Apartment Therapy Archive: Jan 2010

Name: Location: Size: Years lived in: It’s a family thing around Paul and Katharina’s house, as evidenced by the wooden blocks and sippy cups left strewn about by their three kids. It’s about a fun, relaxed lifestyle where friends can come over to watch movies in the sunken media room or strike up the band on the built-in stage. Their home is comfortable and easy to be in, but it’s also composed of concrete and steel and is all about modern efficiency.

Jaime over at Prudent Baby sent us her most recent before and after project for her bedroom: a full DIY king size upholstered headboard. She not only takes us step by step, starting with particle and plywood boards, and then joining them altogether with foam sheets, batting and finally the fabric of her choice. We admire her handiwork, but even more so, because she’s been kind enough to offer full DIY templates to follow in her footsteps.

The idea of a radiator humidifier is elegantly simple and efficient — by regularly filling it withe water and placing it on a hot radiator, steam helps humidify the dry winter air. A new collection of ceramic radiators from Il Coccio Design employ the design genius of Patricia Urquiola, Alfredo Haberli and others for ceramic humidifiers that double as objet d’art.The collection is an extension of the Fischietto design by Achille Castiglioni in 1998.

One thing I got into the habit of doing when I was a wee little one was choosing then next day’s outfit the night before. It’s something I don’t do now that I’m grown, but here is some inspiration for getting back in the habit (and saving precious time on mornings when you’ve hit the snooze button one – or a few – too many times):• 1 Set it all out, including accessories.

Name: Steve Schappacher & Rhea White of SchappacherWhiteLocation: Shelter Island, New York We bought this 1904 fisherman’s cottage 5 years ago. Originally planning to use the home as a weekend retreat from NYC, we now spend most of our time in the 1,100 square foot house, a block from Cockles Harbor.

In our preparation for the movers this upcoming weekend, we decided to go ahead and disassemble our two pieces of IKEA furniture. But we first needed to find the assembly instructions so we could work backwards. A quick sort through our “home file” uncovered the instructions to our kitchen table–but the how-to guide for our HEMNES bed was not to be found.Fortunately for us, IKEAFANS came to the rescue.

Without a linen closet in our apartment, we’ve thought a lot about where to store extra linens. We keep them in a large bottom drawer of the armoire in the bedroom. Four other ways you might store extra sheets and blankets:• 1 In a blanket box. We like this one from Pompanoosuc Mills. • 2 We love the planter at the foot of this bed storing extra blankets. Via Country Living.

If you’ve looked at Maxwell’s entry for the Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge 2010, you’ll notice his trompe l’oeil bookshelf wall, painted by Mark Chamberlain, which was inspired by the Studiolo at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (image 1). The Studiolo happens to be my favorite room in the Met, so let’s take a look at this tiny microcosm of Renaissance humanist values and artistic accomplishment.

We been on the lookout for an old card catalog or apothecary cabinet in our price range, since these multi-purpose pieces are so useful. They make great organizers, tables, and shelves.Click through the links for photos and more information on each idea. Repurpose it into a mini bar. Transform it into a coffee table. Use it as a book and display shelf. Make it into a closet organizer. Organize art or craft supplies. Use one to store Legos or other small kids’ toys.

Name: MaryLocation: Louisville, Kentucky I am a Freshman in college. My parents announced this fall that they were selling the home that my siblings and I had grown up in. I took the news very hard. I had a very special room that was built for me when I was little. As a little kid, I never stayed in my bed.

Yesterday, our friend Abbey posted this pic on her Facebook page along with the following text, “I need help changing this light bulb. Seriously. Anyone?” She went on to explain“It doesn’t pull out, there’s no way (that I can figure out) to get the bulb through the fixture, it’s totally attached to the ceiling…????” We can totally empathize with Abbey and her frustration with home repairs.

Who says silverware has to live in a drawer? Julia gets creative with some vintage finds and fashions a chandelier. Let’s break down her tutorial and tools for this project after the jump. • Read the full post at Re-Nest

Name: Lori DennisLocation: Los Angeles, California   Size: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: Recently renovated We’re taking a bit of a de-tour today from our usual type of house tour we present.

As much as we love the warm memories they bring back, Grandfather Clocks have always been a little too formal for us and wouldn’t fit in with our decor (well ok, we’ve fantasized about painting one glossy pink). But here are 6 floor clocks we’re enamored with that most of our grandparents wouldn’t give the time of day…1. Cardboard Grandfather Clock by William Stone. We love this cheeky rendition (as well as William Stone’s other work).

If you’re looking for a 10-minute DIY project to transform your space, consider these breathtaking homemade curtains we spotted at Maya*Made. To most of us, this is ordinary cheesecloth. Maya calls it “poor man’s lace.”Sometimes it’s the simplest projects that have the most breathtaking effect. We can’t get enough of looking at the deliciously filtered sunlight coming through the windows in these photos. And just how did Maya achieve this ethereal effect?

We followed IkeaHacker’s annual Hack of the Year contest with bated breath, but it was obvious from the get-go that Martina’s fabulous hamster habitat was a crowd favorite. Congratulations, Martina… and congratulations also to Sonic, the lucky inhabitant!IkeaHacker recently announced the contest winner, decided by reader voting, here. What makes this an exemplary hack is that it represents the true spirit of hacking: creating something brand-new out of necessity.

Beds, check. Night stands, check. Bedding, curtains and an organized closet, check. What else would make a complete bedroom? An alarm clock of course. And while they tend to make us cringe a bit, we’re thinking these eco-friendly buzzers will make waking up in the morning a little more manageable.Shown above the jump, from left to right: Woodstation Weather Display: When ‘off’ this little guy looks like a simple wood sculpture.

Name: Chris & HeatherLocation: Acton, MassachusettsSize: 2,700 square feetYears lived in: 4 I first met Heather and Chris when they contacted me for a fresh eye to help them pull together their playful family room. The moment I entered their house I had two thoughts: This is absolutely a future Apartment Therapy House Tour, AND this woman is so talented at design, I can’t imagine how I’m going to be a value added here.

Name: Jenny Rinzler and Cristina EspinosaLocation: Mission Dolores, San FranciscoSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: Cristina for 8 1/2 years, Jenny for 5 years (they had roommates until 3 years ago) It’s one thing to make a home out of your rental. It’s another to make a home out of your 100+ year old rental with poor wiring and insulation. Now that the years of roommates are over, Jenny and Cristina finally have their charming abode to themselves and have made it their own.

“Eames, Aalto — her most significant relationships were with dead designers.” That’s an example of the depressingly funny captions written and partnered up with modernist house photos from past photo shoots from the pages of Dwell Magazine over at Unhappy Hipsters.

Name: NellieLocation: West VillageSize: 500 square feet, 2-bedroomYears lived in: 11 years After 10 years of tolerating its propensity to accumulate clutter and never seem to have room for anything, Nellie wanted her home to change, noticeably. She got in touch with Azadeh and Kermit, made her style known, expressed her desire for a coat closet, and an open kitchen, among many other things, and then moved to a sublet in Brooklyn for six months.

Name: George and Sara AyeLocation: Logan Square, ChicagoSize: 1300 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 George and Sara are a very creative Chicago couple. He is a creative director and she is a design researcher. In addition to their full-time work, they teach design innovation at the School of the Art Institute, and run a small travel apparel company called Hubwear. Whew! We love it when people are passionate about design.

The demise of so many of our favorite magazines last year made us feel significantly less guilty about our gigantic periodical collection even though it has a tendency to overflow our shelves. We constantly reference past issues of our favorites that have passed away and treasure the arrival of the few that are still alive.Here are some tips and solutions for keeping and storing your magazine stockpile.TOP ROW:1.

Small-space desks don’t always have all the storage our work spaces need. Get a little creative and build some extra storage into an Ikea-Hacked “hutch” shelf.Ikea Hacker Jessica needed to find the perfect small-footprint, high-storage desk for her 45-inch wall space. Her and her husband settled on the Gustav writing desk for a perfect fit, but a lack of storage put a wrench in the plan.

Stand clear of the closing drawers! For the New York furniture aficionado, inspiration is just a subway stop away. The five boroughs are teeming with talented woodworkers, each pursuing their humble craft in the big bad city. And if they can make it here, they can make it anywhere right?Despite the prevailing stereotype, woodworkers aren’t all bearded hobbits hiding out in the woods — there’s the occasional clean-cut urban exception.

Name: Libby Alexander and Ryan McCarthyLocation: Andersonville, ChicagoSize: 1,200 sq. ft. 3 bedroom apartment in a 100 years old 2-flatYears lived in: 3 Libby and Ryan live in a 100 year old 2-flat in northern Chicago, just a short throw from Wrigley Field. Their home is a treasure chest filled with surprises of all sorts.

Name: Karthik V.Location: Bangalore, IndiaSize: 1,420 square feetYears lived in: 4 months We’ve had a healthy number of house tours on Apartment Therapy from a surprising number of readers from India willing to open their doors to share with readers on the other side of the globe, and we’re happy to return again to Bangalore to a home filled with “surprises around every corner”.

These hand-crafted ceramic sculptures (and food-safe serving pieces) have an amazing earthy quality without being too rustic for our taste. The color palette coupled with the tiered sizes make them something we would love to have on our table! • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy

Name: Samuel Barrett GenthnerLocation: Duboce Triangle/Mint Hill, San FranciscoSize: 2 bedrooms, 1500 square feetYears lived in: Almost 3 years If you’ve ever stepped foot inside Monument, the fabulous vintage and antiques shop in the Mission co-owned by Samuel Barrett Genthner, you won’t be surprised by the impeccable, interesting style that defines his home.

Name: Erin & ChrisLocation: Fishtown, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: Purchased in 2/2007, moved in 7/2009. Erin and Chris (who originally shared their Gutted in Fishtown home with us) have transformed what was once a building full of junk into their fantastic Fishtown apartment — all on their own!

Q: I recently painted 3 accent walls my apartment here in Los Angeles. One wall, blue, in the living room, and 2 walls, grey, in the bedroom. I love the colors and they were heavily inspired by postings on Apartment Therapy. However, my paint job didn’t turn out so well. I used painter’s tape (I tried standard blue, then tried Frog Tape) and even with the tape on, the paint got underneath and created some really not straight lines.

Layered rugs. It’s seems like you either love this idea or hate it. I’ve been on the love end every since I saw the second photo in Domino magazine back in 2005. But I do think it can be tricky to get right. Without proper styling, it can come across as messy or just plain hazardous.Layering rugs is much like layering your clothing. Your building on a style and – when done right – adding colors, materials, or textures can give a room depth and warmth.

Not all sliding mirror closet doors are created equal. For example, our new home is equipped with mirrored sliding doors, and while they’re not awful, we definitely want to revamp them (or take them out altogether). Our 5 ideas for dealing with sliding mirror closet doors (and don’t forget to weigh in with your suggestions). Apply vinyl decals like these or these to distract from the look of mirrored closet doors.

Kitchen cabinets. We’re in the camp that says paint (especially if they’re made of dark, unattractive wood). Painting instantly brightens up the cooking space — not to mention it’s a fairly easy DIY. The hard part is deciding what color to paint them. • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy

Name: Isabella & JayLocation: Inwood, New York CitySize: 850 square feetYears lived in: 1½ years Inspired by a trip to the Mediterranean Sea, Isabella painted the bedroom ceiling a deep azure blue and lined the living room windows in a bright playful yellow. Isabella’s intent was to harness the flood of sunlight that fills the apartment every day and convey the impression of being on vacation all the time!

“Excuse me, sir. I’m so sorry to disturb you, but it appears to be morning. Very inconvenient, I agree. I believe it is the rotation of the earth that is to blame.” I don’t know about the rest of you, but it would be easy to get used to being gently nudged awake by the velvety voice of Stephen Fry every morning.“Good Morning Madam” versionThe Voco alarm clock isn’t new, in fact we’ve been enamored with it for a while.

image:6ce45112b9b117f474496593e9d6635025e0671b w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" It’s no secret that grey has become one of the most popular neutrals over the last couple of years. It’s got a little more warmth than white, but it isn’t in your face like a bright color. Plus, colors like turquoise look great against it. But, as we’ve found out first hand, it can be difficult to find the right shade.

Name: Evan B HarrisLocation: Portland, ORSize: apartment is about 500 sq ft, attic studio space is about 1000 sq ftYears lived in: 3 Today we are invited into the home of Northwest artist Evan B Harris. The small space that he lives in exudes a dreamlike quality that is reflective of both his art and personal style. Throughout his home and studio space are thoughtful vignettes that tell stories with artfully arranged keepsakes and collected objects.

Most of the mentions of Kool Aid on Unplggd are references to cult-like behaviors along the lines of “drinking the Apple Kool Aid.” But who knew the popular drink mix could help with kitchen appliance upkeep?Yeah, we complain when our glasses come out of the dishwasher looking spotty or—gasp!—with gunk all over them. But how frequently do you clean your dishwasher?

Getting the deposit back after moving is something we always look forward to. To us, it’s kinda like “found money” and can be quite useful to balance out moving costs. Here are 7 things we do before moving out which helps ensure our deposit check is in the mail.Patch up holes Once you’ve taken your artwork down, remove nails and screws and patch with spackling paste. Don’t forget to sand each spot for a smooth wall that your landlord can easily paint over.

Personally, we love the simple, unfussy look of linen or hemp curtains: they feel earthy and sensual to us, and they filter light beautifully. Ideally, if you’re someone that has sewing skills, you could make curtains yourself with vintage hemp, linen or cotton bought off eBay and Etsy. Otherwise, take a look at the list below for a few of our eco-friendly curtain picks.

Weather in the Northeast being what it is, our in-wall thermostats, radiators and air conditioners are usually only used for a fraction of the year and the rest of the time they serve as unsightly additions to our décor. Here are a few ideas ideas for hiding or disguising the offending boxes and we want to hear your tips as well.Hide it in plain sight: We love how the thermostat blends perfectly into Chancie’s family photo wall (image 1).

Here’s another way to save energy this winter: try using a portable space heater to heat just the room you’re in, and turn down the thermostat in the other rooms of your house. The New York Times recently tested 10 portable space heaters. Here are the Top 5:Shown above the jump, from left to right:Holmes Ultra Quiet Ceramic Heater ($82.99): At 15-inches high, this model from Holmes produced the hottest air and took only about 20 minutes to warm up the room by 10 degrees.

Name: Tracey and JasonLocation: San FranciscoSize: 1,700 square feet total (1,200 SF main floor, 500 SF bottom floor)Years lived in: It’s complicated (see below). Tracey, a graphic designer, and Jason, a software engineer, bought their 100+ year old home about 5 years ago with plans to renovate it on their own. After some demolition with the help of friends, they realized the job was bigger than anticipated so they enlisted the help of professionals.

Q: After a few months in my new house, it’s time to figure out what sort of window treatment will work with my front windows. There are three of them, and they each swing in. Adding to this challenge, though, is the little fireplace nook and its ceiling. Any ideas on how to cover up these windows so no one can see in at night, but so we can also open them when the warmer weather returns?Sent by CaitiEditor: Caiti- great windows!

I’m currently a neighbor trying to stay sane through the dust, noise, and toxic fumes coming from next door. Having recently finished renovating a house of my own, I also know how it feels to be the one causing the headaches. But unless you plan on moving out for the duration, there’s not much of an alternative than to just make the best of it.Here are a few tips to make sure your neighbors are still neighborly when you throw your housewarming party.

Moving is often a bittersweet experience that can stir a lot of emotions. On one end, you are embracing change and trying something new and on the other, you are packing up a period of time. For many of people, the moving process is a chance to go through one’s collected home life and hold solo-debates about the value and worth of an object. Here are some tips to consider to get you through this process when moving. 1) Schedule your move in phases and over time.

Q: I purchased a complete set of crib bedding that came with crib sheets, a small comforter, changing table covers, crib skirt, diaper stacker, valance, and bumpers. I never used the crib bumper, and I don’t intend to use it, ever. So what do I do with it? I can sew and I’m pretty crafty. I I want to get it out of my closet (my son is a year and a half old now), but don’t want to throw out that coordinating fabric (even if it is a long skinny piece). Any creative ideas?