After what seemed to be endless amounts of paperwork, time, and a bit of frustration, I finally have a place to call home! A new home!  Well not really new, but new to me. It's very tiny (under 800 square feet), but FULL of potential. I'm super excited to share it, and even more excited to share the before and afters. Check it out! These were taken just before I moved in, but you can see what a great blank slate it is. I'm already making tons of progress, and will post more exciting pictures soon of some of the fabulous furniture pictures I've gotten, and of the new paint colors on the walls. Forgive that all of the pictures are sideways...I'm still trying to figure all this blogging stuff out!

I live in a very small space. As much as I love it, it’s taken a bit of
ingenuity and disciplined editing to make it feel a bit more “large and in
charge” instead of just plain small. And by small, I mean REALLY small. 
I’ll soon be moving into yet another small space. It’s turned into a bit
of a habit for me…I LOVE the idea of making the most of anything! But mostly
money and space!


A few designer tips and tricks I’ve utilized along the way:



Furniture can and should multitask in a small space. In my case, instead of
simply having bedside tables, I have small, 30”W three-drawer dressers flanking
the bed. All of my “foldable” clothes fit within the dressers and eliminate the
need for a larger dresser elsewhere in the space.


Be clever with storage. Since space is limited, anywhere I can store something DOES store something. My bed is just
high enough to fit lovely black baskets beneath that not only look nice, but function as storage for miscellaneous household stuff: laundry detergent, guest blankets, gift wrapping supplies, etc.


Do your best to create long sight lines.  Sometimes breaking up a small space w/larger scale pieces (or a piece) works, but in my case, it doesn’t. I like the idea of seeing the main living area in its entirety as soon as you enter the door. It makes the most of the natural light I have, and gives visitors the longest sight line possible, making the space appear and feel larger than it really is. Lately I’m obsessed
with translucent furniture. They literally allow you to see through them, creating a longer sight line, and they feel very “light,” both necessary in my space. I’m obsessed with this gorgeous, clear Louis chair by Philippe Starck, available from Design Within Reach. 


Check back in a few weeks…this chair will be the absolute first thing I purchase in my new space!

Design inspiration is everywhere, but one place that never fails me is film. For example, when Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” came out here in Nashville, I could not wait! The vintage camp feel of the film was so much fun and inspired everything I did design wise for months (my love affair with all that Wes Anderson creates is immense, and will eventually fill up what I’m sure will be a very long blog
post) .

This year, I am indescribably giddy, excited, and unabashedly stoked for Baz Lurhman’s take on “The Great Gatsby.” It’s my favorite book of all time, I think Luhrman is a visual genius (my love affair with his “Moulin Rouge” could fill yet another blog post), and certainly the time period I feel the most akin to. The Jazz Age, with its “youth in revolt” mentality, women’s suffrage, bold new fashion statements, and of course jazz, have all been huge inspirations to me personally, my space in particular.


So, in honor of all that is jazz and the Roaring Twenties, I offer up these sumptuous pieces that look like they came straight from Gatsby’s own mansion. Enjoy!