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my McKinney started collecting furniture while she was still in

college. So when this young Charleston, South Carolina,

designer finally got a place of her own-a three-room condo

carved out of a stately 19th-century home-the challenge

wasn’t so much what to put in it as how to arrange it.

In a home with less than 1,200 square feet of living space,

every stick of furniture needs to pull its weight-and then some.

Pieces that perform multiple functions do just that. Rather than waste space on a

dining suite, Amy opted for a drop-leaf table and movable seating she pulls out when

needed. In the master bedroom, her desk doubles as a nightstand and home office.

To stretch her budget further, Amy invests in timeless styles, such as a wingback

chair slipcovered in pale gray cotton and a pair of slipper chairs with demure pleated

skirts. Then she tweaks tradition with modern print pillows and bold, colorful

accents. Bargain finds, such as a Victorian-style sofa and love seat purchased at a

Habitat for Humanity resale store, look newly chic with fresh paint and upholstery.

“That’s part of the fun for me, not just looking at something for the way it is now

but figuring out how I can change it. How can I spice it up a bit?” Amy says. In a

small space and on a starting salary, sometimes the answer is as simple as tossing a

turquoise beaded necklace on a nightstand or filling a glass jar with bars of mango-

color soap. “Use what you have,” Amy advises. “It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.”

NEW TRADITIONAL

Amy’s furniture is traditional, but her lifestyle is casual. Upholstered chairs

wear washable cotton slipcovers, and floor pillows are perfect for lounging. The drop-leaf table

sometimes holds a television set and sometimes transforms the living room into the dining area,

above.

Amy pulls the love seat from her bedroom for extra seating.