The challenge of living in a small space can also work to your advantage! To make the most of condo living, I always turn to creative storage solutions and dual-purpose furnishings.

Styling a space with just a few items, a bookshelf or a coffee table is the key to making your space look polished and pulled together. In this blog post, "Styling A Space With Just A Few Items," we'll discuss how to mix new items with older ones, how to repurpose pieces, and how to re-use items from other rooms rather than going shopping.

Ok Folks, this is the final reveal of our ONE ROOM CHALLENGE project and for me, it is the reveal of THE OUTDOOR ROOM. There is a lot going on in this room and we had to shift things to one side while we cleaned and touched up, went through our very own punch list, then shifted things to the other side and repeat. These challenges are all about transformation and how we get there.

Only one week to go and so much left to do. The hardware by @schaubhardware did not disappoint, it looks amazing with the tropical paper covering the old island. #peelandstickwallpaper. We also made progress applying the chalk board paper to the doors as the backdrop for the dart board, and to keep scores on the other side. Once we install the backing and the dart board I will show a picture.

Hope you all had a great week. Here we are only 2 weeks before the reveal of the OUTDOOR ROOM. There is not much to tell regarding the progress this week, except for we are making good progress and some of the changes are so impactful that it seems like we accomplished more. Yet, at times when our household is functioning it feels like we take three steps forward and one back. The best way to see the progress is with pictures, so check it out.

This week we made a little more progress on the outdoor patio makeover. The Old island finally got many coats of black stain on the butcherblock, the legs and frame. We are waiting for the stain to completely dry and set before we apply a satin clear coat of polyurethane.

A trip to San Diego to browse furniture showrooms, puttering around with clients, running a household as tiny as it, while keeping the freshman doing what he is supposed to be doing, at least “supposed to be” on my terms- how I was raised. That is another blog post on to itself. That was just the the highlights of the past week.

I am seeing graduation ceremonies, a lot, if not all kids back at school, more field sports games, a few celebrations here and there sprinkled throughout a few restaurant patios, so we are at the tail end of this pandemic and I am loving it.

Hope you are as excited as I am to see the transformations that all the guests for the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE have planned for the Spring 2021 challenge.

Here we go again, it is that time of the year, the time we take on the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE and transform a space and do it in eight weeks.

Now, in this early part of 2021 that we are experiencing a Pandemic, unusual inclement weather, power outages while we home school, work from home, run a household, some of us a business or two from home also… the last thing we need is to deliberate if we should open one bottle of wine at the end of an arduous day or week. Or deliberate if you and your partner should enjoy your individual favorites, for that matter.

Hope all is well, that you are doing great, and that you are healthy and enthusiastic about the Holidays. I know this year has been tough, but I believe that if we focus on celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, if we envision the 365 new opportunities and beautiful days that await us and focus on the positives in our personal lives, that is where the joy which we are all ultimately after resides. I am in no way minimizing the hardships some have suffered through all this, nor the impact these changes have had on kids and teens unable to attend school and be with friends. I know how imperative socializing is to kid’s development. I know how difficult it must be for those in industries that have been horribly impacted such as the Restaurant business, and worse yet their employees.

I am so excited to be showing you the final reveal of this Tiny Master Bedroom Makeover. Improving this space has been transformational in both style, decoration and motivation to get other areas done. The artwork is perfect, the bedding is just what I wanted, and the accessories and styling turned out beautifully. I am extremely pleased with the results. And strangely enough, last night after the photo shoot, I slept so well with the peace of mind our new room brought me. The feeling is incredibly calming and serene, and the project is something we did for ourselves. What an awesome (and well overdue) feeling!

Hope you are all well and that by today, 11/5/2020, you feel a bit less stressed by having come to realization that the votes are in and we are no longer in control of what happens. Do not let the news, what is happening with the elections, the pandemic. etc…. steal all of your joy. I know it is hard (believe me I know how hard it is!) not to let anxiety get the better of you. Instead we should focus on what we can control and the positives of our current situations. I know that it is easier for some than for others, especially for those who may have lost their jobs and are in survival mode. Yet, for our wellbeing, it is imperative that we focus on feeling good even if it is just about the tiniest little thing.

Anyhow, I am grateful to be able to check in with you and tell you about the ins and outs of the makeover- the progress, the challenges, and the pivoting I have to do as items you order online are sometimes not what you expect. So, between returns and new purchases, we have used up our budget, and as of today 10/28/2020, I do not have any accessorizing items. I could shop around the condo and use things from other rooms, but I do not typically have a tone of extra accessories as minimalism works best for my home.

Here we are on week # 3 of the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE, sponsored by BETTER HOMES & GARDENS magazine. There are a lot of guest participants with amazing projects on their hands who are transforming some great spaces. In the meantime, as I browse through the graphics on the #oneroomchallenge web page, I wonder… do I still want to learn to use power tools?

Over here in SoCal, we are experiencing higher than normal temps and the Ocean still looks amazing and is often calling my name. Personally, I am incredibly grateful to live here so close to the Ocean and for the many blessings in my life. Having said that, I am finding it harder to read the overall “temp”, mood, moral of people in general.

I hope you all are managing during these uncertain times, staying healthy and active (the active part is a tough one for me), but most of all, that you are focusing on things that bring you joy. I know, now more than ever, that it is easier said than done, but it really works. It is the only way we are going to make it into 2021 stronger, braver and with a bundle of new possibilities. In fact, we will soon have a brand-new batch of 365 new possibilities, opportunities, and days to be grateful for.

OMG! Down to the wire. Just when you think you have plenty of time, time runs by you. And because you have added “little extras & details,” guess what? Time is gone!