:: small interviews and mentions ::
small space color palette
spring style
Oh la la am I having spring fever! Maybe it's that I have a bunch of adventures planned or that I am preparing a colorful launch but spring style is in my head. I am not really a pink/purple/yellow/blue gal but I definitely am considering embracing this palette after seeing these gorgeous ice cubes via Living. Yes, loving. living. small. friends, you can actually *eat* these ice cubes with edible flowers! They are stunning - my oh my. Of course I wanted turn this into a small space to see how this palette would play out. I thought this kitchen was perfect! I love the color mix and the texture mix, including the kitchen rug (Yes, do this!) and the blue and purple accents. The small space tip here is the neutral cabinets in white and the warm wood from the table and the counter tops. Consider the balance in your small space - trust me - you can pull of tons of different color and texture combinations if you have balance and scale as the foundation. {Click here to read 5 design principles to follow for small spaces}
:: top image via Living magazine and bottom image via Ralfefarfars Paradise ::
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design cycle/r
a brand new series on loving. living. small.
I am excited to share a new series that I am starting on loving. living. small. called DESIGN CYCLE/r. Oh la la - this is a good one and I think all of us can relate. Most of us do what I call "design cycle".
A design cycle/r is someone who pretty much has to, wants to, needs to change some design element in their home. The word CYCLE works in terms of a physical item and in terms of time. You set up your home, feel great inside, and then want to change something. Whether it's moving a vase from this table to that table, flip flopping an entire layout of a room, spring cleaning your wardrobe, reorganizing your refrigerator shelves, re/designing your space provides an opportunity to *feel* in control and *feel* in good spirits with you home and your self. Yes!
Click here to read one of my own personal design cycles and what spurred it. And check back in next week for a new design cycle/r post that is all about becoming fashion forward in mind, body and soul.
Oh and want to join the DESIGN CYCLE/r community?? (OK join me and many other people who are fessing up, admitting, confessing, sharing their own design cycler-ness.
Click here to join our brand spanking new facebook community - the hub of our design cycler style.
Click here to follow DESIGN CYCLE/r on twitter and join the crew. You are not alone.
Oh and want to join the DESIGN CYCLE/r community?? (OK join me and many other people who are fessing up, admitting, confessing, sharing their own design cycler-ness.
Click here to join our brand spanking new facebook community - the hub of our design cycler style.
Click here to follow DESIGN CYCLE/r on twitter and join the crew. You are not alone.
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design time
small details + smiles
I hope you all had a fantastic week! I enjoyed mine, thanks to small details and fun times with friends. I am wrapping up a piece I am doing for HGTV.com and enjoyed meeting new people via twitter and the blogs in search of beautiful spaces. Below are a few fab places I fell into during some design time (the term I use for getting sucked in to amazing blogs and sites out there) and wanted to share them with you. Have a great weekend!
*The gorgeous and completely *I want to live there* interiors of Jessica Weiss
*The amazing *I want to work there* space of the fab ladies of Bash Please. Love the chevron wall.
*Funny, fab and friend mom/lifestyle blogger, Jennifer of Perfectly Disheveled, discovers the joy and even horror of overhauling her wardrobe.
*Small and super sweet lavendar scents in fresh patterns with a portion of the proceeds going to help the people of Japan. via Yokomono Studio
*Lovely and sweet friend, Hillary of WhoWhatWear, shares her design style over at The Coveteur.
*Make Your Own Rustic Coasters via Eat Drink Chic. Example is for a wedding but I think works perfectly for your home.
*The artwork and photography of Love The Design.
*Music and style as you enjoy The National Mall via Fast Co Design
*My favorite city, New York, moving fast via Vimeo
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super affordable design accent | $1.50 and 1.5 days
$1.50 on day 1
1.5 days later.....
loving. living. small. friends, this is my favorite and most affordable design accent for my small space and hope you consider and enjoy it too. How sweet is this bunch of Trader Joe's $1.50 daffodils? When I picked up the lil bunch on Sunday, they were barely open. But a day and a half later, they look gorgeous. For the cost of a cup of coffee, I made a huge design impact in my small space. And, better yet, the birght pop of color makes me smile smile smile every time I walk on by - yes!
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design inspiration
the melrose project
there is so much design inspiration out there, I love soaking it up. Over the weekend I did just that by popping into and window shopping The Melrose Project, a large gallery {slash} shop that is full of thoughtfully curated decor, design and curiosities. The loft-like space with tall ceilings, industrial framing and crisp white walls was the perfect backdrop to some gorgeous furniture pieces and selected accents. Window shopping is such an incredible way to gather inspiration for your small space, including color palette ideas and previews of paint and light. For example, in the showroom, the bright and open windows allowed me to see how dark gray plays out and changes color in light. Click here to learn more about The Melrose Project and here to enjoy over 100 posts featuring design inspiration for your small space.
:: all images snapped by loving. living. small. ::
best small space accent
hanging lights & tables
1. obsolete at melrose project/snapped by loving. living. small. 2. sunday light by frost produckt
One of the best things about writing a personal blog is e-flipping through old posts for inspiration - yes! I was doing just that over the weekend and rediscovered this post I did about small space savers - hanging bedside lamps. I do feel that hanging *anything* in small space design adds style and is functional for utilizing your square footage wisely. Consider this idea in your bedroom, a prime room that can work the hanging bedside table and/or light fixture. In this case, symmetry in regards to placing your accents on both sides of the bed counts and adds balance and harmony.
Check out more best small space accents right here
Calling all fab kitchen island owners
be considered for an HGTV.com article
Ok, loving. living. small. friends, every now and then I have had the pleasure of writing for HGTV.com and I am currently writing a piece about kitchens with islands. And guess what?? I'd love to hear from YOU!
If you have {or know someone with} a beautifully designed kitchen with an island that is stylish, efficient, even full of tech goodies, please email me to be considered for this piece.
I definitely know you all are design lovers and hope to hear from you soon.
You can find me at :: lovinglivingsmall@yahoo.com
:: image source unknown but I think from a back issue of domino :) ::
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small space d.i.y.
make your own terrarium for your small space
Here's Beth suggesting adding more vertical depth using pencil cactus
One thing I like about my {small} apartment is that I am in a neighborhood full of great restaurants, shops, bars, you name it. I walked over to meet some friends for lunch the other day and, as I strolled home (yes, I kinda was strolling - window shopping and enjoying the pretty sunshine), I popped into Rolling Greens, a fab nursery a few blocks from my place. Full of the most gorgeous flowers, plants, curiosities, home decor, style and more, the large loft-like shop also has an *arrangement bar*. Of course I am not one to shy away from any bar, I began chatting with one of the employees and she asked me if I wanted to make a terrarium.
Um, yes, please.
So began my hour long, personal tutorial on how to make and care for a terrarium. I picked out my glass vessel, was guided on picking out succulents, air plants, bark and also selected my rocks. For the next 30 minutes, I planted my own terrarium (with a bit of handholding and humor from shop employee, Beth). I am so thrilled with how it looks and how easy it is to care for - perfect for anyone's home.
I love the textures and color contrast. As I say on loving. living. small., small details make a big difference and impact - love that! If you are looking to add color and style to your small space, consider making one of these guys. It was really affordable (mine was under $40 for everything) and I made it myself. There's something special about that, right?
See more photos of Rolling Greens right here :: have a great weekend!
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