Nic, a writer with a massive book collection, transformed his 800 sq ft Montreal apartment in the St. Henri neighbourhood from a plain "white rectangle" into a character-filled vintage home. A custom faux fireplace with built-in library shelving anchors the living room, while a dark, unused closet under the stairs became a hidden home office. Bold DIY risks — a hand-tiled cork ceiling in the bedroom, a chocolate brown "colour-drenched" bathroom, and blue-painted kitchen cabinets for an English cottage feel — show how far builder-grade decor can be pushed with vintage styling and antiques.