When I moved to Toronto from Vancouver, I traded in a roomy two-bedroom condo for a 450-square foot one. As a stern minimalist, the transition was tough, but I found ingenious new ways to store all my shoes—no, they are not stored in my oven, although I did consider it for a second! Achieving minimalism is certainly easier having ditched my television and all its messy components. I find myself finally reading all the books displayed on my bookshelf and the millions of magazines I subscribe to monthly.

When it comes to home décor, I gravitate towards clean lines and mid-century modern furniture. I like to keep my space fairly neutral, with bright pops of colour throughout, whether it’s my yellow Eames rocker, my neon Pop Phone, or the red kettle on the kitchen counter. Having studied fine art, I have a great appreciation for abstract painting and I collect pieces by young Canadian artists. My professor once said that “art needs room to breathe,” so I try to avoid filling my space with unnecessary knickknacks—unless they hold a sentimental value, or they belong to my dog Bun.

Aside from my sea of books, family heirlooms, and art, I like to keep things and clutter out of sight. There is definitely no room for unsightly tissue boxes. Most of my readers are already aware of my admiration for designer Isaac Mizrahi, so it’s not a surprise that I adore his partnership with Kleenex. Displaying these elegant boxes doesn’t interfere with my minimal style, but accentuates it through the pop art aesthetic—definitely a far cry from granny tissue boxes of the past.