This week I am moving from a spacious two bedroom house into a 331 sq. ft. closet. Granted, my new “apartment” has some luxuries, like a dishwasher (which I have never had; Lizzie had to come over and show me how to use it), but the space issue is, well, an issue.
You see, I have furniture. Lots and lots of furniture. This is my third summer here in Austin, and when I moved down here I (amazingly) fit everything I owned into my Corrolla. Two years later, I doubt if I could even fit all of my sneakers.
So step one is, clearly, downsize! Have you ever sold furniture on craigslist? It is problematic for me, because even though the goal is to get rid of furniture, I can’t help but find new gems I want to recover. Check these potentials out:
Vintage chair and loveseat set could be really cool
White vinyl side chair is totally rad
Deisgn wood arm chair has potential
Who doesn’t love a tufted chaise lounge?
I suddenly realize how I got myself into this pickle!
No, Keegan, stay focused! Step two, thoughtful design concept. I have been researching small space solutions, and I am starting to feel totally inspired:
Seems like I need to create a focal point, create some sort of division between the bed and the rest of the space, make thoughtful use of lighting, and have tons of storage (thanks, back issues of Domino!). However, I have also come across some seemingly conflicting advice: hang art low so ceilings seem higher / high art high so it draws attention upwards, use lots of small mirrors / use one huge mirror, and the list goes on! Help me readers! What’s your best advice on decorating a small space? Also, how do I make my tiny, windowless bathroom seem less like a teeny dungeon?
I will keep you up to date on my progress, and hopefully someday soon I can squeeze in a few photos into a before and after post. Wish me luck!














































































Nuggets of the Week: My “Spruced” Chair, In the News, and Movie Day!
This week has flown by at Spruce, and lots of fun things happening!
First, I sit in a nifty desk chair that has a GREAT shape and some awesome rollers. Amanda and Lizzie picked it up at the UT Surplus a couple of years ago. It has been begging for a redo and just had not made it on the schedule. Well, Amanda turned into Santa Claus a few weeks ago and told me I could choose any fabric to put on my desk chair. So I spent a week combing the shelves, and finally settled on a Robert Allen fabric. It is a cut velvet geometric in a beautiful jewel-tone (which you know I love). Keegan was the creator of my new chair, and boy did she do a great job! I felt like a kid on a road trip saying, “Is it done yet?! Is it done yet?!” A week later, Keegan rolled my little beauty out to the front, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. I think it turned out great, and now I get to sit in an amazingly “Spruced” desk chair. Check out the before and afters below.
Also, Wednesday was a bit of a monsoon up here on Lamar. When we were eating lunch together it looked as though we might float away! Amanda got a wild hair and decided that we should have a movie day and work on projects that could be completed inside the studio. I think Lizzie, Keegan, and I about fell over in excitement! So Team Blonde worked on painting our display wall (chalkboard paint!), Amanda worked on a new project (to be revealed later!), and I kept plugging away with my to do list. We had a great time watching the new Alice in Wonderland and Amanda’s favorite, You’ve Got Mail. Nothing beats staying in on a rainy day, and it was a special treat for the Sprucettes!
Last, but certainly NOT LEAST, Spruce was featured in the Statesman on Thursday! We had an article on the front page of the Life & Style Section. Our studio was packed and phone ringing off the hook with new Spruce lovers! We think Kristi Kingston did a great job, and are so grateful to have been included. Check it out here if you weren’t able to catch the article.
Have a great weekend!