Originally constructed in 1995 as an artist work/live studio building, the Mecca has been home to tons of painters, musicians and sculptors. One of the owners recently confirmed that Sarah McLachlan was one of the original owners.

This modern double height loft apartment designed by Victoreric, known for their elegant and timeless designs. Take a look, this is a fine example of what everyone thinks when you say ‘loft’

The interior of the apartment is contemporary and rich in details, integrating artistic elements with industrial ones. The predominant color on the walls and ceiling is white and a dark reflective floor offers contrast along with the dark tones of the side walls that are painted black.

The overall neutral tones create a very elegant ambiance with long white curtains adding privacy and large windows allowing a good view of the surroundings. The lounge area is separated from the kitchen through a large island and the second floor is accessed through a spiraling staircase that also acts as a sculptural element in the living area. Another interesting characteristic of this space is that there is a separate room for the motorcycle so that it also becomes a part of the ambiance.

The Wrigley Lofts are the real deal. This is the type of place you picture when you think of a hard loft. No cookie-cutters here. There are multiple lofts in this former factory – each unit is unique with different finishes and layouts – from the floors to the lighting. The first owners got the space from the developer about as raw as possible so each person put their own stamp on their unit. Because the ceilings are so extraordinary, many units have a mezzanine level and some even have direct freight-elevator access. Like in the movies. Except you are the hero.

Suites feature original industrial windows, 14-foot ceilings, original concrete mushroom-style columns and the exposed pipes and duct work that one would expect in a true hard loft conversion. One of the best things about this building is the uniqueness of individual suites. Original purchasers of this building bought raw space from the developer for about $100/square foot, and each owner made these blank canvasses their own – consequently no two suites in the building are alike.

The Grace Tower was built in 2008 and features a distinctive design that includes Italian inspired courtyards and stunning walk up townhouses. The building is characterized by its arched windows, rounded balconies, and gargoyles. Perhaps, one of the city’s most inspired buildings, its visual uniqueness in comparison to the city’s other buildings, adds to the appeal.

Each interior unveils decorating details that exude elegance and sophistication. As you step from one room to the next, the porcelain floors and rich Mozambique millwork ensure a smooth transition. The most spectacular part of the property is the en-suite bedroom on the last level with cathedral ceilings. It is currently listed for sale for $7,899,000. Have a look at the video for the virtual tour and let us know what you think!

There are two direct elevators opening into a private foyer, the Elysium Penthouse features porcelain floors, rich Mozambique millwork througout, and an insuite private elevator.

The penthouse also boasts of its fair share of technological features, which include – climate controlled wine storage area (crafted from glass), Gaggenau appliances, geothermal heating, smart air-conditioning, ethanol fire places and a security system (with bio-metric fingerprint recognition). Finally, these advanced albeit ritzy attributes are bolstered by host of utility zones like a concierge, indoor/outdoor pool and spa fitness facility. So, at the end of the day, the scope is not only about intangible opulence (for sake of opulence), but also encompasses the qualities of comfort and safety.

The master bath contains a large soaking tub, an enclosed showering room, and separate enclosed toilet as well as two vanity sink areas all done up in the same porcelain, wood, and grey marble of the rest of the house.

This triplex in leafy Etobicoke has remained with the same family since 1952. Originally a rental property, it belonged to the present homeowner’s father, a Toronto builder, who maintained it with such care that daughter Carol Carter says “it was always one of the nicest triplexes in the neighbourhood.”

Her father passed away a few years ago, prompting Ms. Carter to want to move into the house herself.

She would live upstairs, with her newly widowed mother occupying the main floor apartment. A brother would take the lower level.

“With dad gone, her own house was too much for her,” Ms. Carter says. “Having her live with us would give us peace of mind.”

Her husband, the architect Ron Carter, drew up some plans with the idea of renovating the original property to suit all their needs. His long-time real-estate agent Ronald Sturino took one look at them and said forget it: “Tear it down!”

Mr. Carter allows that it was the better idea.

“Besides the changes we were going to make, a renovation was going to be more difficult and more expensive than what we had originally anticipated,” says Mr. Carter, whose company builds automotive showrooms across Canada, among other projects.

“It wasn’t going to achieve what we really wanted to do.”

With the blessings of his wife and in-laws, he razed the old property in 2002 before rebuilding a new triplex completely from scratch.

The project called for three distinct apartments, one each for the new occupants who were able to customize their own units according to their individual tastes and needs.

The result is a smorgasbord of a house offering a variety of architectural styles and interior designs under one roof.

The mother-in-law apartment, for example, is traditional and cozy with a formal dining room, accent pillars, frosted-glass windows, an antique fireplace in the living room and a three-piece, white Carrera marble bathroom. The two-bedroom suite has a master with a walk-out to backyard patio, where an old maple provides ample shade in the summer months.

In sharp contrast is son Michael Natan Infuso’s apartment on the lower level, a study in Zen minimalism. This two-bedroom Asian-inspired retreat features an open-concept kitchen with white bulkhead cabinetry, extra-density matte-black granite counters and stainless-steel appliances. The master bedroom has a custom-made Japanese shoji screen concealing a built-in clothes closet and an integrated sound system.

The Carters’ own suite on the upper level is the most ambitious – if not spectacular – of the three.

Inspired by the loft-style apartments of New York and featuring exposed duct work, raw brick, and a chic white-and-black decor, the apartment is spread over two storeys and is hung with original art work and more chandeliers than a boutique hotel.

At 2,800 square feet, it is also double the size of each of the other units. A vaulted ceiling that reaches as high as 18 feet at the peak and a lack of doors and walls creates a feeling of spaciousness as well as grandeur.

“The volume of space makes it feel luxurious,” Mr. Carter says.

At night the loft transforms into a captivating, romantic space complete with a light therapy feature and a designer “moon” light fixture art piece. The mezzanine upstairs boasts a walk in closet, sitting area, library and tempered glass feature that allows you to see directly downstairs.

Also, it’s available for rent here

From the split level entry you see the grand double-height, open-concept living & dining area adjacent to the spacious kitchen. The private guest bedroom is also on this level. Above & beyond you see the spacious loft den & master suite which has an ensuite with spectacular views, even from the tub! Everywhere you look is a feast for the eyes: custom iron staircase, railings & detailing, Venetian plaster walls, a cast-concrete F/P, unique lighting fixtures, etc. Enjoy summer days & nights in the private skygarden (over 800 SqFt) with its lush fish pond.

The project consisted of a seismic upgrade and restoration of a heritage building in Vancouver’s historic gastown district, and a warehouse loft interior design project.  The loft is organized around a new courtyard open to above, inserted into the heritage fabric of the building, allowing light into the centre of the very deep plan.  All other interior elements are rendered crisply using precisely machined elements, conceived to stand in strong contrast to the rough heritage fabric of the existing shell

The owner is a bachelor who became deeply invested in Gastown before its rundown warehouse spaces became fashionable. (Indeed, his various business ventures there have helped spur the area’s revival.) So, when he approached designer Omer Arbel, then working at Peter Busby’s offices, he asked for a home that would “just let the space be itself.”

The space, though, had been practically abandoned, used as rough storage for an appliance vendor. Arbel was handed a mess of clumsy interior walls and years of spider webs. His task: preserve the history that lurked there, all while overlaying it with a real, functional living space.

The first myth of Gastown living—that one must sacrifice fresh air and greenery for the rush of city life—was dispelled in short order. Arbel knew that neither Water Street nor Blood Alley was going to offer lush vistas, so he created, at the heart of this loft, a walled courtyard that only looked up to the sky. Light and breezes spill through its open top into the home and, when three of the courtyard’s walls roll away, one might easily stroll from room to room via a happy cube of garden.

“Everywhere,” says Arbel, “we were really just dropping these objects, these boxes, into the larger plan.” Against a surround of vintage brick, for example, the kitchen’s crisp white millwork hovers, with space above and below to emphasize the box-within-a-box effect. One is constantly aware, here, of contemporary design as a sort of complement to (rather than an abolisher of) the original warehouse.

Look up and you’ll see a network of original Douglas fir beams, lit up to dramatic effect by a set of skylights. There’s a five-foot volume between the beams and the building’s actual ceiling—another clearly defined envelope.

Ultimately, though, Arbel’s loft does what a great loft ought to: it gets out of the way. “You want to revel in an open floor plan like this,” he says. “Part of the promise of living in a loft is the way nothing’s fixed.” There are no walls to break off the living space, kitchen or dining area, save for a couple of paper “soft walls” by Molo, which accordion, shift or disappear depending on that day’s whims.

Arbel can create structure when it’s called for; he’s justly happy with the bathroom, where a vanity area, a tiled shower and a halo of light at the shower’s rear make up a set of three nesting boxes. But mostly this is a home where the owner’s superlative (and eclectic) collection of furnishings can take centre stage. Baroque chandeliers and Parisian café chairs share the space with Buddhas and Japanese wind socks.

The massive dining table is a replica of one at nearby hot spot Salt Tasting Room restaurant. A modern abstract painting by Charles Forsberg and a stunning chandelier enhance the scale and conversation.

Large hanging fish kites catch the light in the living room. Architect Omer Arbel’s tips for how to introduce modern elements to an existing space ripe with character:

1. Use dramatic colour shifts to distinguish new objects, while respecting vintage surfaces and palettes.
2. Embrace the contrast between old and new. “It’s a tense conversation at times, but within that tension there’s a wonderful place to inhabit,” says Omer.
3. Use “reveals” to delineate materials. Allow for breathing space in the transition from new walls and fresh flooring options to existing walls and ceilings.
4. Apply discreet trim to define the lines between vintage and modern elements.

Capitalizing on the generous ceiling heights on the first level of the loft, the spaces are linked by many variations in level, the architectural promenade manifesting as ramps and steps evocative of the outdoors. With ebony wood veneer panels the ground floor comprising of kitchen, living, dining, study / guest quarters and ensiute is intentionally dark and chiaroscuro.

Accessed by a bird-cage / tree-like spiral stair, the second level by contrast is bright and airy as if one were to reach the top of a tree. With spectacular views of downtown, a large deck with dining and lounge areas is envisioned as an extension of the master bedroom.

This project in Montreal by Jean-Maxime Labrecque certainly has a few unique twists, but what sets it apart from similar interiors is, in part, the fact that most photos show someone actually occupying the spaces.

In some cases, this shows off neat functionality, like a sleek metal surfacing concealing a huge and useful walk-in close, or what it might be like to sit at this table or lean on that counter.

In others, it perhaps reveals more than the architect wished to share – how uncomfortable those benches might be, or the comfortable nature vs. awkwardness of bending over to get something out of certain cabinets.

Inside, the minimalist interiors feature white walls and ceilings that bounce light around and light up every corner. Hanging on the clean bright walls, artwork catches the eye and creates an art-gallery atmosphere. Suspended from the industrial-chic two-storey ceiling, three Vitra cloud pendants by renowned Canadian architect Frank Gehry define the dining area in this open concept loft plan. A set of extra wide stairs leads up to an unexpected feature in this urban home – the rooftop garden house indeed has lots of surprises in store!