CLEVER: Faux fireplace mantle

I am a supporter of the faux fireplace mantle! A lot of small space dwellings don't have a fireplace or a working one and a faux gas fireplace and mantle is a fabulous addition to any small space. It creates a true focal point and can really anchor a room. Plus it allows for extra heat and the mantle calls for a wonderful gallery space.

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Domino Magazine's before & after gallery featuring the addition of this faux mantle really creates the illusion of depth and sparks architectural interest in the space.

I also love this post from Becoming Home and how happy this couple was by creating a faux fireplace in their bedroom. It anchored their floorplan and created ambiance.

Also, check out sites where you can can buy your own faux fireplace for a reasonable price. Like this Heritage White Gel fireplace.

SIT OVER HERE

Room Service Home is a fabulous online catalog featuring home decor, furniture and little gems. I love their 3-in-1 Folding Step Chair. Perfect for a a small space, this lovely chair covertly converts into a sturdy step stool. (before & after pictured above)

Enjoy!

DESIGN INSPIRATION: Rodney White

I love canvas artwork and silk screening so when I came across Rodney White's artwork, I was instantly a fan! I love his color choices and kitschy designs that offer an interesting - and sometimes profound - thought. Plus canvas offers a textural element that plays off of color beautifully. Rodney's pieces look sophisticated yet rustic and comfortable in any small space. (via art.com)

Enjoy!

MATCH SIDE A TO SIDE B: Marmol Radziner Prefab homes

I am a big fan of prefab homes - love them!

Long gone are the days of the boring aesthetic, today's prefab homes are stunning, modern and can be custom-made to your taste.

I love Marmol Radizner Prefab homes - amazing, well-built AND green. They build the prefab modules in their own factory and ship them complete with your choice of pre-installed interior and exterior finishes, flooring, appliances, and more. One of my favorite small homes they have created is the California House 12 (840 sq ft/1 + 1). Simply special!

Enjoy!

SPRING FEVER!

Boy, do I have Spring fever!! I am all about colors colors colors flowers colors plants, did I say colors?

We have a back entrance and landing right outside our little abode. I had been wanting to put something there for a while now since we have floor to ceiling windows and get awesome morning sunshine. I found these beautifully simple redwood planters at Home Depot and got some pretty plants. I feel content.

Enjoy!

CLOTHES OFFER COLOR INSPIRATION: Turning an outfit into a room

Home design and fashion design both offer an inspiring balance of colors and harmony. I love the idea of turning an outfit into a room! Here are a few links that showcase how this works. Any space - big or small - will benefit from this fun idea! I am inspired by the diamond shaker posted on my sidebar as Inspiring Pic of the Moment. Now that would be a pretty room!

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Domino Magazine's Can This Outfit Be Turned Into A Room?

Coco + Kelley's Rooms From The Runway

TODAY Show segment - How To Turn Your Favorite Outfit Into A Room?

Enjoy!

SMALL SPACE ACCENTS: Coffee Table Books

Coffee table books add color and interest to your small space. Stack them on your actual table or even on the floor to be used as a base for a plant or on your buffet to be used for giving height to a lamp.

Here are some of my favorite books (pictured top : bottom)
30,000 years of Art, Vanity Fair's HOLLYWOOD, Modern Glamour, The PHOTO Book

Enjoy!

CUTE: Pop Ink's Decor-a-boards

Check out these artistic plaques made out of birch veneer. These cute boards great for decorating your small space. (via Pop Ink)

INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE!

Vintage VOGUE - a colorful brick wall mural in Rockville, MD.

Enjoy!

USING YOUR WALLS: Hanging vases

As I flipped through CB2's Spring catalog, I was thrilled to see hanging vases. I had spotted these glass baubles in a shoe store in LA just a month ago and was happy to see them featured at CB2. Very affordable and beautiful, the teardrop diamond vases would look great in any small space.

Hang a rod on your ceiling w hooks about 4 inches from your wall, use your favorite string and hang your vases - say 6 to 10 - and create art!

Enjoy!

CUTE: Tool box planter

While at the Cedros Arts District in San Diego a few weeks ago, I came across a wonderful plant and flower nursery. I found this little toolbox of cactus plants - how cute! Check out your local home store - Home Depot or Lowes - to customize your own plant box - it's easy and affordable.

SMALL SPACE ACCENTS: Jonathan Adler's fruit pillows

Now that it's lighter longer in the evening and Spring is just around the corner, some of my favorite things are coming back in season - especially fresh fruit! Sunny LA has amazing local produce farmers and tons of Sunday morning farmer's markets to browse and buy sweet goodies. Thus has inspired my post for Jonathan Adler's fruit pillows. I love these whimsical and stylish pillows that are a wonderful accent to any small space.

Enjoy!

HAPPY HOUR: Bar Carts

Stylish and hip, bar carts are small enough to be an accent piece in your small space. They can be used as storage, displaying a collection and, of course, for housing your favorite spirits!

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Anders Bar Cart, Target's Espresso Bar Cart, Painted Dapple Grey Horse Stable Work Cart and the Adesso Cosmopolitan Bar Cart.

Enjoy!

DESIGN INSPIRATION: MoMA's "Color Chart" Exhibition

Museum of Modern Art's "Color Chart" exhibition draws together 90 of the museum's most vibrant work by such artists as Ellsworth Kelly, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, and Jim Lambie (bottom pic).

True inspiration!

Enjoy!

MIRRORED BUFFETS

Sometimes thought of as art deco, mirrored buffets have evolved quite a bit and are now designed for various styles - modern, classic, rustic, baroque.

We bought our mirrored buffet from Z Gallerie a year ago and couldn't be happier! (pictured top) A classic staple - mirrored sideboards are perfect in your dining space. Of course, since our dining space is also in our main room, our piece is equal buffet as it is a bookcase. And the mirrors give more depth to our room.

Enjoy!

LOVING EATING SMALL: 'ino in New York

This post is inspired by my favorite delicious treat - 'ino's Egg Truffle Toast (as seen framed in the previous post about the herb trio)

The cafe and wine bar located in the West Village in Manhattan is utterly cute yet quite small. Check out their cutest bathroom sink too! Just a handful of tables, a bar that sits 6 and tiny kitchen reside in this sidewalk gem that serves amazing panini sandwiches paired with fantastic wine.

Go to NYC and enjoy!

THIS MIRROR IDEA WORKS!

I love how this bedroom features two large leaning mirrors on adjoining walls. (via Desire to Inspire) It simply works!

Enjoy!

BEACH DAY!

Ahhh, a day relaxing at the beach!

Check out the top pic I took today showing the quiet sandy beach on one side and the bustling Venice boardwalk on the other.

Venice is full of funky, eclectic people and shops. One of my favorite streets in Venice is Abbott Kinney. This hip street is full of amazing boutiques, restaurants, bars, art galleries - you name it! One store I love is PATIO CULTURE. A store dedicated to outdoor & entertaining. The bright colors and smartly designed outdoor accessories make this store a lovely destination.

Enjoy!

DESIGN JUMP START: Inspiration Notebooks

For years, I would tear out anything and everything from magazines that I loved, felt inspired by or coveted. I soon realized my box of inspirational scraps needed an organized home that I could easily access. I finally sat down one day with a sketch spiral notebook and, thus, began my Inspiration Notebooks. Now, I can simply flip through my books whenever I am looking for a design jump start. I still tear out from my mags and sit down once a month to update my current book. I keep the "waiting" scraps in this cute Emma Woodgrain folder (via Delight).

Enjoy!

FURNITURE FOR SMALL SPACES: apt

Based in Manhattan, apt is the place to shop for small space living. The store has one of the largest selection of sofas that convert into beds. Aside from showcasing modern, chic, and extremely affordable pieces and accessories, apt has one more cool thing, it has turned into a kinda of museum for local artists. Every two months apt features a different artist and hosts a cocktail party to invite New Yorkers to check out the exhibit. Inspiring and resourceful and also available online.

Enjoy!

MAKES ME SMILE: Henry Road

The beautiful colors featured at Henry Road simply make me smile...

Henry Road designer, Paula Smail, grew up on Henry Road in South Africa and was so inspired she wanted to create a colorful retro global style that's a tribute to sixties and seventies bold design with African and Asian influences.

The online store offers pillows, furniture, notebooks, sachets and other pretty accents in a variety of bold, darling colors. Inspiring!

Enjoy!

SMALL STORAGE: Stylish Boxes

A great way to store little odds and ends is to use boxes. Neatly designed, these affordable boxes are perfect to showcase in your small space while stashing your goods. Just stack them up to define an area in your space. I store stationary, cds and all my gadget manuals & wires in them.

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IKEA storage boxes, The Container Store storage boxes, Rock Paper Scissor stationary, Saturate sationary.

DESIGN INSPIRATION: "Something's Gotta Give"

The movie "Something's Gotta Give" has some amazing production design - especially in the Hampton's home of Erica Barry. I love how the set decorator, Beth Rubino, delivered the 'character' of the house. While Erica's home in the movie is quite big - the calm, zen, beach chic feeling can be created in your very own small space - it's all in the details. Check out these set photos from Architectural Digest/Nov '03 to get some quick inspiration.

Enjoy!

IKEA LACK BOOKCASE

I think the Ikea Lack bookcase is one of the best deals in town! Only $129 and available in 4 colors, this bookcase has clean lines and nice height. In your small space, this piece will look fabulous!

Try lining up 3 in a row to create a library feel for your books. Or try using your Lack bookcase as a media unit by simply taking out the top shelf so you can place your TV in there. Also, get a few storage cubes and create a space for your clothes to use the bookcase as a wardrobe. Whatever you decide, this unit is functional, affordable and designed well.

Enjoy!

COLLECTIONS: Perfume Bottles

Perfume bottles are so beautifully designed these days so show them off in a grouping in your space. I display mine in the main room.

I love Bond No. 9! Equally gorgeous scents as the bottles they come in, the 31-scented collection is a true homage to New York City. My favorite - and the newest - is in honor of the forever elegant Saks Fifth Avenue Department store. Simply titled "Saks For Her", the perfume has notes of jasmin, tuberose, gardenia, vetiver and vanilla. Yum!

Enjoy!

TRUNKS

Using trunks or even suitcases in your small space is a great opportunity for functionality and design. Try replacing your TV stand w 2 trunks stacked - allowing for a nice design motif as well as additional storage.

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Goyard Palace trunk, Victoria Hagan Bethany Trunk for Target and Voyager Suitcase.