Welcome to Amplified Apartments: Home Edition, a special edition of ForRent’s Amplified Apartments series, featuring amateur interior designers whose winning decor hacks will save you space whether you’re on the first or fifteenth floor.
Amplified Apartments: Home Edition finds itself in Michigan this week. There, in suburban Saginaw, Jessica Hill – a blogger and mother of two – has built herself a charming pastel sunroom in just 144 square feet of space. With her decorating and DIY blog, Mad in Crafts, Jessica has established herself as a powerhouse of creativity. A look inside her carefully organized crafts room is a testament to that skill—and so too is her lovely sun room.
Working under budgetary limits, the former teacher has become known for her versatile and colorful designs, and her eye for DIY potential. When renovating her home, she decided to make better use of the bright window-filled space that was then functioning as nothing more than a storage room. With a well-chosen color palette and just the right repurposing projects, she created a warm sanctuary for the entire family. Read on for tips from the craft queen and insights into building a communal space in just a few inventive steps.
If you could describe your design concept using 5 words, what would they be?
My hope was to make the room feel like a sophisticated, relaxed, airy transition space.
What were your must-haves when designing your space? Did you have to make any compromises?
We had to re-cover the cushions of the wicker furniture. The furniture was bought off of Craigslist and needed love. Thankfully I got a great deal on the fabric and my mom was game for sewing new covers.
I initially wanted to rip out the existing carpet and stain the concrete beneath, but that would have been too big a job to finish by the end of summer. I think the carpet works in the final design, so I’m glad we didn’t push too hard to remove it.
Why did you choose pastel tones for the sunroom’s color scheme?
I really wanted to work coral into the space because I thought it would look really nice with the warm brick tones. When I found the paisley fabric, the rest just fell into place. After I finalized the room’s color palette, I found a graphic of a color palette I had pinned a few years earlier and it was almost exactly the same. I guess it had stuck with me!
You obviously have a gift for DIY. What was your favorite project in this room?
Thank you! I am learning as I go. That’s why I think the X-Leg Tables were my favorite project in the space.
It’s a furniture build anyone with a crow bar and a drill could do.
What gave you the idea to use luggage stands as a coffee table?
It was one of those light bulb moments — I love those. I had the luggage racks sitting in my garage for almost a year before coming up with this project and was glad I had hung onto them.
Where did you get the idea for the ladder magazine rack?
I had seen similar projects in design catalogs and on Pinterest, sometimes used standing with boards as shelves or hanging as a clothes rack. When I saw the ladder leaning against the wall in our garage, I knew it would fit in the sunroom just as easily— and serve as some extra storage.
What are your go-to stores for home furnishings and decor?
I almost never buy new from retail stores anymore because of budget constraints. I either make the piece myself or find something at a thrift store. If I had an unlimited budget, I would probably hit up West Elm first. I really love their throw pillows.
What’s your number one tip for solving the small space problem?
Take advantage of vertical space. Hang lighting from the ceiling instead of taking up floor or table space. Create storage shelving from floor to ceiling to store the same amount of stuff while taking up less square footage.
Apartment decor is the same as skyscrapers in a big city—think up, not out.
For more DIY and interior inspiration from Jessica Hill, see her blog, Mad in Crafts, here.
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