Spectacular Gardens

While wandering through vivacious blooms and imaginative, sculpted shrubs, you may not realize these mythical-looking lands are actually gardens that have stood the test of time. Spectacular gardens allow people to enter worlds which appear to be places of fantasy, romance and fairytales, but are in fact enriched with both beauty and history. The creation of some gardens dates back to hundreds of years ago, and have been carefully designed and maintained as much as possible over the years. [Read more]

Bright Abodes: Home Decor Tips

Dare to bring your home to life this season with a burst of fresh colour and bold furnishings. Spring is a time for rebirth and rejuvenation, and there’s no better way to revitalize your home than with a little renovation. A fresh coat of paint or a new accent piece can completely transform your living quarters, making you feel as though you’ve stepped into a whole new residence each and every time. This particular space, designed by Joanne Smith Interiors, and featured in Panache Partners’ Spectacular Homes of Toronto, uses a refreshing palette of citrus hues to create a modern vibe, and draw attention to the room’s highlights. With her adventurous use of contrast, Smith reminds us how a punch of colour can liven up a space. [Read more]

The Castle on the Lake – Simcoe

Imagine a majestic castle on a lake, wrapped in nature and tucked away from the sounds of the city. You open its doors as your guests pour in and the sound of a piano fills the background. As you welcome your visitors with hors d’oeuvres and bubbling champagne, they marvel at the elegant stone fireplace and heavy timbered archways that frame your grand entrance.

A home beyond your wildest dreams, The Castle on the Lake does exist – and much closer than you might have guessed. [Read more]

The Ferris Rafauli Report: The Sky is Limitless

Some of the world’s most successful visionaries have been criticized for their seemingly impossible pursuits. Ferris Rafauli is proof that the greatest feats sometimes stem from inconceivable daydreams. If it weren’t for years spent building capacious castles in the sky, this 32-year-old design magnate might not have his dream job of building sky-grazing castles on the ground. “For those who are looking to achieve greatness, you cannot do so without passion,” says Rafauli, who is currently working on what will soon be one of Canada’s largest homes, a 40,000 sq.ft. mansion in Mississauga, Ont. [Read more]

A Toast to the Holidays

The wine cellar at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece is sure to raise the pulse of any wine connoisseur. With its 17th century furniture and original artwork, it would be unique even without the extensive collection of rare and valuable wines. The presence of over 3,000 bottles of top-quality wine, however, makes it a beautiful setting for a tasting or a meal.

As an elaborate and opulent space, wine cellars are growing in popularity and can be added to homes without spending a huge amount of time. [Read more]

Move Into a new Level of Luxury With Quintessa Homes

Welcome home to Kleinburg Reserve “on the boulevard.”

Nestled in lush landscapes set above the Humber River ridge and steps away from the village of Kleinburg, an emerging community reflects opulence in a serene country setting.

Drawing on the rich heritage of old-world charm seamlessly integrated with innovative amenities, the estates of Kleinburg Reserve, and the homes envisioned by Quintessa Homes Corporation, manifest in the luxurious reality of a home customized to fit your every desire. [Read more]

Great City Finds & Home Accents

Suite 22 Your living room will look as graceful as a swan with this canary yellow sofa from Suite 22 Interiors’ Mimo Collection. Feathery down backrests and a fully removable fabric add to the functionality of this aesthetically pleasing piece. [Read more]

Baghai the Builder

Poignant in conversation and prominent for his works, Shane Baghai is an old soul with a modern spirit. At a tender age he would buy tickets to the London Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra or read deep into the night the words of Lord Byron, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. “As a boy, I was always interested in grown-up subjects; I looked at life in a more profound way than other kids did,” explains Baghai, 60. “By the age of four, I was fluent in Farsi, French and picked up Turkish from my nannies,” says the linguist, whose appreciation for great works provided the framework for his own architectural poems. [Read more]

Suzan Fellman takes Centre Stage

In many ways, home décor is much like theatre. And this is something that Los Angeles designer Suzan Fellman identifies with. “I understand characters, and when I design a home, I’m really developing a character.”

Bursting with personality and incomparable creativity, Fellman has created quite the name for herself, becoming the new secret weapon of the interior design realm. A true artisan, the design diva reinvents herself time and time again, not only designing for residences, but also creating her own décor pieces. With an extensive background in environmental theatre and fashion design, [Read more]

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Sunlight slants and sweeps through a quaint studio set west of downtown Toronto, dancing shadows away to reveal the beauty of art from times passed. Gilded mirrors gleam with antiquity, as reproduced furniture, painted panels and murals take the discerning eye of beholders back to an epoch when indulgence and individualism was in its time of power. A distinguished artist lifting decorative arts with every stroke, owner of Interior Visions Vaclav Vaca sits peacefully upon a stool, behind him a cart brims with acrylic paints, palettes, hundreds of paintbrushes and other tools, which draw a journey into the heart of the Enlightenment era. [Read more]

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