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The kitchen, "my favourite room" of Katie Green shot in Montreal, January 21, 2013.Christinne Muschi/The Globe and Mail

The 1,200-square-foot, one-bedroom condo that Katie Green purchased in Old Montreal in 2011 came with a fully renovated kitchen and loads of historic charm. Built in 1842 as a tavern and grocery store, the heritage building has retained many of its original architectural details, particularly in the kitchen. Green, who is the brand communications manager for L'Oréal and worked previously in public relations at the Vancouver Olympics, likes to relax in the room. "I often spend long days in the office speaking to media, working on product launches and events," the 30-year-old Ontario native says, "so I find it calming and rewarding to sip wine at the island, listening to music."

The wall

"This stone wall was part of the original building and is often a point of conversation with friends who come to visit. This wall sets the tone for the condo: solid, beautiful, historic and unique."

The espresso machine

"I love my Jura espresso machine. It has red panels on the sides and a small footprint. It is my saviour, given to me before the start of the Vancouver Olympics by my mother. It saw me through some very long days and stressful times."

The island

"The kitchen island, made of quartz, is wellplanned from an architectural point of view, with one end angled and wider than the other, creating an interesting sense of space in the room."

The large light fixture

"The light fixture is substantial and has four Edison light bulbs hanging inside a wrought-iron frame filled with glass. The size and weight of the piece are simpatico with the statement of the wall and the beams. There is a uniformity of composition and proportion in the condo that is very aesthetically pleasing. But I can't take credit for the fixture; it came with the apartment."

The wall beam

"The beam is a solid, single piece of spruce. What I love most about this feature in my space is the effect that it has at night. The beam is lit by a spotlight that shines up from the bottom, setting the wood aglow in such a beautiful and rustic way. It adds so much character and mood to the space."

The painting

"This art piece by Ellen Scobie, featuring 15 different layered photographs of parks superimposed on top of each other, carries so many memories with it, making it priceless to me. I got it in Vancouver at a unique fundraiser called Timeraiser, where local artists donated a work of art for charity. I bought it by doing 150 hours of charitable work as mandated by the event. Every day it reminds me of the joy that can come from generosity and philanthropy."

The Moroccan lamp

"This fixture was found on trip to Spain and Morocco in 2011. My boyfriend and I carried it home wrapped in newspaper. We expected someone to confiscate it at every step of our journey. But it made it home, albeit a little bashed in. The asymmetry only makes it all the more endearing."

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