apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Unique artistry and sustainable, environmentally friendly design collide in the essential yet unglamorous world of shower curtains. You may think that creativity stops at the bathroom door but this social and environmentally conscious product will bring about a change of mind.

For some colorful inspiration in these dark winter months look no further than Blafre Design, based in Oslo, Norway. Although the online store and blog are in Norwegian it’s not difficult to find yourself inspired by the eye-catching graphics and cheerful designs.

What’s not to like about a good, old-fashioned general store? In older times the general store would sell everything from coffins to cough drops. It was the one-stop shop for outlying areas - a place to get what you needed and a space to socialize and trade news with your neighbors.

Nothing makes us happier than finding a product that is simple, multi-functional, good-looking and inexpensive. It may have been designed with baby in mind but we are hardly thinking of using this for baby!

Who doesn’t love a fresh bouquet of flowers or a vibrant, flowering arrangement? This time of year you’d be hard pressed to find any sort of blooming flower in the Northwest, at least one that wasn’t grown in a greenhouse or flown from another country. So we decided to make, as the saying goes, lemonade out of a whole bag of lemons.

They say that the best color for presenting food is white. But sometimes all-white china smacks of a certain maturity and may not accurately reflect the vivacity of your entertaining spirit.

Shapes and colors and testing of gravity: it brought back memories of the scribbled drawings we used to make, shapes that had no meaning or sense. A recent trip to the Seattle Art Museum’s exhibit of Alexander Calder reminded us of childhood: bright, loud colorful dangling arms swinging about perilously. But can we, as adults of a certain age, get away with such childish display in our home?

If you are thinking about how to set your table this season (and multiplying everything by eight or more) you may be carefully considering your choices for tableware. We’ve put together a starter list of some modern table pieces and serveware with some expensive and inexpensive options.

We love to entertain but when hosting a party we never feel as if there is enough space for everything: the coats, the food, the glasses, the drinks, the guests! Setting aside a spot for each “station” will help improve the traffic flow at your next party and help you stay organized.

Do you entertain dinner guests with real napkins or paper? Or maybe the napkins are the forgotten afterthought – until your guest’s face is dripping with gravy?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we bet you’ve been adding up your guest list and realizing that your mismatched plates and uneven number of utensils may not work for a crowd. Look no further than your local Craigslist for some fantastic deals.

Wingback chairs, although always in season, seem most appropriate in the Fall and Winter. Visions of sitting near a blazing fire, reading a favorite book – isn’t that what winter hibernating is all about?

George Nelson designed the iconic Bubble Lamp in 1947. We’re used to seeing this illuminated orb in a wide range of styles and applications: pendant, floor lamp, wall mount, etc. But when we saw them in mist (bluish) and ivory (yellowish) we did a double take...

It has begun: the yucky, muddy, cold weather. At least in our neck of the woods. Slimy shoes, drippy umbrellas, gloves for the cold…and it’s only the beginning of Fall. Here is some inspiration for your home entry or mudroom with some widely ranging price options.