When we were planning the furnishings for the studio apartment we are renovating, we knew that every piece would have to earn its space in the room.

The total apartment is less than 400 square feet and the main living space is approximately 150 square feet.  This is the area where the occupant will need to relax, entertain, sleep, and eat. A tall order for such a small space.

The major investment was a bed/sofa combo in the traditional murphy bed style.  When closed, you have a three-seater sofa.  Simply pull on the chrome legs above and the sofa disappears and a queen-sized bed takes its place.

We chose this style of bed/sofa because unlike the pull-out sofa (which requires all the bedding be removed/replaced each time you transition it, the murphy-style bed goes from bed to sofa without having to remove a thing except the bed pillows.

Attached to the bed cabinet we added a built-in wardrobe with some hanging space above and three drawers below.  This provides extra storage in this one closet apartment.

We placed a small leather chair and ottoman next to the bed unit.  This was an exciting HG find and the ottoman lid can double as a tray table.  There’s also storage space inside the ottoman. Great multi-functionality.

Even the side table has a removable tray on top which can be used for serving.

Next week I’ll show you the hard-working furniture on the opposite side of this room.

storage ottoman with flip top tray

In the meantime, when you think about furnishing your small space (be it an apartment or a small room in your house) interview your furniture before you buy it.

Can it multi-task?  What all can it do for you?  When real estate is at a premium, every piece that goes in must really earn its right to the space.

Everyday stuff is decorative.

Here’s some ideas…

Showcase well designed appliances.

Try decorating with a  colander, mixer, set of mixing bowls, pretty dutch oven, casserole dish, t-pot, set of pretty dishes, a salad bowl, group of vases, or anything interesting, to anchor and build a display around. It’s nice to contain all or most of the smaller elements in a low basket, tray, on a nice cutting board, placemat or large platter. Then it looks like a composition and not a bunch of loose things sitting on the counter.

Vary Heights and levels.

Different heights and levels give the display rhythm, interest and drama. So I like to add 3 levels in a display, a high, medium and low level.  I add cookbooks, stacked glassware, even cans with artistic labels are fun to work into a grouping.

Display pretty packaging.

There are some beautifully packaged foods out there, like olive oils, vinegars,  pickled vegetables, canned fruit, pasta, nuts, sauces, bottled drinks, etc. Add some of those to a display instead of hiding them in the pantry.

Fresh is fabulous.

I always like something fresh or real. It  ALWAYS brings life to the room…flowers, plants, tall branches, fruit, or vegetables. Replace them as needed.

Variety spices up the kitchen.

Add cloth napkins, new dish towels, or hot pads for a splash of color and informality. Try some cookbooks, jarred lentils, pastas, cereals. Be careful not to overdo a good thing, or it could become clutter instead of creation.

Display in baskets and trays.

If you have pretty dishes, stack some of them with pretty glassware, flatware and fresh flowers or fruit on a tray, ready to use any time. Show off the things you love.

Bottom line…use your functional kitchen pieces for decorative accents. Many kitchen pieces are beautifully designed and have a sculptural presence all their own. They are art designed to use everyday.

It’s always surprising to see how much we actually have to work with right in the cupboard. We all have those nice kitchen pieces that we put away to “save” and never get out to enjoy. Well, take them out right now and put them on display  for all to see and  enjoy…especially you!!

Any cupboard decorators out there? Please share all your great ideas. Have fun counterscaping!!

As the school year begins and our calendars fill we tend to feel a sense of urgency to get organized in order to get it all done. I was over visiting at Better Homes and Gardens website, and found some fabulous cabinet makeovers. I found beautiful laundry room storage, display shelves, and craft closets. I can’t wait to hear which ones you like best! 

I love this makeover. What a fabulous way to take a plain bookcase and make it a beautiful display cabinet!

This one caught me by surprise. I think I used to have a media cabinet like the one above. It looks fabulous in this laundry room.

Need to organize your sewing supplies?

Are you a scrapbooking fan? I could use a cabinet like this one!

I would love a armoire like this in my guest room.

So, which one do you like best? If you would like to see more storage possibilities go over to Better Homes and Gardens and read the whole articles: Ravamped Armoires for Small-Space Storage and 9 Beautiful Bookcase Makeovers.  

The color is perfect and ties in beautifully with the other aqua tidbits in the adjoining living room.

It’s a great size for toting around my teapot, cream and sugar vessels, and some napkins and spoons. While a classic silver tray is more expected for tea service duty, I thought it would be fun to mix the modern, geometric-shaped tray with traditional elements like my grandmother’s flatware.

Are you a tray lover too? What’s your favorite way/place to use them?

]]> http://openhouse.homegoods.com/2010/08/26/putting-a-new-tray-to-work/feed/ 6 http://openhouse.homegoods.com/2010/08/24/gorgeous-in-green/ http://openhouse.homegoods.com/2010/08/24/gorgeous-in-green/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:21:54 +0000 Kim http://openhouse.homegoods.com/?p=4401

I adore the color green. Whether it is apple green, pea green or lime…it always attracts me. We have moved several times in the past few years and I continue to use the color green in each house, particularly in the master bedroom. This is the master bedroom in our new house! As mentioned previously, we sold our last home fully furnished meaning I just decorated this room from scratch. I am thrilled to report that the majority of the items in our new bedroom are from HomeGoods!
Here’s a list: Green Patterned Lamp Shades, Duvet Cover & Shams, Euro Cushions, Decorative Silk Pillow, Green Throw, Metal Wall Hangings, Wood Leaf Wall Hangings, Entertainment Center, Brown & Green Ottoman

Below are photos of 3 other homes that we have owned in the past, where I also decorated our bedroom with my favorite hue!

Yes, we’ve moved quite a bit! However, using this calming color scheme always makes it feel like home!
Do you love GREEN? I would love to hear about it and see your photos!

Outdoor living is great.

I always like to see how people decorate their outdoor spaces. It’s really not all that different than indoor space except furnishings and finishes have to be more weather resistant. I like to find a focal point first and build around it. That could be the view, a fire or water feature, a wall with outdoor art or mirror, a garden, anything that’s interesting to look at, or in small spaces, a grouping of furniture arranged artfully attracts attention.  (more)…

Mirrors expand and reflect

Dress up a garage wall.

These pictures I’ve taken have a variety of interesting features. Notice how outdoor mirrors are used to create depth and reflect the landscape back into the space. Add a table and seating and you have a beautiful way to accent a stucco garage wall.

Drapery adds drama and comfort.

This is a small 6′ x 10′ balcony with lots of style. Outdoor drapery creates enclosure, movement, and drama in the space. Also adds shade and blocks wind. Add ties or some drapery weights to the hem to keep them from blowing too much. Outdoor sectionals add plenty of seating in small spaces.

Pillows add pop.

Large scale with a punch of color=great style.

Add color and pattern with pillows, to solid colored upholstered seating. Pillows can be slipcovered easily when faded and worn, then the neutral upholstered pieces will take on a new fresh look each season without replacing everything.

Fill corners with green, add flowers.

Soften angles with greenery.

Potted plants and flowers infuse greenery and color into the grouping blurring the line between nature and manmade.

Refurbish furniture and upholstery, adds charm.

Paint old pieces for new life.

Rustic or used furniture can be painted or refinished to add longer life and infuse color. Pick up many different pieces and paint them all one color to unify a grouping or mix colors for fun.

Everyone loves to gather around the grill or outdoor kitchen to savor the smells and wait impatiently for all those burnt offerings, a nice relief from cooking indoors and no pans to wash. I extend that for as long as I can.

Shade is always appreciated in the form of umbrellas, trees, arbors or trellis, canvas curtains or sailcloth overhead.

Add a trickling water feature to amp up the relaxation quotient in any outdoor space.

It’s not too late to add to your outdoor rooms. In fact, this is the BEST time.  Lots of great sales are going on right now to clear out summer furnishings, Bar-B-Qs, and accessories. This is the time to add to your exterior decorating plan and get some great bang-for-the-buck!

Enjoy the rest of your summer with all that great outdoor living.

Love to hear all your creative outdoor ideas or how your summer’s going…hope it’s great!

I decided to go over to the Pantone website and find out about their color forecast for Fall. All I can say is YUM! I am a huge fan of the upcoming season anyway! I love the cooler temperatures, football, falling leaves, and the anticipation of the holidays. I know this is the fashion color forecast, but I’ll be we can incorporate some of them into our decorating as well.

These are three photos I found at HGTV.com from an article titled, 10 Fall Color Trends. They are just a taste of the possibilites of color combinations from the Pantone Color Collection. My favorites are Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, and Woodbine.

 What color conbination would you choose?

Window After

The studio apartment we’ve been renovating has a large double window which provides all the natural light to the space as well as a view of the neighborhood.   When we bought the studio the top woodwork had been covered up by a drop ceiling (see the before) and horizontal metal blinds provided the only window dressing.

The first thing we did was to remove the drop ceiling and expose the beautiful dentil molding that framed the top of the window. We stripped and refinished the woodwork and installed a window A/C unit for the summer months (an absolute necessity) and then we were left with the dilemna of how to dress the windows to provide for privacy, room darkening etc.  The bottom of the windows needs to be clear for the A/C in the summer and the windows to be open from the bottom at other times of the year.

Window Before

We considered a lot of options for window dressings but in the end went with Natural Woven Roman shades that open top down/bottom up.  Functional, yes, but the colors in the woods also tie in other wood and fabric shades in the room.  They also allow the beautiful woodwork around the window to be highlighted.  We love them.

Window blinds after

How would you dress this window if it were yours?

Trendy traditional is chic.

There was a lot of new stuff, but what I noticed more than anything was all the great leather pieces. It was a leather lovers dream. Everything from these chic traditional chairs (hmmm, who needs those besides me) to sleek embossed “snakeskin” leather tables. Very cool. And those prices, as always, were pretty unbelievable for real leather and all that style. (more…)

A mans favorite. I remember when leather was pretty pricy, but leather pieces have become very affordable because of the demand for this highly durable and cleanable product. Also leather has a wonderful "hand" or feel to it, and contrary to what some people think, it's not hot to sit on, it does breath and adjusts to body temperature . Those things alone have convinced people that leather fits the function and form of their busy, fuss-free lifestyles.

Lady-like leather, cool and colorful.

I love that leather can be dyed any color, not just the more masculine browns and blacks, but pinks, lavender, yellow or any, to go with any decor. What a great way to add durable upholstery to any room…kids rooms, kitchen, office.  You name it, it can take it.

Ottomans, the perfect leather accent.

Embossed leather looks rich.

I try not to go overboard with too much leather. I do like to mix many fabrics and finishes in a room and use leather on the pieces that get the most wear and tear, then use other fabrics on other pieces to infuse a variety of textures and materials. Too much of one thing is, well, too much.

Leather looks and feels good.

Yes, I know…  animals gave their all for us to have these things, but they were being processed for food and their “byproducts” did not go to waste. Think of it as being eco friendly and recycled into usable products that last a long time.

Sit back and relax.

(no, those aren’t guns in the foreground, ha,  it’s a foosball table)

Check out all those great leather pieces out there. You’ll be surprised at how affordable leather has become. Every room needs a little leather. Do you have any great pieces to share?

I’ve been looking through Customer Finds! Wow! It was thrilling to find so many beautiful treasures throughout! In fact I became so excited, I just had to share some of them with you!

These beautiful bedrooms were submitted by Joyce, Danelle, and Christina! Thanks Girls!

Aren’t these living rooms lovely? Thanks to Mickey and David for sharing their style with us!

MJ shared her delightfully designed dining room. I love that mirror!

Katie and Geri your entry halls are so inviting I want to come in see more of your homes.

Thanks to each and everyone of you who have taken the time to share your fabulous finds with us. Your creativity spurs ideas and encourages us to go out there and do a little treasure hunting ourselves.

Do you have a fabulous find that you would like to share with our HG readers?