Apartment Therapy Archive: Sep 2010

Name: Matt, Zack, Dexter the Wheaton Terrier and Parker the Miniature Retriever Location: Washington Square — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: 10 months We first got a look into the home of Matt and Zack during Small Cool 2010. Their home did so well that we knew a full House Tour would be much appreciated. There’s something for everyone in this home, so pay attention!

So, you’ve decided that having kids doesn’t mean giving up on style. You are determined that yours will not become one of those living rooms that look like a Fisher Price liquidation sale, dominated by Disney pink and Thomas the Tank Engine blue. But you also know that you don’t want your living room to be, well, un-livable. You refuse to live in fear of your precious, breakable coffee table (not to mention your toddler’s precious, breakable head).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) CBS Sunday Morning profiled school lunches at two public schools in France this past Sunday, and the results are somewhat mouth-watering. Lunches include five courses and such sophisticated fare as bouillabaisse and a daily cheese selection. Jealous? Read the full post at: The Kitchn

I grew up using cotton napkins, and my mom instituted a simple system to help us claim them and our spot at the dinner table: color coding. My napkin was purple, and I used it for at least a year or two before picking a new one. These days it seems there are even more

Name: Dave AlbinLocation: Logan Square — Chicago, IllinoisSize: just under 5,000 square feet — 4 floors, but only 2 bedroom & 3 bathsYears lived in: 15 — own Dave basically lives in the urban home of my dreams. Having turned a vintage two-flat into a single dwelling, Dave tricked out his home with every bell and whistle imaginable.

When i was in 7th grade I made a lamp from popsicle sticks. I loved that thing, but it doesn’t hold a candle (or um, bulb) to these pieces of wall art made from the same material. They’re big on style and small on price — what parent can resist that?The works above come from artist Nathalie Chikhi who does amazing (and giant!!) things with popsicle sticks and other mediums.

Chalkboard walls are not only functional and fun for a kitchen, but can also be used in a home office, a dining room, and a kid’s room. As much as I love technology and managing my calendars and to-do lists electronically, I do still enjoy the nostalgia of school chalkboards and writing out my lists. Recently, I visited a friend who used the chalkboard wall in her office to write out her list of tasks for the day.

We can install our own surround sound and hack wires to do what we need, but somehow, the microwave still eludes us. Yes, our microwave has a “beverage” button. No, we don’t know exactly what it does. Instead of living life in the dark, we wanted to find out exactly what all those crazy microwave settings are designed to do.If you’re equally confused by your own microwave, the first step is going to be reading the manual.

We love vintage kitchen tools. Not only do they work well and look great, but they help us reduce our use of electric appliances in the kitchen. Check out a few of favorite tools below the jump, including an industrial butcher meat cleaver, a vintage sifter, and a vintage Park Sherman kitchen scale… • Read

Name: Kassandra & Jon Sommerville along with Edgar (Boston Terrier), Jigsaw (Jack Russel) and Rico Suave (Papillon)Location: Concordia Neighborhood — Portland, OregonSize: 1250 square feetYears lived in: 2 — owned Jon and Kassandra have done an amazing job making their 1950s Portland home comfortable and efficient without giving up panache. They’ve converted one area of the house into a salon where Kassandra cuts hair and styles her clients to perfection.

I’ve been thinking about buying a new couch— but good furniture is expensive! Especially the big pieces — i.e. the things you need the most: a couch, a rug or two, a credenza, a table. Even chairs can get pricey. I visited my sofas at Crate & Barrel for many many months, saving up for them, before I purchased them. One of the writers over on Casa Sugar did too. But she parlayed those visits into a deep discount! Wanna learn how she did it?Her big secret? Buy the floor model.

With the first day of Fall officially under our belts, there are some parts of the country that have seen rather low nighttime temperatures. We’re always ready to bid Summer farewell and welcome Fall (and all that goes with it) with open arms. Time to light the first fire in the fireplace? If so, turn to citrus peels instead of kindling!

Name: Russell Brown, acupuncturist & owner of Poke Acupuncture, John Arsenault, fine art & commercial photographer & John Ruggiero, hair stylist Location: Hollywood — Los Angeles, California Size: 2,500 square feet — 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths Years lived in: 6 months You asked and we delivered. Russell Brown’s Poke Acupuncture post intrigued a few readers who wanted an inside look into Russell’s personal residence.

Name: Jen & Omar; 2 cats, Dillon & WillLocation: Grandview — Columbus, OhioSize: 650 square feetYears lived in: 3 months — rented It’s hard to believe, but a few short months ago, this apartment in the Columbus suburb of Grandview was a bachelor pad.

image:470432eae96168053c0de758ce2daec82b2be1a4 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" As the economy continues to putter along, city dwellers are finding cheaper ways to live. While some have decided to move out of the city, others have decided to move below it. Once considered dark and undesirable, English basement apartments are now appealing to those who want to stay conveniently located in the city with a smaller budget.

Whether you call them toys, collectibles, or action figures, it can be challenging to display childhood (or adult!) collections in a grown up home. And, as evidenced during my time photographing House Tours, a lot of us are kids at heart. The subjects of these Apartment Therapy House Tours found a way to integrate their child-oriented collections into their adult homes. Josh and Emily grouped their sizable collection of vinyl toys as a display in their TV room.

For the last several months my husband and I have had fans in our windows at all times. We had a hard time getting any breeze in them, but because the fans were in place, we hadn’t had a problem with bugs and mosquitoes coming in. As the temperatures dropped this past weekend, we removed the fans and all sorts of creepy crawly and flying friends came in, so it was time for some screens! Off to the hardware store we went!

Celebrity chef cookware is semi-taboo territory for food writers (the cheese factor can be hard to ignore), but celebs can make good products. Bad HSN lines aside (I love Jamie Oliver, but his HSN collection is some of the junkiest stuff I’ve seen in a long time), some celebrity-endorsed products are worth checking out when you’re shopping for kitchen equipment.

Celebrity chef cookware is semi-taboo territory for food writers (the cheese factor can be hard to ignore), but celebs can make good products. Bad ‘Home Shopping Network’ lines aside (I love Jamie Oliver, but his HSN collection is some of the junkiest stuff I’ve seen in a long time), some celebrity-endorsed products are worth checking out when you’re shopping for kitchen equipment.

We all know that the IKEA Melltorp dining table really does make the best desk! Heck, we have two in our house — one in the kitchen and one in the office. Sad thing is, we use the one in the dining room more than the one in our office! So that got us thinking, dining rooms really do make great offices.• Ben’s Warm & Cozy Austin Apartment Ben embraces the ease and space saving magic of using a dining table as a desk.

(Welcome to New York Times readers! We’re republishing this project described in “Expanding the Creative Horizons of Your Printer” by Sonia Zjawinski – enjoy!) We love to integrate books into our decor, but does your child have favorite books that aren’t quite in display condition? Beat up paperbacks can easily be turned into custom hardbacks with some scrap cardboard, fabric, a gluestick, and an inkjet printer.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center aimed to capture a snapshot of the millennial generation—the young men and women born after 1980. Among the findings? Around 83 percent of those 18- to 29-year-olds sleep with their cell phones within reach. Some out-of-touch folks are claiming millennials are obsessed with communication, but we’ve got some other ideas why sleeping with a cell is so common.83 percent.

Name: Pong C. & Gatsby the dog.Location: Rittenhouse — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 568 square feetYears lived in: 2 years You may remember the Pong’s Restraint entry from this years Small Cool 2010. I just couldn’t resist paying his Rittenhouse digs a visit and I’m sure glad I did. There’s nothing more inspirational than a well decorated small space — restraint is key. Not only in restraint a key to the success of this space, there’s also color.

Clocks are a popular decorative accessory these days, but is anyone other than our President using old-fashioned grandfather clocks? The Oval Office grandfather clock (image 1), made around 1800 by prominent Boston furniture makers, has graced that august room since 1975, lending a kind of cozy gravitas to the space. But what exactly is a grandfather clock? Let’s take a look at the history of these clocks and the bizarre story behind their name.

Felt wall planters are everywhere these days. They provide an excellent way to add green to walls and small spaces, but if one wants to plant in multiple planters the cost be somewhat prohibitive. With a few modifications from the original, one can make a cost effective felt planter to add green to your outdoor space.Martha McQuade of Uniform Natural is an architect and clothing designer. Inspired by the ubiquitous Woolly Pocket, Martha decided to tackle her own felt planter.

I’ve been trying to cut back on my use of the clothes dryer. Clothes dryers not only use a lot of energy—the second highest energy consuming appliance after the refrigerator!—they’re also rough on fabrics. As an apartment dweller I don’t have the option of a clothesline (drats!) but I have found that I can cut some of my dryer use by ironing clothes straight out of the washing machine.

Hutches are weird things. They take up a great deal of space, and although they display your collectibles well, unless the vibe of the piece really fits your home, they feel monolithic and out of place. So when Brooke’s friend passed along a hutch from her Grandmother, she set out to make it her own and all we have to say is, “Wow!”Brooke over at The Crafting Chicks really did a bang up job on this transformation.

Whenever there’s a wave of support for new technology, it seems that there’s also plenty of vocal dissenters. People who argue that we’re losing something—from romanticism to our collective intelligence—by buying in to fancy gadgets. But since it’s easier for you to write (and more legible for your friends to read), is it ever OK to type out thank you notes? One etiquette expert weighs in.

Name: Andrew, Kathleen, and RubyLocation: Berkeley Hills — Berkeley, CaliforniaSize: 2,600 square feetYears lived in: 7 — owned It’s all about respect. It is, at least, for Kathleen and Andrew when it comes to decorating their 1947 mid-century modern home in the Berkeley Hills. When they first moved into the space they were perplexed by the layout of the home. The bedrooms were small and awkward and the living spaces were open and undefined.

Often times once we’ve gone to the trouble of buying flowers and arranging them in a beautiful vase, we’ll let them die there, becoming a different kind of bouquet. The only issue is that this can often mean that our vase has a residue left inside that can be hard to clean.The same goes for vintage glass containers we find in thrift stores that have residue or mineral deposits left behind. Here are our go-to ways for making them sparkle.1. Salt and Vinegar.

We’ve featured a lot of roof options, but sorting out which one is best for your home can be like reading Dr. Seuss: green roof, cool roof, metal roof, solar roof… Find out the differences, disadvantages and advantages of each option, and how they can help make your building more green, after the jump.

Old plaster walls, new strict landlord, dorm room rules — there are plenty of reasons you might need to hang framed artwork without the use of nails. What are some good ways to get the job done? Look no further than our smart commenters – the hive mind comes through once again!The Most Popular Reader Tip:• From lwarecki If the artwork isn’t too heavy, you could try 3M Command picture hanging strips. And they don’t damage the wall when removing!

When Unplggd asked What do You do With Old Product Boxes?, most of you answered that you like to keep ’em around—if your device is still under warranty. Then those seemingly useless empty boxes can save you a world of trouble when it comes time for repairs. But to save yourself from extra clutter, try this labeling technique.Manufacturers and retailers sometimes need you to ship your product back and forth for under-warranty repairs.

Q: I recently heard about solar hot-water heaters for the first time. Apparently they are more affordable than a traditional photovoltaic panel system for electricity. Can you give me more details about what these systems are, how they work, and how much they cost? Finally, is there anyone in my area doing installations?Sent by BetsyEditor: Here’s what our friends at Green Home Guide have to say:Answered by Paul Rosen, NorthBay Energy Services, Inc.

I’m a city dweller who lives in a 2nd floor apartment with no outdoor space or garden to call my own. While I have plans to start my own indoor worm composting system at some point, for now I drop my compost off at my weekly CSA pick-up, where it’s then given to my neighborhood

Furoshiki (“bath spread”) are a multi-use wonder. These traditional Japanese square cloths are a great way to bundle or wrap pretty much anything—gifts, food, babies—but their uses extend even beyond that. Here are 6 different ways you can use one cloth:1 Wrap a gift:2 Bundle a wine bottle or picnic lunch.3 Tie a scarf around your neck.4 Turn it into a daytime carry-all bag.5 Use it as a tablecloth.6 Hang it on your wall.

As we all know, choosing the right furniture is more than falling in love with its initial beauty. The style and construction of the furniture has to last many years, so considering the distinct details and quality of construction of a particular piece is a good way to help seal the deal and a little pro guidance never hurts.I met up with furniture designer Reagan Hayes at Fashionphile to view a few of her pieces. She also gave me a few tips for finding the perfect furniture piece.

image:157ca1e2b01664601887bcdd7a26dd2bb09bd3bc w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" I’ve been compiling a list of the best new wine racks for the past two years, and this year I thought I’d do something a little different and highlight vintage designs (in addition to an expanded list of new and easily available racks).

Old picture frames are abundant in thrift stores, flea markets, church sales and garage sales, and they can be a wonderful money-saving resource for the green-minded art collector. Picture framing is something that we all try to get just right, and while a good framer can help you find the perfect fit, it can be quite costly compared to refurbishing a fabulous piece that might otherwise go to waste. Here are a few tips on what to look for, what to avoid, and ways to fix damage.

Name: Rylie Beverly Scott, 7 weeks oldLocation: Los Angeles, CARoom Size: 12′ x 14′ Liz Scott is a Los Angeles based fabric designer, so it only makes sense that the nursery she created for her daughter, Rylie, is brimming with gorgeous, colorful prints on chairs, banners, and bedding. The beauty is certainly in the details in this space. From handmade plush animals to sweet vignettes carefully arranged on vintage wall shelves, Rylie’s nursery is a breezy mix of old and new.

Just like a charcoal water filter, charcoal briquettes can be used to absorb moisture and remove odor from the air in your home. You may know that you can use charcoal to remove fridge odors, but they also work in other rooms. We’ve found them particularly helpful for “old apartment smell” if you’re in an old building or moist smells in basement-level units.As for how to distribute them, you can simply lay a few out in a metal tray.

Name: Ernest HemingwayLocation: Key West, FloridaSize: 3,000 square feetYears lived in: 30 years (1931 – 1961) Nestled in a thick jungle of tropical foliage near Florida’s southern most point stands Ernest Hemingway’s Key West Home. Still situated on the original acre of property, the Spanish Colonial house is where Hemingway wrote some of his greatest works and showcased his many treasures acquired from his adventurous travels.

Name: Shanan and ChrisLocation: West Queen West — Toronto, CanadaSize: 2000 square feet + 400 square foot studio (building behind the house)Years lived in: 3 — owned Take one newly renovated, 3 bedroom semi-detached home up for sale in Toronto’s West Queen West neighborhood. Add Shanan, a graphic designer who recently returned to Toronto in search of a home and workspace for her company, Linseed Projects. Wait a few months.

If you’re a drummer who’s downsizing and turning his apartment into a studio, you’ll probably need to invest in some serious soundproofing solutions. But what about all of us regular folk who just want to block out the sound from a neighbor’s TV or the street below? Well, you don’t need to resort to gluing egg cartons to the wall. Everything from your furniture placement to your choice of rugs can help keep outside sounds out and inside sounds in.

One indispensable item in any space is a good mirror. Not only does one expand a small space and reflect light, but depending on what you choose, a mirror can add character and flavor to a room. Walking around the flea market this weekend I saw all types of mirrors — from venetian to mid century to rustic. Jump below for some great ways to incorporate a vintage mirror into your decor.1. French Flea.

Finding favorite pieces of art and photos is the easy part — it’s the exhaustive search for and the prohibitive price of frames that I could do without. For those of you who aren’t down with the idea of displaying art and photos outside the frame, take heart! Finding the perfect frame doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank.Any good thrift store lurker knows that the very best deals on frames are the second hand steals.

We took IKEA’s Tyglösa frames for a test run this past weekend and it proved to be an easy and inexpensive way to add color and character to one of our walls. As an added bonus, while stocking up on staples at the hardware store, we ran into a very helpful person who used to stretch canvases for a living. We followed her advice and it worked!1. First, find your crop. We happened to have a long continuous piece of fabric in which we could choose various crops.

While the average American home size may be shrinking, the trend towards big family-style kitchens seems to stay strong. It’s not always easy to find compact appliances, so in case you find yourself renovating a small kitchen and starved for helpful resources, here’s a good starter list.