Style File: Modern Cottage

Here is a stylish small house that I found on line. Love the bright white mixed up with bold colors. I have been out of town so thats why I have not been posting. Thanks for all the emails asking WHERE ARE YOU? Spring is in the air where I live, I hope it is for you too!

Using Bold Colors

Some people shy away from using bold colors in a small space thinking it will make the room feel smaller. Used in small doses, bold colors can add a great accent to the room. In the top picture you may be asking where is the bold color? Black. Black on the tile and door handle add a nice contrast to the high whites that are normally found in a bath. Don't be afraid to use your favorite bold colors. Mix it up experiment! You'll be glad you did!

Tips for Redesigning a Small Space

When dealing with small spaces, sometimes people are at a loss as to which direction to take when pondering a redesign. Transforming a small space can be challenging endeavor, but it is certainly not a impossible one. What follows is a list of a few tips that can help you rise to the challenge when it comes to redesigning your small space.





Windows are Your Friends





Windows are a great source of natural light and can really help open up a small room.
Try scaling back on cumbersome window treatments and play up the role of windows in your small space. Light, airy curtains or open blinds let the light in and open the room up in the process, so stop covering them up and brighten your room in the process.




Choose Colors Carefully




Depending on the dimensions of your room, the wrong color choice can make the room feel smaller. Choosing cool colors and accent pieces helps eliminate the claustrophobic feeling that can be enhanced by warm, dark colors. Stark white trim helps to establish contrast and cool grey tones can really help to create a sense of openness. Accessorize effectively, using accent colors from a rug or piece of art that brings the room together.




Room Orientation




Rearranging your small space may be just what you need to do to make the place feel a little larger. Try to use your walls with longer dimensions to your advantage to play up the features in your space. Also, if you have decided to change paint colors, stripes can help elongate walls either vertically or horizontally depending on the perception and wish you look to achieve.




Find a Focal Point




Whether it's a fireplace, artwork, or piece of furniture, finding a focal point for the room is a great starting point with which to finish conceiving your design. Using the focal point can help you from selecting everything from paint color to figuring out the exact layout of the room. Figure out what you want to focus on when redesigning your small space.




Remove Excess Items




Often when redesigning a small space, we tend to try and keep everything that we currently have and simply move it around. This isn't always the best idea. Excess furniture, accessories, and other items can give a small space a very cluttered feel, which ultimately makes the room feel smaller. Try and maximize your space's efficiency without filling it completely.




This post was contribulted by Holly McCarthy who writes on the subject of trade schools. She invites your feedback at hollymcarthy12@gmail.com. For a link to her website click on the above post title "Tips for Redesiging a small space"

Ok I Really Like These Kitchens

I love these kitchens! They are small (ok the first one perhaps not small) but they all prove that you can have GREAT style in a small space. So inspiring!

Small Bath Do's

Chances are if you have a small house you probably have a small bathroom. There are things you can do to make your bathroom feel larger. Use lots of white. Dark sinks can look great in a large bathroom, but if space is limited, go with white. Use lots of reflective and clear things. Glass shelves, large mirrors, all let light bounce around. If you have a window, let as much light in as possible. Lots of light always helps!

Inspired Dining

Try and make your surroundings as pleasing to the eye as you can when it comes to dining. Take advantage of a great view or fun seating. Sometimes a simple space that's easy on they eye is all you'll need !

Happy New Year!

Well happy new year everybody! I apologise for my lack of posts. Between Christmas I had both my daughters birthdays to celebrate (one being a sweet 16) a wedding anniversary and so on. ANYWAYS...I hope a bit of Pottery Barn eye candy helps. I want to thank all of you for leaving me such nice comments. I read everything and appreciate it very much. I hope everyone has a great 2009!!