Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
It's not surprising that Philippe Meyersohn's idea of fun is cooking for a crowd. He's the general manager of marketing and training for GE Appliances Canada and co-founder of the GE Monogram Terroir Awards for Excellence in Hospitality. "I love food and the memories that come from sharing it with friends," the expat Frenchman says. Meyersohn entertains in the dining room of his condo in Toronto's Little Italy, where he has lived for the past five years. These social gatherings have endowed the room with memories as precious to him as its artwork and furniture. The pieces represent Meyersohn's travels and loved ones in his native Paris and in New York, where he lived before relocating to Canada.
The table
"It is a solid wood dining table that can be expanded to accommodate 10 people without any difficulty."
The photo montage
"The artist is Oleh Sirant and it is inspired by Hurricane Katrina. He photographed the fridges people put outside their homes in New Orleans with messages written on them. It is interesting because it is a very intense story but it doesn't overshadow your meal."
The photograph
"This is by Canadian artist Nicolas Ruel and it is printed on metal. It depicts New York. I lived in New York before, so it reminds of my life there. Sometimes it takes me a long time to buy a picture – this one took me four years. After meeting the artist, I finally made up my mind."
The table lamp
"This came from my grandmother – the base is porcelaine de France. It is an antique. It is very hard to find interesting lamps that provide warm lighting and dress the space so well."
The sculpture
"This was made from a wine barrel. The artist wanted to give the barrel its freedom. The piece was built into the space; the artist came over and assembled it. It's truly one of a kind."
The dresser
"This is also from France and it belonged to my mother. When I decided to move to North America, my mother gave it to me so I wouldn't forget her. That is a Jewish mother for you."
The carpet
"It also belonged to my grandmother in France. My grandfather was an art and furniture collector. It is an Iranian carpet and it has sentimental value."