Using rare gems from countries around the globe – including India and South America – the couple’s iconic line shies away from the image of overdone bling and instead creates an air of sophisticated finesse. “Our designs are quite unique in that they don’t follow a specific pattern or trend,” says Salat. “Although we use precious materials like diamonds and gemstones, we do it in a way that isn’t ostentatious, but kind of understated,” adds Joseph.

Perhaps what makes the eclectic collection so popular is its ability to appeal to such a wide range of tastes. Salat attributes this to the couple’s effort to keep an open mind when designing. “We try to remember that everyone is different, and if you stick to designing for your own particular style then it limits who will be attracted to the line,” she explains. To keep their design ideas fresh and innovative, the pair often travels the world, perusing museums and checking out the nightlife to gain some artistic perspective.

So it’s appropriate that the inspiration for the line came from one of the couple’s many trips to Italy. On a ferry ride from Positano to Capri, Joseph and Salat’s vision became a reality when they met their muse – one who possesses all the qualities of the Bochìc woman. “This woman came on board and was just a natural beauty, like a modern-day, Bohemian Grace Kelly,” explains Salat. “She was dressed in white linen with a big hat and had on very exotic jewellery. Talking to her, we learned that she was a marine biologist who loved adventurous travel, but at the same time, still knew where the best hotels and restaurants were.” Joseph and Salat merged these concepts of a chic yet Bohemian woman who is able to combine elegance and adventure to create the now coveted Bochìc brand.

As the creators of one of the hottest jewellery empires, this haute couple undoubtedly knows a thing or two about style. “I think the style of an individual is something that you create for yourself. You have to know yourself and recognize your good points, then claim that style as your own,” says Joseph.

Born in London, Joseph applies the skills he acquired from his former career in jewelry to bring the most out of the creations he designs. “It’s amazing to design a piece and then see it on someone, whether it’s on the red carpet or on a client walking out of the showroom, because it takes on a new life,” he says. “You see your work from a different perspective and that’s very gratifying.”

Salat, who left behind a successful career as a civil engineer, says that her switch was the right choice. “It’s a big risk to leave what you’ve been trained to do and try something new, but I’ve learned that if you put yourself out there and try, you will be rewarded.” The jewelry goddess is quite busy these days; working on her own line – a subcategory of Bochìc – appropriately titled Miriam Salat.

Together, the two make an unstoppable team. And although working with a spouse might seem daunting to some, Joseph and Salat have it down to an art. “The good news is that we have a pretty similar aesthetic, our tastes are quite similar and we have the same vision, so that is very helpful,” Salat says.

Accomplished entrepreneurs, avid travellers, and parents to their young daughters, Rachel and Zoe, Joseph and Salat are already living their dolce vita. “Being surrounded by good friends and family and finding purpose is what it’s all about,” says Joseph. “One needs to be productive, one needs to be a good person, and to be good to other people,” adds Salat.   www.bochic.com, 212.632.1700

Graceful lines and proportions that radiate timelessness and sophistication are present throughout Hannah’s architectural creations. Her refined interior designs, equally as inspired, are opulent and ornate yet never dabble in ostentatious. Each alluring design detail is calculated and fitted for the space it resides in. Hannah’s work oozes extreme elegance from the inside out. “Every home has to have beauty. And in addition to beauty, it needs to flow and it needs to suit the purposes of those who live there,” says Hannah.

Hannah founded the Taylor Hannah Architect group of companies,  which boasts a staff of 40, in 1992, after graduating with honours from the University of Toronto with a degree in architecture. Stylish and unique, high-end residential and commercial architecture and interior design is the focus of her firm. “I think what I am trying to do is to pull out from you, as the client, what is inside of you, what you are really looking for. And some people have no idea. As a professional, that’s my job to find out.” Dreamy, distinctive homes that are imagined free of stifling moulds or design templates are the result. High, dramatic ceilings, clean, modern lines and polished décor are commonly featured in Hannah’s work. Her fresh designs cater to the needs, desires and styles of clientele with superlative tastes. “A part of my job is to give people that feeling that what they’re doing in their world is extravagant!”

The coveted penthouse of 155 Cumberland, a swanky orthodontic clinic in Yorkville and a renovation of the celebrated Harbour Sixty Steakhouse in downtown Toronto, are just a few sites that Hannah is currently infusing with her talents and motto of “timeless elegance.”

She also applies a classic design aesthetic to her own look, as her closet houses covetable garments that mirror her chic designs. “I love Valentino. I love Chanel. I love Prada. I love throwing my jeans on with a great pair of Louboutin’s and a white T-shirt.” She’ll be seated amongst the well-heeled and comely this October, when she attends Paris Fashion Week. Frequent visits to sensual European cities act as a source of enrichment and inspiration for Hannah.

While most find it difficult to command one’s business, Hannah acts as a partner in two others: Ellis Fine Cabinetry and Montclair Construction. When not immersed in the world of business and blueprints, Hannah devotes time to her family. “My sweet life is being with my husband and my children.” As a successful professional, Hannah is constantly faced with the classic challenge of balancing a career and a family. She manages to do so with organization, a strict schedule and a vacation every July. “I love what I do. I love that I look to the past and that I reinterpret for the future. I love something that’s modern and has got proportion and scale.” Without a doubt, her clients love it, too.

www.taylorhannaharchitect.com,
416.920.7899

Founded 30 years ago by principal and chief designer Carl Herrmann, Windemere Custom Homes began with an eye for magnificent havens. Constructing grandiose docks, boathouses and cottages was just the start. “A lot of the design cues came from the Muskoka region and more traditional European homes, which created a company that brought that sort of flair to urban Toronto,” says Mark Kubista, planner and project manager. “Today our homes are built with understated elegance and a lot of presence. The vast majority of our customers have refined taste and strong opinions about what they want.” From young families to retired executives, Windemere builds lavish dwellings for notable clientele, including retired NHL player Kirk Muller.

Although every custom home is uniquely tailored, Windemere’s signature designs include steep rooflines, dormer windows, natural stone exteriors, and cedar or slate tops. Master suites are treated as an escape for owners, equipped with an oasis of fireplaces, separate his-and-her walk-in closets, ensuite bathrooms with seating areas and lounges, and showers with heated benches and steam units. In terms of layout and entertainment, Windemere takes the finest care to make sure its homes sit within a natural environment. “We create courtyards, invite areas to step outside of the home, and open up large doors into outdoor dining and living spaces,” Kubista says. “In the end, the home looks like it’s been there forever, because we make sure existing trees and vegetation are kept undisturbed.”

But the icing on the cake comes with amenities that give something exciting to each person living in the same home. “It’s not just appearance; it’s about how you want to live your life,” Kubista says of the inimitable requests he facilitates. One client was an automotive enthusiast and wanted space to enjoy his cars without the burden of a garish garage. Windemere’s solution was simple – a multi-vehicle underground garage. “Similar to an apartment building, it has parking for a dozen cars and it’s finished as a showroom, with stone walls and a car wash. It’s really a dolce vita feature that’s not very common.” And for customers a little less automobile-savvy and a lot more canine-adoring, the company can incorporate a fully furnished pet area, which was built for a client with an abundance of show dogs. “The individual kennel bays have beautiful wrought-iron gates on one side, and automatic wooden doors that open to the outside, which are fully gas-proof and insulated.”

With a gift for developing the illustrious, the company also puts a roof over the heads of the less fortunate through Habitat for Humanity. “We’ll never demolish an old home without giving them a walk-through to collect every reusable piece. It avoids landfills and it helps people in need.” Doing its part to articulate dreams and build inspirational living spaces, Windemere creates royally sweet homes for the elegantly inclined.

T: 416.630.1500
www.windemerehomes.ca