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Name: Scott
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years; rented

Scott is a lucky guy; the place he calls home is one of the most beautiful and iconic apartment buildings in Canada's capital. Hovering on the edge of the downtown core, The Windsor Arms was built in the Art Nouveau style and features leaded stained-glass windows, Belgian tiles, wood-burning fireplaces and an enviable entrance hall. 

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Scott is actually on his third apartment in this covetable location, having worked his way up from a 1-bed unit to his current 2-bed plus den. To make the best, if unusual, use of his space, he's converted the large living room and den into a spacious lounge / bedroom / office area, and turned the underused dining room into the main social area. The two bedrooms serve as a guest room and a (rather generous) walk-in closet, respectively.

In each of his apartments, Scott has restored the original woodwork in the common areas, painted, and DIY-ed with aplomb. A recent project saw him transform his kitchen's long-since-decomissioned ironing board cabinet into a stylish and functional spice cabinet, complete with custom-cut glass shelves.

Scott's passion for architecture is apparent in every room in his apartment, from the large-scale floor plan painting behind the television to the photographs of his native Fredericton, New Brunswick in the kitchen and bathroom.  A healthy appreciation for vintage is obvious, too- I was particularly taken with the reclaimed door leaning against the bedroom wall ("it used to be the door to the building's boiler room!") and the 1930's dresser in the office.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Happenstance. Reordered.

Inspiration: The opportunity of change and the creation of something novel by rearranging or adapting things already on hand and introducing new elements that contribute to the whole.

Favorite Element: I love the nook with the bookcases and the view of the Museum of Nature through the leaded glass windows.

Biggest Embarrassment: Closets, where paperwork and general chaos go to fester.

Proudest DIY: The blueprint canvas created by tracing a projected image of the apartment building's floor plan. It's a fun conversation piece and there's a bit of a game to people situating the apartment and themselves within the overall plan.

Biggest Indulgence: Of recent? Some great Area blankets. I first saw them displayed this past summer in the showroom of a Montreal furniture maker, but sadly they only had the one set. Thanks to the Google machine, I was able to find an online re-seller (Modern Karibou) that had the same items in stock.

Best Advice: If you have some leeway, don't limit yourself to the intended use of a space; change up room function if it makes sense for your lifestyle.

Dream Getaway: Weekends in nearby Montreal, thanks to some great design hotels and the city's unique galleries, shops & boutiques. A morning of soothing introspection at Scandinave Les Bains Vieux-Montreal helps everything soak in and percolate.

Resources of Note:

HALL

    • Paint: C2 Paint - Pavement (C490; 50% value)

    • Chairs: Loblaws

    • Table: Zone Maison

    • Light Fixture: circa 1930, original to the apartment


LIVING ROOM (Originally the Dining Room)

    • Paint: C2 Paint - Pavement (C490)

    • Sofa: DeBoer's

    • Chairs: Zone Maison

    • Coffee Table: reclaimed teak, fabricated by a friend/local designer

    • Side Table: vintage drop-leaf table that belonged to my grandmother

    • Light Fixture: Stacaro

    • Cushions: EQ3 & other

KITCHEN

    • Paint: C2 Paint - Grout (C447; primary) & Mistral (C486; accent)

    • Butcher block unit: IKEA

    • Tap: Canadian Tire

    • Spice Jars: Glebe Emporium

BEDROOM (Originally the Living Room)


DEN / OFFICE

    • Paint: C2 Paint - Archival (C431)

    • Chest of drawers: vintage freebie

    • Storage unit: IKEA

    • Storage solutions (boxes, etc): IKEA

BATHROOM


Thanks, Scott!

Images: Eleanor Büsing

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