A 1920s Toronto Home Gets A Pretty, Historical Upgrade

Designer Cori Halpern brought this 1920s Toronto home into the 21st century with an eye to the past in just six months.

Discover how she achieved a pretty, decorated dining room and a sleek, colourful kitchen. Don’t miss Cori’s biggest splurges and best saves below!

Decorated Dining Room

Major Moves:

• Hung new wallpaper and drapes for a casual yet elegant look
• Refreshed the wainscotting by painting it out
• Replaced the radiators with newer, more efficient ones, and designed new covers to integrate with the existing trim
• Installed new hardwood floors
• Increased light with a new chandelier
• Custom designed new furniture for the space
• Added antiqued mirror to the doors of the custom storage piece for a vintage feel

Related: Cori Halpern remodels a condo with colour, pattern and vintage style

Biggest Splurge: The storage piece.

Best Save: The wallpaper completely transformed the space. Wallpaper, approx. $2,800.

The One Thing This Room Can’t Do Without: The wallpaper inspired the design; it pays homage to the home’s heritage with its Art Deco–Art Nouveau vibe.

Read More: Inside an art deco-style home with a hit of glam

The dining room, before.

Colourful Kitchen

Major Moves:

• Reconfigured the floor plan to improve the layout and accommodate new Miele appliances
• Removed an oddly placed window and relocated the sink
• Designed the upper cabinets to go to the ceiling
• Incorporated the client’s favourite colour, aubergine, keeping the uppers neutral and light and the lowers more bold
• Installed new lighting and display shelving
• Selected natural quartzite for the counters and backsplash
• Installed floor tile in an interesting pattern

Related: 15+ kitchens with colour to inspire your next makeover

Biggest Splurge: The custom cabinets with the two-tone colour scheme.

Best Save: The flooring — a simple porcelain tile. Tile, approx. $2,540.

Elements with the Most Impact: The use of bold colour and mixed materials in the cabinets, plus the new appliances and more efficient layout.

The kitchen, before.