Natural light was at the top of Santella's list of renovation must-haves. The couple blew out the bricks covering the window on the right when they downsized. Their open loft boasts 18-foot ceilings, with exposed beams.
Mosaic skull artwork: Hayes Nulman
by Esther Hershcovich
Mosaic skull artwork: Hayes Nulman
Most of the furnishings in the couple's loft are DIY projects, including this massive media unit made from their old headboard. Santella and Shapiro built it in their woodshop with cutouts for DVDs and speakers. Storage cupboards flank the repurposed headboard.
Artwork: Corno (center), scultpure (left) by Edith Brodkin
by Esther Hershcovich
Artwork: Corno (center), scultpure (left) by Edith Brodkin
A gallery of art lines the entry hall. Santella made the floor lamp using a tempered glass tabletop and two large pieces of horsehair interlining. The bench is also a DIY project, made by repurposing the legs of an old snooker table.
Artwork: framed monkey poster, Anisetta Evangelisti by Carlo Biscaretti, L'affichiste
by Esther Hershcovich
Artwork: framed monkey poster, Anisetta Evangelisti by Carlo Biscaretti, L'affichiste
The couple built their workspace over steel horizontal filing drawers. The area includes separate his-and-her sections, matching reupholstered chairs and a printer on wheels tucked under the desk. A yellow tinted glass worktop highlights photos and cards, while empty frames made by Santella hang above.
by Esther Hershcovich
Santella uses a photography daylighting lamp to work on her art.
by Esther Hershcovich
For their living room lounge, Santella designed an ottoman with dual functions. It can be moved and used as an arm for each sofa or as an extra sitting area that faces her workspace.
by Esther Hershcovich
A spinning circular sofa sits in the far corner of the living room. On the wall hangs a framed collection of crosses Santella has accumulated over the years.
by Esther Hershcovich
An exercise corner was set up right near the large windows looking out at a view of the city. Santella tucks away some equipment in a large chest nearby.
by Esther Hershcovich
Framed art from fruit crates, collected on a road trip down Route 1 in California, lines the top of the kitchen cabinets. Frosted-glass cabinets with interior lighting add to the L-shaped kitchen's open feel, while the stainless steel island provides extra storage space. The rug in the kitchen was handwoven by artisans in Maine from old T-shirts.
by Esther Hershcovich
The couple went vertical with their storage to save space, including hanging pots and pans. This view also shows the staircase and mezzanine level in the back.
by Esther Hershcovich 
During Montreal's infamous 1998 ice storm, Shapiro helped pick up fallen barns of Quebec's farmers and used some of the barn wood to build their dining table. It was recently cut short to better fit the room and is now surrounded by avant-garde chairs. Santella says, "We like the contrast of modern and old. We like mixing whatever works."
by Esther Hershcovich
The unit's only full bathroom doubles as a hairdressing salon for Santella's occasional client.
by Esther Hershcovich
Shapiro's rubber ducky collection keeps watch over the bathtub.
by Esther Hershcovich
Along the hallway, a set of stairs leads up to the bedroom, a bathroom and a laundry room. The decal on the wall captures one of the couple's life mottoes.
by Esther Hershcovich
This niche sits at the top of the mezzanine stairs, complete with a custom-made houndstooth chair and some artwork from Shapiro's mother.
by Esther Hershcovich
The couple plans to build a frame on the wall behind their bed in the master bedroom and enclose the wall-to-wall open closet with curtains.
by Esther Hershcovich
They built this large sink into a wooden base themselves for an extra-sturdy laundry room setup.
by Esther Hershcovich
Downstairs from the loft, Shapiro's L'Atelier Mirage showroom showcases his custom chairs.
by Esther Hershcovich
Pictured here is Shapiro's framing shop. "When I see the wood stacked up," he says, "I can imagine endless possibilities of what can be created."
by Esther Hershcovich
Shapiro, shown here, also enjoys playing music, and he created a small cordoned area in his showroom to hold his 12 guitars, recording software and amp. "While Lina wants light, I like dark," he says. He is often found playing chords in complete darkness.
by Esther Hershcovich
Phillip Shapiro and Lina Santella relax in their living room.
See more photos of this loft | Share your creative space with us
by Esther Hershcovich
See more photos of this loft | Share your creative space with us
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Your place looks fantastic guys!