I first fell in love with Lune 1860 in the form of a Christmas tree. I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw a tree covered in thousands of individual tinsel stands. It was an image that I immediately saved to my collection, before realizing everyone else did the same. The “tinsel stand tree” influenced a myriad of copycat trees, lifestyle influencers, and retailers, and this year’s version – a tree covered in handblown glass icicles – did the same.
I then did more research into the creative force behind “The Tree” and discovered the magical world of Lune 1860. Part intimate venue, part studio, part exclusive retreat and totally imaginative, Lune takes its cue from a lunar narrative (hence, its name), and is the creative brainchild of its dynamic husband-and-wife founders Lisa Mok and Ezra Silverton. I felt like I’d discovered an extraordinary hidden jewel, the event space version of Tilda Swinton.
Located just outside of Toronto, Lune 1860 is one of the most swoonworthy gathering places I’ve ever laid eyes on (don’t just take my word for it, it’s been featured in Architectural Digest Italia, The Lane, Modern Luxury, and was honored as the Best and Most Innovative Event Space Design by Hospitality Magazine). The stunning villa, constructed for British aristocrats in the early twentieth century and a copy of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s summer residence, has been meticulously redesigned. They’ve also recently introduced Quarter Moon, a retreat experience for executive and creative teams, which makes “working” glam. In addition, the brand offers a fabulous line of objects including made-to-order tablecloths, honey, maple syrup, and other handmade and curated gifts and furniture. My favorites are architectural wine glasses which are truly a dinner conversation starter.
My obsession with Lune 1860 propelled me to reach out to Lisa Mok to see if she would be a “Lady of Lux,” and I’m thrilled that she accepted. I am so honored to introduce Lisa, who shares her inspiration and story below. By the way, once you read the article, you must take a peek at the Lune kitchen, which is one of the most shared on Instagram. I know you’ll be immediately swept away into the Lune 1860 world like I have.
When my husband and I first came across this property, just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we knew we wanted to transform it into a place for people to gather, enjoy and create. It was originally a big gathering place in the early 1900s for British aristocrats (think Great Gatsby-esque parties) and its original design was based on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Isle of Wight summer residence, the Osbourne House. The Osbourne House was meant to resemble an Italian Renaissance palazzo, and our grand farm house is an almost exact replica of the Queen’s residence.
When we came across the two-story Italian villa it had sat derelict for almost a decade, but had recently been restored and turned into a family home. Luckily for us, the original facade, windows, 12-foot ceilings and ten fireplaces carved from Italian marble in the late 1800s were still intact. We worked with Toronto-based firm Studio Arthur to reimagine the entire villa, opening up the rooms and letting the light in. We named the house Lune 1860 (French for moon), inspired by those great dinners we all have on warm summer nights, under the moonlight.
When we first opened, Lune 1860 was an event space for weddings, but it quickly became something bigger—a place for creativity and collaboration. Alongside weddings and photo shoots, we’ve expanded to run an online Shop and ship all over the world. We have a partnership with local and international brands in our retail store and we design and curate a collection of found and made objects including bespoke home furnishings. I recently launched a collection of conceptual, one-of-kind tablecloths called the Lune Tableau Collection - inspired by fashion, art and design. We also host a dinner series called Piena, a highly exclusive culinary experience where guests have the ability to interact with local and international chefs who cook in our kitchen.
We had always envisioned Lune as a place for connection and we have found that all our guests comment on how truly present you are when you’re here. There’s just something about this villa, hidden away in this still undiscovered part of the Canadian countryside that leaves you feeling so refreshed and renewed.
During the pandemic, my husband and I began thinking on how we could open our property to people in a new way. Where guests can feel as inspired as we have been creating it. We launched the Quarter Moon Experience earlier this year, an exclusive retreat for companies and teams that embody everything we believe in: gathering together, time spent in nature, privacy and creativity.
The pandemic has forever changed the way we work. We’re connected, but not together. As this new way of working has taken hold, our Quarter Moon experience sharply contrasts this digital way of working. It’s a true respite from the quotidian. Everything is taken care of and everything can be personalized, from transportation by helicopter or limo from the city, to award-winning chefs. We encourage our guests to explore all of our 88 acres, a mix of farmland and wild forest that descends onto the Maitland River as well as having access to yoga and meditation teachers that connect us back to ourselves and each other.
At Lune, we love to create and collaborate, and we want our guests to feel that same mix of awe and inspiration that feel everyday working and living on the property. It’s truly a one-of-kind experience that allows everyone to take a piece of Lune with them, that feeling of slow living, simple pleasures and connection. We hope you come over soon.
Edited by: Aliyah Craig
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