At our first meeting prior to construction, this client arrived armed with a raft of inspiration pics: it was evident that glam was the way to go. So when it was time to select finishes, we chose hi-gloss lacquer with gold metallic detail for the kitchen cabinet accents, and a rich brown countertop with sparkly mica flakes. As the condo's completion date approached, we set out to purchase the perfect pieces for our proposed furniture layout. The space is small -- only 735 sq.ft. -- so our selections had to be carefully considered, and flow and continuity would be particularly important.

During our hunt, the client fell in love with a simple yet elegant dark wood sideboard/media cabinet, framed in brushed brass. This and a pair of warm metal étagères became the start of our furnishing plan. To balance the dark woods in the kitchen and furniture, we opted for strong colours for our seating pieces in the living area. Our client favoured a sleek mid-century look sofa with channel-quilted back and we found a swivel chair to complement it, covering both in luxe jade-toned velvet.

Based on the condo specs, we had originally planned to separate the kitchen from the living area by placing the étagères on either side of the sofa. But when we were able to visit the site, we found the main wall was a few inches shy of what we expected! We decided to re-think the layout before proceeding.

Now, a pair of burled wood stools, teamed with mod gold-toned floor lamps, flanks the sofa. The swivel chair sits by the kitchen island, its bold jade colour and high back acting as a visual separation from the workspace. Those must-have étagères found a home opposite the kitchen, and do double duty as bar storage. One of them even disguises the A/C unit that is unattractively situated along this wall. With strong elements at the perimeters of the narrow living area, we needed an "invisible" coffee table to reduce visual clutter. The glass waterfall table we found is distinguished by its extra curves and feminine shape. Breaking with the predominantly contemporary vibe, we brought in a soft sand-toned Persian rug to satisfy the client's taste for traditional touches. A wall of teal strie silk drapery catches the eye right at the front door.

The miniscule den functions as the client's home office/make-up area, so we needed a large desk. And since the space is visible from the rest of the living area, it had to be beautiful and clutter-free as well. A generous cream coloured writing table with antique gold art deco base fits the bill. A petite wall-mounted bookshelf squeezes in books and baskets of supplies, while the printer sits at the bottom of a clear glass cart that slips unobtrusively under the desk when not in use.

From the beginning, we had envisioned using wallpaper in the living area to highlight the seating arrangement and soften the transition from the kitchen cabinets. We found so many possibilities that we decided to use wallpaper in other areas as well. In the living area, metallic paper with a muted script design offers continuity with the tone of the backsplash tiles. In the den, a soft tree design on teal background contrasts with the cream desk and adds oomph to the space, while repeating the blue-green tones of the upholstery. And then we found a fractured agate pattern in feminine tones of rose quartz and gold that we just HAD to use in the bedroom.

That wallpaper inspired the soft mauve for the custom headboard, its channel quilting echoing that of the sofa. The gold tones of the drapery were also pulled from the pattern. Contrasting these soft notes is silky deep teal bedding -- found by the client -- that brings in the rich tones of the living area.

With its sparkle of glass, gold-toned metals, and notes of jade and quartz, this condo truly is a tiny jewel box!