Small Space, Big Design

I often hear friends and clients say they don't want to hire a designer for their small living room, or guest bath because of it's small size in comparison to the remaining rooms in the house. However, designing a small space is equally as challenging as designing a large open space.

Many homeowners don't know where to begin and find themselves buying the wrong furniture or artwork, or whatever it may be. And they are left scratching their head trying to figure out where they went wrong...the space either feels too cluttered or like the furniture just doesn't fit.

Trust me, it certainly takes practice, skill and a little leap of faith to design a small room. Just because it's small, doesn't mean that it can't be stylish, functional and serve a useful purpose!

+1 Kindesign posted 51 Inspiring small living rooms using available space. Be sure to check it out. The photos you will see will just about prove that everything you were doing to decorate your small room is all wrong! These beautifully designed rooms use all available space without making you feel claustrophobic!

Here are a few tips I like to keep in mind when designing a smaller room for my clients.

Embrace the space!
While your room may be small, it does have it's benefits too...I won't begin to mention the cost savings in heating, lighting etc. What I'm talking about is it's coziness. A room full of intimacy and charm.

Think about how you will use the space.
It's always best to plan ahead, especially in this case. Think about the functionality of the room before you begin your design. How are you going to use the space? Do you need seating areas, or is it a small bedroom? Do you need storage? If so, how much?

Furniture and Lighting.
You don't need to buy mini pieces because you are designing a mini space. But you do need to make sure your furniture is appropriately compact and that it 100% serves the function you need it to. Think of pieces that can perform double duty, like an ottoman that can also be storage. And clear furniture (i.e. coffee table) can work wonders! I used a clear table in this small cottage and I think it looks fabulous!



As for lighting....think lots of it! In a small room you really need to maximize the lighting because shadows and dark corners can work against you and make the space feel smaller. Think of multiple light sources and lots of lamps!

Paint and Color:
Don't be afraid to be "loud and proud"! Often times clients hesitate to use a bold color in a small space, but I say "Go for it!" As long as there is unity in your color scheme, a high impact color can work well. Use a glossy finish so that the light will reflect off the walls. Artwork is another way to add a statement. I tell clients that "bigger, is most often better when it comes to artwork" It will actually make the space feel bigger, where smaller pieces have the opposite effect and will tend to make your space feel smaller.

Wallpaper is another great way to make an impact and trick the eye into thinking the space is much larger than you think!

If you need more inspiration check out this post from +Style Motivation with great ideas for small bedrooms! Click here! They also did a great piece on functional and creative design for small apartments

You can also see some more of my design work for small spaces on Pinterest!

And remember small space CAN mean big design!

Until next week,

Renee

Show your true colors!

So, last week I played hooky from our blog, but for good reason. My son had the opportunity to play in the D3 Baseball World Series Championships in Appleton, Wisconsin, for the second time in a row.

Now, being the mom of a pitcher, you hear all sorts of things being yelled from the stands. One that has stuck out over the years though as been, "Paint the corners, kid". This means move your ball around the strike zone and keep 'em guessing. Very easy to yell as a spectator.
 

Appleton, Wisconsin is about the best place to hold this tournament as they are just one big mid-west basket of kindness. You can't walk down the street without engaging in full conversations with complete strangers. The architecture also displays this generosity of spirit as they are not shy in displaying their love for detail and color.
 

'Paint the corners, kid' got me thinking. As I was soaking in the diversity of style and palette, it might be a good idea to post a little something on exterior colors. Whatever your material, there will come a time when it has to be addressed and a little thought and prep work can go a long way both esthetically and practically.

Mother Nature hit us with a long winter, whose effects on your house have surely come to light as you have come out of hibernation, and started spending more time outdoors.

It's likely that you already know that repainting your entire house is going to cost you a good chunk of change. And since it's not necessary to do it all that often (thankfully!), it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. You're going to have to look at it and love it for years to come!

I saw these two houses in Appleton, WI and had to stop and pause for a moment (...something designers do a lot when we see something that inspires us!) What


I fell in love with while gazing at these two lovelies, was that they had that iconic Victorian sort of Painted Lady look but on a classic craftsman style house! And it works so beautifully!

There are plenty of historical palettes to choose from and they don't need to be used for just that period. I think it's fun to mix up the period colors with different architectural style. I particularly love this brick house for bringing in some color detail without distracting from the brick. The matching chairs out front are a nice touch too!

In order to narrow your decision down, there are some a few things to consider; such as the color of your roof, chimney, walkways, front steps and even your driveway. While you won't be painting these elements they still certainly play a role in what color you choose.

Take this house for example, I particularly like the use of the stone and mustard color. Here they found a color that they liked within the stone and chose to call that out in the overall color scheme. It would have been equally dramatic to go with a gray, it's just a matter of personal taste.

Study your surroundings and take some queues from nature. Trees and lots of leafy green foundation plantings may suggest an earthy palette of greens and browns. If you have lots of spring blooms in vibrant colors, choose a paint color that will compliment them. A beach setting might suggest vivid blues, turquoises, and coral colors.

You may also want take into consideration your neighbors house(s). You don't have to imitate their palette, and certainly you have the freedom to put your own spin on your color scheme, but it might be nice to compliment each other!

Many paint companies like +Benjamin Moore Paints and +Valspar Paint will provide you with color palettes that work together. I like how creative they've become with the color wheel. Some palettes use opposite colors, such as red and yellow, while others stay on the same side of the wheel, analogous, and play off the architecture with more subtlety.

We learn so many important lessons from the past, therefore it's important to honor your homes history. If you are looking to preserve the past, you will probably want to use a color scheme that is historically true. Refer to a historic color chart too select something to reflect on the past. Or, if you are looking to update the look of your house, while highlighting some of the architectural details, go for it! It can often result in a very dramatic façade! Just be sure that your house still honors it's surroundings.

I'd be lying if I told you that choosing your exterior paint color was going to be easy, but hopefully I've given you some insight and tips to help narrow down the choices!

Good luck and remember, "Paint the corners, kid!"

Renee

Mandeville Canyon Designs Joins The Willow

Mandeville Canyon Designs is excited to announce our new collaboration with The Willow.

For almost ten years The Willow has been providing the seacoast with a wonderful collection of home furnishings and accessories that dazzle the eye and warm the heart.  Recently we were able to set up shop in the back of the store to provide on-site interior design services.  From color consultations to design layout as well as furniture and rug selections, we now have a studio that can take care of all our clients needs right in one spot.  

I will be in the store on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-2 and also by appointment.

Please feel free to stop by with all of your ideas and let's get to work!

The Willow is located on 183 Water Street in downtown Exeter.  

To reach the shop just ring 603.773.9666.  To reach Mandeville Canyon Designs for an appointment 603.321.0650

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Renee