small spaces

And here’s an in progress shot to show you the drastic difference! The Colorhouse gray paint makes the walls look so much cleaner, brighter!

The mini gallery wall is still a work in progress. I love love love the mirror, also a World Market find, and the wall clock and mini gray frame are cheapos from Ikea. The framed Chicago print was one of my first post-college purchases from good ole’ Art.com. The buffalo check throw is from Schoolhouse and the Union Jack pillow was one I picked up in New Orleans a couple of years ago.

stria nightstand | lund nightstand | alexa reclaimed wood | mid-century



i researched some budget-friendlier options, as well, sourced from ikea and target.

malm | malm gray | mid-century | dark gray oak



i know he doesn’t want to spend $400 on the favorite pick so we’ll see… might have to dig out my dusty headlamp and delve deep into the digital caverns of craigslist for a suitable option.



then there’s bedding.

while i toyed with the idea of plaid or hunter green, it looked a bit too collegiate when i put together my photoshop mock-up. i love the look but this guy’s 28 and looking for something a bit more grown-up. the two styles above from crane and canopy are great – charcoal and black and white.

also like these urban outfitters options – gray arrow motif and double stripe. but maybe too young.



i’m a little worried the gray options will be too much gray with the light gray walls.

and this crane and canopy style is also available in a steel blue. so we’ll add it to the list.



so here’s what we’re working with in terms of the room layout.

gray gray gray

as you can see from the before photos, the carpet has seen better days, so i think we’ll cover it up. love this triangle patterned rug from my go-to resource, rugsusa.



in summation…

cubby | bedding | rug | nightstand | light | clock | pennant | floating shelves | hanging bar



but we shall see! all in good time. this will be fun watching it come along… i’ll be updating on instagram also so follow there @alainakaz. and stay tuned for updates!

Just like I always wanted!



Like my favorite living room ever (that of one Jenna Lyons).



Well, ok I didn’t really get a new couch. But I had a lot of fun in photoshop the other night.

Or pink to really make it a lady apartment?!



But no… here’s what my place currently looks like.

But I sometimes wonder if it would be better with a much lighter color couch. Softer. More ladylike.

Or dare I say a white couch?



No, Alaina. You have dogs. Don’t be ridiculous.



What say you? Stick with the the dark grey? Or slipcover it? Pottery Barn has some great light options for the Carlisle couch.



Happy weekend all!

Well the peekaboo shelf arrived faster than a Jimmy John’s sandwich. And it’s perfect! Just what I needed for storage, a place to stow the printer, and some extra surface area (for paperwork and the like).



So I figured I’d snap a few good photos not with a camera phone to better paint the picture of how this space is coming together…

For the first time since I moved downtown five years ago, I don’t have a separate office in my apartment. Transitioning from 2+ bedroom apartments to a one bedroom has meant my living room is also my office. Fortunately, the transition to working in my main living area has been fine. I don’t have any difficult walking away when I’ve had enough work. I cook (yea – I do that now! What?!), walk the dogs, go to the bedroom to read, take a bath, or just kick back and watch tv, ignoring the ever-present desk and computer.



That being said, it’s not so much the living/working combo that bothers me so much as the lack of an organized work space. For storage and papers and product and shipping materials and files and office equipment et al. With the addition of a product line, managing part-time editors, and my new printer that’s lived on the floor for the past two months, I need to get my “office” in proper working order. It’s not just me, the ole iMac, and a glass of wine working late nights anymore.



So I’ve made a few small changes in the living space. Drastic to me. Barely noticeable to anyone else.



When I decided to move the desk by the window, I had it far over to the left, practically against the radiator. Notice you can fit an entire pouf between the desk and the end table next to the sofa.