Montreal

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: 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.

While you may not have the same luck as Mercedes when it comes to stumbling upon free or inexpensive decor and furniture, you may be equally interested (or inspired by) her modern, eclectic and quirky style. Check out the resources from her 850 square foot space in Montréal.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 Levy Location: Mile End; Montreal, Quebec Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Rented A born and raised Montrealer, Danielle is an avid supporter of her local community which is a defining feature of her lifestyle from food to home design. Much of the artwork and décor Danielle owns has a personal connection, either having been created by a friend or local artist, found at a thrift shop or collected from her travels abroad.

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: 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.