Exquisite Toronto Penthouse Suits Music Mogul Owner's Taste
In the heart of Toronto lies a Modern Penthouse, once a set for the hit TV show Suits. Now, a sanctuary for the multi-award-winning record producer Noah '40' Shebib, the redesign was led by Reflect Architecture. Originally intended as a space for Shebib's trinkets, the architects were in for a surprise; instead, they were met with a mountain of Grammy awards.
Principal and founder of Reflect Architecture, Trevor Wallace, recalls the initial discussion, "He mentioned a place for his trinkets, so we specified contemporary wire boxes from Muller van Severen in Belgium, aiming for a modern art cabinet. We later discovered that his 'trinkets' were actually Grammys." The wire boxes, simple and industrial, serve as an unexpected testament to Shebib's humility.
The transformation of the 2,700 sq-ft space aimed to balance sharp edges and modern shapes—a nod to its former life on the TV screen—with intimacy and a lived-in feel. Granite plinths encase the living room and bedroom areas, working towards a nurturing effect. Trevor explains, "The feels of living in a glass box have their drawbacks. We hoped that the plinth around the interior's perimeter would minimize any feelings of exposure."
H&M Home wire shelves, reminiscent of the custom design, make the perfect storage for vinyl and other treasures. Moreover, the plinth serves a practical purpose, blending distinct levels of the house and softening the heavy concrete columns that were already in place.
Recalling the inspiration behind the design, Trevor notes, "Music and the culture and technology that supports it were dominating conceptual forces." To accommodate Shebib's work and passion, power outlets were strategically hidden yet accessible throughout the home, allowing him to tap into whichever instrument he fancied at any given moment.
The green vase adds a striking pop of color amid the otherwise understated palette. A custom table, made of stone, wood, and green-tinged glass, anchors the dining room, complete with remote access to the studio.
Incorporating design elements inspired by acoustics, lighting serves as natural room dividers. Trevor and his team collaborated with furniture designer Sabine Marcelis for this innovative approach, taking cue from the marriage of amplifiers and light.
An ode to serenity, the modern bathroom was designed as a retreat from the city's bustle. Influenced by traditional Japanese Onsen principles, the bathroom aims to provide peace and inspiration, making it a sanctuary within a sanctuary.
"The atelier," a private area tucked off the main bedroom, offers a space for Shebib's hobbies, such as his stamp collection or vinyl records. Filled with a Vitsœ 606 system and a restored 1970s Braun Audio 310 record player with matching speakers, it stands as an oasis of calm in an often hectic life.
In summary, the redesigned penthouse embodies humility, creative functionality, and cultural inspiration. It caters to both Shebib's professional and personal needs, creating a unique refuge amid the pressures of his high-profile career. Stripped of ostentation, the interior design serves as a quiet and thoughtful reflection of the man behind the Grammys.
- The contemporary wire boxes from Muller van Severen in Belgium were specified for a modern art cabinet in the Modern Penthouse, serving as an unexpected testament to Shebib's humility.
- H&M Home wire shelves, reminiscent of custom design, make the perfect storage for vinyl and other treasures in the redesigned penthouse.
- Trevor and his team collaborated with furniture designer Sabine Marcelis, taking cue from the marriage of amplifiers and light, to create lighting that serves as natural room dividers in the Modern Penthouse.
- The modern bathroom was designed as a retreat from the city's bustle, incorporating elements inspired by traditional Japanese Onsen principles to provide peace and inspiration, making it a sanctuary within a sanctuary.
- The atelier, a private area tucked off the main bedroom, offers a space for Shebib's hobbies, such as his stamp collection or vinyl records, fitting with the stripped-down, thoughtful interior-design approach that characterizes the Modern Penthouse.
- The redesigned Modern Penthouse, driven by music and its supporting culture and technology, embodies humility, creative functionality, and cultural inspiration, catering to both Shebib's professional and personal needs, creating a unique refuge amid the pressures of his high-profile career.
