Single Girl Bachelor Apartment

You may remember, a few months ago (and through various mention in posts for the past 3 months), when I started this project. "The Single Girl Bachelor": When Ashley, the single girl, contacted me to do her bachelor apartment, I was more that ecstatic to work with her especially after hearing the horrific trials she had been through. Newly migrated to the city, Ashley first found herself living in a basement apartment a little bit smaller than this one. A few months after living in the space, she realized that her respiratory health had decreased tremendously. Something seemed to be in the air. After sometime away from her apartment she was welcomed home with the sight of mold that had grown on ALL her belongings. Her bed, sofa, cloths, shoes... I mean EVERYTHING. My space is my sanctuary, so I cannot even begin to imagine the feeling of coming home to that horror.

So moving into this new rental, Ashley was starting with nothing and a suffocatingly T-I-G-H-T budget to furnish her new space. I knew it would be tough, a definite thrift store and craigslist/kijiji project, but I was up for the challenge. My goal at the end of it was to have Ashley overjoyed with warmth every time she open the door to her place. Maybe in some small way it would help to relieve the pain of her first city rental experience.

The Before

I wasn't kidding when I said that she was starting from scratch with nothing. With the help of my favourite thrift shops and months of scouring the net, here is the reveal of the "Single Girl Bachelor Apartment"; decorating from scratch on a shoe thread budget. 

The Reveal

Small Space, Big ART

I've been working on a design for a new small space I am working on and have been going back and forth on what I can do to add impact. After looking around my own small space for inspiration the answer was right in front of me, taking up space on my feature wall. Art! Not just any art though... LARGE scale, gives-you-no-choice-but-to-look type art.

I love the effect massive art has in a small space. It works just like a wallpapered or a painted accent wall; it draws you in. I haven't decided on the type of art I will be using yet but I do know that it is one of the tricks I will be using to make my client's small space feel like home in a grand way!

Happy Monday Small Space Dwellers!

It's Friday! So Let's Tell Secrets...

*shrieks of excitement* It's Friday! I'm not sure if it's the fact that New Years Day interrupted the week and landed on a Tuesday or if it is the first Friday of the new year but I'm excited that this is the last day of the week! Hence my dancing friends to the left :)  

In the spirit of the day I figured that a little secret telling was in order. A few months ago House Beautiful shared 101 Decorating Secrets from design experts such as Myra Hoefer and Christopher Peacock. 

All timbits of wisdom and trick of the designer trade. Here, I share my favourites. Feel free to share your own timbits of goodness. After all, what's life without a little secret telling *wink*. Have an awesome first Friday of the year and an even better weekend!

Sending love and merry dancing,

This Year's Trend: Break the Rules!

Small Space Dwellers, I must start by sending my love to each of you and wishing you a Happy New Year! I am truly grateful and blessed for the gifts and lessons of 2012 and am excited to see what is in store for 2013! I don't do the resolution thing, mostly because I never keep them...lol, but I do step into each year with a theme. Last year was my year of 'Nakedness' - Living freely without fear of showing who I am and what I love. From this Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. was born, among other wonderful things. This year my theme is 'Limitless'. I am venturing courageously into this 2013th year breaking away the boundaries I used to set for myself about what I can achieve.  This year I am going to live the BREADTH and width of it!

So it was very fitting when I saw this months issue of Style at Home Magazine. They have declared the trend for 2013, 'BREAKING THE RULE, DECORATE THE WAY YOU LOVE', which I completely resonate with. I have always been an advocate for living the way you love and this includes your space; especially when your home is small and space is limited.

To kick off this year of decorating the way you love, I've decided to showcase Designer and Stylist Nicola Marc's 900 sq. ft. 1920s Montreal apartment, a re-feature from Style at Home. Nicola's space immediately evokes a sense of comfort and playfulness. Her choice of an aubergine and mustard palette with pops of moody accents is a definite "swoon". I love her audacity for mixing geometrics, stripes and paisley. She has wonderfully executed a bold yet harmonious design. Definitely "breaking the rules" worthy.

Cheers Small Space Dwellers! Here is to a year of rule breaking and life loving!

XOXO,

Happy Holiday from Me to You!

I just wanted to wish you all a fabulous holidays! Be sure to eat lots, laugh more, and love deeply throughout this festive time!

Big hugs and smiles!!