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Great Spaces: A tech investor’s home office that doubles as a studio for jam sessions

“It’s both a workspace and a place where I can relax and enjoy my hobbies”

By Iris Benaroia| Photography by Derek Shapton
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Great Spaces: A tech investor's home office that doubles as a studio for jam sessions

Who: James Mekur, a private equity tech investor, and Christine Viinberg, an interior designer and stylist Where: near Eglinton and Spadina


Christine Viinberg has completed many renovation projects on her 1930s Tudor home since moving in 16 years ago. She turned the backyard into a European-inspired urban oasis, created a top-floor teen hangout and set up a proper home office for her husband.

Formerly drab and disorganized, the room lacked an identity. “Everyone’s stuff was all over the place,” says Christine. “James needed a space to decompress.” Previously, in his job as an investment banker, James worked out of an office on Bay Street during the week and at home on evenings and weekends.

Related: This designer’s retro home office is punctuated by pops of colour

To corral the chaos, Christine moved everyone else’s stuff out and created a dedicated office for James. She added a large Serge Mouille replica light fixture to accentuate the room’s high ceilings and popped a fresh insert into the fireplace, framing it in marble. Then she decked the space out with mid-century modern accessories, artwork from friends and sports memorabilia.

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James used to use it strictly as an office. “But now,” he says, “it’s a place where I can also relax and enjoy my hobbies, like playing guitar.”

Great Spaces: A tech investor's home office that doubles as a studio for jam sessions
“This vintage desk has such beautiful lines,” says Christine. It’s from the online shop Mid Century Modern Toronto

 

A tech investor's studio that doubles as a studio for jam sessions
The chairs don’t have arms, so James can play guitar in them

 

A tech investor's home office that doubles as a studio for jam sessions
The pen-and-ink print above the couch is called “Axtons New York.” It’s from South Hill Home on Dupont

 

A tech investor's studio that doubles as a studio for jam sessions
“As birthday gifts to myself, I buy guitars,” says James. Last year, he bought a tailor-made acoustic guitar; this year, he got a Gibson Les Paul

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Iris Benaroia is a contributing writer to Toronto Life with a focus on interior design and lifestyle. Her stories also appear in House & Home, Style at Home, the National Post, Maclean’s, Elle Gourmet and HGTV.

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