Kevin Chan’s Trade Secrets
The Nivek Remas designer transforms industrial shells into modern marvels
Kevin Chan’s design firm, Nivek Remas, gained a cult following in 2014 after their first big project—a townhouse development in a former government building on Dovercourt—sold out in a single weekend. That same year, he transformed a derelict Bloorcourt boiler factory into a collection of laneway homes that juxtaposed industrial elements (milk-washed brick) with opulent details (skylit master baths with cathedral ceilings). That blend of rustic and modern is one of Chan’s trademarks: he recently painted the interior of a Forest Hill century home in bright shades of off-white and revamped a cold, industrial micro-condo with vintage pieces from Prince Edward County.
His Current Obsessions
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Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.