Decorating & Design
May 9, 2023
These Small Spaces Are Big On Style
These eight homes prove it’s not how much space you have, but how you use it. From compact condos packed with bold art to tiny townhouses bursting with color, these homes are small on space and big on style. Scroll down for a look back at some of our favorite small spaces from the H&H archives!
1. A Cool & Collected Two-Storey Loft In Toronto
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
“Small spaces feel more personal and manageable. You own them; they don’t own you,” says homeowner Glen Hunt. Projects have a way of snowballing, no matter the size. For Glen, a business coach–consultant, what started as painting and swapping out some cabinets escalated into a total reno after he consulted his ex-wife, designer Stephanie Houghton. Then Glen and a friend got to work. “I started demo and was surprised at just how much damage one could do with a sledgehammer and crowbar,” says Glen. “I woke up in a daze surrounded by rubble thinking, ‘What the hell did we just do!?’”
Take a look inside his minimalist loft here.
2. An Adventurous Condo For A Down-sizer
Size: 1,600 Sq. Ft.
Lovers of color and pattern know that finding the right visionary to make their daring design dreams a reality is paramount — especially in a small space. That was certainly true for Rayner Conway, who was downsizing from a 3,400-square-foot house to a condo that was half the size in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighborhood. Enter maximalist designer Cynthia Ferguson, who was ready to go all-in with a gutsy mood board tailored to her client’s new home. “Rayner was an absolute dream to work with — bold, daring, fun and endearing,” says Cynthia, who loves working with clients who say yes to her wild ideas.
3. A Vancouver Loft That Sings With Color & Pattern
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Jasmeet K. Wahid has no interest in being a wallflower — in life or at home. Vivid colors and saturated patterns reflecting her South Asian roots are front and center in her 1,000-square-foot Vancouver loft. “I love the bold, unique and eccentric, and I believe it can be done in an elegant manner,” says Jasmeet, a family law lawyer who worked with Studio Roslyn to redesign her home.
Get the full tour here.
4. A Cleverly Designed Condo In Kitchener, Ont
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
If the devil is in the details, then Tim Lam would happily take on that label. While the finance professional, decorator and blogger waited nearly four years for the Kitchener, Ont., condo he shares with his partner, Chris Gabriel, to be ready, he didn’t waste a single moment devising the best ways to maximize and upgrade every inch of the space. In fact, anyone buying a preconstruction unit could take a page out of Tim’s playbook — especially in the kitchen.
Take a look inside here.
5. A Loft-Style Condo In Toronto’s Mimico Neighborhood
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Tired finishes, buttercream-colored walls and an awkward layout — the 1,000-square-foot condo in Toronto’s Mimico neighborhood wasn’t exactly Bret Williams’ dream home. But she could see its potential: there were high ceilings, a full wall of windows and nicely proportioned rooms. With an eye for detail honed in her former job as a product designer at Gluckstein Home, she knew the space needed a lighter touch — and she knew exactly how to do it.
6. A Small 1880s Townhouse In Montreal
Size: 830 Sq. Ft
The total transformation of Sylvie Renaud’s Montreal home started as a small refresh of the tired powder room and bathroom. But once the project began, it seemed like the right time to reconfigure the space and make it more open plan. She hired designer Jean Stéphane Beauchamp, whose work immediately resonated for its use of bold, happy colors. The two are neighbors, sharing a mutual appreciation for the European character of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Get the full tour here.
7. An Eclectic Duplex On Vancouver Island
Size: 910 Sq. Ft.
Can one house have both a colorful apartment for a daughter and a rental unit designed for income generation? Well, yes, it can. This 910-square-foot Vancouver Island duplex has all that and more: outdoor spaces on both levels, a private beach and a separate art studio, all of which take in views of a quiet inlet that’s minutes from downtown Victoria. Local restaurateurs Shellie and Mike Gudgeon worked with BoForm architect Chris Foyd and designers Christi Rivard and Kyla Bidgood of Bidgood + Co. on the clever build.
Click here for a full tour.
8. A Toronto Rental Condo Packed With Vintage Finds & Art
Size: 600 Sq. Ft
Sometimes, the process of renovating and redecorating is a journey, not a destination. That’s certainly true for Anne-Marie Egan, who has a habit of selling every four years. In 2019, she sold her Toronto condo and moved with her partner, Marco Peressin, to a smaller, rental condo while they considered buying something together. “We called it our stopgap year,” says Anne-Marie, “but it still had to feel like home.
Get the full tour of this small space here.