Hi! I’m Janet. I’m a self-confessed serial small-space nester, designer, Emmy-winning TV producer and author of two books, LIVING IN A NUTSHELL and DECORATE THIS NOT THAT. This is where I share my favorite small space, chic and unique personal decor tips and DIY tricks that help me live my best life in less than 800-square feet so you can too! Come inside my Southern California petite beach cottage and coastal rental properties where I share space-saving, posh and portable decor and renter-friendly projects that any beginner DIY’er can master to make their small apartment or tiny house cozy and one of a kind.
Hi There. I used garden stakes from Lowes. They are a hard rigid plastic. www.lowes.com/pd/Expert-Edge-Anchoring-Spike-Pack-16-Ct/1002102488?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_LWN_Online_C-D-_-1002102488-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W9XUfGlUyl2JJfbT4vAPmU_G&gclid=CjwKCAjwm_SzBhAsEiwAXE2Cv-_omX1768nNDYbI-svuL_5iIuD_p-zvzNnB7V41DSlqxTS1Vbrf1xoC03gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Thank you! I bought that box at HomeGoods and painted it myself. It’s large enough to hold a flat of plants. Thank you for watching! Hope to see you for the next episode.
I hope to give you guys a full room makeover next week!! Working overtime on this one. Kitchen cabinets are being painted as we speak. Slow but we’re getting there. XOXO!😘
Love the citrus. I’ve never thought about doing that. I picked my first 2 home grown tomatoes today. I haven’t grown tomatoes since I was a teenager, been 50 yrs now. I’m starting a special succulent garden now, inspired by your succulents. My orchids are flourishing with the orchid fertilizer spray. So please know your efforts to share, inspire & encourage are definitely bearing fruit. Can’t wait until next Friday. Oh! Shoulder is much better. I believe I will regain full range of motion again. 😊🎉🙏
You buried the lead! Your shoulder is getting better, and now you can start checking off your fun DIY project list. Thank you for the encouragement. I feel like I am swimming upstream with this reno. The crews have been unreliable. You’ll have to give me tips on how to grow tomatoes. I want to start a vegetable patch next. I had been neglecting my hanging orchids until the other day I noticed two fresh buds on a branch. I started watering them again, and the orchid spray is a game changer. See you next week!
Hi Friend! " Love the nautical twine shells" Jams, you make simple things look beautiful and expensive by being creative and innovative. I feel energized every time I watch your videos to refashion rooms and cabinets in my house. It is my pleasure to be engaged in your renovations. I feel like you are going to pull a wild card and do something unexpected in the bedroom decor and the kitchen. All I that I can say is go for it! I'll be here to cheer you on! Let's hear it for, Jams!! See you later, gater! "Next Friday" I can't wait. 🐞
Hi Friend! Thank you for being my cheerleader courtside! I love sharing budget friendly tricks that are simple to execute and look elevated with every day materials. I’m moving onto the bedroom. I can’t wait to share my little small space projects in that room. Have a super week. ❤❤❤
It came together beautifully! It will be a very welcoming & inviting sight when one opens the front door. Love the tips for gluing the twine. I am so happy that it is coming together for you. Have a blessed remainder of the weekend & a fabulous week. “See” you next Friday. 😊
Hi Linda! Wanted to ask if you had the time and energy to install your kitchen wallpaper. Hope you like the look. Little projects like this have kept me going through a bumpy renovation process. My contractor had to re-do some of the kitchen tile that the auxiliary crew I hired haphazardly installed. Let’s put it this way, backsplashes shouldn’t be wavy, and the dishwasher should open without hitting the top of the counter tile. I’ve lost sleep over this. Anyway, I’m going to concentrate on the bedroom which is ready for furniture and decor. I have a few small space tricks to share with you all. Thanks for watching and spending time with me at Nutshell Living. ❤❤See you next week.
Those embellishments covered with the twine looks so beachy and pretty. The rope and ornamental pieces give the little niche a very nautical look. Really makes it stand out. I love it!
Ah, thank you so much, Sylvia. I hope other creatives in the group take this idea and run with it in their own home. Hope to see you next week! I’m making major strides in the primary bedroom.
Olá amiga tudo bem gostei dessa moldura desse espelho maravilhoso gosto de coisa assim conteúdos assim vim para ficar gravo vídeo aqui na plataforma do RU-vid também
¡Muchas gracias por encontrar mi canal! Me encanta crear proyectos de decoración sencillos que cualquiera puede hacer en su hogar sin importar el tamaño. Espero verte la próxima semana para un nuevo episodio.
Love the wood color of the bed with the wall color! Great idea with the floor tile. Once again, my mind is racing with possibilities. My shoulder has healed enough that I think I am going to try papering a small wall in my kitchen this weekend. Can’t wait to see the cabinets. The color swatches are interesting. 😊 Have a safe, fun & productive weekend/week.
Hi Linda! This is the best news about your shoulder. The wallpaper will do wonders for your kitchen and your spirits. I used floor tile on a kitchen counter in my last rental upgrade and it has been 5 years with no scratches, cracks or stains. It gave me the confidence to give it another go in this space. For a small counter, the tile comes in large 12x48 sizes so there are minimal cuts. I’ll be installing the “twine” niche tomorrow am. Hope it will work out the way I have it in my head. Have a wonderful weekend.
It’s finally coming together! This place has such relaxing vibes. No wonder every couple living here ended up getting married and having babies! Thanks for watching. I’ll be installing the niche in the living room over the weekend.
Hi LuLuBelle! This bed is so gorgeous in person. My new rule for IKEA purchases is to try and buy their solid wood pieces. Once I style it with bedding and balance the large bed with nightstands and a reading corner, I think it will be a super cozy place to relax. I’ll be shooting fresh new content for next week. Hope to see you then. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Friend! Nice music intro... 🎶🎶 You've made great progress with the cottage; the paint color in the living room is serene. As I can see your vision with the design of the nook outlined in twine and molding pieces, I am in love. Your decision to purchase the vintage table and two chairs was a smart one. ? Are you going to incorporate palm leaves or tropical plants into your design? Somehow I envision a white on white wall paper imprinted with palm leaves and cockatoos in the bathroom. I am going to be wowed by your expertise and great design, and I'll be yelling come through, Jams! You dont did it!!! "she bow humbly" So, excited about your cottage renovation. I can't wait to see the finished work. I hope that you are enjoying your family and getting some rest.. see yah!
Hi there!! Love your ideas! I feel overwhelmed by the possibilities and the tiny budget. I can’t really think just about the design plan until the crew starts to streamline and move out. Thanks for being my most loyal fan of Nutshell Living. I am so grateful. Your enthusiasm has kept me going! Have a great week.
You are so sweet to notice. The bougainvillea are looking glorious after a first year of struggling. I’m going to create a more intentional outdoor space for the tenants in the next design phase. I am rushing to get the first tenant in there and then budget for more landscaping etc. after we get income flowing. Have a super weekend. See you next week!
The twine idea is inspired! Love it. The bedroom color is very pretty. It doesn’t look like it would have the greenish cast during the earlier hours of the day. Perfect. I have a very similar table in my tiny dining room. Or I did have. Since my fall, the dining room became an office. I am getting better. I have started a container veggie garden. 🎉 I have an idea for my succulents (inspired from another of your videos. lol) It will be 2-3 weeks before I can tackle it. Pavers have to be moved. I can only move 4 & I’m done. Not quite there yet with this shoulder. Thank you again for your videos. You have truly helped keep me stay sane. 😊 Hope your Mom is doing well. Until next week…
Hi, my friend! I wish I could move those pavers for you. I am so excited that you are slowly trying to implement some of those creative ideas that have been brewing in your mind. The crew just finished the floor a few hours ago and baseboards are installed in the bedroom. They gave me the green light to bring in the bed and work on my DIY carpet idea over the weekend. I can’t wait to install the twine project. It was inspired by the cat scratch dachshund I profiled in my first book. I had so much fun covering that doggie form. My cat Scooter curled up on top of all of the twine while I worked. Keep up the good vibes. You are getting stronger every day. See you next week.
I love the way you outlined those pieces with twine. I live you idea about the rope but I just had this idea about placing some type of colorful tile around that little noon while you already have workers there. You are so talented you could probably do it yourself. I love all of your color choices.
Hi Sylvia. I love the tile idea. There is a similar niche shelf in the bedroom. This might work there. The bedroom floor and baseboards are finally done so that means I can start moving in some furniture. See you next week!! Thanks for watching.
Oh my gosh! Thank you. I was worried people would get bored already, but this is real life so there you are. This week I’m working on the bedroom. I am moving in the bed tomorrow! Hope to see you next week! Thank you so much for watching.
Lampshades wrapped In raffia, and rattan is a good idea to bring in the coastal vibes. The diy seashells is beautiful too. The illuminated light cast on the shells will be stunning to behold. Keep being creative and I wish you the best in finding your other items, too. By the way, the paint colors look beautiful. 😊 Enjoy your weekend!
I am so thrilled to hear this. About 2 weeks ago my orchids took a down turn. I’ve been taking care of my mother in her home, and my orchids need a daily watering. Two of the flowers need replacing, but they had a good long stretch for several months.
It’s perfect. Unique. Just the right touch of beach. Can raffia cloth be embroidered or painted? You always get my mind working! lol Thank you for sharing with us. We are creatively richer for it. 😊💕
Hi Linda!! Always brightens my day to see your name and kinds words. The answer is YES to embroidery on raffia cloth. I embroidered a chair back and seat in one of my past Nutshell episodes. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AKvGvwjfkKc.htmlfeature=shared I hope that these projects for the cottage reno aren’t going to be boring for people. There just isn’t time to work on anything else at the moment. I can hardly wait to see the chandelier in the newly painted living room. I decided on Rarified Air for the living room. I was struggling with color in that north facing room, but I used a color I painted in my own living room with a similar light exposure. I will update you in the next episode. Happy Mother’s Day!
What a great idea! Take an item from the big box store and doctor it up. So v creative. Not just a shade you even zs’d that up as well. Way to go Jams!! Can’t wait to see more about the Reno!!
Thanks, Joe! I like the way you put it best-doctor it up. I also love tapping into my box of remnant materials and using them for another purpose. The next project popped in my head, and I could see it so clearly. Now I have to figure how to execute it. What a tease, right? XOXO
Thank you, my friend! I can hardly wait for you to see it in the cottage. Progress is slooow, but so far I am happy with color choices and tile. Sticking to a tight decor budget has become a fun and creative challenge. More to come. Have a wonderful weekend.
I like the moonshine and I agree the sand dollar is even pinker in the bedroom. The problem for me with northern exposure rooms is that the undertones in colors have a tendency to intensify. My living room has a northwest exposure and colors have a tendency to look one way in the morning and another in the afternoon. I try to find colors that have as little undertone as possible. Good luck.
So nice to hear from you, Sylvia. I now know why paint color consultants get the big bucks. You are so right about that tricky northwest exposure. That is where the bedroom gets its light. I’m going to try and post a quick update with my final selection. The crew is painting now!
This is awesome!!! I am in the middle of redecorating my bathroom apartment. So happy I stumbled across your video while searching for ideas! Thank you!
Candice, this made my day! I am so happy this project has resonated with so many. I love that you can customize it to suit your unique style. Hope to see you for the episode. Have a great day.
White heron. It looks cleaner, brighter. 😊 All of the colors are pretty when well lit. It was an eye opener to see them change in the space. I like that you did larger color swatches. The size really helped to see the paint in the space better. 😊 I know which ever one you select, the end result will be gorgeous! 😊💕
Thanks, Linda! Wish you could be here to help me out. I revisited the space today at noon, and white heron looks too green. I think I have to find a few more options. The bedroom is really dark, and overhead light changes the paint color into an unflattering shade. What do you think about the color Soft Chamois from Benjamin Moore? I read that it appears soft even in low lit rooms. I’ll get a sample tomorrow. I agree that the room needs something bright and airy in there. Thank you for watching this week. I always smile when you check in.
I would love a paint shopping trip. 😊 Next best thing, google searches. 😆 I like the Soft Chamois but it looks like it has a green undertone. At least in the Google search. I remember you writing in one of your books about a darker color in a small space. While still staying in the beige family, perhaps a darker undertone without being brown? Like Dimity by Farrow & Ball. Dimity is a budget breaker but the color is nice & I’m sure there is something more reasonably priced. It has a red base that could counter the green cast as the afternoon light hits the room. Hopefully it wouldn’t be the same as Sand Dollar. Plus, I just love the historic inspiration for the name of the Farrow & Ball paint. Maybe if there’s more of a red base than pink, it will look more mature (aka adult) & warm??? Good luck this week with all the work going on at the cottage.
@@lindawynell thanks so much, Linda. You really understand color theory. If this were my own personal cottage, I would love to use a more saturated color on the bedroom walls. F&B is out of the budget for this rental cottage, but Dimity looks like the perfect shade. I painted a large watch of the soft chamois in the space, and I really like it. It has a little black and red in it like you described. It doesn’t appear green like the white heron did. I’ll try and post a short reel revealing my final color picks. Your feedback is so spot on! Have a great week.
Interesting tidbit on white and light with colors. You really do go the extra mile with your design - getting it just right. I'm so excited to see this transformation and following each week. It makes me not think you are across the country.
Hi Joe. That article made me shift my whole approach to small space design. Using white on walls was always my fallback option. I’ll make my final paint selects over the weekend. Of course, I will share. ❤
What an awesome duvet cover! For the duvet, how many yards of fabric did you use? The entire room makeover is cozy, cool, and artsy. The stenciled walls and mixed patterns and fabrics textures are your signature, which I find the most appealing. Good job, friend!! Have a great weekend. Enjoy your day off on Sunday!
I love having a signature style! Took years gaining the confidence to do what I like not what I thought was correct or trendy. For the duvet cover, I bought the widest fabric at 54”, and I bought 6 yards for the front and 6 inches for the back. Since the bed is wider than 54”, I had to sew pieces of fabric together to make one side. I found this tutorial to be so helpful: www.onlinefabricstore.com/makersmill/how-to-make-a-duvet-comforter-cover/ The easiest and more economical way to make a duvet cover is to repurpose designer sheets. You won’t have any extra seams to sew. That’s what I have done in the past. I just couldn’t find a pattern/color I needed for this project. Thank you for all of your encouragement and for taking the time week after week to visit me at Nutshell Living. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Kelly! No need to wait for it to dry. Apply wet and peel off stencil as soon as you spackle it on evenly. It spreads easily, and I love that there is no smell. Plus it stays a nice alabaster white. Thanks for visiting!
That really is my mission behind the channel: to share projects and tips that people can make their own, in their own style and colors; to glean the design approach and take it to the next level. Once I get the entire cottage in shape, I’ll give everyone a tour. See you next week. Do you like that episodes are coming out on Fri? Trying to find the best time for everyone.
New subscriber here and I have been binge-watching your videos. Janet, your creativity is ah-mazing! I cannot figure out why you don’t have 100k subscribers!? Your ideas are great for lots of spaces, including small ones. And all things vintage… it stole my heart! I, for one, am waiting to see you on HGTV! Greetings from St. Louis MO ~ Kelly 😊
Kelly! You made my day and night! I am still new to the world of RU-vid algorithms. Please spread the word. I love the small community of DIYers that we’ve created thus far. I also have petite beach cottages that I am flipping into furnished rentals for traveling nurses. Stay tuned for more small space tips and tricks. Have a super weekend.
I love that duvet cover! It’s perfect with all of the colors. That trick with using a duvet cover to redo the headboard is genius. Far less complicated than sewing one. I didn’t know there were duvet snaps. Man, the places they could be used. I hope the rental reno is going smoothly. Have a great rest of your weekend & thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to share with us.
Knowing that any of these ideas have emboldened you to tackle some of these projects in your own home gives me pure joy and motivation to do so much more. As far as the cottage reno is concerned, the shady contractor I hired first demanded a 50 percent deposit, which I reminded him is illegal in our state of California. You can only ask for 10. He pulled out his crew 30 min later! Luckily my dear sister knew of another great contractor who came to the rescue. I convinced him to appear on camera in an upcoming episode to share some of his great tricks of the trade for small spaces. Can’t wait to see how he fixes the door that hits the toilet! See you next week! Hope your shoulder is feeling a bit better and that the acute pain has subsided. We need you back in the saddle while the weather warms up.
You’re very welcome! I love discovering that orchids are not only gorgeous, they are hardy and resilient. Hope to see you for the next Nutshell Living tip or space-saving project.
How exciting!!! I can’t wait to see how you bring out the best in your rental cottage redo. Now I will be motivated on Fridays to get my work finished & home by 6 est! Love that duvet material. I’ll be in FL cheering you on with your small space projects. As for long term renters, no doubt the ocean is a draw, but having a fab landlord is a definite plus. I wish the previous renters well with the birth of their baby & a new home for the family’s new beginnings.
Oh, Linda. Thank you. I take my role as a landlord very seriously. I want everyone to feel welcome. It was so very sad to see this nice couple go. They had planned a big wedding with family but then Covid happened. They didn’t let that stop them so they asked if they could throw a small intimate ceremony in my back garden. How sweet is that? I feel a little stressed about the reno because time is of the essence. It’s all about getting tenants in there quickly under budget. I will do my best! You’ll be along for the journey. See you Friday! Enjoy your time in FL!
👍🏾 flip tips, so excited to see your remodeled rental house. I know that the outcome will be a showcase. I hope that you are doing well. Lately you have been busy as a 🐝. I can’t wait to see your refreshed bedroom decor. So far the wall stencil looks beautiful and the sneak peek of the duvet cover print looks vintage and cottage style, you have good taste. I’ll see you on Friday! 💞
Can you believe the door hitting the toilet? And the tenants never complained. Hope to see you at our new scheduled posting time on Fri for the big bedroom makeover reveal. There’s lots of tips to share. Have a wonderful week my friend!
