What a show. On one side of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building: Canadian by Nature, a lively exhibition showcasing architecture and design from 60-plus emerging and established designers and studios, practising in Canada and abroad; and Maker, highlighting artisanal North American designers who produce their own work in small batches with limited distribution. On the other side: Studio North and Prototype, featuring one-off and custom collections in a gallery-like setting from young Canadian and international designers. In between: a varied selection of flooring, lighting, furniture and more.
Mile│Lambert & Fils 
Inspired by the iconic linear-suspension light typically found in utilitarian spaces, Mile is a new collaboration between L&F and Guillaume Sasseville, creative director of Montréal-based SSSVLL. “Two extruded bodies connect in an asymmetrical balancing act giving them the illusion of weightlessness,” says Sasseville. “The invisible counterbalances inside the frame create a tension and makes the fixture seem like it’s levitating.” www.lambertetfils.com
Trip-Mini Pendant│Pelle 
A studio co-founded by New York City-based Jean and Oliver Pelle in 2011, the duo’s crisp Trip-Mini is made of brass or steel plate, and is available in three finishes: rust, steel and satin brass. www.pelledesigns.com
T110│Kastella 
The elegant T110 is the latest addition to the collection of the Montréal -based manufacturer and distributor of premier hardwood furniture. The table is available in solid walnut or white oak, with a matte black or white Fenix top or solid-surface-top option. www.kastella.ca
Lomhara│Luxi Studioworks 
Crafted entirely by hand by Halifax-based Alisha Marie Boyd, Lomhara takes its name from an Irish Gaelic intimate term of endearment. Made of welded steel with powdercoat finish, the airy pendant is available in candy teal, candy red, white, gold, champagne, sleet and translucent smoke. www.luxistudioworks.com
Boreal Bench│Charuk & Ford 
Chris Charuk and Simon Ford launched their small-batch furniture company at IDS. Designed and made in their west-end Toronto studio, products include a handsome bench ideal for both entryway and dining settings. It features a solid-wood, pinned mortise-and-tenon frame, steam-bent back and shaped solid-wood seat. www.charukandford.com
.001│.Decimal 
Run by partners Omar Reul (in Mexico City) and Alejandro Barrero (in Vancouver), .Decimal creates state-of-the-art light fixtures, pairing LED modules with customizable high-grade 3D-printed shades created by tech-savvy designers around the world. The latest shade is by Eve Balashova, a young Russian-born jeweller based in Scotland. www.decimalmade.com
Highwire│ANONY 
A lighting and product design studio in Toronto founded by Christian Lo and David Ryan, ANONY’s Highwire combines up to five individually weighted luminaries hanging from a single “power drop” of taut electrical cables. www.anony.ca
Layer│This or That Studio
Toronto-based Henry Lin is the designer behind this series of seating, which balances the beauty and strength of solid white oak with the comfort of upholstered seating: visually interesting from every angle. www.thisorthatstudio.com
Beton Clipse│Ryspot Design 
The cast-concrete lamp by Ryan Spotowski makes use of recycled concrete aggregate. The bulb reflects off the surface of the concrete, illuminating its texture and imperfections. Rotating the lamp on its side provides an asymmetrical option; it also works well as a bookend. www.ryspot.design
Iso│Justin Bailey Design 
A furniture and lighting designer based in Bloomington, Indiana, Justin Bailey wowed Prototype aficionados with a coffee table inspired by isometric drawing. Tilted at 15º in two directions – giving the table its signature italic movement – Iso is constructed of bent-steel rod and Corian solid-surface tiles that can be repositioned. www.jbaileydesign.com
Koval│Huppé 
The Québec-based furniture company has teamed up for a second time with Karim Rashid to come up with Koval, available in two sizes. The rounded tabletop, in solid white oak, has a central insert made of natural stone or lacquered glass. The inset lacquered-steel frame comes in 13 different colours. www.huppe.net
Polar Table│Hollis + Morris 
This Toronto-based furniture and lighting maker takes its name from an intersection in Halifax where it began as a series of garage explorations in design. With Polar, warm wood (solid walnut or white oak) pierces through glacial-honed marble. www.hollis-morris.com
Mila│Matthew McCormick Studio 
Inspired by his pregnant wife’s tender, cradling pose, Mila features spheres of hand-blown artisan glass nestled within arcs of steel. Finishes include satin copper, satin brass, black oxide, white powdercoat and brushed steel. Available in Toronto at South Hill Home. www.matthewmccormick.ca / www.southhillhome.com
