Apartment Therapy Archive: Dec 2010

Inspiration comes in all shapes in sizes, but at Apartment Therapy we have a special place in our hearts for the smallest of spaces and an extra special place for the impressive small spaces where all the living happens in one room! This year our community offered no shortage of inspiration in the form of creative studio apartments.

We love small spaces. We love them for their lower energy and heating bills and because they force us to edit, organize, and reduce our accumulation of stuff. But most of all, we love them because there seems to be no end to what you can do with them given some creative planning! Here are 25 of the top small space living posts we wrote this year.

Painting is the first “low expense, high impact” project most decorators recommend for home improvement, but lighting can make just as big a difference. It’s all too common to live with one ugly overhead fixture for years without realizing that a few well-placed lamps can make a home SO much more livable. If lighting is on your home’s shopping list, here are 20 places to look — from high-end stores to budget sources.

With the proliferation of online art galleries, novice collectors have more options now than they’ve ever had before. Independently owned art galleries and print shops offer editions for as little as $10 or $20 — or even original paintings in the low hundreds — and it’s easy to browse images without having to set foot in a brick and mortar space.

Name: Elizabeth and Daniel, Georgia the dog and Edmond the catLocation: Hampden — Baltimore, MarylandSize: 900 square feet (mostly in length, not width!)Years lived in: almost 2 We were first introduced to Elizabeth and Daniel’s home when they entered our Room for Color Contest back in October. It was such a visual treat we contacted them with hopes that they would allow us to peak into the rest of their digs.

Over 150 patterns and tutorials to make your own, adorable felt food.

If there was a single dream that every child (adult?) in America, dare we say the world has, it’s to become a Muppet. You can have favorite characters, but when it comes right down to it, you’ve always wondered what you’d look like Muppet-ized. You no longer have to wait, in fact, you can order a Muppet that looks like each and every family member. Above, we’ve Muppet-ized the boss lady, Carrie and isn’t she soooo cute?!For $99.

After yesterday’s tale of an oven-baked laptop, where a paranoid apartment dweller thought to stash his Mac in the oven to evade a potential burglar’s loot radar, we now know where not to hide our valuables. But the basic idea behind the plan is still smart: If you’re going to be away from home for a while, leave your expensive tech in unexpected places that burglars wouldn’t think to raid. Here are a few better ideas.Headed away for the holidays?

Name: Meg, Brad, & Kitties Björn & OliveLocation: Lakeview — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 900 square feetYears lived in: 3 months — rented We moved into this apartment only a few months ago with the determination to make it a home ASAP. Being a couple of students with jobs, we didn’t have much time but we had a lot of determination. Decorating on a student’s budget isn’t easy.

Name: Douglas and Felicia GreenfieldOccupation: Douglas, professor; Felicia, social workerLocation: Queen Village — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 1 Felicia and Douglas weren’t looking to buy a place when this light-filled condo became available in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, long before Felicia met Douglas, she had attended parties in this very space.

Names: Roman, Milo, LucaAges: 9, 5 and 2Location: Bel Air, CARoom size: 11′ x 12′ (roughly) With a two-bedroom house and three young boys to accomodate, Irwin Miller had to get creative. His innovative use of all the nooks, recesses and alcoves results in a comfortable, efficient room that gives all three brothers their own place as well as an inspiring shared space.

Name: Method Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner & Antibacterial Kitchen CleanerPrice: $3.99Rating: Recommend* We don’t usually buy household cleaning products, preferring instead to make our own for the kitchen and bathroom. However, of all the commercial products out there we have always liked Method, so we were curious to try their new Antibac line.

Have we sung the praises of IKEA enough? Its assemble-it-yourself minimalist Swedish furniture and decor lends itself perfectly to being put back together in creative ways. OK, so we should probably be singing the praises of the hackers who come up with this stuff, then share it to we all can follow. Just like this one: A sleek and breathable radiator cover from IKEA closet shoe racks.

Name: LauraLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 693 square feet — one bedroomYears lived in: 1 month While the Financial District can often seem dark and ominous — especially this time of year — Laura managed to foster a bright and uplifting aura in her home. The colors are cheerful. The design lines are crisp and meticulous. It’s a totally cute place!

No, we didn’t make the word up. “Techorating” was a catchy term coined back in 2008 by interior designer, Doug Wilson, as a concept for the emergence of integrating home technology and home decor in balance with one another.

Name: Rob and Barb Location: SoMa — San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 1 — owned For Rob and Barb, it was loft-love at first sight. After months of seeing places in their price range that made them cringe, they happened upon this light-filled gem. The only problem was the small army of other folks who felt the same way. After riding the emotional rollercoaster of a bidding war and a very slow moving bank, their offer was accepted Christmas week of 2009.

Name: Orna of Designs by Orna and Reid Willis with their daughter Nina and puppy EstherLocation: Northern Liberties — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 2,950 square feet — 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 6 — own Being an artist certainly gives you an advantage in the realm of design. Artists already have an eye for design and color, so it’s only natural for their homes to be large pieces of art.

“Eclectic” is a popular adjective in interior design parlance, meaning a decor that comprises heterogeneous elements — a mixture of textures, time periods, styles, trends, and colors. There is a fine line, however, between a beautifully eclectic room and a room that is merely haphazard and chaotic, with no unifying themes or motifs.These images capture eclectic decorating at its best.

Modern homemakers are taking their cues from 16th century abodes. In the medieval age, when straw was spread on the ground to trap the dirt and mud, tapestries were considered too fine to fine to stay on the floor and they were hung on walls and in doorways to help insulate drafty stone buildings. Today, hanging rugs and tapestries are popping up on walls as beautiful works of art.This method of decorating is a great way to add a worldly and bohemian look to a space.

Growing up I remember family and friends adding all sorts of things to their Christmas tree water. Some added crushed up Asprin, others a fizzy, sugary soda, even bleach and lemon juice. Does this really help? We’ve got answers!The long and the short of the question, “Should I add anything to my Christmas tree water?” is that you don’t have to. If you have hard water, you especially don’t have to.

This is a question that I get from a lot of friends and co-workers. Apple has got secrecy revolving around their hardware, and there is this belief from a lot of users that changing the RAM or the hard drive will void the warranty. The answer is no. You can change the RAM and change the hard drive without voiding your Apple Care warranty.

Last year after Christmas I tried to take two Dutch ovens with me on the plane in my carry-on suitcase. One had been a gift, and the other was a purchase, and I thought that putting them in my carry-on would be the safest way to transport them back to New York. This seemed like a good plan until I tried to go through security……where I discovered that Dutch ovens are considered potential weapons. “You could throw them at another passenger,” the TSA agent told me.

Who doesn’t love a good sale? I found a new excuse for procrastinating by spending my lunch hour shopping online. Private sale websites seem to be the latest trend in online shopping. I was already familiar with Gilt Groupe, but stumbled upon a few more sites while holiday shopping. Even Overstock.com joined the category of members only sites with their new website, Eziba. See a full list of private sale sites below the jump. Gilt Groupe: This is my favorite private sale website.

I was looking for treasures yesterday at The Antique & Artisan Center in Stamford, Connecticut when I came across the most unusual shower I’ve ever seen.Turns out the rib cage (or needle) shower was a luxurious bath fixture made of chrome in the early 20th century that featured such technological advances as lower shower sprays and a temperature gauge.

Name: Mimi Lettunich and her son Bennett Raymond Location: Portland Heights — Portland, OregonSize: 6,000 square feetYears lived in: 10 — owned The 1954 modern ranch home owned by Mimi Lettunich is the ultimate urban family lodge. She shares her home with her son Bennett and (part-time) with boyfriend Kris Wigger and his son Jaxen.

Believe it or not, we’ve had two straight days of snow here in Atlanta. OK, so it’s technically snow flurries. And nothing is really sticking to the ground. But still, with frozen water falling from the sky, we’re having to think about new things, like how to keep our laptop warm and dry on our walk to the metro station.Here’s a hint when searching for snow-proof laptop bags: They’re the same as waterproof laptop bags. Crazy, right?

Subscription gifts might seem a little dated, but there’s something really appealing about giving or receiving a gift that lasts beyond the holiday season. Plus, with the proliferation of online catalog companies, there are plenty of options now that are a little cooler than the old-school monthly fruit basket club. MicroBeerClub Beer clubs give connessiours a chance to mix things up and try brews they might not otherwise have tasted.

Name: Christina, Tom, Luca (7 years old), Amelia (3 years old) and Peaches the bulldog (7 months old)Location: Studio City — Los Angeles, CASize: Large 3 bedroom + 2 bathroom home. Years lived in: 2 years- rent Christina Malpero-Wheeler is a dear friend of interior designer Evan Harrison, who was featured in a a house tour last month. Christina and her adorable family reside in traditional American two story home, complete with a pool and guest house.

I love unique wall coverings. And this wall in Dolan’s office is certainly unique! Using screen printed Luan plywood and a brad gun, Dolan turned this otherwise bland wall into an eye catching focal point of the room.Dolan Geiman is known for his beautifully screen printed art and panel paintings — he calls it “contemporary art with a southern edge”.

If you don’t subscribe to the “every little bit counts” idea for saving money and living green, we suggest you turn away now. This tip is going to have such a small dent in your monthly hot water bills that it almost won’t seem worth it. In fact, we wouldn’t even suggest it to you—but it is so. incredibly. easy. to do.

Name: Alexis Tjian, Robert Madison, Stella, Virgil & ZitoLocation: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned As the Associate Photo Editor of Dwell Magazine, Alexis is no stranger to good design. Her husband Rob, a general contractor, is no stranger to making design a reality. This enviable combination is harmoniously displayed in their El Cerrito home, where authentic mid-century charm is enhanced by modern colors and textures.

Anyone even vaguely interested in interior decorating and design can’t help but be familiar with the mid-century modern aesthetic. Through vintage photos and movies from the era or through contemporary designs that play homage to the mid-century style, we have a pretty good idea what a 1950s home may have looked like. But authentic images of 1950s homes populated with real people are harder to come by on the Web.

With San Francisco’s skies becoming increasingly cloudy, I needed a little light & sparkle to last me throughout the winter. Fortunately, I just happened to have a strand of little white lights and yards & yards of mirror garland on hand…This is one of those serendipitous projects made entirely from materials lying already lying about the apartment. Why can’t they all be so easy?

I’ve always admired vintage makeup compacts, but found it rather sad that refills weren’t available and chalked these fancy little accessories up as a lost cause. Sure you could possibly use one as a fancy pill case or just use the built-in mirror, but it’s just not the same. Then, randomly, my friend forwards this “how to” my way!Vixen Vintage worked out the details on how to turn loose powder into a perfectly pressed cake, ready for a night on the town.

image:3217373e2e548c21cfbe57119baaadf60c448185 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" These are some of my favorite picks this year among holiday gifts for the botanically inclined. Some of them are profoundly impractical trinkets; others are implements your plant-and-flower-loving friends will use for years. There are gifts for those who just like to gaze at plants and flowers, and gifts for those who like to work with them, most under $100.

Have you ever left the house with a load of dishes soaping up in the dishwasher? Yeah, us too. We never though much of it until we read this news story today: A local Fire and Rescue Investigator is blaming a dishwasher as the cause of a majorly destructive house fire in Oregon.The Oregon homeowner whose kitchen was destroyed in the fire told investigators that he left the house with the dishwasher running.

I’ve been squirreling away ribbon from a young age. As soon as a present was unwrapped my mother would start twirling it around her fingers making a neat little loop that would hold its shape as it was tossed in the miscelaneous ribbon box to be used again later.Although larger pieces are easy to reuse as wrapping, how do you put to use the shorter, smaller pieces that might otherwise be considered trash? Here are a few ideas!1.

Name: Ira Rakatansky & Lenore GrayLocation: East Side — Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 4 bedroomsYears lived in: 52 — owned This tour is a rare treat — a peek into the home of modernist architect Ira Rakatanksy, who designed and built the house in 1958 and still lives there, more than half a century later. Incredibly, the space seems almost as modern now, both in structure and décor, as it must have over 50 years ago.

Name: Jan McCarthy and Jerry McCarthy Location: Eastern Columbia Building – Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1650 Square FeetYears lived in: 3 1/2 Years This lovely home belongs to the parents of one of my good friends. Jan and Jerry’s loft is in the Eastern Columbia building. The industrial building is one of my favorite loft spaces in downtown Los Angeles and is known for the Kelly Wearstler designs in the public areas.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) A departure from our regular food programming for one moment to indulge our childhood adoration of LEGOs. LEGO is reaching out to grown-up food-lovers right now with some seriously fun food-related sets. How about your own holiday bakery? Or a French-style city block complete with green grocer? Oh the fun we

Name: Jennifer, Andrew and Little One (our cat)Location: Paris, France (15th arrondissement) We moved to Paris from Philadelphia in March of this year and have found the journey to be an amazing one. However, one of our greatest hurdles was finding an apartment that would serve well as a home and office – and also have enough space for family and friends to visit.

Even though most people try to take time off work near the holidays, there are plenty of us that will be stuck at our desks come Christmas Eve. If you’ve already strung the lights on the tree, work on bringing some of that Christmas cheer to your desk.What makes desk decorations “techie”? Well, we’re not sure. But we know that USB-powered light strings and robotically enhanced snowmen fit the bill.

Our apartment building had a few false fire alarms this past weekend. Not one, not two—but three false alarms, the third of which happened early Monday morning at 1:30 AM. No, they weren’t running any awkwardly-timed fire drills or testing the system (we asked management). It was just a horrible technical mishap—and here’s how it paid out for us.Our apartment is wired up for safety.

Name: Kelly & GregLocation: Brooklyn — New York, NYSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 6 months — rented As a fashion blogger and photographer combo, Kelly and Greg have a special knack for revealing the glamourous in the unassuming. Behind the doors of their simple and sleek modern apartment lies a whimsical, elegant and diverse collection of finds that is telling of the couple’s adventures in taste-making. “You’re just in time!

Name: JanelleLocation: Southwest Waterfront — Washington, DCSize: 600 square feet — studioYears lived in: 11 months — owned Since Janelle’s studio was one of the finalists in this year’s Room For Color contest, I was expecting the vibrancy and the brave use of saturated hues. What I didn’t expect was that the same lively palette that wowed us in October was also capable of eliciting a soothing sense of calm.

Q: I have been pulling my hair out trying to find away to baby proof my 18-month-old son’s 8-drawer hemnes dresser. I’ve tried EVERYTHING and he still finds a way to slam his poor little fingers in the drawers. I know everyone loves these dressers for their nurseries so I hoping that someone will have an idea that I havent tried. Thank you!Sent by GwenEditor: Readers, have you encountered and conquered this problem with your Hemnes? Let Gwen know what you did in the comments!

You have to love a project that not only makes over a sad old chair but also reuses old coffee sacks. This creative re-use project not only features repurposed fabric but also looks great too! Check out the fantastic results after the jump.Many of you have seen similar chairs using grain sacks selling for a pretty penny, this step by step tutorial by Doesn’t Cost the Earth shows you how you can get the look for much less using organic coffee sacks.