Apartment Therapy Archive: May 2011

Hey electronics manufacturers, we’ve got some beef with you about all the LED lights you embed into every one of your designs these days. One bright light in a room is bad enough, but these days a home entertainment center can sometimes light up as bright as Times Square. Our own wireless HDMI receiver glows a distracting blue when turned on (it needs to be in line of sight of the transmitter, so it’s situated up front and center).

If you’ve ever experienced your TV randomly turning on in another room, you know it can be quite an unsettling feeling. You’ve likely asked yourself, how — and why — is my TV doing this? Is my home haunted by ghosts? Regardless of the reason, we can bet that you’re ready to put this weirdness behind you. And as always, we’re here for you. We’ve reached out to a few experts to determine why a TV turns on by itself, and what can be done about it.

Memorial Day is behind us, it’s officially gardening season, and we’re on the lookout for outdoor inspiration of all kinds. We’ve posted a couple of roundups of our favorite gardening blogs, but what we really want to know is… who do YOU read?To get the conversation going, here are a few blogs that we keep bookmarked for beautiful photos, great tips, and helpful how-to’s.

Remember when you were a kid how magical it was when the summer sun finally set at the end of the day and the fireflies came out and you never wanted to come inside even though your older sister told you your house was built on a graveyard and the zombies would come out at night? Well, here’s a super quick craft to help your kids feel a little bit of that magic. These fireflies are super easy to make. Just pop a flameless LED tealight into a plastic Easter egg.

You have probably seen the mason jar lights, but have you seen a mason jar used for a terrarium? I remember my mom canning peaches in mason jars. Who would have ever guessed that they would become such a popular commodity for decorative purposes. I personally like the Mason Jars because of their nostalgia, light blue tinted glass, and their classic design. A few of my favorite uses for the Mason jars are the drink dispenser, terrarium, and the outdoor path light.

Name: Casey FritzLocation: Minneapolis, MinnesotaSize: 825 square feetYears lived in: 1 month — rented I like to think of Casey as a modern, male version of the beloved TV character Mary Richards. There he is, living his bachelor life in Minneapolis, with a cool job and, as you’ll see in this house tour, a fabulous apartment that, like Mary Richards’, I totally covet. The only thing Casey is missing is his own theme song!

image:988bf7358a38fabfe96d3e1168e74a73b9f80d5a w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" With another spike in pollen this week that shows no signs of abating over the long weekend, we are again looking for some tech solutions to the Spring Problem (what we call allergy season). The last pollen count explosion sent us scrambling for an air filter for our home office and bedroom which we are happy to report has really helped our symptoms.

Names & Ages: Simon (4) Levi (3) and Josie (7 months) Location: Seattle, WA Room size: 95 square feet This month has been all about Small Spaces at Ohdeedoh and this Room Tour is the perfect example of not letting small spaces deter you from creative possibility. Rebekah and her husband knew they needed to fit their three children into one space (with little sister on the way!) so they made it work.

Flipping through the latest issue of Boston Home, I was struck by the beauty of this “invisible” tub. Made from a thick sheet of glass inserted between the two tile walls, it’s so simple, yet I’ve never seen anything quite like it.Boston-based architecture & design firm Stern McCafferty created this custom bath based on an inspiration photo from owners Amy and Ethan d’Abelmont Burnes.

In the past we’ve talked about how to clean a built-in cutting board, but we’ve never really discussed the process of installing one. They always seem like something that just happens to be in your kitchen when you move in, but these homeowners installed their own and the method in which they did so is rather brilliant.Over at The Farm Chicks, they’ve turned what used to be a plain old cabinet drawer into a cutting board work station.

When you share an office with another, whether it’s your home office or in a work office, chances are the AC is either too cold or too hot for one person. Sometimes a desk fan can offer some level of comfort for hotter temps without going to to the extreme of a cold blasting AC, especially in spring and early summer…Dyson Desk FanThe fan, called the Dyson Air Multiplier fan, does away with the blades used in common desk fans.

We sure do a lot of talking about email. About how to organize your inbox, attain the elusive Inbox Zero or keep your email messages short and sweet. So here we have another quandary for you: Would you send a 3 a.m. email to your boss or a client?The awesome thing about email is that you can send messages to anyone nearly anywhere, and you can do it instantly, no matter what the time of day.So sending an email at 3 a.m. should be a novelty of new media, not a reason to stress out.

San Franciscans know Paxton Gate as one of the city’s best garden stores, but you may not know that they also do landscape design. Their portfolio is full of inspiring before and after photos, including gorgeous gardens that started out as leveled dirt lots, overgrown backyards, and scraggly hillsides. If you’re the owner of a weedy lot or an unkempt patio, these photos might just be the kick-start you need to plan an outdoor renovation project.

Ban those plug-in air fresheners for good.

Name: Gina, Nathan and Taylor, Winston and Steven (the cats), Lucy (the dog)Location: Santa Barbara, CA Size: 1500 Square FeetYears lived in: 7 Months— Rent Gina Comin has created an eclectic and warm home that she shares with her boyfriend and son, which just happens to be located above her fun and eccentric vintage store Cominichi’s. With artwork, jewelry, antiques and furniture from around the world, her home is both inviting and the ultimate bohemian abode.

Name: Verona and Tom ChambersLocation: Black River Falls, WisconsinYears lived in: 2 yearsTom and Verona Chambers have always been passionate about sustainable living. Tom drives a Smart Car and created Wisconsin’s Black River Area Green School, where students focus on sustainability, renewable energy, forestry, and organic agriculture. Sharing what the couple learns comes naturally, since both are educators—Tom a high school principal and Verona a middle-school German teacher.

It may seem like a no-brainer that a tub, toilet, and sink are all you really need to keep clean. Early in the last century, though, indoor plumbing and ideas about what constituted good hygiene were both under development leaving plumbing supply companies and consumers alike a little confused as to what constituted “standard” bathroom fixtures. Click through the jump to see some of the standard fixtures we’ve left by the wayside…1.

Though not quite as bad as nails on a chalkboard, creaky, squeaky doors can still be incredibly annoying. Usually, a petroleum-based lubricant is used to silence the issue, but why not try this common household product instead?Stop the squeak with one the most versatile products in the pantry: olive oil.Just a tiny bit of this liquid gold works wonders on sticky hinges.The oil can be applied with a small brush or wiped on with a cloth.

It’s no secret that we love our edible garden. The joy it brings when we harvest something—even one tiny cherry tomato at a time—is so simple and pure. To look at a beautiful garden and know that it provides sustenance and nourishment, too? Well, that’s just the best. Here are ten of our favorite inspiring

Name: Clay Ferguson (aka FERG), vinyl toy designer and owner of toy companies Playge and Jamungo, his wife, artist Sarah Ferguson, their daughter, Georgia and delightful dog, Blackie.Location: Hyde Park — Austin, TexasSize: 1200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2 years We love a sleek, modern-looking home, but don’t love a space that seems too serious to be enjoyed.

Name: Sarah, Craig, and son, Maceo Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, MASize: 1099 square feetYears lived in: 8 — own It’s fun enough to be around one homeowner who beams with delight and pride for her home. But when it’s a couple and it’s apparent that they equally love their home and they genuinely share an aesthetic without much need for compromise, it’s even sweeter. Such is the case at Sarah and Craig’s delightful treetop home.

Maybe it’s because I started reading Cleopatra: A Life, but I have luxury on the brain. Though I haven’t come across any descriptions yet, I bet the Queen of the Nile’s bathroom had some, if not all, of these five qualities of a truly luxurious bathroom.Luxurious bathrooms have at least a few of the following:1. Space. A utilitarian room, most bathrooms are small to allow for more room in other areas of the home. So instantly, a larger bathroom is a luxury.

We love to change up our office artwork periodically, to keep things fresh and exciting, but with a limited budget, we’re always on the lookout for affordable pieces. Here are three more of our favorite sources for inexpensive, beautiful and cool art, online.Thumbtack Press is a new outfit, created to bring cool affordable art to the discerning online patron. Prices range from $19.99 to $34.99 for open editions. Free shipping for orders over $75.TL: Batman by Paul Blow.

I love natural light and I have three really big windows that pretty much light the entire house throughout the day. But one of my lovely windows has a not-so-lovely view. I’ve been umming and ahhing over what to do, so when I stumbled over the idea of living curtains I was overjoyed and had to share.Perfect! A curtain that hides not so lovely views, filters light, purifies the air and adds a gorgeous living artwork to your space.TOP ROW1+3.

I’m in love with this clever idea to create a snack station because I’ve done the same thing at my house. Instead of hunting for snacks at the last minute and possibly reaching for something less than healthful, I have a tray of individual sized portions of food that I want my kids to snack

Designing an office can be one of the most challenging spaces in your entire home. Not only does your space need to be extremely functional, it also should be stylish. But how does one achieve that when you’re constantly inundated with furniture options that look like they came right out of the workplace? You don’t want drab, boring, and stuffy in your home office.

A few months back I busted out some fabric spray paint and painted a pretty chevron on my carpet. Although the looks are alright, there’s a new trend sweeping around the internet that will most likely yield better results. See that sofa up there? It’s about to get painted — with house paint.Over at Fabric Bliss a vintage sofa was purchased for the small price of $45. It had great bones but those flowers just had to go.

A common problem with a solution! Check out the cute and functional space Bridget & Bill created for their daughter Mabel: When we first learned we were having a baby, everyone asked when we were going to move from our 1-bedroom downtown San Francisco apartment. But we love our apartment and were looking forward to sharing the space with our new baby girl. So we decided to stay and carve out a tiny baby nursery from our (relatively) large living room.

It takes a little imagination sometimes when you see a tired little piece like this at a garage sale or flea market. But Carrie at Fine & Handy had the vision and turned it into a sweet piece for her daughter:A little pink paint, new knobs for the sliding doors, and two adorable painted birds transform the old toy box. The end result is wonderful and makes us want to run out and scavenge for a unique piece of furniture like this one.For more on the before and after, head to Fine & Handy.

A little over a year ago I shared with you the house tour of Derek & Jennifer’s Dashing Digs. It’s an homage to mid-century furniture that they found on craigslist and got amazing deals on. Even though their apartment is fancy and quintessential city dwelling; they’re actually very budget conscious, which is why their subtle budget friendly kitchen renovation is inspiring.

Q: I’m trying to find replacement cushions for our IKEA Ektorp sofa. The back cushions especially have completely lost their support in the 3 years we’ve owned it. IKEA doesn’t sell replacement cushions and I don’t believe they are covered by the 10 year warranty.Sent by ErinEditor: Leave your suggestions for Erin in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

There is something so satisfying about growing and eating your own food. If you think you don’t have the space, think again! This vertical salad garden by Anne Phillips at Go Green Gardeners is less than a meter wide and 1.5 meters tall. Here’s what’s involved: • Read the full post at Re-Nest

Name: OliverAge: 9 monthsLocation: Brooklyn, NYRoom Size: 11′ x 14′ Can you imagine what the nursery of the first born son of Parents Magazine Lifestyle Director Amanda Kingloff would look like? Well, it’s even better. Modern and vintage, fresh and playful, colorful and light, this room exudes happiness. And even though it was featured in the June issue of the magazine, there’s nothing staged, stiff, or pretentious about it. It’s a real space for a real baby.

Danika found herself in a spot that many renters and homeowners can relate to — her countertops were dated, and a “real” renovation wasn’t in the cards. Fortunately she has some impressive painting skills, and her kitchen has seen one good-looking makeover.While in my mind “faux” can often immediately go to “tacky,” these results prove that categorization to be unfair.

Most people don’t have the space for the full scope of glassware, but depending on your drink of choice, there’s a glass or two that fits your needs. Here’s a brief guide to 10 styles and a few places to buy them. There are, of course, other options, and you can read more about the various styles in the “related resources” links below.These are everyday glasses that can be used to serve water, milk, juice, or chilled drinks.

Our quest for improved health continues in our latest Kinect installment with Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. As the name implies, this is a title that has fitness at its core and features workouts created by Men’s Health and Women’s Health publications. Will this be another hum-drum fitness title or will it deliver fun along with the cardio?As those who have been following along with this series know, I am not a fan of working out.

Name: Johnelle Mancha (Founder of Mignonne Décor)Location: Oakland, CaliforniaSize: 980 sq/ftYears lived in: 5 months, rented Stepping into artist and designer Johnelle Mancha’s Oakland cottage is like entering one of the great salons of 1920s Paris. Welcoming rooms, outfitted in exquisite vintage decor whisper of European aristocracy, Middle Eastern adventures, and the joys of classic American recreation.

I’m big on repurposing, but usually the items at hand are more obvious. (An old tea pot might become a pretty place for plants or old spaghetti jars could become your new grain storage system.) This transformation, however, is a total surprise! Who knew you could turn a dresser into a desk?What was once a rather heavy and solid dresser has been “hacked” into a truly amazing desk.

BEFOREOld doors can be used for many things, but what about using them as, well, a door? That’s what Adrienne of Dream Book Design did: she found a door on the side of the road (for free!) and, after a bit of sprucing, made it work to fit in her existing laundry room door frame. See the ‘After’ and how she did it below: AFTERAdrienne explains that the door they replaced was a generic particle board Home Depot door that lacked character.

Name: AvaAge: 6 yearsLocation: New JerseyRoom size: 14′ x 13′ Recently, we featured a fabulous white nursery designed for Sebastian, the young son of one of the founders of Sissy + Marley, a boutique baby planner and design service firm. And now, they’re back with a fantastic tour of a bedroom that they designed for their little six-year-old client, Ava. The room mixes bohemian chic with girly pink for startlingly beautiful results.

Name:Mark Bunge and Tanja Hester (and two Chihuahuas, Bella and Chelsea)Location: West LA — Los Angeles, CASize: 990 Square Feet- 2BR/2BRYears lived in: 2 — own Tanja and her husband Mark have embraced their Westside condo and given it a major facelift. First seen in the recent Small Cool Contest, their two bedroom home is warm and colorful. With a major kitchen renovation and a small patio garden both complete, this home also doubles as a home office for both of them.

Paint is one of those products many of us don’t think twice about, except when it comes to color. Once we’ve honed in on the perfect shade, our main priority is getting it up on the walls as soon as possible. While a freshly painted room may seem harmless, there are some chemicals in paint that can be toxic, many of which are grouped into a category called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Name: Erin Curtis and Aaron Dubrow (and 4 part-time, indoor/outdoor kitties) Location: East Side — Austin, Texas Size: 1400 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year What would you get if you mixed a 1920s bungalow, the inside of a vintage boat and a lofty barn with clean lines? The unique look of an East Austin house that has completely won us over. Full of incredibly smart space and money saving ideas, we’re quite impressed with the path the look of this home has taken.

When tiling a kitchen or bathroom floor many people spend days agonizing over the choice of tiles: What kind of tile (e.g., ceramic or glass); what shape (e.g., hex or penny round); and what color (neutral or colorful). Selecting the grout that will divide and frame the tiles is often a mere afterthought. But grout deserves more attention and respect… … says David Goodman, a tile contractor for This Old House.

So you’re thinking of renovating your kitchen and are not sure where to begin? Or what to spend money on? Or what to NOT spend money on? Remodeling or updating such a multi-functional room chock full of pricey appliances is no simple undertaking.No matter how big or small the remodel or refurbish there are many costs and considerations: appliances, venting, cabinets, surfaces…it’s no wonder many of us put it off as long as possible.

Turning on the faucet or hose may be the easiest method for watering indoor and outdoor plants, but there are plenty of ways in which household water can go directly into the garden and not down the drain, saving both money and resources.Not only does it save money and resources, but recycled household water can also be more beneficial than water straight from the tap! Here are five ways to make your water do double-duty:1.

It’s ICFF week here in New York, and design is in the air. I’ve had the honor of hosting a number of events already, including two Design Evenings in which I interviewed Danny Seo and Todd Bracher. I was fascinated to discover that their paths, not unlike mine, were far from the straight and sensible paths that most parents wish for.

OK, so this little TV-mounting trick is only no-cost if you’ve got a pile of scrap wood and a few heavy-duty bolts lying around. But even if you don’t have a hardware store in your garage, this TV mount trick (adapted from an age-old builder’s technique) will still cost way less than spending a couple hundred bucks on a new wall-mounted TV bracket.Builders have been using the French Cleat for a long while.