Think Tall
Making a little room both look and feel bigger than its pipsqueak proportions is all about tricking the eye and maximizing what you’ve got to work with. By emphasizing the vertical proportions of a space through furnishings (such as tall lamps and floor-to-ceiling curtains) and accents (witness the wall-filling mirror used here), you can squeeze a lot into a tiny room without making it feel cramped. A glass-topped coffee table,such as the one in this condo, can add to the illusion of space, while side tables with drawers and a shelf offer handy spots for storage.
SOURCES: Chandelier, coffee table, green ceramic shell, Green’s Antiques (416-925-1556). Large gold mirror, AH Wilkens Antiques & Estate Auctions(www.ahwilkens.com). Gold lamps, Abraham’s Antiques (416-504-6210). End tables, dining chairs, Guff (guffonline.blogspot.com).
Invest In Customized Solutions
Sometimes, a single piece of furniture just won’t do the trick, but a well-planned built-in providing surfaces, seating and storage space can help fulfill a number of goals by combining various functions. Here, a floor-to-ceiling storage tower both conceals an ugly bulkhead and offers lots of shelving, while the lower section does triple duty as a console, stereo cabinet and desk or dining table for two. To cap it all off, a floating shelf above the console serves as a kind of mantel for holding candles and artwork, keeping clutter above table height.
SOURCES: Console table, cabinet hardware, The Door Store (www.thedoorstore.ca).
Create A Stylish Ad-Hoc Entry Feature
In this case, a shallow wall-mount iron console below a pretty gold-toned mirror introduces the illusion of extra space while serving as an all-important key and mail depository just inside the door. It also works in tandem with the larger mirror in the living room to make the whole space seem bigger, creating additional views both into and out of the condo by reflecting the reflection.
SOURCE: Gilded console mirror, Around the Block (www.aroundtheblock.com).
Don’t Overwhelm A Tiny Space With Bulky Barstools
They may block sight lines or take up precious square footage. Here, wide but shallow stools serve as comfortable perches for a morning cup of coffee or a spot for friends to oversee kitchen action without being in the way. And note yet another space-enlarging mirror along the side of the counter.
SOURCES: Nicole sofa, barstools, Sarah Richardson Design (www.sarahrichardsondesign.com).
Consider Even The Tiniest Details To Personalize And Warm Up A Space
The owner of this condo went for plain living-room drapes, which are edged with a delicate passementerie trim in the shape of onion bulbs. And there is no doubt to whom this desk chair belongs, emblazoned as it has been with an ornate satiny monogram.
SOURCES: Fabric on side chair, pillow fabric on side chair (Clarence House 34418-2), Lee Jofa (www.leejofa.com).
Extend The Colour Palette Throughout The Apartment
Even among disparate elements. Here, for example, the brass-toned kitchen faucets pick up on similarly surfaced items elsewhere in the space, from picture frames and mirror edging to lamp and table bases.
SOURCE: Custom kitchen cabinetry, Altima Kitchens(www.altima-kitchens.com).
Originally published in: