While most of us harbour a dream or two involving palace living at SOME stage; maybe, as Meghan Markle found out, it's not all it's cracked up to be! So, you've got a small house, apartment or beachside bungalow- brilliant- how do you maximise the space, maintain a strong aesthetic and live comfortably? Caitlin Ogilvie and Maxine Bowden are THE experts in their field, styling 100's of petite properties for The Apartment Brief.
The basics- mirrors amplify light and open up a room, storage is king, and you can't go wrong with white walls, got it; but what ELSE?
Caitlin and Max share their MUST DO's, and MUST HAVE's offering us tools and advice for living large, by enjoying the space we are grateful to have. So take a page from their designer book, and at least you can rule the world of small-scale interior styling.
Stylists
Caitlin Ogilvie & Maxine Bowden
Caitlin- "QUALITY NOT QUANTITY - The bonus of a smaller space is you don't need a lot of things! This means you can spend more on a few key items that you'll use all the time, rather than buying cheaper items just to fill a space."
Caitlin- "CUSTOM - Sometimes, especially if you have a unique layout or tiny proportions, you should invest in a custom piece of furniture or joinery. There are so many options out there! Instagram holds a treasure trove of local studios that can create almost anything you want! You'd be surprised how often a custom piece will compare cost-wise with something off the shelf, yet the quality will be exponentially better and UNIQUELY yours!"
Thimble, coffee table, $550 from Dowel Jones
Icon, rattan chair, $795 and side table from Sarah Ellison
Take your pick, console or desk- with custom joinery. Styling by The Apartment Brief.
Simon Says, stackable stool, $330 by Dowel Jones
Max- "WALL SHELVING- Floating or bracket shelving can add an enormous amount of storage to a smaller home. They're also great for styling! Be sure to display your most coveted items. I love Marloe Marloe for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind stoneware. A set of unique ceramic cups in the kitchen or neatly folded towels in the bathroom; Country Road always has a great range. Books, candles, magazines and accessories throughout the rest of the home."
A narrow living room with custom joinery. Styling by Cooper Robinson
Custom details. Styling by The Apartment Brief
Planter & framed print, to order from Cooper Robinson
Lully, vessel with Lava & Bone glaze, $250 from Marloe Marloe
Max- "OTTOMANS & SIDETABLES- rather than a single, bulky coffee table, using an ottoman is a great way to incorporate print or colour into a smaller room. By adding a tray, to the top of your ottoman, you can still rest drinks and vases on it without damaging the fabric. Side-tables can be moved around easily to accommodate your needs."
Caitlin- "SIZE - Measure your space! So often people don't measure correctly, or cram in pieces from other homes, that don't fit. You need to use items specifically for your space, that means you may need to scale down, to avoid a cluttered interior."
Styling by The Apartment Brief
Styling by The Apartment Brief
Max- "DINING TABLES – of the round kind! Round tables soften a room and are easy to add extra chairs too when entertaining! Easily fitting into awkward spaces, they can also be placed against walls, but still provide a clear focal point."
Max- "LEGGY FURNITURE - legs lift pieces up off the ground, giving the illusion of space and adding FLOW to a room. Essential for larger items like a sofa. GlobeWest has a multitude of options available."
All items, including floor cushions from L&M Home
All items, as before, from L&M Home
Caitlin - "VERSATILITY - furniture that has multiple uses is what to look for. A bench seat that has storage, side tables with a shelf you can stack books on, a console that doubles as a desk, upholstered dining chairs that can be moved and are comfortable enough for guests to use in the living area. Floor cushions are also fantastic!"
Styling by The Apartment Brief
OUTSIDE
Max - Styling balconies and courtyards is vital. Create a space you want to be.
Styling by The Apartment Brief.
Mirrors expand a room. Styling by The Apartment Brief
Lastly, keeping to one style will re-enforce your design ethos and allow your home to evolve with clarity over time, whether that means using a few principal colours or going all-in on your minimalist-gallery-chic vibe. Great things come in small packages? We couldn't agree more.