Today I am so inspired by the breezy, fresh style of this tiny Venice Beach cottage recently featured in Domino. Tucked in along the canals in Venice this little home is just 362 sq feet! That is pretty tiny! So how did they do it? Here are a few designer tips for small space living to take away from this chic house:

{1} Pick a unified & subdued color palette. By using whites, sand, naturals and bits of indigo and dark green throughout the whole interior, rooms flow together for an open vibe.

{2} Make use of vertical space too! The small shelves suspended from the ceiling add style and surface space without adding clutter.

{3} Hidden storage. Cleaver carpentry adds some much needed storage. I especially like the storage bins built in beneath the banquette sofa and bedside tables tucked into bookcases. No wasted space here!

{4} Use the great outdoors too. Especially in the lovely California weather, this house makes amazing use of the patio as a second living room and a fantastic dining room for entertaining.

Designer Tips: Grown Up Dots

Lately dots have been making a major comeback! I love their playful spirit and they are perfect for layering with other patterns, and look especially lovely paired with florals, stripes or angular geometrics. But we have all seen dots look a bit juvenile, fussy or dated . . . here a few designer tips for how to give dots a grown up boost!  

{1} Go neutral - a subdued, sophisticated color palette helps keep dots looking modern. Grays, tans, browns, creams, indigos, and blacks all work - but be sure avoid pale pink!

{2} Play with Scale & Shape - oversized dots (like below) or free form or imperfect dots bring a fresh look.

{3} Mix up Your Patterns - we know dots look great with other patterns so be sure to incorporate a mix to create an updated feel!