This Cozy 450-Square-Foot Studio Rents for $1560 a Month (in a Big City!)

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Dec 3, 2024

This Cozy 450-Square-Foot Studio Rents for $1560 a Month (in a Big City!)

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director at AT Media
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Dec 3, 2024
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Bedrooms
Square feet

450

Sq ft

450

Interior designer Marnie Salmon, who works for a firm specializing in workplace design, moved to Toronto from Calgary seven years ago for a new job and “very quickly needed to find a place to live,” explaining she got lucky when she stumbled on this place: a 450-square-foot studio apartment she rents for $1560 a month.

House tour cover

Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox

Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter

Marnie explains that the space looked a bit dated, decor-wise, in the listing photos, but says that it “did look like it had some good bones to work with, and it included parking (which in Toronto is hard to come by). When I came to view the apartment I quickly realized I wasn’t being shown the one from the ad, which was a one-bedroom. This was a studio, but it was better!”

"My best piece of advice for creating that curated look is to stop buying things on a whim and then trying to find a spot for them. Start with a mood board. Let things sit and ruminate. You may love an item but then come to realize it really doesn’t tie in with the look you are trying to achieve. Make purchases thoughtfully," Marnie advises.

Marnie’s ground-floor studio apartment comes with “its own entrance with some exposed brick, beautiful high 10.5-foot ceilings, large almost floor-to-ceiling windows in the front, and a small front room that would make an excellent office or eating nook. I immediately fell in love with this place and signed the lease that day. This was the first and only place that I looked at.”

Over the past seven years that Marnie has rented this unit, she’s made small but impactful updates to the space. “I switched out some of the light fixtures, removed the existing white venetian blinds, installed window film and draperies, and used contact paper to change the countertops and backsplash. I thoughtfully made my selections of finishes, lighting, and color, so they felt intentional and reflected the character of the building.”

"Area rugs especially in a studio are a wonderful tool to define spaces. Don’t be afraid to use bold patterns and different styles mixed in the same space. They just need to have some elements in common, so they tie together. Similar colors but opposing patterns or textures can create a unique juxtaposition that brings character to a space," Marnie advises.

“I would say that I identify as creative, introverted, adventurous, and reserved, and I would say my home reflects those qualities. I have a variety of the different styles living harmoniously in this small studio. It’s no wonder that I have gravitated towards the eclectic Parisian design style,” Marnie writes. “I also love to travel and have incorporated some of the photography I have taken on my overseas adventures mixed in with some of my favorite artists. I like to mix bold patterns and textures to create a layered depth within the space. I feel like the color and finish choices I have made create an understated or reserved elegance that mirrors that aspect of my personality.”

Resources

Credit: Marnie Salmon

PAINT & COLORS

  • Paint — Behr Limousine Leather “Satin Finish”
Credit: Marnie Salmon

LIVING ROOM

  • Sofa — Homesense
  • Coffee Table — Bouclair Home
  • Gold Mirror — Jysk
  • Black Side Table — IKEA
  • Gustav Klimt Print — IKEA
  • Area Rug — Amazon
  • Floor Lamp — IKEA
  • Pillows — Amazon
  • Window Film — Amazon
Credit: Marnie Salmon

KITCHEN

  • Kitchen Cart — IKEA
  • Wood Contact Paper — Amazon
  • Terrazzo Contact Paper — Amazon
  • Kettle — Homesense
  • Cutting Board — Amish Farmers Market
  • Stainless Steel Containers — IKEA
  • Green Fruit Bowl — Homesense
  • Cast Iron Pans — Inherited from Grandmother
  • Sea Grass Rug — Homesense

BEDROOM

  • Headboard — Existing Re-upholstered in Black Stretch Velvet
  • Bedding — Amazon
  • Green Lumbar Pillow — Homesense
  • Green Throw Blanket — IKEA
  • Black Tufted Bench — Homesense
  • Wicker Nightstands — IKEA
  • Picture Frames — IKEA
  • Print — Jack Vettriano
  • Antique Style Gold Knobs — Amazon
  • Large Round Mirror — Homesense
  • Picture Frame — IKEA
  • Print in Frame — Jack Vettriano
  • Caesar Bust and Magnifying Glass — Homesense

DINING ROOM

  • Bistro Table — CB2
  • Antique Chairs — Inherited from Grandmother
  • Horse Bust — Hand Carved by My Father
  • Picture Frames — IKEA
  • Art — Jack Vetriano Print
  • Photography — By Me
  • Pendant Light — Homesense
  • Cow Hide Rug — Calgary Leather Shop
Credit: Marnie Salmon

BATHROOM

  • Dried Eucalyptus — Amazon
  • Seagrass Tray — Homesense
  • Bathmat — Homesense
  • White Linen Shower Curtain — Homesense
  • Basket and Rolled Towels — Homesense

Thanks, Marnie!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.