After 15 years as a stay-at-home mom,
Bryk wasn’t completely aware of the direction that
her home renovation projects would one day take her.
In fact, it wasn’t until Bryk and her husband moved
their young family into their current residence in
Toronto’s east end that her design career took full flight.
Although most of us would never consider
investing in a former rooming house, Bryk could
see the potential that went beyond the raccoons
and other creatures inhabiting the dwelling.
Even after the bank refused to grant the couple a
mortgage on this much-loved yet dilapidated
three-story brick home, Bryk says “there were
syringes on the floor, but all I saw was the
incredible crown molding.” A fortuitous
connection with a television producer helped them
secure the home, along with a successful reality
show. As a result, they moved into their home with
cameras chronicling the highlights and pitfalls
that’s all part of home renovating in the DIY
Network’s Family Under Construction. Following
the success of her first series, this season on HGTV
Canada’s Bryk House, she brings her client’s design
dreams to life while carefully navigating the waters
of a her new business venture.
Although the stakes are high, it’s perhaps
Bryk’s unparalleled commitment to each project
that has contributed to her growing client base,
especially among women. Bryk says that time and
again, clients have said that her attentive nature
enables her to establish strong relationships with
them. “By taking my cues from my clients, they feel
I listen to them,” explains Bryk. “I’m not going to
decide how it should be done, but I do put a slight
spin of my own on it.” In fact, it’s her ability to
nudge them a bit outside of their comfort zone that
enables her to customize homes that reflect a
client’s personality. At the same time, she’s
conscience of the need to keep architectural
elements classic in design while using accessories
that incorporate a new trend or are reflective of the
season.
While she may be slightly reluctant to
push her clients over the edge, Bryk often opts to
introduce an urban aesthetic in her own historic
dwelling. “I like that juxtaposition of the classic
architecture infused with an urban and industrial
feel.” When it comes to achieving a space that
appears so effortlessly pulled together, Bryk says
you have to know what you love, which isn’t always
easy and can take time. “Be patient; it’s tough
to step back and take the time to really listen
to yourself.” After pulling together her share of
camera-ready homes, Bryk’s all about repurposing
what you’ve already got. She continues to work
with what she’s got through her intuitive design
sense coupled with an ability to see things a little
differently. This serves Bryk well as she cements her
design career, one brick at a time.