Small Space, Big Impact: The Right Furnishings Make A Difference

Hi there friends! I am back to share more about the Better Homes & Gardens makeover I revealed a few weeks ago, which is also in the October issue. This home was a privilege to makeover, I grew so fond of the homeowner Karen, her grandson Liam and the entire crew including Robert & his wife Catherine from Rebuilding Together. There was such a strong connection to this family and the people I worked with that I knew I had to get this right.

First I want to say thank you!!! I couldn’t have done any of this without the amazing donations of all the incredible sponsors. You can find the FULL story along with the contributors HERE. Right out of the gate I turned to Article for the living room sofa & chair. The house is a mid-century modern style ranch, so I thought a modern coastal vibe would be fitting since we live near the water.

Article is an original modern furniture brand, re-engineering the shopping experience at an extraordinary value. I have worked with them before and have 3 of their pieces, they bring quality, comfort at great prices. They also offer a flat shipping rate of larger pieces of $49, which is amazing!!!

Karen’s space was small but I knew we could give her high impact with the right furnishings. Her overall dining room, living room and entry was 10′ x 28′, long and slender with tons of windows lining one side, which I loved. The idea was to keep the pieces low, so visually the space would have flow and feel bigger. Finding comfort and family friendly upholstery was also key.

I went with the Sven Charme Tan, a buttery, full-grain leather sofa that brings comfort with it’s single tufted benchseat. I also chose the Burrard Seasalt Gray armchair, I was drawn to its clean lines, textured fabric and tapered legs, the depth and cushions give added comfort for lounging.

Sven Charme Tan Leather Sofa

Burrard Seasalt Gray Armchair

Are you ready for some more incredible before & afters?

Before shot looking towards Karen’s front door….

After, looking the same direction…

Another detail I love about this sofa is the hue, it’s perfection! It acts as a neutral so you can pair it with any palette. Also, I have this sofa in a chair and it’s so easy to clean. This will be very helpful for Karen as Liam is just 4:). 

The chair has a beautiful woven upholstery weight fabric that is also easy to clean and neutral. The gray is so soft, it goes with everything!

Another before….

After…

This is a really good before, you can see the sofa was there right when you walk in…

Keeping the planked walls white gives a vitality to the space and visually widens it as well.

I used indigos, plum and blush to create a custom color palette for Karen. The art, pillows and accessories play into this playful yet sophisticated palette.

I have no words to express how much I LOVE this space!!! Because it was a small space the measurements had to be just right and the fact that everything was ordered online made it a little more tricky. We did a lot of taping on the floor and created templates. But…I wouldn’t change a thing!

This basket below was another favorite from Article. It is a handcrafted, work of art plus it’s super functional as well to hide all of Liam’s toys. It makes for easy clean up at the end of the night.

Grid Tall Basket

A shot of the sliding barn door….

Please let me know if you have any questions at all about these pieces, I am happy to answer.

Have a great day!