An art-filled Toronto loft built on 17 years together

Brian and Lauren have been together 17 years and eloped about three years ago. They've lived in this 900 sq ft Toronto loft with their rescue dog, Iro, for four years. Brian is a video game programmer, and Lauren is a freelance advertising creative. They moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver to Toronto, and their home holds pieces from every stop.

Brian calls their style maximalist. A gallery wall climbs the 16-foot walls with art from travels, local markets and friends. One friend turned their living room into pixel art. Another painted the two of them in this space as a wedding gift. Lauren's father made a painting by the closet, and her brother made a graffiti piece of Iro.

Some things can't be replaced. A panel cut from an old Vancouver bookshelf holds the signature of nearly every guest since 2015. A teak credenza from a refurbisher in Vancouver was their first grown-up purchase. A round tulip-base table from a film equipment shop hosts four-player mahjong.

Brian has collected vinyl for about 15 years. They moved their bedroom downstairs, away from their mezzanine workspace, to keep work and home apart. The mezzanine now holds their desks and a guest bed.