apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Isn't Sarah Ruth's living room pretty? With the neutral couch and honey-colored floors against the green wall, she's got a nice color balance going on, and the flow of the room is working well (as little doggie demonstrates); that shell chair against the wall, acting as if the TV isn't even there, does wonders. Lovely, Sarah Ruth!

Maria's office is looking great, with the addition of a new desk (an online bargain) and a nice little lamp. Incorporating a decorative table lamp into the home office (rather than a traditional task lamp) warms and softens it up—a great way to make your desk an inviting space rather than a dreaded one.

It's amazing how cleaning out a room can really expose its beautiful bones. Look how gorgeous Jeannekathryn's kitchen is now that she's pared it down to just the table and chairs! I love the acrylic chairs in this space, as they feel so light and airy, like the room itself; they refuse to weigh down their idyllic surroundings.

Firebird's library and office space has come such a long way! The tall bookcases are elegant and dramatic, and as Renngirl comments on Flickr: "the sideways spines add an additional line element." Very nicely done!

Girlfriendtd has been painting up a storm; her dining room and bedroom both look refreshed with a new coat of color. In the dining room a white wall brightens up the space, and the gray she chose for the bedroom has an elegant, sophisticated feel. Choosing paint colors can be a drawn-out process, but it's worth it to take your time. Don't be afraid to paint large swatches of your final color choices, and remember Maxwell's tip about painting your swatches over white to avoid any confusion with the previous wall color.

Jen and David needed more storage, so they converted a tiny, narrow broom closet under the stairs into their own little Harry Potter room. They're still planning to paint the door, but they're already feeling an "embarrassment of riches" with their newfound storage. Way to get creative with the space at hand!

Nikukyu's had this table for almost thirty years! It was in need of an upgrade, and she was in need of some color during her Cure, so with a little paint and adhesive paper, the table was given a new look. It's always great to breathe new life into pieces that have been around for so long you don't even see them anymore. Whether you like the original style and want to refinish, or whether you want a complete renovation like Nikukyu, a furniture makeover is a great project for these final weeks of the Cure, when you may already be laying tarps for painting, and everything is starting to fall into place.

Check out Chottomotto's Outbox! Even her trash is organized! Personally, I think that learning to detach from things is one of the hardest things about the Cure. But the feeling of relief once the Outboxing is done can be downright addictive. Great job, Chottomotto, and thanks for the inspiration.

Now to wrap up the week at last, how about some spring tulips from Jenelope? Remember to keep bringing in fresh flowers as part of your weekly Cure assignments. Hopefully their energy and fragrance will remind you of the ultimate goal of making your home vital, healthy, and inviting.

These next few weeks will mean a lot of big changes and more hard work, but everyone's making such great steps, we can't wait to see what you've got in store. This week's lighting and painting changes should make for great photos, so please keep sending us pics and stories from your Cure projects, especially as they all wind to a close! And thanks to everyone featured here for sharing the amazing work you've done so far.

- POST INDEX SPRING 2009

• Week 6 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 6 - Intro
• Week 5 - Show & Tell
• Week 5 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 5 - Intro
• Week 4 - Show & Tell
• Week 4 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 4 - Intro
• Week 3 - Show and Tell
• Week 3 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 3 - Intro
• Week 2 - Show and Tell
• Week 2 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 2 - Intro
• Week 1 - Show and Tell
• Week 1 - Tips & Tricks
• Week 1 - Intro

- CURE INFO

>> Main Cure Page - Spring 2009
>> About The Book
>> Excerpt from Chapter I