DESIGNLINESの Issue 4, 2022 の目次

I am so pleased to announce our Designer of the Year competition winner, Odami. The duo of Michael Fohring and Aránzazu González Bernardo is one that our judges could not resist. An up-and-coming studio that already has some big residential and commercial projects under its belt, Odami embodies much that we celebrate here at Designlines – beyond the obvious creative talent, the studio has an intangible authenticity that speaks volumes. When we interview creatives, a favourite question is “what was the vision, the spark, the genesis of the idea?” It’s in these answers that we find the human side of design, which, especially in a home, is essential. Odami’s multi-sensory approach embodies humanity with its materials, colours and connection to place. Their work draws you in and puts you at…

Meet Odami. Even the name of this Toronto studio is thoughtfully and collaboratively designed by Canadian designer Michael Fohring and Spanish architect Aránzazu González Bernardo. From their elegant Aesop Yorkville shop to their tactile and intriguing Pet Objects, this duo has their sights set high. They first met in Austria where they were working together at the same firm. A few years later, they both found themselves in Canada. The couple branched out on their own in 2017 after designing the interiors of the Portland Street restaurant Sara. And, they have been forging a beautiful path ever since. Ideation is at the centre of their practice, with each one bringing a slightly different approach to the table. Raised and educated in Spain, Bernardo learned the ways of architecture through site-specific…

Amati Canada AC’s focus is squarely on kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Among the 50-plus brands in store are faucets by Blanco and Hansgrohe, rain showers by Aquabrass and Dornbracht, commercial-grade sinks by Elkay, elegant free-standing soaker tubs by Porcher and therapeutic bath systems by BainUltra. Also in store: minimalist fixtures from Riobel, Philippe Starck’s wall-mounted toilets for Duravit and extraordinary faucets from Graff. 105 DONCASTER AVE 905 709 0881 AMATICANADA.COM Appliance Canada Find the latest innovations in ultra-premium appliances here, including Thermador ovens with patented Star Burner technology (which delivers superior flame spread) and Freedom induction cooktops that are controlled using a full-colour touchscreen. Consider Hestan wall ovens, refrigerators, wine cellars and outdoor grills with colourful finishes, and Fisher & Paykel dishwashers that offer the convenience of two independent drawers.…

Allan Rug Company ARC’s newly renovated 1,263-square-metre showroom boasts a staggering selection of versatile flooring solutions suited to home and office environments. This long-standing familyowned business – one of Toronto’s largest carpet and flooring showrooms – carries Missoni, Nourison, Stanton, Karastan, Bloomsburg and many more. Also at ARC: custom and handknotted rugs in modern and traditional designs. Cork, laminate and extra-wide hardwood and vinyl planks from Lauzon and Fuzion Flooring round out the selection. 103 MIRANDA AVE 416 787 1707 ALLANRUG.COM Amala Carpets For their local, designed-in-house artisanal rugs, Amala uses Nepalese wool and Thai silk. The six-generation family business works directly with the craftspeople who harvest and weave creations using sustainable methods and vegetable-based dyes. Find exquisite transitional and contemporary designs in hand-trimmed Himalayan sheep’s wool and shimmering hand-reeled…

Arash Moallemi Growing up enamored of his father’s blueprints and architecture books, Moallemi became interested in photography and pursued his career by assisting on shoots locally and abroad. A master in both architectural and portrait photography, his work has received multiple accolades and can be found in magazines such as Wallpaper* and AZURE. Today, Moallemi resides in Toronto with his wife, son Luca, daughter Aria, and their Siberian husky Kaya. In this issue Moallemi captures Odami co-founders Aránzazu González Bernardo and Michael Fohring for Designlines’s Designer of the Year cover story. Find the full story on page 38. Simon Lewsen Lewsen is a prized magazine writer whose work has appeared in The Walrus, The Atlantic, AZURE, and Toronto Life. When he’s not teaching writing at the University of Toronto, you…

SQUARE UP A solid-wood frame and wicker side panels give the modern Cube Wood Wicker Lounge Armchair its distinctive edge. Black velvet upholstery adds a soft, textural contrast without compromising a refined and worldly aesthetic. $1,885, at DesignRepublic. NEW MOON From French designer Patrick Norguet, the Moon chair underlines comfort by way of a futuristic design balanced with elements of mid-century style. Inspired by the phenomenon of weightlessness, hence its name, this high-backed seat makes for a dreamy reading nook. From $5,175, at Klaus. COOL BEANS Seventies nostalgia meets modern chic in Mobilia’s Ergan bean bag. Covered in a soft, dark grey faux leather, this playful substitute to a traditional office chair is said to improve focus and reduce discomfort thanks to its ergonomic shape. $99, at Mobilia. LEAN BACK A prominent…

The Annex, along with The Royal’s bevy of bespoke perks – you know, a blissed-out spa, toothsome polpette, a fireside library – boasts another rather delightful commodity for a hotel: privacy. “We designed The Annex for a more discreet experience, and for those who wish to be away from the public areas of The Royal,” says Pina Petricone, principal at Toronto’s Giannone Petricone Associates (the firm behind the rebuild and restoration of the Victorian-era hotel, which opened its doors in spring 2022). At 6,800-square-feet, The Annex is set behind The Royal on the spot once occupied by the hotel’s original, and long-since demolished, stables. “Unlike the heritage structure of the hotel, nothing of the original stables building remained, so we decided that it was essential to create a contrast between…

Anazao Inc. Anazao designs, builds and installs fine custom wood furniture and decor, as well as architectural millwork and handcrafted steel. Homeowners and designers will find contemporary bespoke beds, dining tables, vanities and dressers made from single slabs of walnut alongside barn doors with forged steel handles and brackets. Enviable projects include a sleek hydraulic sit–stand desk, sliding doors in an oak herringbone pattern and benches of grouped hexagonal storage modules. 10 JUTLAND RD, ETOBICOKE 647 792 7855 BY APPT ONLY ANAZAO.CA Andreu World Toronto Wood is at the heart of this Spanish manufacturer’s 65-year-long reign producing quality chairs and tables for residential, contract and hospitality use (indoors and out). And just to be clear, we’re talking about premium FSC-certified wood transformed by hand into award-winning products. Showstoppers include Patricia…

Bay Bloor Radio A long-standing institution, BBR is a centre for sight and sound from the world’s leading brands. Drawing on the best TVs from Sony and Samsung, high-fidelity sound options in a range of price points and a top-notch selection of headphones and turntables, BBR’s custom design department will advise you on all your AV installation needs. Standouts include Samsung’s atypical The Frame television, invisible speakers from Bowers & Wilkins and media consoles from BDI. MANULIFE CENTRE, 55 BLOOR ST W 416 967 1122 BAYBLOORRADIO.COM Great Metropolitan Sound The services on offer at this audiovisual design and installation hub include lighting, shade and climate-​control automation and computer networking. Integrating the latest from RTI, Crestron, Sonos, NAD, Bluesound and Marantz, the team installs multi-room music systems and surround-sound home theatres,…

The Adelaide Project Here’s something a little different: innovative luminaires in a lovingly restored and fully furnished heritage home where consumers and industry pros alike can explore functional vignettes of architectural and decorative lighting. Good ideas abound: Nod suspension lights by XAL in the bedroom create a variety of moods thanks to a rotatable head and changeable height; in the living room, the fabric diffuser of the celestial Manto suspension lamp by Axolight provides the perfect balance of illumination and ambiance. 509 ADELAIDE ST W 416 538 6548 BY APPT ONLY THEADELAIDEPROJECT.COM AM Studio AM’s versatile custom lighting studio is home to intricate and imaginative fixtures handmade in Toronto. The gallery is aglow with Swarovski crystal, metal, and glass fused, blown and drawn into dramatic sculptural forms. Find shapely porcelain…

Atomic Design Lawrence Blairs’s compact boutique presents a tightly curated, high-end collection of authentic vintage art and design restored to glory. Current exceptional offerings include Hans Wegner’s iconic black leather Wing chair, Tobia Scarpa’s architectural coffee table and a pair of Victor Vasarely black and white Cinetique serigraphs. AD’s smaller decor accents also delight: sculptural modernist lighting, abstract neon and a vibrant selection of Scandinavian and Italian art glass. 955 QUEEN ST W 416 912 2358 ATOMICDESIGN.CA Bungalow Aficionados of mid-century Scandinavian furniture and accents make Bungalow in Kensington Market a regular stop, thanks to its rotating collection of impeccably maintained and refurbished vintage dining sets, modular wall units and occasional chairs from Domino, Dyrlund, Herman Miller, Vejle Stole and Niels Koefoed. Art glass from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s…

1925Workbench A true love of craft – for solid wood and traditional techniques – is on full display at 1925, with its studio in the front, workshop in the back. The specialty: handcrafted solid wooden doors and furniture, panel and glass doors, and hand-welded metal. Highlights include patented single-track bypass barn-door hardware (made in Canada), walnut slab doors with transom-like cut-outs and nearly five-metre-tall rolling or hook ladders. 198 30TH ST, ETOBICOKE 416 878 1869 BY APPT ONLY 1925WORKBENCH.COM ADH Fine Hardware ADH offers tried-and-true solutions – in traditional and contemporary styles – from Baldwin, Emtek and Rocky Mountain. Unlock your creative side with stylish jewelled knobs by Matthew Studios, leather loop straps by Scrim or custom forged bronze handles by Hamilton Sinkler. Or go the minimalist route: tiny knurled…

On the third floor of “House of Cards” – an exhibition at MOCA Toronto of the German artist Thomas Demand – are images of the Black Label karaoke bar, a distinct building in the northern-Japanese steel town of Kitakyushu. Demand created the work in his usual way: by building a scaled architectural model and then photographing, and ultimately destroying it, leaving only flat images. This process creates layers of abstraction, mimicking the haziness of memory. “What you’re seeing are reductions,” says MOCA’s chief curator November Paynter. “You may recognize the space, but details are missing.” When patrons encounter these photos, they’ve already experienced the wood-panelled interiors of the bar, thanks to a companion piece in the gallery lobby, a life-sized 3D replica by Thai conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. Enter the…

In the Oaxacan village of Teotitlán del Valle resides local artisan Doña Viviana. From her workshop in the small, Zapotec community, she is both the pioneer and guardian of a centuries-old candle-making practice. The origins of her hand-poured beeswax candles, traditionally spanning nearly 2.5 metres tall, lie in an ancient wedding custom – a symbol of prosperity and abundance for the new couple. Breaking the mould of conventional seashell patterns, Viviana’s new designs honour her family’s 300-year-old tradition, while embracing the future. Flower petals are used as moulds for the bouquet-like adornment of each vela (candle), and before the wax is coloured, it is shaped and sun-bleached. Filling the streets of Teotitlán del Valle with the scent of burning wood and honey, the artisan hand pours each candle herself, requiring…

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

Advice from a Caterpillar This Yorkville lifestyle boutique caters to the design-loving parent and child. Personalize your nursery with blankets from Autumn Paris, seagrass changing baskets from Olli Ella and beautiful rattan doll furniture from Bonton. Lovely home decor abounds: Astier de Villatte’s ceramic incense holders and candlesticks, Iris Hantverk’s eco-friendly tooth- and hairbrushes, Mifuko’s woven baskets and plenty of stay-cozy clothes. 41 HAZELTON AVE 416 960 2223 ADVICEFROMACATERPILLAR.CA BB Buggy Find everything that stylish soon-to-be parents want and little ones need at BBB, including rockers and bassinets, beds, bookshelves and changing tables. Canadian-made Natart cribs with matching dressers and handcrafted Dutailier gliders will add warmth to any nursery. Sleep sacks, organic loungers and Leander’s foam Matty changers make for chic baby-shower gifts. The Bugaboo play yard unfolds in seconds…

ARD Outdoor Transforming your backyard or balcony into a resort-​inspired retreat? ARD Outdoor has all the upscale patio furnishings and accessories you’ll need, including futuristic European line Vondom. Seating abounds in colourful Sunbrella fabrics – sectionals, loveseats, accent chairs and canopied daybeds. Cantilevered umbrellas and Tuuci parasols pair with dining tables in teak, resin and powder-coated aluminum. Maximize your night-time downtime with a Dekko concrete firepit and ambiance lighting. 3019 DUFFERIN ST 416 551 6055 ARDOUTDOOR.COM Box Design Box Design was founded in 2003 to offer design-build services for the creation of high-quality, modern-design outdoor spaces. The company offers streamlined insulated planters and an Ipe decking system with an easy-install sleeper system – the result is stylish, year-round outdoor products sturdy enough to withstand the Canadian winter. 501 ALLIANCE AVE…

Century Architexture Loft living without the cost and hassle of bricklaying: CA’s seven-millimetre-thick preengineered brick veneer wall panels affix to a mesh backing, making them a cinch to install. Locally hand-cast from gypsum to replicate the look and feel of century-old reclaimed brick, they’re incredibly convincing. The showroom’s own backsplashes, bathroom walls and media room exemplify a variety of uses for the manufactured-on-site panels. 1401 THE QUEENSWAY, UNITS # 5 & #6, ETOBICOKE 416 503 3889 CENTURYARCHITEXTURE.COM Farrow & Ball Britain’s F&B offers a medley of handcrafted wallpapers showcasing the rich pigments it is best known for, as well as an expansive selection of paints ranging from contemporary neutrals to heritage tones. Chromologists will relish the latest hues from F&B’s collaboration with London’s Natural History Museum. Covetable metallic-print wallpapers with…

Haworth Haworth’s affinity for the “resimercial” (commercial–home hybrid) model defines its showroom. Discover adaptability with pops of colour and texture in their dashing task chairs, desk sets and storage options, courtesy of design stars Marcel Wanders, Jasper Morrison and Patricia Urquiola. Find that perfect vibe with innovations from Pablo lighting, Cappellini, BuzziSpace and Janus et Cie. Task chairs with digital knits – bringing fashion to furniture – will liven up any boardroom. 55 UNIVERSITY AVE 416 363 3486 HAWORTH.COM Humanscale This LEED Gold–winning HQ houses a wealth of ergonomic and responsibly made desk chairs and LED task lamps. QuickStand Eco effortlessly creates an adjustable sit–stand workspace out of any surface, while OfficeIQ, an activity tracker integrated into chairs and desks, reminds users when it’s time to move. Check out chrome-free…