A 187-Square-Foot Minimalist Apartment in Toronto Has Great Furniture for Small Spaces
Name: Wayne Burns
Location: Toronto
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 187 square feet
Years lived in: 7 years, renting
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Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My name is Wayne, and I am an actor, producer, and writer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is the first place I have lived in Toronto, and I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon. I am grandfathered into my rent and pay a very affordable $700 a month to live in one of the hippest areas of the city: Parkdale.
I recently hired an interior designer to help me update my space, and these photos are the result. I love my little home so much. It has brought me a lot of peace amid the pandemic and continues to be a space of healing and relaxation.
When I was working with my interior designer, I said I wanted something that was a less-murderous “American Psycho” vibe with a focus on sustainability and minimalism. I Airbnb my place when I am away from the city, so I wanted it to have a bit of a hotel vibe as well.
I really do feel like my apartment represents my personality and the man I am growing into. I have never felt more at home in a place. I would say my wardrobe matches everything, and the textures definitely give a cozy vibe. Everything hides away in my giant wardrobe, so cleaning takes minutes.
What is your favorite room and why? My space is only 187 square feet, so it is essentially one giant room. I love it all. I have learned how to really take care of my things as time has gone on, and I feel like I know every inch of this place. It’s been an incredible journey to this point of turning my space into one of refuge and peace as opposed to simply a place to sleep. I would say I spend the most time either in my kitchen area, at my little desk, or playing Nintendo Switch.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The most recent things I bought for my place were a vacuum cleaner and a Vitamix. I have been wanting both of these items for some time, as I love smoothies and making soups (so Vitamix was a must), and, well, sweeping can only get you so far — and TBH I love channeling Tom Cruise in “Risky Business” every morning now. I would say some of my favorite items are my great-grandfather’s chest, which has been turned into a storage coffee table, and a drawing by my friend Alex that he made after a major optical accident he sustained.
Any advice for creating a home you love? I love this quote by William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” The journey to my current state has been one of decluttering, making peace with my past, focusing on my mental health, and future-proofing my needs. I like to invest in things, so taking the time to repurpose, reuse, and reimagine my space has been very valuable.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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