Inside an Apartment So Memorable its Nova Scotia Renters Moved in Twice

Brittney MacLean and her husband have lived in this 600-square-foot apartment in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for a total of four years, but they weren’t consecutive. “It’s a funny story.” explains Brittney “It was mine and my husband’s (then fiancée’s) first apartment together. We lived there for about three years and then decided to move into a condo that was open concept and a bit bigger. After a year, this place came back up on the renter’s market, and we thought: ‘how funny would it be to move back there?’ Well, funny enough that we did it!”

It’s easy to see why Brit and her husband missed the home so much. Though on the smaller side, the 100-year-old home boasts charming original features, plus a recent renovation courtesy of the landlord. It’s also the home where the couple spent their university years, planned a wedding, got a puppy and decided to start a family.

Brit always loved the living room in the home, it’s where the couple enjoyed lazy Saturday mornings and relaxing movie nights, but when the couple moved in for the second time, they painted the room a bright shade of white. As the sun rises, the room is filled with gorgeous sunlight. “It makes for a very bright, peaceful morning!”

Brit describes her home as calm, minimal and relaxing, and we’d go so far as to bold and underline minimal! Achieving this look isn’t easy, but Brit holds strong to her guiding philosophy for minimalism, “It is so easy to keep your home tidy if you simply don’t have clutter to clutter your home! I know this sounds unachievable, but it is actually quite liberating to go through your things and only keep what you truly use, or enjoy.”

Brit and her husband’s home is in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, an area known as the “city of lakes.” “We have a National canoe and kayak competition course on a beautiful lake right in our neighborhood. I grew up competing on Lake Banook, and I always dreamed of living in the neighborhood.” On top of the lush and serene surroundings, Brit’s neighbourhood is quickly evolving, with new cafes, restaurants and shops opening all the time. “You can pick up your morning coffee, stop by the farmers market, and pass through three parks and a waterfront boardwalk along the way.” (If you happen to be in the neighbourhood, Brit recommends Two If By Sea for to-die-for croissants and Kept for locally made homewares including Brit’s favourite candles, Foxhound Collection, which are hand poured in Nova Scotia!)

Though Brit and her husband’s interests and hobbies sometimes vary, one thing they’re very much in agreement on is design. “We have both adapted a pretty minimal lifestyle, which is reflected in our home. Because we’ve always lived in small spaces, we keep the things we own to a minimum, to maximize the feeling of space. We love clean lines and functional design, and the way we keep our home reflects that. We are very fortunate to have access to a commercial millwork shop [Brit’s husband’s family owns the shop], so we are able to design and build furniture that suits our small-space needs without compromising our design style.”

Brit’s favourite piece in her home is the one-of-a-kind headboard that she and her husband designed together as a birthday gift for the blogger. But the beautiful bed may have some competition in Brit’s heart… “When we found out we were pregnant, my husband built our daughter’s crib. It transforms into a child’s bed once she is older, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get rid of it! I may have to reuse the material into something different as time goes on. That is such a Mom thing to say, but now I understand why Moms always hold onto things!”

Brit’s home is filled with DIY projects, but we especially loved this floating copper clothing rack. It gives an empty corner of the master bedrooms a hip and modern boutique feel. See the full instructions for the DIY copper clothing rack on britdesign.ca.

Brit’s love of copper extends all throughout the apartment! For the living room, she designed a hanging copper pipe light. “Light fixtures all have their own personalities! They are not only functional, they are like a piece of art, a minimalist’s dream!” Find the full instructions on britdesign.ca.

Eager to see more of Brit’s dreamy designs? She and her husband are currently renovating a 100-year-old home, installing gorgeous custom millwork from his family’s company, and paying special attention to small-space details. “We are still in the design phase, but we are working on including lots of storage, bookshelves, an entertainment unit, and a kitchen! The aim is to have a functional design for a small space. We’re looking at ways to include multi-functional cabinetry, such as a pull out desk, or even a pull down bed for guests! The home is over 100 years old but had been “updated” at some point in the ’50s (hello wood paneling and carpeting), removing much of the historic detail. What little details are left we are excited to incorporate into the design. Most recently we uncovered two rooms with original hardwood in good enough shape to refinish – that was really exciting for us!”

Thank you for opening up your home to HGTV.ca, Brittney! We loved touring your fresh, minimal space, and can’t wait to see your new home.