Condos
A Small Condo Gets Character From Modern Art And Vintage Finds
Updated on November 28, 2023
Sometimes, the process of renovating and redecorating is a journey, not a destination. That’s certainly true for Anne-Marie Egan, who has a habit of selling every four years. In 2019, she sold her Toronto condo and moved with her partner, Marco Peressin, to a smaller, rental condo while they considered buying something together. “We called it our stopgap year,” says Anne-Marie, “but it still had to feel like home.”
The condo’s abundant natural light and contemporary finishes provide a gallery-like setting for Anne-Marie’s collection of art, sculpture and small ceramics. For furniture, she trawled Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace and local vintage shops, layering in 20th-century pieces with interesting profiles. She favors solid stone and wood, and furniture in leather or rattan, which tend to hold up better than standard upholstery.
The former marketing manager now helms her own design firm (By AME Studio) and says the aim is always to create collected, personal spaces that hold together organically. “When you only buy pieces you love, they work together, even if you didn’t plan it that way,” she says. There’s a budget-friendly element to hunting down treasures online, too. Art excepted, none of the furniture or accessories cost more than $300 per piece. Not even the curved sofa, a Kijiji find that she drove to Windsor, Ont., to pick up and found brand-new.
While Anne-Marie is on a hiatus from homeownership, the mix will continue to evolve: a mirror moved, different art swapped in and a Fog & Mørup accordion sconce recently added over the dining table for task lighting. It’s a visiting exhibition after all, not a permanent collection.
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Q&A With Anne-Marie
How do you make small-space living comfortable? “You have to be really disciplined with what you bring in — we follow a one in, one out policy.”
How many people can you host for a dinner party? “Eight, casual style. A sit-down dinner is too stressful.”
What’s your biggest sanity-saver? “Our Dyson V8 Animal stick vacuum. We use it every day!”
If you could add one thing to your space, what would it be? “A powder room for guests.”
Whose work do you follow? “Designers María Santos and Robert Stilin, and the sets in Pedro Almodóvar’s films inspire me.”
An abstract painting by Ash Holmes sets the tone for the living space.
Cesca-style dining chairs found on Kijiji are a warm counterpoint to the apartment’s cool gray finishes.
A custom fabric sleeve was slipped over the headboard of the storage bed.
Pullout shoe drawers and dressers from Ikea help maximize closet space.
Large-format wall tile plays off the bathroom’s tight dimensions.
The den is used for storing household essentials — and displaying more artful finds.
The sleek kitchen features two-tone cabinets and a slab backsplash.
Lauren Miller
House & Home September 2021
Anne-Marie Egan, By AME Studio