This Calgary Loft Delights With Whimsical Goodies, Original Art and Fortifying Pattern

There is a wonderful mix of seating options in the living room – look closely, fur babies Lola and Zoe have chosen their favourites. The mix (not match!) feels dramatic and the contemporary lines of the corner-placed Moroso Paper Planes armchair injects a modern, geometric pop into the layers of pattern and textures.

A vintage Lars Schioler butterfly pendant light feels airy in the living room’s double-height seating area. Its silhouette is a nice complement to the drapery’s sheer ripples, and it invites the eye upward, holding its own in a richly furnished space.

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“My aesthetic is curated! Ordinary is boring,” Greg says. And there is certainly nothing boring about the living room’s fantastic gallery wall. “It spans three storeys and showcases the original artwork of the artists that Dade Loft represents.” The graphically fun “Eat at Fat Joe’s” is by British-born and Calgary-based artist Barry Lorne.

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A classic Seletti monkey lamp is a cheeky addition and in sync with the lively impact of the gallery wall. Its playful lines and curves are a fun foil to the industrial lines of the staircase and railing.

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Design worlds collide with aplomb in this open-plan space, and the gorgeous blue and white area rug is no different. “It is a “Hybrid” rug and was inspired by English and Chinese porcelain,” Greg says. Other colours are available in the collection (you’ll see its warm counterpart next in the dining room), and the design aims to connect East with West.

Another Hybrid rug anchors the dining area, which brims with eye-candy including large-scale mixed media “linger” art, again by Barry Lorne. Greg ingeniously added two freestanding shelves to further display areas and provide a smart perch for the TV (he mounted it to the front of the shelves). We like how the smart round table echoes the footprint of the rug. You can also check out these celebrity dining rooms you’ll want to have a feast in.

The hanging Seletti monkey lamp is joined by a sitting one which illuminates the coffee table’s vignette. The yellow figure is one of two from Seletti’s “Jean et Jean.” It was designed by Tatiana Brodatch during her stay at Jean Cocteau’s villa in Cap Ferrat. Cocteau and his partner Jean Marais loved swimming there.

“Darcy and my vision for the space a neutral base,” Greg says. “We had the entire space painted a soft warm grey, and contrasted it with a black kitchen, doors and windows. I wanted to add texture and softness to the double-height windows with two full two-storey walls of white sheer draperies.” An idea to steal for any double-height space, especially a condo. Find more of our most beautiful home tours.

Few would dare to place such a statement-piece table smack dab in the centre of a tiny corner kitchen, but Greg didn’t hesitate. Rather than feeling cluttered, it nicely punctuates the space and its mix of antique wood and stainless steel are dynamic against mod black appliances. We like how he tucked the seating in neatly below for a compact silhouette.

“We painted the powder room black as a reference to the previous commercial black gallery space we owned,” Greg says. The WC marquee letters brighten the space and the artwork, currently black and white photography, is constantly switched out. As this is a showroom, the sink is artfully styled with pebbles and a flowering branch. Everything in the 21-square-foot space is priced under $500 and available for purchase.

Another design philosophy of Greg’s is that your home should tell your story. This exuberant space could only be theirs, and we love how Greg utilized almost every square inch of space for display – even often neglected areas like underneath the staircase. Augmenting the mix of art with a wall-mounted shelf adds another layer of bravado.

Greg’s bedroom is testament to his design tenet of “thinking about things differently.” More than just a place to rest, this dramatic, yet inviting, spot is furnished more like a principal room than a primary suite. Colour and texture abound and two Jonathan Adler “Jacques” coffee tables establish the room’s fabulous lounge area. Greg says, “The tables are the perfect blend of simplicity and glamour; modernity and timelessness.” We love the unexpected form of the “Mangas” area rug, a hand-loomed beauty designed by Patricia Urquiola.

Forget plain bedding – let this be your inspiration for a spring refresh. Layering different blankets side by side, a mash up of cushions and hanging art in unexpected places (like around the bed) breathe personality into the bedroom without being overpowering. The effect is a cocoon of cool.

The black and white photograph in the foreground is by Calgary-based artist Jason Eng; it rests in front a dollar-bill quilt by American artist Luke Haynes. You can also peek at this Montreal artist’s work-live space for more inspiration.

A mix of colourful and light-filled accessories sit before an original framed mixed media piece that Darcy created. The neoclassic faces are acrylic sculptures from Jonathan Adler.

“We believe in fur babies,” is one of Dade Loft’s credos and Lola, pictured here on the bedroom’s Pipe chair, is living proof. While the loft is impressive in terms of its curated items and overall effect, we love that it is still very much a home and a pet-friendly one at that – nothing is too precious. Bright-blue Steamline luggage (the couple’s favourite) is so stylish it can be stored in plain sight.

Mouthwash in a cut-crystal decanter? But of course! This bathroom vanity vignette is pure fun and the Seletti staircase is especially compelling – that little man sitting on it is magnetic and can be positioned according to mood.

Would you believe that this fab green wall treatment is actually preserved reindeer moss? The natural material requires no watering, light or trimming and is sold by the square foot. It stays fresh in humid spots like a bathroom and has a lovely natural scent – though that fades over time. You can also add some of these house plants that help reduce humidity in the bathroom.

“This is the conference table by day and the Dade Loft Supper Club table by night,” Greg says of the show-stopper vintage Willy Rizzo table and chairs in the loft’s office. We love how he layers the lighting here and places table lamps on the dining surface.

Who needs a bookshelf when you can stack and style books with panache? This casual placement is a fresh contrast to the impressive antique Asian cabinet, but the real stars here are the Gan Mangus Original poufs designed by Patricia Urquiola. The curvy shapes buck traditional rectangles and the knit is reminiscent of a favourite sweater (sleeves are “mangas” in Spanish). Warm, cozy and compelling, indeed.