Houzz Tours
House Tours
My Houzz: Colour and Pattern in a Petite Toronto Home
A fearless mix of florals, stripes, chevrons and more give a tiny apartment plenty of style
Tim Lam likes a good design challenge. As an interior designer, he’s made them his career. His first home, a 30-year-old apartment 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 colour 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 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting Lam found the home with the help of Sandra Rinomato and the HGTV series Property Virgins.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Tim Lam
Location Harbour Front, Toronto
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting Lam found the home with the help of Sandra Rinomato and the HGTV series Property Virgins.
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
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 wardrobe-less bedroom,’ Lam says. ‘Obviously, storage is a key concern in a 750-square-foot apartment, 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
Pillows, curtains, headboard: Tonic Living; wood unit installation: Paul Duguay Restoration
Organic-looking wallpaper covers the the wall opposite the bed.
Check out some flamboyant wallpaper
Dresser: Style Garage
Check out some flamboyant wallpaper
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
Wallpaper: Maharani, Sariskar, Osborne & Little; rug: Alvine Rand, Ikea; chairs: vintage Cherner, eBay
A large floor mirror doubles the visual space.
Mirror: HomeSense
Mirror: HomeSense
Lam painted the existing kitchen cabinets. The flooring, countertops, splashback 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
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 maximised 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
Love seat: Loblaws, reupholstered by Wesley Seto Design; fabric: Designer Fabrics; floral pillow fabric: Crystal Lake in Midnight, Robert Allen
Lam replaced the vanity unit, mirror, flooring and shower tiles 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.
What was your favourite part of this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
What was your favourite part of this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
Take a look at some more rugs
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