SMALL HOMES

The couple picked up the vintage filing cabinet from online vintage design store Neef Louis. “We just loved the piece and the history that came with it. There were old filing cards from 1910 still in there when we bought it,” Kempenaar says.

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In the unit's only bathroom, toiletries are kept tidy and at hand on built-in glass shelves. Vertical towel racks adorn the tiny bathroom wall.

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The well-lit entry showcases two splurge items: a hydrangea-patterned curtain and velvet upholstered seating.

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The kitchen features clean, open shelving and deep counter space,

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a tight budget and therefore opted to get most of our furniture from Ikea." The apartment takes advantage of the wall space; it has vertical storage in the entryway for displaying books and treasures from the couple's travels. Kitchen table: Melltorp, Ikea

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Filled with light and space, an addition can let you live outdoors all year round.

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Create a jewel box. Like a conservatory, additions are opportunities to create something truly special.

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Use a different material. Another advantage to having an addition to the back is the chance to change materials. Rather than trying to match an existing brick, which could be expansive and problematic, the addition can be of wood. Keeping the all of the wood the same color binds each piece into the whole.

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