Apartment Therapy Archive: Apr 2011

Name: Amy & David Butler Location: Granville, Ohio Size: 4,500 square feet – Post & Beam Modern Circa 1969 Years lived in: 8 Years What a wonderful treat! We’re thrilled to be able to share this peek inside the home and studio of textile designer, Amy Butler and her husband, David.

One of the things we love to talk about most is the act of bringing the outdoors in. It’s amazing how much warmth a simple plant can bring to a space — wait, what’s that? You don’t have a green thumb? Well it’s a good thing you don’t need one to be a terrarium owner then! Here’s 25 ways to try out your gardening skills with the least amount of maintenance and lots of tips and inspiration along the way.The idea of terrariums is simple.

With a little convincing, a close friend recently converted her tiny front room into a fabulous walk-in closet. Because of all the natural light it was also an ideal spot for a small vanity, but finding one the right size was nearly impossible. As luck would have it, an old side table and a little problem solving went a long way. See the perfectly pretty transformation here!The table was selected because of its diminutive scale, which was absolutely necessary in such a tight space.

When we entertain, it seems like a choreographed magic act as we pull all our extra seating out of hiding spots scattered around the apartment. We have folding chairs behind bookshelves, in the back of closets and tucked behind the couch. We entertain often and need several extra seats close at hand but space is a top priority so it is important that they can be folded up and discreetly stored when not in use.

A few days ago I accidentally cracked the back of my iPhone 4. For a piece of tech that I rely on and use multiple times a day, it’s no fun to use while sharp shards of glass are sticking out of it. Here are a few tips on what you can do if the back of your iPhone 4 breaks.Consider option#2 and replace the glass back with a metal replacement.The first thing to do as soon as your iPhone back breaks is to tape it down. A clear piece of packaging tape will work just fine.

Utility companies generally charge higher rates during peak hours, during the day when the load is highest with everyone awake and using their stuff. During off-peak hours at night the rates are quite a bit lower. Here are some tips to take advantages of the lower evening rates to save money on your utility bills!

Name: Jason, Meridith, and their two kids, Wylder and ArloLocation: Clinton, OklahomaSize: 3,000 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 When you think about the state of Oklahoma, hip loft living isn’t usually what comes to mind first. Well, this family isn’t exactly cookie-cutter and they’ve done some serious renovations to make their home top notch. Even though we’re in the middle of showcasing our smallest spaces, this one is anything but.

I am a firm believer that it doesn’t take much to add a little charm to your home or office. During my recent visit to Poke Acupuncture, I noticed that Russell had added tons of new decorations. My favorites were his DIY homemade book planters. Here is a step by step lesson on how to create them yourself.Russell talks with us about his inspiration behind creating these fun book planters:I first saw these in my favorite geniusly-designed clothing store, TheWarehouse in Echo Park.

As someone who has a tough time keeping indoor plants alive, I knew I would never use my antique plant stand for its intended purpose. Instead, it is used to hold an iron kettle (Image 10). Occasionally I shove some cut flowers in the kettle but that’s about as green as my plant stand gets. It seems I am not the only one who has found alternative uses for plant stands.

This small wall isn’t an eyesore, but it’s just kind of “there”. It’s between the bedrooms of Kimba’s sons and she decided to make it not just a place to display their art, but a space for creating art too. Check it out:It’s nothing terribly tricky or time-consuming, but what an impact!Kimba painted thrifted and craft store frames to provide visual cohesion and filled them with her boys’ artwork.

If you’re lucky enough to have a little outdoor space to compost then you might consider taking a look at this handmade 3-compartment bin. It was created by Michael Wood and Robyn Oxley and there are a few things that make this bin extra special. Take a look!The entire unit is 3’x9′ and has removeable slats up front for easy access to compost rotation and removal. Michael (who is better known as Tiny Meat) and Robyn obtained plans for this bad boy from Seattle Tilth.

Name: DanaLocation: Grant Park — Atlanta, Georgia We bought the house as a foreclosure in 2009. It had been vacant for over a year and severely neglected. Despite having no functioning toilet or shower, no working appliances, outdated electrical and no heating or air conditioning, we still fell in love with this historic home.

This project requires slightly more DIY skills than I have (I’m a fan of the ‘near enough is good enough’ approach to measuring), but it shows what’s achievable with some know-how and a lot of creative thinking.The rocker is the work of Måns Salomonsen who took a one week challenge to give an old piece of furniture a new designer life.

Sconces are the chameleons of small space lighting — they blend in anywhere, whether a bathroom, hallway, or bedroom. Here are 10 particularly compact and useful designs, from high-end Italian pieces to budget utility lighting. West Elm Their Flat Stock Single Sconce has a mirrored backing that reflects light, and it’s affordably priced at $59. There are double and triple versions as well. If you’re a renter, check out their non-hardwired Industrial Sconce, $79.

Name: Anna Bautista & AJ CalomayLocation: West LA/T-Lofts &mdash Los Angeles,CASize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 1 year — Own Anna and AJ have are the first residents in this brand new loft apartment. They have taken on the task of giving it a full makeover with new decor and furnishings, and the brains behind the operation is the interior design duo of Natalie Younger and Sayre Ziskin.

Name: Anil & ShannonLocation: New York CitySize: 655 square feetYears lived in: 5 years, owned How do you hide two bedrooms in a 655-square foot studio loft? With one Murphy bed in the living room and a second revealed by a sliding kitchen wall, which skims the floor on ceiling tracks. Moving a kitchen wall sounds daunting, but it’s actually quite simple. As seen in the photo above, just clear off the counter, scoot over the rolling kitchen table, and give it a tug.

This poor mirror. Naked as the day it rolled off the assembly line, with its exposed edges, cracked with age, right out there in plain daylight for all the world to see! Something must be done about this!Faced with naked, builder-grade mirrors in her bathroom, Amanda over at The Ivy Cottage Blog, did what any adventurous DIYer would do — she made frames for them!

One of the quandaries of living in a small space is finding room to store chairs for guests. Most people only need one or two seating surfaces in each room for day-to-day living. The only practical reason for owning more chairs is for entertaining, but it’s hard to justify devoting precious square footage for guest seating that rarely gets used. Still, it’s embarrassing to make friends sit on the floor when they visit.

With winter well behind us in most parts, it is once again time to stow away all those bulky blankets. Here is a dead simple tip on how to save loads of space with nothing but a vacuum, a garbage bag, and a rubber band!Bulky blankets, pillows, linens, clothing, you name it!Vacuum with a hoseGarbage bagRubber band 1.Fold the blanket, winter coat or whathaveyou. Stack several on top of each other if desired.2.Place the folded material into the garbage bag.3.

Summer’s right ahead, and with that come wasps building nests in every nook and cranny of home exteriors. There are lots of noxious products out there that claim to keep the wasps and other insects at bay, but did you know that a simple color can do the job?Light blue paint on porch ceilings isn’t just done out of Southern tradition. Apparently, the color also keeps wasps from building nests and spiders from weaving webs overhead.

Quick! You wake up late for work to find that your alarm clock is off. But the power… the power’s still on. What happened? Well, your trusty alarm clock (or phone) might just have been plugged into a less trusty outlet that refuses to grip onto anything plugged into it. Those loose plugs sometimes fall out completely with a possible fire hazard on your hands. When you plug something in that doesn’t feel quite snug, it’s probably the plug.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We’re sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today’s helpful hint, and links to tons more… Run PACKING TAPE along the edge of the carpet and let it lap up onto the baseboard about 1/4 inch. With a butter knife or a flat head screwdriver, push the top edge of the tape under the baseboard.

Q: Has anyone found any great alternate storage bins/baskets that work in Billy bookcases? I don’t love any of IKEA’s options, and it is proving a difficult thing to find the right dimensions. Does anyone have something that they’ve found that fits and looks fabulous?Sent by NatalieEditor: Leave your suggestions for Natalie in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

Name: Danielle, Derek, and sonLocation: Somerville, MassachusettsSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 10 (Derek), 8 (Danielle) — own It’s such a refreshing pleasure to visit a home where people are living large in a smaller place, figuring out creative ways to maximize their space.

We did a double take when we first spotted our friend’s tablet. We knew she had gotten a Nook Color, so there was nothing strange seeing her reading from it. But when she started scrolling through her menu, feeding the fish in her live theme mini Android robots, and launched Angry Birds, we knew this was not your stock model Nook.Since our friend Kaitlin is a lovely human she was happy to let us in on how her Nook Color was transformed into an Android tablet.

We’re powering along during our celebration of small spaces this month. For those of us who can’t get enough of the topic, here’s a group of posts from our archives presenting a nice round number (100!) of ideas and inspirations. These are time-tested, proven-popular posts that are sure to have something for everyone… dig in, dive deep and bookmark for the best results!

Cool season vegetables like radishes and greens are completely underrated in my book. They grow well from seed, mature quickly, you can often harvest them at different stages and eat multiple parts of the plant. I gathered together a few of my very favorite spring vegetable varieties here, but I’m curious to know what you

Name: Jo-Anne Bichard & Howard PotterLocation: Deptford — SE LondonSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 9 — rented/owned: a bit of both — UK program of shared ownership This design anthropologist (Jo-Anne) and oncology nurse (Howard) have long lived in southeast London — from several years renting in New Cross to taking great advantage of shared ownership with this new build terrace house/millennium design in Deptford.

When I bought these mismatched flower pots at the end of the season last year, they were so hugely discounted that I purchased them without a plan for their use. After a long winter to ponder it, I finally pulled the pots out of storage, gave them a little makeover, and put them to use.It’s not that these pots were ugly to begin with, they just didn’t match anything in my house. Spray paint to the rescue!

When I moved into my brother, Matt’s newly purchased bungalow, I brought with me an heirloom farmhouse-style dining room table which just barely squeezed into the 9’x9′ dining space. Since the space exists in the corner of an open kitchen and living area, it was doable, but the traffic space was limited and storage non existent.

Utility companies generally charge higher rates during peak hours, during the day when the load is highest with everyone awake and using their stuff. During off-peak hours at night the rates are quite a bit lower. Here are some tips to take advantages of the lower evening rates to save money on your utility bills!Check out your bill or utility company’s website to find the posted rates for peak and off-peak hours.

Although parties in general don’t appear to cost a great deal on the surface, you can quickly $5 yourself to death. Try saving a few pennies with these options for table covers that you very well might already have in your own home!1. Sheets/Blankets: Sheets and blankets are the easiest place to start looking for inexpensive table coverings. Most homes have a set for every bed in the house and swiping something colorful, or even just white is an easy fix that doesn’t cost a cent.2.

We’re a month away from Memorial Day, the official start of BBQ season, and some of us might be thinking about buying a new grill. Beyond the well-worn charcoal versus gas debate, there are other considerations to take into account when shopping for an outdoor cooker — here’s a brief guide to help you find the best grill for you.

Name: Alex & Debra Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,406 square feet Years lived in: 4½ Living on the East Coast offers residents a choice in housing stock of homes built before the 1900s. Finding fluted columns on the exterior of a Greek revival home is commonplace, but finding the columns on the inside of the house was a surprise for Alex and Debra.

The other day we looked at a bunch of rooms that went unexpectedly without rugs or carpets, embracing a relaxed bare-floor look. Today let’s go in the opposite direction: what does it look like when one rug just isn’t enough. The most common look for layering rugs seems to be an animal hide (faux or no) over a sisal — this is probably the most neutral option. Other examples mix patterns and colors, sometimes creating a bohemian wonderland of textiles.

How many times have you moved in the last decade? According to 2010 US Census data, the number of Americans on the move is rising slightly. People who changed addresses went up from around 11 to 12 percent from 2008 to 2009. For those restless folks who go through lots of lifestyle changes, modular furniture can be a huge help, since it’s able to easily adapt from one location to another. Here are 10 of the best resources (some high, some low) for furniture that can change with you.

Name: NinaLocation: Islington — North London, United KingdomSize: 485 square feet (45 square meters)Years lived in: 1 — owned Nina’s one-bedroom Victorian flat and new sense of ownership are a long way (albeit nearby) from living in a tiny shared Brick Lane flat above a curry house back in 2002. While both places certainly had/have their own charms, the biggest shift is from little light and lots of noise to light-filled and sweet serenity.

Name: RexAge: 3 yearsLocation: Sandy, UtahRoom size: approximately 12′ x 12′If you are familiar with Cheri Heaton’s blog, I am Momma, Hear Me Roar, you will not be at all surprised that the cool superhero room she created for her son Rex was pretty much entirely DIY. While Cheri does get some help—her mother painted the wall hanging and her dad built the bed—we still can’t help but stand in awe of the adorable and fun room she’s created.

I’ve read before that bananas can polish silver, but I’d never actually tried it. That is, until this weekend, when my parents were cleaning out their basement and my mom stumbled across a creamer she thought I might like… • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy

Name: Sara & Jason and 3 furry children: Ash, Ronin, and KumaLocation: Kansas City, MissouriSize: 1,700 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned When it comes to displaying collections no one quite takes the job as seriously as the residents of this house. What started as a passion and a hobby of collecting vinyl toys and artwork from artists around the world has turned into a way of life for these folks in The Heartland.

My Mum has owned her mismatched set of reproduction Georgian dining chairs for just about 35 years. Over that time the seats have been recovered in all manner of fabrics, but until recently they retained a rather traditional air. A little white paint and a bright, bold fabric turn these chairs from formal to funky!First off, you probably noticed the after shot does not feature the exact same chair, but as mentioned, the dining set in question contain chairs of the same era with slight variation.

For movie or music aficionados it can be difficult living in a condo or apartment. There’s a fine balance between the volume you prefer versus pissing off your neighbors (or even facing hefty fines). On the flip side it’s never fun trying to sleep or enjoy your home when your neighbors are listening to heavy metal or stomping around in high heels. So how do you know if it’s you or your neighbor that’s the noisy one?

Jenny Lind cribs and beds are a classic in children’s rooms (even modern ones) and we’ve seen a host of them on Apartment Therapy. Jenny Lind is often mistaken to be a company or a brand, but it’s neither. It’s simply a style of furniture distinguished by turned posts or what we call spindles. So, just who was Jenny Lind and why is our furniture still named after her?

The life of a musician is rough. I mean, the groupies and the travel sounds awesome. But storing all of that big, heavy & expensive gear when you get home? That’s rough. We can only hope that your next world tour takes you through an IKEA-equipped city. That way, you’ll be able to try out this IKEA-hacked portable guitar amp storage.Using a small, 4-unit Expedit shelf, one enterprising IKEA Hacker created this rolling guitar amp storage unit.All you need? An Expedit bookcase ($39.

When Theresa and her family first bought their home it had been unused for a long time. But with the sweat off their brows, some thoughtful budget spends, and some clever DIYs they are turning their unused house into a gorgeous home. Here’s a peek at how they handled the kitchen. • Read the full

When Theresa and her family first bought their home it had been unused for a long time. But with the sweat off their brows, some thoughtful budget spends, and some clever DIYs they are turning their unused house into a gorgeous home. Here’s a peek at how they handled the kitchen.

You’ve probably seen a lot of before and afters by now where you can sort of predict what the after might look like. A coat of paint or some new knobs might be what you’re expecting for this dresser.It’s a squid! You weren’t expecting that, were you? Well, maybe the title gave it away a little.

As American-made furniture gets more press coverage, some reports are showing an increase in demand. While American craftsmanship has long been associated with traditional styles (like Shaker and Colonial) we also have a history of modern design and production. Here are 10 sources to check for mod and contemporary home furnishings.