Name: Richard
Location: Downtown, Toronto, Canada
Size: 790 square feet | 1 bedroom loft
Years lived in: owned for 6, though rented it while living abroad for 3 years
Richard knows what he likes which is a great trait when designing a home. He focuses almost exclusively on "curiosities" and 1960's office interiors. He is slow, methodical, and patient when it comes to acquiring. Specifically, 10 to 15 years worth of searching is not a daunting concept for Richard.
Because Richard is this kind of person, the result seems more like a curated space than a display of goods from a recent shopping spree. Each item in Richard’s home has a story and a passion attached.
Even the apartment itself has been painstakingly researched so that Richard can glean all of the significance associated with it and its long history. Richard has gone so far as to amass patents from the Refrigerator Company that originally occupied the space, one of the original building permits, and the names of all the companies that have occupied the space since 1913!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My style: I consider myself a minimalist with a collecting addiction. I’ve been collecting design objects and other ephemera for about 15 years now. My style is a bit eclectic, and mostly MCM, but I try to have a more personal sense of style and history than decorating strictly from the DWR catalog.
Inspiration: Good design and objects that tell a story. That and the design and practicality of a late 60’s executive office.
Favorite Element: The two different original brick walls and wooden post and beam. Curious about the two different bricks, I’ve actually now traced the complete history of the building back to when the first section of it (the yellow brick) was first built in 1905 for the Eureka Refrigerator Company. The second section was built in 1913. I actually have copies of the original building permits for both and a 3” thick file on the building history!
Biggest Challenge: The love of collecting but living in a small space with almost no hidden storage space. That and given I also run a design studio from my loft, the challenge of combining both work and living functions.
What Friends Say: They love it. I mostly get a lot of comments about the very large feeling of the space and the collection of objects. That and the zebra head and stuffed Ermine tend to always elicit some sort of reaction….
Biggest Embarrassment: I’ve been meaning to tile the kitchen backsplash since buying the loft, but still haven’t found the perfect tile/treatment…any suggestions?
Proudest DIY: The chalkboard sliding partition. Not only does it add a nice dramatic accent to the space, but it is truly functional being beside my daily work desk. After painting I wet sanded at least 6 times so the finish actually feels smooth like a real slate chalkboard and not a black painted door.
Biggest Indulgence: Definitely the Marc Newson designed Biomega bike. I had wanted one for years since seeing it in Wallpaper* magazine, but could never even find a retailer for it. After moving to Denmark for work, I found a floor model on sale a block away from the hotel I was staying at before I found an apartment to rent. I immediately bought it and for at least a week had an awesome bike though nowhere to live! I don’t ride it too often (It’s not even possible to lock the frame to anything), but can still justify it as an expensive lamp that I can also ride (the entire frame glows in the dark!).
Best Advice: Keep searching for the things you love and don’t buy something “temporary” if you can find or afford what you really love. I lived for the first 2 years with no sofa until I found the vintage 30 year old B&B Antonio Citterio diesis at a vintage shop while living in Denmark. Almost everything in my place has been accumulated over a 15-year period of collecting and during that time I don’t think I’ve ever replaced an old acquisition with a new one. It takes time and patience but the result will be a home full of objects you would be happy to live with forever. Also, always buy quality over shopping by price. I’ve much more regretted buying a cheap Ikea table for $15 than spending thousands on a quality vintage piece.
Dream Source: A contents sale from an office that hasn’t redecorated since the 60’s. In actuality this has been a Reality Source as well! I previously worked at the Bata Building here in Toronto. It was designed in 1964 by John B. Parkin (also the designer of the famous modernist City Hall). Sadly, it was sold and then demolished. Before the company moved, however, all of the interior furnishings were sold at auction to the employees. It was originally furnished completely by Herman Miller Action. Almost everything was sold, and I scored 2 original Action Office I desks by George Nelson, 6 Action Office II desks, 9 or so Steelcase desk chairs. A friend got 30 Eames shell chairs from the cafeteria. Everything was crazy cheap. I think I paid $10 each for the giant Action Office I desks (one of which you can still see in my space).
Resources
Sofa - Vintage purchased in Denmark. It used to be in the Danish National Bank
Eames Chairs - purchased at auction from the Bata building
Pedestal table - base from goodwill, top from a furniture store going out of business
Herman Miller Desk - purchased at auction from the Bata building
Eames soft pad desk chair - craigslist
Gumball machine - antique market
Cabinet record player - Goodwill
Lighting - Norman Copenhagen lights over the kitchen island purchased in Denmark, crystal chandelier purchased in Czech Republic
Misc. items - mostly from second hand stores, garage sales, found on the street...
(Images: Richard Kuchinsky)
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view gnwinkler's profile
Wow! Love that sofa! Did you have it recovered/re-stuffed?
view Heather C's profile
Richard and I are kinda the same dude.
view kevoncubine's profile
wowie! Stunning! I wish I could think of an idea for the kitchen backsplash :/
I was trying to think of something fun, but it seems that you've already done it! Unless you find some sort of map online that has a high contrast or is definitely deeper in color than the standard maps, that might look kinda fun as a backsplash. Then again, I'm partial to maps. lol Good luck to you :)
view dunklekatze's profile
I love your place and all its doodads and thingamajigs! What a great place - can I have a gumball?
view luna's profile
wow! that's some nice stuff you've collected over the years. your place is great and i love your eclectic style. although i do wonder if you can be a minimalist & a collector! love the lights and is that an elmo super 8mm camera?
view timmy jr.'s profile
Yay Toronto. This place is totally my style.
view Sunnydark's profile
omg, I WANT that zebra head. gorgeous. you've got a rad place...
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
view my little apartment's profile
Minimalist collector, I like it! Another great AT tour that is totally not my style, yet I completely appreciate it. Thanks for sharing!
view michpc's profile
Aw man- that sofa is incredible-I am MIGHTY jealous.
view talby's profile
Hi, this is my place. Thanks for all the positive comments!
No the sofa hasn't yet been recovered or restuffed, but I am actually planning on doing that soon. Just need to find a good upholsterer here in Toronto. If anyone knows one, let me know. The company that makes the sofa wanted more money to replace just the seat cushions that I bought the entire thing for!
Yup, you can all gumballs. I normally keep a dish of dimes beside it, but you can get one if you just jiggle the handle...
If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them here.
R
view rkuchinsky's profile
This is very cool and love what you've amassed here and it all works great. Love all that Eames stuff, have 5 of his shell chairs, 4 the white side w/ eiffel bases that are around my tiny 4 person dining table and a yellow/gray arm w/ the swivel/castor base that I use at my desk.
I like it when people carefully obtain stuff from family, friends, time and a variety of other places to obtain a look and you've done are markable job here and it's more my style too.
view ciddyguy's profile
Richard I totally agree your "best advice", it's more, it's a philosophy!
I spent lot of time to find grat things, but, I was young and sometimes bought too cheap and too trendy, but I kept all because it's a part of my evolution. Now I'm trying to live with less... but I love the shape of my stuffs, like you could like your Newson "lamp"!
Great apartment really.
view MadameBidule's profile
Is that the Citterio Diesis sofa? That sofa is the best sofa EVER MADE.
view m's profile
Love your place and the sofa, but, dude, c’mon … you are not a minimalist of any sort. :)
view Rick Roberts's profile
Yup its the Citterio Diesis sofa. It is super comfy (can't even count the number of times I've fallen asleep on it watching TV.
Maybe minimalist at heart would be a better way to put it? Or that the place would be minimalist if I had all of the same stuff but had a 3000 sq. ft. dream loft.. ?
If it makes any difference, here's a pic of what it looked like right after I moved in and before I got lots of the things-
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3883181476_0cdfb3bc88_o.jpg
(though to be fair some of the other things were in storage at the time).
It's funny how just having a space seems to fuel the need to fill it, perhaps.
R
view rkuchinsky's profile
I don't know what Richard looks like, but he's my design doppelganger (designelganger?)!
Rusted out pedal car? Check. Black mid-century phone? Check. Wooden shoe lasts? Check. Vintage movie posters? Check. Stuffed zebra head? Well, it'd be a check if I could find one.
But does he have a 1970s 1:100 scale model Boeing 747 hanging over his desk? Ha! I thought not.
view Blandwagon's profile
What is the shovel looking thing under the coat in the entrance to your place? I can't quite figure it out.
view Walenga's profile
one of the most amazing homes i've ever seen with a million interesting and unusual treasures. love the zebra head against the exposed brick and the gumball machine is genius.
the idea of 30 dirt cheap eames shell chairs is making me wish i lived in toronto (or was visiting at just the right time).
view ModernWoodland's profile
This place is so cool. It is my total inspiration for patience. I have the foundations of a great sofa and 3 utterly fantastic paintings.
view JamesG's profile
I'm not much of a MCMer, but this place is wonderful! I love the color, the re-use of vintage pieces, and the creativity.
Grr... Someday I'll have a loft.
view Mary B C's profile
It's great to find a home where you can track the history of it.
view Wheathills's profile
Blandwagon, he does not have a 1970s 1:100 scale model Boeing 747 hanging over his desk, but he does have two (2) red ladders. And that couch!
So Richard, any tips you can pass on regarding the easiest/cheapest way to ship large furniture items back from Europe? I've passed on so many wondrous things because the task seemed too overwhelming...
view rosenatti's profile
love the brick and bookshelves...well done!
view Geezees Canvas's profile
Not sure if it is my browser or what, but I have to fiddle and scroll to see an entire photo on my screen, and then move to the next one. I must be lazy or tired because it puts me off browsing, even though this is a home tour I really want to see! Maybe I'll try again in the morning.
view JoJenks's profile
I am the opposite of a minimalist (no matter how hard I try), so I'm speculating here - but maybe a collecting minimalist is someone who has the magpie gene yet is content to meanwhile live with one bowl, one spoon, and one knife??
Excellent apartment. Thanks for sharing!
view EAM's profile
I love the personality of your space. This is the kind of thing I love to see on AT. Great work, I hope you enjoy yourself every moment!
view wormy's profile
I love that you have all these collected items in this square footage, yet it doesn't seem cluttered or crowded.
I want to know about the great lighting, the lamps are super. And the red chairs at the dining table look really comfy, but cool.
view Glasgow Jewelbox's profile
is this the brock lofts? the history you give doesn't sound quite right but the look is very similar.
you are not a minimalist, but you do have fun stuff ;)
i wouldn't say getting that many eames chairs in toronto for such an amazingly low price is par for course. my best options are usually to ebay it and even then it's not cheap!
view pinstripeprincess's profile
Richard - I couldn't help but notice Project 3 Sixty/P360 written on your chalkboard door. I work with them as well! Small world.
Beautiful place. I agree with pinstripeprincess that it's got to be the Brock lofts about a block away from me.
view estydesign's profile
I've been in 8 of those pins in the map! :D
I hope you liked Valencia, it's my hometown
view xieta's profile
Brock Lofts, you got it!
R
view rkuchinsky's profile
Walenga - The "shovel thing" looks like it's a Boblbee hardshell backpack, if I'm not mistaken.
view duhisall's profile
Richard, love your taste in objects! And the chalk-board divider works really well as well.
But I would love to know if you (or anyone reading this) knows anything about your beautiful mobile. Do you know who designed it or manufactured it? Or this might be an insult and it is crafted rather than manufactured? It reminds me of the large abstract fish-swarm sculpture in the stairway of Blue-Fin (a restaurant in NYC on Time Square, designed by Rockwell Group) - is there a relation? I have been looking for over a decade now for the perfect wooden fish mobile, and yours would really be it!
view twelvelyn's profile
I've always wanted a map to stick pins in like you have! Did you mount a map on some sort of backing or did you find it somewhere?
view rynies's profile
The shovel thing is indeed a boblbee backpack http://www.boblbee.com/
The map came like that. Another score from the Bata Building auction.
The wood mobile is something made (crafted you could say) from a local Toronto designer, Dennis Lin, http://www.umomo.com/
I picked it up a craft fair for a very reasonable amount, but more recently have also seen it at a high end design shop selling for 3x more than I paid for it!
Blandwagon, no I do not have a 1970s 1:100 scale model Boeing 747 hanging over his desk.. though I would like one. There is actually a travel agents office near me that has something like that in the window and every time I drive by I hope the place is going out of business and I could score the model!
R
view rkuchinsky's profile
Are there any more lofts available in your building? I hear you even have public health care up there. Hellooooo, Toronto!
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
view FengShuiByFishgirl's profile
Hi Richard - Yea Toronto - it is so nice to see something from home.Very interesting loft, unusual and delightful pieces. Is your bed out in the open or do you have it cordoned - or should I say walled off. The couch is fantastic and I love someone who has their own ideas installed in their life. Great unit.
view Betty14's profile
fantastic space. love the sofa!
view shrewt's profile
Great space, thanks for the tour.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
This may be too boring for your taste, but I'd love a brick backsplash that matched the brick wall.
view Anne P's profile
I love this space!
Rynies, you can make your own map like that. Just buy a regular frame and remove the glass. Then glue thin cork board (it usually comes in rolls, and you can find it at any craft store) to the frame backing. Cut your map to fit and glue that to the cork board. Voila!
view RachelQ's profile
Wow, you truly have an amazing apartment. I love that all your furniture has been accumulating for 15 years! I also love your bike. Your home is super cool!
Michelle
cheeseloversinternational.blogspot.com
view michelleinbrooklyn's profile
Hi, big fan of your apartment!
Just a thought, you mentioned that you didn't know what to do with your back splash, well what about square over sized or regular subway tiles, but stainless steel and painted black? My mom had this done to her appliances by a movie set artist, it looks luxe, warm and mod. Just a thought, though I think anything you come up with will blow that idea out of the water!
view saramarie's profile
Hi, love you place!
Do you have any idea on the make/history of your orange chairs, the ones with the black back and armrests? The one near the sofa in the main picture, not the smaller ones around the main table.
I picked up two of these for $5 each because I loved them, but I have no idea if they have a history or following. Any idea? Mine actually have rollers though on the base, it looks like the feet of yours' are flat.
view cksubs's profile
Orange chairs are Steelcase. Can't recall the designer. I also have one with rollers and previously had quite a large set of them... again, all from the Bata building here in Toronto. I can't read the model number on mine so hard to find more info, but I know I once came upon the designer and more info online. sure with a bit of googling you might be able to come up with something.
R
view rkuchinsky's profile