Apartment Therapy Archive: Sep 2010

Matt & Zack’s Masculine Mid-Century Home

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!

Kristen Lubbe

Sep 30, 2010

Who Eats A Better Lunch: You Or A French 3-Year-Old?

(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

Carrie McBride

Sep 30, 2010

Mixing and Matching Cloth Napkins

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

Cambria Bold

Sep 30, 2010

Dave’s Comfortably Eclectic Home

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.

Jason Loper

Sep 29, 2010

What Do Those Microwave Settings Actually Do?

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.

Taryn Williford

Sep 29, 2010

Vintage Kitchen Tools: Useful and Beautiful

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

Cambria Bold

Sep 29, 2010

Kassandra & Jon’s Vintage Live-Work Home

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.

Molly Anderson

Sep 28, 2010

Discounted Furniture: How To Score Great Deals

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.

Abby Stone

Sep 28, 2010

Forget Kindling: Start Fires With Orange Peels

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!

Cambria Bold

Sep 28, 2010

Temporary Window Screens: Inexpensive & DIY

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!

Sarah Rae Smith

Sep 27, 2010

Best Celebrity Chef Cookware

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.

Sarah Coffey

Sep 27, 2010

How To Turn Old Paperbacks into Custom Hardbacks

(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.

Katie Steuernagle

Sep 24, 2010

Pong’s Punch of Color Pad

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.

Kristen Lubbe

Sep 23, 2010

Andrew & Kathleen’s Inspired Home

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.

Lilias Petit-Scott

Sep 22, 2010

Product Review: The Freezer Compost Bin from Fuccillo

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

Cambria Bold

Sep 22, 2010

An Eclectic Room for Rylie

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.

Katie Steuernagle

Sep 21, 2010

Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

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.

Guerrin Gardner and Mat Sanders

Sep 20, 2010

Shanan & Chris’s Rustic Glam Rowhouse

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.

Abby Cook

Sep 20, 2010

Compact Kitchen Appliances: 12 Smart Sources

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.

Sarah Coffey

Sep 20, 2010

Etsy Finds: 10 Handmade Tabletop Accessories

Last week we shared 10 of our favorite kitchen finds, and now we move into the dining room with these ceramic, metal, and fabric tabletop accessories. Handmade by sellers on Etsy, these would certainly add a little warmth and elegance to the table! • Read the full post at Re-Nest

Cambria Bold

Sep 20, 2010

Techy & Minimal Refrigerators from Dacor & Rangemaster

For most kitchens, the fridge is really important. It’s a massive appliance that people immediately notice. It’s also very convenient to have a great fridge, so that you can access your food easily and add a touch of luxury to your kitchen. • Read the full post at Unplggd

Faith Durand

Sep 17, 2010

Ideas for Keeping Track of the Dishwasher

Little is worse than dropping a messy plate into a dishwasher load of (previously) clean dishes. You either have to waste water and money running the whole load again, or admit your lesser kitchen cleanliness standards and use those dirty-by-association dishes. Next time, save yourself the trouble and leave some—any!—reminder of what lies beneath the

Faith Durand

Sep 16, 2010

Kerri & Luke’s “Bang for Your Buck” Bungalow

Name: Kerri & LukeLocation: Lakewood — Dallas, TexasSize: 1,400 square feetYears lived in: 8 months — rented Amidst the historic neighborhoods tucked away in east Dallas, Kerri and Luke have embraced their early 20th century home in a space that continues the tradition of southern hospitality updated for their 21st century guests. All at minimal cost.

Micki Howl

Sep 15, 2010

Quick Tip: Try Crayons On Dry Erase Boards

Although dry erase boards are rather handy tools, we have one problem — the markers. They’re smelly, expensive and easily get lost in sofa cushions. Well good news, you can ditch them all together and use crayons instead. No really!There are a few companies that have caught onto this idea and have started marketing specific products to those parents who would like to give the idea a go.

Sarah Rae Smith

Sep 15, 2010

Lunchbox Roundup

School has started for almost everyone and parents are facing another year of packing nutritious and tasty school lunches. To get things off on the right foot, we’ve rounded up our five favorite lunchboxes that parents and kids can both appreciate. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh

Faith Durand

Sep 15, 2010

Showtime House 2010

What: Showtime House 2010Location: Midtown — New York, New YorkSize: 3 Penthouse apartments in Cassa Hotel & Residences, Benefiting: Harlem Children’s Zone Showhouses are a bizarre animal — and the third Showtime House is no exception. Pulling inspiration from 7 Showtime original series, the designers mix high-concept and high-design into themed rooms for the public to tour.

Aaron Able

Sep 13, 2010

Thinking Outside the Box: Grundtal Kitchen Rails

Yesterday, I stopped by a friend’s new apartment to see what she’d done with the place. Of course, she’d already made the expected run to IKEA. What was less expected was the ways she’d come up with to use IKEA’s Grundtal towel rails. • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy

Faith Durand

Sep 10, 2010

PequeOliva: Olive Oil for Youngsters

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Olive oil — designed specially for kids. That’s the idea behind PequeOliva. When I was at the Fancy Food Show in New York last spring, I met a representative from the Spanish company producing PequeOliva, an olive oil formulated specially for children. So of course I asked him why — why

Carrie McBride

Sep 9, 2010

Is This Normal? Standing Water Left in the Dishwasher

Faith Durand

Sep 9, 2010

Sharon & Chris’ Monochrome Wonder

Name: Sharon, Chris, Julian and Larry (the dog)Location: Greenwich VillageSize: 1080 square foot 2-bedroom coopYears lived in: 1 Sharon is a fashion designer and her husband Chris is a developer and contractor. So, she wanted to go for a completely individualized look and he wanted to ensure re-sale potential. The result is great bones, and solid materials, with the most gorgeous and romantic flourishes.

Jill Slater

Sep 8, 2010

Tips for Storing an Air Conditioner

During this post-Labor Day week, I can sense autumn creeping into the picture. While I’m sad to see summer come to a close, there is one advantage to the impending change of season. It will soon be time to remove the air conditioners and reclaim the windows! Here are a few tips for storing an air conditioner in the off season: After removing your air conditioner, take the time to clean it before you stick it in storage. Remove the filter and clean it in warm, soapy water.

Jason Loper

Sep 8, 2010

Make Your Own Clouds

We spent a fair chunk of Labor Day weekend lazily stretched out on picnic blankets, engaged in imaginative cloud gazing with our son. There’s a hedgehog, a Lego guy, a banana. But yesterday we were in the mood for some more, and not a single patch of condensed water vapor to be seen. So we did the next best thing – we fashioned our own to hang indoors. They took literally minutes to put together, and the effect was surprisingly transporting.

Ben Partridge

Sep 8, 2010

Avoid These 8 Common Dishwasher Mistakes

Life lessons happen less frequently as you get older. After years of getting to know the ins and outs of the world, you find you’re a pro at life—navigating your once-foreign city with ease and troubleshooting the office coffee maker. Yeah, yeah. But you’re probably still loading the dishwasher wrong. Sorry. Don’t feel bad. There’s a reason these are 8 common dishwasher mistakes.

Taryn Williford

Sep 8, 2010

Beautiful Handcrafted Brooms

Broom making may be a dwindling art, but it’s not dead yet. In fact, it seems to be flourishing in some corners of the country and around the world, where craftspeople are still creating beautiful, functional sweepers using natural materials like broom corn, sassafras, sorghum, and bamboo. Here are a few artful brooms and broom

Faith Durand

Sep 8, 2010

Use an Altoids Sours Tin to Create a Mini BBQ Grill

With the days remaining hot, the time for BBQs and camping trips is far from over. This nifty little project takes something that we love — the humble Altoids tin — and upcycles it. • Read the full post at Unplggd

Faith Durand

Sep 7, 2010

Tim’s Classic Chicago Two-Flat

Name: Tim LallyLocation: North Center — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1,250 square feetYears lived in: 15 years — owned Knowing that Tim is a landscape designer, I had a hunch he would have beautiful outdoor spaces. And, of course, I was correct. What I didn’t know is that inside his home would be just as beautiful and tasteful as outside. Tim’s apartment has the typical layout of a classic Chicago two-flat.

Jason Loper

Sep 3, 2010

Before & After: Chi’s Childhood Room

Designer: Jen ChuClient: ChiLocation: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, New York My friend, Chi, grew up in this room. She moved out for college, and when she came back, the room seemed to need a face lift more than ever. The dingy paint with the poor lighting made the room unbearably drab. The lack of storage made it impossible to maintain a tidy space. Fortunately, her room had great bones with plenty of wall space and nice hardwood floors.

Aaron Able

Sep 3, 2010

Measuring Up: Tablet Size Comparisons

If you were following tech news yesterday, you likely noticed a few notable announcements on the tablet front, with announcements of the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Toshiba Folio 100 widening the available options in the growing handheld computing category. But with all these models available and without the opportunity to hold them in your hand, how do you know which size is best for you?

Gregory Han

Sep 3, 2010

Is This Normal? Standing Water Left in the Dishwasher

One of our tips for “How to Know When to Replace Your Dishwasher” was to check that your dishwasher is draining properly by looking out for water leftover after it runs a cycle. But the truth is, not all standing water is a bad sign. After a few awesome commenters asked about their own water woes, we’re here to help set the record straight.How much water should there be?Anywhere around 1 cup of water leftover after a cycle is normal.

Taryn Williford

Sep 3, 2010

Patricia’s Downsized Digs

Name: Patricia CaldwellLocation: Los Feliz — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 2 months The idea of finding a new space, packing my stuff, and making it all fit somewhere else makes my head spin. But Patricia’s one-bedroom hideaway, nestled in the lovely Los Feliz area of Los Angeles makes me think again about the moving process. Three weeks is all it took Patricia to make an empty shell feel like a home.

Jeremy Guttman

Sep 1, 2010

Partner

How Much Paint Do You Need?

Great Valspar Resources for Painting:Online Color Tool: Explore Valspar’s wide variety of colors.Online Painter: Try out different colors in rooms and find your perfect paint.Apartments can vary so much in size, so knowing how much paint you’re going to need can be tricky. (There is a complicated math formula to help you determine exactly how much you’ll need, but a quick trick is to use Valspar’s Paint Calculator.