Who: Matt Carr, design director for Umbra, and Joyce Lo, Toronto fashion designer.
What: A recently renovated two-storey house in Leslieville.
The story: For the past five months, Matt Carr and Joyce Lo have been dragging their Edwardian home out of its own fussy past and into a bright, open future.
Although remnants of history remain, like the unusual papering on the ceiling, which provides a subtle colour accent in the living room, Carr and Lo did not want to replicate the home’s original aesthetic. Rather than setting a formal dining table, for example, the couple purchased a blue wool love seat and three 1920s French-style chairs from Flik & Co. (989 Queen E., 647-439-8697). A gold Harry Allen piggy bank makes a quirky centrepiece.
Carr describes his style by what it’s not, saying, “It’s not contemporary, but it’s not classic.” It’s a mix, like the bookshelf that he designed for Umbra that was inspired by two vintage coffee tables stacked on top of each other.
When it comes to renovation, Carr recommends patience and focus: beware of impulse buys and know what you’re looking for. And be willing to hunt. “You really have to look everywhere,” Carr says.