that.”

THE LUXURY OF STONE

Carrying on the tradition of stonemasonry, Greg Kolodziejczyk brings a high level of mastery to the luxury market.

By Phillipa Rispin

Greg Kolodziejczyk is a stonemason, and the son and grandson of stonemasons. He proudly practises an age-old craft that has been passed on through generations of his family. Now at the peak of his career, Kolodziejczyk— the owner of Prospect Construction for the past decade—is focusing on expanding in the luxury stoneinstallation market. “I was always fascinated by exterior architecture on mansion-like homes that had luxurious custom limestone elements, such as columns and finefinish details,” he says, adding

DESIGN | RENOVATE | DECORATE | STAGE | RETAIL

“IF YOU PROVIDE THE BEST ALL-ROUND SERVICE, YOU BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS AND RETAIN THEM

that he’s worked on various homes in the Bridle Path and in other upscale neighbourhoods.

Prospect Construction works with a variety of stone, including limestone, precast, and split-faced stones, either natural or manmade. “Most of our work is focused on exterior stone installation on new custom homes,” Kolodziejczyk says. “However, we do take on interesting renovation and restoration jobs as well. This year, our focus is to bring additional services to our builders by expanding into the brick installation market as well. Our niche market will always be stone as we are masters of our craft.”

As the owner of his company, Kolodziejczyk is involved in all of his jobs. “I thrive on exceptional customer service and quality masonry installation,” he says. “It’s all about service. If you provide the best all-round service, you build a relationship with clients and retain them.” He’s also hands-on. A few years ago, Prospect Construction worked on a home designed by architect Richard Wengle. “The house, located in Vaughan, was nearly 25,000 square feet,” Kolodziejczyk recounts. “It took almost a year to complete due to the scheduled shipments of custom Indiana limestone, which had been fabricated and shipped from the U.S., and I’m proud to say that I was involved throughout the entire stone installation process because I wanted to become a master of my craft. At the highest level. Especially at the luxury level.”

That emphasis on quality runs through all Prospect Construction projects. The company’s work will be exhibited at the Living Luxe Design Show, April 19 to 21, Kolodziejczyk says. “We have proudly partnered up with Lucid Homes,” he says. “We’re going to have a unique booth with custom Indiana limestone elements, provided by IZART Architectural Design to showcase the type of work we do. It will display the high level of luxury we’re known for.”

BUILDING A LIFELONG LOVE

Anthony Serpa fell in love with construction as a child. Today, he builds custom homes and relationships with his clients.

By Stephanie Whittaker

Some careers exert a magnetic pull on us from childhood. For Anthony Serpa—founder and owner of Serpa Design Build—his career in the construction industry began early. “I’ve been around construction all my life,” Serpa says. “My whole family was in construction; my grandfather and dad were bricklayers. I used to work with uncles on job sites during the summers. I started with tile-setting and had a passion for it.”

As a child, he spent Saturday mornings watching home renovation programs on television. “I was fascinated by it,” he says. He studied business at Seneca College and York University, but discovered his true passion was in construction. After university, he returned to the construction milieu. However, focusing solely on one aspect of construction—tile work—left him wanting more. “I couldn’t get the satisfaction of seeing a project from beginning to end,” he says. “Through a family friend who wanted to renovate his house, I transitioned from tile-setting to general contracting. I did renovations in his home. I also did a program in computer-

aided design. It was very fulfilling.” Serpa had discovered his true calling. “Delving into general contracting and design, I found my happy place. It was the first time I could contribute to a project from inception to completion.”

He established his own general contracting company, acquiring as much knowledge as possible. It led him into commercial jobs, and as the business grew, he acquired staff. But in 2017, he wanted to return to the residential sector. Then, serendipity occurred. “An opportunity arrived,” Serpa says. “Someone called me who wanted me to build a custom home for him. I’d done other work for him and he knew I’d never built a house. But I knew I could do it.”

He had contact with the trades—plumbers, electricians, carpenters—and could read architectural drawings. “This was the beginning,” he says. “It made me realize that building custom homes was for me.” It was the work that he’d been craving all along.

One day, while working in the house, he saw a woman across the street putting a variance sign into the ground. “She told me she

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was going to build a home on the site and needed someone to handle it.” Once again, Serpa was hired to build a custom home. Through a family friend, he was introduced to another client who hired him to build a house in Stouffville. And it continued from there. As he infused an exceptional level of quality and care into his work, word of mouth became his most powerful business tool.

Serpa’s business model is somewhat different from that of other builders. “I act as project manager and the client pays the trades directly, for the sake of transparency,” he says, adding that he maintains the company as a “boutique” firm, with an annual ceiling of about six builds. “I’m not into volume. We look for the right projects and the right clients, people I relate well to,” he says. “Our model revolves around quality over quantity with a focused and meticulous approach.”

Serpa still loves working at building sites. Every detail, regardless of size, is within his purview. “That gives me satisfaction,” he says, adding that his brother Michael works with him in the company.

“Michael has become a vital part of the company, taking on a role of overseeing particular builds,” he says. “I work with tools less than I used to. I love being involved with the owners. I guess you could say that these days, in addition to building homes, I’m building relationships.”

“OUR MODEL REVOLVES AROUND QUALITY OVER QUANTITY WITH A FOCUSED AND METICULOUS APPROACH.”

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OPENING DOORS WORLDWIDE

This Woodbridge family business, specializing in high-end doors, attracts customers from around the world.

By Julie Gedeon

Many elegant homes, luxurious hotels, fine-dining establishments and posh retail outlets now welcome their guests through the rich and timeless beauty of entryways crafted by the Doorland Group in Woodbridge, Ontario. Celebrating 45 years, this family enterprise has clients across North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Saudi Arabia and China.

Elio Granzotto started it all shortly after immigrating from Italy. “My father was 19 with no money, so he put his skills as a trained sculptor to making furniture and cabinetry,” relates his son, Andrea Granzotto, the company’s president. His father’s initial door project in 1978 led to architects and homebuilders commissioning him to make other entryways, and Elio launched Doorland a year later at age 25. Elio’s wife, Vivian, helped with the business after they married, and over the years, all four sons—Andrea, Bruno, Daniel and Sergio—worked in the shop when they weren’t in school. “I had no intention of being here full-time,” Andrea admits, “but when I returned with my university accounting degree, I realized how much I enjoy the manufacturing aspect and dealing with people.”

ROSALIA FAZZARI

Now at Doorland for 20 years, Andrea regards genuinely listening to each client’s requirements as essential as the quality of products. “It makes me so happy when clients light up seeing how we brought their vision to life.”

Sergio also works at Doorland, as Daniel had until his unexpected death in 2015. In Daniel’s memory, Doorland has raised significant funds for the Sunnybrook Foundation for prostate health. At 70, Elio remains actively involved. “His ability to do anything and everything really helps us to strategize well,” Andrea says. Elio makes sure the passion and integrity that fueled his start remain integral. “What’s most important to my father, and to my mother, is that we continue to sell products that make a statement the way that quality furniture does and that we do so with lasting craftsmanship,” Andrea says. Being responsive to client needs is another key value, which includes

“ WE CONTINUE TO SELL PRODUCTS THAT MAKE A STATEMENT THE WAY THAT QUALITY FURNITURE DOES AND .... WE DO SO WITH LASTING CRAFTSMANSHIP. ”

problem solving. “We recently had a Caribbean client who forgot to order a number of doors for a hotel that was set to open within the month,” Andrea says. “We started the order the next day and delivered on time.”

Committed to sustainability, Doorland contributes to tree-planting initiatives. The company’s dust/debris collector keeps the air clean and gathers material for particleboard and farm-stall flooring. Of course, it’s the atmosphere that Doorland products create that is appreciated foremost. They make a home luxurious, even stately, or a hotel welcoming. “For a restaurant, we also want something inviting but maybe with a bit of edge to it,” Andrea adds. “We incorporate glass, metals, and even fabrics to achieve the desired look.” Doorland’s attention to detail, quality, sustainability and innovative beauty has opened doors for the company around the world.

FORGING A STRONG UNION

Two companies merge to form Riverview Heika Build Group, combining their expertise and discernment to serve the luxury building market.

By Phillipa Rispin

Chances are, smart home buyers in southern Ontario interested in bespoke luxury homes or upscale commercial buildings are familiar with either Heika Build Group or Riverview Homes. Now they’ll be aware of both, as the two companies have merged to form Riverview Heika Build Group Ltd. The merger of the companies brings to the table almost six decades of experience in designing and building luxury homes, and they’ve also been adding land acquisition and development to their portfolios.

According to Colin Dempster, Heika’s CEO, “We decided to merge because we’d be able to take on more interesting and exciting projects together. We fit each other’s needs perfectly.” Vince D’Amelio, principal of Riverview Homes, adds that “we both have the same ambition; we’re both moving in the same direction. Our partnership will strengthen that.”

Dempster says that Riverview Heika Build Group’s clients are “very exclusive and refined.” The new company will engage in largescale operations for these private clients, including land development and acquisition as well as the building and finishing of luxury homes and upscale commercial buildings.

Like its precursors, the new company is based in Niagara-on-the-

Lake. It serves mostly, but not exclusively, the Niagara and Southwest Ontario regions.

Dempster and D’Amelio characterize their partnership as a mix of experience and ambition. D’Amelio founded Riverview in 1987, and he points out that “the Ontario New Home Warranty Program has recognized the exceptional work offered by Riverview Homes, and we have an Excellent rating from Tarion Warranty Corp.” It’s a necessary and reassuring acknowledgement for the company’s exclusive and high-end, higher-echelon clientele.

As for ambition, the company has “some exciting new ventures for 2024 already, planned and in the works,” says Dempster. “And we’re always accepting new clients.”

Dempster emphasizes the company’s newly broadened scope involving land development and acquisition. “If people want to enquire about land opportunities, they’re welcome to reach out to us. We’re happy to work with local and international clientele. And we ensure privacy for our clients, which they appreciate.”

If you’d like to learn more about Riverview Heika Build Group, check out the company’s presence at the Living Luxe Design Show in April.

UPLIFTING WORKOUTS

A

mother and daughter duo create weight-training equipment that’s as beautiful as it is useful.

By Stephanie Whittaker

The onset of the 2020 pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity for the LeBlanc family: After a successful venture with their company Saje Natural Wellness, Kate Ross LeBlanc, JeanPierre LeBlanc, and their daughter Kiara took a step back to focus on personal wellness and ponder their next business move. “When we left Saje, I turned to my mom and remarked that we would now have ample time to work on our fitness,” Kiara says. And amidst the ensuing chaos, they discovered a silver lining—an opportunity to prioritize their own wellness and formulate their next entrepreneurial chapter.

One of the rooms in the LeBlancs’ family home was reserved for exercise. “There was a Peloton and a padded floor but not much equipment,” says Kate. She wanted to buy aesthetic workout gear for the room but couldn’t find any. And that’s what kick-started the new opportunity that she and her daughter were seeking.

Kiara was in the process of

launching a new business in the champagne industry in 2021 when she injured her knee in a ski accident, requiring surgery. “I knew that after surgery, I’d have to get mobile again and that changed my outlook on my body,” Kiara says. With a pressing reason to work her muscles, she decided to go into the fitness equipment business with her mother. They designed the kind of aesthetic free weights they craved. “We worked on how to put steel and marble together in a free weight,” Kate says. Meanwhile, Kiara got busy looking for a powder coating for the weights so they could withstand chipping. They also consulted physiotherapists.

The result is LIFTED, a company specializing in beautiful weight-training equipment. Far from being weights that are best hidden from view, LIFTED weights—made from recycled steel and Carrara marble—are pretty enough to display. That’s why the LeBlancs designed a movement cart made of steel and white oak to hold the pieces. Casters allow it to be moved among rooms. “If

THIS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.

weights are hidden under a bed, it’s easy to procrastinate about working out,” Kiara says. Not so if they’re on display in a stylish console. The company offers free weights, hand weights, resistance bands and kettlebells, all designed for display. “This has changed my life,” says Kate. “I think about what I’m doing every day and I’ve become more flexible.” She and Kiara are serious when they joke that their new venture is “lifting our spirits.”

A WALK WITH GREATNESS

The 25th anniversary celebration of Canada’s Walk of Fame paid tribute to an astounding spectrum of achievers.

By Adrienne Kakoullis

The 25th anniversary celebration of Canada’s Walk of Fame attracted 1,400 attendees to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on December 2 to honour the country’s great achievers. Among the 2023 inductees were neuroscientist Dr. Brenda Milner in the Science, Technology & Innovation pillar, hockey star Connor McDavid for Sports & Athletics, the Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella under the Humanitarianism pillar, and Tantoo Cardinal, Avril Lavigne, Gary Slaight, Degrassi and Rick Mercer in Arts & Entertainment. Roots Canada cofounders Michael Budman and Don Green were honoured in Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy. And the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour went to Kardinal Offishall. Catherine Abreu was the National Hero Honouree. Indigenous-rights activist Autumn Peltier won the Community Hero Award. Singer Josh Alexander won grand prize in the RBC Emerging Musician Program.

Hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of The Property Brothers and singersongwriter-actor Deborah Cox, this starstudded event drew a dazzling array of high-profile attendees, including two former prime ministers (Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper), Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont.

Photography by George Pimentel

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WITHIN POWER WOMEN

Eight

trailblazing women who inspire change and empower others.

By Julie Gedeon

Photography by Natasha Gerschon

The national Spanish-language television network El Break is honouring eight influential women for International Women’s Day.

“We believe that the stories each of them has to share will inspire and empower others,” says the station’s co-founder Natalie Rivera.

El Break’s other co-founder, Stefania Serna, says the Women Who Inspire program is presenting individuals who have worked diligently to achieve success. “We’re hoping that by sharing their journeys we’ll make others aware that success isn’t something that happens overnight, but a process that involves a lot of time and effort,” she says.

Originally from Colombia, the co-founders know these challenges personally, having faced their own struggles in making El Break successful into its fourth season. “Content production, broadcasting,

social media … we do it all,” Serna says. “And we encountered quite a bit of discouragement starting out.”

The station has more than one million Latin and other viewers who take advantage of El Break to disconnect from their routines and connect with its programming. “We seriously consider the mission and ambition behind everything we put on the air with the aim of inspiring others,” Rivera says. “And that’s certainly going to be the case when our audience watches our interviews with these eight accomplished women.” She and Serna selected the women based on various criteria that included reflecting Canada’s diversity. “The main considerations were how each of them serves as a role model within her industry by mentoring others, and in giving back to her community,” Serna says.

The initiative is important because women still don’t have all the same opportunities or support as men, Rivera adds. Serna is confident that Women Who Inspire will show everyone watching how much perseverance has played in the success of the eight honourees. “Each of them has inspired us right to down to our soul,” she says.

Living Luxe asked the eight women to reflect on their biggest

LEFT TO RIGHT: ADRIANA VASQUEZ, ZAHRA HEMRAJ, SASHA EXETER, HALLA RAFATI, CHAU LUI, ISABEL CUELLAR, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ, SERENA ANTHONY

career challenges and the people who have influenced them. Many cited family members as their supportive inspirations. And all said they’ve had to struggle to achieve recognition.

“My key influences are the many female leaders I’ve encountered who challenge me to reimagine what modern womanhood looks like, and my daughters, who inspire me to continue to pave the way for other aspiring female executives,” says Serena Anthony, Chief People Officer at Group M North America. Others, such as Chau Lui, Co-Owner of Paris Jewellers , cited their mothers as strong influences. “My mom, the founder of Paris Jewellers, took every opportunity and challenge with grace and gratitude,” says Lui. Similarly, Jennifer Lipkowitz, Publisher of Living Luxe and Co-Founder of Living Luxe Media Group , says her mother has been her most steadfast role model. “In her 70s, my mother became a financial security advisor to partner with my middle sister,” Lipkowitz says. Zahra Hemraj, Director of Marketing & Data Integration at Citizen Watch Group , cites both of her parents and a former boss as key influences: “My father for teaching me the entrepreneurial mindset; my mother for teaching me strength and tenacity; and my first director for teaching me that it’s okay to set limits,” Hemraj says. Sasha Faith Exeter, Entrepreneur, Content Creator and Founder of Sasha Exeter Inc. , cites her mother and grandmother as her greatest influences. “Their drive, determination, perseverance and ability to defy obstacles inspired me to not be intimidated by any challenges that may come my way,” she says.

There have been struggles, too. Adriana Vasquez, an actress who plays Miranda in Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues and You! , says the struggle can be with oneself. “I’ve had to break through the paradigms that, as an immigrant, woman and Latina have been embedded in my head and have limited my beliefs,” she says. And sometimes, challenges hold the seeds of success. So it was for Isabel Cuellar, Founder and Director of the Mississauga Latin Festival . “My biggest challenge was making the festival virtual for three days during the pandemic,” she says. “We were one of the few festivals that did it virtually, and we reached not only the community in Canada but communities around the world.”

Roadblocks can encourage perseverance. “There are those who have difficulty accepting a woman of colour in power and seek to minimize my success,” says Halla Rafati, Founder and President of Halo & Co. “Their actions only serve as extra motivation for me to succeed.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: NATALIE RIVERA, STEFANIA SERNA

RIGHT: STYLING BY CITIZEN WATCH

CELEBRATORY VIBES

Living Luxe’s partners join its publisher and chief operating officer for an intimate dinner.

Photography By George Pimentel

Magical and memorable: They’re words that describe Living Luxe’s partner-appreciation event, held in early January at Casa Loma. “There was a really good vibe,” recalls Anthony Sirianni, Living Luxe’s chief operating officer. “Our guests have seen each other on multiple occasions and they really enjoyed the intimacy of the event.”

Sirianni and publisher Jennifer Lipkowitz welcomed 60 of the magazine’s partners and supporters to dinner at Casa Loma. Organized by Diana Pires, the event featured floral arrangements by Rosarium, music by Cody Cuisia and photography by George Pimentel.

1. JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI 2. COLIN DEMPSTER, SASHA REID, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI 3. MR. & MRS. FAZZARI 4. MR. AND MRS. ROSE 5. ERIC HENDRIKX , NATASHA KOIFMAN, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI 6. AAMOU RAFIQ, WISSAM QASSIM, MARIN ZABZUNI, TARIQ DARWISH AND VAL FRANSO 7. NADIA AND NICK DI DONATO 8. ANTHONY SIRIANNI AND

WHITE 9. DANA MAREI, SASHA REID, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ,

“ THERE WAS A REALLY GOOD VIBE.”

In addition to putting the magazine’s partners in the spotlight, the event was a celebration of Sirianni’s birthday. “We want to send our gratitude to Diana for her work,” Lipkowitz says. “And a big thank you goes to Nadia and Nick Di Donato for hosting everyone and creating a spectacular post-New Year’s celebration, which included feting Anthony on his birthday. We are grateful to all of our partners who attended and supported this.”

13. ANTHONY SIRIANNI, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ, GISELA MUSSEN AND NELI GECI. 14. ROMA ADIL, DANA MAREI, CARLA GUZMAN AND EDILKA ANDERSON 15. PAMIR RAFIQ, VAL FRANSO, AND AAMOU RAFIQ

16. RUTH BELL AND DAVID BELL 17. RALPH DEBRA 18. MARIE AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI, ANNETTE CHAUMONT 19. MR. AND MRS. KEVSEHI 20. FRAZIER DE MESA 21. AKBAR SHARIFI AND PARTY ATTENDEE

22. KEITH AND BEVERLY BINNS 23. MR. AND MRS. JANEIRO, MR. AND MRS. SHUBAT 24. WISSAM QASSIM, ANTHONY SIRIANNI, AND JOE BARRANCA 25. MONIQUE HEIDI, ANTHONY SIRIANNI, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ AND DAVID KIM 26. JULIANN HERGOT, MAREIKE GREVE, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ AND MARLA BAKER.

CANADA’S GOT OPERATIC TALENT

The Canadian Opera Company’s fundraiser shines a spotlight on emerging singers.

By Lily Li

With its glamorous theme of “Lights.Camera. Opera,” the Canadian Opera Company (COC) rolled out the red carpet for the 10th annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition.

The COC’s signature fundraiser, on October 26, in support of artistic and career development for emerging Canadian opera singers, was held at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Trendsetters, arts lovers and leaders of Toronto’s philanthropic community were invited to cast votes in the finale of the Ensemble Studio Competition, hosted this year by television’s Sangita Patel.

The seven finalists were selected from more than 100 applicants who auditioned across Canada. Each finalist performed two arias, accompanied by the COC Orchestra—one in a closed round for the judges and a final performance for both the judging panel and a live audience.

Soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais of Chicoutimi, Quebec won First Prize of $7,500 and the Audience Choice Award. Soprano Emily Rocha of Courtice, Ontario won the Second Prize of $5,000. Bass Duncan Stenhouse of Calgary, Alberta claimed the Third Prize of $2,500.

1. EMILY ROCHA, DUNCAN STENHOUSE, ELIZABETH ST-GELAIS 2. RAANA KALPAKJI, DINAH DEIF AND BECKIE DI LEO 3. HONEY LEE AND JACQUELINE DARLING 4. SADHISHA AMBAGAHAWITA AND RYAN MCGOVERN 5. KRISTY BALKWILL, PERRYN LEECH, LILY LI, CHRISTIE DARVILLE 6. BRIAN COLLINS 7. BARRY AVRICH 8. JONATHAN MORGAN AND ADJOA DUNCAN 9.SANGITA PATEL 10. COLIN DEMPSTER, SASHA REID, LILY LI MICHAEL DETLEFSEN, SYLVIA KIM, KARY YANG, JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ, SVETLANA ARCHIBALD, GEOFF ARCHIBALD, AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI

Photography by Ryan Emberley

CREATING A BIG BUZZ

The BUZZ Conference brought together leaders in the real estate industry to inspire, motivate and foster networking.

By Virginia Munden

The BUZZ Conference, a renowned Canadian real estate conference, returned to Toronto in early February with GAMECHANGER 2024. The event attracted the Who’s Who of Canadian real estate, including influential leaders, thinkers, and innovators. Held at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in downtown Toronto, the conference offered a day of inspiring presentations, motivational speeches, and excellent networking opportunities. Top professionals from the real estate sector converged to exchange insights and ideas. The buzz around GAMECHANGER 2024 underscored its significance as a pivotal platform for industry professionals.

1. JENNIFER LIPKOWITZ, CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER AND ANTHONY SIRIANNI 2. VIRGINIA MUNDEN, CHRISTOPHER AND SHAE INVIDIATA

CHRISTOPHER WEIN, BRYAN LEVY AND MARCUS TSAFERIS

WAYNE MUNDEN AND JON CHEPLAK

Photography by OTBx Air

AN ELEGANT, IMPORTANT EVENING

The 27th edition of Bloor Street Entertains raises an unprecedented $1.5 million for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.

By Lily Li

Bloor Street Entertains, an annual event for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), raised a record $1.5 million on the eve of World AIDS Day. It was the organization’s 27th edition of this signature fundraising event, held on November 30, 2023 in 23 venues, including fashion houses, galleries, hotels, and boutiques in the Bloor-Yorkville area. Co-chaired by Candice Sinclair, Janice Fricker, and Michael Liebrock, with Sylvia Mantella serving as honourary chair, the event featured notable chefs, who created dining experiences for some of the city’s most influential philanthropists and art patrons.

Proceeds from the event go to HIV research, testing and awareness programs in Canada. Since 1987, CANFAR has invested more than $25 million across more than 550 HIV/AIDS projects to help end the HIV epidemic in Canada, with a focus on prevention, treatment, and care.

1. ALEX FILIATRAULT, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST, MYA 2. SEAMUS O’REGAN, SCOTT BRISON, STELIOS DOUSSIS AND RICK MERCER 3. CANDICE SINCLAIR, JANICE FRICKER AND MICHAEL LIEBROCK 4. ASHLEY

Photography by George Pimentel

A SUMPTUOUS UNION

The design of Blue Bovine, a new celebrity-backed steak-and-sushi restaurant in Union Station, is an opulent synthesis of textures and colours. See more on page 118.

THIS IMAGE: Mitch Marner, Kevin O’Leary and Nick Di Donato

Stephanie Whittaker Editor-In-Chief

PLAYERS IN HOSPITALITY

Liberty Entertainment Group’s Nick and Nadia Di Donato have partnered with celebrity entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary and Maple Leafs all-star Mitch Marner in their latest venture: Blue Bovine. Located in Union Station, the steak-and-sushi restaurant is at the junction of Bay Street and the Scotiabank Arena district, offering culinary delights to the business community, sports fans and everyone else who loves the high-end cuisine for which Liberty Group is famous. Here, the partners discuss with Living Luxe editor-in-chief Stephanie Whittaker why Blue Bovine is such an exquisite addition to the heritage train station and how Liberty Entertainment Group is scoring another win in the fi ne-dining arena.

By Stephanie Whittaker

Photography by Natasha Gerschon

Location: Blue Bovine, Union Station

Forthe past century, Toronto’s Union Station has been a destination for countless travellers and commuters. And now, thanks to the remarkable vision and creative energy of Nick and Nadia Di Donato, the iconic building is also a destination for those in search of elegant fine dining. In February, the Di Donatos—the powerhouse couple behind Liberty Entertainment Group—opened Blue Bovine, a highend steak-and-sushi restaurant, on the main floor of the historic train station. It’s the latest jewel in the crown for a company that has so many glittering achievements: award-winning restaurants that include BlueBlood Steakhouse, DaNico and Don Alfonso 1890, in addition to event venues Liberty Grand and Casa Loma.

“I’ve always been aware that Union Station has great potential for development, and we at Liberty Group are fascinated by and drawn to heritage sites,” says Nick Di Donato, president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group. And while the historic quality of the Beaux Arts-style rail station was an obvious draw, its geographical location was another magic ingredient, he adds. Union Station is at the nexus of two key localities in downtown Toronto: the Bay Street financial district and nearby Scotiabank Arena area.

area and the other, the sports arena.” It's a synergistic combination. Nick laughs when he speaks of how Kevin O’Leary—a friend for the past three decades—once proclaimed he’d never invest in the hospitality industry because “it’s too risky.” But when O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, learned about Blue Bovine being established in Union Station, he deemed it a perfect opportunity, thanks to the leadership of Liberty Entertainment Group and the Union Station location. While he’d never invested in a restaurant before, O’Leary says, the Liberty Group has a long, successful track record in the industry with flourishing, awardwinning venues.

The opulence of the interior design is matched only by the spectacular culinary offerings at Blue Bovine.

It's one of the elements that gave the restaurant an allure for the two celebrities who are partnered in it with Liberty Entertainment Group. Kevin O’Leary, a well-known businessman and investor is highly recognizable as chairman of O’Leary Ventures and as a star on ABC’s Shark Tank. Mitch Marner, a right winger and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is a star in the hockey world. “My partners are as diverse as what the restaurant is going to be,” Nick says. “Our restaurant will target two different markets: professionals in the financial district and the Leafs fans who go to the Scotiabank Arena. One of my partners represents the financial

It was also perfect timing, says O’Leary, whose business dealings have led him into the food and wine sectors in recent years. An avid foodie and wine connoisseur, he’s been rolling out his Chef Wonderful Brooklyn Dumplings franchise business for the past two years. “I’ve been cooking my whole life but I never commercialized it until the past three years,” he says.

O’Leary says he’ll be a presence at the restaurant whenever he’s in Toronto. Like Marner, he’ll bring celebrity to the establishment. The restaurant is already turning heads for its superb, high-end cuisine and spectacularly designed interiors. Moreover, says Nick, it will be a rare high-end establishment in an area that boasts more fast food than fine dining. “You have over 200 events at the Scotiabank Arena every year and there really is no restaurant of substance attached to it,” says O’Leary. “There are a lot of fast-food take-out concessions, but if you want to have a real meal and taste delicacies and drink fine wine, you’re going to do it here, at Blue Bovine.”

The other partner in the venture, Maple Leafs player Mitch Marner, entered the Blue Bovine partnership serendipitously. Nick says he met the all-star hockey player when Marner and his then-fiancee Stephanie were dining at Liberty Group’s restaurant BlueBlood at Casa Loma. “I told them I wanted to buy them dinner,” Nick recalls.

With its marriage of heritage architecture, central location, luxurious interior design and superb culinary offerings, Blue Bovine has the right ingredients to be an outstanding success.

“I sent complimentary items to their table as a gesture of goodwill and, in return, received a signed Leafs jersey from Mitch the following day.” It reminded Nick of his meeting with another hockey great: “Mitch’s heartfelt gesture brought back memories of my first restaurant—PM Toronto—next to Maple Leaf Gardens, and meeting Wayne Gretzky, who sent me a signed hockey stick during the World Cup of Hockey,” he says. “Mitch's gesture, like Wayne's, led me to believe that the Blue Bovine project presented an opportunity for Mitch to venture into the hospitality industry and for me to nurture a friendship with this fine gentleman.”

Mitch Marner says he’s excited at the prospect of being part of a winning team off the ice, too. “We have a great relationship with the partners, and know they are good at what they do,” he says, adding that the restaurant’s location is an important part of the equation. “I think the location is going to be great, especially for any events happening at Scotiabank Arena. We are very excited to have our friends, family and teammates there.”

O’Leary concurs that part of the secret sauce in the venture is the phenomenal success of Liberty Entertainment Group, which has created landmark restaurants across the city, winning worldwide acclaim. In 2022, the company’s Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant won the 50 Top Italy Award for best Italian restaurant in the world. And if the culinary accolades aren’t enough, Liberty is equally lauded for the outstanding interior design of its establishments, created by Nadia Di Donato, the company’s vice president and creative director. Nadia, who is behind the look and feel of all Liberty Group establishments, has won international design awards for her work, most recently last year for Don Alfonso 1890, for which she won the Best Restaurant Design

Award in the Americas from the International Hotel & Property Awards in London, England. She was also one of the top five designers in the Designer of the Year award.

Still basking in the glow of those honours, Nadia turned her attention to the design of Blue Bovine, which she says was a 14-month process because of all the approvals that were necessary from governmental heritage ministries. The restaurant’s 15,000 square feet, at the east end of Union Station—corner of Bay and Front Streets—was raw space when LEG took on the tenancy: concrete floors and ceilings, no dividing walls, and a lack of architecturally historic features. The space had once served as offices, but was now empty, giving Nadia a clean slate on which to perform her design magic. Despite the blank canvas, Nadia and Nick were committed to creating design that would respect and echo the heritage of the building.

The primary challenge of the design, says Nadia, was the height of the ceilings, which are lower than what she’s accustomed to working with. “We were working with 10-foot ceiling heights instead of what would normally be 14 or 16 feet,” she says. “Rather than working against it, I incorporated that factor into the decor.” She created a customdesigned, CNC laser-cut patterned steel ceiling, done by the design firm Eventscape. “It’s a peakaboo into the mechanics above, much like you would see the mechanics on an old, fine watch,” she says.

Nadia also worked with the large support pillars in the space. “We incorporated them into the design. I clad them in a custom bovine graphic,” she says, adding that the overall aesthetic is a fusion of traditional and modern elements that include rustic steel and traditional, ornate spindles. The walls are treated in dark colours. “We’re a steak and Japanese house,” Nadia says. “So, I wanted to marry those looks without

I anticipate that we will consistently experience a high demand.

the space looking too Japanese or too steak house. In certain areas, I incorporated linear Japanese-style seating booths. And there’s also circular tub-style seating. I wanted it to translate into a traditional steakhouse with a modern flair. The styling has two distinct threads: ornate in a traditional fashion and modern in the cut of the furniture. The elements that tie it in are the colours.”

The colour scheme is earthy, embracing creams, browns and blues, accentuated by a deep wine colour used in the bar stools. Three varieties of wood—oak, maple and walnut— stained in three shades create visual variety. And in a nod to the restaurant’s location near the financial district, fabrics include tweeds that represent business suits.

As in the Liberty Group’s other restaurants, Nick and Nadia have incorporated art into the interiors. The showstopping art at Blue Bovine includes street-art works by Mr. Brainwash, Peter Tunney, Peter Triantos and Mr. Pink Brush. A different kind of art stands sentinel on Front Street in front of the establishment’s doors: a custom bronze bovine modeled on the iconic Wall Street bull. This one, however, faces in the opposite direction to its New York counterpart. “It reflects how different our mindset in the Toronto financial sector is from New York’s,” Nick says.

The opulence of the interior design is matched only by the spectacular culinary offerings at Blue Bovine, overseen by Executive Chef Sean Blomeley, formerly at Liberty Group’s BlueBlood. Nick says the fusion of steak and sushi in the same establishment, while a relatively new concept in North America, is common in Japan. “In Japan, the steak houses are all steak and sushi houses,” he says. “Our most significant beef at Blue Bovine will be brought in from Japan: We’ll have Kobe from Japan, Wagyu beef from around the world and with that will be paired a great sushi. We’ll also showcase Canadian beef because we have some of the best in the world.” He adds that

Blue Bovine’s “extraordinarily talented sushi chef is Chef Yi Joo (Eugene) Na. He’s an extrovert and will be in the middle of the restaurant, serving a pre-set menu for eight, in Omakase style.”

In addition to elegant dining, Blue Bovine will dedicate 8,000 square feet of space to a private members’ wine club, which will offer wine storage in a climate-controlled unit. “Membership in the Bovine Wine Club allows people to store their own wine here and enjoy it in the lounge area or with dinner here,” Nick says. “They can have their own private collection of up to 96 bottles. Part of our demographic will be people who work in the towers who live outside the downtown core and don’t want to go home before having dinner or heading to the Scotiabank Arena, the Meridian Centre or the Rogers Centre. They can store their bottles here and enjoy them in our private facility.” Wine clubs have grown in popularity in Toronto in recent years among condo residents who have limited space for wine cellars, Nick says. However, the concept behind the restaurant-based wine club is novel, taking the practice of “bring your own wine” to a whole new level.

Kevin O’Leary says the restaurant’s proximity to the Scotiabank Centre could be an enticement to sports fans to enjoy its offerings before or after hockey games. The man who plays hockey in the Scotiabank Centre concurs. “I’m excited to be involved in the hospitality industry and I’m sure this has incredible opportunity for future growth,” says Mitch Marner.

With its marriage of heritage architecture, central location, luxurious interior design and superb culinary offerings, Blue Bovine has the right ingredients to be an outstanding success.

“There is a vibrant and multifaceted market surrounding the restaurant,” says Nick. “I anticipate that we will consistently experience a high demand.”

Creativity UNLEASHED

Jennifer Lipkowitz and Anthony Sirianni are the brains behind the Living Luxe Design Show, which will shine a spotlight on Toronto’s crème de la crème in fashion, architecture, interior design and real estate.

By Susan Kelly

Location: Toronto Congress Centre

Portrait Photography by Natasha Gerschon

Styling by Jenna Bitove-Naumovich

Oneday, the usually pragmatic co-founder and chief operating officer of Living Luxe, Anthony Sirianni, had a vision. “I could see the magazine evolving into an exhibition like no other, where fashion and home and lifestyle converge,” he says. Immediately in synch was co-founder Jennifer Lipkowitz, the magazine’s visionary originator, publisher and driving force. “I saw the publication come to life,” she says, “in a non-stop immersive experience for anyone who loves good design and luxury.”

The shared vision becomes reality at the Living Luxe Design Show (LLDS), presented by JennAir, running from April 19 to 21. Thousands of design aficionados are expected to converge on the Toronto Congress Centre to experience the magic. It is the second show the pair have organized. This one is six times larger than the first, with more than 60,000 square feet of the hall transformed into an unparalleled, grand-scale exhibition, featuring more than 50 exhibitors and a host of special events. “This could not have been possible without the creative direction and partnership of show director Diana Pires,” Lipkowitz says. “I couldn’t agree more,” Sirianni adds.

of everyday life. This focus has made Living Luxe stand out from traditional shelter magazines—and also distinguishes LLDS. “Most shows are for the industry or about selling products,” she explains.

“Our show is about amazing experiences and showcasing forward fashion alongside la crème of home designers, architects, builders and trades.”

This will be the only event of its kind to feature daily fashion shows. Produced in association with the Toronto Fashion Academy, they will command the centre stage and will spotlight mostly local designers. The scope widens on Friday, April 19, when world designers send collections down the catwalk during the International Fashion Encounter.

Each of the three days will be completely different from the other, but all provide a unique chance to see the magazine come to life.

Lipkowitz sees a common thread running through fashion, interior design and architecture: They are all liveable art, making creative expression a part

On the home front, each day, industry experts will grace the main stage to give captivating design talks and fireside chats or appear in panel discussions. Among the worldrenowned interior designers sharing their expertise and creativity: Karim Rashid, Lori Morris, Michael London, Wise Nadel and others. And the muchlauded architect Richard Wengle will appear, among other creative or trade professionals. A fascinating discussion on Disrupting Design with JennAir is also planned.

”

Our show is about amazing experiences and showcasing forward fashion alongside la crème of home designers, architects, builders and trades.

Offstage, the interaction continues.

“Unlike most shows, many of the designers, architects and builders seen in the magazine are also exhibitors at LLDS,” Sirianni says. “They are an integral part of the show.” Which means you can visit their booths or just might bump into them as you stroll the exhibition. Most booths will have an interactive element as well as an opportunity to be immersed in good design. Exhibitors will bring their A-games, as each vies to win the Best Designed Booth award and the coveted front cover on Living Luxe magazine’s 2024 design issue.

As a prelude to the event, on Thursday, April 18, LLDS will host the second City Couture Gala in support of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). A select audience of 310

people will attend the ultra-glam VIP fashion show. A passion project for Lipkowitz, the first event raised $52,000, a figure she hopes to double in 2024.

Not to be left out, the public is invited to attend the opening night party on Friday, April 19. There they will rub shoulders with exhibitors, from designers to builders to architects and hobnob with media personalities, bloggers and influencers covering the event. Also on the guest list: highprofile businesspeople, prominent socialites and celebrities, among others.

On Saturday, April 20, the day’s action-packed schedule concludes with the inaugural Living Luxe Awards Show. The glittering gala will celebrate the country’s shining stars of interior design, architecture, fashion, and real estate. The winners will be selected by a panel of six judges, all design luminaries in their own right. “There is so much talent here in Canada,” Lipkowitz says, “and it’s important to celebrate those who have left their mark and transcended boundaries.”

The Sunday, April 21 schedule includes a Buzz Conference with the theme Buzz Luxury Secrets. This will be a premier event for the real estate industry, showcasing some of its leaders and providing networking opportunities. To ensure LLDS is accessible to most, day passes are available for $25 at livingluxedesignshow.ca and free parking will be available. And as for which day to go, Sirianni suggests checking the website for the updated schedule. “Each of the three days will be completely different from the others,” he says, “but all provide a unique chance to see the magazine come to life.” For the full experience, three-day passes are available.

LIVINGLUXEDESIGNSHOW–April19to21

Friday, Saturday and Sunday — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Toronto Congress Centre,650DixonRd.,Etobicoke.NorthBuilding,HallH.One-daygeneral admission passes $25 and three-day passes $50 (plus taxes and fees), less forchildrenandseniors.Occasionalspecialoffersanddiscountsavailable. livingluxedesignshow.ca

Chic Chateau

A brilliant bijou in an exclusive and tranquil setting, this Aurora Village property is equally coveted for its stately architecture and the lifestyle it affords.

By Susan Kelly

Photography by Troy Cunningham

Nothingsays sophisticated, opulent living like the French chateau, a style prized and adapted around the world. This home, situated on more than one acre, interprets it in dramatic architecture with exquisite and extensive detailing on the bold limestone facade. The interplay of archways, dormers and rotunda elevates this 12,500-square-foot home’s exterior into the sublime. “The mansion is truly palatial,” says Barry Cohen, broker and owner of Cohen Homes & Estates in Toronto, who has listed the home for sale. “Yet it’s also surprisingly warm and welcoming—an effect carried into the interior of this home that is as functional as it is beautiful.”

The estate at 100 Kennedy Road West, complete with meticulously manicured lawns, is ensconced in the heart of prestigious Aurora Village. Though geographically near Toronto’s hustle and bustle, this peaceful, affluent town in the Golden Horseshoe is home to some of the GTA’s wealthiest residents. The location offers close proximity to some of the finest private schools, such as St. Andrew's College and The Country Day School. “It’s also home to some of the best golf and country clubs in Ontario, just one of the attractions that make this such a sought-after place to live,” Cohen says.

Much of the interior architecture has the stately traditional grace worthy of a chateau. The main floor’s grand entranceway and adjoining living and dining rooms share baronial features: graceful wainscoting, intricate beamed and coffered ceilings, multi-leveled crown molding and elegant floor-to-ceiling windows. Tastefully appointed fireplaces add Old-World warmth to both rooms. European hand-oiled hardwood flooring laid in a herringbone pattern runs throughout the home.

The house also showcases contemporary touches. An open-plan gourmet kitchen allows an unobstructed flow into the adjoining breakfast area and family room, and is fitted with top-of-the-line appliances. Dramatic black-framed floor-to-ceiling fenestration fills the space with natural light. And each room has built-in audio speakers connected to an app-controlled sound system for aural ambience. With five bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the home can easily accommodate a large family or frequent guests. The spacious bedrooms are on the second floor, where there is also a cozy family room that invites lounging. The primary bedroom has the elegant grandeur in keeping with the rest of the home, complete with L-shaped dressing room and the luxury of adjoining and

“In many ways, it is a rare find: intimate enough for family evenings at home, spacious enough for large gatherings and events.”

fully appointed his-and-hers ensuite bathrooms. “This is a dream home,” says Cohen, “but especially for those who love to entertain.” The sweeping driveway provides parking space for 20, ample for both residents and visitors. The cinephiles among them might head directly for the two-storey home’s basement level, where there’s a spacious state-of-the-art residential cinema, with a wallspanning screen, multiple speakers and comfy tiered seating. There is also an opulent recreation room and bar area, both letting onto a billiards room, and a fully equipped home gym and three-piece washroom. A wine cellar and tasting room are easily accessed from the upstairs dining room.

Cohen considers the resort-like cabana area one of the outstanding aspects of this impressive estate. Located in the rear of the property, a modern pool house with pine-beamed cathedral ceiling stands beside the heated pool. It features a full bar and imposing floor-to-ceiling woodburning fireplace clad with limestone. A NanaWall—folding glass doors—opens to create seamless access to the lounging area and outdoor kitchen.

There are private spaces, too, within this grand manor. Among them, his-and-hers libraries provide ready retreats that may be tweaked by a new owner to make an even more personal oasis. One library leads into a piano room, also accessible through the living room, with expansive windows overlooking the gardens. The property is listed at just under $10 million. “The estate is architecturally significant, yet surprisingly comfortable and warm,” says Cohen. “In many ways, it is a rare find: intimate enough for family evenings at home, spacious enough for large gatherings and events.”

SUBLIMELY SCANDINAVIAN

Contempo Studio puts a fresh twist on a minimalist style to create an elegant yet warm home, using standout materials and curating high-end details.

By Susan Kelly Photography by Stakreative

“Unique, modern and Scandinavianinspired” was the first design direction that architectural designer Marin Zabzuni received before conceiving this stunning 3,400-square-foot home in the IslingtonCity Centre West area of Toronto. The homeowners, a young couple expecting their second child, were intent on building their first and forever home from the ground up. “They also wanted a look that would stand the test of time as their family grew,” says Zabzuni, the founder and owner of Toronto-based design firm Contempo Studio, “so there was a lot to consider in making their dreams come true.”

He first looked to the roofline as a hallmark of Scandinavian architecture: steeply pitched, even A-line. On the finished fourbedroom, two-storey home, this feature helps create a striking and distinctive facade. The angular roof also was a musthave for the homeowners; it would make for soaring ceilings within, and for them evokes warm associations with cottage-country architecture.

The design style is also about making the most of available natural light. To ensure that the entire main floor would be flooded with it, the homeowners envisaged their future home with floor-to-ceiling windows

Our choices elevate and emphasize the design while also adding comfort and warmth.

on opposite sides of the structure, front and back. This posed a challenge for the designers and builder, Tailor Build, because the massive windows follow the angle of the roof line. “It took a great deal of engineering to ensure loads were supported to accommodate them and the roof,” Zabzuni says. “We also had to source custom black aluminum-framed windows from Europe. But it turned out beautifully.”

The use of natural materials is de rigeur in classic Scandinavian design. For an on-trend twist that adds drama, much of the home’s exterior is clad with Japanese wood siding. Called shou sugi ban, it is made by charring wood to preserve it. Designers prize the material for the rich black colour, something also intrinsic to this style of home. And the textured surface helps soften the starkness of the architecture’s sharp angles. To add more warmth to the facade’s design, wood-toned composite panels were added to the roof overhang that surrounds the large windows. They emulate a natural material while being virtually maintenance-free. As well, precast concrete stonework adds an organic touch, further hinting at the coziness to be found within.

For the home’s elegant interior, instead of dark and dramatic, Contempo Studio created a light and airy aesthetic. Underfoot, the wide-plank maple hardwood flooring in a pale tone runs throughout. Walls are painted a pristine and snowy white in keeping with Scandinavian style. All cabinetry is in the same hue, with no visible handles and few details to distract the eye. The almost

entirely open plan comprises the living room at the front of the house letting into the kitchen and dining areas, and a spacious and chicly appointed family room. Off the latter, large sliding doors let onto the backyard and an inviting covered patio area perfect for entertaining.

The home’s four bedrooms are located on the second floor. In the primary bedroom, the homeowners enjoy another feature high on their wish list: a soaring 17-foot cathedral ceiling. In a home with limited floor area, this feature gives a sense of spaciousness and airy grandeur overhead. There are large windows in every bedroom. Less is more in Scandinavian design, with clean lines and an overall sense of minimalism being de rigeur. And because there are so few of them, every detail from light fixtures to door hinges becomes especially important. “It took a lot of effort to carefully curate every detail,” Zabzuni says, “but in the end our choices elevate and emphasize the design while also adding comfort and warmth.”

Echoing the exterior design, black accents punctuate the virtually all-white interior decor. The stairway’s custom-designed hand railings, for instance, provide an almost sculptural design element. In the living room, a modern suspended log-burning fireplace becomes the focal point. The homeowners are now happily enjoying family life in their new home, and Zabzuni can add the project to Contempo Studio’s impressive portfolio of exquisite luxury homes. “Being a young family, the homeowners were on a tight budget,” he says. “We made wise architectural and design decisions to keep costs down while creating an upscale and nicely balanced design that has tons of unique flair, yet still feels cozy.”

Family A REFINED HOME

In reimagining this Mississauga home, designer Darlene Janeiro created a space that marries comfortable practicality with modern elegance.

By Susan Kelly

Photography by Judah Hernandez

DarleneJaneiro had an edge in the revamp of this five-bedroom home: a warm, longstanding client-designer relationship with the new owners. Before the two became a couple, she got to know them individually over 15 years while creating chic interiors for each. “This couple loves to entertain and include members of their large extended families, too,” Janeiro says. “So, we aimed for an elegant yet liveable and welcoming home for everyone.”

Janeiro, founder and owner of Darlene Janeiro Design in Oakville, transformed the once-dated home in the prime Streetsville area of Mississauga. Virtually every room received a stylish update; the exterior facade and landscaping had also been done in previous years. As for style, one homeowner leaned towards contemporary, the other preferred more traditional. The designer created a special take on modern elegance, a brilliant compromise that harmoniously blends their tastes. Function also is important in design as people must comfortably perform day-to-day actions.

And this designer believes it’s crucial that they feel good while doing so. “In designing, I go deeper to meet emotional needs,” she says. “This personalized home renovation caters to the clients' lifestyle, embodying their unique preferences and needs.  We aimed to create tailored spaces, reflecting a seamless integration of their daily routines and activities, which resulted in a home that feels distinctly theirs.”

Janeiro’s intentional approach keeps in mind the psychology of colour and placement, and their effects on people’s moods. Elements combine to create serene elegance: high ceilings and large windows for an airy feeling, earthy tones on floors and backsplashes for a grounding effect. The home’s consistent colour palette of greys and blues evokes calming water, while vibrant orange accents in artwork and accessories add fire. “We designed with science and nature as a focus,” she says. The couple’s 10-yearold daughter, who hopes to be an interior designer one day, was

highly involved in the home’s revamp. Her parents often included her in design decisions, especially for her own bedroom and ensuite bathroom. She spent a day in-studio with Janeiro and the team to experience the life of a designer, and chose boldly coloured artwork for her room. A custom frame system was also devised to showcase the girl’s passion for photography.

The main level of the nearly 4,000-square-foot house includes the living room, dining room, office, kitchen, family room, powder room and mud room. The living room best reflects the blending of old and new, and respect for family. “We were able to inject classic pieces updated with modern grey or cream upholstery, played against abstract artwork and a patterned area rug,” Janeiro says. The kitchen design is an area for both the immediate and extended families to enjoy. Contemporary appliances play against timeless Shaker-style cabinetry and veined marble-patterned Caesarstone backsplash and countertops. The showstopper large island is straight-edged on the kitchen end, gracefully concaved on the other. Nestled into the curve is a bench for seating the family to dine around a 72-inch custom-crafted wood table. Janeiro says the round table was chosen because the shape is organic and welcoming. “It’s all about unity,” she says. “Every inch of the kitchen was intentionally designed with bringing family together. It was a labour of love. The husband loves to showcase his culinary skills for his family.”

The family is looking forward to spring when they can open the patio doors off the kitchen. There a backyard oasis awaits, with more opportunities to entertain around the pool and cabana or outdoor kitchen. Meanwhile, the homeowners are enjoying their new home and have given Janeiro and her team rave reviews. And they have already commissioned her to revamp the basement level. “This home was designed to be timeless enough that only minor refreshes, a change of accessory here and there, are needed to update it years from now,” Janeiro says. “What’s most important is to have a space that is designed for today, that makes you happy in the moment. The home seamlessly blends practicality and sophistication, featuring thoughtfully designed spaces that prioritize functionality without sacrificing elegance.”

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Interior designer Andrea

McMullen creates welcoming bedrooms and bathrooms in this Innisfil home for the owners’ visiting children and grandchildren.

By Adriana Ermter

by Larry Arnal

Morethan 30 years ago, colourful paint, wall murals and faux finishes were the trifecta that catapulted Andrea McMullen’s firm ADM Design Inc. into the successful business it is now. So, when a client asked the interior designer to make their Innisfil home’s three bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms so inviting their children and grandchildren would want to vacation there every summer, she said “yes” and tapped into her artistic roots. “I have a background in fine art, and doing murals and finishes for children’s rooms was how I got started,” McMullen explains. “I knew I could incorporate that kind of playfulness into my client’s home, particularly in the grandchildren’s room, and do it in an elevated way that felt luxurious and harmonious.”

To ensure this harmony, the designer used a palette of white, black, grey and taupe colours, supplemented with accents in gold and cream in all three spaces. Prioritizing form, function and easy living, she painted each

Photography

room’s walls a fresh white hue and laid light-coloured wideplank hardwood floors to create a low-maintenance, vacation-like vibe that would entice family to visit and would fit with the homeowners’ everyday life.

For the primary suite, McMullen transformed the original 1980s pink floral decor into a modern wonder. A wood-fluted accent wall and a starburst-shaped ceiling light inject texture and fun. Seamless built-in custom closets add storage; a cream Venetian plaster-encased gas fireplace adds warmth. Dashes of McMullen’s imaginative spirit can be seen in the crisp grey and white bedding, the sumptuous seating, a lush area rug, the pendant bedside lighting, and the fluffy pompom-adorned pillows. Hanging adjacent to the bed, an enormous multimedia painting replete with rope and paper lends an air of calm sophistication. “It needed to be spectacular,” says McMullen of her choice of original artwork. “The client is a big personality who embraces life, and an original piece like this reflects that energy and gives the space soul.”

This grounded energy extends into the ensuite bathroom. Warm and earthy-toned bookmatched porcelain wall tiles are positioned perfectly above the floor’s soothing grey hexagonal tiles. Hints of black, from the rainshower head to the porcelain inshower bench, create contrast that, when combined with the

vanity’s sleek grey countertop, offer just the right amount of elegance.

That refined elegance carries over into the adult children’s ensuite where the shower’s zebra-esque streaked porcelain tiles are the showstopper. “The client came to us because she was told we could stretch her imagination,” says McMullen. “We fell in love with this stone, knew it was outside her comfort zone, but shared it with her anyway. She connected with it bang on.” Black and white details reign in the adjoining bedroom on the bed’s throw pillows and in the artwork. “The organic abstract prints take up almost an entire wall, they’re so grand,” says McMullen. “I love the drama of their white art gallery matting.”

Down the hall, a playful kind of drama resides within the grandchildren’s suite. There’s the arts and crafts table in the corner, and a regal-looking stuffed lion holds court beside the two matching queen-size custom-made beds. Crafted with washable

light grey vinyl headboards and fabric bases, they’re certain to stand the test of time. And, of course, McMullen has added inviting whimsical touches, including graphic-print throw pillows, marble arched lamps, curved side tables, irregular shaped metalframed accent mirrors, a cushy sofa and plush sheepskin rugs. Inside the ensuite bathroom, large-scale porcelain tiles in clean white, black, and earth tones cover the shower-bath’s walls. Knobby, black-framed mirrors nestled above the white vanity reflect the artwork that hangs on two of the bathroom’s walls. Each print features a drawing of an animal with a black and white vintage camera. “They’re playful and have a lot of personality,” McMullen says, adding, “I’ve sold this series to adults, so I know the kids will grow with it.” Which was exactly the homeowner’s goal. “After all,” the designer says, laughing, “when parents make their homes this incredible, it’s like bribery to get their family to visit.”

This 42nd-floor penthouse terrace is a serene refuge for its owners in their downtown location.

By Stephanie Whittaker

HIGH-IMPACT design

Photography by Rob Holowka

Farabove the hurly-burly of downtown Toronto is a peaceful penthouse terrace, beloved and much used by its owners. It’s a garden in the sky, a perfect spot for admiring sunrises and sunsets, for lounging, dining, entertaining and escaping the busyness of the urban environment.

The terrace, perched on the building’s 42nd floor and running the full length of the condominium, needed a major redesign when the owners called in designer Lisa Aiken to transform it into a luxury retreat. “My clients wanted privacy and places to dine and entertain,” says Aiken, owner and principal of Terra Firma Design, a company specializing in designing and installing terraces as well as interiors. While the couple had inherited a few planters and some patio furniture from the previous owners, there was much work ahead to create the kind of sanctuary the designer envisaged.

One of the key challenges Aiken and her team faced was strong winds, the kind that can send furniture flying. “People don’t realize how much wind there is at that height, close to the lake and among so many skyscrapers,” the designer says. “Safety is always my first concern in this type of situation. We had to ensure that the planters and furnishings could withstand the wind.” That meant altering the weight on the furniture and custom-made planters. “We had to create something that would be as safe as it was beautiful,” Aiken says. “How were we going to place everything without it flying off the terrace? It required many skilled minds, ideas and consideration.” As she does with such challenges, she turned to her husband, Andrew Smith of Andrew Smith Contracting. “He’s our tech guy,” she says. “Everyone calls him ‘MacGyver.’ He figures things out.” And there was a lot to figure out with this complex project, including how to install customdesigned interior and exterior lighting.

The exterior lights illuminate 45 planters that measure 24 by 24 by 24 inches. In addition to providing lighting, the planters offer privacy. “There are buildings all around this downtown area, overlooking the terrace,” says Aiken. “The palm trees measure five to six feet tall and there are six in each planter.” They also visually divide the long, linear terrace into separate garden rooms: a firepit custom-designed by Aiken and flanked by two sofas and two armchairs, a custom kitchen area, a dining space, an L-shaped seating area, a dedicated corner for the owners’ dogs and a private sanctuary off the main bedroom. “I like that you cannot see everything at once,” the designer says. “You have to walk through the space. While each of the 10 dimmable lighting zones is distinct, the design is cohesive in style and colour palette.”

The bedroom patio is the owners’ go-to spot in the mornings. It features thoughtfully chosen fabrics, colours and custom-designed cushions. “It’s a private, sheltered area,” Aiken says. “My clients wanted a section that would be their own little oasis.” And because the homeowners have two dogs, she created an area just for canines, separated from view by the ubiquitous planters.

Another element that delineates the outdoor rooms is artwork. Aiken commissioned her talented artist to create two spectacular murals to separate the bedroom terrace from the adjacent seating

area. “We worked with the client on this and made samples until it was perfect, and we built a custom framework to keep the large-scale art safe on the terrace." On one side of the tableau, raspberry-coloured water lilies echo the cushion colours on the bedroom patio’s wicker daybed. On the other, blue aquatic plants edged in black face the primarily black and white seating area.

Furnishings have rounded edges to soften the linearity of the terrace. Surrounding the fire pit, the decor boasts a creamy-gold palette. “The cushions are specially weighted to withstand the wind,” Aiken says. The 15-foot-long custom kitchen is white with cream and white Dekton finishes. The dining section and next living-room area feature black, white and gold. In contrast, the private patio is a combination of raspberry, gold, green and an animal print.

Despite its central location, the terrace is a refuge for its owners. “They use it constantly,” Aiken says. “It’s unique. Everyone who worked on it was in awe of it when it was completed. But most important, the client’s family and friends loved it, too. When my client saw it after we’d completed it, she cried. And each time we walked into another garden room, she cried again. That made me cry. We are all happy.”

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