Lifestyle Mirror

Anna Corinna, one half of the team behind those inimitable Foley & Corinna City Totes, knows a thing or two about decorating small spaces. She resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her husband and two sons in a make-it-work type of environment. Like with most city abodes, their space is limited, but Corinna—a self proclaimed “treasure hunter”—found a way to personalize her home with many antiqued finds that she’s picked up over the years at the city’s great array of vintage markets. Essentially, she has solved the unsolvable by creating an interesting home that is both airy and distinctive—her own little urban oasis.

With this rare achievement, we decided to enlist Corinna’s advice. “You want to have it layered and rich looking—you don’t want a lot of clutter that makes you look like a crazy collector,” she says. And with the vast amount of found objects scattered amongst her shelves, it’s difficult to comprehend how everything matches—a subtle, imperfect mix of necklaces, books, art, and more. But Corinna advises, “Just buy everything you like and it will go together—everyone has an aesthetic whether they realize it or not.”

Most importantly, though, is the issue of space—a priority for the designer whose busy lifestyle requires an open floor plan for quick transformations. “Find ways to layer your environment when it’s not in your way.  It’s best if you find things to put up on the walls,” she says. “I’ve gotten more into art and hanging things up.” —Misty White Sidell