Meet the Creatives Behind Toronto’s Hottest Design Studio

Step into the flagship studio of interior design firm Nivek Remas and you’ll be greeted by soaring ceilings, collaborative spaces and the vocal stylings of Beyoncé.

“We were working pretty late last night, wrapping up a concept; that’s just typically how we get in the zone,” shares co-founder Samer Shaath. “Music is blasting, and we find ourselves singing along to a Beyoncé track. We just shout it out to each other in the studio.” Kevin Chan, who makes up the other half of the design duo, laughs, “Some things never change.”

Chan and Shaath first crossed paths in 2005 and went on to establish one of Toronto’s premier interior design firms a decade later. “Our adult life has been around each other,” says Shaath. The pair kicked off their shared venture with residential spaces, eventually expanding into hospitality, retail and most recently, the world of food and beverage. Today, their fingerprints are all over the city, their design DNA embedded into some of Toronto’s sleekest and richly designed establishments, including the Shangri-La penthouse, Hound House and the award-winning Dundas Square Barbers.

Animl Steakhouse, an upscale restaurant and cocktail den in Toronto’s fashion district, is one of the duo’s most recent projects. Despite fostering a natural attachment to all the spaces they’ve designed, the pair admits that decking out Animl was a standout experience. “It was one of those perfect alignment [moments],” says Chan. Given the opportunity to lean fully into maximalism, the bliss of the journey shines through the atmosphere: a stimulating Studio 54-inspired space filled to the brim with lush texture, animal print and striking art deco influences. And then there’s that mirror-encrusted bull hanging upside down from the ceiling.

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Animl Steakhouse / Photography by Britney Townsend

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On the cusp of completing their work on Animl, Chan pointed out that the interiors looked almost too perfect. “We’re in a steakhouse, just put in a cow,” Shaath recalls them thinking at the moment. “Now it’s more us.”

Like many creative greats, the duo pulls inspiration from a vast spectrum of sources. For Planta, a gastronomic Queen Street staple, they referenced hutong, Beijing’s traditional streets and back alleys. For the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver, the city’s lush greenery took centre stage through a curated palette of vibrant greens and rich browns. The Pacific Northwest Hotel, also in Vancouver, paints a picture of nature and city living colliding—think smooth curves, stone-inspired tiles and trees cascading from a central skylight.

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Pacific Northwest Hotel Lobby / Photo courtesy of Nivek Remas

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Despite drawing from a deep well of references, when asked for their biggest influence across all their work, the answer comes easily. “It really is fashion,” Chan answers almost instantly, citing Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana as visual stimuli in design school. “There’s just so much to dive into and draw inspiration from.” Naturally, this affinity for high fashion seeps into their wardrobes. (When we meet for an interview, they’re dressed in a sharp combination of Prada, Fendi and international designers they discovered online.)

Perhaps that’s why it felt like a full-circle moment when the duo collaborated with FASHION on an experiential pop-up at last year’s Cake Mix party. The Beauty Awards lounge, complete with soft lighting peeking through suspended clouds, was a central element to a memorable night of festivities.

When it comes to their sartorial codes, the pair revels in the limitlessness fashion has to offer.

“We love pulling a look; we don’t really have a lane. We love storytelling and clothes are just a part of that,” says Chan. This willingness to explore is at the heart of their design language. Through the years and a multitude of awe-inspiring projects, they remain true to their goal of cultivating spaces that inspire. As Shaath aptly puts it, “We’re creating an energy that didn’t really exist in this particular space.”