Personal style

Obviously, since the name of this blog is "Tiny-Ass Apartment," you know that the main focus here is small-space living. But aside from that, what's the kind of style I want to have in my small space? I'm a bit of a contradiction. My clothing and personal style is very 40s-early 60s, as evidenced by my two fashion icons, the fabulous Dita Von Teese and Joan Holloway of AMC's Mad Men (as portrayed by the equally fabulous Christina Hendricks). They're put-together, elegant, and feminine. The clothing of that time really works for the curvier lady, and since I'm never going to be the type to pull off hipster-esque skinny jeans, it works for me and I'm sticking to it. Images from Getty and AMC. However, when it comes to my home, I am not a fan of the Mid-Century Modern look one might expect. In fact, you're going to have to set your time machine even further back -- and actually, H.G. Wells is not a bad reference... Britain around the Victorian Era/Industrial Revolution through the 1920s is my main influence. It's the dark woods, rich textiles, traditional silhouettes, and ornate detail (does anyone else melt over crown moulding or nailhead trim?) punctuated by instruments of science, curiosities of nature, and treasures from far-off places like India that make me swoon. (Maybe I should get a fainting couch like Betty Draper?) I'm a science-fiction nerd, and I'd want to have a study that would make H.G. Wells or Jules Verne feel right at home. Thankfully, the emergence of steampunk is helping to revive this style, as is the latest cinematic incarnation of Sherlock Holmes. Image from Warner Brothers. Image from SteampunkPics.com. The decor in the Edison bar in downtown Los Angeles (above) is delectable -- as are their drinks! Right now I'm in the midst of a budget crunch (as I'm sure many of you are!), so I can't get my apartment just so quite yet. Here are a few items I've got my eye on for when I've got the coin... Image from Target.com. Who wouldn't want to curl up in a rich leather club chair with a book in hand a cat in your lap? This chair from Target is on the more affordable side, and Thomasville also makes gorgeous line. Image from NY Mag. I love the look of Persian rugs piled on top of each other in that eccentric, slightly-dotty old man look. And I love love love that Maximilian Sinsteden, the resident/designer of the dorm room pictured above lives in, well, a dorm. A college boy and a kindred spirit. Hopefully you'll be able to keep my personal style bias in mind when reading this site, and forgive me if I forget to cover other looks from other eras. But just know that if it's something that fits (if you'll pardon the pun) in a small space, it fits in here at TAA!