Lyndsay's Retro, Earthy Space
Name: Lyndsay Malenfant
Instagram: @good_odette
Size: 800 square feet
Home type: Apartment
Location: Toronto, Canada
What you're looking at:
Upon entering the apartment, you come to the bathroom, with the kitchen and living space to the right. I'd been wanting to do a focal point on this wall for a while. I've been obsessed with arched doorways for ages, so I figured why not paint one! (Image credit: Lyndsay Malenfant)Upon entering the apartment, you come to the bathroom, with the kitchen and living space to the right. I'd been wanting to do a focal point on this wall for a while. I've been obsessed with arched doorways for ages, so I figured why not paint one!
Living room/dining area. The windows were what really sealed the deal for this apartment. The photos don't do them justice, they're over 6 feet tall. These ones face east so I get the most amazing sunrises and light throughout the morning.
Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented
Household: 1 ghost and a lot of plants
Have any design professionals worked on this space? No
Do you currently live in your Small/Cool space full-time? Yes
Describe your space:
I took my cues from the tones in the brick and went really earthy and warm with most of my decor. I play around with my artwork, rugs, and accessories a lot. Bringing in different bright and contrasting colours can help the space feel fresh and lighten it up when I feel like I'm ready for a change.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
DIY is my JOY. My favourites would be the painted arch over the bathroom doorway and the faux fireplace that I pieced together from Facebook Marketplace finds and some $1 tiles.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
My apartment only has one closet at the front door that had to do double duty as front hall closet and clothes closet. It's over 10 feet long and floor to ceiling, so TONS of space. But when I moved in, it was just a huge empty space with one bar to hang clothes. It was divided in half at a weird point, so I used IKEA Sektion cabinets (yes, for the kitchen!) to create some drawers on the lower half as well as some shoe racks. Above the clothes are various baskets and boxes used to store non-everyday items.
How does your home reflect you?
I grew up in a very DIY home so I've always thrifted, refurbished, or built things in my apartments. One of my favourite pieces is my dining table, which my dad built for me out of some old reclaimed lumber and some legs I found at an antique market.