This 400-Square-Foot Canadian Condo Is a Cozy Cocoon During Chaotic Times

Name: Roxanne Desrosiers
Location: Montreal, Canada
Type of home: Condo
Size: 400 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I bought my first property in 2019, three months before the pandemic. And I can honestly say it was the best decision I’ve ever made! It has become my home/workspace, my little cocoon where I find shelter in these chaotic times. It’s a 3 1/2 (loft almost) — small kitchen/living area in the front, bathroom in the middle, and small double room in the back where my bedroom/office is. I love it!

I have a lot of prints from artists/local shops that I love and lots of knick-knacks that I have acquired over the years. There are lots of plants, which bring life into this small space and allow me to care for living things during the pandemic. I love the mix of materials, brick, and light wood, and darker wood (my floors). I can also say that my home reflects how my mind feels. If the condo is a mess, chances are I am also a mess. I cannot be productive if my space isn’t clean.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Tiny, Modern, Warm, Wood, Home

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is definitely my bedroom, since it is where I feel most calm.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last things that I bought are two mirrors for my space, found in a local shop in Montreal. This one I put in my entryway and another larger, more vintage-looking one for my bedroom. (Unfortunately, it is no longer on the store’s website.)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Be patient. Be patient in the real estate market. (If you don’t get an instant coup de foudre the moment you walk in the door, then it is not the home for you.) When I visited my condo for the first time with my agent, we both said when we walked in “yep, this is the one.” Be patient also with the decorating process. You won’t find every perfect piece at once, and that’s okay! Also, Pinterest and Instagram home accounts are your best friends.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.

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