I was reluctant to share this, because as designers we have this expectation of living in this beautifully crafted space, and this isn’t my forever space. although this is just my temporary space for now. I can’t wait to fully design and customize my own home one day. As always thanks for watching 🥰 it’s all of you that will allow that to come true
A LOT of us have the same exact design issues…talking about the dog bed, space, ugly grey floors etc…you’ve overcome those and I believe that investing in yourself is an awesome idea…you can buy your own condo soon enough…just keep churning out those beautiful designs for your clients and keep your fans posted…I can’t wait to meet you on my next trip to NYC..I’m not a creepy killer either…(I actually asked for this video a long time ago) thanks
I love this. It’s well appointed, manageable for what you need now, super smart, and you’re not spending ridiculous amounts of money just to say that you did - but the real inspiration is that you decided to invest in yourself first. No way will you regret any of that. You’re building your empire.
I feel the same as an artist. I have filled other peoples homes with my artwork and photos but have almost none of my work in my home. Your space is awesome though. Can’t wait to see your new place when the time comes.
Sometimes we need to accept our current reality. And that’s ok. Living in places like this makes us understand better challenges of space and design and also to improve them and appreciate better spaces when we finally have them in the future🙏🏻💖 thanks for sharing ❤
When you keep apologizing for your space (I know it's a very Canadian thing to do but still lol) it diminishes from the hard work you did to make the space your own! You have a really beautiful home and really looking forward your journey and seeing how you use all those pieces in your future space :)
You’re doing it right though. Taking care of your business, IS taking care of yourself. Success will bring the finer things in life, and your path looks massively promising. Keep up the good work, and don’t waste your time on embarrassment. Stepping stones are your friend, Phoenix! ❤
I am so proud of how brave you are to let us into your private and personal space. It shows that you are genuine, and actually use/live in your space. No pretence ❤
We don’t expect you to be fake perfect/unattainably rich, etc. We watch you because you keep it real for normal people with good taste. Most of us don’t have a budget that matches our creative imagination. Thanks for being vulnerable. 👏🏾😎
I think your space is warm, inviting, cozy and functional! I love how you utilized the space without it appearing crowded. I have learned so much from you and your sense of humor keeps me smiling. Thanks for inviting us over!
I never comment but I watch your content all the time. I love the vulnerability and confidence it took for you to post this and share. I think it’s so important that people see realistic spaces. I think you’ve done a great job with applying design elements and principles in conjunction with your style. Our style evolves over time and also Home takes time whether it’s temporary or permanent so thanks for sharing! Not disappointed with it at all! Not that my opinion matters lol ultimately it’s about you and how you feel in your space.
It’s refreshing to see this so thank you for sharing! A realistic space that you’ve made beautiful, despite the limitations. Love you and your content! ❤
That means a lot thank you so much. I was very much against sharing my space 😅 a stepping stone for now, but this is what I was able to do in the meantime
I can relate! I'm a Professional Organizer (of 23 years) and our 1000 sq ft condo is fuller than I'd like it to be. I can list a hundred Organizers who are more minimal than I am. I have an abundance of jeans, shoes, protein powders, vases, etc. and my husband and I practically hoard outerwear. (I even keep some at my mom's.) People love seeing "real" homes. BTW, your "real" is quite beautiful. You ARE walking the walk. Thank you for this! You have nothing to apologize for.
i'm late to the party, but what are you even talking about? Your box in the sky is awesome, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. i can't be the only one who's happy you shared this with us 😊
I laughed really hard at that one! Aside from the comical break it’s really interesting to see a creative “make do”, which most people would think was a magazine feature. It’s humble and therefore relatable and something I can use toward my own rental home. In Europe a rental arrangement gets more respect it’s a lifelong contract. I love,love, the invisible design, the fabulous scents. I adore a walk in Gastown passing by Aesop and stepping in…
You were apprehensive about something you needn't be. You let us in, showed us your beautiful home and we are very appreciative. I love all the textures and colors you used~ fabulous. What is the old saying; Brave is being fearful and doing the thing anyway...? Much respect, Design Daddy ♥
I am so appreciative of you sharing your space. I loved seeing real life solutions to problems I also have in my apartment. This video lets me see you as a human being and not just an interior designer. Thank you so much for trusting us with your home.
I found this channel when searching for small space design and now need to watch every single episode before continuing. Inspiration that's exactly what I need as I downsize! 🥰
I think this is wonderfully inspiring when so many of us are renters or new home owners trying to deal with features and elements in our space that we hate! Thanks for sharing!
You've proven with this video that the "flaws* in contractor builds and flipper grey abodes can be worked around and even celebrated by layers and redirections. Too many show only perfect set ups instead of the cookie cutter base options we rent or settle for buying. You're a design genius to take the mundane and transform it to subline. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I predict that you just connected with so many more people by sharing what a real home looks like and how you apply your talent to that oh so relatable space. I was fortunate enough to be able to build a home in the burbs a few years ago so I have a little more space , but once you commit so much of your income to that space there is not a lot for expense decor, but I like your style, use of finishes and small details. I love my backsplash, but I also love that I've broken it up with a combination of layered cutting boards just as you showed. And yes honey, do keep the tissues and lotion out of sight. 🤭
I LOVE that it's colorful! So many have these all white or mostly white canvases and I'm so over it. Not even a white sofa - go you! Just because ya have to live in a builder grade bore, does NOT mean it needs to look like one! You can decorate the boring out of the space with some color and style. Well done!
Loved that this was so real. Sometimes it feels like the house tours you see on youtube are so out of reach for ordinary ppl. Most of us are lucky if we can have one piece of high end furniture piece never mind a houseful of designer brands or custom pieces. You manage to make something so elegant thats still doable on a budget. Beautiful work!
Thank you for showing your space. It is great and I love that you were forced to innovate since it isn't huge. I really get sick of videos that look like mansions. They're everywhere. We need more designers like you with creative/innovative minds and solutions to small space problems and problems like how to deal with pets, etc. Most of the time I think designers pretend they don't exist or just edit them out! Who wants a world without dogs? Love that metal artwork too!
You know what, I love real people, real home, real things and probably this real life living is my favorite video in your channel. Congrats and thank you for share with us your personal place, by the way I LOVE IT. 👋👋👋👋
Mr. grey, thank you for keeping it real. This is real life interior design. This is a job well done for real life clients. And I admire how consistent you are between your videos and your own space. Kudos
Love that you have so much gratitude. Appreciate your humbleness to show your space. It is good for us to have you show us how your real life translates to your insight. This drives it home why you are so good - you know how to prioritize.
I love your space! You show that for anyone renting, or with limited funds, you are still able to give your space personality with other design elements.
understand your reluctance to share T.O. condo rental reality but kudos for being open and authentic - it does endear you to us .... especially prioritizing dog over design! YES! ( and yes, loved the IKEA ad reference)
I'm renting as well and my landlord allows me to do what ever I want to the apartment and I did so much to improve the place and make it more my style. I'm painted the walls, changed door handles and even added new light bulbs because the apartment was built in the 70's really needed to be fixed. I know people say "Don't change anything, it not your place and you're just waiting money" but fixing things (that doesn't break the bank) and adding your own personal touches just makes the place feel more livable.
I'm a huge fan! It's not embarrassing at all. You shared so many useful tricks that we all could use, especially in limited spaces. All the items you chose have amazing tastes and are very Design Daddy. And I can clearly visualize you will own your all customized dream house one day very soon, as you are certainly climbing the ladder of success. Thank you for sharing!
I loved this 1. A light bulb moment occurred when you mentioned using an upper cabinet as storage. I was able to find diy blogs that use this idea to construct built-ins. and for the next hour, I was on the Ikea and other big box sites viewing upper cabinets. 2. I loved the pendents in your kitchen and bedroom, and I was able to find something similar 3. The way that you were able to partition the storage cabinet to organize your items was brilliant. I will utilize that idea 4. no part of your living space was wasted 5. So many design youtubers showcase extravagant , expensive and flamboyant and expansive design ideas, that don't represent the builder-grade homes that we all live in. I appreciate your practicality and commonsense that you express in all of your videos.
I think your space is great looking. I love the dark green, dark blue and black as well as your art pieces. It makes the space look welcoming and very liveable.
Your home looks amazing and very stylish! You have the special touch! Have you ever thought of doing something with the dog crate. We put wood on top of ours! we just have dog beds on top with stairs for an extra sitting area to look out window, they love it for some reason. But im sure you could think of something better!!
Phoenix, your home is amazing and we can really feel the passion and the love you had to make you apartment your very own space. I know the struggle of shoebox city units because I live in Paris and i lived for 7 years in a 23mt2 apartment where everything was lumped and with a grey and bordeaux lacquered kitchen ( i know... don't ask...) I hope your businesses can grow and grow stronger and you can have the house you desire and deserve for all the hard work you do everyday! P.S. Your bag collection is ❤
Thank you so much for sharing this real and realistic video. I live in a condo less than 600sqft with a toddler. I struggle to find space for our day day. The idea to have the sofa on rollers is game changer…I have been complaining about not having a space to work for months/years. I will implement this pronto. Thank you so much for letting us into your personal space❤❤❤!
HEY! I love that you live in a relatable space! You have given me so many great ideas for my tiny--I mean COSY!--space! Thank you! Thanks also for validating my bed pillow adoration.
It's beautiful love! You are just starting, never be embarrassed for what you have, you have acheived so much! The most impressive thing to me is the ability to delay the immediate gratification of buying to build something long term. Takes a ton of character that seems quite rare lately. Lot's of love from a TX farm girl ;)
Thank you for sharing your personal space with everyone. I know it’s not ideal but your sense of style and decorating elevates it to another level and it’s an elegance that would be lacking if you didn’t design this yourself. It showcases all the things you love and recommend. It’s nice to know you do as you say ❤
Your potty mouth just makes me bust a gut at times 😂❤. When you showed that "big ass..." column it bent me over!!! Thanks for being, Oh So Real, and showing how creative one can be in their own spot without breaking the bank. That's smart and intelligent. Been listening to you for some time now. Keep up the great work, as you are truly gifted in interior design!
I Love love love this! Your space is so beautiful, and I have taken away great ideas for my own space. We have similar tastes. Thank you for sharing. And you have a dog! I love it even more!
This video is awesome! With the way housing is going, more and more people are renting with all the limitations that it entails. Seeing how you worked with the negatives in your space is enlightening. I think you’ve done a great job
Dear Phoenix, Thank you for sharing your home tour video!! Your place is sooo lovely and tasteful!!! You're so sweet and cute being shy to share it, but you shouldn't be. You're really talented! I wish you all the best in your business and life ❤️
It's really lovely to see you putting design and personal style in such a limited condition average persons live with everyday. Great work and your home is very insightful to me. Functional, cosy, personal, and thoughtful for guests especially in the bathroom
Apologies?? Au contraire found it totally inspiring and completely relatable since many of us are starting with places we are far from in love with. Major respect for the huevos to keep it a buck & lay it all on the line as you did. You just earned even more street cred DD!!! ❤ You rock bud
Dunno why you are embarrassed. Most of people nowadays, especially younger people, absolutely relate. We cannot afford larger homes, the housing market sucks. It is great to show ideas for our small living spaces like yours. 100 times more useful than showing off those large mansions that are completely irrelevant for the majority of the population. Thanx for sharing some nice ideas.
There’s nothing embarrassing about it. It’s your home for now and it providing you with shelter and a place to live your life and make memories. It’s beautifully put together even with the space constraints. I understand the feeling as we bought an our first home and given the market it’s not what we had in mind but we are grateful given the circumstances. I am trying to figure out what to do with the spaces and layout. If you ever decide to give pointers of your followers homes and spaces I will volunteer!! lol 😊❤ So happy for you and that you invested in yourself 🤍
This makes your designing comments in your video more real. That you too are stuck for a bit in a smaller place and you have still decorated it with style and flair while working around limitations in your ability to change certain aspects. (I agree so much with you, I HATE gray, what is this world now every new place done up in gray, gads, get over it, have people heard of color??) Now, having seen your place, I am more inclined to see your designing advice as useable in real spaces - that it can be utilized in smaller places. I don't have to have a giant 4000 sf house to be able to do that. My apartment can truly benefit from you sharing your space. Thank you for the sharing!
Hey Phoenix. Never be embarrassed of anything you have achieved as this is a bus stop not the end of the journey. It's lovely just like you and your doggle. ❤
Beautiful thank you for sharing! I love how you made the best of your space despite many things not being of your preference. I love the creative ways you made things work, like your couch on rollers, I have never seen that before! AND I LOVE the lil box for your remotes that is too perfect
Just discovered you and have watched about six of your videos in a row. You’re such a lovely guy. I hope your business grows out of control and you buy a massive mid century home and show me how to fix and style everything (on a budget). Best of luck to you from Australia x
Never apologise for your home. It is your home. Even if it is rented. You have done a maximum to make it your own. Regarding buying your home, consider it work in progress. It will happen for you.
Hello and thank you for sharing your home with us! It’s so beautifully decorated and done ! Love the color combination you did there! I truly wish you more success and happiness ❤❤❤
I’m fortunate enough to own my own (700 sq. foot) home only because I bought at close to the bottom of the market in Florida. I’m now, 7 years later, remodeling. You gave me some great ideas. The sofa on rollers - genius. I also love reeded glass and sadly I’m not as OCD as you and I couldn’t do clear glass for upper cabinets and hey presto, you gave me a solution! I could go on and apologies are completely unnecessary - your space is a wonderful example of how we normal humans can approach designer our spaces in ways that look great now and that won’t look dated in 5 years. Thank you. (And thank you for your delicious home critiques of the rich and famous as well as DIY fails - helps us know what to avoid!)❤
Beautifully curated space, light, effortless and containing varied surfaces, textures. Beautiful deep blue and green, and the round reflective artwork is genius- really keeps the space alive.. Wonderful🤩
TY for sharing your home, explaining decor choices! Even homeowners have to live with the major choices the prior homeowner made, so nice to see how you made them work for your personal style
Hey DD, Really enjoyed your from the heart home tour of your Condo. You have totally rocked the small space living style and it looks stylish and cozy and inviting and well thought out. There are plenty of design nuggets in this video to help those who live in condo's or rentals. It's not about size, its about being able to design a truly comfortable, beautiful home wherever you live and with whatever budget you have. Well done and thanks for sharing with your viewers.
Thank you for sharing your home and all your wonderful suggestions for small space living. This may be my favorite of your videos because of the real talk. I also have grey floors and it will be years before I can consider changing them, and it really helps me to see a design influencer living with floors just like mine.
You have done amazing things with this space, following your tried and true designer tips and tricks. I still found a few things (especially lighting) that I am going to hunt for. You shouldn't be ashamed of your space. It's beautiful and comfortable and you definitely have done a lot with what you had to work with. Letting us in to take a peek at how you live takes guts. I cannot wait to see how your future space looks.
As you have said, this is not your forever space but you have done the best you could with what you have and I think you should be proud of what you have accomplished. Your home looks beautiful, welcoming and cozy!!! You decided to invest in yourself and I believe you have made the right choice as your investment is paying off. I really love your down to earth style of talking and your personal likes and dislikes sometimes make me chuckle as I find I agree with a lot of them. Be kind to yourself and keep working your dream!!!!
Hi DD! Thank you for showing your home. Don't be ashamed of the size - that condo unit is considered as "large" in my country. Studio units are around 20 to 24 sqm. In this economy, most ppl are feeling the pinch & have to live small. Btw I'm glad that you didn't have a painting/ artwork above your bed - that's bad feng shui. I know you don't practice FS but for those of us that do, we notice those things. Lol. You decorated your condo unit beautifully. Take care & stay blessed. 💐
Your space is beautiful. You are very skilled. It's not about the space, but what you make of it; and you have succeeded at making a small apartment look very beautiful and functional at the same time. Bravo!
It's nice to see you commenting on famous mansions. But this kind of content is not only more relatable but also potentially more useful for your viewers that don't have millions in the bank. Loved the solutions you've incorporated in your place that are also rent friendly!
How refreshing to see a “designer” home we can all relate to! And re your column … flexible mirror tiles my friend, flexible mirror tiles! Love the light fixture above the bed … but … um … have you or any overnight guests ever been speared in the back? Or anywhere else?? And LOVE the 2 circular art pieces as well as the story of them. This was a great tour, relatable & so many useful tips no matter what your budget! I am going to try to work in the term “seasonal pants” in a conversation at work tomorrow. It has tickled my fancy!
Your home is sooo you ! I love it, you’ve made it perfect despite the things you hate. All your videos explaining why things don’t work is by experience.
Enjoyed the tour. So nice to see someone talk about a small space that is actually a small space. So tired of the 'small kitchens' or living areas that are larger than my entire house (800 sf, 3bd/1b). Really like your entry setup. Gave me ideas. Now that my nest is empty I'm reorganizing using a lot of info I've gleaned from your videos. You do have a beautiful space and nothing to apologize for. Love the metallic wall art.
As a renter, this is very helpful in giving ideas for designing around some features that are less than ideal, but can’t be changed. I too have a gray (and white) kitchen- including the dreaded gray floors and have looked for ideas to warm up the space a bit. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you so much for sharing. We all start somewhere. Your place is very well curated. You also made very good use of the space. And I absolutely adore the blue walls. Honestly, I think the decoration of a small space shows your true talent because everything has to be intentional and serve a purpose.
I love your space and am so glad you shared it. It gives me so much inspiration for my small temporay space. I wish there were more videos showing how we can work with temporary small spaces.
As a fellow Torontonian living in a condo, I can totally relate. But I love the creative challenge of making it work in the space we’re given. Your space looks dope asf! ❤ Also, I’m taking your idea of layering wood in a sterile kitchen.
Wow Phoenix, you shouldn’t be apologizing for your Apt space. You have worked your magic to make it look comfortable and. Functional without looking cluttered which is often seen in small rental units. However, I think you live in Vancouver if not Toronto, where the rental rates are top dollar. I’m sure if you had a nice sizeable deposit, your mortgage payments would be less than your rent. I would be very happy to live in your apartment! It really shows your creativity. I adore the gold Art you have displayed in your living room and the blue one in your bedroom too. 🥰👏🤗🇨🇦
Thanks for the tour! About mirrors opposite windows, I would not do this if you have a lot of street noise from the window. The mirror will reflect, not absorb the noise. In that case you could hang a tapestry or heavy fabric opposite the window. I'm always surprised that designers don't consider noise when putting mirrors opposite windows.
I was reluctant to share this, because as designers we have this expectation of living in this beautifully crafted space, and this isn’t my forever space. although this is just my temporary space for now. I can’t wait to fully design and customize my own home one day. As always thanks for watching 🥰 it’s all of you that will allow that to come true
A LOT of us have the same exact design issues…talking about the dog bed, space, ugly grey floors etc…you’ve overcome those and I believe that investing in yourself is an awesome idea…you can buy your own condo soon enough…just keep churning out those beautiful designs for your clients and keep your fans posted…I can’t wait to meet you on my next trip to NYC..I’m not a creepy killer either…(I actually asked for this video a long time ago) thanks
I love this. It’s well appointed, manageable for what you need now, super smart, and you’re not spending ridiculous amounts of money just to say that you did - but the real inspiration is that you decided to invest in yourself first. No way will you regret any of that. You’re building your empire.
I feel the same as an artist. I have filled other peoples homes with my artwork and photos but have almost none of my work in my home. Your space is awesome though. Can’t wait to see your new place when the time comes.
Sometimes we need to accept our current reality. And that’s ok. Living in places like this makes us understand better challenges of space and design and also to improve them and appreciate better spaces when we finally have them in the future🙏🏻💖 thanks for sharing ❤
Love you and I pray that dream comes true for you😊❤
When you keep apologizing for your space (I know it's a very Canadian thing to do but still lol) it diminishes from the hard work you did to make the space your own! You have a really beautiful home and really looking forward your journey and seeing how you use all those pieces in your future space :)
That means so much! Thank you 🤍🙏🏼🤍 I can’t wait to eventually build and design my own space and can look back on this
You’re doing it right though. Taking care of your business, IS taking care of yourself. Success will bring the finer things in life, and your path looks massively promising. Keep up the good work, and don’t waste your time on embarrassment. Stepping stones are your friend, Phoenix! ❤
You did a fantastic job with the space you have. It's refreshing to see a real apartment instead of designer palaces.
Thank you 🙏🏼
I am so proud of how brave you are to let us into your private and personal space. It shows that you are genuine, and actually use/live in your space. No pretence ❤
We don’t expect you to be fake perfect/unattainably rich, etc. We watch you because you keep it real for normal people with good taste. Most of us don’t have a budget that matches our creative imagination. Thanks for being vulnerable. 👏🏾😎
I think your space is warm, inviting, cozy and functional! I love how you utilized the space without it appearing crowded. I have learned so much from you and your sense of humor keeps me smiling. Thanks for inviting us over!
Don’t be embarrassed! We weren’t expecting anything super lavish, if anything it Helps give more realistic tips for the average person. Thanks DD!
I never comment but I watch your content all the time. I love the vulnerability and confidence it took for you to post this and share. I think it’s so important that people see realistic spaces. I think you’ve done a great job with applying design elements and principles in conjunction with your style. Our style evolves over time and also Home takes time whether it’s temporary or permanent so thanks for sharing! Not disappointed with it at all! Not that my opinion matters lol ultimately it’s about you and how you feel in your space.
Thank you so so much 🤍 I’m glad my shared knowledge can help so many people
Of course! When I rented I did not put much effort in my space and looking back I wish I did. I was lazy and refused to ever paint lol.
Small but impactful. Your choice of color and textiles are right on! Can’t wait to keep watching you soar!
The pillar! I love how much you hate it. I also love that your dog is more important to you than the visual of her "home."
It’s refreshing to see this so thank you for sharing! A realistic space that you’ve made beautiful, despite the limitations. Love you and your content! ❤
That means a lot thank you so much. I was very much against sharing my space 😅 a stepping stone for now, but this is what I was able to do in the meantime
I can relate! I'm a Professional Organizer (of 23 years) and our 1000 sq ft condo is fuller than I'd like it to be. I can list a hundred Organizers who are more minimal than I am. I have an abundance of jeans, shoes, protein powders, vases, etc. and my husband and I practically hoard outerwear. (I even keep some at my mom's.) People love seeing "real" homes. BTW, your "real" is quite beautiful. You ARE walking the walk. Thank you for this! You have nothing to apologize for.
i'm late to the party, but what are you even talking about? Your box in the sky is awesome, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. i can't be the only one who's happy you shared this with us 😊
“Start the car, start the car”
I can tell you’re a man of culture
😂😂😂😂
I’m so glad the right people get this reference!! 🥰🤍
I laughed really hard at that one! Aside from the comical break it’s really interesting to see a creative “make do”, which most people would think was a magazine feature. It’s humble and therefore relatable and something I can use toward my own rental home. In Europe a rental arrangement gets more respect it’s a lifelong contract. I love,love, the invisible design, the fabulous scents. I adore a walk in Gastown passing by Aesop and stepping in…
You were apprehensive about something you needn't be. You let us in, showed us your beautiful home and we are very appreciative. I love all the textures and colors you used~ fabulous. What is the old saying; Brave is being fearful and doing the thing anyway...? Much respect, Design Daddy ♥
That means more than you know! Thank you so much for watching and following along 🤍
I am so appreciative of you sharing your space. I loved seeing real life solutions to problems I also have in my apartment. This video lets me see you as a human being and not just an interior designer. Thank you so much for trusting us with your home.
I found this channel when searching for small space design and now need to watch every single episode before continuing. Inspiration that's exactly what I need as I downsize! 🥰
I think this is wonderfully inspiring when so many of us are renters or new home owners trying to deal with features and elements in our space that we hate! Thanks for sharing!
You've proven with this video that the "flaws* in contractor builds and flipper grey abodes can be worked around and even celebrated by layers and redirections. Too many show only perfect set ups instead of the cookie cutter base options we rent or settle for buying. You're a design genius to take the mundane and transform it to subline. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I predict that you just connected with so many more people by sharing what a real home looks like and how you apply your talent to that oh so relatable space. I was fortunate enough to be able to build a home in the burbs a few years ago so I have a little more space , but once you commit so much of your income to that space there is not a lot for expense decor, but I like your style, use of finishes and small details. I love my backsplash, but I also love that I've broken it up with a combination of layered cutting boards just as you showed. And yes honey, do keep the tissues and lotion out of sight. 🤭
Thank you so much for watching! And I appreciate you comment 🤍 we all start somewhere.
I LOVE that it's colorful! So many have these all white or mostly white canvases and I'm so over it. Not even a white sofa - go you! Just because ya have to live in a builder grade bore, does NOT mean it needs to look like one! You can decorate the boring out of the space with some color and style. Well done!
Loved that this was so real. Sometimes it feels like the house tours you see on youtube are so out of reach for ordinary ppl. Most of us are lucky if we can have one piece of high end furniture piece never mind a houseful of designer brands or custom pieces. You manage to make something so elegant thats still doable on a budget. Beautiful work!
Thank you for showing your space. It is great and I love that you were forced to innovate since it isn't huge. I really get sick of videos that look like mansions. They're everywhere. We need more designers like you with creative/innovative minds and solutions to small space problems and problems like how to deal with pets, etc. Most of the time I think designers pretend they don't exist or just edit them out! Who wants a world without dogs? Love that metal artwork too!
You know what, I love real people, real home, real things and probably this real life living is my favorite video in your channel. Congrats and thank you for share with us your personal place, by the way I LOVE IT. 👋👋👋👋
Mr. grey, thank you for keeping it real. This is real life interior design. This is a job well done for real life clients. And I admire how consistent you are between your videos and your own space. Kudos
Love that you have so much gratitude. Appreciate your humbleness to show your space. It is good for us to have you show us how your real life translates to your insight. This drives it home why you are so good - you know how to prioritize.
I love your space! You show that for anyone renting, or with limited funds, you are still able to give your space personality with other design elements.
Exactly! Even with temporary spaces we should still be able to make it feel like home 🤍
understand your reluctance to share T.O. condo rental reality but kudos for being open and authentic - it does endear you to us .... especially prioritizing dog over design! YES! ( and yes, loved the IKEA ad reference)
I'm renting as well and my landlord allows me to do what ever I want to the apartment and I did so much to improve the place and make it more my style. I'm painted the walls, changed door handles and even added new light bulbs because the apartment was built in the 70's really needed to be fixed. I know people say "Don't change anything, it not your place and you're just waiting money" but fixing things (that doesn't break the bank) and adding your own personal touches just makes the place feel more livable.
I'm a huge fan! It's not embarrassing at all. You shared so many useful tricks that we all could use, especially in limited spaces. All the items you chose have amazing tastes and are very Design Daddy. And I can clearly visualize you will own your all customized dream house one day very soon, as you are certainly climbing the ladder of success. Thank you for sharing!
Awe thank you for watching! This is just the start. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me and it’s only growing faster 🤍
Nice to see that you do in fact practice what you preach; everything is organized, attractive, and well - considered.
You have to! My OCD would not let me otherwise 🤣
I loved this
1. A light bulb moment occurred when you mentioned using an upper cabinet as storage. I was able to find diy blogs that use this idea to construct built-ins. and for the next hour, I was on the Ikea and other big box sites viewing upper cabinets.
2. I loved the pendents in your kitchen and bedroom, and I was able to find something similar
3. The way that you were able to partition the storage cabinet to organize your items was brilliant. I will utilize that idea
4. no part of your living space was wasted
5. So many design youtubers showcase extravagant , expensive and flamboyant and expansive design ideas, that don't represent the builder-grade homes that we all live in. I appreciate your practicality and commonsense that you express in all of your videos.
I think your space is great looking. I love the dark green, dark blue and black as well as your art pieces. It makes the space look welcoming and very liveable.
That makes a lot thank you so much 😊
Don’t be embarrassed! And don’t apologize! It’s beautiful!!!!
Your home looks amazing and very stylish! You have the special touch! Have you ever thought of doing something with the dog crate. We put wood on top of ours! we just have dog beds on top with stairs for an extra sitting area to look out window, they love it for some reason. But im sure you could think of something better!!
Phoenix, your home is amazing and we can really feel the passion and the love you had to make you apartment your very own space.
I know the struggle of shoebox city units because I live in Paris and i lived for 7 years in a 23mt2 apartment where everything was lumped and with a grey and bordeaux lacquered kitchen ( i know... don't ask...)
I hope your businesses can grow and grow stronger and you can have the house you desire and deserve for all the hard work you do everyday!
P.S. Your bag collection is ❤
Thank you so much for sharing this real and realistic video. I live in a condo less than 600sqft with a toddler. I struggle to find space for our day day. The idea to have the sofa on rollers is game changer…I have been complaining about not having a space to work for months/years. I will implement this pronto. Thank you so much for letting us into your personal space❤❤❤!
HEY! I love that you live in a relatable space! You have given me so many great ideas for my tiny--I mean COSY!--space! Thank you! Thanks also for validating my bed pillow adoration.
That makes me so happy 🤍
It's beautiful love! You are just starting, never be embarrassed for what you have, you have acheived so much! The most impressive thing to me is the ability to delay the immediate gratification of buying to build something long term. Takes a ton of character that seems quite rare lately. Lot's of love from a TX farm girl ;)
No need to apologize. You managed to make it stunning. Love it. 😊
Thank you for sharing your personal space with everyone. I know it’s not ideal but your sense of style and decorating elevates it to another level and it’s an elegance that would be lacking if you didn’t design this yourself. It showcases all the things you love and recommend. It’s nice to know you do as you say ❤
Your potty mouth just makes me bust a gut at times 😂❤. When you showed that "big ass..." column it bent me over!!! Thanks for being, Oh So Real, and showing how creative one can be in their own spot without breaking the bank. That's smart and intelligent.
Been listening to you for some time now. Keep up the great work, as you are truly gifted in interior design!
I Love love love this! Your space is so beautiful, and I have taken away great ideas for my own space. We have similar tastes. Thank you for sharing. And you have a dog! I love it even more!
Thank you for sharing with us. No shame allowed. ❤
This video is awesome! With the way housing is going, more and more people are renting with all the limitations that it entails. Seeing how you worked with the negatives in your space is enlightening. I think you’ve done a great job
Thank you so much for sharing your home! For those living in a condo / it was filled with fabulous ideas ❤
Dear Phoenix, Thank you for sharing your home tour video!! Your place is sooo lovely and tasteful!!! You're so sweet and cute being shy to share it, but you shouldn't be. You're really talented! I wish you all the best in your business and life ❤️
It's really lovely to see you putting design and personal style in such a limited condition average persons live with everyday. Great work and your home is very insightful to me. Functional, cosy, personal, and thoughtful for guests especially in the bathroom
Apologies?? Au contraire found it totally inspiring and completely relatable since many of us are starting with places we are far from in love with. Major respect for the huevos to keep it a buck & lay it all on the line as you did. You just earned even more street cred DD!!! ❤
You rock bud
Dunno why you are embarrassed. Most of people nowadays, especially younger people, absolutely relate. We cannot afford larger homes, the housing market sucks. It is great to show ideas for our small living spaces like yours. 100 times more useful than showing off those large mansions that are completely irrelevant for the majority of the population. Thanx for sharing some nice ideas.
There’s nothing embarrassing about it. It’s your home for now and it providing you with shelter and a place to live your life and make memories.
It’s beautifully put together even with the space constraints.
I understand the feeling as we bought an our first home and given the market it’s not what we had in mind but we are grateful given the circumstances. I am trying to figure out what to do with the spaces and layout. If you ever decide to give pointers of your followers homes and spaces I will volunteer!! lol 😊❤
So happy for you and that you invested in yourself 🤍
There are sofas with additional storage, like Ikea Jättebo. The covers can be replaced, and you can even buy velvet covers online.
This makes your designing comments in your video more real. That you too are stuck for a bit in a smaller place and you have still decorated it with style and flair while working around limitations in your ability to change certain aspects. (I agree so much with you, I HATE gray, what is this world now every new place done up in gray, gads, get over it, have people heard of color??)
Now, having seen your place, I am more inclined to see your designing advice as useable in real spaces - that it can be utilized in smaller places. I don't have to have a giant 4000 sf house to be able to do that. My apartment can truly benefit from you sharing your space. Thank you for the sharing!
Hey Phoenix. Never be embarrassed of anything you have achieved as this is a bus stop not the end of the journey. It's lovely just like you and your doggle. ❤
Beautiful thank you for sharing! I love how you made the best of your space despite many things not being of your preference. I love the creative ways you made things work, like your couch on rollers, I have never seen that before! AND I LOVE the lil box for your remotes that is too perfect
I appreciate how relatable and accessible this is
Just discovered you and have watched about six of your videos in a row.
You’re such a lovely guy. I hope your business grows out of control and you buy a massive mid century home and show me how to fix and style everything (on a budget).
Best of luck to you from Australia x
Be proud of your home, whether it’s a temp or permanent place you make it your home ❤staying Humble is your best quality.
Love your place. You’re so talented. I absolutely love those gold and blue pieces of art on your wall. Your eyes are just drawn to them. Beautiful 🙌
Why were you reluctant, you have a great home & I love the wall art, & the green marble in the kitchen & living room ❤️ great space Phoenix 🔥🇬🇧xxx
Never apologise for your home. It is your home. Even if it is rented. You have done a maximum to make it your own. Regarding buying your home, consider it work in progress. It will happen for you.
Hello and thank you for sharing your home with us! It’s so beautifully decorated and done ! Love the color combination you did there! I truly wish you more success and happiness ❤❤❤
I’m fortunate enough to own my own (700 sq. foot) home only because I bought at close to the bottom of the market in Florida. I’m now, 7 years later, remodeling. You gave me some great ideas. The sofa on rollers - genius. I also love reeded glass and sadly I’m not as OCD as you and I couldn’t do clear glass for upper cabinets and hey presto, you gave me a solution! I could go on and apologies are completely unnecessary - your space is a wonderful example of how we normal humans can approach designer our spaces in ways that look great now and that won’t look dated in 5 years. Thank you. (And thank you for your delicious home critiques of the rich and famous as well as DIY fails - helps us know what to avoid!)❤
Beautifully curated space, light, effortless and containing varied surfaces, textures. Beautiful deep blue and green, and the round reflective artwork is genius- really keeps the space alive..
Wonderful🤩
TY for sharing your home, explaining decor choices! Even homeowners have to live with the major choices the prior homeowner made, so nice to see how you made them work for your personal style
You did such a good job with such a limited space! ❤ Thanks for sharing it gives us all insights into making our spaces better too!
I love your circle 3D art piece. Gorgeous and unique conversation piece.
Hey DD, Really enjoyed your from the heart home tour of your Condo. You have totally rocked the small space living style and it looks stylish and cozy and inviting and well thought out. There are plenty of design nuggets in this video to help those who live in condo's or rentals. It's not about size, its about being able to design a truly comfortable, beautiful home wherever you live and with whatever budget you have. Well done and thanks for sharing with your viewers.
Thank you for sharing your home and all your wonderful suggestions for small space living. This may be my favorite of your videos because of the real talk. I also have grey floors and it will be years before I can consider changing them, and it really helps me to see a design influencer living with floors just like mine.
You have done amazing things with this space, following your tried and true designer tips and tricks. I still found a few things (especially lighting) that I am going to hunt for. You shouldn't be ashamed of your space. It's beautiful and comfortable and you definitely have done a lot with what you had to work with. Letting us in to take a peek at how you live takes guts. I cannot wait to see how your future space looks.
As you have said, this is not your forever space but you have done the best you could with what you have and I think you should be proud of what you have accomplished. Your home looks beautiful, welcoming and cozy!!! You decided to invest in yourself and I believe you have made the right choice as your investment is paying off. I really love your down to earth style of talking and your personal likes and dislikes sometimes make me chuckle as I find I agree with a lot of them. Be kind to yourself and keep working your dream!!!!
Hi DD! Thank you for showing your home. Don't be ashamed of the size - that condo unit is considered as "large" in my country. Studio units are around 20 to 24 sqm. In this economy, most ppl are feeling the pinch & have to live small. Btw I'm glad that you didn't have a painting/ artwork above your bed - that's bad feng shui. I know you don't practice FS but for those of us that do, we notice those things. Lol. You decorated your condo unit beautifully. Take care & stay blessed. 💐
I think you’ve done a fantastic job with your space. I love your original art pieces..they are gorgeous ❤
Your space is beautiful. You are very skilled. It's not about the space, but what you make of it; and you have succeeded at making a small apartment look very beautiful and functional at the same time. Bravo!
It's nice to see you commenting on famous mansions. But this kind of content is not only more relatable but also potentially more useful for your viewers that don't have millions in the bank. Loved the solutions you've incorporated in your place that are also rent friendly!
Lovely 😍
No matter how small your home is ,it’s your space be proud of it ! J adore your home it’s beautiful just like you .
I love our little home, one day we will have a bigger one 🖤
I can’t wait 🤍
I love that your entry cabinet is full of beautiful bags.
It looks like you have some really cool views.
I love your place.
How refreshing to see a “designer” home we can all relate to! And re your column … flexible mirror tiles my friend, flexible mirror tiles! Love the light fixture above the bed … but … um … have you or any overnight guests ever been speared in the back? Or anywhere else?? And LOVE the 2 circular art pieces as well as the story of them. This was a great tour, relatable & so many useful tips no matter what your budget! I am going to try to work in the term “seasonal pants” in a conversation at work tomorrow. It has tickled my fancy!
Your space is beautifully presented, and all of your ideas are not only artistic but very useful spaces.
Your home is sooo you ! I love it, you’ve made it perfect despite the things you hate. All your videos explaining why things don’t work is by experience.
I love your space!! Thank you for your honesty. ❤Not everyone can afford large spaces. And so to see how you have styled your own I love to see!!
Enjoyed the tour. So nice to see someone talk about a small space that is actually a small space.
So tired of the 'small kitchens' or living areas that are larger than my entire house (800 sf, 3bd/1b).
Really like your entry setup. Gave me ideas. Now that my nest is empty I'm reorganizing using a lot of info I've gleaned from your videos.
You do have a beautiful space and nothing to apologize for.
Love the metallic wall art.
As a renter, this is very helpful in giving ideas for designing around some features that are less than ideal, but can’t be changed. I too have a gray (and white) kitchen- including the dreaded gray floors and have looked for ideas to warm up the space a bit. Thank you for sharing this!
Why would you be embarrassed? Your space is esthetically pleasing and very comfy. Keeping it real DD. Love your content and your presentation.👍
I just love your authenticity and honesty ❤can’t wait to see your true home 😊
Thank you so much for sharing. We all start somewhere. Your place is very well curated. You also made very good use of the space. And I absolutely adore the blue walls. Honestly, I think the decoration of a small space shows your true talent because everything has to be intentional and serve a purpose.
I love your space and am so glad you shared it. It gives me so much inspiration for my small temporay space. I wish there were more videos showing how we can work with temporary small spaces.
Thank you for inviting us into your space. It is beautiful. And it is even more beautiful because you are there.
Ya kiddin' me? Your condo is SWEET! When you get the home you love, it's going to be *fabulous.*
It looks great!!! A lot of people live in small apartments but it feels like a home, that’s the most important thing o think.
As a fellow Torontonian living in a condo, I can totally relate. But I love the creative challenge of making it work in the space we’re given. Your space looks dope asf! ❤ Also, I’m taking your idea of layering wood in a sterile kitchen.
I am so grateful of you. You have the perfect way of doing things and have the best tips and tricks! Yo😅 humor is fun too. Love you DD!
That means a lot 😊 thank you
Your space looks great! You made a tight space seem spacious! Great job 👏
Appreciate it! Thank you 🤍
It is brave, putting yourself on the line but don't worry, your place is cool and well thought out. Love the exact spacing of your hangers.
This is actually a really nice place! I like the changes you made and it’s a good example for how to update when you can’t remodel.
Wow Phoenix, you shouldn’t be apologizing for your Apt space. You have worked your magic to make it look comfortable and. Functional without looking cluttered which is often seen in small rental units. However, I think you live in Vancouver if not Toronto, where the rental rates are top dollar. I’m sure if you had a nice sizeable deposit, your mortgage payments would be less than your rent. I would be very happy to live in your apartment! It really shows your creativity. I adore the gold Art you have displayed in your living room and the blue one in your bedroom too. 🥰👏🤗🇨🇦
I really like what you have done with all the limitations of renting. I look forward to seeing what develops in the future.
Thanks for the tour! About mirrors opposite windows, I would not do this if you have a lot of street noise from the window. The mirror will reflect, not absorb the noise. In that case you could hang a tapestry or heavy fabric opposite the window. I'm always surprised that designers don't consider noise when putting mirrors opposite windows.
Your home is calming and beautiful, and your pup 🐶 is a cutie 🤗🩷