Design-Milk

In the rapidly densifying landscape of Toronto, where a growing array of boisterous architectural statement pieces compete for attention, a new home designed by interior designer Gillian Gillies stands as a welcome reprieve. Sustainability, so often associated with clinical engineering, soaring towers, expansive campuses, and stark, performance-driven aesthetics, is here reimagined as a “warm embrace.” Located in the upmarket “urban village” neighborhood of Leaside, the Net Zero Ready Home project proves that advanced environmental stewardship and joyful, idiosyncratic interiors can coexist.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

The project is the result of a tight collaboration between Gillian Gillies (the designer’s eponymous practice), Dewson Architects, and builders Cliff & Evans. While the technical foundation is rooted in passive house principles—featuring meticulously tested air and moisture control layers to ensure a consistent year-round temperature—the sensory quality of the home is defined by texture, color, and family connection. “Comfort was paramount,” Gillies says, “and that meant a home that was properly constructed as well as [comfortable furniture].”

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Gillies, originally from Edinburgh, brings a sensibility rooted in the permanence of neoclassical and Georgian architecture, translated here through a palette of natural materials including white oak, walnut, and wool. Each room is tailored to its intended function, while bold floral wallcoverings and textured tile add personality. Rather than the sterile “newness” typical of contemporary high-performance homes, the interiors embrace deliberate juxtaposition.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

“We don’t perfectly match textiles,” Gillies explains. “Instead, we like a little bit of tension, a little bit of a mismatch that makes the home feel more settled.”

This philosophy is most evident in the communal spaces, where the design explicitly fosters human interaction. A double-sided sofa in the living room invites simultaneous yet distinct modes of engagement. A floating box window seat in the foyer provides a quiet nook for reflection. The color story—a grounding base of greens and blues punctuated by vibrant flashes of yellow and red—mirrors the family’s love of travel and the natural world.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Throughout the four-story structure, strategically placed architectural and decorative lighting shapes the mood. A Lutron HomeWorks system seamlessly transitions the atmosphere from energetic to intimate. Sculptural pendants from Montreal-based boutique producers Lambert & Fils and Gabriel Scott add a layer of contemporary craft. Vintage Brazilian furniture and Oaxacan woven baskets reinforce the space’s warm, tactile quality.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Ultimately, this Toronto home stands as a testament to the idea that thoughtful architecture can improve everyday life. By prioritizing the wellbeing of both the planet and a specific family, Gillies created a structure that does more than just store carbon; it’s a space that holds life in all its complexity.

“We create homes to be lived in and not simply looked at,” she says. In striking this careful balance, the designer has created a home that will undoubtedly last through the generations.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Retail stores often take a more-is-more approach, filling their spaces with an overwhelming array of goods, so when one has just the right combination of products and aesthetic appeal, it can give the retailer an edge. That’s what MUJI in Cambridge, Massachusetts, banked on.

In North America, the Japanese company is evolving from a purveyor of stationery into a full lifestyle retailer. For its new location in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, Mapos Architects, in collaboration with ACTWO Architects, was tasked with renovating the Design Research building in Harvard Square—in just 10 weeks.

Photography by Gunnar Glueck, Flaunt Boston.

When the Design Research building opened in 1969, it served as a showcase for architect Ben Thompson’s shop, which included European and Scandinavian housewares. For the MUJI revamp, the architects took a deliberately light-touch approach, revealing rather than replacing the building’s defining architectural elements.

“We uncovered the existing textures to leverage what was already there and bring back the original beauty of the space,” says Colin Brice, co-founder and partner at Mapos Architects.

Photography by Gunnar Glueck, Flaunt Boston.

With a lightness not typical of the period, the structure boasts a balance of concrete and glass curtain walls, forming a jewel-box-like setting that feels surprisingly contemporary and welcoming.

“It’s really an exceptional example of Brutalist architecture and how open it can be,” explains Caleb Mulvena, co-founder of Mapos Architects and partner in charge of the project. “The entire storefront opens to the community, and customers can start shopping from the street as they look in.”

Photography by Gunnar Glueck, Flaunt Boston.

Enhancements begin at the entry, where brick flooring retains its patina, complemented by upgraded lighting and ceilings. Concrete columns, concrete masonry walls, and floating staircases were exposed to add character to the interior. White and gray tones are paired with accents of green and MUJI’s signature red. Accent walls made of locally sourced heart pine introduce warmth and align with the brand’s commitment to sustainable reuse.

Photography by Gunnar Glueck, Flaunt Boston.

Set across four levels, the 12,000-square-foot store encourages easy movement through an expansive, emporium-like layout. In the top-floor café, shoppers will find a robot barista, introducing a hospitality-inspired experience that reflects MUJI’s growing emphasis on stores as destinations rather than simply places to shop.

“It was really about leaning into the space as we found it,” Mulvena adds. “By keeping our touch light, we were able to celebrate these features.”

It is this simplicity, rather than ostentation, that makes the greatest impact. As the first step in MUJI’s broader North American evolution, the Cambridge location demonstrates how thoughtful restoration can reinforce a brand’s identity.

Photography by Gunnar Glueck, Flaunt Boston.

MUJI Harvard Square is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays) at 48 Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Chai keeps its own time. Milk climbs to a boil while tea and spices steep loose in the pot, and the strength shows itself in color, deepening shade by shade until the foam begins to rise. The traditional method of making chai demands attention; it’s a process that has changed very little over time. Dostea, a compact countertop chai maker, was designed to preserve that ritual while bringing the process down to the push of a button.

Photography courtesy of Analogy Design

In 2021, the UK startup behind Dostea engaged Analogy Design, an industrial design studio in India whose portfolio spans housewares and consumer electronics. Together, they took the beverage appliance from concept to product readiness. What Analogy set out to protect was the character of the drink itself while creating an appliance that people would want to leave on the counter, rather than hide away.

“Our goal wasn’t to simplify the ritual but to preserve what people love about it while making it more intuitive for modern kitchens,” says Divya Rao, co-founder of Analogy.

The Analogy Design team built the first prototype. Photography courtesy of Analogy Design.

While coffee has inspired generations of dedicated equipment—from espresso machines to pour-over systems—chai has largely remained a stovetop ritual involving multiple utensils, constant attention, and personal technique. Analogy worked without a template, arriving at a restrained form that combines warm color, material, and finish choices with detailing that references both Indian craft traditions and contemporary European minimalism. Its minimal controls reflect the familiarity of a drink made every day.

“We wanted the product to feel rooted in the warmth and familiarity of chai while introducing a clean, contemporary aesthetic,” Rao adds.

Working on a cardboard prototype of Dostea. Photography courtesy of Analogy Design.

Inside, the mechanism was engineered alongside the shell, its part count pared down to fit the small footprint. The harder work was upstream of the hardware. “One of the biggest challenges was ensuring users could still customize their tea, whether that’s the strength, milk ratio, or brewing style, without losing the convenience of one-touch operation,” Rao explains. The machine preserves that flexibility, letting each household keep its own version of the cup.

Analogy led the project from industrial design through product development and manufacturing planning, shaping not only how Dostea works but how it fits into contemporary kitchens.

Photography courtesy of Analogy Design

To learn more about the project and its launch timeline, visit Analogy Design or follow the studio on Instagram.