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Instead of hunting for a dream apartment, this Toronto couple made their own—in the lowest level of her family’s home.
When Ryoo Kim jokingly suggested moving into her parents’ basement in Richmond Hill, Ontario, she didn’t expect anyone to take it seriously. But as financial pressures mounted in the downtown Toronto condo she shared with her partner, Phil Chan—with three pets taking turns getting sick, unstable income, and mounting isolation—the joke became a lifeline.
"It started off like, wouldn’t it be so funny if we just moved into my parents’ place?" Ryoo says. "And then over time, as different stressors built, it became more like, maybe this could happen if we just explored it."
Before: Living Room
After: Living Room
A continuous birch plywood millwork spine anchors the 1,200-square-foot apartment, concealing structural columns and ductwork while organizing storage, display, and work spaces in one fluid gesture.
Rémi Carreiro
A Luminaire Authentik dining table and Hay chairs sit beneath a Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant. The Ligne Roset Togo sofa was a vintage find.
Rémi Carreiro
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: This $290K Revamp Makes a Strong Case for Moving Into Your Parents’ Basement
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By: Stacey McLachlan
Title: Budget Breakdown: This $290K Revamp Makes a Strong Case for Moving Into Your Parents’ Basement
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-hunting-ridges-basement-apartment-one-to-one-design-ontario-2346727d
Published Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:31:46 GMT
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