How Ashley Hicks magically transformed his rental apartment

Low ceilings, beige wall-to-wall carpet, plain doors, ugly windows, a grim kitchen....living in a rental isn't easy but designer Ashley Hicks certainly worked magic with his rental apartment. Graphic paint treatment on the walls, a photo transparency covering an ugly window, upholstery nails fancying up doors, paint details on cheap linen roller blinds, pendant lights made from copper and black paint, a handmade screen using a map of London to hide another ugly window, red vinyl and striped webbing used to spruce up a hallway, and the list goes on. Ashley may have spent a ton of time and energy transforming his apartment and customizing every square inch but the result is incredibly unique and dynamic and clearly well worth it. 

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Collected

collected:

1. brought or placed together; forming an aggregation from various sources:
2. having control; calm

Perhaps an equal share of both. What a beautiful pied-à-terre in New York's Chelsea by Montreal-based Les Ensembliers.

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A 3-room apartment in Stockholm

Keeping things simple on this Friday, the beginning of Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada, otherwise known as May 2-4 weekend (because many cases of 24 beers are consumed on this first holiday of summery weather...I on the other hand may find myself a weekend cocktail to consume copious amounts of). Plus the Ottawa Senators are kicking some Pittsburgh ass in the Stanley Cup playoffs so much partying will be had around here. And exciting stuff continues as husband and I are meeting with a designer from Lyndsay Landscape Saturday to do some planning for our horrendously embarrassing gravel pit of a front yard (we live on a very busy street and I die a slow death every day my yard looks this awful). Starting things off with some soothing eye candy in the form of this 3-room apartment currently for sale in Östermalm, Stockholm via Lagerlings. Loving the neutral colour palette and those furry dining chairs!  

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Mid-century Parisian chic in Monaco

An apartment in Monaco can only be one thing - STYLISH! This mid-century vibing pad has a Parisian chic vibe that I have come to expect from Monaco-based architectural duo Humbert & Poyet. The lighting throughout this space is fantastic - especially that spunik light over the dining table. WOWZERS!!!

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A small minimalist apartment in Bucharest

Architect and interior designer Alex Calin sent in this project of a small, Nordic-inspired minimalist apartment that I wanted to share: The studio has about 40 sqm and it is located downtown Bucharest, in a building located near the Cismigiu park, in a historical city center. By the time we started the project, nobody had made changes or improvements of any kind from the date of commissioning of the use, somewhere in the mid 60s. The significant changes were losing the balcony and inserting it into living space. This is how a little space for conversation and a work area appeared and at the same time this has increased glass surface adding up extra light. One of the former windows has got a bookshelf open on both sides that filters light in the sleeping area and delineates pleasantly the interior space. The furnishings are in shades of white, with small touches of oak and dotted here and there by a few spots black. The minimal furniture has a touch of nordic inspiration. All the furniture was designed and executed together with partners from Mobilaunicat.ro and is made to completely cover the minimal needs posed by such a space. The owner has a passion for film and music (he works in the creative industry) so the walls are decorated with black and white portraits of several iconic characters (Tilda Swinton, David Bowie, Grace Jones and Patti Smith).