This is the home's primary bedroom - not quite the look most young couples are after. It's difficult to tell in the photo but not only were the closet doors not the home owners' taste, they were also falling apart.

The previous homeowners underwent an extensive renovation to unify the original footprint of this 1930s home. Our goal was to make it feel open, a bit larger than it is, and elegant in a young, modern and relaxed way. Photos by Inside Out Media.

The main living, dining, and cooking space are on the main floor of this compact townhouse. Though it was built in the mid-1990s, the decor made it feel even older. The new owners lovingly called it "granny chic". They bought it for its downtown location and wanted to update the interior to better reflect their personalities.

To stay on budget, we kept almost of all the appliances, only replacing the dishwasher. We added a larger sink and shifted it slightly to create a drying area out of the line of vision when you're in the living area.

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Toronto

new closet added for stacked laundry + storage // material selections // custom shower niche & tile design // custom radiator cover // IKEA vanity + sink

The previous renovations had been recently completed and were well done. We didn't want to waste the materials or effort that went into them. Instead, we fit this gorgeous stand alone tub in front of the window, right over the second floor laundry below. Really? Didn't this window always need a bathtub in front of it anyway? One money and earth saving technique we used here; the wall sconces are original. We donated the lampshades and used a specialty high heat endurance paint to update their look. Photos by Inside Out Media.

The small stained glass window is original. Its colours and beautifully preserved 90 year old brass hardware inspired the design throughout the rest of the space. Photos by Inside Out Media.

The large rust coloured pillows, mid-shade grey throw and black accents keep the room from veering too feminine. Useful in this case, since it's a guest room and we don't know the preferences of who might use it. Photos by Inside Out Media.

We created a space for our clients needed to relax and recharge out of an attic conversion that was never quite finished. We breathed space into the room by adding a wall to divide the space in two, allowed us to create a custom walk thru closet, and replacing a 1970s shelf handrail system, which deepened the room by a foot. The dressers are vintage teak. Photos by Inside Out Media.

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Toronto

Pondscape is the colour on the walls. It's the perfect balance of soothing and energizing. On this wall we've used some art the homeowners collected through their travels. Photos by Inside Out Media.

We matched the new hardwood upstairs to the existing floor below as closely as possible. New lighting, a dramatic headboard, small dressers practically made to measure and luxurious curtains make the space feel both cozy and modern at the same time.

The old closet doors were dismissed for modern sliders that tied in to the colours in a quilt the homeowners already had. The biggest change here was inside the closet. Taking out the 1990s standard shelving and creating custom storage out of flat pack made a huge difference. They were shocked by how much space was left over once they finally moved in.

Given that the home owners wanted "to change every surface in the place" we worked on a tight budget but they were ultimately thrilled with the results. Here, you can see we kept the original oak floors but refinished them with a water based matte finish. We removed the popcorn ceiling throughout the home and painted most of the open areas (including the ceilings) a purple shade of white - Behr frost. We brought in modern fabric roller blinds that matched our frost colour almost exactly and found size appropriate modern traditional furnishings.

This walnut dining table is slimmer than most but easily seats eight adults. The photo is by Román Jiménez. It's of the atomium in Brussels, a sentimental landmark for the homeowners. Photos by Inside Out Media.

For as small as the house itself is, the kitchen is a good size but was closed off from the dining space because of the hanging cabinets off the bulkhead above.

The matte floors, new paint and carefully chosen furnishings helped make the main level of the home feel more spacious than it is. Art and an industrial pendant over the dining table help zone the space.

We worked around an existing (small) shower room. A beautiful mirrored medicine cabinet for extra storage, modern hardware holds additional towels and accessories, and new paint adds a bit of depth. Photos by Inside Out Media.