Welcome to the Dollhouse

One of my good friends has a thing for small rooms. Her last bedroom, which is currently sitting empty in my apartment awaiting our new roommate, was so small it fit only a full-size bed, a dresser made for small children, and a tiny bedside table. I don't know how she did it, but she managed to decorate the room in such a way that it felt warm and cozy, not cluttered and overwhelming as I imagine it would be should I ever inhabit it. (For the record, I visit the empty room quite frequently these days and daydream about claiming it as my office. I envision it magically fitting a parsons desk, a chaise lounge and two bookshelves over a sisal rug)

There's something so wonderfully whimsical about small rooms though. They remind me of my childhood and forts and tree-houses that I always refused to climb up into because I was pretty sure it would involve bugs. I used to have a fairly large walk-in closet in my bedroom that my mother quickly claimed as her 'sewing room'. When she wasn't paying attention, I reclaimed the space for myself and set about rearranging the bins of fabric and buttons to suit my new life as a small-room inhabitant. No sooner had I settled in, when my mom would kick me out. 

This happened at least 16 times over the course of my 7 years in that house. 

But I grew up, acquired more stuff (mostly books and shoes) and now I just cannot picture myself in a tiny room. I came upon this delightful bedroom on Marie Claire Maison and it made me reconsider my stance. 

Bright and colorful and exploding with patterns of all shapes and sizes, it's reminiscent of a Betsey Johnson ad from the mid-'90s. I'm ready to forfeit my dream of an office for this as a guest-bedroom.  Think my new roommate will mind?

Image: Marie Claire Maison

Color Me Pink!

I am one of those people who unabashedly quotes Diana Vreeland at will and I'll do it again right here and now:

"pink is the navy blue of india"

It is also the story of my life (see practically every post on here) and how I plan to win the I've Got Color! contest at some point in the next few years. Sponsored by Apartment Therapy and Crate & Barrel, the annual contest celebrates people who embrace bright colors and use them throughout their cleverly designed homes across the country. Once entries are submitted readers can vote for the 4 best entries in each region. After the contest is narrowed down to the top 16, judges will vote on the final 4. Check out last year's winner here and try not to be blinded by its awesomeness.

One of my other favorites from last year was Courtenay & Jeff's Vancouver abode which boasts, among other fabulous touches, an amazingly cute cat. Obviously, my true favorite part of their home is the pink dining room. But aside from the dazzling pink walls, I adore the round wooden dining room table. I would also KILL for the amazing vintage poster featured behind the table but unfortunately, a quick google search priced it at $600.** 

Other things I like about this apartment? 

* The cool chair-rail in the bathroom with a retro vibe and Tiffany colors. 

* The masculine bedroom with a fantastic dresser positioned at an angle in the bay window.

* A  bold use of contrasting colors opposite exposed brick throughout the apartment.

Stay tuned for coverage of this year's I've Got Color! contest whenever it comes along...

Images: Apartment Therapy

**Ok I would not literally kill anyone or any thing for that poster. That is unless it was, you know, softly and with my love.