A Functional, Mid-century Modern Small/Cool Space
A Functional, Mid-century Modern Small/Cool Space
Name: Daisy Bartlett
Size: 600 sq ft
Home type: Apartment
Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Years lived in: 2 years, owned
Household: No one
Have any design professionals worked on this space: No
Describe your space:
My space is a traditional Glasgow tenement flat, but almost all the original features had been removed by the previous owner. I wanted to restore some of the apartment’s former glory, and make the most of the enormous bay windows in the living room. They're East-facing so the room is bathed in sunlight every morning. When I first moved in I had a really minimal, neutral Scandi vision for the place, but as soon as I started decorating properly I realized that in order for it to feel homely, I was definitely striving for something warmer and a little more maximal.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
I DIYed everything! The kitchen is definitely my favorite — the backsplash was originally tiled in black, with cabinets all over the walls and felt so claustrophobic. I certainly didn't have the budget for a whole new kitchen so had to get a little creative. By retiling the backsplash with white subway tiles, painting the old laminate cabinets green, spray painting the hardware black, and replacing the upper cabinets with open shelving, the space feels totally transformed. I couldn't resist painting the walls pink to tie the kitchen into the living room that it opens out onto.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
After living in a 95 sq ft apartment in Paris, this place feels huge in comparison! For me the key in all my spaces has been keeping as much of the storage as possible open concept. This forces me to keep everything organized and curated, while giving the illusion the rooms are more spacious than they are. I have also tried to keep all the furniture super functional — all the side tables double as stools so I can still entertain despite only having 2 dining chairs.
How does your home reflect you?
This space is definitely an amalgamation of all the places I've lived before. I always said I was a minimalist in comparison to my mum's maximal style, but the more I decorated my space, the more I realized I wanted it to be homely and warm just like hers. I also definitely didn't realize quite how much I loved the color pink until I started decorating, to me it just feels so warm and homely — all I can say is thank goodness my boyfriend is color-blind and has no idea quite how many pink accents there are throughout the flat!