This Year's Trend: Break the Rules!

Small Space Dwellers, I must start by sending my love to each of you and wishing you a Happy New Year! I am truly grateful and blessed for the gifts and lessons of 2012 and am excited to see what is in store for 2013! I don't do the resolution thing, mostly because I never keep them...lol, but I do step into each year with a theme. Last year was my year of 'Nakedness' - Living freely without fear of showing who I am and what I love. From this Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. was born, among other wonderful things. This year my theme is 'Limitless'. I am venturing courageously into this 2013th year breaking away the boundaries I used to set for myself about what I can achieve.  This year I am going to live the BREADTH and width of it!

So it was very fitting when I saw this months issue of Style at Home Magazine. They have declared the trend for 2013, 'BREAKING THE RULE, DECORATE THE WAY YOU LOVE', which I completely resonate with. I have always been an advocate for living the way you love and this includes your space; especially when your home is small and space is limited.

To kick off this year of decorating the way you love, I've decided to showcase Designer and Stylist Nicola Marc's 900 sq. ft. 1920s Montreal apartment, a re-feature from Style at Home. Nicola's space immediately evokes a sense of comfort and playfulness. Her choice of an aubergine and mustard palette with pops of moody accents is a definite "swoon". I love her audacity for mixing geometrics, stripes and paisley. She has wonderfully executed a bold yet harmonious design. Definitely "breaking the rules" worthy.

Cheers Small Space Dwellers! Here is to a year of rule breaking and life loving!

XOXO,

Small Space Crush: Lindsay Mens Craig - Bold Style in 800 Sq. Ft.

I have fallen in love! Lindsay Mens Craig's 800 Sq. Ft. Condo is the very essence of bold style in a small space. She has not shied away from colour or impact. Large scale print, over-sized art, bold colour, dynamic pattern on pattern... Oh YUM! Ok, let me get a grip as my heart goes pitter patter!

You can't tell from the picture but her coffee table is actually 6 feet long, and in a small space some might thing that this is way to large, but it works. She's added reflective surfaces, mirrors and the right amount a perfectly sized furniture to help make her space feel large and airy.

Brace yourself as you peruse through Lindsay's 800 sq. ft. eclectic small space. Full tour can be found on Style at Home.

High/Low: Farmhouse Inspired Breakfast Nook

Style At Home's High/Low: Farmhouse Inspired Breakfast Nook. Two rooms, one style. One of them cost $4,756 while  the other $1,357.  Can you tell which one is which?

Before I dive into the cost reveal, I'd first like to comment on how closely matched these two spaces are. Besides the shade of orange on the chairs, light fixture and base of the table, the difference is hardly recognizable. Bravo Style At Home! This farmhouse inspired breakfast nook is so vibrant with its pops of orange and yellow. Not to mention that the colour pallet clings on to the last few weeks of summer while allowing a smooth transition over to fall. I approve!

Ok, without further adieux, let's get to how much it costs to get this fresh look. The nook on the left is the cost effective option coming in at under $3000 less than the look on the right. Under close examination there are definite signs. The marble top and sleek profile of the Saarinen-style table, the vintage steel and aluminum bran pendant light and the Dualit New Generation Classic two-slice toaster from William-Sonoma. That being said, the eco-option still gives you the same look without much sacrifice in style.

Now to all my fellow thrifters, I can't sign off without saying that I still feel that you can achieve this look for even less than the eco-option. Although you won't be able to replicate this exactly, mainly because you never know what you are going to get while thrifting, you can definitely get the essence of the fresh farmhouse inspired look with an open mine, imagination and a little paint. 

   

12 Square Foot Office

You really don't need much space to create a functional office. When you are space challenged, a forgotten nook is all you need! A desk, chair, and a bit of pizzazz and presto!

When I moved into my place I wasn't quite sure what to do with the little corner in my bedroom that didn't seem to fit anything. After flipping through the March issue of Style at Home Mag and seeing the 'Out of the Blue' office space that was created essentially out of a notch in the wall, I realized I had something to work with!

MY 12 SQ. FT. WAS MORE THAN A CORNER TO PROP UP A MIRROR! It didn't take much to create my cute little office space. I picked up a few thrifted items, like the brass lamp and smaller picture frames (some of which I painted to freshen them up). I also picked a cool store display sign, "STRAIGHT FIT" and a manikin face that was used to display sunglasses at American Apparel. 

 

High/Low: Chic Office Space

Style At Home's High/Low: Glam Office Space. Two rooms, one style. One of them cost $13,165 while  the other $7,768.  Can you tell the difference between the two?

Photography Michel Dube

Photography Michel Dube

The one on the right is the low option costing $7,768. Pretty good. There are even some pieces in the low option that I like better than the original $13,165 room, like the $150 tufted bench from Home Sense and the $20 black and white portrait on the side wall. I personally think we could have captured the same feel ofthe room for a fraction of the cost of the low room. Maybe one day I'll have to recreate this...High/Low/Penny-pincher...lol