A classic jewelry cupboard, designer Gucci bag and customized engagement ring spotlight the designer’s walk-in closet.
It could look like a contradiction coming from somebody with a wardrobe stuffed with high-end labels (Gucci, Ferragamo and Versace could be noticed inside seconds of coming into the walk-in), however Aleem Kassam, co-founder and principal of design agency Kalu Interiors, believes that type doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution. “I feel that it doesn’t matter what your price range is, type is indicative of how artistic you could be,” he says.
Kassam’s creativity and aptitude permeate the beautiful Gastown loft he renovated alongside his fiancé, Victor Kazakov, in 2020 and 2021, particularly in his huge walk-in closet and dressing space, a spot that seamlessly combines his ardour for trend and inside design. “A lot of my life revolves round working and collaborating with each native designers and worldwide designers, but additionally mixing trend and jewelry from a wide range of family manufacturers. Equipment are an enormous a part of the best way I curate myself, similar to I curate areas,” he says.
Kassam acknowledges that not everybody has the means to have a closet as extravagant as his, particularly in a metropolis like Vancouver (at 200 sq. ft, it’s bigger than most bedrooms and provides Carrie Bradshaw’s well-known walk-in from Intercourse and the Metropolis a run for its cash). Nevertheless, he echoes what Queer Eye has been preaching for years: aesthetics affect all of our lives, and finally how we really feel about ourselves.
“Vogue and shelter are two issues that everybody interacts with every day, irrespective of your revenue stage or the place you dwell. Interiors have affect on our well-being and psychological well being. And clothes, very equally: it’s that aspect of feeling snug in your personal pores and skin. I all the time inform folks to take a look at trend and areas as aspirational. Design your house for the place you need to go in life; gown for the profession that you really want. Each are methods to raise not simply your type, however inherently your targets and goals.”
Aleem Kassam’s Favorite Issues
Modular customized swimsuit and robe
“Considered one of my favorite issues is working with, collaborating with and supporting native designers-we have a lot expertise in our personal yard, so why not begin with your personal group?” says designer Aleem Kassam (left), pictured with fiancé Victor Kazakov and golden Bengal cat Theos. “As a result of it’s troublesome to decide on only one, I’ll select the one that may be a 10-in-one, which is my convertible and modular customized swimsuit and robe by Jason Matlo: a four-piece assortment with limitless choices. It’s merely epic.
Stella McCartney Elyse platform sneakers
“I’ve these Stella McCartney Elyse platforms in a number of colors and types as a result of all of them have a dramatically excessive sole, offering me a big raise in peak–the proper means for me to get somewhat nearer to Victor, who towers over me at six-foot-two.”
An vintage jewelry cupboard
“This Qing dynasty jewelry cupboard was bought from an vintage retailer on South Granville that’s not there. It’s truly a silverware cupboard from the nineteenth century that I transformed to make use of for jewelry, sun shades and equipment. I really like this merchandise as a result of it brings within the previous with the brand new and completely organizes each merchandise as a replacement.”
Pink Gucci One centesimal anniversary Centum bag
“I really like my Gucci One centesimal-anniversary Centum bag in pink felt (with matching slide-ons), which solely turned out there within the Vancouver boutique the identical day Victor proposed and we had been engaged. On this present day, Victor had the shop privately opened for us after hours, and this bag instantly caught my eye, so I bought it to mark the event–completely becoming for the day.”
His engagement ring
“It is a no-brainer. Victor designed my engagement ring with my uncle, who’s a widely known jewelry designer in New York. This Trendy-Deco-style piece has a central 2.5-carat rectangular emerald-cut diamond in a raised centre semi-bezel setting, and never solely signifies this particular second in our lives, but additionally completely enhances me and my type: daring, distinctive and uncommon.”
Favorite hangout
“You’ll discover me on the Foyer Lounge on the Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada PI., fairmont.com). It’s my favorite spot within the metropolis. It’s near house, near the water, the workers are superb and I really like the design.”
Favorite Buying
“I completely love Obakki (1638 W third Ave., obakki.com). I really like the clear, minimalist and trendy interpretations of cultural designs produced in a wide range of areas, together with South America and Africa. And I really like that they help these native communities via aware manufacturing and by guaranteeing that sustainable, hand-crafted and distinctive items could be loved around the globe. I additionally love Annie Axtell (1616 Pandora St., annieaxtell.com), who does lovely upholstery and cushion accents which are extra playful and enjoyable. For classic finds, I began following a few new, native Instagram accounts. One is Kollection by Irie (instagram.com/kollectionbyirie) and so they have some actually cool mid-century items.”
This story was initially revealed within the July/August 2023 print subject of Vancouver Journal—discover the digital subject right here and subscribe now at no cost!
