Aris shopkeeper Trey Russell calls upon retail tricks to spruce up his Laguna Beach apartment

Edde, the store mascot, greets a new customer at Aris. The shop is a mix of home furnishings, high-end fashion, consignment clothing, jewelry, teas, chocolates and fresh seasonal flowers.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“I treat each accessory as a piece of art — in a small space you want everything to be important,” Trey Russell says. Shown is a delicate glass decanter available at Aris.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell sits with his Chinese pug, Edde, in the garden behind his shop where he serves mimosas and strawberries on Saturday mornings.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell says of his gardening taste: “I like to cut stems off flowers and just float the heads. Dahlias are particularly spectacular that way. I don’t particularly like long stems exept in French tulips. Succulents in concrete or ceramic planters are also a favorite. They require the lowest maintenace of any flower, and, if you forget to water them for two weeks, they are still alive and beautiful — they thrive on neglect.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell’s apartment is just as well-edited as his shop: a dark dining room table contrasts with soothing lilac-gray walls.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“When you are living in a small space you have to come up with creative ways to store things in an attractive way,” Russell says. “I like to hide my clutter in a series of different-sized wood boxes. They’re great for holding my DVDs, playing cards, remote controls — anything small.” The set of 5 boxes is $95 at Aris.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“There’s no reason a one-bedroom apartment can’t be just as stylish as a 5,000-square-foot home,” says Russell, who most days dresses in a smart, casual attire of white Gap jeans, Polo tee and a jaunty, custom-made linen hat.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell’s apartment decor exudes a pared-down, modernist aesthetic. Here, drink coasters and an African letter opener sit on an ostrich tray on his acrylic coffee table.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell used Pottery Barn shelving to showcase his collection of black-and-white photographs as well as taking advantage of floor space. “It’s like a mini-gallery. I can move pictures around easily without wrecking the walls,” he says. Espresso-hued West Elm bookcases, lined with art books (sans jackets) and various objects, create a focal point for the living room. “Book jackets just get torn anyway, you might as well get rid of them. It creates a more monochromatic, less chaotic look. It’s easier for my eyes to focus on black-and-white.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Stacks of jacket-less books and a porcelain rhinoceros keep each other company in Russell’s apartment.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“If you have a small room, consider taking out the closet’s doors and replacing them with a handsome drapery on rings that slide along a track,” Russell suggests. “I used a light-gray, Belgian linen for my drapery panels. They make the room look so much softer and give you more room. Let friends think you have a drop-dead ocean view behind them — nobody will know it’s a closet unless you tell them.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell thought of another use for vinegar decanters: “Think creatively about how to use accessories. I recently bought a pair of small glass decanters for holding balsamic vinegar and olive oil for the shop. But at home, I fill them with Jo Malone body oil. I swim so often my skin dries out, so after a shower, I drip a few drops of oil on myself to hydrate my skin.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Russell says: “I think a dog is essential for the home whether they are color-coordinated or not. My Edde ... with his creamy coloring and black mask fits the monochromatic look I love. But a dog — no matter what color they are — will add warmth, texture and love to your home. How can people live without them?”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)