There are three tricks to creating the illusion of space. One is to use a limited palette. There’s lots of white in this place, grounded by accents of black with shades of taupe and sepia to soften the look. ?Even the floor is painted white. No other colors are inserted to distract the eye.

The second is to arrange furniture so as to create mini rooms. Here you see the seating area on the right, and the sleeping area on the left defined by a custom screen and daybed covered in matching “toile” fabric that is light and airy.

The third is to do a rigorous purge of your possessions. Paring down to the minimum. This process is hard to do and not for the collector. But the owner, designer Ellen O’Neill, ?chose the classy location ?(in the last gated private square in Manhattan) over her “stuff.” The work/office area below blends beautifully in style and feeling. Just enough space to get something done, but not a whole lot of storage. If you love the black wire basket, you can find a similar one at Wisteria.

Notice how carefully the designer edits her choices. The antique farm table and the large leaning mirror keep the area open. The display of framed art and photographs is tasteful and interesting, but not a lot of color. This is a good thing. It stays within the chosen palette.

Below is Ingo Maurer’s Zettel’z 5 Chandelier which supposedly works as a bulletin board. It’s crazy and funky ?and has gotten a lot of attention in the design world. Its spidery openness ?fills the high ceilinged space without being too blocking or heavy.

And finally, a lovely little black and white vignette. An antique daguerrotype setter’s station serves as a bar.

Photographs courtesy of House Beautiful July/August 2010

I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely enchanted with this tiny art studio situated on the windy coast of Aquitaine in France.

It is the cheerful retreat of painter Richard Texier and measures a mere 12 square meters. This style of architecture is referred to as a carrelet, loosely translated to square net (filet carre’) which were used by fisherman in the 1900′s who lowered their nets from these little huts right into the sea. Texier’s original hut was lost in the big storm of 1999. Determined to continue his artwork in this magical spot, he engaged engineers and high technology to rebuild it in a sturdier fashion. It’s painted black and “ocean blue” with a zinc roof and naturally weathered 100 meter long teak gangway. “It’s always been an enchanted place, between the sea and the sky…” says the artist.

The round gate was inspired by those the artist had seen in China, a place he often visits. When the red light above the gate is lit it signals that the artist is in his studio.

This is a shutter that can be set at various angles as a shield from the wind and curious eyes of tourists. I like the way the round gate repeats the shape of the round port hole windows. Repetition of shapes is a great way to bring conintuity to a interior/exterior design, even one as tiny as this.

The outdoor work table.

The artist uses his blackboard to develop ideas for his paintings and sculptures, such as the bronze lost wax candlesticks on the table. The hanging red lantern can be moved anywhere.

People walk underneath the jetty when the tide is out, and oyster farmers collect their wares. Bird footprints provide inspiration for art and mythical animal shapes.

The artist’s indoor workbench, upholstered chair and stool covered with a sail from an old tuna boat. Is that poetic, or what?

Careful storage is necessary in the tiny galley. On the right is an india ink drawing upon a nautical map. I’d like to get a closer look at that…..

The painter comes here to “fish for ideas and inspiration…and occasionally for shrimp. It’s fertile territory.”

Photos from The World of Interiors August 2008 Thanks to?Catherine de Moltalembert and Jean-Marie del Moral

This Soho (New York) pied-a-terre is a long shoe-box of a place measuring only 20 feet at its widest point by 100 feet long with three windows along the street side, and no other exposures. Intruding on that space is a stairwell and elevator shaft. Bottom line…this is less than 2000 square feet. But by the time interior designer Martin Raffone finished working his magic, the place appears to be much much bigger.

Painting the entire space white, including the ceilings and exposed pipes, was a great place to start. White brings light into darkness. Choosing contemporary furnishings was another brilliant choice. The sofa is sleek and deep. If you are looking for a reasonably priced contemporary sofa like this one you might want to check out the Mezzo sofa from Bo Concept.?Could the table pictured above be any more minimal and linear? How about the plain (but beautiful) unembellished kitchen cabinets? Every element is distilled to its most simple form.

Notice that there is no clutter at all. (Can we actually live like that? ….well, maybe for the photo shoot). The only real pattern in the room is the horizontal poplar plank wainscoting which cleverly encloses the seating area as a space divider. Fabrics and upholstered pieces are all solid colors giving the eye a chance to rest. Ah-h-h….rest.

Like we were saying….rest the eye. There’s no need to fill every nook and cranny with “stuff.” Using negative space as a design element is a clever way to create the illusion of large-ness. This fabulous bentwood chair is by Marc Newson.

More empty space with an exposed brick wall painted white. Again…no clutter. It’s elegantly simple.

Another “trick” that expands this space is the neutral color palette. White, black and various shades of tan and taupe. There is nothing loud and busy here. I feel calm and peaceful looking at this sleeping nook and bath. The floor is an ebonized maple. Very sophisticated.

The floor of this master bath is oiled recycled cypress and it extends into the shower with 1/4 inch gaps allowing for drainage. Wherever a flooring material can continue without a break, space will look bigger. In this instance, it is functional as well. The neutral colored mosaic tiles extend floor to ceiling making an interesting quiet little pattern.

The master bedroom continues the minimal theme so beautifully. Although I love the table lamp by?Luc Ramael table lamp, here’s an alternative with a metal mesh shade that will work just as well.

How do you make a small space feel large? Do it with authority! Paint it all white. Carefully place a few pieces of contemporary furniture within (leaving much of it empty). Clear out the clutter. If you aim for that and miss by a little bit, you might still love the results.

Photographs from Interior Design magazine / September 2008

Here’s a wonderful little wood building with actual windows like you would install in your house. The optical illusion here is that the windows are made with clear glass panes. But no….actually they are mirrors! Isn’t that clever? Because this little structure is being used as a tool shed, the mirrors hide our view of lawnmowers and tools while creating an artful reflection.

A traditional “summer house” made of trellis which commands a lovely view of the garden.

Here are some helpful hints for creating your own outdoor room: Level Ground You will need a solid, level surface upon which to build your room, preferably with a damp-proof membrane underneath. Permitting Make sure you check with your city planning department before building, especially with a larger structure. Complement the House Your outdoor room does not necessarily have to be the same architectural style as the main dwelling, but it should not “fight” with it. One way to blend two different styles is to use the same colors, or carry at least one color over. Weather Proofing Since many garden rooms are not sheltered under trees, make sure that they are built of weather proofed material, or the maintenance will be high. Here is the Pacific Northwest, concrete is the best floor material and metal is a favorite roofing material. But ofcourse you must consider your climate. Wood is the most flexible material and more different effects can be achieved with wood. Make sure that your soft coverings, such as chair cushions, are mold proof. Be Creative This may be your best opportunity to use quirky shapes and whimsical decorative effects. Consider the View Most…but not all…outdoor rooms are placed to capture a view of the garden, the water or the mountains.

An artful organically designed gazebo by Thomas Heatherwick.

A circular metal structure that will patina nicely as it ages. Canvas roof lining. This provides a spot of shade in an otherwise sunny garden.

A contemporary garden structure designed by Lynne Marcus. The metal frame is painted a greenish-gray to match the house. It has a living roof comprised of a sedum mat planted on a sloping stainless steel base that allows rainwater to drain off.

Something this large would make a good outdoor office or guest house. It should be painted to match your main dwelling. Make sure to check with the local planning commission for something this big.

Two identical garden rooms can create a very lovely balance in order to frame a particular view. Making one of them a tool shed and the other a tea room would be a useful thing. These are a bit too ornate for my taste. They remind me of the nostalgic Victorian band stands found all over the US Midwest.

A little two seater shelter with a view.

This beautiful swing hangs from reinforced metal arches. The swing itself is also metal and makes a stunning garden sculpture. It serves a different purpose than an “outdoor room” but just as important.?Aesthetics. Since I approach almost everything I do as an artist, I would say that creating something because it is beautiful is all the reason you ever need.

Painted wood and very theatrical.

A living willow shelter. Look closely and you will see that those upright branches are actually growing and leafing out. The dried material (perhaps cut willow branches) are woven in to create the architecture. I am imagining that this platform will have large cushions filled with dry fast foam and covered with indoor-outdoor fabric.

A large outdoor room with two open sides and a metal roof. Situated in the far corner of the property, this is a secluded getaway with an comfy lounge for napping.

A little sleek (shatter proof) glass room with a steel frame. There’s an old adage that children should be “seen but not heard”…..maybe this is the place to stick the kids when you are going crazy! (of course you know I’m kidding).

Photos from British Homes & Gardens July 2009