Portland Newlyweds Balance Minimalism & Collectors’ Tendencies

Written by

Anna Spaller
Anna Spaller
Currently living and creating in Boston, Anna is up for any adventure and loves getting to know places, people & food through photography. You can often find her combing the best antique shops in New England, and always dreaming about parquet floors.
updated Apr 30, 2019

Portland Newlyweds Balance Minimalism & Collectors’ Tendencies

Written by

Anna Spaller
Anna Spaller
Currently living and creating in Boston, Anna is up for any adventure and loves getting to know places, people & food through photography. You can often find her combing the best antique shops in New England, and always dreaming about parquet floors.
updated Apr 30, 2019
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Home Type
Bedrooms
Square feet

1000

Sq ft

1000

Name: Ashley and Terry Reth, and their two cats, Boy and Girl.
Location: Portland, Maine
Size: 1000 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting

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Ashley and Terry celebrated their first six months as a married couple this April and have been together for over ten years…but they originally met all the way back in kindergarten! New to marriage, but not to each other, they are happy to now have a place their family can grow into. With minimalist dreams but collector’s tendencies, they’ve settled in by surrounding themselves with sentimental and found pieces. And they’ve done it all on a shoe-string budget.

After living in Boston for a few years, the couple knew they ultimately wanted to get back to their hometown. When Terry’s job allowed him to transfer to Portland, they jumped at the chance. The building they found is a converted brick home originally built in 1900; it was listed on Craigslist’s rental section. Amid some stiff competition, they were somehow able to score their current apartment, which occupies the entire second floor!

With plenty of space, both Ashley and Terry are able to have their own personal office. Ashley uses hers to house her extensive vintage collection (check out her online shop, Sweet William). The central location makes it easy for the couple to be close to family, allows Ashley to walk to work nearby at Little, and is close to their favorite coffee shops and restaurants.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: A mix of modern and bohemian…Collections of things we both love. We both love clean lines and minimalism, but we also easily fall in love with things. A love of vintage and finding one-of-a-kind pieces plays a big role in decor.

Inspiration: Mid-century design, minimalist design, flea markets, thrift stores, friend’s homes, Design Milk, Saturday Morning Design Shop, Old School New School, Aaron James Draplin

Favorite Element: The winter garden room. We were just talking the other day how we don’t spend enough time out there. There are plans to spend more time reading and hanging out with the windows open.

Biggest Challenge: Creating a space that is our own in an apartment we are renting with a teeny tiny budget.

What Friends Say: We have a beautiful home that’s curated with all of your special belongings”, “that it feels like a home”, and “is a true reflection of both of us”.

Biggest Embarrassment: The bathroom fixtures that we have no control over. And the cat hair. There is always cat hair…

Biggest Indulgence: We have created our space on a budget, so our couch would have to be our biggest indulgence.

Best Advice: Choose things because you love them and that reflect your style, not someone else’s.

Dream Sources: ABC Carpet + Home, Snug Harbor Farm (a house full of plants is a dream!)

Resources:

ENTRY

Molger Shelf Unit — Ikea

Rug — Goodwill

E.B. White Quote Poster — Might + Main

What Good Enamel Steel Sign – Best Made Co

If There’s Love In a House Print — The Bee + The Fox

Hanger Planters — Ashley made

United States Print — Gift

Basket with cactus — Thrifted

LIVING ROOM

Karlstad Sofa — Ikea

Lack Coffee Table – Ikea

Book Shelf — Ikea

Blue Chair (the cat’s chair) — thrifted

Basket with plant — Target

Wooden Shelf — Gift

Wall Hanging — Ashley made

Tote with plant — Anthropologie

Green Chair — $3 at a yard sale, from a bank

Some Things Take Time Print — Congo Studio

Cedar Chest — bought from someone on instagram

Rug — Urban Outfitters

Crosley Record Player — Urban Outfitters

Cactus Print — Banquet Atelier + Workshop from Little

Stay Wild by Rylee + Cru — Little

Galaxy, Campfires, + The Northeast Prints by Brainstorm — Little

A + T Metal Letters — Anthropologie

Neon Heart — Oh Joy for Target

KITCHEN

Jokkmokk Table and Chairs — Ikea

Theater Chairs — Craigslist

The Poet Letterboard — Letterfolk

Bekvam Kitchen Cart — Ikea

Model One Radio — Tivoli Audio

BEDROOM

Ranarp Wall Light — Ikea

Selje Nightstands — Ikea

Wall Mirror — Lindsay Joy Stone

Dressers — Both given to us from friends

Mirror — got in college

Child’s wooden chair — Brimfield

Glass Jug — Saver’s

Calendar — Stendig

Wall hangings — made by Ashley

You + Me Print — Wolf and Wren

Dash Stitch Quilt — West Elm

BATHROOM

Raskog Utility Cart — Ikea

Floral Shower Curtain — Anthropologie

Torso Bath Pat — Cold Picnic

Bobby Pin Print — Rifle Paper Co.

Comb Print — Rifle Paper Co.

Plant Pot — Anthropologie

ASHLEY’S OFFICE

Desk — Ikea

Clothing Rack — Such Great Heights

Rolling Cart — Ikea

Storage Unit — Ikea

Mesh Bin Storage — Ikea

Be Brave Banner — Secret Holiday Co.

Peace Sign Print — Jaime Street

Wedding Dress — Lover

TERRY’S OFFICE

Desk — Ikea

Chest — Thrifted

The Pine Family Print — Brainstorm

Raskog Utility Cart — Ikea

Smaller prints —
Hills and Trails Somerville Pennant —


WINTER GARDEN ROOM

Butterfly Chair — Craigslist

Pillow — Target

Gold Plant Stand — Brimfield

Plant Pot — Anthropologie

Glass Jug — Brimfield

Floor Pillows — Ikea

Rattan Chair – Brimfield

Sheep Skin Rug — Bowron

Oeuf Rainbow Pillow — Little

Phases of the Moon String — The Great Lake Goods

Tote with Plant — Anthropologie

Thanks, Ashley, Terry, Boy and Girl!


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