When Canadian entrepreneur Yupeng Liu first toured this loft in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood, it had a curious mix of industrial drama and oddities: a built-in waterfall, a urinal in the bathroom, and steel-heavy finishes that made the space feel more like a hotel lobby than a home. Still, Yupeng saw that it had promise. “It had personality, it just needed a new point of view.”

That point of view came from local firm Studio AC Architecture and Design.

Before: Staircase

The loft sits inside a former toy and bottling factory that was converted into live/work spaces in the early 2000s, and it shows. The bones were always strong: double-height ceilings, exposed pipes, skylights, and huge south-facing windows that flood the space with light. But the finishes were tired, and the layout never quite worked for daily life.

Despite its generous proportions, it wasn’t easy to live in. Yupeng, who is the CEO of a food import and distribution company, spent two years in the loft as-is, making sure he loved the neighborhood before committing to a major renovation. The open layout amplified every shortcoming: minimal storage, cold industrial finishes, and dramatic volume that prevented the space from feeling like a home. “It felt more like a warehouse or factory,” Yupeng says.

After: Staircase

When he was ready to renovate, Yupeng reached out to Studio AC with a detailed design brief. Functionally, he wanted to reclaim wasted space, introduce smart, hidden storage, and modernize the kitchen and bathrooms into fully functional rooms. Emotionally, he wanted the loft to feel like a grounded, restorative home—warm, streamlined, and welcoming, rather than overwhelming.

“Once I started working with Studio AC, that vision absolutely evolved,” Yupeng says. “They helped refine it, push it further, and translate ideas into thoughtful architectural solutions.” The firm introduced a custom platform that delineates the living area from the kitchen and dining zones. Inspired by Japanese engawas, it functions as both a quiet enclave and a social hub, linked to the kitchen via an elevated surface integrated with the island.

Before: Bathroom

Before: The industrial-style bathroom had steel finishes, a urinal, and a waterfall feature." layout="" credit="Courtesy of Studio AC" photoUserId=""/>

As with most loft renovations, not everything revealed itself on paper. “Because it’s a hard loft converted from a former factory, there were inevitably surprises, like pipes here and there that weren’t visible before,” Yupeng says. “I wasn’t surprised that there were surprises,” he adds. “It comes with the territory, and we planned for that reality from the beginning.”

Upstairs, Studio AC introduced a sculptural bath pod that separates the mezzanine bedroom from the en suite bath. It houses a deeply relaxing soaker tub and shower, and incorporates open shelving for Yupeng’s book collection.

After: Bathroom/Spa

Budget-wise, Yupeng focused on things that would be hard to change later. “The kitchen, the custom bookcase, and the bathrooms were at the top of that list, because they shape how the loft functions and feels every day,” he says. Custom cabinetry came in at around $18,900 CAD, and tilework totaled approximately $21,000 CAD.

$10,000 Site Work	$28,850 Demolition	$37,500 Structural
$21,900 Wall Finishes	$13,500 Flooring	$29,000 Painting
$18,500 Electrical	$22,950 Plumbing	$8,250 HVAC Equipment
$9,590 Ikea Products	$24,900 Stairs	$35,000 Kitchen & Bath fixtures
$20,000 Lighting	$18,900 Cabinetry	$17,750 Countertops
$45,000 Appliances	$4,680 Windows & Glazing	$7,500 Curtains & Drapery
$127,500 Millwork	$21,000 Tilework	$6,460 Metalwork
$16,400 Trim Work
Grand Total: $545,130 CAD (Approximately $394,181 USD)

“The ceiling was one area where I chose to hold back,” Yupeng says. Redoing it would have been costly, and while he initially considered tackling it in phases, he ultimately decided against it. “I’m actually glad I kept the original. The contrast between old and new adds character and makes the space more interesting—it gives texture to the space.”

Before: Living Area

Before: Yupeng lived in the loft for two years before renovating. This allowed the team at Studio AC to tailor the design to his daily habits." layout="" credit="Courtesy of Studio AC" photoUserId=""/>

For the floors, he followed the same logic. Rather than replacing the original concrete, Yupeng chose to live with it. “The concrete could always be redone later,” he explains, “but it’s incredibly functional and gives the loft a sense of authenticity that would be hard to replicate.”

Area rugs provide softness where it’s needed, and give him an excuse to keep collecting pieces on his travels. “Especially with my trips to the Middle East,” he adds, “there are always great rugs to bring home.”

The renovation has changed how Yupeng lives. Cooking, hosting, and relaxing now happens naturally through the loft’s elevated zones, open kitchen, and mezzanine retreats. The bookcase displays objects and literature from his travels, while the lounge and bath pod provide quiet, restorative spaces.

“The loft now feels like home,” Yupeng says. “It reflects who I am: rooted in the past, living in the present, and ready for the future.”

After: Living Area

After: Kitchen

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Project Credits:

Architect: Studio AC Architecture and Design / @studioac_architecture

Builder: AT Build

Structural Engineer: Honeycomb Group