It took six years to move in. Six years of anticipation and imagination. That’s how much studying, reading and research went into the layout and planning of Alan and Alison Schwartz’s two-storey, 4,200-square-foot condo overlooking the rooftops of Toronto’s Annex neighborhood. With a private collection of more than 100 international pieces by contemporary artists, Alan, an executive, and his partner, Alison, found themselves empty-nesters in 2011 with time to finally plan the home they had always wanted, but never quite achieved in any of their past residences.
Enter Daniel Harland, the couple’s longtime interior design partner, and his team at Roundabout Studio. Every design decision beyond the entry would support the art throughout the condo. “Some pieces have been with the Schwartzes for decades and are very dear to them, while others are rotated in and out,” says Daniel. “For us, how they approached their collection was one of the defining characteristics of this project.” From sight lines to space planning, the eye is consistently led back to where it should be — the art. “There’s a curatorial story here. It isn’t just what fits where; it’s a dialogue in the same way a gallery would do a show,” says Alison.