Apartment Therapy Archive: Apr 2010

Name: Kristen James and Mike Dunn (with our two dachshunds, Conan and Gaudi)Location: Lakewood, CA Size: 815 SF Years lived in: 4 ½ When Kristen and Mike bought their 50’s era ‘stucco box’ what they saw was a whole lot of potential. Keeping a strict eye on their budget, they maximized their 815 square foot home by keeping rooms light and airy, adding a kit house in back for office space and planting an entire backyard oasis fit for Frank Sinatra himself.

As we close out our Small Spaces & Simple Living month here on Re-Nest, we’re rounding up a list of tips and ideas provided by YOU via this post. Everyone has a bit of a different take on coping with small spaces: it’s all about purging your stuff. No, it’s all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it’s all about storing your stuff!

Olive oil–based soaps? Check. Organic-cotton bath towels? You wouldn’t dare wrap your bod in anything else. But as city dwellers know all too well, a small bathroom takes on the personality of the biggest item in it—and most often, that’s the shower curtain. The options below the jump promise to make your bathing routine all the kinder to Mother Earth.Shown above the jump, from left to right:1. Sonny side up! The Sonny Shower Curtain by Vita Futura ($29.

Location: West VillageSize: 300 square feet studioYears lived in: 3 He knew he wanted sleek lines, a floor with character, a few white walls for his art, and as much open space as a 300 square foot floor plan could provide. Lastly, the owner likes to cook but was non-negotiable on a kitchen that encroached on his living space — at all!So, the architects and the contractor worked very hard to make use of every square inch that wasn’t active floor area.

Having lived in many tiny and studio apartments, we know all too well the discomfort and awkwardness that can exist when one’s bed is way too close to the kitchen. Though it’s not the ideal layout, we have some tips on how you can deal with this too close for comfort situation.Keep it clean (inside and out) : Don’t let your eating and cooking space get dirty when your sleeping space is so nearby.

Since the debut of the new Method Laundry pump bottle, we’ve been fans. Not just because it’s green, takes up less space or even because it truly cleans our clothes. We…have a crush on the pump. It doesn’t leak, drip or dribble but best of all, you can use it time and time again.Although we’re anxiously awaiting the release of the same detergent in bulk so we can refill our own containers, you can remove the lid and add your own detergent to the bottle.

SMEG (which stands for Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastall − obviously) is an Italian manufacturer who have been making household appliances since 1948. And where as they make a number of quality products, they’re best known for their retro style fridges available in a range of flashy colors, including a special Union Jack edition. • Read

Name: Rene & JerryLocation: Jamaica Plain, MassachusettsSize: 3200 square feetYears lived in: Almost 4 If a house can have good karma, this Victorian Mansard’s got it. Before the current owners, Rene and Jerry, bought this beautiful Jamaica Plain home, the previous owners made a bold and rare move. They skillfully returned this glorious single family home, which had been chopped into three units over years, back into the cohesive single family home that it longed to be.

Name: Aaron TullerLocation: Portland, ORSize: 1100 sq ft.Years lived in: almost 2 Aaron is co-owner of one of our favorite online sources of independent and handmade goods, buyolympia.com. When they relocated to Portland a couple of years ago he took the opportunity to pare down his belongings to the essentials and move into this minimal loft.

Anna of Door Sixteen‘s beautiful white floors When we were researching the idea of installing white floors as part of our kitchen renovation, we couldn’t find an honest report on what it was like living with them. Are they a nightmare to keep clean or is it much the same as a darker coloured floor? Are damages more noticeable? Someone please just give us an opinion other than “they’re pretty!”.

It’s one thing to pare down your belongings and live simply and compactly in a small space of your choosing if you’re just one or two people; it’s quite another thing when you have a family to contend with. As one reader asked us, “How do you simplify? How do you figure out what you need? How do you get a spouse/child on board to simplify? How do you make a small space that has to have stuff in it feel open and inviting?

This is my fifth Best of list for this category, and it’s the biggest. The good news is that sofa beds are getting A LOT more comfortable and the options are much better at multiple price points. The list also reflects a great deal more intelligence because Aaron’s been going to showrooms and testing a lot of sofa beds. Take a look at my list, but don’t miss the comments on the past lists as well. There’s a lot more meat on the bone where the comments are living.

Everyone we know is trying to reduce their energy consumption. If it’s not for the sake of the environment, it’s for the sake of their ever-increasing utility bills. Unplugging “vampire” devices that are known to suck energy even when they’re turned off (we’re looking at you, plasma TVs) and choosing energy-efficient appliances are good ways to save some cash.

Name: Jeff & Delia (marthastalwart.wordpress.com and marketstoreshoppe.com)Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,400 square feetTime lived in: 4 months Los Angeles transplants Jeff and Delia would not settle for a standard New York-sized apartment, so they had to think outside of the box in order to find the spread they craved. Instead of your typical third story walk-up, the couple rented an industrial garage previously used as studio space and turned it into home.

Name: Nick, Bryan & Otto, aka Blend StudiosLocation: Milwaukee, WisconsinSize: 1,350 square feetYears lived in: 1 When you consider how much time we spend at work – it makes sense that we want to love our work space. If you’re lucky enough to be entrepreneur and in charge of your own studio, that’s exactly what you can do.

Okay, before we begin this post, we have to admit that we’re (way too often) suckers for marketing and that Crate & Barrel’s Petrie Sofa had a hold on us initially just because of the name. As fans of the Dick Van Dyke show, anything named after Rob and Laura Petrie was bound to grab our attention.

Cast iron rocks—it’s durable enough to last over generations, and it’s one of the few things you can buy for your home that improves with age. When you’re shopping for cast iron, prices can vary widely and there are a few key issues to consider. Here’s our guide to help you figure out what type is right for you.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) In our younger years, we spent almost every night of the week at the local concert hall photographing bands as they came through town. It was a fantastic job and we built a killer t-shirt collection along the way, but one can only own so many t-shirts before they consume your

Name: Pilgrim Lee Location: Melbourne, Australia Years lived in: 3 years, rented While many people would have fought against the original elements of this 1970s home, Pilgrim embraced it with wide open arms. Her love of the late 60s/early 70s fits in perfectly the with house; brightly pattered soft furnishing compliment the amazing original scalloped carpet and the wide variety of artworks throughout are enhanced by huge windows and an abundance of vintage light fittings.

Over on Ohdeedoh today a reader posed an interesting question about how to babyproof your television. No, we’re not talking about protecting your boob tube from the accidental crayon mishap, but rather, how to keep your 42-inch behemoth from toppling over and squashing your 10 lbs. child… or your childlike husband.

We’re huge fans of dark wood floors paired with white walls. It’s not only a great way to help a small space look larger, but the white walls also help art and accent furniture stand out &mdash you can’t beat a great pop of color. Here’s a roundup of white walls & dark floors to help inspire you!The dramatic color combination adds drama and somewhat of a rustic vibe to the space. Of course, dramatic and rustic spaces can be dressed to be whatever you want them to be!

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams are at the top of our list when it comes to well constructed, timeless furniture. Having put several of their pieces to the test in the past, we can vouch for their durability and fine craftsmanship. They’re perfect for large and small spaces alike and we’re here to show you a few of our favorites (as you can see, we have a thing for blue sofas).Furniture isn’t a light undertaking.

Name: Sebastian & SarahLocation: Noordhoek — Cape Town, South AfricaSize: 2,360 square feet homeYears lived in: 2 (unrenovated) and 1 (as you see it) Meeting Sarah and Sebastian in their wonderfully colorful home was a breath of fresh air — a home where you instantly fall in love with the building and its inhabitants. It’s inviting and interesting without overwhelming your senses — casual chic at its best!

You’ve bought a new HDTV for the home office or bedroom, only to discover there isn’t a spare outlet nearby to place the set in an ideal space. Or you’re in the kitchen and realize your 1920’s apartment was designed with a single outlet to handle the plethora of appliances of modern living.

SMEG (which stands for Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastall − obviously) is an Italian manufacturer who have been making household appliances since 1948. And where as they make a number of quality products, they’re best known for their retro style fridges available in a range of flashy colors, including a special Union Jack edition.Some people might choose a SMEG because of its clean lines and minimalist style, but they’re quite practical too.

Name: Tiffany and Jaan OrvetLocation: San Francisco, CASize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 2 years Tiffany met her Swedish husband Jaan while working abroad in the UK. While they now call San Francisco home, they’ve brought a bit of Jaan’s home country into their flat (Tiffany also runs From Sthlm so that you can as well).

image:ad981ba1825d4da969dee45ba0fae463af14e92a w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" When I posted a couple of weeks ago about hiding laundry in a small apartment, many of you agreed with my husband that keeping my laundry in the bathtub was a bizarre habit.

The onset of spring weather always makes me want to pack up my plain white dishes and break out plates adorned with petals. A botanical print plate can set the tone for a dinner party or picnic all on its own, with very little other decoration needed. We’ve gathered up some favorites and compiled a

In a small space storage is almost always at a premium and before you know it, it can get filled up with an extra quilt, clothes you never wear and that lamp you haven’t figured out how to work into the living room. But the truth is that the more you can fit behind closed doors, the more space you gain out in the open.• 1. Use the Kitchen Cupboards.

Q: I just recently purchased a king size west elm 2×2 bed frame. When I finally put it together, I could see that the pine slats and the outside frame were different heights (the pine slats sit about 1″ lower). When I placed my mattress down, I noticed that there is a gap lengthwise where the mattress is shorter than the bed and you can see the pine slats (see photo below).

Imagine getting ready to curl up inside your humble and comfy little abode. You’ve popped in a DVD and made your way to the kitchen to gather up some delicious treats and crack open a frosty brew. But when you sit down with your grub, you find yourself sitting through what seems like endless and unskippable movie previews and piracy warnings—what a buzzkill. If only you knew the remote-control trick that works on nearly every DVD Player (Hint: It’s not the menu button.

We’ve never really been the type to walk into a furniture store and point to an office desk and say, “That one!” We’re more of the salvaged, thrifted or repurposed type and although that badge of honor carries a green footprint it can mean there’s a chance our finds having a little wiggle or jiggle to their stance. Over the years, we’ve become pros at leveling out shaky surfaces and we’ve learned much along the way.

We are always on the lookout for interesting lighting ideas because lighting is such an often overlooked opportunity to personalize a space. We love this idea from Country Living not only because it adds such a bright pop but also because it involves the creative reuse of an ordinary kitchen bowl. These lovely pendant lights are inexpensive and simple to make- the perfect project for any intrepid DIYer!

Spring’s been officially here for a while, and now’s the time when many people deep clean their homes. If you’re tackling the kitchen, it helps to have good supplies on hand. Here are some of our favorite sources for smart cleaning tools.

We often sing the praises of Ikea’s Expedit bookcase (which we described as a workhorse) because the cube shelving has such excellent storage potential…but then what? Books and larger toys can fly solo, but you’ll likely want to use storage bins for kids’ clothes, shoes and toys. Jump below to find ten options to fit your Expedit. The interior dimension of each Expedit cube is (a smidge over) 13″ wide, (a smidge over) 13″ high and 15.25″ deep.

Small spaces = less cleaning. It’s one of the best benefits of living in a tiny apartment. The only problem is that living small also means less storage space, so you want to streamline your cleaning supplies into a kit that can be easily stowed in a kitchen cabinet or closet.Here’s our basic checklist for everything you need to keep your tiny home clean… Broom, Dustpan, and Mop: These are the basic tools of floor cleaning. We use a small interlocking broom and dustpan.

We’ve had a folding drying rack for a few years, and it’s falling apart. Somewhere down the line it lost a few screws, and it’s really wobbly now. Hang too many clothes on it and it topples over! So we like this suggestion for installing a wall-mounted clothes rack, courtesy of Chez Larsson. It’s also a great way to make use of an awkward corner, or a bit of empty space that doesn’t fit any furniture.

What happens when you dress up two 46-inch plasma HDTVs and make them appear as actual windows? A $2,500 virtual window, of course.

In honor of the Small Cool 2010 Contest, let’s look at the work of the Milanese designer Cesare “Joe” Colombo (1930-1971), whose designs took efficiency to new, futuristic levels, while conveying a space-age sexiness that still appeals today.Beginning in the 1960s, Colombo experimented with new materials like plastics to create the “environment of the future.

Name: Ivonne CasasLocation: Williamsburg, BrooklynSize: 1,800 square feet — now, 450 square feetYears lived in: 13 years Rent or Own: Rent Ivonne’s South Williamsburg loft lives in infamy. In 2008 the building was suddenly evacuated by the fire department citing “imminent danger” due to broken standpipes and a basement full of matzo wheat which could combust at any moment.

There is storage to be had even in the smallest of bedrooms. Building up is one of the easiest ways to get the extra space you need to stash away your belongings, and although they might take a little getting used to, they’re perfect for pint size places. See which one works for you!Our friends over at Instructables have been busy coming up with ways to combine your sleep spot with a little storage.

Oh, how we pine for the room to have a full recycling station at home! Imagine it: three full-size bins, clearly labeled for recycling, showcased in the pantry, ever ready for a Martha Stewart-inspired photo shoot. But alas, we’re stuck with a little bit of pantry room and some under-the-sink space. We’re betting a lot of you are in the same boat. Here are our favorite small-space recycling station tips and tricks.

Having lived in all sorts of different types of housing over the years, we can count on one hand the number of times we’ve actually had a closet that was able to hold everything. In small spaces it can become even trickier as closets become valuable spaces such as pantries, home offices and more. So in honor of thinking outside the box, here are 5 places to store your clothes that aren’t in your closet!1.

Q: I have a full size IKEA Malm Bed. I love the look of low bedframes, but have trouble storing anything under the bed since it only has a 5″ clearance underneath. It seems like I can only find 6″ ones. Are there any underbed storage containers that are less than 5″? Sent by Stephanie Editor: Please share your suggestions, sources and ideas with Stephanie in the comments below – thanks! • Got a question?

How many times have you been shopping, seen something beautiful, or cool or cute or on sale, snatched it up, and then later realized you didn’t really love or need it? Learning to shop conscientiously, or not at all, is liberating, better for the environment, and essential if you live in a small space. Here are some of the things we’ve learned on our own journey. Shop with a goal.

Maxwell started Apartment Therapy here in New York. Lots of folks in this city were in need of design solutions tailored for their specific small-home challenges. Here, let’s take a look at some successful small homes from this capital of tiny apartment living:Most of these are from previous Apartment Therapy house tours, which are brimming with small home solutions that lots of us can take inspiration from. The homes’ locations vary from Brooklyn Heights to Chelsea.

Since it’s small spaces month, we wanted to feature a modern take on the lowly beanbag chair: a piece of furniture that is versatile and comfy, something that can do triple duty as an ottoman, a seat and a coffee table and something that doesn’t have to remind you of your dorm room or childhood rec room plus you can diy a simple version yourself.Yes, the lowly beanbag chair.

When we think of room dividers, we usually imagine screens, shelves, or some other kind of vertical partition, but horizontal planes can just as effectively define “rooms” within a larger space. Without creating a physical barrier, rugs help to separate living rooms from dining rooms, foyers from halls, and bedrooms from open spaces.The photos above all demonstrate how the scale of a rug impacts the way space is viewed.