When Billy and Sally bought this 775 square foot apartment in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn, it had a few of the less-than-charming features common to many NYC area flats — badly worn floors; a tiny, cramped kitchen, awkwardly separated from the rest of the space. With the power vested in them as new homeowners, they decided to do something about it, embarking on an inspiring renovation that shows just how much living you can do in a small space.
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Name: Shell Azar
Location:
Greenwich
Village, NYC
Size:
Started
with 420 square feet; increased to 520 square feet (not including
outdoor terrace)
Years lived in: 6
Shell lives and works in this gorgeous studio space, which she recently transformed, with the help of architect James Vira, into an open and inviting place to call home. Materials are used in a way that's true to their nature, giving the studio an invigorating and creative feel.
Name: Claire & Jeffrey
Type of Project: Kitchen remodel
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Type of building: Single-family bungalow, 950 square feet
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
NOW OR NEVER: A FEW INDULGENCES.
It's amazing how it all came together after the counters were installed. We decided to go for the subway tile. In a big way. Imagine that. We not only did the backsplash, but we tiled the entire west wall, floor to ceiling, where the range stands.
Name: Andi Forker
Type of Project: Kitchen Renovation — full gut remodel
Location: San Francisco, California
Type of building: 1890's Victorian condo
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Is there anything more daunting than planning a kitchen renovation?
We want to help!
This summer, we are working with a kitchen expert to answer some of your questions about kitchen design. From countertop height to materials to layouts, we can answer whatever nagging question is keeping you up at night — and keeping you from starting your kitchen makeover.
Tell us your Kitchen Questions and we'll have an expert answer them!
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Name: Seth & Allison
Type of Project: Kitchen/Family Room renovation
Location: Ventura, California
Type of building: Mid-Century, multi-level, single family home
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Since Seth assembled all of the cabinets down in the basement last week to keep the space clear, we just had to bring them upstairs this week and set them in place. Because we were able to design our kitchen from scratch (with the help of our architect) we got to build it specifically with Ikea cabinet frame sizes in mind. And because of this we had absolutely no spare room between the cabinets, so it was a big relief when they all fit into place as planned.
Name: Claire & Jeffrey
Type of Project: Kitchen remodel
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Type of building: Single-family bungalow, 950 square feet
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
SO MUCH IS HAPPENING.
Cabinets went up in a flash as soon as the drywall was cleaned up enough for a level surface. IKEA cabinets are great to work with and super straightforward. I only hammered my thumb, like, twice.
Before: the difference between the floors in the kitchen and hallway was striking.
Name: Andi Forker
Type of Project: Kitchen Renovation — full gut remodel
Location: San Francisco, California
Type of building: 1890's Victorian condo
The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Our kitchen renovation reached a tipping point this week, transforming from a construction site into a room that sort of resembles a kitchen. One big change is the floors.
Molding, trim and paneling used to be standard finishing touches featured in any home, but these days it's often eschewed for clean lines and minimal detailing. When designed well this style can be successful, but the flip-side can be bland and lacking in character. Fortunately, adding detail is always possible and there's a bevy of options.
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Buckwheat Soba Noodles from Scratch
