Apartment Therapy Archive: Feb 2011

Name: Risa Boyer Leritz, Nick Leritz, their 3-year-old daughter Harper, and two catsLocation: Alameda — Portland, OregonSize: 1720 square feetYears lived in: 2.5 — ownedThe process of buying a house is already tough on the nerves, let alone going into escrow on a serious fixer-upper — sight unseen — in a city almost 1,000 miles away from home.

Name: Sherry Joniff-Solomon and Dana Solomon — Owners of 22 Bond St.Location: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feet (main house) + 300 square feet (pool house)Years lived in: 10 Months My favorite interior design inspirations are homes that have creative solutions for limited space. With under 1,500 square feet and a baby on the way, Sherry and Dana were on the fast track to renovate their new home.

When I posted How To Make a Block Print Rug Using a Welcome Mat, I promised a full reveal of my den’s before and after, and while ideally there are a few tweaks I’d still like to make, here it is. Since our budget was virtually non-existent — as in free— everything in it was borrowed from another room, salvaged, handmade, or secondhand.Ideally, we’d like to redo the addition where this room is housed.

Craigslist finds are what I live for. And this cowhide was one heck of a bargain. Except that the smaller ends keep curling up and I trip over them. I tried taping them down to the floor, I tried rearranging the cowhide so that the curling bits were under the sofa. Until I found out the easiest way to tame a curling cowhide.What You NeedMaterials:Cowhide2 rags (for absorbing water)pile of heavy booksspray bottlewater Instructions1. Lightly spray the top and underneath of the cowhide with water.

Do you tend to bring home project pieces from the thrift shop simply because you can’t pass up a good deal? We must be related. I adopt pieces of furniture even if I don’t have space for them. When I saw this unloved little ottoman, I knew I had to bring it home. See how this ottoman went from sad to glad after the jump!A close-up of the ottoman before it’s overhaul.Supplies:1 Old Ottoman-$151 Can of Spray Primer-$2.991 Can of Sunburst Yellow Spray Paint -$3.

It’s been raining buckets throughout much of the Midwest for the better part of the weekend and it seems as though my galoshes have never seen so much use! Although I’ve previously mentioned using a baking sheet as a quick boot tray, check out this DIY that all started as a scrap pile of used fence posts!

Re-Nest reader Abigail recently sent us her super thrifty sofa upgrade: A hand-me-down from her parents, she’s been living with the sofa for 3 years trying to disguise it with a floral slipcover and lots of pillows.

During the last year, we focused mainly on fixing up the inside of our house. But 2011 is all about the outside, and we got to work before the holidays so we could eat out of our first food-producing garden come early spring. So far, so good. Take a look!We’re grateful that we have a lot of real estate to work with. Our first raised bed (the one pictured here) is four feet wide, eight feet long, and a foot and a half deep. It needed a cubic yard of dirt to fill it up!

Jarret and Catherine of Bungalow Bungahigh had a classic renovation story play out when rehabbing the kitchen in their Chicago home. What could go wrong, did, and the job took much longer than initially expected. But, I’m sure you’ll agree the results are worth it — just check out the after:Here’s the story from Jarrett and Catherine: We bought our 1931 Chicago bungalow knowing that we’d have to do one major renovation project: the kitchen!

As we head into spring cleaning and organizing season, a pantry organization project might be on your to-do list. If you number among those planning to clean out the pantry and get it into working order, here are some of our favorite sources for simple, streamlined food storage.

So you’re on a high from last night’s Oscars and finally ready to set up a proper home theater, huh movie buff? Well, you’ll need more than a projector and comfy chairs. It’s a common misconception: You can’t just aim your projector at a bare white wall and drool over your $1,800 projector’s stellar picture. To get the best viewing experience in your home theater, follow these tips for painting a projection wall. Paint it proper.

Katherine sent us in photos and floorplans of the update of her West Loop loft. This is a hardworking condo — it is home to a (new) family of three and during the day also accommodates two employees as a live/work space…..and the After!Here is Katherine’s info on the update: We had to overcome a dated warehouse conversion of a beautiful masonry and timber loft building. Views were compromised by the fireplace and tv alcove dividing the kitchen and living area.

Okay, so here’s the skinny. A friend of ours told us that she r e a l l y w a n t e d one of these for her and her husband, but they were pricey, so they built one. Then we opened the Times and read about a couple that ordered “The Sex Chair”. You can read it here, The Plain, Unmarked Box Arrived, buy you might just want to save yourself the time and cut to the chase… The sex chair is actually two chairs.

Add a textural element to your décor and protect your furniture at the same time. These organic shapes look beautiful when stacked together. They come from the branches of trees like birch, pine, olive wood, dogwood and English yew. As a nice bonus, children love playing with them. They will entertain your littlest guests for

Name: Angelique Hoffman & Dan, + 3 young daughters + fluffy dogLocation: Myersville, MarylandSize: 2,500 square feet —4 bedrooms, 2½ bathsYears lived in: almost 4 Some homes are lessons in compromise — Angelique’s is a lesson in harmony.

It’s ok, go ahead and laugh… and then get your mind out of the gutter. But if rare, unusual statement plants cause your heart to flutter, then the Platycerium is for you. This tutorial will show you how to mount your stag to a piece of wood, then properly care for your new living art! Like orchids, the staghorn fern (Platycerium) is an epiphyte, which means they do not require soil to grow but attach to and gain nutrients from other plants, while not harming the host plant.

In cities that have an IKEA, their furniture is found in many homes. While there’s nothing wrong with this affordable option, that doesn’t mean your pieces have to look like those everywhere else in your city. Check out what these BESTA cabinets after Kris was through with them! Kristina Klarin isn’t one for plain and boring. She is all about making a splash with color and these cabinets were slightly lack luster before she got a hold of them.

Name: SebastianAge: 19 monthsLocation: Brooklyn, NYRoom size: approximately 150 sq. ft. With a boutique baby planner and concierge service behind its conception, this minimalist, white nursery was born out of a love for great design and a desire to blend seamlessly kids’ and adult decor.

I found a page from an old book all about creating vegetable dyes! The author and source are unknown, but the dyes are absolutely gorgeous! These are not just beet juice dyes, they are made to last and come from plants you might find in your own backyard or out on a nature walk. Let’s start with dyeing wool, since according to this vegetable dye elder, that is the easiest material to work with, before graduating to silk, linens, and cottons.

George Nelson’s Bubble lamps are familiar icons of Modernism. Somehow evocative of both paper lanterns and the space race, they have a warm simplicity that is always in style. The story behind their creation is best told in the words of George Nelson himself. Nelson designed the first bubble lamp in 1947, incorporating a self-webbing plastic that was developed for military use.

With the recent purchase of a Vornado humidifier, I was surprised to notice that the company’s excellent products are engineered and made in Andover, Kansas. That’s just 150 miles from my home.

I’m sure you are all aware of the Great Dishwasher Debate, always a delightful topic after a dinner party. Many would contend that a well loaded, eco-friendly dishwasher saves water over doing your dishes by hand. But this creates a problem for our 2 person household: by the time our dishwasher is well loaded with rinsed dishes it STINKS. We just don’t make enough dishes to run it often enough to avoid the smell. So, how often do you run your dishwasher?

As Apartment Therapy reader LilyC commented on Good Questions: Deep Sofa for Tall Folks?, “comfort is in the rear of the beholder.” My sentiments exactly.Your height and the length of your legs matter, as does the amount of, ahem, padding you have on your backside. For some, a comfortable couch is one that you sink into, a place where lounging evolves easily into sleeping. For others, a comfortable couch is one with a bit of structure and support.

Q: Do I need an indoor air quality test? How much will it cost? My family has been suffering from a series of respiratory illnesses since September. Our doctors suggest it might be allergies. I have never suffered from allergies in this way! My husband and I have lived in our house for 10 years and we completed a major remodel 5 years ago……We painted our dining room with Benjamin Moore Natura paint in November, but that is the only home improvement we’ve done in the last year.

Mirrored backsplashes, a dingy drop-ceiling, handcut trailing grape borders, sponge-painted wallpaper, and pickled cabinets? A cringe-worthy combination that Matt was dying to change. Check out how a little elbow grease, a lot of paint, and some handy friends transformed this 1990s traditional kitchen into a transitional space ready for 2011. • Read the full post

Name: Author Mary Roach & Graphic Designer/Illustrator Ed RachlesLocation: Glenview — Oakland, CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 7 — owned Mary Roach’s best-selling books, like Stiff and Packing for Mars, invite readers to unusual places such as morgues, labs, and outer space. In her books, Mary reveals the science (and humor) behind dead bodies, sex, and errr…other funky stuff.

Name: Marie Muscardini & Nick Silberman + Siena & Rocco Location: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 2 — owned Who said that lightning can’t strike twice? Welcome back to El Cerrito, California! Nestled in the hills of the East Bay, El Cerrito sits northwest of Berkeley and is an increasingly favored destination for young families. Marie and Nick were no exception, moving into this 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch to make space for their growing brood.

The washer/dryer hookup in our apartment is perfectly located right off the kitchen and close to the dining room, where we do all the laundry folding. Since this is our first apartment with laundry inside the unit, we’re quite happy to have it so centrally located. Although the location of our little laundry closet may be nearly perfect, the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. Those louvered bi-fold doors have got to go!

Making over an area like the bathroom can seem like a small project. At first it feels as though only a few things will need refreshing or changing out — but often once things get started it seems as though everything must go. In this bathroom highlighted on This Old House, everything received a makeover from hardware and fixtures to lighting and paint — all for $439!

Dimmer switches are great, not only do they provide opportunity for mood lighting and ambiance, but also save money due to reduced power usage. Almost all the lights in my home are on a dimmer switch, except for the bedrooms, where we’d actually like to have them the most.

Peter and Molly’s light-flooded West Village studio was perfect for the two of them plus Hugo, their dog. But when they were preparing for a new baby, they successfully reorganized the space and added a sliding door, creating a comfortable and calm one-bedroom. Initially, Peter and Molly used the larger area for their bed, a comfy chair and storage.

Sorting waste can be a real challenge in a small kitchen. First there’s your basic trash, then there’s recycling (co-mingled if you’re lucky) and compost. Like most people, we didn’t want to give up precious floor space for these bins, so we came up with a semi-custom and affordable solution.

Name: PaulLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 350 square feetYears lived in: 2½ — rented Making the most of a tiny studio apartment, Paul creates a luxurious and inviting living space befitting of his motto to “decorate like your clothes and dress like your bed.

Do you know what kind of looks you get when you go to the hardware store and tell the clerk you want to DIY a sliding door? When they point in the direction of “Doors & Windows,” you know it’s time to take matters into your own hands. I needed a door for a lofted space above our living room, and wanted the sliding effect. However, since it was a temporary solution, its construction needed to be simple and easy to do.

Take a good look at the lovely things in the photos of this NYC home. What if I told you they were the handiwork of two young roommates, created on the cheap, in the middle of their rented apartment, with the use of ONE (and only one) power tool, a drill? Impressive? Yes! Welcome to Jeremy and Ralph’s House of DIY …The Project: Handmade Reclaimed Wood Dining TableThe Materials: Church floor joists from Build it Green NYC, legs from IKEA.

Jarrett and Catherine of Bungalow Bungahigh have tackled DIY projects that make mere mortals shy away, like rehabbing an outdated basement bathroom on a super tight budget. They got creative with their choice of materials and were able to get a whole new look for under $200 – $158 to be exact……and the After!Here is what Jarrett and Catherine tell us about the project: We recently rehabbed our tired basement bathroom.

If you have a hard time living in a space sans color and tend to paint every place you live, you’ve likely encountered the damaging effects of bubbling paint. I have and as they appeared on Monday, I thought to myself, I should have known better! Luckily I was only painting test swatches on the wall, but there they were: those irritating little air bubbles behind the paint. What they are and how to avoid them? Read on.What are paint bubbles?

This is the tiny guest room at the end of the hallway in my house. It started off as an ugly room with paneling and a paint job that was old and worn. It sorely needed a new coat of paint, and since I didn’t love the room to begin with, I felt brave enough to do something bold:The room is seriously small – it really only fits a full size bed. Remembering that small rooms really can go dark, I took the plunge.

It’s been a while since I purchased a chopping board and it seems like I missed a few developments in the great ‘plastic vs. wood’ chopping board debate. There are some new contenders in the fight for food preparation supremacy, but we’re still asking the same old questions: Which is best for me, my environment and my food?1. Hard Wood They seemed out of favor for a while but wooden chopping boards are enjoying a resurgence.

Last spring, when my husband and I bought our first house, we hadn’t painted a full wall between the two of us. That changed within about two days of us getting our keys. We soon learned that the greenest (and most budget-friendly) trick in the book is to work with what you’ve got—so click through to see how our kitchen has progressed from dark and dated to light and lovely on a dime.

This hallway closet needs some serious assistance! Being the only closet in our apartment other than our bedroom closet, I need to utilize every inch of space here. And, as you can see in this before photo, there is all sorts of wasted space that can be reclaimed with a little reorganization.When we moved into this apartment, the hallway closet was set up as seen in the “before” photo above — a few high shelves positioned over the clothes bar with wasted space underneath.

As anyone who’s ever tried doing some DIY projects at home, you’ll know that a lot of the products that you use improving your home—glues, paints, varnishes—can be somewhat toxic. Are there better alternatives? In some cases, definitely. Read on for more after the jump.

Name: Erin Feher – Associate Editor of California Home+Design and Danny Montoya – Kindergarten Teacher and DJ Location: San Francisco, California — Civic Center Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years I stumbled upon Erin’s home in a California Home+Design feature on entertaining in small spaces. With only 500 square feet, I was really impressed that they could pull off a dinner party for more than 20 guests in such a small space.

When I was growing up, this glass door bookcase lived in the home of an elderly neighbor housing a collection of beautiful hardcover books. My sister and I always considered Miss Matthews a surrogate grandmother, and I was delighted to inherit this and some other furniture pieces when she passed away a few years ago. Though this bookcase wouldn’t work in my library, I knew it would be perfect to house my DVD collection.

In a really complicated survey (using a little technique we like to call “walking down our street”), we’ve discovered that the most common place people put motion-sensing lights to use is outside, near their entryway. Lighting the walk to your door without wasting any energy is a great use for turn-on-when-you-get-close lighting, but we have a few other places inside your home that could get in motion with motion-detecting lighting.They’re not just for outside anymore.

The ubiquitous pine tree air freshener. Call it what you will: kitsch, cute, ghastly. One thing it isn’t is natural. So, if you like the look of the staid and true conifer (or want to get creative and make your own design), have we got the tutorial for you.Kristina Hoglund at ReadyMade has put together this clever DIY for making your own organic air freshener that will put all those service station pine trees to shame.

image:7066557cf185bf6938ae8e8da12fde914b8fba88 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" Sorting waste can be a real challenge in a small kitchen. First there’s your basic trash, then there’s recycling (co-mingled if you’re lucky) and compost. Like most people, we didn’t want to give up precious floor space for these bins, so we came up with a semi-custom and affordable solution.

Name: John WorsekLocation: Wicker Park — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1500 square feetYears lived in: 10 — Owned I photographed John’s house a few days after the blizzard, when side streets were still impassable and beat-up chairs sat in what few parking spaces were available. Five seconds after walking in his Wicker Park duplex, I’d completely forgotten about the weather.