I have a picture in my bathroom of a beautiful, picturesque pond. It’s warm and inviting and you can just imagine the cicadas buzzing in the distance when you look at it. Buried very subtly amongst the drooping trees and calm little body of water is a dock, just poking out of the woods. If you look closely you can see a tiny little pig jumping off the dock into the pond. To me, it’s the perfect mix of beauty and humour, and that’s exactly the approach I’ve always taken to decorating the spaces I live in.

The professionals, die-hards and artists found in this issue all take their own approach to decorating. Troy, a kind of boy-wonder of home design, art collecting and lamp loving, likes the home to be inspirational. Bruno, the handsome devil who lives inside the Gladstone Hotel, likes to take big chances and experiment with vibes and twists on classics. Steve Yeates and Jeffrey Douglas, whose glorious abode is part of the Cabbagetown Tour of Homes, like to flex their design muscles but keep things classic and functional.

I have flying pigs, wrought-iron chicken-feet candle holders, hanging wooden fish and a silver-plated cuckoo clock in my place. I like to keep things light, fun and slightly odd.

Are there Ikea leftovers floating around? For sure! That place still carries super-fun pieces. Do I refuse to let go of certain Elvis busts? Of course. And that’s just the point. Like clothing, hair, desks at work, bikes, the insides of cars, we take what we live with and make it our own. We don’t necessarily have to buy $5,000 light fixtures to make a space worth being proud of. Hell, I bought my favourite lamp of all time at a permanent garage sale called Spunky Monkey in Smiths Falls, Ontario, and that shit still stands up today.

By featuring design ’mos like Troy, Bruno, and Steve and Jeffrey in our home issue, I wanted to showcase different ends of the decorating spectrum. No budget, no snobbery, just some ideas that are accessible to everyone. Our city is full of them, and gays are usually at the forefront.

God, we’re good.