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Think Vertical: Make a Small Space Seem Larger

Think Vertical: Make a Small Space Seem Larger

By LuAnn Brandsen; Photographer Kim Cornelison; Producer Tara Okerstrom-Bauer

February 19, 2014

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Layering art on walls increases the sense of space in a Minneapolis cottage.

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Curated chic

Graphic designer Anne Golliher takes to the walls of her Minneapolis home to create a look that's fresh yet traditional. "Though our house is small, filling the walls with pieces we love makes the rooms feel layered, inviting, cozy and reflective of our family," Anne says. "Surprisingly, the space also feels bigger because your eye is drawn up and around the room."Art collected through the years comes together beautifully when you anchor the space with one or two large pieces, limit frames to three colors and include a little black. "If you add one black piece, you can make it look grounded, not chaotic," Anne says.

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Canvas the area

Anne fell in love with the graphic quality of an old family photo and had it enlarged on a 52-inch canvas for $300 (canvasondemand.com). Symmetrically placed black lamps illuminate the wow factor.

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Mirror, mirror

Twin mirrors are style workhorses in the foyer. In addition to reflecting light, they give the illusion of added space and offer a final hair and wardrobe checkpoint before going out the door.

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Game changer

Stumped by the master bedroom's low ceiling, slanted walls and many doors, Anne consulted with designer Lauren Liess online (laurenliess.com). Lauren's advice to paint both the walls and ceiling a dark color made all the difference, says Anne, who chose Behr's Starless Night blue. Playing to the room's cabinlike yet traditional feel, antlers crown an artful display. Anne drilled a hole in the skull so she could hang it with ribbon tied to a drawer pull secured to the wall with a dowel screw.

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Chalk it up

Blackboard paint provides an easily changeable canvas in Lewis' nursery. Leaning artwork against the wall means it's also simple to switch.

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Border line

A row of framed art hung around William's room visually unifies walls chopped up by numerous doors and windows. Anne selected dark frames for all the pictures then centered them along a horizontal line.

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Think Vertical: Make a Small Space Seem Larger