Honouring Excellence
The dazzling and glamorous 2025 Living Luxe Awards Show gala, a Diamond Affair, highlighted multifaceted Canadian talent.
By Julie Gedeon | Photography by Ryan Emberley
For a second year, the Living Luxe Awards Show this April showcased Canadian architects, real estate builders and developers, designers and fashion creators who are a cut above, capping off a memorable weekend of excellence at the Living Luxe Design Show in the Toronto Congress Centre. This year’s recipients were honoured at a fittingly themed Diamond Affair.
“We’re delighted to hold this awards gala celebrating amazing Canadian entrepreneurs,” says Living Luxe publisher Jennifer Lipkowitz. “It’s wonderful to spotlight people whose immense creativity and talents are sometimes overlooked simply because they don’t have the vast marketing resources of global brands.”
The glamorous gala took place at the distinguished Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. The Diamond Affair, organized by Diana Pires Events, was indeed dazzling, with many attendees decked out in precious stones to add their sparkle to the gala’s stylish glitter. “This year’s theme was so much fun,” Lipkowitz adds. Flower sponsor The Rosarium Luxury Roses, linen sponsor Chair Decor, and decor sponsors Precious Flowers Event Design and Selibrate ensured the venue was adorned to match the occasion.
Of course, the night’s true gems were the winners. The awards recognize entrepreneurs and creatives at the pinnacle of redefining the standards and possibilities within their respective fields through their dedication, innovation and excellence.
The competition was stiff, and electing the winners proved challenging, with an even greater number of nominations than last year. “The keen participation indicates the significance these awards carry,” Lipkowitz says, adding she’s glad she didn’t have to decide. Up to the task was a design panel of formidable creative powerhouses with a broad range of expertise, including Liberty Entertainment Group’s vice president and creative director Nadia Di Donato, award-winning fashion entrepreneur George Sully, acclaimed designer Lori Morris, renowned architects Martha Franco, and acclaimed architect Gianpiero Pugliese.
OE Design by Omid Taba took home two awards over the course of the evening. The first, the Builder Award, honoured the studio’s high-calibre bespoke residences and commercial properties.
The OE Design Gallery by Omid Taba, a moody and textural backdrop for the show’s first formal art display, wowed the judges and earned the studio the prestigious Outstanding Booth Design award, entitling it to a cover story in Living Luxe magazine.
OE DESIGN BY OMID TABA
MASTERMIND BUILDER AWARD & OUTSTANDING BOOTH DESIGN
CAVA SURFACES
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
This year’s new People’s Choice Award, chosen by Living Luxe Design Show visitors, went to the opulent and immersive booth created by Cava Surfaces, a premium supplier of exquisite slabs of stone. “The Living Luxe Show had computer terminals where attendees could vote for their favourite presenter,” Lipkowitz says. “How wonderful to have this public feedback!”
Jordan Stewart, the creative force behind RVNG Couture, earned the Fashion Icon Award for her architectural silhouettes, rich textures and unapologetically feminine pieces. Her collections are created to empower women with a meticulous couture that Stewart first embraced as a child when her grandmother taught her to sew.
For the new Dine & Design award, the panel consisted of TV host, designer and creative director Amanda Aerin, foodie and entrepreneur Steven Branco, award-winning journalist Rita DeMontis, and Living Luxe’s co-founder and chief operating officer Anthony Sirianni.
JORDAN STEWART
FASHION ICON AWARD
DON ALFONSO 1890
DINE & DESIGN AWARD
KATIE HUNT
WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
“We felt it was essential to have a special panel to judge this category because of the unique aesthetics required to complement food properly,” Sirianni says. This year’s award went to Don Alfonso 1890, the first North American restaurant of chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino.
Wise Nadel Design, which specializes in designing high-end homes by dovetailing luxurious form with function, received this year’s Living Luxe Award, recognizing excellence in the world of interior design. Vogt Industries took the Product Innovation prize for its sleek and intuitive bath and kitchen designs, while Canaroma Bath & Tile earned the Inspirational Showroom Award thanks to its beautifully appointed 20,000-square-foot showroom.
The Architectural Innovation Award was presented to Richard Wengle Architect Inc. for its clever integration of new technologies and materials while remaining faithful to functional beauty and timeless elegance. Synchronizing with its 90th anniversary, Tridel was chosen for the Luxury Condominium Development Award as a leading Canadian homebuilder committed to craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability. Another long-established institution, Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., won the Brokerage Excellence Award, thanks to its over 65 years of serving Toronto with the utmost professionalism.
Young entrepreneurs were also recognized with Elizabeth O’Kane chosen for this year’s Emerging Talent Award.
VOGT INDUSTRIES
PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
NATASHA KOIFMAN
INSPIRATIONAL IMPACT AWARD
CANAROMA BATH & TILE
INSPIRATIONAL SHOWROOM AWARD
TRIDEL
LUXURY CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT AWARD
I just so admire individuals who give back to the community, and hope the recipients inspire others to do so.
As a dedicated philanthropist, Lipkowitz is particularly excited about this year’s new Inspirational Impact Award. “I just so admire individuals who give back to the community, and hope the recipients inspire others to do so,” she says.
This year’s winner, NKPR’s president Natasha Koifman, is undoubtedly inspirational. As the co-founder of AN8 (an investment fund supporting entrepreneurs), Koifman is also president of the board of Artists for Peace and Justice Canada, as well as an APJ USA board member, and giving back is a core tenet of who she is. She has also made it a pillar of how she conducts her business; Koifman’s public relations firm supports the St. Felix Centre and Lifeline Charitable Foundation.
Lipkowitz is also delighted that the Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to wallpaper installer and designer Katie Hunt, whose stunning REMIX Walls wall murals are increasingly sought after thanks to their bold prints and high-quality texture. “She exemplifies the possible creativity of someone who started her business out of her home,” Lipkowitz says.
ELIZABETH O’KANE
EMERGING TALENT AWARD
RICHARD WENGLE ARCHITECT INC.
ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATOR AWARD
HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE LTD., BROKERAGE
BROKERAGE EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Diamond Affair was made not only possible but exquisite with the support of several other key sponsors, including Cosentino, Marabella, House of Rohl, Khayeri Curated Flooring, Mirror Mirror Activations, Medusa Entertainment, and Scratch Experience Group.
All who attended—both those who left with a crystalline trophy and those who didn’t—enjoyed a resplendent evening of delicious dinner, dazzling lights and amazing company, all in honour of the thriving creative and entrepreneurial spirit of Canada. Already, sights have turned to next year’s awards gala, which promises to be even bigger, bolder and more glamorous. Entries are now open for the 2026 show—enter yourself or your colleagues to take part in all the glamorous fun next year.