Before/After: Chest of Drawers

Last week I was stumped on what to do with this cute chest of drawers I got from a friend. Although we had a poll going on what to do with it, I decided to take the piece in a different direction. Sprayed in a high gloss light grey, deep coral interior and lined with a black and white pin-stripe. I think I looks pretty smart. What do you think?

Great Weekend Read - Apartment Therapy's BIG Book of Small, Cool Spaces.

This weekend was a low key one for me. Whenever I feel like I need to recharge, but can't get away, I go to the places that I love. So I decided to head to Chapters Indigo and to my favourite vintage furniture shops. While at Chapters I found this AWESOME book! Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan. This book is brimming with creative small space ideas and tips. Like Maxwell, I believe that 'size constraints can actually unlock your design creativity and allow you to focus on what's essential' and this book proves it. This is a definite must read for all my fellow small space dwellers. Here is a preview.

Pick up the book or at the very least have a look through it. There are tons of ideas to help you live better in your small space.

Where, Oh Where Do I Go? - Chest of Drawers

A friend of mine gave me this really great chest of drawers a couple weeks back and I can't decide what i want to do with it. I posed the question to our Facebook friends on Eight Hundred Sq. Ft.'s Facebook page and there seems to be a trend forming. What do you think? Which of the six options inspires you? Let me know what you thing by leaving a comment here or on the Facebook page.

Option No. 1

Option No. 2

Option No. 3

Option No. 4

Option No. 5

Option No. 6

Nate Berkus: The Things That Matter. Does Your Home Tell Your Story?

Anyone who knows me knows that I adore Nate Berkus, so I am ecstatic to announce that his new book entitled, The Things that Matter, will be on the shelves on October 16th, 2012.

Setting the tone as a memoir that includes details of the devastating 2004 tsunami when he watched his boyfriend as he was swept away, Nate shares intimate stories about his life taking us through the aftermath, how he put his life back together and his realization that the 'things' that fill our home should be nothing less than a reflection of our lives, loves and passions.

In his book, Nate introduces us to people who influenced him and helped him forge his sense of style, and discusses remarkable experiences that have left an expression on how he lives today. From his most cherished flea market finds, to the many extraordinary mementos he's collected in his travels, he emphasizes how every piece defines who he's become and what endures in his world.

Nate also adds design timbits, invites readers into his NYC apartment and into the home of twelve others, including a sleek steel-and-glass high-rise that soars above Chicago, a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley, an ultra-chic atelier that maximizes every inch of space, a Greenwich Village townhouse that holds multiple art collections, and a study in meaningful minimalism in Marfa, Texas. He shows how the distinctive interiors of all featured home open a window into the lives of their owners and the inspiring choices that have made then who they are today.

The Things That Matter is not just a design book, Nate Berkus shares his philosophy that things do matter, our homes should tell our stories and reflect the places we've been and the people we've loved along the way. Design with an inspirational twist!

 

   

Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. Feature: Margot Austin's 520 Sq. Ft. Home

Margot Austin, Senior Design Editor for House and Home, shows off her 520 Sq. Ft. mid-century home. Filled with personality, pops of bold colour, and vintage finds, she shows how she has incorporated lighting and furniture to fit her small space. Learn her tricks on style on a budget, layering,  updating kitchen cupboards, and injecting style in a small space!

Watch more videos at House and Home TV

Small Space Solutions - 8 Rules for Stylish Living in 800 Sq. Ft.

Rule No. 1 - Put Your Apartment on a Diet. There is nothing that can make your space feel smaller and more cramped than clutter. The first rule for big style in a small space is to put your space on a diet. Declutter, donate and get organized! This alone will help you find space you might have forgotten you had.

Rule No. 2 - Eliminate Obstacles. In a small space an unobstructed view really helps in creating an open and airy environment. If possible you want to be able to stand in the middle of the room and have a clear view around you. Furniture that is unintentionally oversize instantly cuts your visual square footage and makes your space feel smaller.

Rule No. 3 - Wear Your Size. Like fashion, you can never look your best if your cloths are choking you or you are choking your cloths. Fit is everything! Make sure to fill your space with the right size furniture. Small-scale functional furniture is the key.

Rule No. 4 - Use Multi-functional Furniture. There are so many cleaver products on the market today that are geared towards small space living. Incorporating pieces in your home that have more than one function is one of the most effective space saving tricks. It can be as simple as an ottoman with storage or more creative ideas like a picture doubling as a dining table.

Rule No. 5 - Show Off Your Legs. Incorporate leggy furniture into your home. Furniture with legs, as opposed to furniture sitting directly on the ground, creates the illusion of more space because it allows you to see under it. It is the same principle as eliminating obstacles. It helps with opening up not your visual square footage.

Rule No. 6 - Go Vertical. We tend to forget about how much space we have above us. I say, if you can't move outward, move upward. Take advantage of your vertical space by adding floor to ceiling 'anything' in your space. Picture frames, shelving, bookcases... they not only create impact but they also draw the eye up.

Rule No. 7 - Lights, Mirrors and Glass. Adding lights, mirrors and glass to your home will do wonders in expanding your small dwelling. The transparent and reflective surfaces, will add another dimension and inject a bit of shine in your space.

Rule No. 8 - Be Bold. Be Creative. Don't forget that this is your home! Whether it is oversized art or turning your closet into an office, venture out with no fear and leave your personality on your walls. Live large fellow small space dwellers!