House Tours
This Is Personal: Inside Designer Dimitri Chris's 1900's Toronto Home
Photography, Alex Lukey, Styling, Peter Paquette.
House Tours
This Is Personal: Inside Designer Dimitri Chris's 1900's Toronto Home
The moment he saw this Toronto semidetached house, Dimitri Chris envisioned it as home.
Designer Dimitri Chris and Roko pose in the entryway (below). The adjacent living room is defined by the shapely sofa upholstered in iridescent velvet, which, depend- ing on the angle, reads as a grey-brown colour or a minty blue. The hues of the oxidized metal coffee tables also shift subtly with the light. A swivel chair is tucked in front of drapes that would make a haberdasher’s heart swell. “They’re actually fashioned from men’s suiting fabric,” says Dimitri.
Photography, Alex Lukey, Styling, Peter Paquette.
My vision for this house was almost immediate,” says designer Dimitri Chris, referring to the day he set eyes upon this 1900s semi-detached dwelling. If he could renovate, expand and top it with a third floor, he and husband David Marinier would finally be able to host large gatherings and install their art collection – two things that had been a challenge during their years in a condo. The reconfigured abode, now complete, is a testament to Dimitri’s creative foresight. On weekends, friends file in through the door bearing bottles of wine, and during quieter hours, the couple revel in spaces made deeply personal by gorgeous global textiles, design-forward furnishings and their extensive art collection. Reflecting on the outcome, Dimitri notes, “Knowing what we wanted the house to be like before we moved in helped me focus on the details and I think that accounts for our success.”
Photography, Alex Lukey, Styling, Peter Paquette. DESIGN, custom DRAPERY, Interiors by Dimitri Chris. SOFA, Augustus Jones. SWIVEL CHAIR, South Hill Home. VASE, Hopson Grace. COFFEE TABLES, Home Société. RUG, Carpet Mill. LAMP, Artemide. ART (entry-way), Dominic Besner, Galerie LeRoyer. OCCASIONAL TABLE, 1st Dibs.
"The kitchen was designed with David in mind. He's a big cook and we host large sit-down dinners every weekend."
Photography, Alex Lukey. GAS BURNERS, Pitt Cooking.
Photography, Alex Lukey.
Cooktop burners are integrated with the marble countertops. “They make the cooking area so easy to clean,” says Dimitri. The rims of the burners lift off for easy wipe-up of the counter. Banks of wide drawers keep everything, including ample dinnerware, out of sight yet at the ready.
Photography, Alex Lukey. CABINETRY, Interiors by Dimitri Chris. COUNTERTOPS, CB Marble- craft. FAUCET, Aquavato.
A galley kitchen connects the living room and dining area. With panache, the artwork above the sink denotes the heart of the home. The streamlined space features hardware-free cabinetry in a matte finish. Says Dimitri, “Everything in here is intentionally hidden, including the breakfast bar and fridge.”
Photography, Alex Lukey. SOFA, CB2. DRAPERY, custom TABLE, PILLOWS (on sofa), Interiors by Dimitri Chris. CHAIRS, Facebook Marketplace. CANDLESTICKS, Hopson Grace. RUG, Carpet Mill.
“I created this table specifically for weekend entertaining,” says the designer. “It has multiple angles, so eight people can sit down. Yet, there’s still enough room to stand and mingle with cocktails before dinner and to chat with David as he preps.” The ad hoc banquette is a sofa. “I fell in love with the fabric,” says Dimitri. “And the sofa measurements were perfect.”
Photography, Alex Lukey. ART (over shoes), Franck Benoualid. RUG, IKEA.
“That piece of art has such a strong presence,” says Dimitri. “I love its exaggerated curves.” The artwork hangs above custom metal shelves designed to hold and display accessories and shoes in the walk-through closet between the primary bedroom and ensuite on the third floor. “As for the rug, when I saw it, I said I had to have it!” says Dimitri. “It’s just so cheeky and silly.”
"People have beautiful things, but to tell a story, they need to be put on display."
Photography, Alex Lukey. WALL AND CEILING PAINT, Cabbage Patch 2141-20, Benjamin Moore. SECTIONAL, Element de Base. DRAPERY, PILLOWS, Interiors by Dimitri Chris. RUG, Carpet Mill. STACKABLE TABLES, 1st Dibs.
“I don’t like a TV on the entertaining level of the house, so upstairs, we have a den,” says Dimitri. The snug second-floor room, which is moody and soporific, features walls and ceilings painted a deep moss green. “The olive velvet on the sectional is nearly the same hue, so the eye moves around without interruption, making the room seem much bigger,” he says. Custom shelves display art and books.
Photography, Alex Lukey. HEADBOARD, DRAPERY, Silk Moroccan Velvet PILLOWS, Interiors by Dimitri Chris. WALL AND CEILING PAINT, Taos Taupe 2111-40, Benjamin Moore. DRESSER, IKEA. PENDANT LAMP, Kelly Wearstler. ART, Morten Lasskogen. ART PHOTO, Andrew Gook.
A brand-new third story was added to the house during the renovation, and that entire floor is dedicated to the primary suite. The monochromatic space features warm taupe walls and ceilings; the velvet headboard is in the same hue as the finewale corduroy drapes. Using a drop lamp for bedside lighting is a space saver. Large works of art hang above the dresser.
Photography, Alex Lukey.
Photography, Alex Lukey. VANITY, Interiors by Dimitri Chris. Wall-mounted FAUCET, Aquavato. RUG, Hudson’s Bay.
“In general, I’m not a big fan of wood,” says Dimitri. “I’m more drawn to glass, metal and stone, but this vanity is very special. It’s the only wooden piece in the house.” The sleek piece is fashioned from American black walnut and features wall-mounted sink fixtures in an unexpected matte white.
"I used layers of soft taupes and browns because I think a bedroom should be a cocoon."
Photography, Alex Lukey. Porcelain SHOWER SLABS, M2 Tile & Stone. SHOWER FIXTURES, Aquavato. Osso wood STOOL, Hopson Grace.
Adjoining the primary bedroom is the ensuite, with its elegant yet edgy shower. Lined with veined porcelain slabs, it has towering glass doors that look modern but evoke old-world luxury.
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