Euro Style Home

Do modern interior design styles and children mix? Of course they do! Should your modern home revolve around your children? Why not?! Take a look at how Incorporated Architecture + Design Purposefully designed this small New York City residence to accomodate a stylish modern family. This colorful, contemporary home is like an indoor playground and is both fun and functional.

Pops of colorful pendant lighting (above) are used to brighten up the kitchen, contrasting with the neutral aesthetic.

Satin Nickel with Red Shade ET2 Pendant Light

A rustic modern dining room (above) introduces graphic artwork to create a sophisticated feel with a playful edge. Contemporary glass chandeliers are another fun way to add whimsy to any modern interior design style.

A permanent display for your children's artwork is genius! This bold, blue gallery-wall has the ability to transform as new artwork is created. And it's great for watching Saturday morning cartoons of course.

Bright yellow shines like the sun against this cornflower blue. Implement this color punch in your home by adding artful and functional elements such as modern yellow table lamp. Color always takes the edge off and make your space feel more playful.

Yellow 15-1/2" Whoopsy Desk Lamp

Who would want a room with four boring walls to play in when you could have your own indoor treehouse? The wallpaper (above) and the adorable treehouse are a great way to bring the outdoors in when playing in the real outdoors may not be an option.

The juxtaposition of the view and the interior elements in this kids room (above) are quite captivating. Now the children can have green grass and bright blue skies 365 days a year even if it's just modern green hardwood floors and the bright blue paint. I'm sure the energy is uplifting throughout the cold and gloomy New York Winters.

Of course, as a parent you need to have a place to retreat and this modern, eclectic master bedroom (above) was designed just for that! The reclaimed wood doors and vintage panels add elements of old-world charm and a peaceful aesthetic.

Painted concrete tile adds a playful detail to this organic modern master bathroom. The use of eclectic modern bathroom lights is always a great way to add character to any bathroom.  

Groton Polished Nickel Hudson Valley Wall Sconce

Let's all try to have a little more fun this year and a great place to start is in your home!  

Images: Incorporated NY

There's an extreme side of everything, and small spaces are no exception. Enter the nano house. Technically speaking, a nano house is 500 square feet and under, but there are more than a few out there that measure less than 200 square feet. And they teach a surprising lesson.

The trick to living smaller, it would seem, is not how to better fit your life into your home--it's how to better fit your home into your life. 

Sunset Cabin (above) by Toronto-based Taylor-Smith Architects is a lakeside vacation space. With cedar cladding, this 275 sq. ft. space draws the outside world in and in the process invites the occupants to spend the majority of their time outside. For spaces like this, recessed lighting saves room while centrally located modern ceiling fans can handle all the cooling needs.  

Gregory Paul Johnson credits his 140 sq. ft. home (pictured above) for allowing him to save money, lose weight and generally feel happier overall. Specifically speaking, his small space gives him more time and fewer bills. Sounds like a classic example of getting more for less. 

Conversely, for a more is more approach, New York designer Zach Motl stuffs his 178 sq. ft. apartment with an artful arrangement of objects he's meticulously collected over the years (pictured below), giving credence to the notion that the more stuff you put in a room, the bigger it feels.

And then of course, there's the smallest home of all: none at all. Tech nerd, writer and perpetual traveler Andrew Hyde claims only a backpack stuffed with 38 other items to his name. He says the absence of possessions leaves him more engaged with the immediate world around him. He appears to have a thing for things orange and green too (below):

If you're considering a small space, a swing arm desk lamp similar to Zach's tucks away neatly when necessary. And while you're at it, you can always incorporate a stylish table lamp similar to his too--the black lamp shade mixes well with a multicolored or monotone spaces alike.

Lights Up! Dasan Ivory with Black Silk Modern Table Lamp, Satin Nickel Adjustable Holtkoetter Desk Lamp

Most of us may not all consider going to the nano extreme, but small spaces are becoming increasingly en vogue as they're often the most viable options, financially speaking, for would-be owners.

Images: Design Buzz, The Cool Hunter, Mother Earth Living, New York Times, Ecouterre

+Check out this stylish, budget-friendly Brooklyn brownstone renovation featured on Dwell!

+If you thought terrariums were the hot trend, wait until you learn about these edible chocolate terrariums! So cute.

+Want a fun weekend project? Refinery 29 has some great DIY's, including this laptop case.

+Hey parents, Babble has a round up of the top 50 Etsy shops for babies.

+For all you talented creatives out there... Here's an inspiring video about up-and-coming designer/maker Mitz Takahashi.

Colorful and cozy are where it's at for January! And this Apple Green Glass George Kovacs Pendant (below) provides both with its soft curves and splash of green. Ms. Colorful & Cozy would love to hang it in her kitchen for that extra kick on cold winter mornings as she makes her breakfast.

Nearby, you can find the Retro Turquoise Metal Round Wall Clock (below). The art-like piece keeps our girl on time as she dashes out the door to the office or dinner, and provides a sweet pop of color wherever she hangs it – from the kitchen to the bathroom to the hallway!

Ms. Colorful & Cozy loves to spend an evening on the couch under a blanket... catching up on her magazines of course! The Zuo Purse Magazine Rack (below) in transparent red keeps all of her subscriptions organized in style and at arms reach.

The Yelena Polished Steel Lite Source Floor Lamp (above) in yellow glass is perfect to light up a dark living room corner. These short winter days give Ms. Colorful & Cozy an excuse to settle in for a night of television and hot chocolate by the fire under its warm glow.

Piping hot tea and the morning paper play a big role in Ms. Colorful & Cozy's daily routine, and she loves to enjoy both at her kitchen table. This set of four Zuo Modern Scope Dining Chairs (above) in red bring a smile to her face each and every time she sees them, and make her look forward to mornings that much more!

Image: Shopbop

Please join us in welcoming Liz Stanley from Say Yes to Hobeken as one of our new contributors. We're so excited to have her! Take it away Liz....

I absolutely love pendant lights. They area a fantastic way to add lighting and character to a space without taking up any of your table space or your square footage. I am currently in the market for some great modern pendant lights for a corner in my living room as well as a few to go over my dining room table and I am loving these options.

Olde Bronze Mini Pendant Light

I love this bronze pendant. It looks like the perfect mixture of modern, antique, and industrial. It would look amazing in pretty much any space.

St Charles Jamie Young Pendant Chandelier

This amber glass pendant looks so chic doesn't it? The color is beautiful and the shape is just killing me!

Marcel Metallic Mini Pendant

I am in love with this light. It looks so fancy and fine but without being pretencious. The brass is of course amazing, and the hammered look gives it some texture.

Tetra Tiffany Style Pendant

Going right along with the beloved geometric trend, this light is perfect! The bold white and black pattern and the faceted texture are enough to make a statement but not take over the space.

Image: Redmodelista