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IA&D magazine
Style on Show

The IA&D booth at the Interior Design Show in Toronto had a clean classic vibeVisitors to the International Architecture and Design booth at the Interior Design Show in February were captivated by its chic contemporary design. It was conceived and executed by Manny Machado, designer and urban space stylist who has been working tin Toronto since he moved from Montreal 13 years ago.

The designer of residential condos and town homes also produces special events; one of his recent achievements was the design and style of Fashion Cares 2008. Machado’s IA&D booth was inspired by the Parisian apartment on the cover of our winter issue (IA&D No.3); “I wanted a luxurious look using minimal pieces because we didn’t have a lot of space,” Machado explains. “So my concept was to mimic the Parisian apartment feel- the clean, simple look.”

Machado chose pieces with “a classic vibe,” he says. “The bookcases are the standout pieces, the ones with the most impact; they created the mood. I love the mid-tone of the wood.” Attendees seemed to share Machado’s good taste: they came like bees to honey to inquire about the piece, which sports a uniquely random shelf placement within a repetitive pattern.“Big, chunky sofas” were the only “masculine” elements of the space, Machado says. “Everything else had a feminine touch.” Each piece had a functional purpose but was also a design element, he points out, the round side tables, for instance, play off the angular spaers of the other furniture.

Unusual for modern pieces are the deep armchairs with cane backs; the caning, more often seen in outdoor furniture, adds a textural element, giving the sturdy pieces a more delicate look. The chairs’ slim legs, which taper almost to a point, also have a sense of delicacy. “The caning takes you back to the idea of relaxing, lounging,” Macahdo adds. “It brings an easy feeling into the space.”

24 Hours
Toronto- vol.4 n0.55
Fri- Jan 26 - Sun. Jan.28 2007

Claude LaVertu – In Your Home Small Space, Big Ideas

After moving from my one bedroom apartment into a gigantesque seven-bedroom house, I was surprised to find that my belongings amply filled more than half of my new home, which made me wonder; where had all this stuff been hiding in my apartment?

I’m no pack-rat, but I’m good with storage solutions- something I learned during a short military stint as a younger man; if it didn’t fit into a foot locker, you couldn’t keep it, so like it or not, the bunny slippers had to go.My knack for working with small spaces is very useful in my work and my life, but when real challenges arise, I turn to experts who specialize in small space planning.

Enter the world of Manny Machado; a multi-talented, young, brilliant (God, he makes me sick) designer who possesses the kind of innovative ideas that could turn a phone booth into an airport terminal- phonebook included.Working from his 200-square foot retail/design space (known as Elbowroom Studio) Manny walks the walk by revealing how one can truthfully and comfortably function in an ultra-small space.

But don’t let the size of this studio fool you, in a world of “good things come in small packages” and “less is more”, Manny’s little space is loaded with big ideas and solutions to take on any small space dilemma.

For more information about Elbowroom Studio and some great space planning tips, log onto www.mannymachadodesigns.com

Claude LaVertu is an interior designer based in Toronto. For more information, please visit www.claudelavertudesign.com