Preppy Pied-à-Terre

Romina wanted her Montreal apartment to be a celebration of whimsical colour and one-of-a-kind furnishings. So, while she kept its white walls and wood floors intact, every stick of furniture, yard of fabric and accessory she brought in tells the story of her life. Rooms are filled with pieces — many inherited over decades; others discovered at favourite design industry haunts — ranging from a Canadiana pine washstand to Chippendale bamboo armchairs to a retro brass coffee table. She quickly transformed the tiny kitchen by adding a stretch of open restaurant shelving, a contemporary contrast to existing panel-front cabinets. The pièce de résistance is the living room’s gallery walls. Romina artfully framed and hung her robust collection of works, juxtaposing eras and media, and tying everything together with an overarching palette of greens and blues.