Name: Miguez & KD
Location: Pasadena, CA
Size: 680 square feet (2 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Years lived in: 3 months — rent
Miguez and K.D. have just moved into their Old Town cottage in Pasadena. The layout is quaint but just spacious enough to fit in their collected art and furniture as well as a home craft room doubling as an office. When they went in search of a new home, they really wanted a place that could offer space for entertaining and relaxation, as well as work.
This small cottage has a living room, a formal dining space, a kitchen and two bedrooms (one of which was converted to Miguez's craft room). When I asked where they furnished their home from, Miguez explained that they love shopping at places like World Market, yet have great luck at local thrift shops for vintage. They have mixed warm California rustic pieces with more classic choices like tufted ottomans and antique mirrors.
The kitchen especially was bright and inspiring, perfect for dinner parties and holidays! I loved her craft room, where she works hard creating jewelry and hobo bags for her Etsy shop.
This wonderful little home is part of a courtyard style complex of a few small cottages built around grassy walk way, welcomed by a white picket fence - the perfect lead in to a fun and lovely home.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Contemporary Cottage with Vintage Flair
Inspiration: We look for inspiration everywhere - blogs, hgtv, shops, catalogs, homes from AT. Before we even moved to our new place, we already had an idea on how we want our new home to look and feel. We're both glad that we are able to incorporate our choices and styles together so we end up loving every piece at home. Right now, our home is a mix of chain store + eBay + flea market + thrift store scavenger finds. All put together with trinkets & treasures from our travels, interest & hobbies all around the home always remind us of our favorite things & fond memories.
{Miguez} My Mom's style of decorating has always been an inspiration to me as well. I have always loved how she creates our home ever since we were kids. Up to now, I still ask her opinion on what to get, where to get and how to arrange pieces.
Favorite Element: Hardwood Floors + Dining Room - We love to cook + eat + entertain. This is a perfect little home where we actually have a dining room for meals & entertainment, which we didn't really have in our previous apartments.
Biggest Challenge: Generally, the small space didn't give us many options to arrange furniture and pieces. It was nice to move in with newly acquired furniture (not necessarily new) to actually fit every space and corner. We had to measure every space and every piece of furniture before buying. From there, finding the right pieces to put together without spending a fortune could by far be our biggest challenge.
What Friends Say: "It's very homey, warm and cozy!"
Biggest Embarrassment: Shoe Shelf/Organizer - We don't have space for shoes and we are now using an old bookshelf to make it work for now.
Proudest DIY: Decorating our home in three months! We were excited to move and make this our home and everyday since then is still a work-in-progress.
Small DIYs to note: 1) Installing Blinds 2) New Look for the Bedroom Chest Drawer / Vanity 3) Painted over Ikea Frame turned to Wall Mirror 4) "hello" Front Doormat 5) Built Ikea Pieces
Biggest Indulgence: Our forever favorite Dining Room - All elements were purchased new, piece by piece and were put together & blended perfectly like how we wanted it to look and feel.
Best Advice: Your home should be as comfortable as it can be and not just a mere showroom. We like the no-rules approach in decorating and just go with how you feel.
Dream Sources: We would love to shop from Anthropologie + Antique Shops + Flea Markets around the world
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Landlord's White Paint
ENTRY
- • Key Hooks: World Market
LIVING ROOM
- • Love Seat: Living Spaces
• Accent Chair: Pier1 Imports
• Vintage Lamp: Miguez's Mom
• Buffet Table: Yard Sale
• Los Angeles Poster: Ork Posters
• Vintage Telephone, Vintage Globe: eBay
• Throw Pillows & Accents: Home Goods
• Mirror: Ikea
• Vintage Accessories & Accents: Thrifted and/or Flea Market
• Blinds: Blinds.com
DINING ROOM
- • Solid Wood Dining Table: Living Spaces
• Solid Wood Bench, Dining Chairs: World Market
• Wall Mirror: Kirkland's
• Birdcage Decal: VinylGraffiti on Etsy
• Blinds: Blinds.com
KITCHEN
- • Microwave Carts: Target.com
• Salt & Pepper Collection and Accents: Thrifted
• Wall Art: eBay
• Blinds: Blinds.com
BEDROOM
- • Chest Drawers: Ikea
• Closet Hangers & Organizers: Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Wall Art: Ikea
• Antique mirror and accents: Thrifted
BATHROOM
- • Glass Wall Shelves, Accents: Ikea
CRAFT ROOM/OFFICE
- • Bookcase, Worktables, Shelves, Chairs: Ikea
• Red Guest Futon: Craigslist dealer
Thanks, Miguez and K.D.!
Images: Bethany Nauert
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
Smart & Simple Small Space Solution: Angela & Tania's "Murphy Table"
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
Why I Became a 1-Gallon Homebrewer
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
Great use of floor space. It looks and feels much bigger! Those 6 sewing characters are hilarious, source?
What an adorable house! I love your birds/birdcages in the dining room - are they decals?
my husband definitely needs that watch case. Where'd that come from?
how cute are those little sewing characters?
what a lovely home. it's really cozy and probably fantastic for entertaining.
they seem great at diy touches to make their space more functional. only thing that stood out that i would do is paint the dining room light fixture. it's this bright silver chrome and doesn't quite go with the color scheme. maybe spray-paint it a hammered metal color, or possibly black?
I love each and every detail. I like it more than everything I saw here recently.
I LOVE all the quirky accessories! Instead of being all designer-y, this looks like a real home where real people live.
Well done! Very cozy home - love the craft room!
Really like this. I love all the details! So charming.
I think it's so rude when people leave negative comments without any sort of complement as well....sure everyone has pet peeves and if you feel the need to vent them through your comments then at least have the decency to include something you did like in the tour....it seems common decency is lost when it comes to a lot of the AT community.....
Anyways....I love/can't believe that you did this in just 3 months! Me and my boyfriend just moved into our first place together at the beginning of May and it's such a work in progress! Your place is inspirational for me. It really has that cozy 'lived in' feel we are trying to attain. Thanks so much for sharing!
Excellent use of small spaces, I loved the dining room and kitchen. The whole house was very comfortable and has some really nice accent pieces. Absolutely loved the shelf over the stove and the sewing buddies are fabulous. Liked the craft room overall, nicely organized.
This place looks so much bigger than 680 sq ft.
I think what gives it a spacious feel is that it's furnished enough and decorated enough without going overboard. Too empty or too full makes a house look smaller. The right balance was hit here.
The craft room is awesome. There's plenty of inspiration around but it's also very well organized. I'd be a bit cramped sewing at that machine, but maybe it gets moved when in use?
lived in, loved in...nice!
See, this is what I love -- seeing other people with standard/personality-free Blah Rental Fixtures incorporated successfully into a lovely, personal home that doesn't seem to suffer from said Rental Fixtures.
Also, rad shoes.
Delight
totally rad shoes!
Hi All!
We are embracing both positive and negative comments! Thank you so much! This tour is so much fun and we hope our tiny home can be of inspiration to anyone out there -- like all the other homes here on AT.
xoxo,
Miguez & KD
Hi veslabeachgirl -- Thanks for the comment! The sewing characters were purchased a way back at a small kiosk in Eagle Rock Mall. Too bad, I guess they've already closed down.
Hi jillya -- Thank you for the compliment!
An yes - the bird/birdcage are wall decals we purchased on Etsy from VinylGraffiti. We love them too!
Here's the link to their Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VinylGraffiti
Hi meelahj -- The watch case was purchased from eBay Store Turtle Creation.
http://stores.ebay.com/Turtles-watch-and-jewelry-cases
http://www.turtlecreation.com/
Hi aprilheartsaaron -- Thank you for the comment and suggestions!
The dining room light fixture is actually pre-installed in the apartment. We are actually saving for a really nice antique chandelier - but spray painting it is a great idea too!
I love your home, it looks lived in not staged. Only 3 months? I'm impressed...and ya the shoes are awesome!
I live in a one bedroom cottage so looking at your space makes me feel like I'm looking into my own...which is a good thing. :) I'm particularly jealous of your dining room though, don't have one of those or an awesome craft room. You have created a very homey, comfortable and inviting space. Love it all!
I love what you have done with your space! Great tour!
I have the ork poster but haven't found a frame to fit it. Where did you get yours?
Again, we're happy that you guys are loving our home!
xoxo,
Miguez & KD
Hi sushla -- I got the frame from Walmart, i think they're only available in stores.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-24x36-Poster-Frame/16783467
I also like the fact that your place does not look staged ..hard to believe you only have 680 sq ft! It is quirky and fun and very inviting.
love the dining room! and the bathroom's circle mirrors and shelves. thanks for sharing!
Agreed, real home where real people live. It makes me feel hopeful for my own home.
Love the unique vintage touches!!
Pre-tour comment! Let me just say, I'm so excited to view this apartment! When Small Cool comes to an end, I always experience teeny-tiny, small apartment tour withdrawals!
Loves:
-I live in Switzerland and appreciate the Caillat chocolate poster (and the watches)!
-Perfect blend of masculine and feminine design elements.
-Your impeccable organization and beautiful display of jewelry.
Not so in love with: the bedroom, that's my only critique... it's slightly teenage-esque. If that's what you're going for more power to you!
Am probably being very thick but how do I view larger versions of the thumbnail images? Am clicking on them and they just bring up the article again in another window. Would love to see a close up of that exterior shot!
Hi linzeloo -- You can view the gallery by clicking on Enter House Tour.
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/la-miguezhousetour-bethanynauert/item/260710
Love your cottage! I just moved back to NYC from Pasadena, where I lived in a little cottage... Miss the SoCal weather, lifestyle, and my cottage :)
Love all the details and interesting accessories.
Looks cozy and lived in yet organized.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ForgetMeNeverVintage
AT--comment. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for the floor plan. It really gives the house tour more perspective.
Love your home. All the vintage details mixed with some modern really work. I aspire to do more crafting and sewing and your workspace is inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Lovely home! I really loved the vintage suitcases and the vintage green clock with all the whimsical touches.
Supercute! I especially like your craft room (and your great shoes!).
Lovely!
Love the eclectic, funky feel of the place! I know this is an odd question, but where did you get the minimalist white clock in the bathroom?
hi Rebecca Reynolds! the white clock in the bathroom was from Ikea. ;)