Canada

Name: Marie-Lyne and Karlo Location: Villeray; Montreal, Canada Size: 575 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; owned We settled in an up-and-coming neighborhood where young families and first-time buyers choose to live for its affordability and convenience. Our condo is near Jean-Talon market and is surrounded by trendy coffee shops, fashionable restaurants and local boutiques.

Name: Beth-Anne Thomas & Arron Thomas Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 2100 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year This gregarious couple is as well-known for their masterful ability to get the party started as they are for their frequent participation in charitable events.

Name: MICHI Atelier Location: Liberty Village, Toronto Size: 825 square feet Years occupied: 1 year Cutting-edge fashion designer Michelle Watson’s MICHI athletic wear is probably the most fashionable fitness apparel you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Name: Lisa Vanin Location: Parkdale; Toronto, Canada Size: 390 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, Rented Take away the laptop and tattoos and it would be easy to mistake twenty-something illustrator Lisa Vanin’s tiny, old-fashioned apartment for a knitting granny’s cozy den. Her homey digs are reminiscent of a previous generation’s warmth and slow pace, thanks to her nostalgic collection of old-soul treasures.

Location: Little Italy; Toronto, Canada Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 months When these two idea-makers were preparing to move in together, their main mission was to find a space that could accommodate two home offices in an atmosphere that would inspire their work. Countless viewings of windowless basement dens & crowded corner set-ups helped this gorgeous loft-style apartment stand out among the misfits. My Style: Modern bones, vintage touches, and a lot of breathing room.

Name: David, Guitarist of Vancouver band We Are the City; Bethany, co-creator of Treasures and Travels and personal blogger at this ones for you; with baby Poppy Darling (10 Months) and pup Sid Location: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years; Owned David and Bethany have spent the past few years making a home in a house that she longed to live in as a child.

Name: Pierre-Etienne Pilon and his two kids Location: Ile-Perrot, Quebec Size: 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Decorator Pierre-Etienne Pilon has decorated his entire home with secondhand furniture that he has refurbished himself. He is passionate about Mid-century Scandinavian furniture, and he loves to wander around here and there in search of beautiful pieces. “It is a bit like treasure hunting,” he says.

Ivana likes simple things. She loves the sensation of an empty space. And her condo reflects that; the style is simple, modern and minimalist.

Name: Suzanne of Decogirl Montreal Location: Downtown, Montreal Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 9 months Suzanne is an interior decorator working in Montreal who excels at creating luxurious decor where exuberance, drama, class, color and comfort all mix together to create intriguing and wonderful spaces. Suzanne finds inspiration for every project in Coco Chanel, Bunny Williams, and Jonathan Adler, to name a few.

Family heirlooms, antique store finds, and unique modern goods find themselves at home together in Suzanne’s 900 square foot space in downtown Montreal. With her experience as an interior decorator, Suzanne has seamlessly joined timeless pieces from across the globe. Let her resource list inspire you to go traditional and timeless!

Name: Sally “the decorator” Smallwood and Cameron “learning to love grey” Algie Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 958.2 square feet (approximately) Years lived in: Own 8.5 years (with a little help from the bank) As soon as you enter Sally and Cameron’s home you can immediately feel and understand their personalities—warm, friendly and most of all FUN! Neither of them are afraid to push the limits of design.

Name: Mercedes La Rosa Location: Mile End — Montréal, Québec Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: Rented 4 years Just steps away from the bustle of cafés and bookstores along rue Bernard, Mercedes’ 850 square foot apartment is a quiet gem in the heart of the Mile End. Standing at the threshold to her ground floor apartment, surrounded by green leafy plants, the New Yorker Radio Hour’s “Cat vs. Dog” podcast can be heard through her living room window.

Name: Natasha Location: Griffintown — Montréal, Canada Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: Owned one year Filled with an abundance of natural light that reflects beautifully on her brightly decorated space, Natasha’s 450 square foot condo feels like anything but the “little city shoebox” she describes it as. Her choice of white walls and light-toned furniture contrast the dark wood floors and cabinets, giving the space a crisp, classic appeal.

Name: A. J. Berne Location: Village of Swansea — Toronto, Canada Size: 645 square feet Years lived in: Owned 5 years What can be better than a view of Lake Ontario and the chance to take in a few moments each day, to gaze out at the water and watch the sailboats wander and tides change? For A.J. — not much. A.J. lives in a waterfront condominium in the city’s West End.

Name: Mylène Location: Villeray, Montreal Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years It’s not surprising to learn that Mylène works as a visual merchandiser for a decor boutique; her apartment reflects someone who’s both interested in and really talented at design and home decor. Lots of stylish second-hand furniture and a variety of small elements and objects animate a space where a soft color palette mixes well with natural wood tones.

Name: Robyn and Sam, plus their two Dachshunds Carl and Prune Location: The Junction — Toronto, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years There is much debate when it comes to minimal design and living. It seems to be a lifestyle that draws polarizing views — you either love it or you really don’t!

Name: Aleks and Clay Location: Montreal, Canada Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Over the years, Aleks and Clay have acquired a lot of treasures from their travels. They moved into their apartment last February, and already, the space is decorated with objects and souvenirs from all over the world. For them, setting up their home is all about surrounding themselves with meaningful things. It is what contributes to their happiness.

Name: Mary and Brandon Location: Plateau Mont-Royal — Montreal, Canada Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Rented, 2 years Mary, a cook and artist who grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, shares this rental with Brandon, a software developer who grew up in Florida and moved to Montreal in 2011. Though they’ve both called Montreal home for years, they consider this apartment their true first home.

Mylène’s style is a “mix of retro, Scandinavian, modern elements and plants.” Her Montreal apartment is filled with old and new with DIY projects in nearly every room. Shop Mylène’s style to achieve a “soft retro” look of your own.

Name: Arden Bull Location: Port Colborne, Ontario Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned This bright and airy studio is so open and full of light it’s hard to believe it’s in a basement! Although it’s a small space by square footage standards, the apartment feels huge thanks to a light wall color, open windows and tall ceilings. Arden’s smart design sensibilities have kept furnishings to a minimum, creating a comfortable home that functions perfectly for her.

Name: Jon and Jessie Location: St. Catharines — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Jon and Jessie bought their home knowing they would be filling it with lots of DIY projects in every room. Jessie’s love for light and simple spaces is nicely complemented by Jon’s desire for modern, darker decor.

Name: Maria Raco, Founder of NewWall Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 2,000 square feet Years Lived In: 9 years, owned The walls in Maria Raco’s downtown Toronto apartment do not disappoint. As the founder and director of NewWall, a wallpaper distributor of collections from Marimekko, Timorous Beasties and more, plenty of rooms in her home feature vibrant patterns.

Name: Roxy and Daniel Location: Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: Owned since August 2016 The architecture of this loft is impressive from the moment you step in. Extremely high ceilings partner with a wide open, airy interior. South-facing windows and a large balcony provide a stunning view of the CN Tower and give the home cool downtown vibes.

Name: Natasha Location: The Annex, Toronto Size: 190 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting A historic mansion in Toronto is a book and history lover’s dream and for Natasha, it’s also home. Well, one small bit of it is home: Natasha rents a 190-square-foot studio apartment in the building. And though teeny, she finds her living space less congested now than when she lived in a house full of roommates.

Name: Oliviero Fontana Location: NDG, Montreal Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting Oliviero is a former professional skateboarder and current stylist who has a passion for design and an appreciation for handmade craftsmanship. And he loves refurbishing vintage pieces he finds on the streets.

Name: Rob & Evelyn Stewart Location: Washago — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,100 square feet (plus a 350-square-foot bunkie) Years lived in: 9 years, owned Thirty years ago, Rob and Evelyn decided to move from the city to Muskoka, a desirable cottage town in Ontario to raise their kids. Now, they’re semi-retired and their kids are grown up, so they’ve taken advantage of “slower living” in their quiet town.

Name: Glenda and David Pedersen Location: Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue — Quebec, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 18 years, owned Glenda — a most charming woman — finds the best inspiration from her dreams when it comes to decorating. She has a thing for the quirky, the retro, the playful, and the unexpected.

Name: Andréa Crofts and Stefan Jovanović Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, owned Andréa and Stefan’s home is a 700-square-foot unit in a modern condo overlooking the beautiful skyline of Toronto’s downtown. The eastern view is what sold the couple on this particular unit, and you can’t blame them. Even if the condo was completely empty, it would still be gorgeous with that view.

Name: Leisse Wilcox (plus Mia, Grey, and Clara) Location: Cobourg — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Leisse Wilcox is a Life and Success Coach, and her home is like walking into a bubble of positivity and optimism. The walls are plastered with kind expressions and uplifting reminders for her and her three daughters. Obviously it works. Leisse and her daughters were so welcoming; they were just as warm as their home feels.

Name: Edmund Lam Location: Montreal, Canada Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, owned Edmund Lam, creative director of fashion retailer Frank and Oak, lived in a mid-century house for five years in Montreal-West. Missing city life, he moved back into a smaller apartment a few months ago in Le Plateau Mont-Royal.

Name: Thalita Murray, her husband, and twin boys Location: Cobourg — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Thalita is an interior design professional who believes in keeping it real. She owns Thalita Murray Design and runs the design and lifestyle blog, The Learner Observer, and if that wasn’t enough, she is also a wife and mother of twin 2-year-old boys.

Following the end of a romantic relationship, Farah decided to remain in the 400-square-foot space she had shared with her partner. But doing so required a re-design.

Name: Maca Atencio, husband Esteban, and kids Nico and Oli Location: Montreal, Quebec Size: 1,120 square feet Years lived in: 11 months, owned Living in Montreal can be fun, artsy, and beautiful, and that’s completely on display in lifestyle blogger Maca Atencio’s home. She and her husband Esteban had waited a couple of years to buy the perfect house for their little family, and this one had every single detail they wanted!

Name: Marcella, Justin, and their dogs Buddy Holly and Pete Location: Fonthill — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Just two years ago Marce of Hey Modest Marce decided to leave her hectic job in the Toronto financial district and uproot her life to live a slower pace. She and boyfriend Justin found a 1920s traditional craftsman home in Fonthill, a small town in the heart of Ontario’s wine country.

Name: Jaclyn Madar Location: Griffintown — Montreal, QC Size: 1,019 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Jaclyn Madar is an obstetrician and surgeon who just purchased her first real “grown-up” bachelorette apartment. A space with industrial, modern architecture, she decorated it with an eclectic vintage flair… while still having it look pulled together. She’s spunky, stylish and extremely smart, and that shows through beautifully in her home decor.

Name: Lita Lee, Mike Martin and their four children Location: Edmonton, Alberta Size: 2,550 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Lita Lee claims to be “just a girl who decided to go for it.” And the it she went for was taking a large spec home from a blank slate to a bold, bright home that’s the perfect fit for her family. And in the process, she discovered her passion and talent with interior design, launching Crave Interiors.

Name: Vanessa Sicotte, Jonathan Plourde and three kids Location: Montreal West — Quebec, Canada Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Vanessa and Jonathan were able to see the vast potential beyond the yellow walls (in every room!) of their home when they purchased it in 2014. As an interior design writer, blogger and TV personality, Vanessa put her expertise to use in designing a home that reflects the personalities of her family both as a unit and individually.

Name: Maggie Williams Location: St-Henri, Montreal Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Maggie‘s old converted Montreal loft is visually striking and incredibly spacious, but in the wrong hands, its industrial elements could dominate. Thankfully, Maggie’s always loved thrifting and finding beauty in other people’s discarded items. She hunts for unwanted furniture pieces, repairing and refinishing them.

Name: Katie Avram and Butterscotch the cat Location: Bankview — Calgary, Alberta Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned I bought my condo a year ago and went to town on personalizing it from the beige/tan snorefest it was. I had been looking to buy a condo for over a year and had seen dozens in person that were definitely nice, but just weren’t me. The windows and view sold me on the place from the listing photos and I called my realtor right away to arrange a viewing.

Name: Jasmine Waheed and cat Barney Location: Garment District — Montreal Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, 8 months, owned After traveling across—and falling in love with—Canada, Jasmine Waheed decided to move from London to Montreal 15 years ago. Her background is in graphic design, but upon arriving in Montreal, she decided to make the switch to photography.

Name: Shilpa Rajahamsa and Aditya Srivathsan Location: St-Henri — Montreal Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Shilpa and Aditya both grew up in India and moved to North America in their early twenties. Their taste is a mix of both worlds and their home’s style could be described as eclectic and contemporary… with a touch of Indian. Creativity and an appreciation for craftsmanship run deep for this couple.

Name: Julien, her husband and three daughters Location: Milton —Ontario, Canada The basics: 12 years, owned | 2,000 square feet Julien’s home is full of fascinating, functional and visually interesting art yet it doesn’t have a “hands off” feel. It is designed with her family in mind, encouraging exploration and celebrating everyone’s personalities.

Name: Vanessa Location: Montréal-West — Québec, Canada Our home is a Craftsman style semi-detached brownstone built in 1926. The character and charm of the house’s architectural details are what sold us when we purchased it three years ago. The previous owners made us PROMISE that we would never paint over the woodwork or coffered ceilings as they were original features of the home.

Project by: Ana Braunstajn Interior Design Location: London, Ontario, Canada This is a 1960s four level, side-split home that was very much out of date. The project encompassed two stories, and everything was to be updated, from the ceiling fixtures all the way to the baseboards. The idea here was to bring this out of date house into 2015. I started this project in January 2015. Inspiration: I would call this style “Florida beach house.

Name: Ian and Nikki Fotheringham and their dog, BangBang Location: Ontario, Canada Size: 100 square meters (1,069 square feet) Years Lived In: 1 year; Rented It might be hard to imagine decorating your home solely with furniture that has a past life—upcycled, secondhand or DIY-ed into something new entirely. However, for Nikki and Ian, it comes easily, and this is exactly how they have approached designing their space.

Name: Gabby & Adam Location: Distillery District — Toronto, Canada We moved into our 497 square foot condo in the historic Distillery District in downtown Toronto almost a year ago. Moving into a smaller space than our previous apartment, we spent a lot of time thinking about items and furniture that we needed and loved in our everyday lives. Everything in our apartment has function or bring us joy.

Name: Holly and Ryan, daughters Stellan and Kinley, and German Shepherd Dublin Location: Peterborough — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned When you walk into this family home, you are overcome by a sense of happiness. It’s one of those spaces where you can feel the amount of love and care that has been put into it. It also happens that the people who live in the home are just as warm and welcoming as the physical space itself.

Name: Lauren Pirie Location: Bloorcourt — Toronto, Ontario Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Rented When I first entered Lauren’s apartment, I was immediately captivated by all of the art that covers the wall of the long corridor; Lauren’s work is truly enigmatic and delicate. The corridor then led me to the kitchen/living room/studio space.

Name: Danielle & Ryan Location: Fraser/Main — Vancouver, British Columbia Our overall style is minimalist and clean but comfy. We are most inspired by mid-century modern pieces and shapes but like to add bohemian touches for warmth. We also love to freely mixed silver, gold, and brass for a casual and unpretentious feel.

Name: Romane, 7.5 years old Location: Notre-Dame-de-Grâce; Montreal, Canada Following a renovation of the entire home last year, which included the removal of a wall between the living room and (now) dining room, Marie-Claude moved her daughter’s room into what was the rarely used office. We saw Romane’s Romane’s first bedroom over four years ago, and it has been fun to follow along as her space matures with her.

Name: Marie-Claude and Martin and 7-year-old Romane Location: Notre-Dame-de-Grâce — Montréal, Québec Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 8.5 years; Owned At the age of 17, Marie-Claude went to Venice, Italy on an exchange to study art and sculpture. This experience changed the way she saw the world around her and deepened her appreciation for art and design. Marie-Claude is a interior design fanatic, and it’s no surprise that the trade runs in her extended family.

Name: Savannah Sher and Mike Wynands, Finn the cat, and Nori the dog Location: Verdun — Montreal, Canada Size: Approximately 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Rented Mike and Savannah, co-founders of The Quick Green Fox, are Montreal natives who grew up in the island’s west end. When they were searching for a new place earlier this year, an apartment close to downtown was on their wish list, as was a neighborhood with charm and a sense of community.

Name: Kiana and Steve and their kids, Mathilda and Milo Location: Chelsea, Quebec Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned This beautifully renovated house in the woods is a playful and welcoming space brimming with its owners’ personalities.

Name: Holly & Ryan Location: Peterborough — Ontario, Canada With the support of my husband Ryan, we are raising our two daughters and German Shepherd Dublin in a 1300 square feet bungalow. I grew up in Peterborough and two years ago we moved back to be closer to our families. I am an artist and work from my studio located in our basement. My husband commutes to Toronto and works from home part-time. When we saw this house we knew it was the one for us.

Name: Joanna and Kevin Miller Location: Toronto, Ontario Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; Rented Joanna and Kevin met through their passion for swing dancing. Kevin is a musician (you will see his instruments displayed throughout the apartment) and Joanna is a designer and decorator. When she’s not dreaming up new ideas for her own space, Joanna works at Home Smith, a local interior design boutique in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighborhood.

Name: Catherine Cachia and Lionel McDonald, their daughter, Winnie, and Griffey the dog Location: East Danforth — Toronto, Ontario Size: Approximately 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Instagram and mid-century modern couches brought Catherine and I together. Last summer, she left a comment on one of my pictures saying we had the exact same couch. I thought that was a big coincidence for a considerably vintage piece of furniture. Was she also in Ontario?

Name: Pierce Atkinson Location: St. Henri; Montréal, Canada Size: Approximately 900 square feet Years lived in: Almost 2 years; Rented Pierce is someone who is not afraid to take risks in life, especially when it comes to style and design. Following the best design advice he’s ever received—decorate for “You Do You”—Pierce has filled his apartment with what he is attracted to the most: color, patterns, and quirk.

Name: Savannah, Mike, Finn the cat and Nori the 3-legged Pit bull Location: Verdun, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Our apartment is on the ground floor of a triplex in the ever-evolving neighbourhood of Verdun. We probably visited about 30 apartments in the area before falling in love with this one. We were looking for a place that was pretty spacious because we both work from home and would be spending the majority of our time in the space.

Name: Rebecca and Gareth Smith and their dog, Penny, and cat, Bobby Location: Etobicoke; Toronto, Ontario Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned Rebecca and Gareth were a classic case of opposites attracting, but over the years they have learned to adapt to each other’s lifestyles and tastes—and it actually turns out that they have a lot more in common than they realized at first glance.

Name: Signy Roland Location: Yorkville; Toronto, Canada Size: 712 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented After spending nearly a decade living in the great cities of Montreal and New York, Signy recent returned home to Toronto. Condo development has skyrocketed in the city, making it one of the more popular residential options in Canada. At first hesitant to make the move, Signy came around to the idea and really enjoys living in her one-bedroom condo.

Name: Danielle Location: Hochelaga-Maisonneuve; Montreal, Canada Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned When I first entered Danielle’s condo, I immediately noticed the calm and peaceful ambiance. Maybe the cooled air inside had something to do with it, on a can’t stand the heat and humidity sort of day! But regardless of temperature, Danielle’s place is seriously awesome. Although the condo is a garden level unit, it remains lit all day by the large windows.

Name: Danielle Suppa & Mark James Location: Toronto; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned This loft is home to Danielle and Mark, a creative and sporty duo, and is located in Toronto’s emerging West End. The building was originally the manufacturing portion of an early 19th century train factory and was converted into a residential space in 2008.

Name: Leila Younis and Ike the Pug Location: Ottawa, Ontario Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Leila’s 110 year-old house is spacious, welcoming, and filled to the brim with personality. Since she bought the home four years ago, Leila has taken the time to make the space her own with both large renovation projects such as the kitchen or smaller touches like the accent walls in the living room and craft room.

Name: Eloïse and Jose Location: Verdun; Montreal, Canada Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented It’s always impressive to enter a big, open, high-ceilinged living space, filled with huge windows, abundant natural light, and a massive brick wall. Despite these delightful architectural features, it could be quite challenging to make this type of room feel cozy, balanced, and comfortable, but Jose and Eloïse achieved it by simply using a few helpful tricks.

Name: Laura Location: London, Ontario – Canada Our apartment is in an old bankers mansion that was built in the late 1800’s. The house is split into 7 units. The main living space of our unit used to be the formal dining room of the home and has very unique and beautiful hardwood floors that were installed at the beginning of the twentieth century (which are still in amazing shape for their age).

Name: Alexis Location: Victoria, British Columbia About a year ago, I found a space advertised on Craigslist- I made an appointment to see it with little information and virtually no pictures. As cliche as it sounds, I just had a really good feeling about it… The moment I pulled up to the home, I instantly fell in love. I’m one of nine apartments in a designated heritage house, which sits on over an acre of land.

Name: Myriam Granger & Sebastien Burns Location: Villeray; Montreal, Canada Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented I’ve known Myriam & Sebastien, owners of the Boutique Archive, since the opening of their store in Villeray three years ago. The space is truly amazing and the products are of great quality.

Name: Alison, Trevor & Theodore Location: Vancouver, BC Mount Pleasant Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Owned I stumbled upon Alison’s Instagram not so long ago and fell in love with her blog 600SQFTANDABABY. For the past 5 years, Alison and Trevor made it work in their small apartment, but when baby Theodore came along, it was time to re-evaluate their living situation.