A Compact 560-Square-Foot Condo Is a Cool Mix of Vintage Pieces from the ’60s and ’70s
Name: Ariane Parent and my Burmilla cat, Rico
Location: Downtown Montreal, Quebec
Type of home: Condo
Size: 560 square feet
Years lived in: 5 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: At the age of 36, this is my own very first home. I have never lived alone before. So I decided to make it a reflection of who I am, what I’m into, and of my favorite memories.
I always try to find a good balance between making my home feel cozy without cluttering it too much. Since this is my first apartment alone, I chose to paint my bedroom pink. I don’t actually love pink to be honest. But I figured my next home will most likely be with a significant other (I hope!) and I doubt he will want a pink room. This may be the only time I get to do that. So, I am getting it out of my system now!
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-Century, Disco 54, California
What is your favorite room and why? I don’t have that many rooms but the living room is definitely my favorite! It combines my love for vintages pieces from the ’60s and ’70s, objects that remind me of Palm Springs (a city that inspires me so much), images of Joshua Tree (one of my favorite trips of all time), and clean minimalist furniture. It’s airy, luminous, old, modern, and cozy all at once.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A Roger Lecal “Lipstick” style mirror from a local vintage online shop called Re.ixue. I was quietly sitting on the beach in Cabo at 7 a.m., sipping my latte, when I saw it featured on Instagram. I purchased it on the spot. I am not typically that spontaneous! But I knew I had to have it.
Any advice for creating a home you love? What works for me is to first, declutter. Get rid of what you no longer use. Then, take your time to fill the space with special things. Things that either have a story, that inspires you, that reminds you of a happy place or memory, things that make you smile. It’s better to have a lot less but have things that are meaningful, rather than having a whole of crap that you don’t truly care about and are just holding onto.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.