Image from: Refreshed Designs
Rast hacks are always fun because they start out with an inexpensive blank canvas. Check out this makeover from Refreshed Designs. I am a fan of the industrial look but real industrial files and drawers are rare and expensive. So here’s a great little idea that can give ya the look on the cheap! Love the pulls and I’m sure you can use them on quite a bit of other things as well to achieve this look.
Images from: Apartment Therapy
Well, sorry for the month long sabbatical folks, March was quite the busy and stressful month for me. I took the practicum section of the NCIDQ exam this past Saturday and am praying that I pass! I feel pretty good about it and will very confused if I don’t so hopefully that’s a good sign. Unfortunately the wait period for results is like 13 stinkin’ weeks. Augh! But now I am back to showing you guys some pretty awesome little spaces. 
This week’s space is… you guessed it… vintage and lovely as is my preference. It’s a 500 SF apartment in New York and is a very unique space designed by Christina Love. It actually has alot of the same components and ideas that I used in my own loft including curtain system for hiding the bed, awesome vintage drafting stools, and refinished dressers. The coffee table may be my favorite part. Love the idea of using books as legs! So creative.
Hope you guys are doing well and I’m looking forward to catching up this month!
Image from: Industry West
As you may know I love vintage furniture used in collaboration with the contemporary minimalist design movement… I recently came across this manufacturer/vendor of reproductions of industrial furniture that I think is awesome! It’s not exactly budget friendly, but at the same time it’s not ungodly overpriced either, in my opinion. Check it out at Industry West. Could be used as functional art/accents that give you minimalist room some character besides the over-used mid-century modern look.
Images from: Freshome
This lovely little apartment is only 370 sq ft and as usual, I am loving the white and vintage style. It has one room, kitchen, bathroom, and hallway and the decor incorporates traditional pieces such as the beautiful bed and dressers. I just recently found an antique bed frame that looks just like this one and I am excited to fix it up and use it in my loft. In the kitchen I love the white subway tile accent wall (thanks Emma!) and the strong contrast of the dining table chairs with all the white in the space. Lots of character in this tiny home!
Life has been pretty busy for me lately and the move caused some struggles with my minimalist budget last month so trying to get everything back on track. Lots of new things are happening in my life and effectively managing stress is an important idea of minimalism that I have yet to achieve. I have joined a crossfit gym and am loving it! It is a great stress relief and will help me get healthier physically and mentally. It does take quite a toll on my budget, but in order to accommodate somewhat, I have dropped my cable and don’t miss it at all! Work is going well but I am working to keep a balance between my work life and my free time. It is important to have things in your life that make you happy and can distract you from the stress and monotony of the daily grind. Not all of us are blessed enough to simply quit our jobs and live on a beach somewhere reflecting on simple matters, some of us have obligations (i.e. student loans, families) that require us to continue in the traditional workforce as it is a more stable means of income.
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Images from: Shoot Factory
This week’s space is my favorite so far in terms of finish out. It’s not necessarily small, but it is beautifully minimalist. I love the white and rustic interior. I think this home is a great example of combining unique, traditional pieces and accents with the contemporary idea of minimalism. More images can be found at design to inspire!
Images and idea found at: Take the Side Street
I found this neat, inexpensive DIY project done by Anna at Take the Side Street. It’s simply the IKEA RAST dresser with molding details added and then painted! It looks amazing and considering that the dresser base is only $35, it’s a great little hack if you are needing a short dresser for a child or nightstand! Head on over there and see how Anna did it!
Found this neat article called the “30 best quotes on living small” by Jessica Marati at EcoSalon. It is a cool little reminder of how our design and lifestyle choices have an impact on our own lives and others! Here’s a few of my favorites, check out the article to read them all!
Images from: Stadshem
You can probably guess why I love this space… The loft bed is amazing! This swedish apartment is around 550 SF and is beautifully set up. The wall shelving unit and work space is very clean and simple, even with the ginormous amount of books. Displaying what you love, whether it be books or gifts or whatever, can make a minimalist home way more personal. I love the white and natural wood through out the space and that the main source of color comes from the books! Very fun and unique little home. I want that bed and am still trying to figure out if those little knobs on the side of the wardrobe are meant to be used for climbing up there…? Or maybe there’s ladder stored away during the day. Either way, very creative sleeping nook.
My loft is almost complete finally. Found the perfect table for behind my sofa to serve as my dining table and working table. It’s a beautiful solid wood table thats about 20″ x 72″ and I’m sure you can all guess where I found it for the bargain price of $80… Craigslist! I just wanted to show my recent additions to the space including the table, my new tv stand, and my vintage chair. My friends have convinced me that it would be okay to not reupholster the chair quite yet so the awesomely ugly yellow chair will just chill in the corner. My next project is building a coffee table and bedframe using wood pallets and refinishing my mom’s old mirror for my dresser. Now, as I said I am not an extreme minimalist, which is obvious by looking at my loft. If I was, it’d be empty besides a bed and table I’m sure. But this is my idea of minimalism and it guides the direction I have taken with my home…
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