Temporary Dishwasher Cover
So many people have asked about the fun lil' dishwasher cover featured in one of our recent Cottage images:
The artwork pictured is a piece of wallpaper that was designed by my friend (and total genius) Justina Blakeney for Hygge and West. Instead of fully adhering the paper to the front of the dishwasher, I simply used four magnets to hold it in place.
Try extra strong magnets. Or, if you'd prefer to use adhesive, try something "damage free," such as contact strips.
Wrapping paper is a wonderful way to expand your options, and switch up your look at very little cost.
Cottage Bedroom Garden Chandelier
January is such a weird month in the Cottage. The greenery outside is gone and all the winter holiday decor is packed away. The house just feels kind of bland and lifeless. Usually we see the overflowing grape leaves through the windows over our built-in bed, but in January and February we're stuck looking at the barren vines and the line of homes nearby. I decided to make a small greenery chandelier for the bedroom to cheer up the space a bit.
I do tons of handmade projects here, but I'm not a particularly patient person, so I tend to lean towards DIY-lite. This chandelier was quick and simple:
I got the smallest chandelier I could find and made sure that the lightbulb holders were still large enough for a standard small pot. I clipped all the electrical components off the fixture with garden clippers, leaving me with the perfect platform on which to put the pots.
I debated between white or clay pots. I ultimately chose terracotta, which corresponds with the color of the built-ins. We suspended the fixture from the interior wall of the skylight, and voila! We love it.
I was tempted to get succulents (I mean, look at those colors!). But in a tiny space like ours, I generally opt for simpler palettes to help the room feel uncluttered. But to each his/her own! There are endless beautiful options...
Small Space Hosting via Parachute
Parachute is one of my favorite local companies. Based a block off Venice Beach on the cutest little walk-street, they make the most luxurious bedding basics. I've worked with this company several times in the past, from styling photoshoots to designing their Abbot Kinney pop-up storefront in summer 2015.
Jump to their blog to see some of my small space hosting tips!
Pennsylvania Wedding Client
I had the joy of decorating a 300-attendee wedding in a tiny town in Pennsylvania this summer. The bride and groom wanted to use as many repurposed/recycled and natural items as possible. This helped them keep the budget and environmental waste to a minimum. We worked hard, but had a great experience creating simple decorations using clippings from the region, empty bottles and various furniture and items from nearby homes.
I owe a big thanks to a few incredible companies that helped me pull off everything else:
• Thank you Forget Me Not Rentals for the beautiful handmade tables and mix-and-match chairs, as well as the gorgeous mixed tableware.
• Thank you Build.com for providing us with numerous strands of stunning cafe lights. They were absolutely perfect, and guests commented on them all night long.
• Urban Decay, we are so grateful for the amazing bridal party makeup you provided. All the ladies used the items, and still rave about them.
• Dot & Bo-- we loved the gardener's bar cart, as well as the lovely lanterns!
Create & Cultivate Op-Ed
I'm sharing some thoughts on our Tiny House lifestyle over on the Create & Cultivate blog.
I was invited by the conference founder, Jaclyn Johnson, to write this piece, entitled, "Little is the New Large: A Tiny Home with a Big Message."
Click the image below to jump to the post.
Hosting Overnight Guests in Tiny Spaces
Our little home is back on RUE Daily-- but with a twist! I'm sharing some of our tips and tricks for hosting overnight guests in small spaces. Here at the Cottage, we've hosted up to three overnight guests for two nights, and a single guest for up to three weeks! If we can do it, so can you. Click on the clip below to jump to the story.
Thank you, Rue Daily and photographer Kimberly Genevieve!
