Words Janice Henshaw
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
Finding a rental home can be really tough, especially if your budget is tight. Finally, you sign the papers – it’s not your dream home, but the bones are there: high ceilings, light flowing in, and maybe even a bit of architectural charm. Still, the walls are beige, the fixtures are boring and the kitchen is very utilitarian, lacking in elements that blend function with comfort – no welcome here!
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to live in a space that doesn’t reflect who you are. Just ask Paul Chambers, who owns Davidson Chambers, the lovely home and entertainment store in Sidney. He rents the top-floor apartment in the Painted Lady-inspired tenplex in Sidney. (The “Painted Ladies” are famous pastel-coloured Victorian homes in San Francisco). Paul has transformed his top-floor rental unit into a space full of charm, colour and deeply personal touches, all without breaking a lease or the bank. “I knew I couldn’t do structural changes or upgrade appliances,” Paul said, “so I focused on what I could control: lighting, wallpaper, furniture and art.”
Paint might be off-limits, but wallpaper doesn’t have to be. Peel-and-stick varieties offer all the drama with none of the damage. “I used grasscloth wallpaper in two areas,” Paul said. “It adds so much texture and warmth, especially in a space that didn’t have a lot of natural character on the inside.” The trick, he said with a laugh, is to choose patterns that don’t require perfect alignment! “One pattern I used didn’t repeat, which made it super forgiving. Another pattern had a big repeat and was harder to match, but I made it work with a level and some patience, used in place of a missing backsplash in the kitchen.” The best part, Paul says, is that each roll costs about $30 on Wayfair. Compared to the price (and permanence) of tile or custom millwork, that’s a serious win.
Rental lighting tends to be functional at best. Swapping out tasteless fixtures instantly changes the look and feel of a room. Paul has the knowledge and experience to install lighting safely without getting electrocuted. He found most of his new fixtures on Amazon. Compared to those he wanted from high-end stores, he managed to get one for $36 that looked almost the same. Not confident with wiring? Go cordless. Paul used rechargeable Zafferano Poldina Lights from his own store, along with over-the-bed plug-in sconce lights that are the same ones in the gourmet food section at his store. They were $35 each, compared to the $300 version he wanted. Paul also installed cordless lights above his favourite artwork.
It’s not necessary to have a chef’s kitchen to enjoy your morning coffee, but it helps when your appliances look good. Paul loves coffee and has a stylish Mocha Master that he says is indestructible. The Aarke water carbonators are all-metal, super sleek, and look good enough to leave out on the counter. His appliances double as décor, which is a smart move in a small kitchen.
An outstanding feature of the apartment is its outdoor deck, which offers a nice high view over rooftops. Paul has transformed it into his favourite entertainment space. He added outdoor vintage Danish wicker chairs that he brought all the way across Canada, weatherproof outdoor pillows that are durable and easy to clean, and cozy blankets. There is a sun umbrella, a blue striped rug, candle lanterns, easy-care plants and a barbecue. With the French door open to the deck, refreshing air blows into the apartment, keeping it cool in the summer.
The real key to making a rental feel like a home is to infuse it with your personality, and Paul has done that in a big way. “I have vintage Disneyland attraction and design sketches, framed, along with lots of design, travel and cookbooks – things that really reflect me,” he says. “Even the art I’ve had forever, like a Crate and Barrel painting that doesn’t match anything – it stays because it’s part of my story.” One of his favourite pieces is a decorative prop from a Ralph Lauren store that now sits in the bedroom. “It doesn’t really do anything,” he says with a laugh, “but it feels right. That’s the point of décor; it should make you feel something.”
It’s essential to create your own lovely retreat in the bedroom, and it doesn’t have to be big to feel luxurious. Paul chose a lovely blue grasscloth wallpaper and added a leather Chesterfield-style bed from Pottery Barn. The bedside table and dressers are Campaign style, inspired by evocative, luxurious travel and a time gone by. An inviting, comfy leather chair sits in the corner, which looks better the more distressed it gets. It’s a smart mix of budget finds and investment pieces. And the overall effect? Total style.
Sure, most renters want to own a place one day, but that doesn’t mean we should wait to live in a space that we love. “There’s this idea that renting is just temporary, so why bother?” Paul says. “But I’ve lived in spaces that didn’t feel good, and it affects everything.” By investing in removable upgrades and portable décor, you create a space that feels stable even if it’s not permanent. I have light. I have space. And I’ve made it feel like me. That matters more than whether I own the place or not.” And another huge benefit is that Paul can walk to work.
Final Advice? Start Small, Go Personal. Whether you’re working with 500 square feet or a spacious top-floor unit, the goal is the same – make it yours. “You don’t need to spend a ton or do major renovations,” Paul says. “Start with one thing, for example, a light fixture, a print, a cool chair, and build from there. Make your space feel like a story only you could tell.”
And maybe the next person who walks into your place will say exactly what guests say when they visit this one: “This doesn’t feel like a rental at all.”
