KO Média is excited to unveil the Spring issue of ELLE Decoration Canada featuring the home of interior designer Arianna De Gasperis, who set out to capture the spirit of New York’s West Village within the calm environment of a Victorian-style property in Jersey City. “Once we got inside, the original staircase that was straight out of another era completely won me over,” says the Toronto-based designer and founder of And Studio. The home took nine long months to renovate, but De Gasperis insists the attention to detail was worth it. “Speeding things up can result in regret. Taming a space, and really taking the time to bring together all the elements that make sense to form a cohesive vision, is an essential part of the process.”
This edition is all about reimagining spaces. Architecture and design firm Campos Studio helps a family of five create a feeling of greater openness while preserving the historic charm of their Vancouver home. The duo behind Warren Garrett play with avant-garde accents to make the new Montreal residence of the Consul General of Belgium a space suitable both for welcoming distinguished guests and daily family life. The team at La Shed converts a Montreal Mile-End duplex into a single-family home that allows three retirees to live together while maintaining their privacy. Content creator Claude-Alicia Guérin-Roy, of the Conscience Coupable platform, shares the inspiration behind her daughter’s fairy-tale nursery.
They sat down with Los Angeles-based Canadian creative director Willo Perron to talk about his new line of custom furniture (his Pillo couch is arguably the ultimate place for a nap) and designing spaces for the likes of Rihanna and Jay-Z. French artisan and artist Helios Nasal introduced them to lime, a traditional material that offers a sustainable alternative to acrylic and latex. And Alberta entrepreneur Treana Peake inspired them to consume differently thanks to Obakki, a brand and philanthropic foundation built around real partnerships with local craftspeople.
In an attempt to discern what makes the perfect couch, they turn to three experts: Thien Ta Trung of Montreal’s Élément de Base boutique, Tim Zyto of Montauk Sofa, and Mjölk co-founder John Baker. In Newfoundland, the Fogo Island Workshops continue to make waves in the international design scene with the release of their latest collection; and an outward-looking design by Toronto-based architect Omar Gandhi makes panoramic coastal views the focal point of a Nova Scotia home.
For those seeking an escape, this issue proposes four not-so-humble abodes that capture the flavor of local life in the Bahamas, Portugal, Sweden and Puglia, Italy. Or, to keep things closer to home, we offer a roundup of candles with scents that can send you on a journey from the flower markets of Sri Lanka to the trails of Cootes Paradise along Lake Ontario.
The Spring issue of ELLE Decoration Canada will hit stands and Apple News+ on April 18, 2022
