Interior: Urban renovation

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Vases, throws and pillows are an easy way to add a hit of colour without commitment.

The rich jatoba flooring runs in the same direction throughout the house, giving the space a cozy, cohesive feeling. Glass on two walls opens up sightlines to the garden – landscaped by architect Alan Tregebov – creating the illusion of more space.

Q: Having gone through a long renovation, what did you learn?
Homeowner: Most people begin an architectural or design project by creating an inspiration folder of images they love, but we also put together a folder of things we just hated, that we didn’t ever want to see in our house. It saved us a lot of time and grief. We also realized that bigger is not always better. We set out looking for a 3,000-square-foot-plus house and ended up with only 2,400 square feet. But by having less square footage, we were able to put more money into the finishes, which I think really makes the house special.