My Houzz: Patterns Mingle Spiritedly in a Toronto Condo
Tim Lam likes a good design challenge. As an interior designer, he's made them his career. His first home, a 30-year-old condo overlooking Lake Ontario in Toronto, presented quite a few hurdles too. For one, mirrored walls screamed "I love the '80s," while an equally dated bathroom and kitchen lacked color and texture. Lam injected the 750-square-foot space with layers of graphic patterns and added budget-friendly storage solutions that saved space. He oversaw all the renovations, learning to handle new design challenges along the way.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim Lam
Location: Harbour Front, Toronto
Size: 750 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That's interesting: Lam found the home with the help of Sandra Rinomato and the HGTV series Property Virgins.
Lam selected neutral colors for the major pieces in the living room. A scoop of red comes from the vintage Saarinen Womb Chair. He designed the curtains and a few of the throw pillows with fabric from Tonic Living. He credits his style to his late mother, who appreciated all things classic, sophisticated and elegant.
Floral pillows: Mint Fleur Chinoise, Caitlin Wilson Textiles; rug: Facet, DwellStudio; coffee table: Caban (now closed); white side table: Style Garage; wall paint: Wedding White, ICI; trim paint: White Husky, ICI
A blue feature wall enhances light pouring in from the west windows. Lam and Paul Duguay Restoration reupholstered the sofa, a Salvation Army find, and the chair, from Queen Street Antiques, with material from Designer Fabrics.
Blue paint: Vista, Para; artwork on blue wall: Suzanne Ernst
"It took me a couple of years to figure out what I wanted to do with my closetless bedroom," Lam says. "Obviously, storage is a key concern in a 750-square-foot condo, and I really didn't want a huge piece of furniture sitting in my bedroom." He designed this custom walnut wall unit and added Ikea pieces.
Pillows, curtains, headboard: Tonic Living; wood unit installation: Paul Duguay Restoration
Organic-looking wallpaper covers the the wall opposite the bed.
Dresser: Style Garage
Lam darkened the palette in the dining room to create an intimate and elegant space. Classic midcentury pieces in rich wood tones create balance.
Wallpaper: Maharani, Sariskar, Osborne & Little; rug: Alvine Rand, Ikea; chairs: vintage Cherner, eBay
A large floor mirror doubles the visual space.
Mirror: HomeSense
Lam painted the existing cabinetry. The flooring, countertops, backsplash and appliances are new.
Cabinet door paint: Silver Cloud, ICI; cabinet frame paint: Cielo Blanc, ICI; custom spray: Tim Welsby, Beresford; knobs: Quatrafoil, Rocky Mountain Hardware; rug: HomeSense
To add another room to his home, Lam maximized his outdoor balcony space. He found the coffee table on the side of the road. Tim Welsby of Beresford spray painted its base.
Love seat: Loblaws, reupholstered by Wesley Seto Design; fabric: Designer Fabrics; floral pillow fabric: Crystal Lake in Midnight, Robert Allen
Lam replaced the vanity, mirror, flooring and shower tile in the bath.
Some of the leftover '80s design is still celebrated. A mirror wall at the entrance reflects a mixture of antique and midcentury pieces.
Tim Lam, shown here, says his next design challenge is sourcing wallpaper for his hallway.
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