A most pretty little space

I've yet to loose my sense of wonder at beautiful interiors, but even more so when the space is small! As some of you know, I work from home, and live small, so I'm always on the look out for great small spaces that serve as both live and work space. I think this apartment, owned by a jewelry designer who works as well as lives in it, is just one such example


I think the light colors used consistently lends an openness to the space

Collections are kept in neat groupings

Her desk/workspace is behind the couch in the living room


Lovely desk details...

Jess's Tips for working from home:

1. Make the space work for you:
Jess says her kitchen was begging for an island, so she placed a large table there that doubles as a jewelry assembly station by day and a dining room and kitchen prep table after hours.

2. Dress for work:
Jess puts on a nice outfit with shoes when she's working. As for her space, she uses overhead lights during business hours, while pharmacy lamps atop cabinets and bookcases create a homey glow in the evenings. (I like this idea, however, living on a farm with muddy dogs means I only dress nicely for meetings or going out)

3. Separate storage:
To avoid seeing a stack of business receipts when she's looking for a recipe, Jess keeps her office supplies completely separate from her personal items. Each day her assistant wheels out a cart with the jewelry supplies and it's tucked away at night. (I think this is really important, to have all of your work supplies put away at the end of the day - however, I think I would rent a separate office space or get a bigger apartment before hiring an assistant - but that's me..)

via Rue Magazine

Pied-à-terre anyone? Adorable Parisian abodes...

This company finds apartments in Paris and lovingly restores them to their state of original charm...





Love that unusual lamp and the chair!

Respect for the original architectural details is given

soooooooo pretty






All of the floors are to die for

What do you think - would you like a little Pied-à-terre?

See more at the company site, a+b kasha

An amazing mid-century modern home mixed with victorian glamour

Something yummy for you...
from Loft Life Magazine

"Charoonkit Thahong’s New York loft mixes Hollywood regency with mid-century modern overtones to create a space that celebrates good design. Some gems include the 1969 VP Globe lamp by Verner Panton, the Fortuny Moda lamp, the Knoll Tulip armless chairs and the oh-so-fun black Victorian love-seat. Thahong, an art director for R/GA, has managed to infuse warmth into the otherwise over-sized, industrial space (located in Hell’s Kitchen) adding subtle touches of glamour to finish off the look. It’s proof that life without walls doesn’t mean sticking to only one aesthetic; Thahong’s space is fit for both Charles Eames and Marie Antoinette!"

...swoon...




If you live in a loft, open floor plan, or studio, book cases without a solid back allow light through but create a divider.


..a pretty corner...

Here's a few pics from a tribeca loft, also as seen in Loft Life magazine

What do you think of the curtain divider with artwork displayed on it like a wall?

Glamorous and pretty inspirational rooms from....Ikea!

Ikea's styling gets better and better. I love looking through their magazine for inspiration on how to better organize and create functional living systems. I was really impressed with the new 2010 magazine and the great rooms they shot. Here are some of my favorites. Which do you like?

Pretty and white, but still lived in

I love how this room shows that you don't need to always use pretty decorative boxes. Clear plastic containers are no fail, and even I use utility shelves in my office. For a busy lifestyle and tight deadlines nothing beats it. And this image shows that it can look nice as well.

Oh how I would love to have a daybed in my office...I'm just afraid that I would use it as a "sleep all day" bed


Amazing storage and workspace!



Isn't this bedroom glamorous?



All images via Ikea

Great ideas to make the most out of a studio apartment

I've lived in one studio thus far and if I stay in NYC, I'm sure not my last. So, I'm constantly gathering up visual snippets of how others have made it work...

Monochrome is especially striking in a studio...





This apartment is a Brownstone studio in Brooklyn, I used to live in a similar one, and she's done a beautiful job!

I'm really liking the use of white sheers - it really makes the space "glow"
above via Apartment Therapy

A dreamy and romantic studio - I love the sheers - so romantic!



Read the article on Furniture for Small Spaces for specifics


A few random helpful pointers:

•Use up some vertical space to add storage to your small studio apartments. Don’t limit yourself to one cute basket or trunk at the end of the bed. Make sure you buy some sturdy baskets or boxes with lids. Stack them up three deep. You have tripled your storage and created a fun focal point into the room. Old wooden and leather trunks work well like this as well. Stacked baskets also work well as a night table. Stack them to the appropriate height and top them off with a piece of clear beveled glass.


•Curtains are fabulous way to hide an entire storage wall. Install a curtain track at the top of your ceiling, the kind meant to hold drapery. It should be bout 16 inches out from the wall. Use that hidden space to install shelving, hooks, and clothing racks. You can make any space into a visually appealing closet this way! To save money use colorful sheets as the curtains. If you are really tight on money you could use push pins or upholstery tacks to install you curtains to the ceiling. Just make sure you use loots of small panels so you can open these curtains whenever you need t get to something.
via Associated Content

What's your opinion on this design trend?

So chalkboards are nothing new - but I seem to be noticing more and more of these schoolhouse staples in residential houses. I usually really like the look - it adds a cozy, lived-in feel to the house. In my last apartment, I had a giant dry-erase board in my kitchen but it didn't last long. It simply became too ugly. A chalkboard could be a different matter though, since one doesn't have to write in florescent colors all the time. What are your thoughts? Do you have a chalkboard in your home?

I love this chalkboard/inspiration area of Carolina Herrera Jr.'s apartment



via Domino



Chalkboard paint turns this screen or a wall into a handy place to jot notes.
via Martha Stewart

via RowHouse Blog

via Tiny Decor via VivaTerra

via Good Housekeeping





via Country Living

A chalkboard back splash could be cool...
via Apartment Therapy