For one artistically inclined couple, a late-night foray into on-line dating led to DIY domestic bliss
In November 2007, Chris Roberts, a painter, came home from a night at the bar “not crazy drunk, but drunk enough,” he says, and started browsing Lavalife. He quickly spotted the profile of a graphic designer named Shanan Kurtz. Feeling bold, he signed up and messaged her. Kurtz responded to Roberts’ message and, a few weeks later, invited him over on a date. She had recently purchased a home near the Gladstone Hotel. When he walked in the door, he realized he’d been there before. The property previously belonged to close friends of his, who had borrowed several of his paintings to stage it. Kurtz and Roberts soon discovered more common territory: a mutual affection for restoring second-hand furniture and collecting old glass jars. After six months of dating, he moved in.
Their home is now a colourful space full of creative projects and whimsical touches. Kurtz painstakingly hand-painted the hallway to look like wallpaper, and Roberts brought his own artwork and handyman skills, building the dining room table and a backyard studio. They have an offbeat collection of animal-themed art, including what Kurtz calls their “sad, cute donkey figurines” in the bedroom. “We think of ideas together and figure out cheap ways to do them,” Roberts says. Their most expensive piece of furniture is a $1,600 couch from Pavilion.
In 2009, they took a trip to Iceland, a country Kurtz had always dreamed of visiting, and Roberts proposed mid-hike on a mountain outside Reykjavik. They married last year, and after a second trip to Iceland, they’re expecting a baby in March.
The couple bought two spindle lamps from Urban Outfitters ($30 each) and painted them brown.
Roberts hand-routered this piece, titled Contemplation, into Baltic birchwood. It’s a replica of a how-to diagram for building a go-kart, which he found in a set of old home improvement encyclopedias.
Kurtz bought this Moorish tile-style rug from Pottery Barn, originally $800, for half-price.
The couch, their only big splurge, was $1,600 at Pavilion on Queen West.
They purchased this Hampton Bay iron and crystal chandelier at Home Depot for $150, and then painted it white.
Kurtz’s mother, who recently taught herself how to refurbish furniture, upholstered this antique chair. Kurtz picked out the fabric at MacFab on Queen East.
The ottoman was also reupholstered by Kurtz’s mom.
Roberts built these shelves with maple wood from the old garage they tore down at the back of the property.
The Tibetan prayer bowl was a wedding gift from friends, who found it at Tibet Arts and Crafts on Queen West.
The sheepskin throw is a souvenir from their first trip to Iceland.
The settee belonged to Kurtz’s late grandparents. “It had been in their apartment ever since I was little,” says Kurtz. “I hung onto it for years until I finally got up the gumption to paint and reupholster it.”
Kurtz found this portrait of an owl by Oregon-based illustrator Ryan Berkley on etsy.com.
This accent wall was inspired by a design Kurtz found on wallpaper fromthe70s.com. The pattern she wanted was $70 per roll, so she decided to paint the walls, freehand, instead. It took her nearly four months to complete.
For the couple’s wedding, Kurtz and a friend crafted homemade decorations, including paper flower balls, one of which now hangs in the dining room.
Roberts built their dining room table using wood salvaged from a barn outside Creemore.
Kurtz is a fan of turquoise. “I find it soothing, yet lively,” she says. “I don’t like beige on my walls.” Here they used Clear Aqua by Para Paints. “We did the upstairs guest room in a bright tomato red,” she says, “so in comparison, the turquoise is pretty tame.”
The end chairs are from Of Things Past on Bridgeland Avenue; they’re upholstered in a water lotus–patterned fabric by Amy Butler, from MacFab.
The dining room wall displays a mix of personal photographs, a butterfly specimen from eBay, prints by Marcel Dzama, and photos by Kotama Bouabane and Todd R. Forsgren purchased from the on‑line gallery 20×200.com.
Roberts built himself a studio that has heated floors and skylights.
(Images: Michael Graydon)
Thanks for sharing :)
December 22, 2010 at 12:12 pm | by Christinereally warm and eclectic! thanks.
December 23, 2010 at 10:09 am | by HogtownmikeGreat house. I love the painting in picture 19, is that by the homeowner? If so where can you find his art?
December 23, 2010 at 1:08 pm | by GregorAmazing home decor and wonderful unique splashes of each of you all over the home!
December 23, 2010 at 2:53 pm | by Melissa VaessenGregor,
You can get in touch with Chris Roberts and see more of his artwork at http://www.chrisrobertsstudio.com
cheers!
December 23, 2010 at 3:51 pm | by sko hi rich kids
December 28, 2010 at 12:19 am | by o hiwhere can someone learn to refurbish/upholster furniture?
December 29, 2010 at 2:32 pm | by AnnGorgeous. I love the colours, the mix of woods — how they brought so many disparate styles together so well. Looks like they make a great team.
December 30, 2010 at 7:37 pm | by northernlakeA WARNING ABOUT SITES LIKE MATCH.COM. Match.com allows people who do not live in town, who are of wrong age, who are married or otherwise in relationships to date on its site. So they may not be thieves but they are looking to take ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN.
I have noticed that since 2009 a lot of men who would have actually used prostitutes have moved to sites like Match.com to find sex and they will lie through their teeth to get it. I know one guy who actually put down he is 44 but is actually 51, wants kids but doesn’t, doesn’t live in the location his profile indicates, has been incarcerated, and generally has a pretty incorrect profile. Also he is in a relationship with another woman in the city he actually lives in. All of this I reported to Match.com…and they will not shut down his profile. They continue to keep it up…knowing that the entire profile is a lie.
I think Match.com specifically has become a magnet for men who were otherwise no longer able to afford prostitutes and now come to the site for the same…only they pay 10th of the price and lie to the women to take advantage of them.
Online dating…especially Match.com are the way of johns.com now. Any decent person who is looking for a real relationship…BEWARE!!!
If the man is an American, I suggest you do a complete background check on Intellus.com site where you can find out the real age, if they are married, if they have a criminal background or otherwise are lying about where they actually live. It costs about $12 and is worth every penny!
January 9, 2011 at 1:12 am | by KarenOh Karen… Go away and rant somewhere else. Lets focus on the lovely home at hand..Christ! U sound like a bitter HAG!!
January 10, 2011 at 12:59 pm | by CRITICMy first comment is addressed to CRITIC who doesn’t seem to have read Toronto Life’s policy regarding abusive comments. CRITIC’s response to Karen’s warning about Match.com certainly qualifies as an abusive attack.
As the couple featured in this article met through an online dating agency Karen’s cautionary post about another dating agency that she had personal knowledge of is on topic.
How many of us, having read about this couple’s wonderful story, thought we too might try the an online agency to find our soul mate. Karen, thank you. An internet search confirmed everything you said.
Chris and Shanan – Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story and pics of your beautiful home with us. Love the turquoise.
Chris
February 8, 2011 at 4:49 pm | by ChrisWhat a beautiful, creative home! Thank you for sharing!
February 11, 2011 at 4:08 pm | by Julia