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Closet Space: Three Projects Prove Storage is the New Living Space

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How an attic, walk-in closet and shed got the junk kicked out of them — so people could move in

We’re told good things come in small packages. Most homeowners know, however, that when it comes to poky spaces – the cobwebby pantry, cupboard under the stairs, dusty garage – the opposite is true. Far from ‘good things,’ they’re mostly crammed with junk.

Maybe admitting this fact should spark Marie Kondo-inspired cleaning bonanzas in our homes — starting with our pilled novelty sweater collection, and of course, the unlabelled spice jars. But before we start shedding our earthly possessions, one might also ask: should we be rethinking storage – as in the very spots we construct to house our stuff – in the first place? Maybe rather than focusing on how many things we own (seriously, who has time to count socks?) we should be rethinking closet space altogether.

With that in mind, we asked a trio of local creatives — designers and an architect — to tell us how they transformed a closet, attic and shed into wonderfully livable retreats. Below, a case-by-case guide on how to live big in unexpected places.

Mary Ratcliffe Design Toronto

How a Walk-in Closet Became a Soaring Loft Bedroom

Attic Remodel Toronto Boychuk Fuller Parkdale Modern Home

A Couple’s Parkdale Attic Becomes a Family Treehouse

How an Architect Dad DIYed a Dream Garden Studio

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The heritage brand’s latest model reimagines the hearth for contemporary living

For many Canadian homeowners, the fireplace remains the symbolic heart of the home—a place to gather, unwind and anchor family rituals. But in 2025, that doesn’t mean settling for a drafty wood-burning unit or a showpiece that barely produces heat. The best fireplaces today need to combine efficiency with atmosphere, design flexibility with reliability. Few companies balance all of these demands as seamlessly as Valor Fireplaces, a Canadian heritage brand that has been setting the standard since 1977.

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