Name: Christi Finley and her pup Lilly and a roommate (not pictured)
Location: Bouldin Creek, Austin, Texas
Size: 675 square feet
Years lived in: Rented, 1.5 years

Living in a small space doesn't mean it has to be boring, as evidenced by the home of creative and crafty apartment dweller Christi. The South Austin home she shares with her roommate and her incredibly photogenic pup Lilly is packed with color, pattern, texture and style.

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Christi, a pediatric nurse, has created a home that is warm and welcoming — while I was photographing, a neighbor dropped in to say hello, and tea was served and neighborhood news shared. The living room arrangement is perfect for gabbing with friends, and though there is a hilariously huge old-school television in the space, that's not what your eye gravitates toward.

Instead, Christi's colorful collections of art she's thrifted and crafts she's created catch your eye, and you find yourself spotting new things every time you walk into the space. And while you'll notice many recent DIY and home style trends sprinkled around the house — paint-dipped cooking utensils, neon, typewriters — Christi doesn't add these things into her home because they're trendy or in-the-now; she fills her home with elements she loves.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: HOARDER CHIC. I feel like my style is not having a style, because I just collect things I like, and then abide by the theory that if nothing matches then it all matches.

Inspiration: Having a warm home where loved ones and new friends feel welcome, one that also pleases me by feeling both cozy and creative. Blogs (Design Love Fest, Poppytalk, Design Milk, Apartment Therapy, SFgirlbybay, Plenty of Colour), creative friends (like Paige Newton Photography, Chrisrann Jewelry), and details of my life, like letterpress, neon, color blocking, yarn art, geometric patterns, plant life and gold spray paint.

Favorite Element: My favorite element is the anatomical rolled poster. It was a gift from close friends of mine whose wedding I officiated. They surprised me with it as a thank you. So it has sentimental value indeed, but I have also LOVED anatomical art from day one of nursing prerequisites. I have dreams of making my second career anatomical illustration for textbooks or the like.

Biggest Challenge: Entertaining inside if weather is unpleasant outdoors.

What Friends Say: The opinions are as diverse as the people who hold them. Some love it; they marvel at tchotchkes and projects and ask me to decorate their home. My more simplistic/modern/utilitarian friends tend to just laugh and say it represents my personality exactly.

Biggest Embarrassment: The bathroom door knob is the original from the 40s, which sticks, therefore 100% of the time upon exiting, guests briefly freak out and think they are locked in.

Favorite DIY element: I think either the typewriter wall with the painted column or all of the rubberized utensils made during a month long plasti-dip frenzy.

Biggest Indulgence: My couch. As a bargain hunter and an avid thrifter, I tend to not spend over 20 dollars on anything… but when I saw the couch of my dreams on craigslist I spent 400 dollars to make it mine — which is nuts for me, but totally worth the splurge!

Best Advice: You do you.

Dream Sources: Iris Apfel's house.

Resources of Note:

FURNITURE
• Living Room: Couch from Craigslist
• Living Room: Recliner and blue patterned arm chair are family hand-me-downs
• Living Room: Orange barstools acquired from a friend
• Living Room: Yellow side table from West Elm Outlet
• Living Room: Coffee table and bookshelves from IKEA
• Living Room: Little gold table from Homegoods
• kitchen: Rolling island with cutting board surface from Target

ACCESSORIES
• Living Room: Elephant Pillow and Turquoise throw by Karma Living from Corner Cartel in Boerne, Texas
• Living Room: Gold serving tray, round mirror and wall mount with plants from Pottery Barn Outlet
• Living Room: Telephone key picture frame from Red in Fredricksburg, Texas
• Living Room: Record/cd/tape/aux player from Bed, Bath and Beyond
• Living Room: Dog bed cushion from Molly Mutt
• Living Room: Circular picture frame with wood/orange/yellow & blue volcano candles from Anthropologie
• Living Room: Airplants from The Great Outdoors
• Living Room: White vase with gold hammered color blocking from Target
• Kitchen: Orange tins from West Elm Outlet
• Kitchen: Pure and good from Anthropologie
• Bathroom: Shower curtain from Urban Outfitters
• Bathroom: Towels from Anthropologie
• Bathroom: Bamboo box, soap dispenser and bamboo bathmat from Target
• Bedroom: Striped leaf duvet, mutli-colored from Pottery Barn Teen
• Bedroom: Chartreuse accent pillow from West Elm Outlet
• Bedroom: Embroidered dog pillow from Jaks in Boerne, Texas
• Bedroom: Purple round ruched pillow from Urban Outfitters

LIGHTING
• Living Room: Wire light fixture from Corner Cartel in Boerne, Texas

PAINT
• Living Room: Blue column is Martha Stewart, Kerry Blue Terrier
• Living Room: Gold detail is Martha Stewart Pearl Gold

WINDOW TREATMENTS
• Bedroom: Striped silk "curtains" from Anthropologie

FLOORING
• Living Room: Original 1945 wood floors

CHRISTI'S FAVORITE THRIFT STORES
• In Austin she loves Room Service Vintage, Austin Furniture Consignment, Uncommon Objects and Goodwill
• In Seattle she recommends Ghost Gallery, Cairo, Goodwill Outlet, Fremont Vintage Mall
• She visits Flutter when she's in Portand

Thanks, Christi!!

(Images: Adrienne Breaux)

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