- Name:
- Laura
- Location:
- Falls Church, VA
- Square Feet:
- 794
- Division:
- Little
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- This is the first time in about 7 or 8 years that I've actually had an outdoor space of some kind, so I'm loving getting our patio garden up and running. I also really like the fact that we have two very small bedrooms, which allows us the luxury of having a separate office, so our bedroom can be a relaxing retreat.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
- My husband and I got married six months ago and moved in together, and we both have strong design ideas, albeit different ones. It was a bit of a challenge coming up with a cohesive design that we both loved and felt at home in, but I think we're slowly getting there. We are also both people with hobbies that involve a lot of stuff (sewing and other crafts, terrarium building, sculpture casting, lots and lots of tools, musical instruments, etc), so figuring out how to fit all that into our space can be a bit tetris-like at times. We've set up zones in our house and backyard (i.e. my crafting corner and designated shelves for terrariums in the office) so our stuff is organized somewhat by hobby, which has helped quite a bit.
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
Small Cool,
Small Spaces
Like this Small Cool 2012 contest entry? Favorite it below!
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Ercol Bar Stool
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
Adorable home. Is that the Ikea Ivar Shelving System in the living room/dining area?
Super cute! Beautiful desk! I have a very similar couch, only the wood beam in the middle is broken. Any idea how to fix up, or what to even call this style couch?
Lovely home! I especially like the living room. What is in the vivarium? It's so tastefully incorporated into the living room decor.
Great place! This is totally creepster of me, but the second I saw the first photo I thought "We looked at buying a home in that development!" Knowing exactly what the units look like there, I can attest you've done a great job. I wish we could see the patio that you highlighted in your description.
Thanks for the compliments! To answer your questions:
@Purplecharm - It is indeed the Ivar shelving, which we sanded, stained, and polyurethaned, to class it up a bit. The shelves in front of the window in the bedroom are also Ivar, which we shortened a bit and added a solid top to.
@Amy Frances - I love our couch - it is so comfy! I just call it a chesterfield, but I'm not sure if there are different kinds of chesterfields or not. A repair like that sounds to me like it would be best to have a professional look a
@Mary79 - It is just a terrarium with plants, but I was super happy with how well it happened to fit under the console table.
@Ecochic - That's so funny you recognized it! I debated putting in a photo of the patio, but decided I should focus on the house. Although the patio essentially is functioning as our dining room with the nice weather, so I guess it is another "room". :)
@Amy Frances - I didn't finish my thought on the couch. :) I would think it would be best to have a professional look at it, because it seems to be more structural. At the very least, you should be able to get a quote for the repair cost, which would tell you if it's worth it or not.
Beautiful! I love your sewing corner and the terrarium in the living room
Love your color choices, especially gold (living room) and orange (bedroom). Nice blending of modern and antique furnishings.
Are those Nancy Drew books on the top shelf near your dining table??? You've made a lovely space for yourselves.
This is lovely! And that desk is gorgeous.
I love what you did to your place. I think you two did a wonderful job blending your things together even though you have different tastes and hobbies.
Isn't this weird: I knew the moment I saw your living room that it was in NoVA! :-)
I think you have done something really lovely here. I would never guess that your and your husband have disparate styles--everything works together so nicely.
The mom in me cannot help adding: Please don't drop that sewing machine on your head! :-)
Love it!!
I love the way the afternoon light shines into the space in the first photo. It looks so warm and comfortable. Great layout as well :)
I saw a sofa just like yours at REstore/Habitat for Humanity that I fell in love with. :-)
I love lamps in the kitchen!
I love the way you've blocked out spaces for your hobbies. That's a challenge I perpetually face in our house, and it's always wonderful to see how others handle it!