Whitney Leigh Morris and Adam Winkleman don’t let size define their tiny cottage in Venice Beach. It might only be 362 square feet but they’ve managed to make use of every square inch of space. In designing the space, Whitney put her experience as a stylist and designer to work. She is inspired by simplicity and prefers decorative objects to also serve a functional purpose. Part of the challenge in decorating this space was in blending the couple’s different styles preferences – Whitney prefers a warm, rustic aesthetic, while Adam leans toward a more modern and refined look – but they share a home office, so Whitney did manage to make it work out. And they also haven’t let the lack of square footage stop them from entertaining. Not long ago, they had party for 50+ people (including family who had flown in from Florida) – they used as many twinkle lights as they could get their hands on and had the even catered by a great local restaurant. The culmination of the party was when Adam pulled Whitney to the side and proposed. She said yes and then the couple returned to the party to share the good news. What a fantastic memory in their beautiful home! -Amy
Photography by Monica Wang Photography
Image above: “The porch is our preferred place to spend summer nights. We rearrange our small bistro furniture to create either a large dining area for entertaining, or an intimate table for date night.”
Image above: “Built-in storage units beside and below the couch allow us to store office equipment and guest bedding out of sight. This small space is not only our living room, but also Whitney’s office and our guest room.”
See more of this Venice Beach cottage after the jump!
Image above: “The mix of exposed and enclosed shelving in the kitchen allows us to display our dishes, while hiding stacks of glasses and products such as packaged groceries.”
Image above: “The cottage is only 3 rooms: The living/office/kitchen space, the bedroom and the bathroom. Sliding pocket doors maximize precious space between the three.”
Image above: “At the end of each work day, I clear off the desk so that the cottage feels like our home, and not like my office.”
Image above: “The tiny bedroom is our favorite part of the cottage. There is ample storage below the built-in bed, and we love the beautiful bookshelves and windows.”
Image above: “There are cut-outs between the bed and nightstands. This clever little feature enables us to easily reach light switches and bedside items.”
Image above: “The bedroom opens onto a little patio. Thanks to the beautiful southern California weather, we almost never close these doors.”
Image above: “A hanging shelf in the bedroom allows us to add decor (plants, books and candles) without taking up precious square footage.”
Image above: “The cottage bath has built in shelving and cabinetry, leaving room for our large slate shower.”
Image above: “The wall heater is necessary in winter, but in summer we cut off the gas and cover the unit with linens and flowers.”
Image above: “The back patio off the bedroom provides more space for relaxing and entertaining. It leads to the garage, where we keep our bicycles and exercise equipment.”
Image above: “A single grape vine stretches the length of the property, producing 300-400 pounds of purple concord grapes each summer. Our lovely neighbors have showed us how to use the concord clusters to make delicious preserves and sorbet.”
Image above: “The stoop between the bedroom and back patio is Stanlee’s favorite place to sunbathe and watch for squirrels. “
Image above: “The garden pathway is decorated with hanging planters, a bench we enjoy when escaping the heat, and large grape leaves. It’s where Adam proposed to me.”
Image above: “Our outdoor sofa is surrounded by a container garden. We grow bright herbs, berries and succulents in movable hanging pots. “
Image above: “Family Portrait”
PAINT
Walls: Swiss Coffee, BehrContrasting Molding painted in true white.
PORCH AND PATIO
LIVING ROOM / OFFICE
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BATHROOM
A bright and beautiful space! That hanging succulent in the back yard is amazing!!