Monday, July 29, 2013

Small Space Living...

We are about to put our house on the market and have started looking at potential new living spaces. We are looking to simplify our lives, well at least the living space we occupy.
The idea of having to maintain a yard and a old home no longer appeal to either of us.
So, we are selling our home and downsizing. Figured less stuff...god knows we don't need as much stuff as we have. Really, it's amazing how much one accumulates when you live in a big space with lots of storage. I bet you there is stuff I haven't touched since we moved in 9+ years ago...that is frightening. So, smaller we go!
That has lead me to think about how one goes about designing and styling a small space.

Here are 10 tips to living successfully in a small space:

1. Use full size furniture: Miniature furniture just makes the space feel awkward plus who wants to curl up in a little chair to read a book on a cold, rainy day...not I!


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2. Create an illusion of space: Hang curtains floor to ceiling, strategically place mirrors, use clear furniture like Lucite.

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3. Maximize the utilization of everything: furniture that can be used for storage, sofas that can become a guest bed, nesting tables, desks that can be turned into a dining table...you get the picture.


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4. Go UP: Make the walls work for you...take bookcases to the ceiling, hang as much as you can.

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5. Color, color, color: There is much debate which way to go...light vs dark...the usual story but both can work! Dark colors make the walls recede which gives the illusion of a bigger space...Light colors create a sense of  openness.

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6. Create "rooms": establish separate areas for all the things you do...sleep, eat, work! This can be as simple as paint color, strategic placement of furniture, temporary walls.

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7. Edit to amplify: If you bring something in you better be ready to take something out. There is no hoarding when you live in a small space.

8. Think outside the box: We think curio cabinet means storing curiosities but why not shoes or books, entry halls...turn it into a library. Be creative and shift your assumptions.

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9. Treat it like a palace: Just because it's small doesn't mean you can't add glamour and elegance. Live it up by painting the walls in a high lacquer paint, add chandeliers, use lush fabrics.

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10. Storage Strategy: Maximize every inch...if you have a small niche turn it into a closet, build shelves and hide it with a curtain behind a bed, store under the bed...it will keep you from going crazy. Promise!

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You can make a cozy, beautiful and functional place to call home in a smaller footprint.
I'll keep you posted on our home adventure. Let's see if we really can go from 1700 sq ft to 700.

Ciao,
F

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Industrial tables...

Had an impromptu picking excursion on Sunday with a friend and found a very cool industrial table for a couple of bucks. It's got a wood plank top and steal legs that are shape like upside down V's.
Probably not the best description and of course I don't have a picture...I'll see if I can remember to post one to FB in the next couple of days.
Any hoo, it made think about other industrial tables out there and what people were doing with them...


Love the roll of butcher paper at the end of this one...

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Studio table with a large caster and a built in stool...

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Drafting table...

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In a living room, for typing...

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As kitchen counters...
 
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Then there is always the dining room...

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Don't fear a little industrial in any space, you can mix it in anywhere...promise!

Ciao,
F

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Picking gods...

This weekend the picking gods were smiling down on us.
We had so much fun picking...there was something amazing at
each stop we made, really! It made it that much more fun as we
tried to figure out where and how we were going to cram one more
thing into the car. One guy told us we looked like the Beverly Hill Billies,
we took it as a complement.
A few pics of the treasures we dug up this weekend...


The first load...





WWII Naval ship writing desk/cabinet...



This is now for sale at Stars Antique Mall...


Metal goodness...









Farm tables...




One of the best we have had in a while...it's so much more fun to pick when you find what you wanted to find.
Remember, if you ever see anything here on the blog or on our Facebook page you are interested in buying, feel free to convo us. We love to sell what we find...really we do. :)


Ciao,
F

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Stars Antique Mall...

This weekend is the Expo Antique show which means Stars pulls out all the stops and has a BIG sale starting tomorrow through Sunday at Stars, Splendid and Stars Too!
This was inspiration to do a complete re-haul on my space at Stars Antiques. Our booth is going to be 20% off all four days. So if you are planning on going to Expo be sure to save some time to stop by Stars Antique Malls!









I love working in my booth merchandising and telling stories. It's part of the joy of what I do. It's almost as much fun as the hunt. Can't wait till I can get back in next week to tell more stories.


Ciao,
F

Friday, July 5, 2013

The Cottage Vintage Market...

This Sunday, July 7th, we will be spending our day at 1st Sunday Flea Market at The Cottage (2819 east Evergreen blvd) in Vancouver, WA. Some of the best of the Northwest vintage vendors will be there. Market is open 10-3.

Here is a sneak peek of what we will be bringing...









We can't wait and hope we will get to see all of you too!

Ciao,
F

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Wall space...

There are so many ways to cover a wall, traditionally wallpaper or paint color (other then white) are what most of us lean towards but if you can't decide on a paint color and wallpaper is too big of a commitment then why not art.

Pick a single subject or style...

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Layer color, color, color...

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Make your own family...

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Get religious...


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Find what it is you love,
collect it,
and hang it!

Ciao,
F