Small Artistic Kitchen Makeover

I think it's the artistic sensibility at work here that makes this little kitchen makeover so fetching.  Still lovin' butcher block, all these years later.

To see the complete before and after portfolio of this kitchen makeover, click here.

Inspired Design

While I continue to await the return of my own creative and artistic inspiration, I continue to find it in the endeavors of others.  Below is an example of a DIY kitchen makeover I found inspiring.  I owe this link, and a few others I will share in future posts, to  Melissa at the Inspired Room blog.
Here is an AFTER photo. 

Here is a BEFORE photo.

Click Here to see more photos.

She did replace the appliances but really, much of the transformation seems to be paint and hardware.

More Tips for "Artful" Small Spaces

This image is from ApartmentTherapy's Small Cool 2012 contest, Teeny Tiny (400 square feet or under) Division.  To see more of this apartment, click here.

Another demonstration that even a teen tiny studio apartment can be artfully styled and pulled together to create an inviting space.

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of ApartmentTherapy.com, was one of the guests recently interviewed on radio station KQED,  regarding the San Francisco Supervisor vote to reduce the legal size of tiny apartments in San Francisco.  Thanks to Sally for making me aware of this show.  Links to it are posted in today's blog.

This link takes you to the 1 hour radio interview.  There is also a video link on the page, showing a tiny "test" apartment under the Tiny Apartment Resources section.

If you prefer not to take the time to explore those two links, here are some tips that were collected form the interview.  (Note:  I still like the idea of using rich, dark colors in a small, even dark,  space, an idea promoted through an earlier ApartmentTherapy article.)

"The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance allowing the building of apartments as small as 220 square feet. Whether those apartments get built or not, many Bay Area residents likely live in a small space — either a small studio, an in-law in the basement or one bedroom in a house divided among roommates.

Below are 10 tips for making the most of a small space, culled from Forum’s interview with Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of ApartmentTherapy and author of Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces and Miranda Jones, style editor for Sunset Magazine.

1. BE SELECTIVE ABOUT YOUR SPACE. “Not all spaces are created equally,” said Jones. “If you’ve got natural light, high ceilings, and natural materials in the apartment, you’re going to feel as though you’re living well even though you’re living small.”

1. EDIT, EDIT, EDIT. “Keeping your items very well edited” is one of the top things to keep in mind when living in a small or unusual space. That means when you bring something into your apartment, you bring something out. It’s about quality versus quantity.

1. TIDY UP!  “In a way, large spaces just allow you to be lazy,” said Gillingham-Ryan, “and to not have to deal with stuff until much later when your space fills up. With most everybody, after about seven years they have a clutter problem. With a smaller space it just comes a lot quicker.” Jones also recommended keeping surfaces clean, because tabletops and countertops are usually not abundant in small apartments.

1. TAKE SOME TASKS OUT OF THE HOUSE. If you live in a small space, chances are you are going to have to call on your surrounding neighborhood to fill some of your needs. Nature and laundromats are a given, but even some tasks may just be better suited elsewhere. Gillingham-Ryan recalls that after married and became a father, he started doing bills and other paperwork at his office. “Your home doesn’t have to be everything, all the time,” he said.

1. MAXIMIZE EVERY INCH. “All unused space is fair game,” said Jones. “You’ve got to take your storage vertical, you’ve got to prop up your bed so you have extra storage under there. When space is at such a premium, Jones said you have to look at it differently. “Every door is a possible storage location.”

1. MULTI-TASK (OR BUY ITEMS THAT DO). “Because there is no room for anything extra, everything has to do two jobs,” said Jones. “Your dining room table is also your office space.” Indeed, this video tour through a small Airstream trailer and micro-apartment shows that multi-tasking is a key element to making small spaces work.

1. BUY BUILT-INS. Gillingham-Ryan is a fan of built-in features like shelves and drawers. “Spend your money on built-ins whenever possible because built-ins are wall-to-wall, they suck up all the space and you can use every inch,” said Gillingham-Ryan. “And visually, it creates a lot less busy space.”

1. LET THE LIGHT IN. “Light is what makes a space feel expansive,” said Gillingham-Ryan. “I always tell people, ‘Three points of light to every room.’ It doesn’t seem like a lot but every client I’ve ever worked with has had trouble getting to two.”

1. USE MIRRORS. “I’ve seen people over the years use mirrors in such incredibly inventive ways,” said Gillingham-Ryan. “They not only reflect light, they expand the space that they’re in. They can make the space brighter and just remove that sense of wall that is there otherwise.”

1. PLAY WITH PAINT.  Light colors are key. “It doesn’t have to be white, it can be off-white,” said Gillingham-Ryan. “There’s still color in off-white.There’s a lot you can do between warm and cool colors. They can really change the feeling of a space.” In fact, Gillingham suggests that something as simple as a difference between off-white and regular white can make your room feel larger.  “If you do a bright white on the ceiling and an off-white on the walls, there’s a separation between wall and ceiling,” said Gillingham-Ryan. “It will make your walls feel taller. 

-Amanda Stupi"

  

  

Tiled Birdhouse #4

Size: 9h x 4d
Medium: paint, broken tile and grout on wood
Date: 9/22/12

I wonder how many more birdhouses I can fit within my balcony airspace...without causing air traffic control problems for the birdies.

On another subject, two of my children, San Diego Harbor and La Jolla Shores in the 1950s were married off on Saturday, Sept 29th,  to a wonderful family with a stunning home in Little Italy, where I am assured they will live happily ever after.  After meeting the family, I'm sure it's true.  I had to be sure, since they were both personal favorites and I had planned to keep the former at home forever.

Due to the fast and furious nature of a C-Note opening at SDAI, meeting a buyer of one of my paintings there is a rare event.  Normally I don't get to see the transaction.  But this IS how I met Candace, and I'm so glad I did, (through Alex; remember Light Falls from Heaven?) in a round about way, and she became the buyer of the two afore mentioned paintings and, it turns out, also acquired Loft 13 last year.    It was a treat to meet this special family.

Etiquette Tip: Turn the cell phone off -- completely -- during a luncheon meeting, social function, or on public transportation.

Birdhouse Art; The Art of Color; Before and After

Title: Mosaic Birdhouse #3.
Size: 7.5x 7w.
Medium: paint, broken ceramic mug and grout, on wood.
Date: 9/19/12

This birdhouse was a little more challenging, with its low brow and large roof. I'm sure enjoying looking out at them (3 now) from my kitchen, living room and dining room.

Back by popular request, here more decorating tips from Apartment Therapy:

• "Let your art lead you. This is a decorator fail safe. Have you tried it? It feels like cheating. Line up all the art you'd like to hang in your room, pick out a color, and find a paint swatch to match. Bam, done. You'll feel like a pro. The same principal can be applied to rugs and accent textiles. Choosing one of the more subtle accent colors in the rug will bring a fresh dimension to whole space."

But what if you live in a apartment and don't have the option to paint everything you desire? A little imagination will do the trick. Photos courtesy of Apartment Therapy.
Before

After

Remember, all photos on my blog can be enlarged by clicking on them!

And lastly, this week's etiquette tip:
Hold the door -- whether male or female, hold open a door you have just passed through for the person behind you.

The Art of a Birdhouse

Title: Mosaic Birdhouse #2
Size: 7.5h x 7 w.
Medium: paint, broken ceramic mug and grout on wood
Date: 9/8/12

 I know birds like to build their own homes. But if I were a bird I would like to live in this little house.  A small home and very small balcony garden, call for special measures in the area of decorative objects. Being able to make use the air for decorative purposes is especially meaningful.  That's one of the reasons I like making the little birdhouses.  They add decorative element to my garden without taking up any real estate!

Etiquette tip:
Tipping the Host or Maitre d' -
No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table.  $10-$20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion, if you are a regular patron.

Mosaic Birdhouse

44Size: 7.5h x 7 w.
Medium: paint, broken ceramic mug and grout on wood
Date: 9/2/12

Keeping with the theme of "home as art" and home-decorating, and the little birdie paintings,  I decorated (painted and mosaic-tiled) a birdhouse.  This is the first artistic venture I have embarked upon since starting my new job May 1st. (The plain birdhouses are available at craft stores.)

Day 1

Day 2
I rather like the look of the jagged tiles glued on, before I applied the grout.  Maybe I will try it that way next time.  Of course I have lots of other ideas for these, but we'll see if I get to them...

Day 4
Finished!

 

And again, a bit faded under the flash, but making the tile pieces more visible.

More Home as Art

Most of us have faced this creative and practical challenge: What can I do with this awkward room layout?  And most importantly, how do I arrive at a layout that creates harmony, balance and an artful appearance.  Apartment Therapy asked this question recently in this article.

I think I would try placing the two chairs opposite the sofa, to the left of the fireplace, with their backs to the left side entry to the room and a small side table between them and turning the coffee table and placing it in front of the sofa.  Removing all the other furniture around the sofa and instead placing one medium-tall plant to the right of the sofa may be nice too.   What would you do?

Landscaping as Art

As with small living spaces, small garden spaces can also be maximized in both design and impact.  A few years ago there were two programs on HGTV called Urban Outsiders and City Gardener, featuring landscape designer Matt James.  (I really miss those programs, along with Small Space, Big Design for interiors).  I managed to find two photos online of small gardens he created and that I am posting here.

I would say Matt James is an artist who uses plants as his medium and space as his canvas.

I located the source of the tiny bathroom from last week's post.  It was from a 2012 Apartment Therapy Small Cool Contest, International entry.  The 392 sq. ft. apartment is in London.

Etiquette t: Don't retrieve a dropped utensil and put it back on the table.  Instead, tell your server, who will retrieve it and bring a replacement.  The exception is when you drop a utensil that might be stepped on or cause an accident; in this case, act fast and pick it up yourself.   (from Emily Post)

Making the Best of a Space

This is a photo I found of a tiny bathroom from one of the tiny apartments (I think from Apartment Therapy).  I thought it offered quite a bit of style in a very simple and very small way.   

And here's an interesting idea from Apartment Therapy about using color:

" Make up for a lack of architectural character with saturated colors. A typical dark, low ceilinged, wall-to-wall carpeted basement apartment will look infinitely more chic and cheerful painted something dramatic, like charcoal gray, than it will a pale sunny yellow...which will only add to the gloom because it's out of place. If you have a space with great bones and great light, it will be difficult to go wrong with any color, and light colors will let those details shine. However, when you have the opposite, go dark. It's counter-intuitive, but it lends a blah space a strong presence. You can always lighten the mood with bright accent pieces and good lighting."

In my opinion, the same principle applies to clothing.  On stormy days grays and stormy colors are more appealing whereas on sunny days crisp, bright colors are.

On another subject, do  you remember the graciousness and manners of earlier times?  In honor of those times I am thinking about posting a bit of Emily Post at the end of each blog post.  Let me know if you like this idea.  Here is the first one:

• "At the conclusion of the toast, everyone except the honoree(s) raises their glasses and drinks."