Hearts are not really my style but the UK seems to take Valentine's Day even more seriously than the U.S., so it has had me searching for a modern way to incorporate hearts into the home without the sappy cutesy look. More

I'm one of those people who like Valentine's Day, largely because of its emphasis on crafts and sweets. I also like heart motifs, which, when they're more graphic and less ooey-gooey cutesy, can work in everyday decor. More

For years IKEA's EXPEDIT has been a ubiquitous storage solution for homes everywhere. But recently the Swedish furnishing giant's VITTSJÖ has been showing up more and more on my design radar. It doesn't scream IKEA, and you'd never guess the system starts as low as $40. The black metal and glass shelving system has a nice industrial quality on its own, but it seems to really shine when it's given a bright coat of paint. Here are five really great examples of VITTSJÖ's potential. More

Project by: Austin Varner
Location: NY, NY

This project was a fun one because the client had a photo by a famous fashion photographer (pictured over the fireplace mantel) that she wanted the living room based of off. She said that she wanted lots of saturated color and for the apartment to be fun and playful. We chose a specific color palette for each room and committed to making each one very different, while maintaining a consistent feel throughout the apartment. 

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You could say that Merrideth Kalil, owner of online shop Spark Living, has been working toward opening her own shop since her entire life. Back in the fifth grade, Merrideth would frequent a shop in her hometown of Boston, buying stickers to decorate her childhood bedroom. It was at that young age that Merrideth recognized her obsession with color and pretty things - an obsession that would lead her to launch her own shop in adulthood. 

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Fluffy white Mongolian lamb stools pop up like dandelions in tony dressing rooms and decor magazine spreads, but the prices can be a bit overwhelming for the rest of us. But Nadia, the Paris-dwelling blogger behind Preciously Me, came up with a way to get the look on her own with just an IKEA stool and a fluffy pillow. More

The man who practically coined the phrase Generation X with his 1991 novel of the same name is now turning his attentions toward furniture design. Douglas Coupland, in a collaboration with SwitzerCultCreative, has designed four colorful pieces with a modern Asian influence. More

We're going polka dot dotty on Apartment Therapy! Bright or white, big or small, these polka dot finds will look perfect in your kid's bedroom or playroom. More

Name: Langston Clement
Location: Bella Vista, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Size: 925 square feet
Years lived in: 7 months; Rented

I first met Langston while I was working part-time at Hello Home and immediately, I was struck by how, well… likeable he was. He was somewhat quiet, but easygoing, with a sense of restrained energy bubbling just below the surface. Later, when J, the owner of Hello Home, opened his new store, Industry, he hired Langston to be the DJ for the grand opening. And it was there that I caught a glimpse of him in his element, rocking the house and as cheerful and engaging as ever.

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In this mass produced world there's an easy disconnect between products and the people who make them. Part of the fun of seeking out unique items to decorate our homes is meeting the people and learning the stories behind them. People like Andrea Mihalik, the former photojournalist-turned-furniture-rehabber. More