Making our House a Home

Moving can be a drag, but with a new city comes a new home and new furniture! My boyfriend and I were able to find the perfect apartment, but the task of blending both our styles will be the next challenge. He likes industrial minimalism. I'm a fan of mid-century modern glam. Together, we've combined our styles to make what I'm calling rustic modern. I don't know if that's a real thing, but for all purposes we can rock with that label lol.

This past weekend we hit up a few stores to start sourcing pieces and figuring out the direction we'd like to go in. So far, it's looking like we'll be taking cues from the Pacific Northwest and incorporating a lot of earth tones and wood into our new place. Just a little background, we are moving into a very industrial loft (think cement floors and steel stairs lol), so we'll be relying on our furniture to warm up the place.

Has anyone else had to combine styles with their significant other? How'd the process go?

Linda's Apartment Tour (via @nomnomblngblng)

I'm completely smitten with Linda's apartment design I recently saw on Apartment Therapy. I love the idea of saving corks, want to snatch up her gold vase asap, and think her bedroom and office space are lovely. My amazing friend SexyandtheChi sold me her white lacquer West Elm Parsons Desk, so I'd be interested in recreating this look using that as the foundation for my color palette. What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy this space?

Name: Linda, pharmacist and fashion and food blogger of NomNomBlingBling, and dog Mandu
Location: McLean, Virginia
Size: 903 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; own

Working as a pharmacist by day but a fashion blogger in her spare time, Linda describes her home style aesthetic as being much like her fashion sense: a mix between high and low, elegant and modest. In her one-bedroom condo that she shares with her cute dog Mandu, pieces from Home Goods and Ikea mix with vintage purple suede and lots of shine.

Along with her new neighborhood, home design is another area Linda is looking forward to exploring a bit more. "I'm very comfortable with fashion, but home design is new and seems a bigger, more personal reflection of you."

Within her small space, Linda focuses on the little details and touches to make it feel more homey. Accent pieces and pops of purple and red inject a little energy into the quiet space. Flowers fill vases in every room. "I'm pretty much done in terms of the overall big pieces, but details and little things I'm always shopping around for. Perhaps next season I'll change out the details, like switching out the rugs or pillows. It's winter so I figured I would do a winter palette."

Being on a high floor of her building afforded Linda the opportunity to transform her sun room into a multipurpose office/dining area to take advance of the natural light. "The sun room area is my favorite. Especially taking food photography for my blog, the natural light is the best. It was a major selling point for me." Using her wanderlust as inspiration, she created a sort of a gallery showcase out of her dining room wall, where she displays photos of her travels.

Symmetry is another theme throughout the space, whether it's the two pillows on the couch mimicking each other, the glass lamps flanking either side of the bed, the lined picture frames above the dining table, or striped carpet in the living room.

Smitten...

I'm currently stuck in Hartford, Connecticut waiting for my flight back to Chicago, and what better way to pass the time than downing drinks with my coworker and looking at pretty condos.

I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs, Made by Girl, and was instantly reminded of my love for interior decorating and city living. I'm on the apartment hunt (yet again) and have a few rentals lined up to view this upcoming weekend - - yet another reason why I'm eager to get back to Chicago.

Lauren's San Fran Studio

Once again I'm on a studio apartment kick...

I came across Lauren's San Fransico studio on Apartment Therapy and loved her use of space, color, and overall lived-in feel. The light coming from her windows is amazing, and goes to show the importance of having a well-lit space, regardless of its size. I'm on the apartment hunt and not sure if my husband would strangle me at the prospect of living in a studio lol... (location, location, location!!!), but I'm continuing to find inspiration for small spaces and how to make them work.






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Name: Lauren
Location: San Francisco, California

I moved into my quintessential San Francisco 500 sq ft studio just four months ago. After a few years of bouncing around living with roommates, I was excited to have my own place.

I have always had a passion for history and I believe that comes through in the decor of my apartment. I try to mix a variety of flea market finds with big box furniture. I like when items have character. For example, I purchased the trunk in the middle of the "living room" from the flea market. It has the original owner's name painted on top and traveling stickers attached to the side. I can only imagine what travels this trunk went on before making it to my living room. I almost couldn't fit it into my VW Beetle to take it home but happily I finally squeezed it in the front seat.

Most of my influence comes from turn of the century to the 20s when my apartment was built. If I had to pick one designer who I admire it would be Windsor Smith because she creates colorful and intricate but livable spaces (and she plays with graphic black and white patters which I love).

Check out more of Lauren's style: Live. Happy. Inspired.

Simplistic Loft Living...

Sometimes I surprise myself with the simplistic designs that both catch my eye and win me over. I came across this London loft and was instantly smitten. Maybe it's the zig-zag rug, exposed brick, or natural light... but I'm loving this place. Serious apartment crush happening right now.

While there's nothing spectacular about the decor, the high ceilings and windows are amazeballs! I'm a sucker for all that light - - and having amazing ceilings and natural light is one of the things I miss about our apartment in South Carolina. You can't beat 20 ft ceilings...

If I were to change anything, it'd be adding more of a girly touch with flowers and accessories. The overall design is a little too bare bones for me... and I would opt for the white lacquer west elm desk with a clear chair. God, that West Elm Parsons Desk is still something my dreams are made of.

What do you think?

Name: Philip and Claire
Location: Clerkenwell — London, England

When Phillip's job as a corporate attorney transferred them from sunny Southern California to gloomy London, Claire sought to find the brightest apartment she could. An interior designer, she knew that they didn't want a pre-furnished flat as is common in the UK. They landed in London's design friendly neighborhood of Clerkenwell in an old Silk Factory Loft that was re-purposed for residential use in 2000.

This one bedroom flat with large windows, high ceilings, and an open floor plan living area is not your typical Victorian era dwelling. Claire brought a bright yellow desk for her workspace and colorful art for the living room. The bedroom is done in softer tones of grey and white to soften the urban brick backdrop. Keeping the pops of color in the main living spaces also makes the home more lively for company as they are avid entertainers.

300 sq ft Apartment in Chicago's Lincoln Square

I'm always inspired by small spaces, and although this isn't a studio, Jay Michael's quaint 300 sq ft apartment in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood struck a very realistic, affordable cord with me. It's not often people can find a cozy, budget-friendly space that has the desired upgrades, so I was excited to see this post on ApartmentTherapy.com.

Jay Michael's goal with this apartment community renovation was to show renters how "beautifully and efficiently one can live in a small, rented space." For any of my Chicago readers that are on the hunt for a place to call home, these units are located in the Rockwell Commons apartment community and start at $800/mo for small 1-bdrms like the one featured. However, they do also have larger 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments.

Name: Jay Michael
Location: Lincoln Square — Chicago, Illinois
Size: Approximately 300 square feet (this particular model)

200 sq ft Parisian Flat Remodel...

I've always dreamed of living in Paris and calling my very own Pied-à-terre home. This 200 sq ft Parisian flat remodel was recently featured on ApartmentTherapy.com and as usual, I was amazed at the amount of space (or lack thereof) people can comfortably call home.




Parisian Flat Before...



Looking at all of these wonderful studios makes me question whether Americans truly are excessive, wasteful and less efficient? My husband and I just moved out of a 1000 sq ft apartment that we were more than comfortable in and the thought of downsizing was freaking me out... but if 2 people can share 400 sq ft and smaller without a problem should we all be thinking about making the most of our space instead of having a "bigger is better" attitude? Hmmm... thoughts?

5 Smart Studio Layouts

Find yourself on a studio budget with dreams of a well-planned out space? Apartment Therapy recently posted the 5 smartest studio layouts renters should look for, along with how to make these spaces work best for you. Since moving back to Chicago I've been bouncing around the idea of living in a studio - - ultimately sacrificing space for location. Seeing these various layouts and how they maximize the use of space is inspiring and helps lessen my anxiety about living in such a small space.

#1) Laura's Fresh Start Studio: Laura's studio is a railroad-style apartment that she divides into a bedroom and living area using a curtain. The angled chair in the sitting room can move around, and a blue accent wall adds a touch of dramatic color. She keeps the space uncluttered by choosing just a few furnishings: a bed, dresser, chair, chaise lounge, side table, and a set of nesting tables.

#2) Lila's Live/Work Studio: Lila fits her home and office into a 240-square-foot space. The sleeper chair in the center of the room folds out into her bed. Behind that, a dining table and bookshelves create a small study. The desk is a very smart system, designed as a ledge that wraps around the corner of the room. A brown-and-green color scheme keeps things unified.

#3) Moo and Ju's Super Comfy: The bed is the central hangout spot in Moo and Ju's studio. During the day, it doubles as a sofa. Two armchairs face it, creating a conversation area. A small dining area separates the bed/living room from the kitchen. Vertical storage pieces flank either end of the main room. The symmetry and order of the arrangement anchors the playful prints and colors.

#4) Tony and Hilary's 3 in 1 Studio: In this apartment, a custom-made "pod" and loft bed defines the space. Inside and out, the pod contains shelving. Inside, there's an office and closet. Outside, it holds the media center, with the bed above. The rest of the space is arranged with storage flanking each side of the room, a sofa in the middle, and a couple of chairs for guests.

#5) Kevin's Triple Threat: Kevin's studio separates the bedroom from the living area with a hanging "screen." The sofa folds out into a bed for guests, and a stool provides extra seating. Storage is built into the bed and the walls.

10 Ways to Customize a Rental

Living in a rental can often be a buzzkill. Unless you're paying top dollar, you're often faced with bland flooring, blah walls, and an overall space that's uninspiring. In an effort to help spice up your rental space, Apartment Therapy posted 10 ways renters can customize their rental spaces into something that's uniquely you!

1. Use modular furniture that you can customize to fit your space. Casey Marie's sectional sofa, for instance, splits up into chairs or a loveseat. If her next apartment doesn't have room for a full sectional, she can still use it. For other modular furniture ideas, click here.

2. Emile added lofted storage in an oddly shaped area above the kitchen. If your apartment has high ceilings, utilize the space above your kitchen cabinets to build in extra storage.

3. Rhiannon worked with a problem that many renters face: wall-to-wall carpet. By adding bright accents and layering area rugs over the floors, the carpet doesn't seem so bad.

4. If your rental comes with some surprising color choices (like the bright green cabinets in James and Emily's studio), work with it rather than against it. The green tea towels, dishes, and kitchen chairs make their kitchen seem very pulled-together and bright.

5. One of the best ways to streamline a rental apartment is to consolidate your storage and hide it behind closed doors. The chocolate brown wall in this photo from Alex's apartment is actually an IKEA-hacked wardrobe that holds all of his clothes and separates the living room from the bedroom.

6. To really make an apartment your own, hang some artwork. This cluster of pictures from B, Joe, and Rachael's apartment may leave a lot of holes in the wall, but it's nothing that can't be fixed with some spackle and touch-up paint. If your landlord is dead set against any nails going into the wall, try some picture hanging strips instead.

7. Some landlords will allow you to paint as long as you choose a neutral color (like the light gray shown above in Gingerpop's apartment). Even the slightest hint of color can transform an apartment and freshen up the walls. If you can't paint, bring color into your home through furnishings and artwork.

8. Take down those ugly plastic blinds and dress your windows with something a little nicer: roman shades, floor-length curtains, a screen-printed panel... anything that will soften up your room and complement your decor.

9. Replace outdated ceiling lights with something a little more stylish. Gregory wrote a great how-to that includes detailed instructions for switching out a ceiling shade.

10. You don't have to undertake a full-scale renovation to transform your kitchen. For inexpensive and accessible ideas, check out the Kitchn's list of improvements for renters.

Cassie Ventura's Posh NYC Apartment...

Just saw a sneak peak inside the abode Cassie calls home -- one word: Fab! Say what you will about her... her NYC apartment is uber cute. The perfect mix of vintage/glamour/chic and actually looks lived in! Kudos to you Cassie. I want to see the rest of her place!

Decorating a studio apartment

Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool 2011 contest is officially over, but I just came across this amazing studio and I'm quickly falling in love. Onielia's studio is quite large at 535 square feet, and she used two huge perks to her advantage: large windows and a great layout!

I love how she used the bookcase to separate her sleeping area, and the rest of the furniture was the right scale for the space. If this is what studio living is like I may be able to give this a shot.