Lauren & Dylan’s Historic Split Apartment

updated Apr 30, 2019

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

About this tour

Explore More House Tours

Home Type

Apartment

Location

Cabbagetown, Toronto, Canada

Style

N/A

Bedrooms

N/A

Square feet

900

Sq ft

900

Name: Lauren and Dylan
Location: Cabbagetown — Toronto, Canada
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years; owned

Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox

Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter

Lauren, Marketing Director at Spacing Magazine, and Dylan’s home is nestled on a small, tree-lined street in Toronto’s historic Cabbagetown neighborhood, an area known for having the largest collection of designated heritage homes in North America. Lauren, Dylan, and Dylan’s brother Chris have spent the past three years renovating this 1904 Victorian home. They developed a unique setup, with the home split into two units along the vertical. Lauren and Dylan live in the front half of the home, and Chris lives in the back. Each apartment is private and each has its own distinct vibe.

(Image credit: Lauren Kolyn)

Lauren and Dylan’s place holds onto heritage elements of the home that were originally in place but “with a modern twist,” as described by Lauren, whereas Chris’ space is modern and completely opened up. The entirety of the house feels like one but acts as two, and the doors are usually open for cross-home mingling.

(Image credit: Dylan)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style:

Dylan: Minimalist.
Lauren: Minimalist-eclectic battle as I have a late/hate relationship with them both.

Inspiration:

Dylan: Multi-functional.
Lauren: California and historical charm of the neighborhood with modernism.

Favorite Element:

Dylan: All the sunlight!
Lauren: The staircases!

Biggest Challenge:

Dylan: By far, living through renovations.
Lauren: Creating a space that feels like indoor/outdoor throughout the year particularly in the winter.

What Friends Say:

Dylan: “Your apartment has too many decks” (Note: there are three and four, if you include the front porch.)
Lauren: “Too tidy, yah freaks!”

Biggest Embarrassment:

Lauren: We don’t like blinds so I’m sure that there’s been some unknowing embarrassment.

Proudest DIY:

Dylan: Backyard landscaping.
Lauren: Collecting and framing my Time Magazine covers (making good use of my math skills to hang them!). The outdoor landscaping.

Biggest Indulgence:

Dylan: Our concrete countertops which in the end don’t feel worth it.
Lauren: Buying antiques or gem finds before envisioning a spot for them in your home.

Best Advice:

Dylan: Be organized and pre-plan.
Lauren: Paint goes a long way. Collections—create collections that you love and display them!

Dream Sources:

Dylan: Life itself—anything!
Lauren: European magazines, travel, open houses, and neighborhood night walks to peek into people’s places.

Resources

PAINT & COLORS

Farrow & Ball Rawlings
Benjamin Moore White Cloud
Benjamin Moore Mountain Air

(Image credit: Lauren Kolyn)

ENTRY

Lights: HomeSense
Mirror: antique shop
Wall tables: salvaged from a closing antique store in Leslieville—we don’t know what they are but we love them!
Hooks: The Door Store