We're big fans of the industrial chic style of Canadian design group Gus*, so when picked up a copy of Canadian House & Home featuring their Toronto digs, we knew we were in for a treat. Gus* designer David Podsiadlo and marketing exec Amanda Schuler live in a three-bedroom duplex with their 18-month-old son. The house is full of great ideas, including some cheap solutions that appear as though they broke the bank...
Throughout the house, maple floors show off knots and patterns in the wood, adding warmth to the space. One of their tips for DIY projects: use raw lumber with galvanized steel for an industrial chic look.
In the eating area, they painted a chalkboard wall. The space-saving wine rack is available through Gus*.
For the large dining table, David covered a basic IKEA kitchen island with a sheet of stainless steel. David and Amanda also used exposed electrical tubing for lighting throughout the space, an inexpensive option for overhead lighting.
The kitchen cabinets were purchased at IKEA and retro-fitted to suit the space. David and Amanda installed a tile backsplash and under-cabinet lighting to dress it up.
In addition to this tour, The "Cheap and Chic" issue of Canadian House & Home includes four other homes that use smart money-saving strategies. They also have a video tour of David and Amanda's home online.
Photos: David Bagosy for Canadian House & Home
Tina Wilson's Striking Style 
30 DIY Projects for the 3-Day Weekend
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Make Chocolate Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping with Only 2 Ingredients
Magic One-Ingredient Ice Cream 5 Ways: Peanut Butter, Nutella, and More
Comments (3)
this couple's modern/industrial style drew me in. i love the use of chunky woods and steel throughout the place. i like the little ideas of putting the magnetic spice tins on the side of the fridge (i do that too) and i'm gonna try sand (not just rocks and soil) at the bottom of a large glass container for my succulents.
however....not a fan of having the bathroom so exposed to the bedroom although it's only the tub and sink you would see upon waking up in the a.m. they tucked the toilet into another area just a couple of feet and a doorway away. i don't blame them.
I LOVE Gus group designs and not just because I'm a Torontonian. Their style is exactly what I've always wanted but unfortunately, don't have the space to pull it off.
Can anyone tell me who makes these dining room chairs and where they might be available for purchase? Are they Thonet? Any help you can give me would be appreciated.