Designer Olivia Hnatyshin has a case of the blues... but in the best way possible.
To say that Olivia Hnatyshin is ambitious is an understatement. At the age of 28, she has already worked as a designer for a leading Canadian design firm, been a producer on one of the country’s top television talk shows, began her own decor company and started writing a Sex and the City -meets-The Devil Wears Prada novel about the design world... not to mention, she’s a talented amateur singer-songwriter who was once a contestant on Canadian Idol. No big deal.
Just as ambitious is the decor of Olivia’s 650-square-foot one-bedroom condo in downtown Toronto that she shares with her dog, Hunter, a Morkie. In her petite pad, styles range from traditional to contemporary, chinoiserie to Hollywood Regency – and though a novice might consider it a lot of look to apply to a small space, Olivia executed it with a refined elegance that only an expert could achieve.
How to get Olivia's refined eclectic design:
Vintage brass + Faux bamboo + Blue Transferware
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Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Room for entertaining
The living room's custom sofa was one of Olivia's first investment pieces. “It fits four or five people comfortably,” she says, “so it’s perfect on movie nights.” Whether it’s a cocktail party or a casual get-together, the young designer loves to host.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Room for entertaining
The living room's custom sofa was one of Olivia's first investment pieces. “It fits four or five people comfortably,” she says, “so it’s perfect on movie nights.” Whether it’s a cocktail party or a casual get-together, the young designer loves to host.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Playing the keys
Another enterprising effort was accommodating her childhood piano – which Olivia’s parents threatened to give away if she didn’t take. “It’s just one big, non-functional piece of furniture,” she says. “Creating a vignette around it with a tufted bench and pretty artwork helped distract from the fact that I have a huge, clunky black piano in my hall.” And she’s glad it’s there: The stylish setting encourages her to play it whenever there’s a spare moment in her busy life.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Stick to a theme
“Sometimes if you go literal with a certain theme, it works,” says Olivia, who typically mixes styles and eras, but in her entryway stuck to a strong Chinese influence, from the Foo dogs to the faux bamboo mirror and console. The leopard-print stool is actually Olivia’s old piano bench updated with fresh fabric.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Fabulous finds
The pagoda chair Olivia’s sitting in is one of her favourite pieces in the home. “It’s like my spirit animal,” she says. It was a steal at $90 and already upholstered in a fabric she loves.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Original, functional kitchen
Olivia didn’t change much about the builder-grade white kitchen, apart from adding a portable island as extra counter space for cooking and entertaining. “Where do I draw the line when I know this isn’t my forever space?” Olivia asked herself. For her, it proved to be the kitchen.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
A favourite hue
“Turquoise has been my favourite colour since I was little,” says Olivia. “I’m always drawn to it.” This is evidenced in the array of toss cushions on display on the living room sofa.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
A moody choice
“Bedrooms should be a little more moody,” says Olivia of the reason hers is imbued with deeper blues than the rest of the condo. The room’s starting point was the Schumacher fabric on the lumbar cushion – the wallpaper and bedding fell easily into place after that. Above the bed, the gallery of small plates provides an unexpected spin on the traditional. Some are extras from Olivia’s own dish set, others are from her mom and the light blue one in the centre is a hand-me-down from Olivia’s paternal grandmother.
Condo tour: Refined design meets eclectic charm
Vintage, functional and glamorous
The armoire in the living room was a $300 antiques store score and acts as Olivia's media unit, where she tucks the TV out of sight when not in use. The artwork flanking it is also a creative moneysaver: framed coaster souvenirs from a trip to New York City. She also incorporated refinished vintage furniture, such as the sidechairs flanking the living room armoire.
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