Before & After: Kondo-Style
This design doesn’t have anything to do with Marie Kondo, but the pun was too hard to resist. And when designing a small space (like this condo), we employed her ideology.
The owner of this adorable spot was in a jam when her laundry machine broke after ten years of living in the place, and she cleverly used it as the perfect excuse to do an entire overhaul. Within months, the area was unrecognizable, resulting in an oasis for one of the sweetest people I have ever worked with.
It is every designer's natural inclination to hide problems and to put a smile on, or in my case, only show the final reveal. But as anyone who has renovated knows, this only happens sometimes. For the most part, it was smooth sailing, but for some reason, the primary bathroom was our Achilles heel, or as my client put it, "cursed!"
Lessons learned, with incredible patience (on her part) and perseverance (on mine), the reward was worth the wait. I am excited to share this project and all the design hacks I used in designing this spot, and we didn't go custom on anything. I hope you enjoy it too!
The Living Room
This space had everything my client “needed,” but it wasn’t functioning for her anymore, and it was due for a makeover! That’s where I came in. The first step was to get rid of the extremely dated vertical blinds: my hack, IKEA, everything. We used IKEA’s track system and linen drapery panels, and with a bit of hemming and rejigging, we created these soft sheer blinds, which offered the privacy she craved without obstructing the light and the view.
LIVING ROOM: BEFORE
LIVING ROOM: AFTER
Another tell, we ordered a sofa that we waited and waited for. Come the delivery day, it could not turn the corner into the room (gah, it was a nightmare). The dimensions listed were off by a single inch, and that’s all it took. Thankfully, the store understood, and we switched it out for this floor-model sofa from StyleGarage. The coffee table was a solid wood Structube find, and if you’re an IKEA addict, you may recognize the chair.
A large dining table was not in the cards for a single person living in downtown Toronto. But for the odd occasion where there are more than two or three dining, this genius table from West Elm extends! Perfect for condo living and budget-friendly. Though incredibly easy-going and open to all ideas, my client had a few specific requests, including an area to display personal photos from trips, etc. They found the perfect home on this gallery-style wall behind the table, easy to update over time, adding that personal touch.
LIVING ROOM: BEFORE
LIVING ROOM: AFTER
LIVING ROOM: AFTER
LIVING ROOM: AFTER
The Kitchen
This kitchen was a classic builder condo kitchen, which was complete chaos! The cabinets were way too small, and poorly arranged, garnering them useless. And the peninsula was all over the place, again, useless. On top of that, the colours were so dark there was no way to see anything clearly. We had to scrap it and start fresh, which we did, with some help from IKEA. IKEA kitchens are actually designed quite brilliantly, and affordably, with tons of opportunity for hacks, all of which your contractor can help you bring to reality. We covered the bulkhead with panels to elevate the ceiling and create the illusion of space. We maximized the counter space and cupboard space by changing the end of the galley, et voila - a wholly revived space, all without breaking the bank.
KITCHEN: BEFORE
KITCHEN: AFTER
KITCHEN: AFTER
KITCHEN: AFTER
The Bedroom
Blue bedrooms always win. It must have something to do with how peaceful they are. Though fun at the time, the style of the pieces my client had lovingly chosen a decade prior no longer served their purpose. She needed STORAGE! We went with a simple storage base and warmed it up with a simple but stylish headboard from Wayfair. Though always a nice touch, we all know chairs in bedrooms become dumping grounds for discarded clothing, and my client bravely decided to forgo the landing spot, thus buying us more space and reducing the potential for future clutter.
BEDROOM: BEFORE
BEDROOM: AFTER
BEDROOM: AFTER
The Primary Bathroom
This bathroom had what appeared to be an attempt at “storage” but ultimately was not fitting the bill. I could go on and on about the saga of this 150 square-foot space, but I will save you the griping and show you the gorgeous after! Without natural light, we decided to go for lots of contrast with warm metal details to create a luxurious master bath in a very tiny space. The bathroom was elevated by splurging on the hardware, and for a bath lover - a room you no longer wanted to leave!
BATHROOM: BEFORE
BATHROOM: BEFORE
BATHROOM: AFTER
BATHROOM: AFTER
