The idea of an artist’s live-work loft can conjure romantic notions, and in the case of Alexander Jowett’s home, they’d be accurate.
His two-story space in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighbourhood — featured in an episode of On the Inside — is, frankly, very cool. Artisanal furniture, original paintings and handmade textiles are all around, much of which were inherited, acquired by auction and made by well-known artist friends.
Jowett in his living room, top, and a view to the second-floor skylights from below. (CBC Life)
The building itself — a true factory conversion — is home to many creatives. “It’s mostly artists and designers,” says Jowett of the complex. “And all the layouts are unique. It looks very unassuming from the outside. When you walk in, everything opens up.” And that would be way up.
“All the rooms basically have 12-foot ceilings or higher,” he says of the skylit space, “and it has a 24-foot, floor-to-ceiling open middle section.”
Jowett is an artist and designer, and owner of the shop Atelier Nomade, through which he sources and sells a range of artisanal wares like Moroccan rugs — one of his areas of expertise.
His living room often serves as a showroom for buyers coming to see and source the floor coverings, while the second level of his home is where he creates his art pieces. “It’s very much a live-work studio, an atelier — not necessarily in the traditional sense, with living above and work below. It’s sort of more living and working everywhere,” he says.
Jowett shares the loft with his daughter, India, and their cat, Asha. Over time, he’s filled the space with a collection of art, textiles, sculpture and mid-century modern furniture. Many pieces also have a family connection or a personal one.
In the living room, a low-slung sofa and a high-pile Beni Ourain rug create a cosy and casual feel that grounds a collection of high-design furniture, including an Eames lounge chair, Paul Tuttle rocking chairs, an H. Brockmann-Petersen hunting chair and a leather Moroccan-style pouf that Jowett had custom-made.
The most noteworthy feature of our home is the bookcase in our living room. It’s more than just shelving — it’s a living archive of our travels and passions.- Alexander Jowett
In the walkway to the living room, top, Jowett installed rings from the ceiling with exercise in mind, though he says they’re used daily by his daughter and almost never by him. The built-in shelves inspired Jowett, a collector, at first sight. (CBC Life)
A series of recessed illuminated shelves offer Jowett the perfect opportunity to showcase his varied collection of books and objets. “I really like the contrast of old and new,” he says, pointing to his assortment of historical and contemporary pieces.
He describes the kitchen as having an ’80s French country feel. It, too, is a home to Jowett’s collections: model planes and cars passed down from his father, acquired art and India’s drawings on the fridge. He placed his dining table directly under the skylights two floors above to mimic the open-air feel of dining areas in Moroccan riads.
The soaring wall behind the dining table showcases pieces from Jowett’s collection of Asafo flags dating from about the late 1800s to mid-1950s, made by militia groups in Ghana. “[They] were sort of creating their own coalitions that … defended against colonial interests — the Dutch and the British in the Gold Coast in Ghana, at that time — and they tell proverbs. They each tell a very unique story, and they’re all done in interesting and sort of beautiful ways,” he says.
“For me, a big part of all the things that I collect is the research. In all of these things, there’s much deeper stories that are really interesting to learn about. So it’s not just pretty pictures on a wall.”
Upstairs, the spaces feel just as eclectic and airy. Jowett’s studio and bedroom are completely open, with no doors or window coverings in place. (India’s bedroom, just as art-filled, does have a door.)
The studio is flanked by the staircase on one side and a Juliet balcony on the other, which is handy for airing out textiles and rugs. A jute rug serves to protect the floor as Jowett works on paintings in his studio — “something more esthetic than a drop sheet,” he explains.
Hanging high on the wall is an indigo dip-dyed Miao batik textile. “All the detail in white was actually done with little bits of wax … and then the wax is later washed off to show the white cotton underneath,” explains Jowett — a fan of indigo dyeing. “I bought that piece at auction, and I have a Japanese kimono which was done in that similar style on the lower level.”
His bedroom serves as not only a sleeping quarters, but an office and home for more art and textiles. Paintings by Bobby Mathieson, photographs by Nobuyoshi Araki and Jowett’s own photo art line the desk, while a treasured Asafo flag hangs on the wall.
A rug made of recycled alpaca wool lies across the foot of Jowett’s bed like a blanket, and comes from Toronto-based brand Blacksaw. “[The founders] are friends of mine and we’ve traded pieces,” says Jowett. “I just love having things like that — there’s a connection with all the pieces.”
Watch this episode of On the Inside to see Jowett’s artful yet cosy live-work loft, and read on for more about his approach to design.
WATCH | On the Inside: The artist’s live-work loft:
Alexander Jowett on home decor and design
(As told to CBC Life. These answers have been edited and condensed.)
The most noteworthy feature of our home is the bookcase in our living room. It’s more than just shelving — it’s a living archive of our travels and passions. We’ve filled it with rare first editions, collected objects and pieces that carry stories with them. The atmosphere it creates is layered and transportive, somewhere between the intimacy of an English manor and the polish of a chic hotel lobby bar. It sets the tone for the entire home: refined, worldly and full of character.
I start with feeling rather than rules. I think about the atmosphere I want to live in — calm, layered and soulful — and let that guide everything else.- Alexander Jowett
My design philosophy is grounded in a classic, timeless esthetic — one that transcends trends. I aim to create interiors that feel enduring and refined, while introducing unexpected details and subtle moments of whimsy that bring depth, personality and a sense of discovery to each space.
Jowett says this 2.5-metre-tall piece by artist Nancy Zboch really speaks to him and that he hopes his daughter will keep it in the future. (CBC Life)
Sculptures and busts play a central role in my interiors, grounding spaces with a sense of history and classical form. I love layering rich textures — plaster, linen, patinated metals — against paintings and works on paper, often with ornate or purposely selected frames to create visual depth and dialogue. Each layer is intentional: art and objects are arranged so that they not only complement one another but also invite conversation.
I start with a feeling rather than rules. I think about the atmosphere I want to live in — calm, layered and soulful — and let that guide everything else.
I gravitate toward pieces with history and craftsmanship, objects that carry a story, and I love the way those sit alongside quieter, timeless foundations. For me, a home should never feel decorated; it should feel collected, deeply personal and alive with character.