Jennifer Roberts/The Globe and Mail
As the owner of a highly successful chain of hair salons, Ray Civello is often on the road. Just before Halloween, for instance, he was in Chicago opening three Civello locations; there are now seven across North America. In Canada, he is the country's sole distributor of Aveda products, overseeing five Aveda Institute Academy Salons nationwide and 15 retail stores. His home is a boxy, 9,000-square-foot Georgian-style house in Toronto's Rosedale neighbourhood that Civello overhauled himself over six months, converting a two-apartment dwelling back into a single-family residence. He moved into the 1930s property in June and shares it with partner Kelly McGuishin and their five-year-old son, Corrado, with the exception of one room: the library.
"It's officially my room – dad's space," Civello says of the large retreat. "This is where I work and relax, shutting the doors for complete privacy but knowing that my family is close by."
The couch
"It was custom made for me by my good friend Daniel Perez in Montreal. It's spectacular. It's the central piece in the room. It surrounds the entire fireplace area. The curved shape looks vintage at the same time as being sleek and modern. It's an amazing combination and also very inviting to sit on."
The bookcase
"It's oak and I believe it was built when the house was. I painted it out – some people might not have done that. We customized it, closing up some niches and adding lighting. I use it for books and art."
The sculpture
"In this room, I have about 15 Buddhas. This one is made of bronze and stands about four-and-ahalf feet off the ground. It could be from Burma but I got it from Jalan, which used to be on Queen Street West. I am not a devout Buddhist but I do meditate and I do practice the art of awareness. What Buddha represents to me is a way of life; there's an energy that comes for these statues, the details are strong. When Buddha is around, I feel calm."
The photograph
"This a photograph of me holding my son, taken about two years ago, right after a photo shoot of my house. I had these brand new shoes on and I took them off and my son ran in – I had no idea that the photographer, Greg Pacek, took the picture. Some months later, he came by the house and gave it to me as a Christmas present. It's a great shot."
The sconces
"They are ceramic antlers; we've got them all over the house. Antlers, as far as sconces go, are unusual. I love that they are not at all real. I would not have real antlers in my house – I just wouldn't. But I like the drama."