Miranda’s “if a gothic seamstress raided an enchanted library” bedroom

The offbeat occupant: Miranda Whittaker, Library worker, crafty DIYer for hire, blogger
Other occupants: Assorted cats but mainly Willow (grey tabby).
The tour: Under 650 square foot gothic bedroom
Lives in: Uptown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
When did you move into this home? 22 years.

Let’s start with the neighborhood. What’s it like where you live?

This is the part of Toronto that I grew up in and it is changing before my eyes. When I returned here from living at uni, there were condos springing up all around me. At one point there was construction surrounding my building on all four sides. Several local businesses have been replaced by yoga studios and fancy cupcake bakeries. My work is local (no commute for me!) and the challenging needs of a changing community are always on my mind.

What makes your home offbeat?

If a Steampunk pirate and a Gothic seamstress raided an enchanted library and then stopped by a plethora of flea markets and craft shops, I imagine they’d end up with my room exactly.

What’s the most challenging about this space? How do you deal with the challenge?

Shared living space are always a challenge, even when everyone gets along. It is clear that my creative activities must be confined to this room, just as the cooking must be done in the kitchen. It was tricky to arrange my space to suit multiple functions. Finding a fold-away work table helped a lot!

What’s your favorite feature of your home? I admit that having a walk-in closet is excellent. But I just love that my room is MINE. As an introvert I need time to myself and that means a room of my own with a door I can close. This is a delicate matter when living with family, but roommate scenarios are just as tricky to negotiate. You have to be diplomatic.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from this home?

1. It’s better to build up with shelves than to eat up floor space.
2. Everything needs a place of its own.
3. Damage free poster stickies are great but you need a lot of them.
4. Cats will climb wherever you leave space on your shelves.
5. No painting of any kind should ever be done on the floor.

What advice do you have for other offbeat Homies?

Virginia Woolf was absolutely right about needing a room of one’s own to be creative. I would add that everyone needs one just to be their own person.

Any stuff or services you want to recommend?

• 3D paper dragons by Hip and Clavicle on Etsy.
• Fabric for bedspread was purchased from Sew Be It sewing studio and shop on Younge St, Toronto.
• Hecate print by Egregor Design, found on Society 6 site.
• Silhouette Print by The Odd Emporium on Etsy.
• Socialize and Robot posters from Dresden Codak
• Silhouette cushion covers, geometric throw blanket and light-blocking curtain are all from Fabricland.