Half a semi-detached in Dovercourt Village with a whole suite of space-saving innovations

What: Lower half of a small semi Who: Joanne Lam, an architect, and Eric Martin, a designer Where: Dovercourt Village Size: 1,100 square feet

Transforming cramped quarters into functional and beautiful living spaces comes naturally to Eric Martin and Joanne Lam, the husband-and-wife team behind Picnic Design. Eric spent many of his childhood summers travelling in camping trailers across Canada with his father, who worked on pipelines. “I learned early on how to make the most out of tight confines,” he says. And Joanne grew up in Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, where limited space is the norm.

Before their kids were born, the couple applied their knack for space-optimization to their Dovercourt Village home, which they purchased in 2008. After converting the second floor into a rental unit, they focused on maximizing the 1,100 square feet they kept for themselves on the ground floor and basement. They also made use of every available nook, adding custom benches with built-in storage in the entryway and integrating storage drawers into the basement staircase.

In 2022, the duo completed one of their most personal projects, a redesign of their children’s bedroom in the basement of their home. The original 90-square-foot layout was simple, consisting of a bunk bed with minimal storage and an ever-growing pile of toys. At the time, their 10-year-old daughter, Noémie, and eight-year-old son, Jacques, needed private spaces to call their own. The couple opted for custom-built nooks alongside one wall, creating separate spaces for each child.

The project, which cost just under $15,000, gave the children not only more storage but also a cozy retreat where they can read, play and escape. “When they’re mad at each other or at us, they go to their nooks,” Joanne says with a chuckle.

Eric and Joanne have continued to apply their creative approach in other projects. In early 2023, they completed a redesign of a family’s 850-square-foot condo in Fort York. With two children and no plans to move, the family needed flexible space solutions for their two-bedroom home. Eric and Joanne installed two movable walls in the second bedroom so it can be converted into an entertainment area, a guest bedroom or two separate sleeping spaces for the kids.

As Toronto’s housing market pushes families to stay in smaller spaces for longer, the need for innovative design is growing. “The way we think about homes is changing,” says Joanne. “It’s not necessarily about having a big house with a yard. It’s about using the space you have smartly and creatively.”