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!

DIY: Spraying Backsplash

So when I moved into my place I hated my kitchen. The cabinets were this light peach colour which I painted dark brown the weekend I moved in (I couldn't last a week). Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of the space then but I'm sure you can visualize the peace eyesore.

I wasn't excited about the backsplash and the floor tiles either but changing them was a project that I had to warm up to. One Friday evening, about 4 months back, I finally got the guts to change my backsplash. Now,  I didn't feel right about taking a hammer to the backsplash since the tile were in great condition. It was really only the colour that I didn't like. So I decided to spray them. A decision I wish I made years before! Love the results!!!

Kitchen before transformation

After giving the tiles a light sanding, I degreased and stubbed the tile down to get rid of any dirt. I then covered the cabinets and countertop with plastic and started priming. If you are going to try this make sure wear a mask and ventilate your space by opening windows and door. Safety first! I recommend using Restoleum spray primer. Take your time when spraying and use light even strokes. You need to build light lighters of paint, letting each layer dry in-between. If you are too aggressive with the nozzle and spray too much you can get bubbles or runs in the paint. Not a look you want to have.

I then used the same technique while using Restoleum Painter's Touch white semi-gloss spray paint. It is important to make sure that the primer has fully dried before moving on the this step. If you don't you risk the the primer bubbling up in you.

You will have to go over the tiles a couple times to make sure that that you haven't missed anything and to ensure that you get an even finish. Once you are finished BE VERY CAREFUL while peeling off the tape. For the best results I would score the tape with an exacto knife to make sure you don't peel off all your hard work with the tape.

I finished off by caulking the countertop-backsplash junction point with clear caulking just to make sure everything was sealed in.  Here is the finished product! (Note: this picture was taken weeks later after painting the cabinets a Cracked Pepper Grey and painting the back wall in Chinchilla White. Let me know how your own backsplash venture goes!

Fall Colour Trend. Not Just for Fashion!

I always find that when September hits not only do the brightly coloured hues of summer fashion leave us for another year, but so does the fresh pops of colour on the home decor front. If you really take note you can see a strong correlation between fashion and home decor. The same colour trends seem to pop in fashion and interior design from season to season. It is like the two are close cousins in a family where intermingling is highly encouraged.

While perusing Pantone's website to get some colour inspiration in preparation of my quarterly home redecoration, I came across Pantone's Fall 2012 Fashion Color Trend Report.

There are a few yummy colours that wouldn't just look great in my closet but in my home. Anyone who knows me know that I love grey, so the featured titanium is a definite favourite. I'm also loving the honey gold, pink flambé and rose smoke. I have no doubt that these will find a way into my 800 sq. ft. in the next couple of weeks!

So in the spirit of fall fashion, I left you some timbits of some gorgeous jackets, trenches and dresses you can expect to see this season and some fabulous fall decorating pallets for your home.

High/Low: Farmhouse Inspired Breakfast Nook

Style At Home's High/Low: Farmhouse Inspired Breakfast Nook. Two rooms, one style. One of them cost $4,756 while  the other $1,357.  Can you tell which one is which?

Before I dive into the cost reveal, I'd first like to comment on how closely matched these two spaces are. Besides the shade of orange on the chairs, light fixture and base of the table, the difference is hardly recognizable. Bravo Style At Home! This farmhouse inspired breakfast nook is so vibrant with its pops of orange and yellow. Not to mention that the colour pallet clings on to the last few weeks of summer while allowing a smooth transition over to fall. I approve!

Ok, without further adieux, let's get to how much it costs to get this fresh look. The nook on the left is the cost effective option coming in at under $3000 less than the look on the right. Under close examination there are definite signs. The marble top and sleek profile of the Saarinen-style table, the vintage steel and aluminum bran pendant light and the Dualit New Generation Classic two-slice toaster from William-Sonoma. That being said, the eco-option still gives you the same look without much sacrifice in style.

Now to all my fellow thrifters, I can't sign off without saying that I still feel that you can achieve this look for even less than the eco-option. Although you won't be able to replicate this exactly, mainly because you never know what you are going to get while thrifting, you can definitely get the essence of the fresh farmhouse inspired look with an open mine, imagination and a little paint. 

   

Small Spaces: Stylish 350 Sq. Ft. Studio Apartment

This is a perfect display of stylish living in a small space! I love seeing great design but I especially love seeing great design in the tinniest of spaces. It's almost like we are a whole community of small space dwellers trying to inject life into these boxes that we live in! This 350 sq. ft. studio apartment, designed by Joel Bray, shows how a studio apartment can be transformed into a fabulous home by being sectioned in to functional areas. Seating for 4, a nice cozy "bedroom" and a perfectly sized kitchen. What else can you ask for? Not to mention he's done it with impeccable style. Joel also uses great tricks to make the studio feel spacious, like the cohesive colour palette and the use of dual function furniture. This makes me feel like moving into a studio apartment just to see what I can do with it!

Watch more videos at House and Home TV

Weekend Project: Stained Side Table

I found this side table while thrifting and knew right away that I had to take it home with me. It had great line, was made of solid wood and had this neat garage style sliding door feature that made it unique! All it needed was a dark stain job and some interesting paper on the inside to hide scratches and it would look like a gem!

I started by giving the side table a quick cleaning to get all the dirt off then began my hours of sanding, (and yes, I mean HOURS of sanding!) Once all the old finish had been sanded off it was time to stain. I used Minwax Wood Finish in an nice dark ebony colour. The Minwax stain is a pretty good choice because it stains and seals the wood, so you don't have to worry about going back and sealing the whole piece.

Once I stained the whole piece and I sprayed the inside of the piece with Restoleum flat black spray paint and covered it with a grey peel and stick cabinet draw protector. I just cut the paper to size, peeled the wax paper back gradually while sticking it down to the bottom of each drawer.

This was a great weekend project and besides the labour intensive sanding it was relatively easy. It now has a home at my brother's place as his night table.

Expanding our Square Footage on Pintrest!

Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. has just joined Pintrest! I'm not quite sure why I am just being introduce to the fabulousness of Pintrest, but seriously! What a great tool! Check out my pin boards like Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. Loves, Fab Furniture, Sq. Ft. You, Small Spaces, and Framsation for bright home decor ideas and fun finds.

If you don't have an account get one pronto. It's a great way to stay organized with items you find over the internet and browse other pin boards for home decor ideas. You can also follow Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. on Pintrest for home decor inspiration and to stay up to date with fun finds like this amazingly sexy painted bias armchair from anthropologie!