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.

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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.

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.”