NAME: Amy Mehlbach
OCCUPATION: Deny Designs Wholesale
LOCATION: Denver, CO
SQ FOOTAGE: 600 square feet
How would you describe your personal decorating style?
Scandinavian meets California cool. It's funny, when I lived in New York, I wanted bright and fun colors because I felt like I was trying to bring a little of my hometown, Colorado to NYC. Now that I'm in Colorado, I'm feeling the desire to bring NYC to Colorado with a modern and more minimal aesthetic.
What/who/where inspires you when it comes to home decor?
I definitely feel inspired from living in New York and working in the fashion industry, I've found that there is a ton of overlap with fashion and home design. I also find creativity in my travels and the hotels I visit in places like Tulum and Big Sur.
How do you approach living in a small space?
I go very minimal and only keep things up that are decorative and fun, but also get really creative with storage. For example, instead of a bar cart, we use shelving which also is decorative. And we added shelving next to the bed to serve as both storage and a room divider. The inspiration for this multi-functional living came from cool boutique hotels like Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Hotel San Cristobal in Baja, Mexico and South Congress Hotel in Austin, TX. They use small spaces so well and stylishly.
How do you keep your small space feeling fresh and uncluttered?
in order to keep our studio feeling spacious we only keep things up that are decorative and fun and get really creative for storage - for example we don't have room for a bar cart so we used shelving. You have to find things that are practical for more than one use, so the shelves by the bed are great for a storage and also act as a room divider.
What are your favorite pieces in the room and why?
The bed and the couch are what people are drawn to initially because they are statement pieces. They give everything a luxurious foundation to play off of. My personal favorite piece is my couch, hands down. I feel like it was my first big girl purchase but what I love most about it is how versatile it can be. It fits perfectly in our studio now but I know it will also look great in any house to come!
Tell us about some of the pieces in your gallery wall.
My favorite piece is that Kate Moss print. I've wanted it since I lived in NYC because it was plastered all over the subways. I love her style. It was the first piece I put up in here. The hat is a funny story. My boyfriend, Kyle, wanted to be a hipster so he bought it and called it his "brunch hat". He's only worn it once, so it remains as fun decor and a good story. The buffalo print I got for Kyle because we both went to University of Colorado and he's obsessed with The Buffs. I found it from an artist on Etsy. We made the terrariums for my birthday a couple of years ago. They're kinda dead now though, ha! The other piece I really love is Cool Mouth by Nick Nelson. It's fashion-y and has a pop art vibe and added a great pop of color to the apartment. It also tied in perfectly with Kate Moss piece. I also added the palm print - Rainforest Floor by Catherine Mcdonald because it added a California vibe. I love the greenery it brings to the space. Lastly, I finished with the Framed Wall Art called Good Aim by Wesley Bird. It was our attempt at gender-neutral art. Kyle's pick!
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