LIVE, LOVE, LOFT
Artwork and a joyful palette help to turn an echoing, empty condo in a former factory into an extraordinary, much-loved home.
After 23 years in a historic home with a neutral palette, interior designer Cori Halpern and husband Bryan Tenenhouse decided it was time for a radical change. “We fell for a modern loft inside a former toy factory,” says Cori. “It had industrial 15-foot ceilings, exposed duct work, a wide-open floor plan and enormous windows.” In short, it was everything their former home wasn’t – a true blank slate. “I couldn’t wait to start,” says Cori. “My goal was to create a light-filled, exuberant and joyous space.”
Finding the perfect area carpet was her launching point. “When I saw the rug, I gasped – and so did Bryan!” It wasn’t their usual style, but its intricate mix of blues, lilacs, purples and pinks reminded them of an impressionist painting. From there, Cori fashioned an ebullient palette of blue-greens, then layered in shades of pink, lavender and watery blues for a look that’s equally jubilant and relaxed. She also customdesigned a host of new furnishings, recruiting their volume to showcase their hues, and then adorned the walls with art. “Most of the pieces were the culmination of years of travel and had been collected without any attention to colour,” says Cori. “When Elevator Digital and I created the gallery wall, it was as if each artwork had been waiting for this loft its whole life.”
It’s been almost three years since life in a traditional home gave way to this modern space in a former factory, and Cori reflects that she could not have anticipated how her design choices would impact their lives in today’s challenging times. “It’s been a year since the pandemic began, and even though we’re here all the time, every single day in this place brings us joy.”
Artwork and a joyful palette help to turn an echoing, empty condo in a former factory into an extraordinary, much-loved home. TEXT BETHANY LYTTLE | PHOTOGRAPHY VIRGINIA MACDONALD
Layered Not Loud
“To create the feeling of an airy, light-filled exuberant space, start with white walls, then add in layers of colour, combining warm and cool tones in a variety of textures,” says Cori. The rug inspired the room’s hues. Its whispers of blue appear in the armchairs and are hinted at in the soft grey sectional. The pinks, lilacs, subtle greens and yellows are repeated in the sofa’s bank of pillows. The rug’s peacock blue inspired the dining chairs. At night, a starburst chandelier casts a warm evening glow.
“Nobody would accuse me of being a minimalist. To me, more layers are just so much more exciting.”
Blue Skies
Soft blue armchairs with breezy brass frames shimmy up to a see-through glass drinks table. The towering 15-foot windows bathe the room in daylight. “When choosing colours, always keep in mind how they’ll look in both natural light and lamp light,” says Cori. Fresh pinks, lilacs, blues and greens echo the hues in the rug’s pattern, which was the inspiration for this room. The floor-to-ceiling storage shows off treasures, including a bouquet of calligraphy brushes from travels to Shanghai; a
Slinky toy from their son, which alludes to the loft’s history as the Irwin Toy Factory; a redstreaked artisanal vase; and an aquamarine glass love knot.
Better Together
Cori designed a pale grey sectional that serves as backdrop to cascades of colour. “Every pillow is like a work of art,” says the designer. “Each is covered in a different fabric, but when you put them all together, the colours dance in a way that brings such joy.” The art over the sofa is a beloved memento from China that happens to exude loft-friendly teal tones. “What’s amazing is that we didn’t buy it to match our decor. We just loved it, and it just happens it blends in perfectly,” says Cori.
Curves & Corners
In contrast to the linear sectional and modern cut of the armchairs, the coffee table is smooth, rounded and organic looking.
“Its warmth and heft bring balance,” notes Cori. “Also, since getting to the terrace means walking though this space, it’s nice to know there are no sharp corners to bump into.”