City Homes
October 25, 2022
This Jewelry Entrepreneur Turns Her Victorian Home Into A Real Gem
When Canadian jewelry brand Mejuri launched in 2015, its billboards bore the saucy slogan, “for my damn self.” Jeweler Noura Sakkijha had recognized that most jewelry was marketed toward men buying gifts for women. She found the concept dated and sought to cut out the middleman — literally — in favor of a female-focused brand that was refined and approachable.
That understated elegance was the exact feel she wanted for the Victorian home she and husband Majed Masad bought in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighborhood. “When we found out I was pregnant, we were living in a loft, having the time of our lives every weekend,” says Noura. “We weren’t looking to change our lifestyle a lot, so living near restaurants and cafés was important. We found this house charming because it was old yet recently renovated. It had all the elements we wanted, and we fell in love.”
Though Noura appreciated traditional elements like the stained glass windows, she was ready to shake things up. To accommodate their twin girls, Joud and Julia, now 3, the home needed an energetic family vibe. “Our ideal was a design that felt beautiful and elevated but, at the same time, very inviting,” says Noura. She saw no reason to wait to make it right, and was referred to Toronto designer Sarah Birnie by a co-worker. She noticed many of the elements she had on her Pinterest board popped up on the mood board Sarah presented for the project. “It’s such an easy partnership,” says Noura. “I would give her the keys to the house at this point.”
Scroll down to see inside the jewelry entrepreneur’s home!
“I wanted a place to unwind, a space that was peaceful and easy on the eyes, where I could decompress,” says Noura (pictured).
A graceful curved mirror amplifies natural light in the foyer; the console holds board games.
Sarah focused on light walls and neutral furniture to form a quiet backdrop because Noura likes to play around with accessories, pillows and gallery walls. “The main ask was a serene place for Noura to come home to, with soft textures and rounded edges that are kid-friendly but still sophisticated,” says Sarah. Black and white photos of Noura girls, Joud and Julia, hang in the den.
The light and airy living room has a pale palette and bouclé chairs (Noura admits there are certain zones where food is off-limits for the kids). The classic fireplace is perfectly complemented by an abstract painting.
Curating the living room shelves is where Sarah showed off her talent, arranging objets and books for maximum impact. Sarah adeptly styled the two bookshelves in the living room with a mix of curvy, sculptural vases and well-thumbed books on business and jewelry design. “That’s my playground,” says the designer. “Because the shelves are in their main living space, it was important to make it beautiful but also meaningful and connected to the family.”
The dining room features a lively gallery wall. “I love art, and I hope to get to a place where I can curate it one day,” says Noura.
An arched doorway into the kitchen reminds Noura of her Middle Eastern roots.
Sarah removed the wallpaper in the powder room in favor of limewashed walls.
The banquette seat cushion in the breakfast nook is covered in performance leather in case of spills. “We’re always with the twins,” says Noura. “I don’t want to have to postpone everything until they’re older!
An original stained glass window screens the view of an alley.
The pièce de résistance is the third floor, formerly the attic, which was reborn as a multiuse space. Noura needed it to function as a closet, office, guest room (complete with a sofa bed) and workout area to practice yoga and ride the Peloton bike after the girls were in bed.
When it comes to her home, Noura’s favorite element is the linen drape that conceals the walk-in closet on the third floor. “Sarah came up with a beautiful solution that makes everything come together and adds an element of softness, dimension and texture,” says Noura. “I never thought I would like it, but I’m obsessed! It transforms the room seamlessly.” Whether it’s for business or design, success comes from looking at familiar things in a brand-new way.
The principal bedroom is kept serene with pale hues and luxe floor-to-ceiling linen drapes.
The rooftop terrace maxes out space with a sectional for plenty of seating. A pergola and curlicue metal screen offer privacy while allowing leafy views. Leading a company during a pandemic was difficult, she admits, sliding a Victory: Winged Coin pendant around the gold chain on her neck. “I like to remember we can always be victorious, and I like my pieces to have meaning,” she says. Noura hasn’t taken the necklace off in a year and adds that Mejuri isn’t just about jewelry. “There’s something very empowering about women appreciating themselves and taking ownership of their happiness.”
All products featured on House & Home are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are shown in Canadian dollars and are accurate on the date of publication.
Lauren Miller (interiors)/courtesy of Mejuri (products)
House & Home October 2022
Sarah Birnie