apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Q: When renting, sometimes we find ourselves stuck with poor planning by a builder. Such is the woe of this Apartment Therapy reader, with the dilemma of a heat dial SMACK DAB in the middle of the wall behind her well thought out and ready to set up landing strip. And she was so excited to put the mirror there for that last minute, pre-heading-out-the-door appearance check. Now what?

We usually turn to our laptop to watch T.V. (thank you Hulu). Which means that our living room has turned into a sitting room where we listen to records, get work done on the laptop and occasionally pull a chair up to the window and people watch outside. Alan's sitting room reminds us of one we'd like to create--a cozy spot to retreat.

We bumped into an old friend the other day and she was sharing about her small home and small shed-turned-office. (House tour very soon!) We could tell by the way she was talking that she cared about her home and her dedication to making it functional and stylish. In our conversation she said "I am living in the house I want right now!"

We've all got them. Framed pieces of art leaning against the wall because a decision hasn't been reached about where to hang it. Or piles of photos or images you've been meaning to frame and haven't had a chance to. Or a drawer of birthday cards and soon...holiday cards that you'd like to enjoy, but where do you put them? It's almost the holidays and that means guests, time to get the art off the floor and get it hung.

Last night I was out with one of my Apartment Therapy colleagues and suddenly the mood got quiet and serious. She turned to me and said, I need help solving a problem:

"I'm thinking about buying these end tables but they're a fortune. But I've been thinking about them for six months now and they've just dropped the price on them. They're still expensive but...should I do it?"

There's nothing we like better than a good DIY project, or a set of clear How-To instructions for whatever project we've got at hand. Thinking of starting a container garden? Installing a programmable thermostat? Looking for a way to whiten socks without bleach, how to wrap gifts with a furoshiki cloth, or how to carry anything on a bike?

This Roundup is for you.

• Read the full post at Re-Nest

The ad for these mid century Eames style chairs by Kreuger Metal Co is slightly unclear as to whether the price includes the table, but if it is the whole set that seems to be a pretty good price.

We love seeing drawers repurposed as containers (usually placed on a table top holding books or DVDs). This version is definitely a spin on the traditional use and can be hung just by using L-brackets.

"I think hell for men is the Anthropologie dressing room sofa area," so says one of our favorite writer/comedians Mindy Kaling. So for all of you guys who have put in your time on a seafoam chesterfield, this round up is for you!

We combed through a few of our favorite Austin interior designer portfolios to bring you eight simple and modern dining rooms full of great ideas to incorporate this holiday season. Borrow a few of the ideas for your own dining room or just enjoy the beautiful photographs!

THIS WEEK
• Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams LA Sale
• Poliform LA Store Opening
• Interieurs LA Floor Sample Sale
• Sanford Burrows Bedding Sale
• Bneato Organizing Boot Camp
• Pacific Design Center's Third Thursdays
• Artemide Lighting Holiday Sale
• Commune's Community Shop Opening
• Stranger Furniture Studio Sale
• BoConcept Holiday Accessories Sale

Jump below for more information...

Our colleague Stephanie over at Re-Nest reported on Bel & Bel's salvaged Vespa parts recreated into office chairs last month, and we just noticed a new addition to their collection. Their beautiful handmade and "upcycled" mod-meets-astronaut seating has been joined by a loveseat seemingly designed for some backseat smooching.

To be honest, it's really hard to tell from these photos the difference between the before and after, but that's because of the lighting and the subtle paint colour adopted by Anna, who wrote in to thank all of you who helped her make her paint choice after asking the Apartment Therapy community for advice. Details with larger photos below.

Drawer dividers aren't a necessity for some folks but we love how they make undergarments and accessories a cinch to find. We have our favorite products from Container Store which sort and divide dresser drawers but after seeing Pia's DIY solution--we're thinking it's a great alternative.