A Colourful, Eclectic Home Fit for Toronto’s Premier Rockstar Wedding Planner

Some people exude creativity like it’s their job – and for Lynzie Kent, it actually is. As the owner of Love by Lynzie, a wedding and event planning agency, Lynzie has colour schemes, memorable details and unique touches on the brain 24/7; it makes perfect sense that her own home is a treasure trove of bold design and whimsical finds. Did we mention that she’s also the lead singer of the band Electric Blonde? No wonder this space rocks.

When Lynzie and her husband, Andrew, bought their home in the Junction, a west-end Toronto neighbourhood, back in 2011, “it was a mess,” says Lynzie. “We had to repaint every square inch of the interior, as the previous homeowners smoked inside for 20 years! We also gutted the kitchen and took out a main wall on the first floor to open it up. And the third floor was nonexistent, just a crawl space at the time,” she says.

Despite the sorry pre-reno state of the house, Lynzie was drawn to its original features, including bannisters, crown moulding and ceiling medallions. “The home had maintained much of its original character, and even though it was not in great shape, I really felt that by highlighting these original pieces, I knew it could be beautiful,” says Lynzie.

No stranger to DIY, Lynzie has filled her home with one-of-a-kind pieces like the orange sideboard in the dining room. “I found the hutch on the side of the road and used it for my wedding cake table back in 2011,” she says. “It took 11 coats of paint to get it totally orange, so much paint that the doors on it don’t fully close, but I don’t care. I love the charm of it.”

Event planning takes vision, so it’s no surprise that Lynzie was able to see the potential of the space right from the get-go. “After walking through the house the first time, I learned that it was double brick, which meant I’d be able to expose a lot of brick in the home. That was important and exciting for me,” she says.

“I have a gallery wall problem. I want one in basically every room,” says Lynzie. “The one in our living room is an ode to all of the travel we’ve done over the years. Andrew and I have spent years backpacking, living out of buses, and visiting some of the world’s most remote and amazing places. We wanted to remember these carefree moments and notice them daily,” she says.

“While I absolutely adore my husband now, I personally believe that home renos are the fastest way to divorce!” says Lynzie, laughing. She and her husband gutted the home’s outdated kitchen to create a clean, bright, functional space. “Being in a mess and not having a functioning kitchen really put me on edge,” she says. “But the pros of renovating are definitely the customization and making something that really reflects you.”

The dark wood and rough edges of the vintage island add interest to the kitchen’s bright white cupboards and stainless steel appliances.

Unexpected and personal touches, like colourful artwork and a chalkboard wall, lend warmth and charm to an all-white kitchen.

Lynzie’s love of bold colour extends quite naturally to the bedroom, which features a dark teal accent wall, a DIY headboard and a rainbow of cheery textiles. The white walls, white bed linens and white painted floor help to give the space an airy, open feel.

“My husband and I made the headboard in our master bedroom,” says Lynzie. “I found the tapestry years ago at a vintage store in Toronto and it sat for about two or three years, waiting for the perfect project. We created it by adding foam to plywood and covering it ourselves using a staple gun.”

When it comes to decorating, Lynzie doesn’t hesitate to enlist the help of her creative friends. “The flower painting in our bedroom is by my good friend Tanya List. We share a deep passion for colour,” she says. “I asked her if she would paint me a colourful floral portrait and my one ask was that it include red and teal. She gifted me this and I die over it everyday.”

Lynzie’s self-professed “gallery wall problem” means you’ll find a cluster of framed art and photos in the bedroom, too. “It’s an ode to our wedding and our love for beautiful places,” she says.

Lynzie and Andrew’s two-year-old son, Archie, is lucky enough to call this colourful space his bedroom. “My decor style has always been playful and colourful, but I think a child gives you more permission to have fun and be silly,” says Lynzie. “The mountain range seemed like a fun and funky way to inspire adventure and wanderlust in a little boy’s room.”

The mobile hanging above her son’s crib is another perfect example of Lynzie’s creativity. “I’m a crafter at heart and I had these vintage keys lying around as well as a stick I found on the beach in Costa Rica,” she says. “One day I just picked up my glue gun, and bam, an inexpensive, one-of-a-kind mobile! There’s a vintage compass on it, too.”

Of course there’s a gallery wall in the nursery, too. “The gallery wall in my son’s room was just a hodgepodge of things I thought a little boy might love,” says Lynzie. “He’s a Leo – a lion – and we want to foster adventure and wanderlust in him, so we included travel-themed items and animals.”

“After my son was born, I moved my office out of my home and I actually have a studio in the neighbourhood,” says Lynzie. “I knew I needed a quiet space for the odd time that I would work from home, so we created this simple nook in our third bedroom. It’s a lovely, quiet spot if I have a disjointed day and need to spend a portion of time at home, or work late into the night,” she says.

“When I first lived in Toronto, my apartment was down the street from Honest Ed’s and my husband and I, dating then, shopped there all the time for everyday things. It holds a special place in our hearts,” says Lynzie. “I found the store closing extremely emotional and I was moved by the final art exhibits they put on in the space. We knew we needed to buy some signs, so like all the other fanatics, I lined up and bought my share, complete with the authenticity stamps!”

Lynzie and Andrew transformed the third floor of the house from a disused crawl space into a beautiful dressing room, complete with a vintage vanity and plenty of storage for Lynzie’s clothes and jewellery.

“I was raised to believe that finding a bargain was good, and that it meant you had one-of-a-kind things,” says Lynzie. “I love my little coral makeup table in my dressing room. And the thing about DIYs is that you don’t have to feel guilty about switching it up and changing them. I’m sure I will make something new again soon, and it will take the lead,” she says.