Decorating & Design
March 15, 2024
10+ Small Spaces That Are Big On Style
“Small spaces can take more space planning and careful consideration than properties two times the size.” says H&H Deputy Editor Emma Reddington. These homes prove it’s not how much space you have, but how you use it. From compact condos with bold art to tiny homes bursting with character, these uniques spaces show off the clever and inventive work of designers, architects and homeowners. Scroll down for a look back at some of our favorite small spaces with style!
A Church-Conversion Loft For Two Entrepreneurs
Size: 1,048-square-foot
When Lisa Bigioniwas looking for a modestly sized condo in Toronto in 2004, she was underwhelmed. “Everything looked the same,” she says. While out for a walk, she spied the Glebe Lofts, a 116-year-old Gothic Revival church conversion. “I loved the location and the charm of the space, and a small condo was a perfect fit for my busy lifestyle.” She bought a storey-and-a-half, 1,048-square-foot unit and, in 2006, her partner, Brian Stuart, moved in. Today, the couple also operates their business, Stok’d Cannabis, from the loft.
See more of this cool Toronto loft here.
A Petite Montreal Home In A Former Embassy
Size: 740 Square Feet
Located in a former Cuban embassy, this 740-square-foot condo has decidedly European overtones, with 21-inch-thick limestone walls and multiple sets of French doors. These details are what spoke to owners Elisabeth Lekhtman, an equity research analyst, and Gary Berdowski, a venture capital principal. The circa-1914 building was converted to residences about 20 years ago. In 2021, the couple viewed the place, fell in love with it and made an offer the next day. “I grew up nearby and always admired the architecture,” says Elisabeth. “This smaller unit was exactly what we were looking for. We love living in the city, and we didn’t need a second bedroom — we’re not planning to have kids for a few years. Plus, the outdoor area doubles our living space in the summer.” Designer Michael Godmer was soon hired to renovate the living room, kitchen and bathroom. “We tried to keep the original character,” he says.
Get the full tour of this European-inspired home here.
An Elegant Suite That Optimizes Every Square Inch
Size: 834 Square Feet
Midtown Toronto holds a special place for Fenwick Bonnell, co-founder of Powell & Bonnell, a boutique design firm and designer of luxury furniture, lighting and textiles. It’s where he lives, works and enjoys the nearby ravine and paths, where you can easily forget you’re in the middle of the city. Fenwick purchased the condo preconstruction in 2017 and then spent the next five years working with the developers, construction company Dxpert Reno & Handyman Services and his own team of trades to create a completely customized space for himself and Phoebe, his miniature wirehaired dachshund. “I don’t have the desire to live in a huge house,” he says of the condo’s modest 834-square-foot stamp. “I like how manageable this space is and that I can do things like clean and garden myself.”
See how he customized the compact condo here.
A Muskoka Guesthouse
Size: 1,040 Square Feet
Hidden rooms behind secret doors — it’s the stuff of fairy tales. In the case of this guesthouse on Muskoka’s Lake of Bays, the magic is in the kitchen. Pantry cabinet doors open to reveal not canned goods and dried pasta, but a tidy foyer leading to two cozy bedrooms, each with king-size beds. “It’s a miracle cabin, like fishes and loaves,” says owner Don Tapscott. Though a modest 1,040 square feet, the cabin feels three times as big, with not a single inch wasted. “It’s a perfect little puzzle with no dead space,” says his wife Ana P. Lopes. “There’s nothing superfluous.”
Step inside this cottage guesthouse here.
A Cool & Collected Two-Storey Loft In Toronto
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
“Small spaces feel more personal and manageable. You own them; they don’t own you,” says homeowner Glen Hunt. Projects have a way of snowballing, no matter the size. For Glen, a business coach–consultant, what started as painting and swapping out some cabinets escalated into a total reno after he consulted his ex-wife, designer Stephanie Houghton. Then Glen and a friend got to work. “I started demo and was surprised at just how much damage one could do with a sledgehammer and crowbar,” says Glen. “I woke up in a daze surrounded by rubble thinking, ‘What the hell did we just do!?’”
Take a look inside his minimalist loft here.
An Adventurous Condo For A Down-sizer
Size: 1,600 Sq. Ft.
Lovers of color and pattern know that finding the right visionary to make their daring design dreams a reality is paramount — especially in a small space. That was certainly true for Rayner Conway, who was downsizing from a 3,400-square-foot house to a condo that was half the size in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighborhood. Enter maximalist designer Cynthia Ferguson, who was ready to go all-in with a gutsy mood board tailored to her client’s new home. “Rayner was an absolute dream to work with — bold, daring, fun and endearing,” says Cynthia, who loves working with clients who say yes to her wild ideas.
See this cool condo here.
A Vancouver Loft That Sings With Color & Pattern
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Jasmeet K. Wahid has no interest in being a wallflower — in life or at home. Vivid colors and saturated patterns reflecting her South Asian roots are front and center in her 1,000-square-foot Vancouver loft. “I love the bold, unique and eccentric, and I believe it can be done in an elegant manner,” says Jasmeet, a family law lawyer who worked with Studio Roslyn to redesign her home.
Get the full tour here.
A Cleverly Designed Condo In Kitchener, Ont
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
If the devil is in the details, then Tim Lam would happily take on that label. While the finance professional, decorator and blogger waited nearly four years for the Kitchener, Ont., condo he shares with his partner, Chris Gabriel, to be ready, he didn’t waste a single moment devising the best ways to maximize and upgrade every inch of the space. In fact, anyone buying a preconstruction unit could take a page out of Tim’s playbook — especially in the kitchen.
Take a look inside here.
A Loft-Style Condo In Toronto’s Mimico Neighborhood
Size: 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Tired finishes, buttercream-colored walls and an awkward layout — the 1,000-square-foot condo in Toronto’s Mimico neighborhood wasn’t exactly Bret Williams’ dream home. But she could see its potential: there were high ceilings, a full wall of windows and nicely proportioned rooms. With an eye for detail honed in her former job as a product designer at Gluckstein Home, she knew the space needed a lighter touch — and she knew exactly how to do it.
A Small 1880s Townhouse In Montreal
Size: 830 Sq. Ft
The total transformation of Sylvie Renaud’s Montreal home started as a small refresh of the tired powder room and bathroom. But once the project began, it seemed like the right time to reconfigure the space and make it more open plan. She hired designer Jean Stéphane Beauchamp, whose work immediately resonated for its use of bold, happy colors. The two are neighbors, sharing a mutual appreciation for the European character of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Get the full tour here.
An Eclectic Duplex On Vancouver Island
Size: 910 Sq. Ft.
Can one house have both a colorful apartment for a daughter and a rental unit designed for income generation? Well, yes, it can. This 910-square-foot Vancouver Island duplex has all that and more: outdoor spaces on both levels, a private beach and a separate art studio, all of which take in views of a quiet inlet that’s minutes from downtown Victoria. Local restaurateurs Shellie and Mike Gudgeon worked with BoForm architect Chris Foyd and designers Christi Rivard and Kyla Bidgood of Bidgood + Co. on the clever build.
Click here for a full tour.
A Toronto Rental Condo Packed With Vintage Finds & Art
Size: 600 Sq. Ft
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.
Get the full tour of this small space here.