Before design studio Odami got their hands on it, this Toronto condo felt less like a home...and more like a time capsule. “It felt like they closed the door in 1982 and didn’t open it again until Daniel bought it,” says Odami partner Aránzazu González Bernardo.

The popcorn ceiling. The mirrored walls (and, strangely, light switches). The worn, dated carpet and scummy bathrooms. It certainly wasn’t pretty—but homeowner and physician Daniel Paluzzi saw the potential of the 1,200-square-foot unit when he snapped it up last year.

Well aware it would need a full gut job, Daniel searched for a design team who could help him create something masculine, sophisticated, and understated. He was ready to leave his college decor behind and create a home base that could grow with him.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Daniel stumbled across Odami on Instagram, and instantly admired the studio’s use of raw, natural materials. “It caught my attention,” says Daniel.

That sudden attraction was mutual for Bernardo and coprincipal Michael Norman Fohring when they saw the space. They instantly started contemplating the potential of the odd layout, with its five changes of level. “It wasn’t something you see every day,” says Bernardo. “There was so much potential, we both loved it.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

The duo set to work reconfiguring the floor plan to frame views of Toronto’s Cathedral Church of St. James and maximize the reach of the two skylights (a rarity in a condo). They opened up the dark, cramped kitchen for better flow with the dining area, and arranged custom wardrobes to redirect sunlight into the principal suite, which now features a wall of frosted glass.

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Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

Really, for Bernardo and Fohring, it was less about redesigning and more about revealing. (And in a condo, there are limits to what one can do with plumbing and structure.) “There were so many lost opportunities here to transform,” says Fohring. “We wanted to amplify inherent qualities and choreograph specific moments.”

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

That choreography leads to a star moment in the sunroom—a former dining room that’s been converted to a cushion-strewn, sunlit platform for relaxation and contemplation.

The cathedral is framed by the large windows, while a large Menu pendant light anchors the space—the walls painted Cushing Green to match. “It’s my favorite room in the house,” says Daniel.

Before: Sunroom

After: Sunroom

Related Reading:

Before & After: An Outdated ’80s Loft Is Rescued From a Flashy Color Palette

How an Architect Couple Built Their Dream Home in Toronto’s Tight Housing Market

Project Credits:

Interior Design: Odami / @odami.team

Architect of Record: Christie Pearson Architect / @christiemaepearson

Builder/General Contractor: Dxpert / @dxpertltd

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Nick Day Design / @nickdaydesign

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Before & After: An All-Too-’80s Condo Trades Its Popcorn Ceiling for a Chic Sunroom