There are plenty of tried-and-true techniques designers use to make a small space seem larger than it is: maximize vertical space, install drapery at ceiling height, buy leggy furniture. But unless you’re doing a major structural reno, you can’t buy natural light. That’s why designer Robyn Rider and her husband, Gord, who works in insurance, loved this diminutive but light-filled, 1,400-square-foot house in uptown Toronto.
After a six-month reno, breezy and sophisticated are two more adjectives that jump to mind after entering the home, thanks to a new open-concept layout, lively fabrics and plenty of friendly gathering zones. “It’s not a big house, but all that natural light made a huge difference,” says Robyn.
Scroll down to tour the designer’s cheerful abode!