Ontario

When Sheryl Song first bought this apartment, she could only afford a few IKEA pieces. “Slowly, over the next ten years, I transformed this apartment into a reflection of who I am — one chair, one corner, one layer at a time.”

Discover six storage tips that make this cozy 300 square-foot Toronto studio feel ultra-livable.

Jeff built the crib, coffee table, and dining nook in this gorgeous renovated Toronto house, and Miranda gave it a boutique hotel vibe.

"My home is a blend of Japandi and mid-century modern, with a touch of wabi-sabi," describes Abhishek Dekate.

Tour an elegant yet cozy studio apartment located in Toronto that rents for $1,560 a month.

This house came with all-white walls and no landscaping, but it’s now moody and has an incredible backyard after the couple “landscaped the crap out of the whole property.”

Angela described her condo’s former style as “typical modern American Psycho white walls,” but she’s transformed it with color and “quirky as F decor.”

Yvonne and Michael were undaunted by the amount of work needed to renovate this 1940s-era house that came with a bland palette of browns and beiges.

“There isn’t a color absent across our entire main floor,” Jessica Russell says.

But Sasha and Andrew saw past the dated home’s quirks, bringing out all the home’s charm with their stunning remodel.

See inside this Ontario house that’s been renovated inside and out by the owners of the colorful vintage shop, Rainbows and Retro.

Nine different wallpapers make this home pop!

Sanjana Ahid, her husband, and their cat babies have lived in this apartment for six years, and while nothing is too precious, everything was selected intentionally. It's a cozy, functional, lively, and soothing home.

Photographer Nikki Ross and her fiancé, photographer and director Matt Barnes, have completely renovated this old church, turning it into an incredibly unique home with a slide, trampoline, fun furniture, art, and more.

Before Selma bought their condo two years ago, it had been a plain rental with popcorn ceilings, old appliances, and a dark kitchen. But after renovating, the condo is now fresh and bright.

Fiona's Downtown Toronto apartment isn't afraid to break every rule. With a shower featured prominently in the kitchen and cool vintage furniture and accessories everywhere, this home highlights its unique quirks.

Natalie Doef describes her style as bohemian, whimsical, modern, and fresh. "I tend to gravitate towards earthy features; I love incorporating natural materials like rattan, bamboo, clay, ceramic, and stone."

Misella and Angga run Lumalamp, a handmade origami lampshade business, out of their home, this 700-square-foot apartment they renovated themselves and share with their three young kids.

Content creator Luna Lindsay has DIYed and painted her rental apartment into a pastel palace... and recently launched a hand-poured pastel candle business called Moonwix.

Like installing pink peel and stick backsplash tiles, replacing fixtures and hardware such as handles, light switches, faucets, and more!

This 1970s bungalow was transformed from top-to-bottom into a special getaway full of unusual details and personal touches, all on a very tight budget, using thrifty alternatives and vintage/salvage elements throughout.

It's also a masterclass in mixing mismatching secondhand finds BEAUTIFULLY.

This past year, Robin went through a breakup, and as part of her healing process, she undertook a major redesign frenzy of her rental home.

Lesley Robb, graphic designer and founder of Swell Made Co. and her partner put an offer on this house over FaceTime—sight unseen in real life.

Elena and her husband Christoph bought this fixer upper in 2015, and have been slowly transforming it into a gorgeous home since.

This designer's biggest goal was infusing a plain, contemporary condo with vintage soul.

Name: Melissa and Sonny Location: Trent Hills; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet on 5 acres Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Melissa never imagined that she’d trade in the bustling city life of Toronto for a homestead in the countryside. However, a few years ago the desire for more space and a slower pace of life crept in, so Melissa and her husband Sonny moved their lives 1.5 hours east of Toronto to the rolling hills of Trent Hills, Ontario.

Name: Andrew Stelmack Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 725 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years Andrew is a professional actor (both on screen and stage), visual artist and writer. However, it is his visual art that now takes up most of his time. To accommodate his creativity, he moved into this live/work space five years ago.

It's filled with art, plants and micro shrimp.

These snowboarding sisters attend university living in a shared space that is equal parts modern and cool, but also classic and romantic.

Name: Jennie Hoekstra, Luke Hoekstra, Jude (9), Neve (7), Wilder (4), Marmalade (the cat), Miki and Mandu (Australian Zebra Finches), and a flock of semi-retired hens. Location: Kemble — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,665 square feet Years Lived In: 6 months, owned In the spring of 2017 a lovely four-acre lot came up for sale in the rural village where we live. We knew the property well and loved it, but understood that it was on an unmaintained road with no hydro, so building would be tricky.

It's so cute and bright, despite being located on the basement level!

Name: Lauren and Dylan Location: Cabbagetown — Toronto, Canada Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; owned Lauren, Marketing Director at Spacing Magazine, and Dylan’s home is nestled on a small, tree-lined street in Toronto’s historic Cabbagetown neighborhood, an area known for having the largest collection of designated heritage homes in North America. Lauren, Dylan, and Dylan’s brother Chris have spent the past three years renovating this 1904 Victorian home.

Name: Tim Tripp and his dog, Sebastian Location: Toronto; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 11 years; Owned For as long as he can remember, Tim has had an interest in collecting things. His passion for the history of decor and design is present throughout his space, whether it’s embodied by an Art Deco piece of furniture, dinnerware from the mid-20th century, or vintage telephones.

Name: Chris Collie Location: Cabbagetown; Toronto, Canada Size: 600 square feet (but feels like 1000!) Years lived in: 2+ years; Owned We recently toured Lauren and Dylan’s Historic Split Apartment in Toronto’s east end. Lauren, Dylan, and Dylan’s brother, Chris, share this Victorian home, which they’ve split into two entirely distinct spaces.

Name: Melinda Josie and Wesley Doerksen and their cat, Malkmus Location: The Junction; Toronto, Ontario Size: 1,000 square feet Years Lived In: 1 ¼ years; Rented Upon entering this home you immediately feel like you’ve been transported to a cabin in the woods. On a quiet street in Toronto just west of downtown, the couple have managed to cultivate a quaint and cozy environment inspired by their love for the outdoors.

Name: Dana Haddad Location: Corktown, Toronto Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year For as long as she can remember, Dana has had a love for interiors and is known for decorating (and redecorating!) her space. Not expecting to move to Toronto’s East End or to purchase a condo, after walking into this space and seeing the trees in the distance she was sold!

Name: Jil and Jeff Location: Leslieville — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Originally from the Canada’s East Coast, Jil and Jeff moved to Toronto in pursuit of career opportunities. They brought along not only their friendly character and Maritime hospitality but also many treasures, such as old barn ladders, driftwood and antiques.

Name: Caitlyn Murphy Location: Trinity Bellwoods — Toronto, Canada Size: 600-ish square feet Years lived in: Rented 6.5 years Caitlyn is a visual artist living and working in Toronto. She moved to the city nearly a decade ago, landing herself a one-bedroom apartment within a short distance from the art school she was attending.

Name: Juliana Ciccarelli Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 715 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years Within moments of first entering her loft, Juliana knew this space would be her first home. Conveniently located within a part of the city where she works and plays, Juliana has spent the past two years slowly and consciously designing her home. Undoubtedly, its selling feature is the over-20-foot windows that pour light into the space and offer a view of the city.

Name: Adam Kuhn Location: Little Italy — Toronto, Canada Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 3 years Finding an apartment in Toronto is no easy feat, so when Adam stumbled upon this gem in Little Italy he was ecstatic and relieved to have finally found a place to call home in the city. One of his favorite things about the neighborhood is the mix of dwellers from renters, owners and families — all folks that say hello to one another on the street.

Kate and Jennifer’s shared space is equal parts modern and cool, but also classic and romantic. In their 1,000 square foot condo, you’ll find bold colors and clean lines mixed with traditional furniture and accents. Shop the style below to get this sophisticated yet edgy look in your home.

Name: Carmen Chavarri and Tom Mills Location: Ottawa, Ontario Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Carmen Chavarri is one of our fabulous photographers here at Apartment Therapy, and she toured her Ottawa apartment last summer before they moved to the Philippines! “This was our home for only one and a half years, and yet it became such a personal and comfortable space that we find ourselves reminiscing about it every day,” she writes.

Name: Jill and Warren Location: Roncesvalles — Toronto Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4 months As soon as Jill and Warren stepped into their new loft, they were sold! Moving from a newer condo in the downtown core, this space – with a good story and some history behind it – really appealed to them. Initially from the West End, Jill knew the charm of the neighborhood and has now introduced Warren to a new part of the city.

Name: Sara, Kyle, and Monty the dog Location: Forest Hill, Toronto Size: 750 square feet| Years lived in: Renting 10 months. (They lived in the one-bedroom unit directly next door for 5 years.) This space proves that we should never judge a home by its exterior. Built in the late 1960s by architect Uni Prii, this apartment building was described as “space age” by Spacing Toronto. However, Kyle and Sara have created a home that leans far more toward cozy vintage than futuristic.

Name: Erin and Mike and their two kids (ages 6 and 3) Location: Riverdale — Toronto, Ontario Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned This three-story, century home in Toronto is filled to the brim with stylish thrift hauls, DIY projects, and chic details. The combination of all those fixings make this house a pleasure to visit. It’s clear that Erin and Mike have put their hearts into making this the perfect luxurious family home for their small family.

Name: Joseph Luk Location: Downtown, Toronto Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned Have you ever felt that your home has a dual personality depending on the time of day? The season? Joseph does. During the day, the space is bright, airy and open. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the city, giving the illusion that you’re in the clouds. Transitioning into the evening, the lighting is dim and moody — perfect for having a mellow night in.

Name: Terra Loire Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, renting After living in nine different spaces over the past eight years, Terra finally feels like she has found a home in her mid-town Toronto apartment. She’s definitely had her tour of living all over the city—east to west, centrally and along the lakeshore—experiencing many of Toronto’s diverse neighborhoods.

Name: Michael Berger Location: Hamilton — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,100 square feet Years Lived In: 2 months, renting When it comes to making the most of a new space with a small budget, Michael is a master. He completely transformed a dingy old rental apartment into an ’80s-inspired boho glam space for very little money! How was he able to pull off such a stylish feat? Patience, creative thinking, and killer thrift shopping skills.

Name: Julien Marit, husband Mike, daughters Kibale, Glacier and Salem. And pup Madden Location: Milton — Ontario Canada Size: 2,100 square feet Years Lived In: 12 years, owned “I believe that a home is not just a playground for living but also a composition of all who live there. I love walking into a space that has a story in the design; preferably a personal story,” wrote landscape designer and artist (@c’estjulien) Julien Marit.

Name: Stacey Lipstein Location: Leslieville — Toronto, Canada Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Stacey knew that sizing up a 950-square-foot house for a growing family was going to be a challenge, but from the beginning she saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Fast forward a few years and the home is nearly complete (until Stacey’s next design vision), and it couldn’t be more charming!

Name: Ryan and Katie Royle Location: Dundas — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 1 Year, owned When Ryan and Katie first looked at this home, it was like a set on That ’70s Show. Nasty shag carpet, wood paneling, weird blocked off rooms. It had it all…and this couple didn’t want any of it. But after enlisting the help of local designer, Krista of KMSalter Design, they were able to have their dream home.

Name: Tiffany Pratt Location: The Beaches — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, renting For as long as she can remember, Tiffany has had a deep affinity for color. As a designer and stylist, she uses it to create bright and beautiful spaces. She loves evoking thought, inspiration and delight using bold hues that some might overlook.

Name: Tanya List, hubby Ry and daughter Reid Location: Muskoka — Ontario, Canada Size: 1500 square feet Years Lived In: 4 years, owned You saw a sneak peek of Tanya’s beautiful home in a house call last year, and now you can get a longer look and read more about her home. Tanya writes: We moved from Toronto to Muskoka about four years ago. The city was lovely, but once we had Reid, I craved moving home to my hometown of Muskoka.

Name: Cassandra Hope, Ryan and Penelope Location: Leslieville — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Cassandra grew up loving furniture and design, a passion sparked by her mom who always had one-of-a-kind pieces that were warm, cozy and felt like they were from another era.

Name: Alex Panetta and Lia Parsley, daughter Lacey (2 years old), and Hank the Dog Location: Erin — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Alex and Lia’s home is the kind of space that feels as good as it looks, with a kind of warmth that is reminiscent of an old family home. Unsurprising, considering it’s inspired by Lia’s childhood house.

Name: Stephan Weishaupt, founder of AVENUE ROAD Location: Cabbagetown, Toronto Size: 2,000 square feet Years Lived In: 12 years, owned Weishaupt is the founder and curator of high-end furniture retailer, AVENUE ROAD. Working with Chapi Chapo Design, Weishaupt completely remodeled and reinvigorated a falling-down Edwardian house in Cabbagetown—one of his favorite neighborhoods in Toronto.

Name: Chad Burton, Burger Kim, and Terrence the cat Location: Queen West — Toronto, Canada Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned As creatives whose vision is often outside the box, this couple has completely (and colorfully) transformed a bleak condo into a vibrant masterpiece. Chad Burton has a career as a stylist and fashion editor, while Burger works as Canada’s visual merchandiser for Gucci.