This apartment marks a new chapter for Lauren and Tom. Their previous apartments were furnished with gems from major thrifting sessions. Now Lauren, a graduate student, and Tom, a lawyer, are two months away from getting married. Between long hours of work and study, they decided they don’t have enough time for vintage hunts, and discovered that it’s possible to furnish a flat on a reasonable budget.

How would you describe your apartment?

Tom: It’s a mix of modern and slightly industrial with the exposed concrete ceilings. It’s also a little bit minimalist.

Lauren: It’s an adult funhouse. It looks like a playground with the primary colours, like kids have, and playboys, like adults have. It’s just fun.

What was your vision or inspiration?

Lauren: I was actually taking an art history class when we first moved in here. One of the buildings I had to study was a Mondrian, and this building is called the Mondrian. In my readings, they were talking about how all of his design inspirations had to do with clean lines and primary colours, which is why I picked the chairs out in different colours. Then after that we knew we wanted to do the Playboy wall, and everything followed that. We just did what worked with the wall.

What’s your favourite element? Is it the Playboy wall?

Lauren: My favourite thing in the apartment is actually the mural in the bedroom. I really love it because it feels like it’s especially for us and it was done by a local artist (Robbie Lariviere, Owner of Fall Down Gallery). I also really like the desk, which was a great find. It’s the only old timey piece, but it seems to work.

Tom: My favourite’s probably the Playboy wall. I like the desk as well. It’s usually really hard to get an older piece to work in a newer apartment. I also really like the sliding doors, and how that adds to the industrial feel. But it also means the cat can get into every room, which is annoying.

Why a playboy wall?

Tom: We had a similar wall at our previous apartment but with comic books, Gen 13, but Lauren thought it was a little too frat house. So we retired the comic books and Lauren came up with using Playboys.

Lauren: We looked online to see which years were our favourite and we settled on 1973-74. I really loved the Andy Warhol cover and there were a couple others we really liked. Since then we got a few more years off eBay and have switched it up a bit.

Let’s talk furniture. Where did you find these pieces and what are your go to spots?

Lauren: We only really shopped at three places, which makes it easy: The Modern Shop, elevenfiftyfour, and IKEA. We got big pieces like the couches at IKEA, but we mixed it with slightly more expensive pieces, which detracts from the IKEA look. Then we got a couple pieces from west elm. The Modern Shop is really nice and well priced. Except the coffee table was a little expensive. I never told you that, Tom, so I’m telling you now…

What was your biggest indulgence in the apartment?

Tom: Apparently, it’s the coffee table. I’ve always liked it though.

What kinds of feedback have you been getting from visitors?

Tom: Our friends seem to really like it. Older people don’t really get it. They ask us why no one finished the ceiling and why we’d live in a small place downtown when we could live in the suburbs instead.

You have a lot of unique elements, what would be your advice to someone trying to spice up their place?

Tom: Find someone who has a good sense of style. I have no sense of design, so I just defer to Lauren. Find someone who is good at design and get help. It’s way better than wandering around Home Sense and buying a bunch of random shit.

Lauren: One of my favourite things here is the statue on the balcony that we actually found in the condo’s garbage room, so don’t discount the dumpster room. I guess what’s really key is you don’t need to spend a lot of money on furniture. Get your bigger pieces from somewhere more affordable, and accentuate it with something unique. Don’t worry about matching too much, because then it becomes really difficult to find pieces that are in your price range and fit your apartment. Typically if you buy things you like, they’ll end up going together because they’ll just fit into your overall home style.

What’s your favourite DIY project?

Lauren: My most recent one, which are the wedding invitations.

Tom: The Playboy wall.

The secret to Beth and Nelson’s style can be found in their love of old things. When the couple moved into their new digs on Somerset Street, they filled the airy rooms of their old-fashioned apartment with thrift store finds and antiques. The result is a homey mix of nicknacks, art and even the occasional piece of taxidermy that manages to showcase their various collections without feeling cluttered.

What is your decorating inspiration?

I think it’s all based on things that we’ve accumulated over time. I don’t know if it’s a design style necessarily because I kind of like things that tell a story. Old things, of course. You’ll notice that when you walk about the home it doesn’t seem to have any logic, every room seems to have a different story. This comes from an enjoyment of going to flea markets and rummage sales.

What is your favourite DIY project?

We re-upholstered some chairs and we refinished the dinning room table. There’s a lot of stuff we had that just required small fixes, although the plan is to do some major stuff like built-in bookshelf.

What has been your biggest indulgence?

The stuffed pheasant maybe. We have some grand ideas, and the pheasant is the start of one idea. We want to have more taxidermy, but it’s hard to find. I think it would be nice to have a baboon or a stand alone piece.

What’s your greatest decorating challenge?

We run the risk of transforming our hour into a museum, and that’s not necessarily the most comfortable thing. The problem for Beth, especially, is that she has a problem with collecting things. She’ll collect things like glass bottles, and as a result the house is constantly growing and evolving. This is a big space, but we might just out grow it with stuff. Also, finding places to put new art on the walls. There are some things that we refuse to surrender, and that’s a problem.

What is your best piece of decorating advice?

I think this house was born out of a love of thrifting. I have friends who fear going into a charity shop because they don’t know what they are looking for. I think it’s worthwhile, rather than going to a big box store, just to rent a car and go to an estate sale and make a day trip out of it. You’ll enjoy decorating more when you are proud of whatever it is you’ve acquired. Don’t be afraid of buying something that needs a little work. I think a lot of people who go buy used things out of a fear that what they will buy will be broken, but usually it’s not difficult to fix.

Another tip is to start small. For example, our kitchen was kind of inspired by a birthday gift I received from a girlfriend: three bright teal canisters. Decorating can be like putting on an outfit, it can start with something small like bracelet and evolve from there.

For Sarah and Gregg, the arrival of baby Martha was, among other things, a decorating call to arms. The pregnancy gave the couple a strong incentive to transform their Centretown rowhouse from a party zone into a more family-oriented space. Rather than hire contractors to do the work or shop the big box stores, the couple took on almost all the tasks involved in renovating their house by themselves or with friends. A year’s worth of DIY projects later, the two have managed to create a home that is the perfect place to entertain friends or kick back with their new bundle of joy.

A key to their eccentric look is the clever use of reclaimed/recycled items – including a wrought iron bed frame found in a forest and kitchen stools from an old diner – that give the space its unique character. Having artists and artisans for friends didn’t hurt, especially when they were willing to trade their skills for a little BBQ and beer. The house is proof that with a time and talent it is possible to create a beautiful and unique space without shelling out the big bucks.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

What was the inspiration for your home?

Our style used to be bohemian, a lot of antiques, and then we started getting into more austere, minimalist design. I think we’ve ended up jamming those two things together in kind of a weird way. The furniture is mostly mid-century modern, but we also incorporated all kinds of homemade and handmade items. So all together it’s kind of a “recovering bohemian” style.

What is your favorite room?

If you were to ask me this question before Martha, it would have been the lounge area for sure. But now I think it’s the upstairs playroom/office/library/exercise space. The ‘new’ room… although maybe I just like it because it’s new.

What DIY project are you most proud of?

A lot of the work was either done by ourselves or by friends of ours. We’re lucky that we have a lot of friends who are artists, photographers, upholsterers, furniture makers. We have a whole community of people who are really into custom, handmade items in different areas. The fine woodworking was done by our friend Vince Coccagna. I helped him to build the dining table and bar top, and he made the custom birch built-in bookshelves and desk in the playroom/office. His craftsmanship is amazing. Most of the original art is by Thrush Holmes and Joshua Jensen-Nagle. Our custom upholstered headboard is by Jennifer Vedder at Antweaked Upholstery.

My favorite project is probably the kitchen island, because everything that’s involved here is reclaimed and then restored and built here at home. I restored the 100 year old hammered tin ceiling tiles. The hand rail came out of an old mansion. The stools came from a diner, and then we had new foot rests welded and made new seats. I designed the unique colour blend and installed the mosaic tile. In the whole project, nothing came out of a store. Most of the house is like that, constructed from reclaimed and repurposed items.

What was your biggest indulgence?

The Monte glider, the fancy nursing chair for mom. Almost everything we got for baby was hunting around on kijiji and fixing up and repainting something, but we were like ‘let’s just buy this chair’. We absolutely could have got a different chair for way cheaper, but we just wanted to buy this one. (Sarah’s special gift for carrying Martha for 9 months.)

What was your biggest challenge in pulling the house together?

Doing all the work onsite was an interesting challenge. Our basement was a full, functioning workshop. All of the milling, all of the fabrication was all done in house. We had sawdust an inch thick… and no matter how much you guard against it the dust gets everywhere. Trying to keep things clean and organized – we have three cats too – and on track with the clock ticking the whole time was difficult at times, especially when your friends are volunteering their time (or giving you such a great deal that it feels like volunteering!).

What do your friends say about your place?

One of the most interesting comments that we got was from a friend/colleague who stepped into our place for the first time and said “whoa, you don’t have kids.” Our house up until recently was known as the house of young party people, it was not known as a family house, so we are trying to change that. We are proving to people that you can raise a family downtown in a small row house and you don’t have to move to Barrhaven.

Best decorating advice?

Live in your space for a while before you start changing things. We would have done things a lot different if we had done things right away. Don’t be afraid to combine your old, homey bohemian bric-a-brac with contemporary high design items that don’t seem to match. Eclectic is a bona fide style, and it works. I don’t like things that are too matchy matchy, so I would discourage that. Also, you can do more design and decorating yourself than most people think. There is no cause for so much big box shopping. There are so many things that you can salvage or make, so you can find the element you’re missing – the light fixture, the planter box, the table legs – without going out and buying something new.

If you would like your place to be featured on Apartment Crush, let us know at apartment613@gmail.com

Photos by Trevor Pritchard and Diane Bond

Describe your style in three words.

Cozy. Pre-loved. Salvaged.

Where do you get your inspiration?

A lot of of my inspiration comes from the apartment itself. There’s beautiful character within the history and bones of this place – from the moldings on the ceilings, to the stained glass windows, and the fireplace… I try to design and select furniture, art, and decor that fit with the space. It’s not just about decoration, though – the spaces and furniture need to be functional as well. My living room doubles as my workspace and the two need to work together, both practically and visually.

What’s your favorite element of your apartment?

I love how comfortable I feel in my place – it feels like home even though I rent. It’s taken awhile for me to figure it all out – and some things, like art work, change frequently. I’ve been here for a little over two years and am finally starting to feel settled in.

The kitchen is a fun space, too. The exposed shelving and bright, natural light are great features.

What’s your biggest challenge about this apartment?

No closets! There is very little extra storage, which forces me to think creatively about how I organize my things. It also makes me go through my stuff on a regular basis to purge or give away what I don’t use.

What do your friends say about your apartment?

“You’ve managed to incorporate your whole artistic style into your living space in a really tasteful way.”

“Something old and something older, fashioned into something unique and new. Functional objects abound, but their details afford new discoveries.”

What’s your proudest DIY project?

I have two:

The kitchen table was the first piece of furniture I ever restored – I found it on the side of a street in Sandy Hill about ten years ago. There was nothing wrong with it, except for a broken hinge. I learned how to strip, scrape, sand down the wood to get it to a finish that I liked, which actually wasn’t very deep. I love the history of the marks on the surface of the wood and thought it would be a shame to erase it all.

The second piece is the bookshelf that my dad helped me make. I bought the wood from a guy in town who buys the end of estate sale lots (all of the old Mason and Blue Ribbon jars in my kitchen came from him too). I used Pink Martini’s website for inspiration for the design and we built it to fit the space beside the fireplace. I’m really happy with how it turned out.

What’s was your biggest indulgence?

I don’t spend very much, to be honest. Most of my furniture came from relatives or was found, like the table, on the side of the road. Other stuff comes from garage or estate sales. I’m pretty frugal, actually, and I love to barter!

I guess my most expensive purchase was a piece by Amy Thompson (the drawing of the bird on the library index card). I really love her work.

What is your best advice on apartment living?

Give yourself time to get to know your place, to really settle in and make the space(s) work for you. No matter how much room we have, we tend to fill it up, and it’s good to step back every once in awhile and reassess what we actually need in order to live comfortably. Do I want an extra room or two (or maybe just one closet)? Absolutely. Do I need them in order to be happy or comfortable? Not at all.

In this edition of Apartment Crush, I visited Michel Lacroix, an Ottawan bachelor who rents an apartment nestled on a quiet street in between the Glebe and Centretown.

At first glance, what I admired most about this boy’s apartment was how he separates his professional life from his real life. As a part-time professor for the School of Media and Design at Algonquin College and part of a freelance studio, there is not one computer gadget in sight. Instead, he has garnished his apartment in a way that deeply reflects the roots of his natural core with Aboriginal art, indigenous plants, healthy foods, bundles of sage, an unbelievable collection of fashionable kicks, organic soap and two cats, to list the least.

As a stellar b-boy and a big supporter of the arts in the Nation’s Capital, after hours, Lacroix shared an interesting vision of what Aboriginal art can further teach Ottawa and gave some liberating, apropos male advice on how folks should make a home out of a small apartment.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Describe your style in three words.

Natural. Majestic. Rad.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from where I am in my life. For instance, my apartment 10 years ago was more of a punk-raw skateboard-den. Now it’s kind of a cultural, colourful space that is more organized and chill.

What’s your favorite element of your apartment?

I like that it is small because I don’t need much. The apartment feels like a tree house!

What’s your biggest challenge about this apartment?

The price. I don’t own it, so it’s difficult to accept.

What do your friends say about your apartment?

People enjoy staying a while here…they say it is like a collage. There are various little collection of things: lots of instruments, blank canvases, books, teas, coffees, incense, VHS tapes, etc.

What’s your proudest DIY project?

Sewing my own drapes.

What’s was your biggest indulgence?

My ongoing collection of VHS tapes. I spent $300 on VHS tapes over Christmas.

What is your best advice on apartment living?

Make your place cozy and have fun where you live. Put a hammock over your bed. Buy a projector and aim it at your ceiling. Buy plants, have food fights and make sure there is enough space to dance!

What are your favorite spots in the Glebe?

The Glebe is clean and the houses have character, built with love. I don’t have any favorite hangouts though because there is nothing much here, except the street to skateboard on. What’s missing is a quality jazz joint.

I notice a lot of Aboriginal art in your apartment. What can Aboriginal art further teach Ottawa?

From my point of view, its simplicity and link to nature helps me be clearly spiritual in a simple way. Ottawa is the capital of Canada, so to speak on behalf of Canada, we can be leading in terms of a country that is the most harmonious. We have the freshest water, vast land, not many predators, green trees, winter kills a lot of disease, which keeps us strong. We could be the country that is starting trends to free possibilities and take care of each other!

Take a peak into the apartments and homes of Ottawa with Apartment Crush. Post and pictures by Nimali Ramanayake. If you would like us to feature your place in Apartment Crush, let us know by emailing apartment613@gmail.com

original paintings by her grandfather and late uncle decorate her walls; a large stash of tourist floaty pens organized by location proudly sit on a beautiful wooden cottage desk; and all of her belongings have a place of their own.

After a few glasses of Australian red and some tasty snacks, Jennifer shared with me the secret of eliminating clutter from your mind and your home: Feng Shui. She incorporated an adapted, modern Feng Shui system into her life years ago with help of a friend, which involved following a special chart that correlates different areas of your life to different places in your house. For example, in one area of her apartment there is a knowledge corner, an improvement corner, a career corner, a relationship corner, etc. Adopting the Feng Shui system into her life allowed Jennifer to feed positive energy and thought into the things she wants in life, which soon led her to getting a raise at work and finding a sweet boyfriend.

Now that you have the secret, perhaps you’ll notice the strong connection between Jennifer and her warm, colourful home.

Apt613: What’s the history of this apartment?

Jennifer: What I do know is that there is a sign on the top of this building that says 1925, so I’m guessing that’s when the building was constructed. I always thought this building was built for apartments, but I have recently realized there are funny angles and strange nooks, making me think this place was originally a house converted into apartments.

Apt613: What are your favorite places in the neighborhood?

Jennifer: I’m very spoiled… The Fraser Café is a block away, their brunches are excellent; two blocks from my front door is the Scone Witch; and right next door to that is a bookstore I love called Books on Beechwood. It’s a great neighborhood bookstore that is independently run with very friendly staff.

Apt 613: Which room is your favorite?

Jennifer: The kitchen is my favorite room, because I love the exciting culinary adventures you can get up to in there, the creation, the warmth of the food, and overall necessity that comes out of the kitchen.

Apt613: What your best advice for creating a personalized space?

Jennifer: Surrounding yourself with things that make you feel happy and comfortable is the way to do it. People get hung up if things are not designer or if it’s not the latest trend. Most of my belongings are from St. Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army, so there is a lot you can do with some imagination and cleaning out corners.

Apt613: What are the downfalls to this place?

Jennifer: The downfalls of this place are the details that come with old homes, such as drafts through windows in the wintertime, small closets and old toilets.

Post and pictures by Nimali Ramanayake. If you would like us to feature your place in Apartment Crush, let us know by emailing apartment613@gmail.com

Apt613: What’s your favorite room?

Emma-Leigh: The living room and dining room are without a doubt my favorite rooms, because all of my favorite treasures are in there. From my ongoing ceramic owl collection, artwork from my travels to Asia, photographs I developed, and my most newly prized possession, original Bertoia chairs straight from Chicago…

Jared: The office would have to be my favorite room, because that’s where all my stuff is, it’s very narrow, small and cozy, and you can shut the door. The exposed brick wall is a very nice element too. It’s the old exterior of the house.

Apt613: Could you tell us a bit of the history behind this house?

Both: This house is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! The kitchen was added in the 1930′s and this entire house was divided into apartments back then, because of the high demand for affordable houses. It was at a point in history where a single family couldn’t afford to live in a house this size, so it was divided. Each apartment in this building has its own character and there are three apartments in total.

Apt613: What’s your decoration inspiration

Both: Traveling to Chicago has become an annual tradition and, as we have become more and more interested in design and architecture, my cousin who is an architect in Chicago has become someone I look up to. Whenever we go visit, we usually get treated to an interesting tour of architecture in Chicago or get an inside scoop of an old building that I’ve always wanted to see inside. It’s intriguing and definitely inspires us.

Apt613: What can Chicago teach Ottawa?

Both: The condos that are being built in Chicago have a certain look that I wish more condos had in Ottawa. They’ve nailed a look that has preserved old buildings and made them into a new living space. One of the classic elements of condos in Chicago are their balconies. Massive chains that give a cool, industrial look, secure these balconies. I wish we could see more of that, here.

Apt613: What your best advice for creating a personalized space?

Emma-Leigh: Follow your gut and somehow it will come together in a cohesive way. When I come home on a weekly basis with a new collection like a new owl, new milk glass or piece of pottery, it slowly makes this place the home I want it to be. As you start bringing stuff in that you truly care about, it’s important to keep in mind that purging old stuff you bought before you knew what you wanted is very important.

Jared: Trust your wife and everything will work out fine.

The house itself: it’s bright and sunny during the day, old and full of character, small enough to be low-maintenance and isn’t cookie-cutter in appearance. It’s got all sorts of interesting architectural features like a vestibule, a nook in the master bedroom and sloped ceilings on the upper level. Original hardwood floors throughout, and lots of windows. We’ve turned it into a home that is representative of who we are.

What, if anything, do you dislike about your place: No complaints generally – the only things we can think of are the lack of space/plumbing in the kitchen for a dishwasher and the lack of a laundry tub in the basement. Oh, and the small closets. But we are really stretching it here!!

Best DIY Project: A headboard for the master bedroom out of old shutters/louvered doors from ReStore.

Biggest indulgence in your place: A small indulgence? A fridge and cupboards full of fine cheeses, chutneys, breads and crackers, ready to be served to guests at a moment’s notice. Our biggest? Living in New Edinburgh.

Biggest challenge: We adore our place, and do like the size of the house when comes time to clean it. However, if anything, the size of the dining room is sometimes challenging. We like to host friends and family for dinner and fitting more than four people requires some creative thinking and strategic seating arrangements.

Best compliment you have ever received about your place: That it feels veLory warm and welcoming. Most people say this about our home when they first visit. This makes us happy

Big THANK YOU to Mélanie & Steven!!!

To get your place featured on Apartment Crush, please contact Dominic and Nancy at apartmentcrush@gmail.com

Post by Dominic and Nancy

What don’t you love about your apartment: No private outdoor space. Also whenever the Sens make the playoffs or its Canada Day, it’s like trying to sleep in a stadium. A tragically small kitchen, but I (Mandi) got over it quick as I have the bakery to play in for big jobs.

Best DIY Project: We don’t really have one. We left the walls white because we liked it.

Biggest indulgence in your apartment: Sculpture (“Hunter”) from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut (the one on the mantle of the fireplace).

Biggest challenge: Finding modern pieces to fit with the antique style. (Couch from EQ3 was a perfect fit- one of the only ones we could find so far).

Best compliment (or insult) you have ever received about your place: Compliment! “If the walls and furniture were black and green, it would look like Granny’s apartment” (referring to the Tweety Bird cartoons on Looney Tunes).

Extras: We started collecting the antique furniture the first few years we were together, really investing in nice pieces. It took us years to find it all. Most of our art is from Nunavut, and is due to Chris’ travels as a photojournalist.

The name of your adorable cat: Emma Loo.

What was the name of the delicious whiskey we sipped? Sortilege- it’s my favorite maple infused whiskey from QC- you can’t get it on the Ontario side.

Try out some of Auntie Loo’s super delicious treats this Sunday, May 8th, at the PunkOttawa.com Flea Market being held at the Bronson Centre in Mac Hall. To get your place featured on Apartment Crush, please contact Dominic and Nancy at apartmentcrush@gmail.com

Post by Dominic and Nancy

A big THANK YOU to Adam for letting us invade his space! To get your place featured on Apartment Crush, please contact Dominic and Nancy at apartmentcrush@gmail.com

You can check out his personal website here .