Before & After: A “Run-Down” Toronto Condo Gets a New Look
Like so many buyers in a hot (and therefore insanely competitive) housing market, Hardik had to buy a less-than-perfect place and make some smart and creative changes in order to create an ideal home. The star of this particular update is the new floor. Taking out the dingy wall-to-wall carpeting created a much sleeker and current-looking canvas on which Hardik added understated furniture and plenty of art to create a chic urban space.
From Hardik: In this hot Toronto housing market, I could only afford to buy a run-down apartment and then fire up my creative side to make it look better. I found a condo where the carpet was unchanged for years and the popcorn ceiling was flaking off. I always loved lofts but couldn’t afford to buy one, so I decided to turn this into a modern industrial place.
I thought that if I was going to live here forever I might as well make it look pretty. I was able to spend a little money on basic changes and it totally changed the look of the place.
It surprisingly took less than a month to get everything together. The flooring of the entire apartment did cost me around 5,000 CAD ($3,994 USD) and painting 2,000 CAD ($1,597 USD). Add furniture another 2,000 CAD ($1,597 USD) and my entire apartment was ready.
I love every bit of my new space. I wanted to cover one wall with brick veneer to make it more rustic, and maybe a black wrought iron spiral staircase in a corner of the living room, but these were too expensive so I didn’t go for it. The once empty solarium was turned into a painting studio for myself, with my paintings on the wall.
Hardik’s words of wisdom: Use Pinterest to its maximum potential. Be bold, be creative. Go with what you like instead of others’ opinions. And stay on budget — anyone can make a room look pretty if they have million dollars.
Thank you, Hardik!