A pair of puffin salt-and-pepper shakers from Atlantic Canada, a Liberace souvenir plate discovered during a cross-country road trip, and salad tongs picked up on a sunny afternoon in Florida — these are not items destined for storage. In a Toronto loft within a former industrial building dating to 1903, they became the foundation for an entirely new vision of home.
After years spent moving between countries, the homeowners were finally ready to settle in one place. More than anything, they wanted their surroundings to reflect their experiences, interests and shared history. The residence already possessed undeniable character with exposed brick, soaring 18-foot ceilings and dramatic arched windows, yet despite those architectural assets, the space felt disconnected from the people who lived there.
Keepsakes as Design Brief
“We didn’t want a loft that looked like every other loft,” says Luca Campacci, co-founder of Level Studio. “Their collection really became the brief.” Accumulated over decades of travel, the assortment of objects revealed a distinct point of view. The pieces were whimsical, nostalgic, colourful and deeply meaningful. Together, they painted a portrait of two people who value adventure, humour and connection. The challenge was finding a way to celebrate those memories without overwhelming the space.
The inspiration came from an unexpected source: filmmaker Wes Anderson. Rather than recreating scenes from his movies, the design team focused on the qualities that make his work so compelling. Symmetry, confident colour choices and a sense of visual storytelling informed the approach. Soft pastels drawn from the homeowners’ reference images sit comfortably alongside weathered beams and original masonry, while carefully placed accents inject personality without competing with the building’s industrial bones.
Custom Millwork as Architectural Statement
“We asked ourselves what those ideas would feel like inside a historic loft,” says Campacci. “The goal wasn’t to create something thematic. It was to create something personal.” That philosophy is perhaps best expressed in the home’s defining feature: a custom oak millwork installation that stretches across the main living area.
Part storage solution, part display case and part architectural statement, the piece was designed to solve several challenges simultaneously. It conceals everyday clutter, houses the television, showcases cherished finds and maintains a clear pathway from the entry through the living space. Just as importantly, it needed to hold its own within a room of extraordinary scale.
Mint-green tile, warm wood cabinetry and softly glowing orange pendants introduce colour in a way that feels playful yet refined. The millwork was designed to solve several challenges simultaneously while making a design statement.
