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Apartment Therapy Archive
2011
January

Apartment Therapy Archive: Jan 2011

How to Choose and Place the Perfect Ceiling Fan
If you’ve ever been told that installing a ceiling fan is a great way to keep cooling costs down, you ought to keep that friend close because they’re exactly right. But if you buy the wrong size ceiling fan, or install it too close to the ceiling or walls, you could be counteracting all of the good work your fan should do for you.SizeThe size of a fan probably has the most effect on how well it cools down your room.
Taryn Williford
Jan 31, 2011
Guide to Clay Cookware: Best Sources
Clay cookware might seem delicate, but like cast iron, it can go from stovetop to oven to table. Unglazed clay can also be seasoned to retain flavors, and since clay is more porous than iron, it’s better at retaining moisture.
Sarah Coffey
Jan 31, 2011
Warren & Mimi’s Highly Personal Architectural Home
Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin Location: Los Feliz, CaliforniaSize: 3600 Square FeetYears lived in: 4 years When I visit an architect’s home, I sometimes find it to be an untouchable piece of art. However, Warren and Mimi’s lovely home was very welcoming and showed signs of life and children really enjoying the space. I asked Warren how he kept the twin babies from not pulling all the books off the shelves or trying to climb the library ladder.
Marcia Prentice
Jan 28, 2011
Pam & Bryan’s Comfortably Creative Family Home
Name: Pam, Bryan, their sons, Sawyer and Zane, and dog, ShaynaLocation: Arlington, Virginia (Clarendon)Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathroomsYears lived in: almost 11, owned Pam is an intuitive decorator. Rather than adhering to any strict design principles or striving for complete cohesion, she’s designed each room with elements that she and her family love regardless of whether the spaces have a strong stylistic connection to each other.
Leah Moss
Jan 27, 2011
Joel & McKenzie’s Salvaged Live/Work Loft
Name: Joel & McKenzie Taplin, and their 14-month-old daughter GereLocation: Monohasset Mill — Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 2,700 square feetYears lived in: 11 — rented, then owned One of over 30 live/work spaces in the Monohasset Mill building on Providence’s West Side, Joel & McKenzie’s loft evokes a feeling of cozy farmhouse minimalism despite its expansive size.
Sarah Rainwater
Jan 26, 2011
Kristen and Mike’s Mid-Century Oasis
Who lives here: Kristen James and Mike Dunn and their dogs Gaudi and ConanLocation: Lakewood, CASize: 3 bedrooms 2 bathroom house (1,305 Square Feet)Years lived in: 6 years — own Kristen and Mike bought their home 6 years ago, with a keen sense of inspiration and design savvy that has flourished into fruition with their complete renovation and addition this past year.
Bethany Nauert
Jan 25, 2011
Before & After: Kitchen Reno on a Near Zero Budget
Late last year, Edgaroso shared his “Brave Bathroom Renovation” with Apartment Therapy. Well, he’s back with another room makeover in the small home he inherited from his grandmother — this time he tackled the sweetly retro kitchen on a truly miniscule budget.
Janel Laban
Jan 25, 2011
How To Keep Babies Busy While You Cook
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Let’s hope not by sitting them on the counter. But seriously, what is the best way to keep little ones occupied while you dice, sauté, and open oven doors? We’re talking kids who are too young to help out in the kitchen or sit quietly in front of a DVD in
Carrie McBride
Jan 25, 2011
Tip: Shine Stainless Steel With Flour
Usually when you’re talking about having flour all over your kitchen, it’s because your getting down with some baked goods, not cleaning! One of the simplest cleaning tips we’ve used time and time again is not only inexpensive, but chemical free and has yet to let us down! • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Faith Durand
Jan 25, 2011
Mandy & Michael’s Crafty Charm
Name: Michael & Mandy, author of the craft blog Fabric Paper GlueLocation: Arlington — VirginiaSize: 608 square feetYears lived in: 3 Mandy and Michael’s place is just like them, adorable. Both are Nashville transplants who came to the DC area for grad school and decided to stick around. Michael is a criminal defense lawyer and Mandy works as an analyst for Health and Human Services (HHS).
Susan Mitchell Blavin
Jan 24, 2011
Quick Tip: Clean Your Toilet With Kool-Aid
Although we’ve recently learned a very thorough way to clean your toilet, sometimes you’re looking for the easy way out. Who knew that method would turn us to the pantry and, more specifically, to Kool-Aid?We’ve mentioned in the past over at Unplggd that Lemon Kool-Aid is a great cleanser for your dishwasher, but we never really thought about using it in our toilet before.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jan 24, 2011
Inspiration: Washers & Dryers in the Kitchen
Not all apartments or houses have enough space for a separate laundry room. That’s where it can be a real luxury to have a washer and dryer or a combo unit in the kitchen. Here are a few examples for inspiration if this is a pairing you’ve been considering: • Read the full post at
Faith Durand
Jan 21, 2011
Savannah’s Sophisticated Studio Apartment
Name: Savannah Farris-GilbertLocation:West Hollywood — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: Studio apartment Years lived in: 1 — rent Savannah, a Graduate student in the Architecture-Interior Design program at UCLA is perfecting her love of Interior Decorating. I think it must be a craft she honed in on very early — as she told me her mother often helps her hunt for new pieces for her apartment.
Bethany Nauert
Jan 19, 2011
5 Tricks for Moving Furniture
That’s me. And that’s my credenza. which probably weighs in somewhere around 300 pounds, maybe more. I’m not kidding — it’s a monster. And I weigh about 105 wet. But I was able to move it from one end of the room to the other without breaking much of a sweat and without ending up in the hospital or with residual back pain. How’d I do it? I have a few tricks up my skinny arms.
Abby Stone
Jan 19, 2011
Lauren’s Collection of Stories
Name: Lauren YoungLocation: Lakeview — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1,500 square feetYears lived in: 10 — Owned When guests enter Lauren’s home, they always pause briefly in her gorgeous, richly-hued foyer. Not only to take off coats and say hello, but because the room — the only one in the apartment that’s not neutral — demands it of you.
Kathleen Luttschyn
Jan 18, 2011
The Best Way to Close Off Any Vent
Remember when we discussed whether or not it’s OK to close off air vents to unused rooms? The answer was that, yeah, it’s OK to do—in moderation. But do you know the most effective way to close off those air vents? Here’s a quick trick that will have your vent sealed up in no time—all you need to do is make a trip to the craft store.Think you need a screwdriver or super-tiny fingers to shut down your extra, extra bedroom for the winter? Nope.
Taryn Williford
Jan 18, 2011
Super Sprowtz Teaches Healthy Eating Habits
When we received an email from the folks over at Super Sprowtz we were a little taken aback. Not because Sprowtz was spelled funky, but because they claimed they wanted to do for food what Sesame Street did for literacy. Anyone who thinks they compare to Sesame Street better have some game and lucky for
Faith Durand
Jan 18, 2011
9 Ways to Organize Books: Which Is Your Style?
I’m not a particularly organized person … except when it comes to my bookshelves, which are arranged in a perfectly logical, consistent way (although it’s logical only to myself). If you have a sizable book collection, it’s worth taking the time to organize them so that you can find whatever you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at some of the best methods to choose from.
Anna Hoffman
Jan 14, 2011
Space Saving Laundry Drying Racks
image:6868e07a0e2e70070567da3ba55ec1bb834e3dc7 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" Whether you dislike using the dryer for environmental reasons or simply have a wardrobe full of “lay flat to dry” labels, finding easy ways to dry clothes in a small apartment can be extremely challenging.
Colleen Quinn
Jan 12, 2011
Organization Inspiration: Neat & Beautiful Kitchens
Keeping the kitchen tidy enhances its function, appearance, and cleanliness – all important factors in this busy room of the home. However, with heavy use, it can sometimes seem a burden to keep the kitchen in tip-top shape if a good organizational system is not in place. Here are some tidy inspirations to get your
Faith Durand
Jan 12, 2011
Repair Cracked China with Milk!
Unless you drop your china and it shatters into a million pieces (which is usually my luck), it probably only suffered a small crack from a fall or mishap. Instead of just waiting for the day it inevitably breaks for good, try giving it a milk bath. Yup, your china is getting a day at the spa!Curious about how it works? The idea is simple. You place your cracked piece in a pot and cover it with two cups of milk (or more if needed). Next, heat over low for an hour.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jan 10, 2011
Liv, Jeff and the Friendly Yeti Sharing a Home
Name: Liv and Jeff McMillan Location: Long Beach, California Size: 1644 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 Months Liv and Jeff are as fun and carefree as their artistic and handmade home. While Jeff finishes his painting in his studio, Liv is in her crafts room writing for her blog and hanging out with Friendly Yeti. Early this summer there will be a new little addition to the family and it isn’t a baby yeti.
Marcia Prentice
Jan 7, 2011
Kate & Mark’s Mission Statement
Name: Kate and Mark ShawLocation: The Mission — San Fransisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears owned: 6 Kate and Mark’s decor mission is simple: to steadily curate their space by adding and rearranging pieces in a way that ensures everything serves a purpose — even if only to celebrate favorite memories. Their collection is largely comprised of natural curiosities, handmade items, and found objects.
Beth Bates
Jan 7, 2011
A Trio of Hanging Beds For A Room Shared By Three
Names: Jeremiah, Samuel, and Augustine Ages: 6, 4, 2 Location: Texas Awhile back we featured a room that took all of us here at Ohdeedoh by surprise. Jaws were dropping, we were forwarding the link as fast as we could to friends and family — we were flat out amazed. We’ve since gone behind the scenes and today you can see more of this room filled with color, hanging bunk beds and the opportunity for extreme fun!
Sarah Rae Smith
Jan 7, 2011
Quick History: Checkerboard Floors
Black and white checkerboard floors first appear in European paintings in the 15th century, but the pattern’s origins lie long before that, in ancient artifacts from Iranian ceramic vessels to Roman paved floors. Here is a quick look at the history of checkerboard floors.
Anna Hoffman
Jan 6, 2011
The Japanese T-Shirt Folding Technique
Maybe it’s post traumatic stress from my days working at the Gap when I was 16, but to this day I still obsess over my t-shirts looking perfectly merchandised on my closet shelf. Luckily, I recently discovered the Japanese folding technique, which creates a perfect fold in mere seconds. Next step is to add a little magician’s flair so I can give that guy who’s always juggling his socks at the laundromat a run for his money.
Mat Sanders
Jan 6, 2011
A New Greenpoint Project by Purekitchen
We have such respect for Purekitchen, a Williamsburg company that has done local green kitchens since 2004. They operate with a strong focus on the safety of the natural environment, the people who fabricate their products, and the customers who are the ultimate end-users, all while creating the most functional and aesthetically-pleasing kitchens we’ve seen
Faith Durand
Jan 6, 2011
Nan and Michael’s Craftsman Flat
Name: Nan Lawson and Michael JonathanLocation: Silverlake — Los Angeles, CASize: 1 bedroom flat, on the bottom floor of a converted craftsman style homeYears lived in: 1 year and 7 months — rent Last month I randomly stumbled upon the website of Nan Lawson. I was instantly attracted to and amused by her drawings and sketches. She has a knack for simplifying a genre of hipster cool in her prints, which she sells on Etsy.
Bethany Nauert
Jan 5, 2011
Jacquelyn Opts for Opulence
Name: JacquelynLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 712 square feet — one bedroomYears lived in: 1 month Jacquelyn’s goal for the design of this apartment was to infuse it with glamour — a home and a “life filled with beautiful objects, imbued with femininity and opulence.
Jill Slater
Jan 5, 2011
Making Your Own Baby Food: Teja Keeps it Healthy & Fun
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) During a recent visit with my old pal Teja and her darling ten-month-old, I was amazed and delighted at the foods she prepared for her little one. I just so happened to taste a little bit of baby’s breakfast: persimmon, pear, rice and cardamom puree, and I had to pause, narrow
Carrie McBride
Jan 5, 2011
What Do You Display on Your Kitchen Countertop?
In my own kitchen I have cereal boxes, a microwave, juicer, banana stand, a plant, and a container with fruit and snacks on my countertop. Some of the items serve more utilitarian purposes, while the fruit and plant adds color and texture. The kitchen can really give insight into someone’s personal style or lifestyle. •
Faith Durand
Jan 5, 2011
Jason & Denise’s Warm and Bright Ranch
Name: Jason, Denise, & OwenLocation: Midway Hollow — Dallas, TexasSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 4 years — owned Denise and Jason’s 1952 ranch style home is an excellent testament to resisting the tear-down movement now common in the surrounding areas of Dallas. Rather than remodeling, they used basic design aesthetics to complement the 1950’s charm: clean white walls, pops of color, and no clutter.
Micki Howl
Jan 4, 2011
Before & After: Compact Kitchen Remodel
With only 75 square feet to work with these homeowners decided to go up with their renovation rather than out. Using bright colors and simple lines has transformed this room incredibly. Check out the beautiful before and after here. • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Faith Durand
Jan 4, 2011
Steve & Jeremy’s Contemporary Comfy Chic
Name: Steve, Jeremy and dogs Squirt, Elij, Leo & PogoLocation: Medical District — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 3,000 square feet single family homeYears lived in: 8 months — owned Most Apartment Therapy readers are champs when it comes to small space living. I’m continually impressed by the creativity and ingenuity that I find when shooting tours of extra teeny homes.
Smith Schwartz
Jan 3, 2011
The Best Closet Systems
A great solution to making the most out of any closet space is investing in a closet system that will carve out a spot for all your clothes and accessories.
Nicole Lund
Jan 3, 2011
Tiny Kitchens: Beauty & Function in a Small Space
One of the toughest hurdles of small-space living is creating a functional and beautiful kitchen with minimal square footage. Luckily the Apartment Therapy community is full of ideas and inspiration, all of which is scalable from teeny-tiny to just plain small. • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy
Faith Durand
Jan 3, 2011