CONDO2CASTLE: Use Your Storage Spaces Wisely

I have a confession to make...I can be a TOTAL slob.

It's true. Ever since I was a little girl, I have hated cleaning. As an adult, I have really fought with my sloppy nature and have lived more responsibly, putting things away and hanging things up...but I'm not going to lie, there are times when I do look in my closets and cabinets and shudder.

On the positive side of things, knowing my own limits, I now have a housekeeper who comes twice a month and makes sure that I'm not living in filth, HOWEVER, she doesn't do any organizing... that still falls on my shoulders. And living in a small condo, I've learned that organizing storage spaces is CRITICAL to feeling like there is a lot of it.

Under Bed Storage
If you don't have one of these, you can still replicate it. (Thanks Apartment Therapy for the image.)

Using under bed storage is a no-brainer. For those of you who live in cold areas, I encourage you to tuck all your BIG winter clothes away in the spring and summer.  There are a number of great and inexpensive products for under bed storage.  You can find bags/drawers/boxes with wheels at Ikea or even Target.

Hall Closet
You hall closet or coat closet can be another way to greet your guests. In many small homes (such as mine), it has to be multi-functional. That doesn't mean that it should be a catchall, though. Sure, you may need to store cleaning supplies, winter clothes, extra dishes, tools, etc, but by using shelving, storage baskets, organizational tools, it will not appear to be overcrowded or messy.  When guests come over, this closet can be used to take their purses or jackets.  If you have a place for them, and some extra hangers (I prefer wooden ones), it will show that no details have gone unnoticed in your home.  It shows you went to the extra effort to make your home hospitable.

This great green closet my friend Angry Julie's. Too learn more about it, go here. The thing I love is that 1) she used color 2) it's functional for storage, and for hanging guests coats 3) it doesn't have anything on the floors. It feels clean, open, and that there is plenty of space!

Kitchen Cabinets

Have you seen these before? They are cheap and incredibly helpful for those of us with teeny kitchens. Really, a must have! Organize World carry a boat load of similar options for less than $10. For those of us who don't have a pantry and really have to maximize space, creative vertical storage is crucial.

I'm also a huge fan of using drawer space creatively. For instance, dish drawers are becoming really popular. I know people with kids who love them because they're children can help put clean dishes away or set the table. Look how cool this is!

And don't even get me started about how much I LOVE pull out spice cabinets! They are functional, efficient, and totally fun!  They also make the statement that no detail in your home has been overlooked. And what a way to improve the value of your home by showing that you went to the extra effort to make your work space extra special!

Bathroom Cabinets

I have one bathroom in my home, which means that my bathroom is also for guests...unless I'm feeling REALLY mean. It can be a challenge keeping necessities, cleaning supplies, etc, together in a way that it organized and classy. There are a number of options that provide organization at low costs. This is a fun undercabinet organizer that I recently stumbled across:

Medicine cabinets and free standing cabinets can also be your best friend. Always keep guest towels and necessities in an easily accessible location, and always organized. Having things tucked away nice and tight will provide more room for storage and frankly, you won't look like a slob when visitors go rummaging through your cabinets, like you know they all do! : )

CONDO2CASTLE: Embrace Your Walls

Have you ever heard that light and clutter-free walls make a room look larger? I grew up hearing that, but I now know that it's a total misnomer. Having spent the last seven years here in the condo, I've tried many different looks. Now I know that color, decor, and large scaled pieces DO NOT make the home look smaller, but rather, enhances the style of your home.

Fantastical Focal Points
Remember my dresses? Last year, when I bought the art piece, it had been displayed tightly together on a white background. I knew I wanted to enhance the sculptures and make them pop, all while making them a central focal point in my bedroom. Though it is not a large space, the art installation easily takes more than half the wall. And it makes the room look larger.  Don't be afraid to have an anchor piece in your house that serves as a focal point in one room or another!

Collages, Artwork, Mirrors, Oh My!
Many small spaces are rentals units or apartments.  And it's easy to get intimidated by rules and regulations.  Or perhaps you're in a similar situation as me and you own a small starter home.  Don't be afraid to decorate how you want for fear that it's not a "forever" home!  Girl, spackle can be your best friend and walls can always remain painted.  BUT, if you don't want to rock the boat, there are always decals.

image courtesy of Leen the Graphics Queen

Another option for wall decor with no permanent impact would be to utilize a leaning mirror!  Ikea has them reasonably priced and I just found this one for less than $100 bucks!

Fabric is Your Friend
If you live in a small space, you likely either have high vaulted or shallow ceilings. If you're lucky enough to have vaulted ceilings, PLAY THEM UP, GIRL! And if you don't...FAKE IT! By using window treatments that start at the ceiling above your windows, you'll visually deceive your guests AND yourself into thinking you've got lots of space.

image courtesy of Southern Living

Do you have a small space? Have any concerns or questions about decorating it and making it feel like home? Share with the class and maybe on the next CONDO2CASTLE, we'll tackle that problem!!!

CONDO2CASTLE: Do Not Fall Prey to Castle Envy

Last week, as I went settling back in, unpacking, downloading photos, from a week spent in TX, I realized that the Green Monster had also unpacked and settled in...not sure if he's downloaded any photos yet, though.

That's right...I came home to the itsy bitsy teeny weeny condo and helped myself to a gigantic bowl of Castle Envy! I'd just spent a week with different friends in their gorgeous homes with their equally gorgeous children and I came home to an empty house. For pete's sake, I don't even have a cat anymore (but that was really more about wanting nice carpets for a change...and another story for another day!).

When I had a couple of days to break down what I was envious about, I realized that there were certain things my friends had that I did not...but that they were not unattainable!

• Robin has a gourmet kitchen, with all the gadgets a girl could ever want. Her home is comfortable and welcoming.
  
• Lindsay has a home that is bright and airy. Her high ceilings are emphasized and she has minimal clutter.
  
• Emily has amazing rooms straight out of Pottery Barn catalogs, with large pieces of black and white photography to punch up her family moments throughout the years.

These are all things I can do, too!

For instance, while I might be envious of all Robin's Le Creuset, I can start small by buying up pieces here and there at outlets, etc. OR begin buying the equally charming Martha Stewart Enamel Cast Iron cookware at Macy's! I can also check HomeGoods for other fun and fancy kitchen gadgets. And maybe I should stop storing my fab KitchenAid mixer in the back corner. Who cares if I only use it for this dessert every once in a while!

And I might be envious of how bright and airy Lindsay's house is...but you know what? I have vaulted ceilings throughout my place, too, and I never take advantage of them because I almost ALWAYS have my curtains drawn and my door shut, so those high ceilings don't get any natural light. Is that totally Californian, or what?! I've lived here for almost SEVEN years and I don't know my neighbors by name and I practically lock myself indoors the moment I get home. Lame! From here on out, I'm going to open my curtains the moment I get home and just use my screen door until it gets too cold. I should be using my gorgeous California sunlight to the extreme and not avoiding it!!!

And the clutter solution is easy. I just need to eliminate it. Unopened mail does not need to live on my kitchen counter. Magazines do not have to live out in plane sight. Remote controls can live inside the drawer of the end table. That's all there is to it. I just need to be more committed. Does any of this sound familiar in YOUR home?

As far as Emily's house is concerned...I really love her formal living room which boasts gorgeous black and white images of her kids. I have a wall of shame, too, but it's pretty eclectic. While her images are all unified by the fact that they're black and white, I've decided to focus on having mine all in the same color frame. Sounds like a job for a good can of spray paint! I think I'll even use some risers in order to create depth and that real gallery feel!

And yes, her rooms do look like they are straight out of Pottery Barn, but you know what? I've got some nice furniture, too. The couches are all from Bassett and I need to remember what the price tag was on my high quality pieces the next time I begin to think they're not that nice!!!

So, am I alone in this? Do you ever fall prey to Castle Envy? He's an ugly beast, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not all alone in this one... Tell me ways that you've been able to conquer the Beast and let's fight this one together!!!

CONDO2CASTLE: Dressing Your Table

I bought my kitchen/dining room table for just over 200 bucks in 2002...that included four chairs and a bench. It's awesome, seats 8 people, and is an unusual big square. I like that it's different, seats many people, and fills my dining room perfectly.

But it doesn't exactly fit my style anymore...has that ever happened to you?

I thought about replacing the table and chairs, but then I decided that the big square table really was the perfect size for entertaining in my small condo. The fact that it seats so many really makes the dining room feel bigger. So then I realized that I just needed to repurpose it. Because the chairs and bench are farm-style, I decided to replace them with something else. But when I thought about how to change the table, I realized paint wasn't my only option!

In my ever present obsession with design magazines, etc, I came across pictures of elegant and eclectic kitchens/dining rooms. I noticed that many of the images I was drawn to included color and elegance through linens. Many of the photos below show small rooms, but the way the rooms were styled, you'd never know that they lack square footage! If you're in the same boat that I'm in, join me in using linens to turn your condo into a castle that you're proud to host dinner parties in! Changing your table doesn't mean replacing it, sometimes it just takes a few scraps of linen.

I love how the colors in these linens aren't too matchy matchy, but that they coordinate with the walls and artwork.

via BH&G

Speaking of matchy matchy, I'm slightly overwhelmed by the colors here, however, the quality of the fabrics are high end and bring a sense of glamour and elegance.

via BH&G

For the eclectic home, there are fabrics that can dramatically change the appearance, as well. I like how color breaks up the black and white color scheme and brings the outdoors in.

via Apartment Therapy

Ina Garten's amazing kitchen uses linens to make the table feel cozier. She uses mismatched chairs, some that are oversized, to make it feel less like a kitchen, and more like a place to sit around a while and enjoy her company. I really like that and may borrow her idea!

via House Beautiful

This home matches the gauzy burlap table linens to the window coverings. It adds a Tuscan feel, and along with the chandelier, can make any builder basic home turn into an Italian retreat.

via House Beautiful

I'm sharing this post over at Hooked on Fridays, Julia's super cool blog carnival or linky party or whatever you cool kids are calling them because...I'M HOOKED ON BEAUTIFUL TABLE LINENS!

CONDO2CASTLE: Don't Forget Your Garage!!!

My friend Barbie also has a one bedroom condo...however hers is GINORMOUS! It is LITERALLY twice the size as mine. But THAT is not what makes me the most envious...it's her amazing garage.

Barbie moved in and immediately put in cabinetry throughout her garage and epoxied her floors! Which inspired today's CONDO2CASTLE!

Don't Forget Your Garage!!!

For many people, the garage is the catch-all in your house. Boxes get tossed stored in the back, bikes, snowboards, and golf clubs get stashed in the corner (oh wait, that's MY GARAGE), and sometimes garbage even piles up. We always assume that we'll get to organizing it later, but later rarely comes...

Your garage likely has more square footage than some of the rooms in your home and shouldn't be ignored! Now, if you're a condo owner like me, you probably won't go to the same length as many of these images, BUT some changes can improve the value of your home AND make pulling into your garage much more pleasant!

So, don't put off your garage plans any longer! (JJ, that means you, too!) Let's do this and tackle the next room in our CONDO2CASTLE series together!

For inspiration, please check out these delicious garages!

(via The Inspired Room)

I'm sharing this post with my friend's at Hooked on Fridays because I'm SO hooked on gorgeous garages!!!

CONDO2CASTLE: Mix It Up With Your Bedroom Furniture

When I first bought my home, I went out and found a great furniture warehouse and just started saying "I'll take that, I'll take that, I'll take that." You see, I'm typically an impulse buyer, and my first instincts rarely let me down. I furnished my totally empty home on a budget and it's worked out really nicely over the last six years. However, as I've started to really think about my home and what I'm asthetically drawn to, I've realized that my initial instincts no longer fit the bill...especially in my bedroom.

At the time, I hated dark wood and thought it made my house feel smaller - BOY was I wrong! I also felt that in order to look like the home of a grown up, I needed a matching bedroom suite of furniture. WRONG AGAIN!

In order to really have a lovely home, filled with depth and elegance, I now believe that it's even more beautiful to mix it up in the bedroom. Woo woo, that sounded kinda naughty! ; )

Take a look at some of these examples from House Beautiful...see the one thing they have in common? Their bedroom furniture speaks nicely to each other, but isn't matchy matchy!

I'm loving that the room in the pic above doesn't have a nightstand, but rather a unique table and a chair which serves as a bedside table. Notice the bookshelf is painted, the stand is mirrored, and the chair is leather, and yet, the fabrics and art connect the whole look together.

I love the leather otoman, with the silver tea try as a nightstand as well. The nailhead trim and the accessories on top speak nicely to the silk-shirred headboard.

This bedroom is 100% glamour. I REALLY LIKE the his and hers nightstands...the mismatching pieces, yet coordinating lamps really add depth and character.

Finally, this room is heaven! The ornate painted chest (with monogram - TO DIE FOR!), the iron canopy bed, and the bench, all could work in different genres of rooms, however, they JUST WORK along with the couch on the side. In the past, this would have never occured to me, but I find it absolutely divine!

As I get older, and my home decor style matures, I'm so thankful for the bloggy community and for my favorite magazines. Only six months ago, I considered buying a whole new suite of furntiture, and don't get me wrong, I don't think that's bad. But in my small condo, having unique pieces with individual stories of purchases in JUST the right place at the right time, makes my CONDO feel less like a cookie cutter box, and more like a CASTLE! What do you think? Are you with me???

By the by, I'm sharing this post over at Hooked on Houses for Julia's Hooked on Friday's linky party. Please go check it out!!!

CONDO2CASTLE: Don't Overlook Outdoor Living!

In my quest to turn my little condo into a castle, I thought about one sure-fire way to increase the square footage of my home...bringing the indoors out. I can hear you now saying, wait JJ, don't you mean the outdoors in? While I love the idea of making my house springier and more airy, the answer is NOPE, that's not what I meant at all.

If you're fortunate enough to have a deck, patio, or balcony, then you're fortunate enough to have an extra room! That's right, people. This post is dedicated to OUTDOOR LIVING!

The issue of outdoor living is timely...especially here in southern CA! Last week we had a few days of 100+ degree weather. While the blazing heat hasn't lasted, it's guaranteed to be back soon with a vengence! So, I guess that means it's time to finally figure out what on earth I'm going to do on my deck.

My deck is HUGE. I have a slider in my living room AND my bedroom. I have a utility closet AND a storage closet out there. I have a nice view of the trees and the pool, but all I have out there is a dusty (and under used BBQ) and a couple of chairs. My deck is BEGGING for a makeover and I'm guessing some of you are in the same position...so let's all look for inspiration together!

This cottage look is so precious! I love how the colors pop against the white woodwork!

Do you like mixing and matching bold colors? Any Amy Butler fans out there? I'd love something like this! A porch swing is so dainty, relaxing, and mixed with these colors, ever so girly!!!

Americana much? This is something my mom would scream for...wicker is a great outdoor product because it can take a beating, and down the road can be spray painted, if needed!!!

This classic setting is something I'd LOVE someday. I'm planning to get an outdoor rug for my deck in the near future...even though my awful HOA may not like it...but I haven't forgiven them for towing my car last week, so I don't really care what they think!

Like to entertain in your yard? Why not use fabrics and textures to create an elegant and rustic atmosphere? And let's not forget that a chandelier can be just as FABULOUS outside, too!

Want a peaceful retreat? Don't be afraid to put a couch outside and soft accessories!!!

All photos courtesy of BHG.com

So tell me...if you were me, which style would YOU do on my deck to turn my condo into a castle?!?!? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

I'm sharing this post at Julia's Hooked on Friday's linky party...because I'm HOOKED on outdoor living...well, I will be once I figure out what to do on my deck! {giggles!}

CONDO2CASTLE, Part II - Adding Character

Last week, I started this series - CONDO2CASTLE - by talking about ways to make your home feel bigger. I could have BLAH BLAH BLAH'd for hours on the topic, even though I'm no professional. After six years of living in this teeny condo, I've learned a few things that work and that don't work.

When I intially purchased my first home, I loved the idea of NEW, but as I nestled in and started making myself at home, I realized this 1990s standard build condo lacked a few things...like CHARACTER! As time wound on, I found ways to jazz the place up and wanted to share them with you!

Builder beige walls? DON'T BE AFRAID OF COLOR!

I initially was really afraid to paint my walls anything but bright and cheerful colors because I thought it would close the place in. I ended up with a yellow bedroom that the painter was "eez joost like soooonshine." I HATED IT. I now have warm neutral walls in my bedroom and parts of the living/dining room, and a new GREEN kitchen. I'm in LOVE and have actually discovered that by giving my rooms rich color, and some accent walls, that my rooms have visual interest and "pop"...it does not close in the place, and in fact, does the opposite and creates a ton of character!



When painting one wall an accent color, be sure to choose colors that are in the same color family, so your color story doesn't clash...





Another trick is to paint your hallways and pass-throughs a different color to convey depth.




Color can also be used to convey height. I painted this accent stripe straight up behind my headboard to accentuate my high ceilings.

Don't have any architectural details? Not a problem...ADD THEM YOURSELF!

Yep, most current day developments come with little in the form of extras...in fact, they usually come with lesstras (yes, I am lame). For instance, my windows came with shady plastic vertical blinds and no character...I ran to the HD, grabbed some faux wood blinds (at a VERY reasonable price), ran to Anna's Linens for some $10shears, found a sale at the Silk Trading Company on a panel (which I cut into two pieces), and then made cornice boxes with my Daddio. Wahhh-la - INSTANT CHARACTER well not instant, but the project was a half-day deal, seriously!)! If you'd like to make some cornice boxes of your own, I found a really simple to follow set of instructions here.


I also found a trim kit at the HD for a hallway pass-through. I cut the long pieces to the right size, then liquid nailed those suckers to the wall! This was seriously a project that took MINUTES and I constantly get compliments on it!

Let's not forget that thicker base boards and moulding add elegance and grandeur, too.

Another daddy/daughter project..I LOVE the look of strong moulding.

Modern architecture making you feel underwhelmed? Bring in traditional furnishings!

Just because your home may not be a precious bungalow, doesn't mean you can't add in traditional touches! The longer I was in my home, the less "updated" styles spoke to me and I had a stronger asthetic response to traditional and transitional style. That may have something to do with the obsessive amounts of Divine Design I watch. As time wound on, I kept picking up accessories here and there, like the lamp, table (on closeout at Bombay Co. - RIP), and ruffly pillow below.

I also found this great console table at an inexpensive shop recently. It's the perfect size to sit behind my chair and serve as an entry table! It also serves to hold my keys instead of dropping them on the floor like I used to do. ; )

I realized that having a strong piece near the entry really adds character! Do you have a strong piece in your entry?

And don't forget to dress up your walls! I found this gorgeous mirror from Lola B and it now hangs above my TV... it speaks to the same colors in my kitchen, too, and ties all my greens together.

Again, I'm no professional, but these are things that I've learned that WORK FOR ME! To see some other tips that work for other people, check out WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY!

3 Ways to Make Your House Bigger: Condo 2 Castle Series

So, the secret is out...my castle is a tiny condo. But that's okay, because I've learned a few tricks along the way to make my home feel grander and much more cozy than the sterile condo it was! If you have a similar experience, please share your knowledge with me and I'd LOVE to feature you here in my new CONDO2CASTLE series!!!

How to Make Your House Bigger

1. Small living space? Try a room-arrange (ya, trying to be cute there with re-arrange...it flopped)!

Okay, this seems silly, but it LITERALLY took me six years of living here to realize that if I moved my chair around the room, my place would open up immensely AND give me an entryway. See what I mean? Try this at your own home ASAP and then tell me how right I was!!! : )

I also used to have my tall bookcase in my bedroom next to my bed. When I walked in the door, it was directly in my line of site, which seemed to close the room in as it was chock full of books. Now, my mirrored desk and shelves break up the space and even brighten it up, which makes the room feel larger!

2. Standard issue kitchen? It won't be the cheapest of projects, but a kitchen renovation can go a LONG way.

If you bought your home and the kitchen looked anything like this, don't worry, you're not alone. In the condo world, this is standard, faux wood, fiber press board. It's cheap and gets the job done. HOWEVER, it does very little in terms of making your kitchen look good. I lived with my kitchen looking like this for about four years, and then I decided it was time to put on my big girl panties and upgrade and I'm SO GLAD I did. See, when you have a very basic kitchen like this, it doesn't draw your eye...in fact, it averts it and a person subconsciously closes off that space. When your kitchen is a thing of beauty, you: A) want to spend more time there actually cooking; B) entertain more; and C) it just opens the place up!



If you can't afford to upgrade your kitchen, YOU STILL HAVE OPTIONS! Update your fixtures for a fraction of the cost (second hand stores, yard sales, going out of business sales, and even your local hardware store have TONS of affordable options), reface your old appliances with stainless steal-like kits (c'mon you've all seen them do this on TLC and HGTV!), and accessorize the hizzy out of your kitchen! I kept a strategically placed trivet over a burn in the old formica counter for years (yes the seller actually hid it during my walk-through and I was too lame to notice...).

3. Bad lighting? Brighten that place up!

My single most HATED thing about my house is the lack of lighting. The only rooms with overhead lights are the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. Sadly, my living room and bedroom are as dark as night.

The moment I moved in, I ran out and purchased floor lamps, table lamps, and later received some plug-in sconces for my bedroom. Normal people would like this subtle mood lighting, for sure, but I'm now convinced I want my house as bright as the sun (a story for another day).

My biggest recommendation for those of you with high ceilings is DON'T overlook them...you'll need some tall light, otherwise you'll feel like you have a dark cloud over you. I underestimated my vaulted ceilings at first, but have since learned to uplight. Once those ceilings were properly illuminated, it added to the openness of my home!
I recently discovered some inexpensive undercabinet lights for the kitchen. I didn't want to spend the moolah boolah on rewiring the kitchen during the remodel (it IS a condo after all), but just happened to be traipsing through IKEA (from the land of my people) recently and found these gems for like 10 bones!

Lighting can also be an awesome design feature! My new fixture in the dining room gives the place a little bling and I LOVE it.

Next week, CONDO2CASTLE will focus on adding CHARACTER to your home, so be sure to come on back by! Until then, happy Easter!!!

I'm sharing this post with my friend at Hooked on Fridays. Pop over there and find out what other people are hooked on this week, too!

UPDATED: My pal Nathan over at Laurel Street House commented below on the mirrored wall in the dining room and how it can make a room feel better. He is ABSOLUTELY right. When I bought my place, I wasn't too sure about the mirrors...in fact, I toyed with the idea of tearing them down until my parents assured me the mirrored wall was the ONLY upgrade in my place. The jury's still out on whether I really like them or not, but one thing is for sure, they DO make my dining and living room feel bigger!