A Joyful, Eclectic Home That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

Emilia Wisniewski of Studio 1Nine1 takes us inside her clients’ newly renovated home in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood. The brief: a playful, personality-packed space with a touch of nostalgia. “Our homes are places that make us happy every day. Coming in here, you can’t be anything but happy,” says Emilia. The design firm zoned the open layout for flow and embraced bold details, from an Italian “Lego” backsplash and ’80s- and ’90s-inspired glassware to a sleek porcelain water vapour fireplace that defines the space. The dark and stormy principal bedroom is the perfect retreat at the end of a long day, with deep blue grasscloth wallpaper and a painted ceiling. Eclectic local art throughout completes the layered, lived-in feel.

Cover image by Valerie Wilcox