A Private Tour of Edmonton's Best 1100 Square Feet

Decorating smaller spaces can often feel like an exercise in deprivation. Want a laundry room? You can have a closet. A dining room? Nope, eat at the bar.

We recently completed a condo renovation in downtown Edmonton that flips the whole deprivation narrative on its head. With smart design and intelligent use of space, this 1100-square-foot condo has room for luxuries! Here's a private tour, along with some need-to-know decorating tips for small spaces.

USE BIGGER, MULTI-FUNCTIONAL PIECES

One counter intuitive thought is that larger pieces can actually make a small room feel bigger. The living room shown here is only about 200 square feet, but look how it fits a full-length couch, an armchair, a long coffee table, a bookcase, extra lighting, and an 8 x 10 area rug.

And below is the before picture; would you have guessed beforehand that all that stuff would fit? And look at that coffee table: it's not only a beautiful, substantial piece, but also a generously sized extra storage drawer.

CREATE DEPTH WITH COLOUR

It's tempting to stick with white walls in smaller spaces like condos or powder rooms, but you can actually create the illusion of space, intrigue, and depth by using darker colours. In this condo, we used Benjamin Moore's Metropolis alongside its more neutral partner, Revere Pewter, and we just love how it adds an element of unexpected interest. (It also gave us a colour to coordinate the new back splash and accent frames too!)

YES, YOU CAN HAVE A DINING ROOM!

Before they called us, our clients were having a really hard time making the most of their dining area. The table options they found were too big and awkward for the space they had, but it was important to them to have a dedicated place for enjoying meals and entertaining friends.

In the end, this new table was just right! It's the perfect size and dimension, and by adding interesting lighting and textures, we took this space from empty and undersized to simply flawless.

GOOD WINDOW COVERINGS WILL KEEP YOU COMFORTABLE

High-rise condos are prone to over-heating, so investing in good drapery will help you stay comfortable and enjoy your view. Do we know where you can get some? So glad you asked! We have access to some of the best suppliers in the city, and we can custom order drapery for any space (small or large). For this condo, we kept the look muted and modern organic, which is perfectly on trend for 2016.

MAKE ROOM FOR FUN

Multi-functional doesn't have to mean strictly utilitarian. We painted a chalkboard wall wine rack just off the kitchen, and it is both a space saver and a place for our clients' personalities and interests to shine.