“This home is a one-bedroom condominium located in one of Yorkville’s most prestigious buildings, right in the heart of Toronto,” says interior designer Dvira Ovadia. “It offers a unique balance. It feels deeply connected to the energy of the city while still maintaining a sense of intimacy that is often lost in more densely urban areas. What we love most about the neighborhood is this duality.”

That balance became the guiding principle for the design. Dvira’s client is a single mother of three, and this serves as her second home in the city—a personal retreat that reflects that duality. “It offers a sense of escape within the city, a place to step away while still being deeply connected to it,” Dvira shares. “Her vision for the apartment was to create a refined, Parisian-inspired flat that felt timeless, layered, and quietly luxurious.”

Despite the compact footprint, the design team focused on maximizing both light and perceived scale. “Through thoughtful material selections, strategic lighting, and subtle layout adjustments, we were able to transform the condo into something that feels far more generous than its size suggests,” she notes. “There was a strong emphasis on creating moments of impact throughout, with focal points that ground the design and elevate the overall experience, including the use of beautiful stone and carefully considered finishes that bring depth and character to the space.”

One of the biggest challenges was reworking the ceiling to accommodate a new lighting plan. “We ended up dropping the entire ceiling to properly integrate the pot lights, which was essential to achieving the clean, intentional lighting design the space called for,” the designer explains. “The condominium was built with concrete ceilings, which meant we could not easily add additional lighting within the existing structure. By lowering the ceiling only 2.5 inches, we were able to source ultra-slim pot lights that fit perfectly within the new cavity while still maintaining as much ceiling height as possible.”

At the same time, the project team navigated the strict regulations that often accompany luxury condominium renovations. “With a tight timeline, our team had to carefully coordinate every step, working within those constraints while still delivering the project on schedule,” Dvira recalls. “It required a high level of planning and collaboration to ensure nothing was compromised, both in terms of design and execution.”

The client was involved throughout the entire process and experienced the space as it evolved, but Dvira says that the final installation was a completely different moment. “Once the furniture, art, mirrors, custom drapery, and rugs were layered in, the space truly came to life in a way that drawings and construction alone can’t fully capture,” she smiles. “It suddenly felt complete, warm, and deeply personal. She was absolutely thrilled with the result. It felt like stepping into the vision we had been building together all along but elevated in a way that exceeded expectations.”

The client was involved throughout the entire process and experienced the space as it evolved, but Dvira says that the final installation was a completely different moment. “Once the furniture, art, mirrors, custom drapery, and rugs were layered in, the space truly came to life in a way that drawings and construction alone can’t fully capture,” she smiles. “It suddenly felt complete, warm, and deeply personal. She was absolutely thrilled with the result. It felt like stepping into the vision we had been building together all along but elevated in a way that exceeded expectations.”