Can-Con

An east-end home is Arts and Crafts outside, mid-century mod inside, with a healthy dollop of contemporary Canadian art mixed in By Waheeda Harris

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When a fire destroyed their rental home, and half of their belongings with it, hair and makeup artist Tony Masciangelo and his partner, Jed Puznak, decided to start over. They’d been putting off buying their own place, thinking they couldn’t afford it. The fire made them philosophical: “You can always buy more pretty things,” says Masciangelo. Two and a half years ago, they took the plunge with a 1922 Arts and Crafts semi in the east end.

After a lengthy reno, they filled their new home with Masciangelo’s growing contemporary Canadian art collection and vintage finds. Even though he travels regularly on assignment for the Plutino Group (a local agency representing hair and makeup artists), Masciangelo keeps his shopping local. His mid-century pieces are mostly sourced from Leslieville stalwarts like Ethel, Machine Age Modern and Zig Zag, his art from such Queen West galleries as Katherine Mulherin. “I started collecting Canadian art because it’s cheaper than American,” Masciangelo says, plus he likes the idea of supporting local culture. He takes a relaxed but determined approach: “I don’t care if it takes 20 years to furnish my home. I want to love everything in it.”

Photographs: Tracy Shumate

Originally published September 2008

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