Get the Look Decor: Small but Mighty

This weekend’s Get the Look Decor is inspired by the 1924 bungalow of Anne Ingman. She lives in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota with her husband Jake and their dog, Judy. Their 842 square foot space functions as both a home and office for the couple, so they’ve chosen a simple layout with modern furniture and colorful artwork and accessories.

Visit Anne on Flickr for more inspiring photos of her lovely home. Check out Anne’s beautiful photography at Ingman Photography and learn more about her at Anne’s Chit Chat.

Describe your home decorating style.
Our 1924 bungalow has a lot of charm and character with its original fireplace, woodwork, and built-ins. I try to balance the darker wood features with lighter colors on the walls, and colorful art and accessories. My furniture choices lean toward mid-century modern, with classic, simple lines, and art and accessories that are colorful, bright, and whimsical. Because our house is small (only 842 square feet) I try to keep our layout simple and clutter free.

Did you decide to decorate in this style or was there an evolution to your decorating process?
Definitely an evolution. We started off with a futon and a red thrift store chair (albeit a great one)! As we began to furnish our home, both Jake and I were attracted to mid-century modern style furniture, especially Danish teak. After finding our first teak pieces, I have slowly added to our collection, and continue to upgrade when I find something I just can’t pass up. Our art collection started at a local art crawl, and we both really enjoy supporting local artists. I think decorating our home will always be an evolution — changing it up keeps it interesting.

Where are your favorite places to shop for home items?
I am always searching for hidden treasures, big or small, and most of my vintage accessories are from local shops and garage sales. I have found some really great Danish teak on Craigslist, eBay, and local antique stores. I gravitate to IKEA for practical items like rugs, lamps, curtains, pillows, and bedding. Etsy is my go-to for unique art and accessories.

What inspires you when it comes to decorating?
For as long as I can remember I have always filled my living spaces with things that make me happy and keep me smiling. When I was 12 it was cut-out magazine collages and quotes plastered all over my walls, in college it was items to remind me of home, and now it is mid-century teak furniture, local art, and vintage trinkets found throughout the years.

What is your favorite part about your home?
Jake and I both work from home and share the second bedroom as our office. We each sort of
have a “side” and we have clearly designed and decorated our spaces to match our individual
styles. I spend a lot of my time in front of my computer editing and blogging my photography, so designing and decorating the walls above my desk was really important to me. I’ve hung different sized frames filled with my favorite prints, paintings, and old photographs of family. The small wooden paintings are all made by one of my favorite artists, Barbara Gilhooly. Jake designed his “big red desk” and had our friend Matt Eastvold, of Eastvold Furniture, build it. The wall above Jake’s desk features a single gorgeous watercolor by Brian Frink, a family friend. I think there’s a fun balance in our office decor!

Does your home hold any strong memories?
Because this is our first house I think it will always hold a special place in our hearts. We can’t stay here forever, but for now it’s perfect, and we are really enjoying living and working in it.

Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our video series, There’s No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this Flickr pool.

More Get the Look: Home Decor Editions.

Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares