Decorating & Design
This Small Toronto Rental Could Pass For A London Flat
Published on March 5, 2018
Whitney Keeley knew exactly what she was looking for when she moved back to Toronto from London, England. “The original wood flooring, high ceilings and moldings of this apartment are reminiscent of the Victorian conversion flats I’d lived in there,” she says. But the rental had another appealing quality: Its architectural envelope provided the perfect backdrop for the product photography she shoots for Absolutely Inc., the vintage store and design firm founded by her mother, Viki Mansell.
“I use the space like a studio to create online content: new product vignettes, images for Instagram and blog posts,” she says. Whitney’s inspiration for the apartment was classic spaces with a hit of quirk — an aesthetic that also reflects her personal style. “I love socialite Lauren Santo Domingo’s hôtel particulier in Paris,” she says. “The historical elements mixed with contemporary art and fabrics create such a unique interior.” Click through to look inside her small Toronto rental filled with European charm.
A sculptural bench suits Whitney’s contemporary style.
A French Art Deco games table showcases an orchestrated vignette and Damien Hirst’s For The Love of God print adds edge.
With a few quick modifications, the living and dining room easily morphs into a photography studio. A roll of paper showcases her art collection and serves as a backdrop for product photoshoots. A vintage wallpapering table offers plenty of display space but is slim enough to fit behind the seating area.
A mod chrome bar cart sits beneath a lithograph by surrealist Ernest Trova. “Bar carts are ideal for a small space, as they have many different applications, such as a bedside table, a side table or bathroom storage. And they can be moved around with ease,” says Whitney.
Whitney commissioned a custom table to fit the dining area alcove perfectly and had a new window seat made to maximize seating. Contrasting backs make chairs more artful.
Checkerboard floors, flat-front cabinets and a Dualit toaster give the kitchen a mid-century mood.
Francis Bacon lithographs and a floral lumbar pillow command attention in Whitney’s bedroom.
A mirror on the vanity lets Whitney apply makeup in natural light.
Robin Stubbert
House & Home September 2017
Whitney Keeley, Absolutely Inc.