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Make Any Space Beautiful

Decorating a small space can be tough. Fortunately we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve that will have you decorating anything from a dorm room to a breakfast nook with bravado.

you breakfast to music here) Storage Space. Fortunately, we’ve

Now if your entire home is a small space you’re likely plagued by the eternal scourge of (insert ominous music here) Storage Space. Fortunately, we’ve got some tips for that too.

Now, there’s a myth out there that to make a small space feel bigger you should only use white on your walls. Totally not true! By painting your wall a lighter version of your favorite hue and adding some small brighter, richer highlights (on the baseboard or curtain trim for example) you can achieve the same benefits of a white walled room without the super boring color palette.

While we’re on the subject of color, pick a single one that fits in well with your scheme and make sure all of the furniture in the room is that color. This will really bring the room together from a visual standpoint, creating an effect that plays on your sense of sight. The continuity of color causes the eye to glide over the room with ease.

Another furniture tip you might consider: If you have large pieces of furniture against the wall, paint or slip cover them the same color as the wall they are against. This will cause them to almost “melt” into the wall.

Of course when following these tips, you need to decide for yourself exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. You might not necessarily want your room to appear to be larger than it is. Sometimes a small space should be exactly what it is: a small space. It’s a great chance to create a room with a very cozy appeal. In these cases, use earth tones with lighter accents and white to keep it from becoming too dungeon like. Unless of course that’s what you’re going for… And in that case, have at it!

LEARN ALL ABOUT the EXPERT

important thing pot in some much needed Wire baskets in the

The most important thing to remember here is to utilize walls and ceiling. Things like pegboards, hanging laundry bags and pot racks can be invaluable in saving some much needed space. Wire baskets in the kitchen and bathroom can hold small items with ease and hanging shoe rack can free up a lot of closet space. And if you get really desperate? Cover a large storage box with a sheet and you’ve got yourself an ottoman!

You might be wondering if there is anything you should avoid when decorating a small space. Great question! Trust me, there are a few danger zones. One thing you should avoid is the area rug. This is tough to do as most area rugs are pretty boss looking and you’re probably going to want one. Resist the urge and keep your floor as clean and open as possible.

And as long as you’re simplifying your floor, you might as well do the same thing to your windows. A small space is simply not the place to put your fancy puffed out lacy window treatments as fabulous as they may be! (Save those for your wow-rooms, like the dining room, living room or formal study.) Keep them pretty simple and the same color as your walls.

Finally, I’d like to leave you with a tip you won’t find anywhere else: Buy a goldfish. Watching him swim around in that tiny glass prison will make your cramped room seem like a banquet hall in comparison. Not to mention giving yourself the illusion of superiority. That’s it gentle reader. Now, you get out there and make that small space ab-fab (absolutely fabulous)!

Andrew Beckman, Esquire is a self-proclaimed expert in the Art of Home Living. He credits his ability to make homes “shine” to his three-month studio residency in Amsterdam, and of course to his two muses, a pair of black labradoodles named Poochy and Sneezer.

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BABY, IT’S HOT OUT THERE

TC SHAVED ICE DOESN’T POST ANY HOURS OF operation, but when temperatures heat up, you can count on having your Tiger’s Blood snocone. “If it’s hot, people know we’re supposed to be open,” owner Xavier Hernandez says. “It’s not odd for them to honk or knock on the window. We will run it until it’s not hot anymore.” Family owned and operated, the shack offers 30 flavors that can make countless combinations. TC’s signature treat is the Knock Out — your choice of shaved ice sandwiched between two scoops of homemade piña colada ice cream. Hernandez created the recipe himself and recommends it with mango or bubblegum flavors. Most people just use the drive-thru window, but it’s not uncommon to see families setting up lawn chairs outside their cars to sit and stay a while.

—EMILY TOMAN

TC SHAVED ICE

GARLAND & JUPITER

Pictured: Tiger’s Blood shaved ice

Three more spots to chill

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

This popular sandwich shop sells more than just subs. Here, you can get Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream by the scoop. GREENVILLE & PARK 214.739.1928

GREATOUTDOORSUBS.COM

JAKES

Cool off with a handmade shake at this oldfashioned hamburger joint. The menu offers chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and Oreo. SKILLMAN & ABRAMS 214.349.1422

JAKESBURGERS.NET

WHITE ROCK COFFEE

You know they have great coffee but when the weather’s this hot, try going for a Blended Mocha or the 20-Below Hot Chocolate.

NORTHWEST HWY & EASTON

214.341.4774

WRCOFFEE.COM