Small Items that make a HUGE Statement

1. Lamps: Call them multifunctional for adding light and also being a piece of decor; but lamps are something every small apartment should have. Overhead light can be too harsh but lamps can light the hard-to-get places. For me, two or three white lamps will really bring out the fact I'm going with a chocolate and white theme. Plus, I really like white lamps. 
2. Shower curtains and matching hand towels: Coordinating these two small items in your bathroom means you need to do little else do dress up your bathroom. Using matching colours like tan, red or forest green keeps everything looking very neat. A matching rug would also be optimal as well. 
3. Flowers/Plants: A simple few pots of live plants makes a very large impact, even in a small house. You don't need to have a bamboo tree for your place to look great. A vase of fresh roses or dahlias, or an aloe plant by the window looks refreshing and also freshens up the air. People worry sometimes about too much state-of-the-art technology but going back to the roots makes for a cozy home. 
4. Clocks - Clocks come in all different shapes and colours, from round and white to square and wooden. Not only do clocks tell the time, but having one in a room just seems to always feel right. Everybody will occasionally glance at the clock to see what time they may need to leave, or what time their show comes in. Soon, you'd wonder what you did without one. Picking one with your kind of taste--whether oversized or small and chic, is the fun of it. 

Have Home, Will Decorate

SOME DECOR I PUT TOGETHER (AND THE TABLE TO BE PAINTED)--SIMPLISTIC.

GAUCHO PAINT LIVENS UP THE KITCHEN/LIVING-ROOM AND KEEPS IT MODERN SO I THOUGHT USING IT WITH WHITE ACCENTS WOULD WORK.

Thanks to Home Hardware, IKEA and our own homes, our home is semi-decorated. The paintings/wall shelves have not gone up because we were painting the walls gaucho brown. I think it is a lovely brown colour--not too light and not too dark. I was hoping for a chocolate colour but everybody feared it would be too dark for our small space. Since we are having our first guests over on Saturday, we have 2 more days to put some more touches on the place but for three days in, we haven't done pretty bad.

I have to say--painting without painter's tape is...difficult, at best. But we were determined and even though there is paint smeared on the ceiling, we are too tired to care. Tomorrow I am painting the black IKEA table white with some extra paint to keep the apartment fresh and bright, and add a white lamp and some white sconces to brighten the walls and add a sheen to the walls. Our bookshelf is empty but it will be filled with books and decor soon. Keeping the decor white makes the darker walls seem very modern. 

THE BEFORE PICTURE--PLAIN AND BORING

Whatever you put your mind up to, you can do it. It's all about getting out of your comfort level and being adventurous. Your condo/apartment does not need to look like everybody's else. It can have it's own appeal and speak of your own personality. I can't wait to see our place look fabulous and my own inspiration is originality from other people's own homes.

Working with Small Spaces

People often see a closet and use it as a closet, but sometimes that space would be better utilized as a small office or a bookshelf. I see a lot of little spaces in the apartment I want to use to its best ability like little ledges and window spaces. You can do a lot with a bit of space! All you have to do is think about functionality and be creative. How will it benefit you? Will yo get use out of it? Is it something you need? Some people cannot do with a dining table but if their apartment is too small, a dropleaf table can be a dining table and also a desk when not in use for eating. Areas that are used for multi-tasking are best in small spaces, it isn't like there is room for a sitting room, a parlour room, the den, etc to all be separate. Though we wish!

In Love With My Place

So now I'm moved in and some things have been unpacked I'm ready to do the funnest thing--PAINT! Yesterday I headed over to Home Hardware to pick up paint for the living room/kitchen--the first rooms we are going to paint today. The color we chose is called "Gaucho Brown". It was a close call between that and a lovely light gray but we just felt we had a lot of brown/white to work with in the house so it would be natural to go with it. Chocolate and white is such a lovely pair--the white pops against the chocolate colour and adds a homey, cozy feel. Luckily, our couch is brown as well so with a few bright white accent pillows and a white rug...well you can imagine how lovely it will all go. I'm excited/nervous to paint because I've never done it before! Hopefully I don't screw up!

I wanted to work with the walkway\hallway and a door-less closet near the front door. Right now we are storing the mop/brown etc in it but I am going to paint, add a mirror and a chest of drawers and some sconces. We will use it to put our mail, car and house keys, dog leash/collar, poop bags and miscellaneous items you have when you're walking in the door like a place to put a box of delivery pizza while you pay the delivery guy. I forgot we had a walk-in closet and plan to add lower drawers from IKEA for shoes and add some mirrors/art and a rug to lighten it up. It's a fantastic closet and I think if we unclutter ourselves, it will work for us. The bathroom just needs a new shower curtain, window curtains, some art, some nice soap holders, etc, candles and it's ready to rock. The kitchen is perfect we are just going to get a wine rack. I'm going to hang up some paintings today after the paint dries so it's coming along great. Can't wait to show the before/after!

Last Minute Inspiration

"To select well among old things, is almost equal to inventing new ones."
This is very true. That is why there is dozens of interior decorating websites and magazines--to give YOU the inspiration to invent a cool new house/room and also so you'll buy their brandname stuff. 

I LOVE HOW SIMPLISTIC YET HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THIS COZY APARTMENT HAS.

PUTTING PHOTOGRAPHS ABOVE A BED AND PAINTING THE WALL ADDS LIFE AND PERSONALITY!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF BIG WINDOWS, USE A LARGE MIRROR IN IT'S PLACE FOR THE SAME EFFECT

MATCHING THEMES (BLACK & WHITE) AND MONOCHROMATIC COLOURS KEEPS THIS PLACE COOL. NOT TO MENTION THE SMALL DETAILS LIKE A VASE OF FLOWERS AND THE SIDE TABLE!

THE RED CARPET ADDS A PUNCH TO AN OTHERWISE DULL SET UP!

THE WOODEN TREND HERE IS APPEALING AND A SIDE TABLE WITH DECOR OR A COLLECTION OF SOMETHING, PLUS A LAMP IS A NICE WAY TO RAMP UP A BORING ROOM.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SET UP SCREAMS COZY, SERENE AND PEACEFUL. THE USAGE OF POWDER BLUES AND ABSTRACT VIBRANT RENT PAINT WITH STRIPES KEEPS THIS COTTAGE-FRESH LOOK VERY MODERN.

THE USE OF CREAMY LIGHT COLOURS KEEPS A ROOM LIGHT AND BRIGHT AND CHEERY! ADD SOME COMFY PILLOWS AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO!

UTILIZING SPACE AND KEEPING IT LOOKING NICE IS IMPORTANT. HERE, A DESK BEHIND THE SOFA LOOKS VERY NATURAL WITH THE LEATHER EMBOSSED WHITE CHAIR AND MATCHING WHITE DESK. EVERYTHING FLOWS SEAMLESSLY.

A POP OF ACCENT COLOURS IN DECOR CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON A CREME AND WHITE PALETTE.

   I like to just have beautiful rooms on display so I can peruse through them and perk up on anything I see that I'd like for my own space.  There are some creative-minded people out there with fabulously decorated and innovative homes! 

What I Like--Scandinavian Simplicity

Scandinavian style started in the 20th century with Carl Larsson. Any major bookstores like Barnes & Nobles or Indigo will have a few Scandinavian style books in their Interior Design section. Just skimping through the books will you give you a sense of a timeless, classy and minimalist style. You can imagine a lot of neutral colours as it is often cold and wintry there and the Scandinavians wanted to bring as much sunlight in as possible--that is why you will find a lot of white and creme. 

I'm particularly fond of their rustic appeal, like a get-away cottage in the woods. Scandinavians use light colours and they use wood furniture. Dinner chairs are usually made of light wood as well as wooden, bench-like sofas. There is minimal upholstery in the Scandinavian style. Their style is minimalist--there is no clutter and everything is functional and spartan. It's a great look!

Paint Selections

I have pored over what colors to paint each room for months but have narrowed it down finally. I want the living room to be calming and cozy, the bedroom to be lively and the bathroom to be chic. So by room, these are the suggestions. 
Bedroom -  bermuda grass green, bayberry, beechnut or wasabi. 

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YELLOW

WASABI PAINT IS COOL

CARIBBEAN TEAL

Bathroom - tapestry gold, camel, burnt caramel or Carribean teal. (Runner ups: marmalade, Appalachian spring and driftscape tan). 

MARMALADE

CAMEL

Decorate the Kitchen!

I was perusing the supermarket the other day and taking a look around. What makes the supermarket so welcoming? Well, I'm pretty sure it looks as appealing as it does because of the decoration. Fruit is not simply just slapped onto a shelf. No, they are in neat rows or spheres on trendy bamboo baskets and they look good. Why can't we decorate our kitchens with fruit and vegetables like the supermarket does? Wait, we can. 
Even if you don't eat it, decorating your kitchen with food is a great way to make your home more appealing. And maybe if you're really hungry, you'll eat it! Think of the fruits and vegetables that have an interesting aesthetic appeal and stack a few against the counter or in a basket hanging from the wall or somewhere neat. Fruit I'm thinking of is pineapples, lychee fruit, persimmon, bananas, lemons, papayas, avocado and eggplant. If you don't eat them, make sure to get new ones when they begin to go bad so that they don't rot. You can use it for compost or just throw it in a dish. 

I think I'm going to have two medium size baskets filled with pineapple and lemons. Not only is it appealing but citrus fruits also really brightens up your day and put you in a good mood! Try fruits and veggies with different colours to keep it interesting like yellow zucchini, orange carrots, turnips and red tomatos or green broccoli!