small space d.i.y. create a vintage mirror wall

If you are a small space dweller like me then I am sure you have a few mirrors in your home to open up your space. Mirrors are definitely a best small space accent - they truly can evolve a small room into a more comfortable and fluid space - love that! 

I wrapped up my vacation in Las Vegas over the weekend and visited the very new and very cool, hip and stylin hotel, The Cosmopolitan. When I walked into the hotel, I was instantly immersed in a design experience from the 4-story chandelier surrounding the bar (you have to see this in person - insane) to the mid-century modern designer 3rd floor lounges - also super savvy and cool for a Las Vegas hotel. While big in size, the details made this hotel feel intimate, boutique and relaxed chic - love that! 

One of the shops in the hotel housed tons of beauty products. I love shops like this not just for the beauty and packaging design but for the entire design element. Inside I spotted walls of vintage mirrors adorning the walls. I love this look and think it's a unique way to integrate mirrors into your home in an interesting way. And if vintage isn't your thing, pick up affordable mirrors for under $5 each at a local craft store and a a can of gold spray paint and make your own style.

:: images by loving. living. small. ::


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my best tip for making your small bedroom work for you create your own wall

It's the common small space dilemma in the bedroom - where to put the bed? Too often, the balance of windows, available walls and space seems overwhelming. There definitely are tips you can follow for making your bedroom layout work and my fave - creating your own wall. Yes! By using curtains in the right places, you can actually reinvent the look and feel of this room and find a space for your bed. The curtains add balance to the space and allows you to place your bed, say, partially in front of a window. In other words - fake it! I love this pretty bedroom via Lonny. I imagine that viewing this room bare, you wouldn't imagine that the bed would work right here. By adding the symmetrical curtains (the height works too), the bed and headboard completely work and feels good. Check out another example about using curtains in one of my Apartment Therapy posts right here.

:: Image via Lonny :: 

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using your walls headboard spotting at the Crosby Street Hotel

Oh la la - do I love these pretty rooms full of small space style at the very cool and stylin' Crosby Street Hotel in New York City! Aside from the pretty pattern and color palettes, I am loving the headboards that adorn each of the rooms. The height is perfect and the square style is simple yet completely impactful. I think the best part about a headboard in a small space is that it provides a true *focal point* and balance. A small space may lack square footage but that doesn't mean you can use bigger or large scale pieces. In my own bedroom, I am thrilled with my own headboard (my big small space DIY from this summer) It adds a design element AND it pulls the space together for a total cohesive vibe - yes! Also, click here to see a time-lapse of the hotel being built through the seasons in New York - very cool!

:: All photos via the Crosby Street Hotel site :: 

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fab bike storage for small spaces

When I got my sweet orange beach cruiser last year, I wasn't quite sure where to store it. Super fun to ride but kind of big and clunky for my small space. To be honest, I am still looking for a bike storage in the home idea (click here to see my bike just hanging out in the background in the main room) 

I've read a few ideas for bike storage but I've been looking for a more functional idea and think I may have found it. Loving this bike shelf by talented designer, Chris, of Knife & Saw. A super clever way to use your wall (go vertical, yes!) cool and stylin, I think this bike shelf could be a very cool addition to my small space. It's a bit pricey but looks well-made so more to come on this one. What do you think of this bike storage idea? Have a good one to share?

:: Images via Knife & Saw :: 

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silhouette style

If you read loving. living. small. you know that I am a lover of silhouettes - the style, look, contrast - all of it! And of course using your walls to display your art style is one of my fave small space tips. When I spotted Danny Seo's very cool and easy silhouette d.i.y., I wanted to share with you, small space dwellers. Click here for the full online tutorial - I see a fun project this weekend!

:: Images via Danny Daily ::

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using your walls simple way to layer artwork

I knew that when I moved into my place and set up my built-in units that I'd lose an entire wall. But no worries, I embraced the space by using the actual book shelves as a platform for my frames. (a look that I have seen many times and love - like in Grant K. Gibson's stylish space above that he designed for one of his clients - loooooove this room)

I just used two small nails to hang a few frames and now have a little be of extra dimension and a cool way to break up the lines a bit of all that shelving. Super easy and I think it looks pretty cool - makes my small space feel good.  

:: Image by sweetie Grant Gibson ::

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using your walls add texture to create a design vibe

one of my all time favorite apartment details (i've lived in, oh, 8 or so apartments in the last 12 years) has been my exposed brick wall in my 300 square foot Soho studio. Oh la la - did I love this wall and it inspired this blog. Since then, I've found comfort and design love in wall accents and textures, ranging from paint to brick to wallpaper (temporary for renters) to molding. I think adding texture to a wall in a small space is a great way to personalize your design style and to add visually dimension.

When I spotted this very cool textured wood wall, I wanted to share it with you. How cool would this be on one wall in a small space? Love it and the white framed glass too. Like this pink dotted wall (seriously - love) to temporary wallpaper to making your own brick wall, adding texture to your walls can really make a room. 

By the way, renters can do this trick. Just throw up some plywood first to cover the wall and then go for it! This works for just about any wall cover. When you are ready to move out, undrill the plywood and your white wall will be in tact - just the way it was when you moved in. 

:: Photos snapped by me at the very fab Rolling Greens nursery ::

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using your walls hang your art to create dimension

I definitely talk a lot about using your walls on loving. living. small. because going vertical is a great way to make your small space appear bigger and to utilize all of it - yes! another idea - layering your furniture in the absence of space can make your space feel bigger too. I love the idea of using all of your walls and placing floor-to-ceiling bookcases behind a full couch. If you have a few extra feet in front of you then this look will work. So now that your shelves are there, where to put some of your art? Right there. Hang your art right on the shelves. Love this. It's looks very design savvy and you are - literally - using all of your space. 

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using your walls make your own "art" from your photos

:: Original Shot ::

:: Poster ::

:: Paint Dabs ::

:: Stained Glass ::

when I lived in Soho years ago, I loved the quiet hours of Sunday mornings. Somehow in a city of millions, peace and slow movement was in abundance during the morning hours. although it was raining today, I enjoyed being out and about - taking in the smells, textures, colors, architecture and energy of the city. This place is pure design inspiration. I snapped this photo and just love it! The view of Greene Street from a shop - the cobble stone streets and industrial flair with a solitary movement (guy with umbrella strolling by) reminds me of my days here. This will definitely be framed in my new small space but instead of just the photo, I turned it into a few other styles using Photoshop. So now I have my own snapshot that looks artsy and cool. Consider reinterpreting your own photos - hanging them in your small space will make walking into your home even more special.

using your walls flea market style

i hope you are enjoying a lovely holiday weekend that's full of fun finds and decor gems! I love this wall - spotted at sweet clothing shop Jigsaw - that is full of such fabulous texture and design.  I am immediately inspired to check out a few flea markets in sunny Los Angeles to pick up my own affordable treasures-turn-home decor. More to come...

{louis vuitton} + small space solutions

I spotted a neat tweet from @theselby about the launch of his collaboration with {my own personal fave icon} Louis Vuitton for the Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection. um, think I headed straight on over there? yes! After clicking through the neat site that casually showcases major fashion destinations and several happenings + events + stylemakers within each, I had the pleasure of spotting quite a few small space solutions. One of my faves - floor-to-ceiling bookcases in Andre Balazs NYC office space. Yes, vertical depth works in small spaces! And of course I enjoyed the patterns (yes - they are BACK for 2010) in all the LV love. I am seriously coveting that priceless classic LV console. If you have a few minutes or hours to spend clicking through this design inspires site, go for it! And yes, I had to place even more LV over at i heart living small - drool-worthy. 

:: all images via Louis Vuitton's The Journey of a Man's Wardrobe by The Selby ::

free and renter-friendly wall art for small space dwellers

when I attended this event last week, I spotted a neat display on the showroom floor for the very new collaboration with west elm/Patch NYC. (seriously - great stuff!) I also loved the small space inspiration - using {free} wood pallets to create a background for your art collection - yes! I always see wood pallets, ready to be thrown away and often wonder how I could use them best in my small space. I think I found the answer. Since using your walls is one of my best small space solutions, adding some love to the style of your gallery will provide further texture and creative interest in your space.

a {vogue} idea

i love that line in the Sex and the City episode when Carrie is writing for Vogue and she makes a comment about not "having a {vague} idea". When I was about in my new city, I spotted this neat backdrop featuring vintage Vogue covers and had to share it with you guys. How neat would this be framed, leaning against a wall? Or hung on wall as a backdrop to a desk area? I bet this could be an easy DIY too. Just find some vintage magazine images and make your own collection. Call a sign company and see how much it would be to print the size you need. Hmmm, more to come on this one in my own small space! 

USING YOUR WALLS: travel wall

 

about three years ago, I printed out 40 5 x 7 photos and placed 20 each in two large frames. all of these photos I snapped of locations that I had the pleasure of visiting and placing them on my wall instead of keeping them hidden in my computer was a great way to recreate the fun memories. while I love my frames, I also love the this look - a travel wall. This apt owner spread her travel love with individual photos. I think it looks awesome and it's a very cool way to use your walls and share your style.

USING YOUR WALLS: Two Headboards That Don't Take Up Space

 

I really love an upholstered headboard - it's elegant and pretty - but also takes up a good 4 - 6 inches of extra space. While the look is chic, there are some fun and cool alternatives to having a headboard with out taking up any space at all. Love the Nessa headboard decal from Bilk. Fresh and very cool. Also, love the idea of using a patterned curtain to create the look of a headboard. Both of these ideas are super affordable (under $100 for each) and look amazing for any small space. I am thinking curtain for my next headboard.

USING YOUR WALLS: Calendars For Art

It's that time of year when next years calendars are being released. I've started seeing 2010 calendars and there are some lovely ones! Loving all of the insanely creative paper goods sites and blogs. (see my blogroll for some great links!) I just discovered Le Papier Studio's etsy shop through fave blog, Orange Beautiful. Le Papier's custom silhouettes are fantastic and I am loving her calendar. Far from the boring flip calendars, this one can be framed and added to your art gallery. Pretty colors and contrasting shapes, this is a great idea for function + form. And I love owner Vana's story. Read it on her blog right here.

SMALL SPACE ACCENTS: Whimsical Wallpaper Works

I am loving the whimsical wallpaper by artists Taylor and Wood called Frames. Yep, that's pretty much what it is! Form + function are harmonious in this great accent. I would love this against one wall with a simple credenza or bookshelf balancing the design of the wallpaper.

::via Design Public::

SMALL SPACE DWELLER HANDBOOK: Beveled Mirrors

I've been blogging weekly recaps of Design Star for Apartment Therapy and while watching the finale the other night, I was inspired by Dan's use of beveled mirror panels on the wall and in the custom built-in above the mantle. I think when used the right way, this can add a chic vibe to a small space while expanding the space and adding tons of extra light. Depending on the size, most panels cost well under $20 and you can create an impactful and affordable small space accent while using your walls.

::images by hgtv and blount design::

USING YOUR WALLS: Expand Your Room With A Gallery

I often post about using your walls and placing an art gallery to expand your small space. I love this gallery featured in designer Tobi Tobin's Malibu Beach Cottage. While this is a bigger space (love those vaulted ceilings) the same look can work well in any size space.

::images by tobi tobin design::