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. 

How To Spice Up a White Bathroom

The bathroom decor should always be chic and calming. You go to the bathroom to de-stress and to rejuvenate yourself. You want everything to be clean, bright and light. I have a white bathroom and I haven't gotten around to decorating it yet other than hanging up a canvas painting I created a year ago because I've focused primarily on the living room decor. I'm not going to paint the bathroom--I think the white really works in the space and I have wanted to accent the white with some trendy red decor like shower curtains, vase, soap dish, etc. Keeping it bright and cheery is a nice way to enjoy a bathroom. Red and white striped hand towels would put the icing on the cake!

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! 

Basement Bellissima

I am hell bent on creating a basement space that is modern, artsy and functional. One that does not necessarily feel like a basement. I want to accentuate the windows and bring in as much natural\artificial light as possible so this means clip-on shelf lights, lamps and mirrors. I never really thought about lamps before. I always assumed the ceiling pot lights would be fine, but the more light, the merrier!

You wouldn't expect a lot of greenery in a basement so house plants that can survive in shade are on my top list of things to get. I think wall sconces add a baroque, traditional element and will look great against the paint! So to liven up a basement flat these are some good things to get:

-lamps
-lights that attach to your shelving
-floor to ceiling bookshelf
-light coloured paint
-wall sconces
-mirror opposite your window

-accentuating the basement windows (sheer curtains, perhaps?)

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!

Ceiling Shelving

Whoever thought of ceiling shelving is ingenious and fantastic. For those short on space, building vertically is like one of the few viable options but it could be chic. We have high ceiling space that most people don't utilize because they do not think storing things so high is very convenient. But it can look chic and be functional, and keep floor space clear making the apartment look organized and neat. 

CEILING SHELVES IS CHIC AND PRACTICAL

WHEN SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM, BUILD VERTICALLY

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZING WITH CEILING SHELVES

I plan to put ceiling shelving in the apartment because space is already at a premium. On the shelving, I will store important documents, a few pieces of decor and books/movies. That way I can use the floor space for things like an easy chair or an ottoman or just walking space. It's such a clever idea! 

It's The Little Things

I'm not sure if many people pay a lot of attentions to their bathrooms but I'm very critical of mine. I think toilet paper should be in cute wicker baskets, and the hand-soap should be aroma-therapeutic and in an aesthetically pleasing bottle (or if it's a soap, it should be in a beautiful soap dish). I think the hand towels should be of a high quality and matching, and things shouldn't be cluttered on the edge of the tub. I think the bathroom mat should be soft and the toilet sparkling clean.

I think the lighting and wallpaper\paint should be modern and there should be something attractive on the walls whether it's a mirror, cabinetry or some paintings. I have high expectations for my bathroom. I expect it to deliver =)

Here's some tips for a clean bathroom from www.homedit.com 
1) Irrespective of the size of your bathroom, whether it is big or small, only stock those things in the bathroom which are required on a daily basis.

2) Throw away the empty bottles of shampoo, cream, old toothpastes and old buckets without being attached to them thinking that they may be used someday.
3) Make it a point to flush the commode after every use. If there is no water in the system then throw a bucket of water into the commode.
4) Store a spray bottle with disinfectant cleaner under the sink along with some wipes or a roll of toilet paper. If you desire to be thrifty, vinegar and water also makes a good cleaning solution. With this solution, wipe the toilet seat, under the seat and also around the bowl. Scrub the inside of a toilet weekly.
5) Spray the cleaning solution in the sink also, and a quick wipe with a towel will not allow the dirt to accumulate.
6) Do not allow the soap scum to build up in the shower area. After a bath, rinse the bathtub and the titles with warm water. After the soap residue is rinsed, gently wipe the floor and walls with a soft cloth. Moreover, bar soap is the main culprit behind soap scum. Liquid soap and shower gel cause less soap scum to develop.
7) If there are any leafy faucets, sewage pipes or fault flush systems, rectify them immediately.
8)If there is a window in the bathroom, open it every day in the morning so that sunlight and fresh air can travel in.
9) Do not forget to place a dust bin inside your bathroom and use it for disposing used tampons, condoms, floss, used tissues, etc. Do not allow the trash to pile up and empty the bin every day.

How a bathroom should look

A powerful, chrome shower-head goes a LONG way

A tidy, chic way to store TP

10) Install a bathroom exhaust fan or else place a good room freshener in the bathroom.

Sprucing Up the Kitchen

There isn't much you can do with a tiny apartment kitchen except for large scale renovations or changing the materials. Since we haven't bought the flat, we are not going to do costly renos on it. But there should be small ways to spruce it up and make it look more modern and chic.

I've been brainstorming for days and trying to remember everything in detail about the U-shaped kitchen. I don't like the counter material which is an off-white solid surface polymer-based counter. I would prefer soapstone or ceramic, and ideally granite. I would like to fix the counters somehow or draw attention away from them. One thing I've thought of is to put something on the wall near the counters that is stunningly beautiful like a stainless steel spice rack or a distracting cafe art painting  (I have one).

To modernize the space, I was thinking of taking out the lights and adding something more modern in shape but then I realized we had pretty modern, practical pot lights. Really state of-the-art, stainless steel appliances would be great like a toaster and a fancy coffeemaker. I am staring at the cabinets like hmm...what can I do with it? I was thinking of painting them an even brighter, brilliant and shiny hue of white. Anything darker would be a disaster in a small kitchen.  I also had a friend who put a slab of granite over her hideous counters and it really did look great. I was thinking of doing the same--just buying a thin slab of granite and covering a large area of counter-top. Aesthetic beauty is more important to me that function sometimes lol.

MY KITCHEN *FUTURE*

TINY KITCHEN BUT CHIC

Those are the best ideas I could come up with for now. I'm trying to scour kitchen articles but it's usually for huge model kitchens of mansions. Like I said earlier, I see potential with this apartment.

The Tiny Bedroom

I won't complain about having a pea-sized bedroom. New York flats have 500 square feet and look phenomenal, so I'm going to try my best to make do especially with an incredulous partner who has no idea how in any universe I am going to fit a bed that can hold the two of us into this remarkably tiny space. 

I'm relying on luck and precise measurement here but a tall bed with storage underneath and no headboard in a double size should suffice although that is all that will fit in the bed. If this is not the case, we will have to just get a solid wood bed base and a mattress in the style of a platform bed a la Japanese style. The problem is the room. If we put a bed in, will we have to climb over the bed to get to the bathroom each time and will the bathroom door even close?

At worst, I will have to resort to a single bed and use it as a guest room for visitors. At least our friends will have a cozy room to sleep in!

I have decided the room needs to be funky cool so I wanted to go with a canary yellow paint and blue decor such as painted royal blue wall shelves, royal blue bedding and royal blue curtains for the window. 

Trip To IKEA

Getting the practical stuff for the house and some tidbits from IKEA turned out to be fun! Wheeling through aisles (who doesn't like buggy rides?) and fifty-cent hot dogs is a great way to spent your Thursday. Among the things we bought is a comic-art painting, two stool bars, some behind-the-door hangars, 3 canvas paintings (one is of a wall painting, another is Buddha), a Michael Angelo sculpture (of just the head), some wall shelving I'm going to re-paint and some mugs. 

We got a couple of these and I'm reupholstering some seat pads!

This dish rack is one of my favourite. Quite modern.

This was a piece I liked because it isn't a traditional bookshelf and looks like a ladder. Sold!

Other things we've checked off for our next visit is kitchen shelving, cutting board, a small desk\laptop table, bed, rug, 2 mirrors, plates, more wall shelving and the items in the picture. As for the decor, I prefer to visit this vintage shop on Queen St West that has amazing prices and some cool pieces (like this ultra modern coffee table)

Off to Furniture Shops

Bringing the camera along to photograph pieces of furniture we approve ^^ Oh fun!

What About the Socks?

What I really love about architecture and design is how somebody can turn space into something beautiful. Something that is an empty square, circle or rectangle is suddenly turned into a masterpiece and you just kick yourself because you would never have though to add a kitchen island in a tiny condo or use soapstone counters in the bathroom to contrast black marble walls. I think architects--talented architects--are some of the best geniuses in the world. 

I forgot to give any thoughts to the laundry room. I have stacked laundry machine\dryer and from what I remember when viewing the apartment (which I'll take photos of this Thursday to help me furnish) is that there were some shelves. I think using the closet beside the laundry room or adding some shelving in the laundry room would be ideal so I could put an ironing board, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets and all that other stuff you might need for your laundry like stain remover, bleach, etc. I think an organized laundry room would make it appealing and even a photo frame or two would just take it to the next level. Perhaps it might even make doing laundry enjoyable!

ORGANIZEIWTHSANDY.COM

Minimalist Attitude

When moving to their first home, a lot of young adults stock up on a lot of stuff--things which they may rarely use. Less is always more, and the less you have the more use you'll get out of what is already there. Many people do not own a microwave because they don't really microwave their food--they enjoy cooking and can easily re-heat a dish in the oven or on the stove-top. I realized I wouldn't need a microwave. How often did I use a microwave in 2010? Maybe less than 10 times. 

All the things that clutter and cause chaos need to go--in your life and in your home. Simple vintage lamps of wrought iron add a romantic, simplistic look to a simple living room. If it was up to me, there wouldn't even be a television but ..it's not. All the color we need in the kitchen is in the vibrant fruits and vegetables that don't belong in the fridge, beautiful bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and romantic spice containers (green for coriander, yellow for curry, red for paprika--it's art right there). I recently seen an amazing black and white minimalist townhouse on HGTV done by Genevieve and it was modern, sexy and still functional. Everything just flowed well together and recreating that look would be a treat for me. 

Temporary Studio

   My Christmas has been merry thanks to the LL letting me know the Annex digs are ours for keeps, yay! It's a nice little Christmas present I wasn't expecting! The holidays has been a busy and expensive time what with all the gift-giving, driving (gas is $1.115 right now) and all that food so I'm grateful apartment-hunting days are behind me. 
   I did miss the IKEA Half-off sale which is a huge bummer but hey--there's always a good sale for a savvy sale-hunter! And from now until our move in date, we will be too busy to get stuff and probably too broke (thank you, amazing deals at the malls!) :) 
    I'm not worried--that's what improvising is for. We have a futon sofa that is huge and it can double as a bed until we pick up a proper bed at IKEA. The problem is, our bedroom is SO itsy I'm thinking of making that space into an office\wardrobe room and leaving the living-room area open concept with a bed\couch and the TV\office area. It sounds like it likely won't work though but maybe for a month that's what we'll do--while we settle in. 
     The studio idea is fine for now but when guests come they can have the futon when we get the bed for the teeny weeny bedroom. I don't care how small the wee bedroom is because it's a central, fabulous location and a wonderful street and neighbourhood--what's a little sacrifice? I have seen some chic studio apartments and the important part is just having functional stuff for a bit. I still plan to paint as soon as I get in but right now I'm a hoarder--I'm hoarding kitchen appliances, pillows, you-name-it for when we move out so we won't have to get anything but the essentials during that hectic time!

     Happy Holidays!

NICE TOUCHES

Everybody has a couch and a dresser but it's the way you dress them up that makes them unique. A vase of flowers, some Atlanta Hawks posters or an atlas makes the space unique and turns a house into a home. I was thinking of all the little ways I can make the apartment into a cozy little home. What nice accent pieces would really brighten up a space? I'm guessing my entire childhood teddy bear collection would look tacky but one cute, small bear on a bookcase would be cute and still remind me of the times I used to roll down leafy green, hilly lawns and make gimp bracelets and ice-skate with wobbly knees. What nice accent pieces do you have?