Working with a heritage property meant the interior designers had to respect the building’s Victorian flourishes, integrating them into their final designs. Ian Rydberg, principal at Solid Design Creative, wanted to highlight the historic elements, such as the brightly tiled original fireplaces, while still injecting a sense of modern, stylish whimsy into the interiors.
“I wanted this to be like your crazy rich Parisian aunt’s house,” says Rydberg. “A house that’s made for parties, where each room has its own vibe.” Just as the mansion has lived many lives, each room feels alive with its own distinct energy. The bar has a Parisian art deco feel, with the tarragon velvet chairs echoing the colour of the fireplace. The Parlour, meanwhile, takes you back in time to the Victorian era, where a botanically themed wallpaper looks plucked from the pages of an illustrated textbook. The tone shifts again in the basement, where a secret speakeasy (found behind a movable wall) has a sensual Moulin Rouge appeal.
For the past century, this building has been a place for Torontonians to gather and celebrate. Time had worn away at the grandeur, but 592 Sherbourne Street has always been an address synonymous with hospitality. Now that the restoration is complete, Maison Selby is poised to kick off another hundred years of hosting fêtes fit for the history books.
