GOING TO THE SMALL SIDE: ALIXE LAUGHLIN

Ever since I saw Alixe's apartment featured in Matchbook Magazine, I've come back to her photo spread again and again. The small size and bizarre soffit-ing gave me a boost of hope that I could pull off a similar vibe of beachy chic and casual elegance in my own digs. The rooms also showed new nesters how to slip in a lot of style with little stuff; the apartment is actually fairly spare and packs all its punch in color. Bold, beautifully patterned color. Secretly, I think I love this apartment because it looks like an ad campaign for Quadrille. Of course, it helps if, like Alixe, you work for Quadrille and have access to the world's most wonderful (and presumably deeply discounted) fabrics. But I digress.

Lucite lamps! Chinoiserie! Java grande fabric! Zebra! What's not to like?

A small selection of fabrics are the only tête-à-tête  in this space - the walls, coffee table, and art in soft neutrals simply listen in.

The sideboard is from Circa Who, a marvelous store in West Palm Beach, but they deliver anywhere. Such as my DC living room. I love the side table I ordered from them!

Fantastic saya gata walls. I can't help feeling that some images in simple white (or RED) frames would heighten the drama.

Love this bedroom - the balance of frilly linens with chinoiserie lamps and a striking headboard - and that wall hanging you could just walk into. 

/All images/ Matchbook Magazine/ Unabashedly Prep/

GOING TO THE SMALL SIDE: NAOMI'S HOME

Since I'm decorating a small (minuscule) living space, I spend a lot of time digging through photo archives of everything from diminutive houses, to one-bedroom apartments and studios, looking for what looks best when your aspirations are big and your canvas for realizing them is small. One of my favorite new inspirations is the apartment of Naomi of Divine Manifest blog and interior design. You'll note it's fairly spacious, but many of the design elements would translate beautifully to the small side - especially the fabulous accent walls!

/All Images/ Design Manifest/

Great Things Come in Small Packages

There's always some excuse for not having a room just the way you like it - too small, too dark, and on and on. Well, the grass is always greener. Home design aficionado and plucky restaurant worker Anu decided to make the most of what she had (a teeny tiny studio with a couch and a bed in the same room). "When Anu Suebsawangkul painted her 408-square-foot apartment all white she had no idea that her quick fix to conceal hideous blue walls would be the start of a design obsession. After that it was all white all the time: painting white furniture, purchasing white accessories, and fabricating white curtains. Soon, however, the monochromatic room wasn’t enough and, says Suebsawangkul, 'I decided to give my room some pizzazz. I discovered the Hollywood Regency style and I fell in love with it. Kelly Wearstler and Dorothy Draper are my style icons.'" - Metropolitan Home. Lesson learned? Your vision should always surpass your square footage.

Images, Metropolitan Home.