a little travel j. crew's "about a shoe" film in florence, italy inspires

I have been reading tons of blogs and books on Italy as I prep for my summer adventure to Europe. I also have been checking out films that are set in Italy for inspiration. When I came across J. Crew's short about a shoe, I was thrilled to see the Florence backdrop on display as Jenna Lyons and team partner with veteran shoemakers to create the fab lines that ultimately end up being avail in their stores. The short gives a quick glance at culture, style, color and collaboration. I love seeing things "made with love" and feel that way about creating my own small space.

I am sure most of you small space dwellers can relate to editing and curating your small space to make the most of it and keeping things that matter and make you feel good around you - yes! I pulled a few images from the film and added in some color palettes as well (hey, maybe a snapshot of a shoe mood board can become your new bedroom color palette?!). Click here to see the film  (I love that they take time from work to enjoy gelato and a great meal - ahh, Europe) and here for even more small space inspiration - this time inspired by pink flats.

Here's a little more travel |

• Food that Inspires Color
• loving. living. small.'s 2011 Adventures

:: images via J. Crew's ABOUT A SHOE ::


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small space style via pinterest

hi everyone, I am on a little vacation this week but wanted to share a little small space style with you. Click here to check one of my Pinterest boards that's all about small space inspiration. E-see you soon!

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design inspiration kelly wearstler's vibe trays

my oh my, I just discovered Kelly Wearstler's new blog called My Vibe My Life and love the behind-the-scenes look at her work, culture and style. One thing that immediately caught my eye were her "vibe trays" love that idea, right?! The famed designers creates a tray full of the design vibe she's going after and I love the mix or elements. This definitely would work for your small space too when you are deciding on a color and texture palette. Yes!  

:: images via My Vibe My Life ::

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a few birthday wishes small space style

 

1. Wharf table lamp  2. Spectra five vase set  3. Christian Louboutins  4. Threaded twine horseshoe necklace by boe  

5. O pillow  6. Borghese mirror  7. Zebra rug  8. Initial canvas tote  9. Flower of the Month

just a few {small space + fun design} wishes on my birthday...

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loving eating small go vertical and horizontal

I am sure many of you small space dwellers have reinvented the "dining room" by way of your coffee table. In my apartment, I actually have a dining room (I know, right?! A small space dweller's dream) That being said, I personally knew that I wouldn't use my dining room as, well, a dining room. I am not super formal and, at this point in my life, I need a dedicated home office so the 120 square feet of  became just that.

I prefer to entertain in my main room when I have friends over. We sit around the coffee table and enjoy. Since the surface is a bit small, I have to be creative by either going vertical with a tiered stand or horizontal by sharing plates or trays. I use my cutting boards for all different types of food and the rack to stack plates as well. How do you make space in your small space? 

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5 ways to completely makeover your small space...for free!

While it's fun to splurge on an item, it's also just as rewarding to create a look or design without spending any money at all. Of course, you'll be spending time but, to me, that's the cool part - creating something for yourself, with yourself. I wanted to share five {financially free} ways to completely make over your small space and, in return, feel good in your space.

*Flip your space

*Hand-drawn layout

*Leaves and flowers

*Create your own art

*Edit {take out and add in}

:: before ::

 :: after ::

1) FLIP YOUR SPACE

My friends and family are all too familiar with my *changing* style. I just love to mix it up and often change, revise and edit my small space. So when after six months of living in my small space, they weren't not surprised to see that I had completely flipped my living room. I realized that if I moved my couch to the window-filled wall that I would have more square footage to use. I kept my built-in units where they were. Best tip - live in your space for a bit and change it up if you are feeling antsy. You can always change it back - give it a shot!

2) HAND-DRAWN LAYOUT

When I moved in last summer, I had created a hand-drawn layout to help me create the flow as I moved my things in. This mini-guide gave me a sense of structure when the boxes and furniture showed up.

3) LEAVES & FLOWERS

I've posted this one before and love it - leaves or fallen flowers from right outside your door can makeover your space, providing fab color + texture.

4) CREATE YOUR OWN ART

Almost all of my framed "art" in my space are photos I snapped myself or images from magazines that completely inspired me. I love that when I walk by this shot of my new Christian Louboutin heels, it reminds me of a great night out in LA last summer. Plus I love the look of the tile and mirror. I just did a little photoshop to the images, printed out the photos on my color printer and used a frame that I already had - love!

:: before :: 

:: after ::

5) EDIT {ADD IN or TAKE OUT STUFF}

Like tip one above, consider editing your space by removing a piece or accent or adding on a piece or accent. I had these zebra ottomans in the main room and, after a while, I just wasn't feeling them anymore. They have since found a new home in my bedroom and my main room feels bigger to me now. And if you don't have a place for your edited item to go, place it in storage or even consider loaning it to a friend who could use it in their own space.

:: photo two by @typefiend and all others by @lovelivesmall ::

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small style makes a big impact

Don't you *love* these flowers? I absolutely do! I received this cute  + small vase of flowers as a gift from sweet hostess Jaimi {of Fiore Beauty) - who threw a fun and fab birthday for talented wardrobe stylist, Catherine {of The Life Styled} the other day. I wanted to share it with you guys because I think it's a great example of small style making a big impact in a space in both color and emotion. Yes, I feel happy seeing this little guy - love the yarn bow too. I placed it on my kitchen tray and smile every morning when I make my coffee.

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currently loving...gourmet sea salt

oh la la - I am all over flavored sea salts these days and, in loving. living. small. style, I've turned these six finishing salts into a fab room. Inspiration really is everywhere. Click here to check out the very soon-to-be launched SALT GENERAL STORE, where you can buy over thirty salts for your dining style, entertaining love, or Sunday morning just-made-eggs-at-home pleasure.

And check out a few things that have inspired me lately ::

This amazing C-Table

These tin tiles

Amazing meals in Italy

:: flavors left to right. bolivian rose, spanish rosemary, murray river, kosher white, black lava, aged balsamic ::

:: Images via Salt General Store and cutie, Decor Demon ::

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small space makeover amazing reupholstered chairs

I am really excited to share this makeover with you guys. A few weeks ago I posted about my soon-to-be madeover mushroom chenille chairs. {click here to take a look}. I needed more seating options in my small space and was looking for statement chairs. What I was finding was either

a) way out of my price range

b) way out of my style range

So I decided to go with option #B and makeover some chairs the way I liked. I bought these chairs on a super sale at a local store - they were so affordable, so comfy and, in my opinion, so ugly. I found fabric that I loved and it was only $5/yard. I also found a fantastic local reupholsterer and negotiated the work. The chairs were picked up and delivered in...2 days. Can you believe? {Seriously - LA people, if you anything reupholstered, email me and I'll get you this guys info - amazing and so nice too}

To say I love these chairs is a serious understatement. I feel good walking by them - I know, right? :) But to me that's making your house a home, creating a {small} space so you want to really live in it. I wrote about that idea right here. If you have something in your home that want to create then go for it! With a little research, working your budget and thinking outside the design box, you can literally create something custom and new just for you. 

Have you guys done any makeovers that change how your small space feels?

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

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