dressing up a small apartment

Our new apartment is very, very small - so it's going to be imperative to blend beauty with functionality. Also, given that it's already pretty much furnished, buying special furniture items for small spaces isn't really an option.

Luckily, we have a tall standard shelf unit, midway between the open kitchen and the living room. I absolutely LOVE the shelf concept in the picture below: a few colourful books, some pretty crockery, a couple of decorative items, and concealed storage. It's practical AND it looks great!

I'm thinking books, DVDs, jars of dry fruit and some pretty glasses on the top shelves. Maybe add a few decorative items in front of the books and DVDs. For the lower space, I doubt I'll be able to get drawers like this where I live, but I can certainly get my hands on some cane baskets with lids or some such. Could use those to store linen methinks.

Am very excited about this unit. The problem of storage has been keeping me up at night...a few more ideas like this one and I may just manage to solve the mystery of where to store our stuff!

UPDATE: You can see how my version of this storage shelf unit turned out here.

Picture source: Better Homes and Gardens

from dorm girl to domestic goddess: the plan

WHY?

After 27 years of living in assorted places (my parents' home, college accommodation, hotels, transient flats), I finally have a home to call my own for the next two years in a brand new city. I'm inspired to make it bright and beautiful, warm and efficient -- a space for my husband and me to live a joyous life.

WHAT?

The plan is to learn and become really good at running a home: from cooking and doing laundry, to organizing and fixing things, to decorating and managing finances.

WHERE?

A compact, semi-furnished second-floor apartment in a small South Asian city on the coast.

WHEN?

December 2012 to December 2014

WHO?

I work (luckily, mostly from home). I love spending time with my husband. I read all kinds of books and enjoy intelligent television shows. Greenery makes my soul happy and high-heels make my soles happy. I occasionally come up with forced puns. (Consider yourself warned.)

HOW?

The idea is to explore all kinds of resources, and see what works. Websites, blogs, DIY guides, craft books, cookbooks, advice from my mother and mother-in-law, common sense, and whatever else is available.

SO?

This blog is meant to track this daunting journey and collect the best domestic tips and tricks I discover -- a collage of interesting things, a space for ideas and inspiration to flourish.

Picture source: There She Goes