HG Designs
Trevor Wallace
Meet the Designer
We asked architect Trevor Wallace what fuels his work. As Founder and Principal of Toronto’s Reflect Architecture, Wallace is endlessly fascinated by the relationship between people, space and environmentally responsible architecture. Along with his Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Architecture from Carleton University, Wallace was instilled with a curiosity for different cultures at a young age. With his travels and time spent living in Spain during his formative years, he learned to understand the interweaving of human behaviour, cultural context, material and space, influencing his approach to progressive design and his desire to reflect the possibilities of architecture in the lives of his clients.
HG: How would you define your style?
TW: As an architect, I strive to ensure that our work is progressive and uniquely responsive to our clients. We approach design from an angle that favours a clean, contemporary aesthetic but that is thoughtfully and meaningfully inspired by the individuality of the people who will live in the spaces which yields a broad range of aesthetic outcomes.
HG: When did you first become interested in design?
TW: Honestly, I grew up with Lego always at hand and that likely fueled my imagination for the built form. As I grew up, I became more interested in all facets of design and was drawn to architecture as a seemingly natural fit to encompass multiple scales and variations of design thinking.
HG: Who or what inspires you?
TW: Travel is my biggest source of inspiration. I’m fascinated and drawn to understanding how cultures shape their environments to suit their needs. Appreciation of material innovations, placemaking strategies, and approaches to privacy, lighting, and form inspire my own creative process and that of our office in profound ways.
HG: Where is your happy place?
TW: My family has a basic and beautiful summer home—built by my great-grandmother—in Tadoussac, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Quebec City up the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Its narrative of honesty and simplicity continues to provide comfort for our family and consideration when approaching our work at Reflect.
HG: What's your favourite part of the design process?
TW: I immensely enjoy taking the time to get to know each client and what makes them unique; arriving at progressive architectural design solutions that reflects their individual interests and aesthetic tone.
HG: What are your styling tips?
TW: When approaching architecture and design, be authentic and intentional about your interests. Try to ignore the globally trending aesthetic that comes from following popular sources on social platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest.
HG: What is your favourite room in the house?
TW: At risk of sounding obvious, the kitchen. For so many of us, I believe this space is the most revealing reflection of how we truly live; it has to be a balance of function and aesthetics. As an architect there are a lot of quirks to unpack in figuring out how people aspire to live in their kitchen.
HG: What is your best entertaining tip?
TW: I feel that entertaining is about setting the right feeling and there is no easier thing to hit or miss than having the right lighting to complement the occasion.
What is Trevor coveting?
"I very much appreciate the texture and imperfections that come through in the handmade pieces from Rina Menardi."
Rina Menardi Conche 3 Low Oval Bowl
"Glassware by Zalto. I find the forms to be minimally honest to function and the details to be exotic in their simplicity."
Axuim Decanter
