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Learn Gillian Atkins’ best tips for using Ikea components to get this great look.

When we moved our office to Toronto’s Designer’s Walk we needed to build a new kitchen. The style vision was industrial workroom meets cool design office. Our friends at Ikea were happy to help get us started. We chose Askerund cabinets in blond faux wood grain, made from a durable melamine veneer that would stand up to heavy use and would be easy to clean. The cabinets make a strong statement so we used an off-white Kasker quartz composite stone for the counter top and back splash. To frame the sink wall, we created two almost symmetrical columns, one for the fridge and the other for a bank of microwaves and dish storage drawers and cupboards.

When our microwave trim kits were back-orderd, our carpenters created a custom surround from leftover cabinet panels. They also built us the chunky long floating shelves above the sink. Panelled dishwashers felt like too much wood laminate — so we opted for Ikea’s stainless Essentiell built-in dishwasher to balance the stainless fridge. We needed two — The HH team use a lot of coffee mugs!

When we were finished construction, something was still missing. Lynda Reeves took one look at the work in progress and without hesitation said it needed statement wallpaper. She was right. The hunt began for the perfect paper, punchy, graphic and the right scale. The monochrome Tapestry (in Zuni) paper from Cavern Home was perfect.

Our Interiors Editor, Stacy Begg, was recruited to style the space. No small feat, given we’d handed her a pretty bossy backdrop. After some trial and error, she opted for bold artisanal style pots and jugs in matte black, terracotta and shades of stone. The black Smeg toaster and kettle fit perfectly, as do accents like the Tamarack cutting board from Hopson Grace and a fringed Ambrose runner from Socco Living. Stacy even raided Lynda’s personal stash of objects for a small portrait pencil drawing in a strong ebony frame. It’s unexpected, so it works.

The results are perfect for us and the team is happy to have a stylish place to prep lunch and hold informal meetings. Finally, it is camera ready. Thank you Ikea!

The post House & Home’s New Office Kitchen — Elevating Ikea’s Essential Components In High Style appeared first on House & Home.

After 15 years of living in their awkward attic space in the Toronto Beaches, these homeowners turned to designer Emily Griffin to reimagine their principal bedroom and ensuite. “Everything was very small, very awkward and very wrong,” says Emily. See how the Toronto designer totally transformed the small space with luxe design moves and dreamy storage solutions. From a freestanding tub with sunset views to wall-to-wall bedroom millwork, you don’t want to miss this must-see attic reno. Watch it here!

The post Before & After: An Awkward Attic Transforms Into A Luxe Principal Suite In The Toronto Beaches appeared first on House & Home.

If you want to carve out a designated work area that’s not your kitchen table, take your cues from these compact workspaces. From built-in office nooks to stylish freestanding desk areas, these multitasking rooms will inspire you to reclaim space in your kitchen, living room and beyond. Scroll down!

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Short on square footage? You don’t need a big footprint for great design. These homeowners and designers got creative by using every inch of space in their compact homes. Scroll down for clever design ideas that will inspire you to get the most out of your small space.

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Designer Emilia Wisniewski of Studio 1NINE1 doesn’t think small spaces need to be white and bright. One rule she does follow? Customize as much as you can. The design brief for her client’s downtown Toronto townhouse was to create a “goth apothecary vibe” that maximizes every inch of space. Get the full tour here!

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The homeowner of this Toronto condo was desperate for change. She had grown tired of staring at the same four walls and working out of her dull kitchen condo that lacked style and storage. She wanted a kitchen that could accommodate her newly discovered love for cooking and entertaining, and could double as a smart WFH spot. “My favorite part is sitting at my new table. It feels warm, cozy, and clean all at the same time,” she says.

She turned to Toronto-based designer Adriana Pietropaolo with her wish list: maximized storage, new full-size appliances, increased prep space and a dedicated dining area. We chatted with Adriana about her client’s budget, timeline and how she totally transformed the dated 180-square-foot condo kitchen into a bright, hardworking hub.

Scroll down!

The post Before & After: A Small Dated Kitchen Becomes A Cool, Modern Hub appeared first on House & Home.

When designer Ruchi Agrawal Mohan first saw the white-walled rooms of this 1,758-square-foot townhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., it was like flipping through the blank pages of a book waiting for a story to fill them. Then, after meeting the young owner and her mother (who would be a guiding light for design decisions), Ruchi knew immediately it was a story she wanted to write.

The townhouse has three levels (kitchen and dining on the first, two bedrooms and a living room on the second and another bedroom and terrace on the third). The owner, an artist studying to be an art therapist, loves literature, collects comic books and is a big fan of Greek and Roman mythology and Broadway plays (her favorite is Hadestown, a retelling of the Greek tragedy Orpheus and Eurydice). She shares the townhouse with two girlfriends, marking Ruchi’s first time designing for roommates. The biggest challenge? Fitting all that life and personality into one home. “There’s so much going on in each of their lives,” says Ruchi. “They’re all into art, literature, movies and books.”

Keep scrolling for a tour of this personality-packed home!

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Designer Lisa Kooistra recently gave her client’s dated home in South Burlington, Ontario, a sustainable makeover. Lisa explains how you to make the switch to sustainable design in five decorating categories and advises choosing low VOC paint, LED lighting, and locally sourced furniture. Lisa sourced bedding that won’t give off gas chemicals, recyclable materials like wallpaper and concrete sinks, and nature-derived products like lime wash paint and natural clay tiles. Get all of her tips and tour her client’s healthy, happy home here!

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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.

Scroll down to step into this lively condo!

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