loving. living. small. | live small with style

loving. living. small. has moved | come on over

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Sun, 9 Oct 2011 21:53:00 -0700

oh, hey now, loving. living. small. has moved over to wordpress.

Click here to head over to our new home >>

lovinglivingsmall.com/blog or lovinglivingsmall.com

loving. living. small. is getting a makeover

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Sat, 8 Oct 2011 07:55:00 -0700

Almost four years later, this lil blog is getting a makeover with a fresh look and easier category searching. Like the new logo? I thought it represented the vibe of loving. living. small. Stay tuned for the new look - coming soon. Have a great weekend! It's just beautiful on the east coast.

currently loving...the work of mina javid

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 06:16:00 -0700

I absolutely love the design work of Mina Javid. My favorite - the wall graphics. Mina's work extends from modern lighting options to patterned headboards all interpreted through decals you can add to surfaces in your small space. Simple and impactful - my favorite kind of style. Plus small space dwellers can get the look without taking up the space (hi, cool headboard) Click here to enjoy her full portfolio, including interior styling and furniture design. And click here to check out more items on my *currently loving* list.

:: images via Mina Javid and Blik ::

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design inspiration following your heart

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 6 Oct 2011 06:45:00 -0700

I often write about exploring and enjoying your very own neighborhood and city as an incredible source of inspiration for your (big or small) home and your life. When I moved to New York in August of 2002, I was living in Soho in a tiny studio apartment that I simply loved. (one of my inspirations for this blog) I was working at an ad agency in the Meatpacking District and walked to and from work everyday. Sometimes I would take Bleecker and sometimes I would take W. 4th and every walk was a mini adventure.

It all changed when I bought myself an ipod that fall, a 1st gen. I had absolutely no idea that the ipod would become what it is today. I didn't know much about it even at the time. I simply bought one so I could accompany my walks with all my music, not just a cd. It was a lot of money for me at the time - a lot. From the first day I used my ipod, my walks changed. I took the same routes but my mini-adventures seemed to expand. Instead of just people watching as I strolled, I also began to look up and look down. I began to really see the buildings, the architecture, the way the tree-lined streets provided dappled lighting to the stationary townhomes, the wrought iron details, different colors of brick, the cobblestone streets, and more and more. I am sure I had always noticed the *design* but with my music, I really saw it and I continue to see it everyday, everywhere. Soon I began snapping photos and then writing about it and then connecting to like-minded people and then meeting new friends and then starting new projects and more and more.

Since picking up my ipod, I have started loving. living. small. which has certainly led me down a creative and interesting road - one that I have embraced and that feels right for me (and is different from the career I had been doing and didn't truly love). Visionary Steve Jobs said it best when he stated "Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” There are many more adventures ahead and I will continue to enjoy my surroundings and follow my heart.

Have you followed your heart? I love hearing people's stories about their personal adventures and inspirations. And are you inspired by your city? You can find ideas everywhere!! Here are a few of mine...

*A New York Color Story

*Using Your Walls: Make Your Own Art from Your Photos

*10 Photos that Inspire You to Look Up and Look Down

*Color Lover: London Rowhouse Editon

*Happy New York Weekend

*Picture This: Neighborhood Pics

*Tapping Your Inner-Designer

*City Inspiration for your Small Space

*Keep those Eyes Open

:: all images snapped in NYC last weekend ::

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small space dweller handbook rethink your entryway

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 11:21:00 -0700

Have you ever thought about your entryway? It's one of those areas that many of us may not think about when we are thinking about making our space work but I say add it in to the design mix. Many small homes and apartments may not have a traditional entry way (like a foyer or entry hall) that allows for a console table. And since floor space is limited, sometimes a clunky table may not work.

So what's a small space dweller to do? Of course I say, recreate your own version. We have a small entry way and needed a place to place our keys, my bags, etc. We didn't want to use hooks and there was no room for a table so so we "recreated" it by hanging a multi-tiered shelf on the wall. Now we have a place for keys, bags and some decor we enjoy.

a small chat jill sorensen of marmalade interiors / live.like.you.

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Mon, 3 Oct 2011 06:24:00 -0700

Another amazing A SMALL CHAT for you small space dwellers. This one feature the talented and sweet Jill Sorenson, owner of Marmalade Interiors and blog, Live.Like.You. As an interior designer, Jill has such a design eye and a real passion for creating impactful and comfortable spaces for clients. Enjoy her small chat below to hear about her design process, using color in small spaces, her launch of her decor line and how she ended up in the design industry. There are so many great tips here - enjoy them!

You are the owner of Marmalade Interiors, a design firm in Georgetown, DC. I love your story about how you got into the world of interior design...the company that you had hired to do your space, hired you! That is some passion you have for design and feeling good in a home. Can you share more about your love of design and what inspires you?

Everything pretty much inspires me. Improving someones life by improving their home inspires me, making people happy when they come home from work inspires me, changing someones outlook via design inspires me. Moving someones senses with design inspires me. It's all about helping people and making them happy. I'm by an extremely visual person and I can remember the tiniest design detail or color combination in any space I walk in, and get a gut instinct of what to do or what I think needs to be done. So using that ability to help others makes sense to me.

Aside from a fantastic design portfolio, you also have a popular blog that is full of great ideas, thoughts and your favorite things. I love the title - Live. Like. You. YES! I am true believer in this idea and how important it is to live your best self in your home and in your life. I especially love your PERSONALITY section where you provide entire room inspiration based on emotions (A Happy Home? Yep, I'll take that one. And the gorgeous blue chandelier too) Share your thoughts on "living like you" and what that means.

LiveLikeYou was created because I wanted to make design available to people who can't afford an interior designer. Most people go to the major retailers when designing a home, PB, Ikea etc. they are not sure what to buy, so they buy something safe..like a beige couch. And they're often insecure about what color to paint the wall, or they don't have time to deal with it- so they pick something safe like beige, or never paint because the simply can't make a decision. And go on living like like every body else... not living like the unique human beings they are!!
Interiors deeply affect your well being and possibly even your future. So I wanted to shake people up, and think outside the box and enhance their lives. Because we are not all the same...so why should we live the same? I think we all would be much happier if we loved where we live.

Starting the design process can often be overwhelming for many small space dwellers - creating a floor plan that works, curating furniture, concepting a color scheme...it's a lot to do in a smaller space. How do you start the design process for some of your smaller scale homes? Can you offer a few tips for small space dwellers on getting the design process up and running going and keeping it going?

Step 1) Go through what you have. See what you can use, what you can reinvent (paint etc.) and what needs to be thrown away. Clearing clutter is key! Nothing will look good unless you do.

Step 2) Try the pieces you already have in different areas to see where they work best. In a small space let rooms double task. Use a couch at the end of a bed, or a desk at the end of a bed or as a bedside table. Be space efficient.

Step 3) Look at inspiration photos to see what colors and styles you're drawn to.

Step 4) Think Outside of the Box and forget boring design rules. Be creative and organized and allow your space to evolve over time.

I recently started doing Skype Consultations and to go through space and help people create a to-do list. You can make remarkable progress and come up with an entire plan in 2 hours.

You have such an eye for balance, cohesive and accessible design and (my fave) color. What are your thoughts on color in small spaces? How can readers use your awesome COLOR section to concept ideas for their own homes?
Don't be afraid of using color in a small space. A color will make the space feel warmer and more engulfing and perhaps even hide just how small the space is. The important thing when picking a color is selecting colors that look great together. In all the LLY personalities I've picked wall colors for the rooms that work together nicely to help people with color schemes. If you have selected a wall color and have an accent color you would like to add, I suggest using or color section too see what you can add that gives it that occasional pop of color. I personally love to shop via color, because I believe color is the most important and most fun aspect of design.

Aside from designing gorgeous spaces and keeping up with your community on the blog, you also have launched some new products - congrats! Tell us more about your favorites and why we need to have them in our small spaces.

Small space should never mean small style. The carpet that comes out next week offers a bold honeycomb pattern in fun colors. I like to call it the perfect Recessionista buy because the carpet offers enough pattern and style for the entire apartment so you can save money on the rest. Mix it with all IKEA and it will make IKEA look expensive. The bedding has the same philosophy. It's graphic and makes all the statement you need in a room, yet versatile in a variation of interiors. Again, I just design what I love, and what I haven't been able to find for the right price. I like things with good quality, fairly affordable with a spunky classic vibe.

Thank you, Jill!! Check out Jill's work and style at Marmalade Interiors, her fantastic and fun blog, Live.Like.You. and catch her over @livelikeyou

Enjoy over 100 more small space tips in the A SMALL CHAT series, including chats with...

*The Novogratz

*AphroChic

*Peter Walsh

*CasaSugar

*Williams-Sonoma

:: images courtesy of Marmalade Interiors ::

happy {new york city} weekend

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:42:00 -0700

I am off to my fave city this weekend, New York! I can't wait to soak in the energy and style and visiting with friends and enjoying some awesome meals. Do you have a city that completely inspires you?? I even have an NYC pinterest board to pin some fave photos. Have a great weekend!

design inspiration fashion on display in small spaces

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:44:00 -0700

One of my fave handbag designers, Rebecca Minkoff, shares her office style over at The Coveteur today and I really love it! There are tons of small details and cool design elements in here that could definitely be reinterpreted in your small space. Check out her use of wall space with various art galleries - perfect for all small spaces. But my fave is using fashion to create impact. A pretty pair of heels on the bookcase, a leather jacket hanging near the art gallery, even a handbag as part of the gallery. Certainly this is a designer's office but you can add a bit of style and love in your own home. And since I know how much we ladies love our pretty shoes and bags, why not put them on display?! Have fun!

:: images via The Coveteur ::

happy fall weekend

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:39:00 -0700

Are you enjoying the first weekend of fall? I hope you are are out and about, gathering inspiration and style for your best small space. Here are a few of my fall inspirations //

*Gorgeous {and affordable} yellow flowers

*Fresh flavored water you make at home with sliced cucumbers and lemon / yum

*Purple in the fall? YES! Vibrant colors delight

*Gold flats in the {thankfully} back-in-style-action slightly pointed round toe

*A daytrip road trip around town to enjoy nature and new adventures

*Candy pumpkins {need I say more?}

*A most gorgeous venue for a fall wedding.

:: all photos snapped by loving. living. small. ::

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small space accents Missoni for Target ottomans / perfect small space addition

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:43:00 -0700

Say what you will about the craziness swirling around the general Missoni for Target experience but their ottomans simply rock. When it comes down to it...either you like their products or not. I have to say that the ottoman is by far the best item in the 400 piece collection, in my opinion. Really well-made, priced just right and the perfect small detail addition to boot (the piping is the floral fabric from the other ottoman set) - if you want 'em, try to get your hands on 'em. Plus ottomans are the best small space accent - part foot rest, part seat for guests and part side table - I am happy to add them to my small space.

:: images snapped by loving. living. small. ::

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small space style black walls and curated fashion at pretty people vintage

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:41:00 -0700

One of my favorite sightings // black paint in small spaces. Check out one of my fave shops, Pretty People, and the beautiful black painted walls throughout the small space. I love the richness and depth that black walls with bright white moldings can evoke in small spaces. The contrast of the white encourages your eyes to keep moving into that deep black and the small space feels bigger - love that! Plus the black walls provide a clean foundation for colorful decor, like these two mirrors - yellow and turquoise. Decor aside, the shop is full of sweet owner, Annie's, vintage fashion and design finds that she curates and showcases in constant rotation. I love that you can find something brand new-to-you every time you shop here. The accessories are a plenty (I love her pin selections) and she has racks of well-designed, pretty vintage pieces.

Click here to check out Annie's shop, Pretty People Vintage. Want some more black paint love? Click here, here and here for more spaces with pretty black walls and floors. I see a small space DIY in my very near future.

:: all images by loving. living. small. ::

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a little inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:23:00 -0700

A little weekend idea // set up your space with items that make you smile and provide a constant stream of inspiration. I promise this will make your home feel open and bright, no matter what the size.

My current home office inspirations // flat vase, Yves Saint Laurent LOVE book (a gift from my mom), various design books and my NYC pencil set.

loving. eating. small. fat radish | nyc

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 05:10:00 -0700

I am heading off to NYC soon for a visit to to my fave city and the inspiration for this little blog. My fiance and I will be visiting with friends and checking out some spots, like the Fat Radish. This place opened up after I had moved and I'm looking forward to checking it out. I love intimate dining spots that offer not just great food but great design. From the photos on their site, Fat Radish seems to deliver both. There are many small space design ideas right in there // white subway tiles, large type, floating shelving and mixed textures. Do you check out design while you're dining? Click here to see more of loving. eating. small.

:: images via Fat Radish ::

design inspiration turning christian siriano 2012 RTW into small space interiors

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:42:00 -0700

More NYFW love. There are some incredible design statements walking the runway. I am loving so many of them, including Jason Wu, J. Crew, rag and bone, Oscar de la Renta, DVF, Parabal Gurung and Christian Siriano. Christian's show was so catching - I love the mix of soft femininity and bold colors as well as his color pairings. I was so inspired by his line, I had to turn it into a room that any small space dweller would love.

I really love his poppy red designs (that dress is stunning!)and thought this modern living room was a great complement. You can certainly add bold color to a small space. The trick is to edit your additions. The artwork, pillows and coffee table books create a cohesive design message in the room while adding depth. Another small space tip is to include pieces that appear to float, like the acrylic coffee table. Your eyes will keep moving and open up the space.

My next fave is the pale gray, cream and chartreuse collection - my oh my. So elegant yet modern with a touch of edge. (Katherine Hepburn was his inspiration for the line) The design of this open space living room and kitchen evokes a similar vibe. I love the idea of two tones of the same color in a small space. It adds a design element and dimension, which all small spaces benefit from. A few affordable additions of color through flowers makes this room flow and perfect in harmony. Small space tip - if you have an open space like this room, forget placing your pieces against a wall. Float them and create a zone.

Are you loving the collections? Share your favorite designs.

:: fashion photos via style.com / red room via lonny / gray room via decor pad ::

design inspiration design advice from kelly wearstler

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:45:00 -0700

Have you been eyeing Fashion Week? I love checking out the latest fashion trends to spot the next big shelter trend (can you say "pearl" for color of the year 2012?) One new-to-me designer is Kelly Wearstler. I didn't know she had a clothing line and I am absolutely loving it! Her design style is a bit more pulled back than her interiors but her visual appeal and signature design is definitely in tact. I love the mix and match of patterns with the two-tone palettes - rock it! I have always loved her spaces - they are full of incredible depth and balance. She has so many design elements going on in a space but it works and that's why she is a successful designer.

She shared some of her design advice right on her personal blog. And, of course, her clothing design intentions echo her fab interior design ones. I definitely believe that these apply to all small space dwellers. You truly will be impressed by what visual depth and harmony can *add* to a small space. Consider everything in your small space and how it feels together.

Yes, you can have a bright orange wall.

Yes, you can have large furniture.

Yes you can have collections.

Just make sure it's balanced in the scale of the room. Click here for tons of ways to accomplish this in your own small space.

And how rad is Kelly's clothing line? Love love love it! {and I am so getting that gorgeous blue blouse}

:: Images via Kelly Wearstler and Style.com ::

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white foundation two ways neutral tones and pops of pastel color

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:19:00 -0700

I am feeling these white palettes and think it's pretty amazing how the idea of white foundation can be seen in two ways - a more neutral tone and a more colorful style. While these are a bit different, I think it shows how what can be used in a softer way - mixing in soft style. White can be special in a small space. By keeping a white palette, you allow the eyes to move around and the space feels bigger. Love that! What do you think of white as a foundation for a small space?

:: images of Stockholm shops snapped by loving. living. small. ::

loving. eating. small. summer travel edition

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 11:00:00 -0700

It's been raining like crazy in the east coast lately and I've been staying in and enjoying the cozy vibe of my new small space. I've been checking out and loving some amazing food blogs lately (like this blog, this blog and this blog) and was inspired to share some of my photos from my summer trip to Italy, Stockholm and London. I definitely enjoyed the food and wine on my trip and was turned on to a lot of new and interesting goodies.

I love how photos evoke such memories and inspiration. I remember shooting one of my Chianti day trips and absolutely loving the faltered wood farm tables - perfectly rustic. It definitely inspired my new farmhouse buffet. Do you have pieces in your home that are inspired from photographs?

location of images from the top //

01. Rome. Window shopping break for coffee.

02. Florence. Rooftop dinner.

03. Stockholm. Lunch in my friend's backyard patio.

04. Florence. Gelato snack.

05. Florence. Breakfast on our rooftop terrace.

06. Chianti. Winetasting.

07. Chianti. Lunch during winetasting.

08. Chianti. Dessert wine and cookie during winetasting.

09. Chianti. Winetasting.

10. Chianti. Winetasting.
11. London. Flowerpot bread at Borough Market.

12. London. Borough Market lunch.

13. London. Mushrooms snapped during Borough Market walk.

14. London. Notting Hill walk and snack.

15. London. Breakfast.

16. Florence. Best white pizza. Ever.

17. London. Oysters and clams snapped during Borough Market walk.

18. Stockholm. Ferry to Archipelago for Midsummer weekend.

19. Stockholm. Bulle and coffee break.

:: all images snapped by loving. living. small. ::

6 driftwood items for your best small space

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 10:29:00 -0700

I am in love with this Maine house tour I spotted over at New York Times and especially enjoyed the homeowner's furniture and product design skills. How amazing is that driftwood floor lamp that he made? Love it! I love mixing textures and think wood in - all of it's forms - can have a place in elegant design. Plus small spaces really benefit from showcasing details. I was inspired to pull six items that feature driftwood style. All of these products could work well in a small space, I especially love that driftwood tray.

:: image via NYT ::

a small rustic office space

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 10:07:00 -0700

I am in love with this small dreamy desk and chair. It's a sweet combo of rustic and minimal that makes me smile. Although I certainly loved my bright white office space, I think I could go for something a bit more calm and warmer. What do you think?

small space dweller a winter vignette from absolutely beautiful things

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 05:02:00 -0700

A Winter Vignette

I am loving loving loving this new small space dwellers post. I discovered Anna Spiro's new online shop through one of my fave online mags - Adore Home. Anna's blog :: absolutely beautiful things :: was one of my first bookmarked years ago and I've been enjoying reading her inspirations every since. I just love the concept of her store - shop the seasonal vignette. There are tons of fabulous ideas right inside this room and here are my faves that you can recreate and reinterpret in your own small space.

1 :: FLOATING FURNITURE

Just because you have walls, it doesn't mean all of your furniture has to be pushed up right against it. I love placing an accent chair or table on an angle, away from the wall, to create a design element and balance in a small space. Use a floor lamp or a side table to anchor the piece. The small space will appear bigger.

2 :: SHOW YOUR ACCENT STYLE

There's only so much storage space in a small space and often you have to leave your goodies out on display. Forego any idea of a cluttered look by styling your stuff. Anna's coffee table is style for the shoot but you can take a small space tip from this - it looks fantastic and organized. Balance is key here so be considerate of how your room feel in regards to balance and scale.

3 :: USE YOUR WALLS

One of my own series on the loving. living. small. blog is all about using your walls and the vertical space available to you. Going up is a great way to move the eyes around the space, allowing it to feel bigger. Check out Anna's small artwork gallery vignette for ideas of your own.

4 :: MIX & MATCH

Creating a mix of textures and color will definitely make your small space bigger. Of course there should be some design style and balance here - use colors or patterns in a complementing palette. For example consider using all warm tones - reds, oranges, yellows or patterns - stripes, dots, zig zags. You need to add in some neutral balance as well - like Anna's wood console table or the white coffee table. Again, balance in a small space means all the difference in opening up the room.

5 :: NEUTRAL FLOORING

In a small space with tons of visual elements going on, like Anna's room, another big small space tip is to keep the floor completely neutral. The white wood flooring is the perfect foundation to such a visual space. This anchors the room and, yes, provides balance. Keep your floors bare or use a very neutral toned rug to create this look in your own home.

Check out more rooms in the small space dwellers series right here. There are over 100 small space tips, tricks and ideas to enjoy. Fun!

:: Image via Anna's new online shop ::

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currently loving gold enamel votives

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:34:00 -0700

A few weeks ago, I posted about a black and gold combo that I see coming on strong in the next few months. {Be on the lookout for the November InStyle Magazine where I talk more about this trend} I spotted this style over the summer when I was in Stockholm, Italy and London. While there, I picked up a bunch of design goodies, including this fave item - a votive. Super small in size, this little guy is such a nice design element in my new small space, I love it! There's something chic and cool about this votive - matte exterior and and shiny enamel interior - the tiny tealight creates such a look in such a small package. I love small details in small spaces // they truly add style.

Check out more items that I am currently loving //

*Stone side tables

*Tinted porcelain bowls

*Gourmet sea salt

*C-tables

small space d.i.y.tin tile headboard

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:29:00 -0700

One of my favorite neighborhoods is Georgetown. It's completely quaint mixed with cool design and shops. I spent some time there the other day and enjoy the pretty cobblestone streets. I popped into West Elm's new pop up shop. There were some neat design ideas and I thought one, in particular, was perfect for a small space DIY. How cool is this tin tile headboard? Full of design style, texture and color vibe, these tiles make a great impact. Consider placing your tin tiles (found at your local home improvement store) on a large plywood sheet. And don't forget to add some color with spray paint. Check out over 50 small space DIY ideas right here - fun!

:: all photos by loving. living. small. ::

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ready to relax | rain edition

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:01:00 -0700

I'm buckling down for the crazy rain that's headed towards the east coast and the DC area. 2 weeks in and already an earthquake and more so I'll stick to relaxing at home, watching movies and continuing to decorate and move in to our new townhouse. Have a great weekend!

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

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small space style inside the rustic vibe of a Maryland barn

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:53:00 -0700

The other weekend, I headed over to a monthly decorators' tag sale and absolutely loved it! The location - a rustic barn in Maryland. Who doesn't love that? 30 designers were on-hand, showcasing vintage decor, furniture, rustic pieces and commission design. I loved seeing the industrial chic style on display - from factory carts as coffee tables, to lamps made from machine parts. Small space dwellers can definitely benefit from adding in small details and these items had that extra style. I also spotted something totally new to me - clay tags (Love the Le' Amore tag) Full of texture and whimsy while being unique and interesting.

:: all images via loving. living. small. ::

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a small chat jeni maus | found vintage rentals

noreply@blogger.com (loving. living. small.) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:08:00 -0700

Hi all, I am so happy to share a new interview in the A SMALL CHAT series and this one is simply awesome! I am planning my wedding and have been spending some major design time on wedding-inspired blogs and websites. One of my absolute favorites - the blog and website of Found Vintage Rentals blog by the lovely Jeni Maus. Jenni has over 12 years of experience in the wedding industry and has an incredible eye for discovering and curating gorgeous vintage furniture and decor items. Seriously - Jeni's collection of vintage goods is thoughtful and dynamic - I love it all! As a design lover, enjoy what Jeni has to say about choosing pieces for small spaces, mixing and matching design styles, creating vignettes in your small space and more.

You are the founder and owner of found, vintage furniture and decor rentals and sales. You have such an eye for curating unique vintage pieces across the board. (I absolutely love your style!) How do you search and then select pieces to ultimately create a vignette? A lot of small space dwellers want to add as much style into their square footage and picking the best pieces is sometimes a challenge.

My motto is "form over function." Our home was built in 1926 so I know about small spaces, and when I decorate it (yes, I am constantly changing things) I don't always think about the most "functional" pieces, but rather the ones I like to look at. Not to say that nothing has a purpose, but I want to love everything I have in my spaces. Another crucial element in decorating small spaces is, layering. It creates depth, and can actually make a space look bigger by putting pieces on top of and around each other.

Your collection of available pieces is amazing and it's quite a mix of textures, colors, patterns, etc. I definitely believe that mixing and matching furniture and decor in a small space works and can make a room appear bigger with the addition of textures. What tips can you give for mixing and matching furniture? Is there such thing as too much mixing?

"It's in the mix, not the match!" I am, nor never have been a matchy, matchy kind of gal. Furniture is a great way to express your style putting pieces together that may consist of different kinds of wood, or shapes just shows a dynamic personality. I love throwing is some industrial pieces as well. The straight lines and harsher materials are a wonderful contrast to the softer, chippier pieces in my collection. I think it is a great balance.

On loving. living. small., I often talk about making your house a home and the foundation for this is to feel great in your space. You create "real moments" in your vignettes for weddings, events, photo shoots, etc. I mean, I think I could lay back and relax on one of your sofas in a field of green grass for days - your photos truly evoke a sense of feeling fabulous. :) How important is it to make a furniture layout "feel" good and what are your tips for making this happen?

Accessorizing. It is crucial. Pillows, candles, books, lamps, clocks....there are so many ways to make a vignette more inviting, which is exactly how I want my clients guests to feel at their wedding. I want Uncle Fred to feel like he is sitting in an outdoor living room, chatting it up with other family and friends. If too many accessories feel overwhelming, I would say pillows are at the top of the list of must-haves to make a space feel more comfortable. Even throwing a rug down under the coffee table (yes even if it is on the grass) makes the space feel warm, and comfortable.

I often tell small space dwellers to edit their things and really integrating items they love into their home that also are efficient in the space. Can you offer a few ideas on how to edit a space? What about adding in new pieces?

When you love something, you can't live without it. You can walk a room/or any space, and some things will evoke emotions, some will not. Some items have memories associated to them, or sentimental value, and some just make you happy. If there are pieces that don't do any of these things, most likely you could do without them. This may also open up the door for incorporating new pieces that will evoke those emotions! I am always adding, switching around, making changes. You will always find things that you love, how much you love them is the question? I base that love and the decision to buy an item on how it makes me feel. If I know I am going to smile every time I look at it, it usually goes home with me.

Where do you find your vintage inspiration (flea markets, magazines, films, environment, etc) and what has been your favorite vintage find? I can't wait to hear what you love because I love all the items you have on your site :)

Home magazines and blogs really inspire me. One of the most relaxing things to me is to curl up on the couch and look at one of the many home magazines that I subscribe to. Blogs are the same. I get lost in them, and feel inspired at all of the beauty and creativity in the blog world. Flea markets do the same. I spend hours and hours at them, and there is no better feeling than finding something (that you weren't at all looking for) but wonder how you have lived without it all this time :) My favorite find...easy. A chair that has been completely stripped down to the lining, (buttons still attached with fabric) and horse hair and hay coming out all over the place. The original upholstery webbing is still attached on the back and the caster wheels are original, but the chair is not to sit in. It is itchy and pokes in weird places, but it will remain un-upholstered in my dining room (or somewhere in my house) for as long as I live.

Thanks, Jeni! Definitely click here to check out Jenni's fabulous website and blog, found. Follow her right here @foundrentals. And enjoy over 20 more small space inspired interviews from designers, lifestyle experts, design bloggers and more, including...

*The Novogratz of Sixx Design

*Monelle Totah of Williams-Sonoma

*Julia Walsh of CasaSugar

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