The Art of Living Small

The Art of Living Small

Two designers show how to live large in a little space.

Small is beautiful. These fourteen gorgeous images from The Art of Living Small are a lesson in how to live small. Innovative design solutions, like a second-story loft bedroom, a symmetrical dining nook, and a plush living room all illustrate that —although it may seem daunting at first—once you understand how to live small, it is just a matter of putting each amazing piece of the puzzle together. So enjoy seeing the subtleties of a limited color palette, how architectural details can help to create space, and how a simple understanding of where and how you choose to live can help you master the art of living small.

The Genteel Cottage

Location: Orange, Virginia

Size: 1200 square feet

Designer: Sam Blount

Architect: Madison Spencer

A couple from Connecticut moved down South with the plans to develop land in Virginia's horse country. With a plan that would take years to complete, they decided to start with a guest house to provide lodging while the main house and stables were built. The straightforward floor plan can be seen in the cottage's simple exterior.

The Kitchen

Decorative touches—like green soapstone counters and tole fronts on the upper cabinets—add color and style to the white kitchen without taking up space. The marble-and-iron table also doubles as an island work surface.

The Dining Nook

"Symmetry is so important. It imposes order and soothes the eye," says Blount. "Sometimes asymmetry is nice and necessary, but in a small space where you see everything in one look, the best image is one that doesn't make your eye work so hard."

The Living Room

Blount is a big fan of large rugs in small spaces, saying that too many bitsy ones visually chop up the floor. Here, he used as big of a rug as possible. A striking blue barn door takes up less room than hinged doors would.

The Living Room

"A limited color palette gives clarity. Blues and whites predominate in this house, playing well with the clients' classic furnishings. Too many colors can shrink a room—the eye has to stay very busy to take it all in. Painting the walls white and the vaulted portion of the ceiling celestial blue makes the 14-foot ceilings soar even higher."

The Madcap Loft

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Size: 650 square feet

Designer: Matthew Bees

A Mississippi couple looking to create a home base in Charleston gutted their 1 bedroom, 1 1/2-bath getaway, and Bees created a space that looks like it was cultivated over generations. He drew inspiration from a hotel where "a wonderful mix of 17th- and 18th-century styles was presented in a fresh, modern way."

Original article and pictures take www.southernliving.com site