Leaving space for people

When you’ve got a big imagination, there’s nothing so fun in the decorating world as a blank slate. Especially for newlyweds who use a silver Vespa as their focal point.

Jonny and Robin Louis moved into their tiny turn-of-the-century home immediately after their August wedding, and they moved in unencumbered. No furniture, no couches, bookcases, not even a bed – none of the accruements of their old lives made the move with them. They started with the quintessential “blank slate.” Granted, deep molding, hardwood floors and high ceilings made it a very nice blank slate.

Armed with $1,500, an IKEA catalog and a strong vision, they set about turning their white-walled rental into a stylish and hip ‘50s mod-retro entertainment pad.

“We wanted it to be inviting but still minimalist,” Jonny said. “We love to entertain, but the space is tiny so we needed to really plan to fit what we need.”

To avoid too much marital controversy, they each picked a couple rooms then set about hunting down the perfect furniture and accessories.

Jonny, a hair stylist, happily tackled the front room, now so minimalist and modish in style, that the shiny silver scooter parked under the picture window fits right in.

“It’s a work of art,” said a graphic designer friend. “He polishes it every night.”

The room seems designed to house the Vespa, Jonny’s prized possession. The geometric throw rug stops short of the wall, creating a little hardwood parking space just inside the front door. A metal ladder-type magazine rack climbs up from the front wheel. The magazine covers, themselves little works of art, further frame the Vespa.

With that as a focal point, the rest of the rooms fall together with an easy grace, allowing guests to feel comfortable and uncrowded. A low brown couch and chaise lounge, chosen for their incredible versatility, wrap around low, shiny, white tables.

“We picked them knowing we could do five or six different arrangements with them. The couches come apart, the tables are removable,” Jonny said. “It’s just so functional for this room. Minimalism forces you to focus on what you truly need and love. You can have a simple life with style.”

The simple life isn’t always so simple, though.

“My style is more practical, more functional,” Robin said. “His is more display.”

His display of framed album covers leads down the hall to a small bedroom very neatly, yet very completely, crammed with stuff. The only closet on the entire first floor is about 2-1/2 feet wide by 4 feet deep and 10 feet tall, giving Robin quite a storage challenge.

Tall silver baker’s racks lined with hooks, and housing numerous baskets, now line two walls. Everything from ties and belts hanging on the sides, to clothing and socks in the baskets and shoes lined up on the bottom is stored on the two storage racks. Even with the high volume of belongings they hold, the clean lines and lack of adornment keep the room from appearing overcrowded or cluttered. The racks seem right at home with the geometric, frosted-glass art pieces on the wall over the bed.

The innovative storage solutions carry over into the kitchen, a room also failing to meet basic storage requirements on its own. Built at a time when minimalism was the only available lifestyle for the average family, the kitchen’s few cupboards don’t come close to housing even the basic necessities of today’s kitchens.

Stylish shelves with baskets and hooks mounted on the wall house dishes and accessories. Storing as much as possible on the wall helps them keep the minuscule counter space looking clean and uncluttered.

The couple still considers their cozy home a work-in-progress, constantly rearranging, adding and discarding. “We started with nothing and we wanted something where people could feel comfortable,” Robin said. “We have that now and we did it on our budget.”

They did it by leaving space for the people.