Apartment Therapy Archive: May 2012

Imagine the automotive show TopGear, except based in Hong Kong and focused on the subject of photography instead of cars. That’s a close approximation of the site DigitalRev, aka “the most subscribed and viewed photography show on the interweb, presented by an asian dude with British accent.

Most bathrooms are small, wet places, so choosing appropriate furniture is often a challenge. Learn from Jenny, who took a flea market lucite stool and fixed it up to work in her bathroom.Jenny from Little Green Notebook spotted this scratched up stool at a flea market and decided to use it as a seat for when she’s bathing her kids.For wet or messy locales, laminated fabric is a great alternative.

I had no idea that my little kitchen overhaul would yield such a response, ranging from “awful” to “amazeballs.” Thanks for all the great comments, both good and bad. By the way, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dr. Kevorkian, and stem cell research combined have nothing on the “brass knobs with stainless appliances” debate. I’m not sure which issue will take longer to resolve. And that brings us to the bathroom.

Name: Cheyenne WeaverLocation: Austin, TexasSize: 960 square feetYears lived in: 5 months Join us today for dinner and a house tour with Cheyenne Weaver and The Girls Guild. Cheyenne has only been living in the quaint 2-1 for a few months, but she’s already managed to put her artistic touch on the overall aesthetic. I toured the home while she and her boyfriend prepare a kick-off dinner for The Girls Guild — a collaborative arts club for girls, by girls, in Austin.

Chicagoans Veronica & Keith love design and they love DIY. Both are evident in their home including their dark-walled kitchen with handpainted rugs and vintage shutters. • Veronica & Keith’s Home Apartment Therapy

If you missed our Design Evening in NYC with Tina Roth Eisenberg, you can read the full transcript to learn about how she got started and the 8 things she really believes in.. • An Evening with SwissMiss Apartment Therapy

This month our contributors have been fantasizing about their dream kitchens. This one represents a mashup of Regina and her husband who started in very different places. • Marital Mashup Kitchen Apartment Therapy

When Josh, Lauren and their twins moved into their new townhouse in Washington DC’s historic Mount Pleasant neighborhood, they knew right away they had to change the bathroom. The retro pink, peach and black tiled bathroom, while quaint and vintage, was not their style. And in a smallish townhouse the room felt too busy and crowded. (Perhaps they also knew that once their daughters got old enough to talk they would fall in love with the bathroom’s perky pink: time was of the essence!

Americans kicked off summer this weekend, but the Brits are preparing to kick it off during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration. Here’s a round up of essentials for celebrating stateside. • Diamond Jubilee Essentials Apartment Therapy

Q: I currently live in a rental with no soundproofing at all (no exaggeration). I didn’t realize how bad it was until after I moved in. While I’ve lived in other apartments with varying levels of soundproofing, this apartment is far worse than anything I thought possible.

Short on space and lack a headboard? Pegboard, our favorite kitchen and workshop workhorse, may just be the solution you’ve been looking for. Carmel from Our Fifth House transforms her boy’s bedroom from bland to brilliant with a Union Jack paint job and inexpensive material.Carmel’s 8 year old son needed some easy access storage, so when she planned to DIY a headboard, pegboard won.

My philosophy about technology in the home is akin to a strict private school headmaster’s opinion about children: technology should neither be seen nor heard until required/requested. Even though Apple’s Airport router is fairly benign aesthetically, I prefer to keep the wireless router tucked inside a floating shelf, next to other blinking light culprits like the cable modem and home security system, a trio of otherwise mismatched clutter if left out all together.

My parents always shooed us outside in the summertime. We’d come in for lunch and the occasional popsicle, but we otherwise lived outside. If you’re planning the same for your kids, here are ten ideas for making your outside space more appealing, more fun and more memorable.Sandbox: Even if you can’t get to the beach this summer, you can still have the sun and the sand. Buy one or build one to your specifications. Show here is a terrific shaded sandbox.

Name: Matt and Leah (and eight furry cat children)Location: Austin, TexasSize: 2055 square feetYears lived in: Owned 2 years Let’s just get this out of the way: Matt and Leah have eight cats. They also have a gorgeous modern Austin home and enviable tastes, but you’re about to experience a lot of adorable photos of cats perched on modern furniture.

Renovating any room can be costly and especially the kitchen. I have a few ideas for where you can find a bargain when you’re building something better. • Where To Skimp in the Kitchen Apartment Therapy

Over the past two years I have been working on my kitchen. It’s the most expensive room to remodel in the house, so I’ve been doing it piece by piece as I can afford it. • Two Year Kitchen Redo Apartment Therapy

Name: MarinaLocation: Upper West Side, NYCSize: 650 sqft. rentalYears Lived In: 2+ years During an eighteen-month stint in Boston, Marina acquired 95% of her current furnishings and nearly 100% of her design awareness, knowledge, and inspiration. She lived in the South End and spent most of her free time in the design shops, where she got to know the inventory and the owners very well. When she moved back to NYC two years ago, Marina had just one weekend to find an apartment!

Despite the not-always-glowing reviews that British cooking sometimes evokes (or at least used to evoke), British kitchens are something to take inspiration from. Here’s a gallery of them to peruse… • British Kitchens Apartment Therapy

Spreading bills out on the coffee table will only work for so long. Eventually, you may need to find a spot in your living room for a proper desk. Here are some location options to get your gears turning and inspire you to fit a real desk into your living room.In a Side TableGroup your office supplies into organizing boxes (as shown above) and stash them into a shelving unit by the sofa to use as a side table. Keep at least a little space on the table clear to work on.

It’s hard to find a bathroom vanity that doesn’t scream “bathroom vanity”. Vanity is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, after all. We are redoing our bathroom and I really want a pedestal sink but it just isn’t practical for a bathroom shared by four people. But it’s hard to find a vanity that doesn’t look cheap and cheesy– or completely space-age (though I do love many of those; they’re just not going to work in my particular bathroom).

Art in the kitchen can be fun to play around with. If you’re looking for something a little tongue-in-cheek and literal to add to the place where you make food, you might be searching for a clear directive to hang on your wall: Eat. • “Eat” Art for the Kitchen Apartment Therapy

When Kalie and Travis moved into their house a year ago, they knew they had a lot of things to change to make it feel like home. Thrilled to finally have an outlet for their passion for decorating, they have been gradually implementing their big plans in their self-defined little house.They changed out the light wood floors for dark, and installed new custom cabinets built by a friend.

One of the design trends we noticed at ICFF this year: rich materials, like gold and marble, used in new, unexpected ways, for a look that’s clean but luxurious like this glass mortar and pestle. • Modern Luxe at ICFF Apartment Therapy

The photo above was shot by our talented contributor Bethany Nauert and was the winner of last year’s first photo contest. I think we were all attracted to it not only because it’s an amazing photo, but a wonderfully dreamy place. The photo is a great example of why pergolas are so awesome: the open structures help define space and create an outdoor room that is shaded during the day, and with a few vines and twinkle lights, can be romantic or festive at night.

Most of the time when we feature a furniture makeover, it’s been transformed by applying something new to the surface — paint, fabric, paneling, etc. But designer William Dohman shows us that a really impressive project is when a vintage piece has been restored to its former glory.Architect William Dohman, the designer behind Oh Dier, restored this classic mid-century Lane dresser by removing the multiple layers of paint and weird tape that mysteriously stuck to most of the edges.

This is the story of Runaround Sue, the name given to a 1961 Airstream Safari that was lovingly renovated by Prairie Construction. The vintage trailer’s original beauty was carefully restored while making it leaner (more efficient) and greener. This time of year already makes me long to head out for the open roads, and now I’m filled with daydreams of spending the summer traversing the country in Runaround Sue.

A key element of renovating a room is knowing when to say when. If you have a limited budget or limited time then the most helpful thing you can do is to be realistic about what you can achieve. This is especially true when you purchase a house that is a ‘fixer-upper,’ because then you are in danger of succumbing to project fatigue, when there is so much to do in every direction that it is difficult to focus on just one thing.

Restaurants know that an enjoyable meal starts with the atmosphere. If you’re looking to bring a bit of that philosophy into your kitchen, check out some inspiring ideas from restaurants… • Inspiration from Restaurants Apartment Therapy

Here are the facts: I don’t have hours and hours to laboriously clean my bathroom every week. Even if I did there would be more pressing things at hand, like um, anything really. So how can you keep things clean with a minimal amount of effort and time? I use the five minute rule and it works fabulously!The truth of the matter is, you can get a great deal done in 60 seconds when you don’t have distractions. It’s why the 5 minute rule works so well.

Bold looks for kitchen lights are having a moment. More and more, we are seeing bright colors and large industrial-style looks that previously would have been relegated to other rooms. • Pendant Lights in the Kitchen Apartment Therapy

Composting kitchen scraps for use in the garden is a classic green living practice, but there are many kitchen waste items that can also be put to good use in other ways in the garden. From hot peppers to paper towel rolls, here are seven kitchen waste items to make your home and garden healthy and happy. Paper Towel Rolls: Trim them down to about 2 inches high and press them into the soil around seedlings, this serves as an added layer of protection from pests such as slugs.

When Ashley and Greg purchased their home they knew a kitchen remodel was in their future. They designed and built a beautiful, modern, and functional space that makes you wonder – is this even the same house?! • All White Kitchen Remodel Apartment Therapy

With Summer months stretching ahead of us, everyone is slathering on the SPF. Protection from the sun’s rays is critical, but what about protecting your poor house? Greased up occupants can leave their mark everywhere. Here are a few tips for preventing and cleaning up sunblock messes.Prevention: Establish a place for applying sunblock that’s far away from furniture and walls. Take it outside to a deck or yard if that’s an option, otherwise head into the bathroom.

How many times have you wanted to share a specific clip from a YouTube video, but it’s buried minutes within?

After Rachel had her new wood floors installed, it was clear she had a problem- her always darker than desired kitchen was now even more basement-like because her cabinets now matched the tone of her floor. Determined to create a lighter, brighter space without spending a lot of money, Rachel decided to use paint to transform her kitchen.Rachel used a Rustoleum Countertop Transformations Kit to transform her counters from dark grey to desert sand.

When Ashley and Greg purchased their home they knew that a kitchen remodel was in their future. The existing space was poorly designed, with dated appliances, unattractive cabinetry, and a fair amount of plumbing and electrical issues. Starting from scratch, they designed and built a beautiful, modern, and functional space that makes you wonder – is this even the same house?!Not afraid to get their hands dirty, the couple did what they could on their own.

Picking the best toilet seems like it should be straighforward — but it isn’t. Trouble is, there are many variables to consider. But at the end of the day, certain toilets tend to rise to the occasion. Terry Love, who is a plumber and plumbing blogger, loves his Toto toilets. Consumer Reports and Consumer Search, which is a meta-analysis of a whole host of reviews, also give props to some American Standard, Kohler and Gerber toilets.

The kitchen is not just for cooking anymore. For most people, it’s where the majority of their time is spent, sharing meals, doing family projects, and entertaining. And, as it turns out, it’s the place where some are storing their book collections. • Keeping Books in the Kitchen Apartment Therapy

Everyone has their ‘must have’ list for their dream home — a built-in banquette is definitely on mine. They’re cozy, space-efficient, great for weird nooks or bays, and get everyone situated right at center of the action in the kitchen. They can be round, square, large, small, high or low, custom made and built-in, or even freestanding to define a room. Here are a few where we’d love to sip a cup of coffee.1.

Years later, we are still fans of Julia Child’s pegboard full of pots and pans: it’s practical for small spaces, and keeps your cooking tools at an arm’s reach. For those of you who are thinking of building your own, check out these great examples… • Pegboard Inspiration Apartment Therapy

Name: Sarah AlbaLocation: San Rafael, California I’m a field editor and stylist. I look at homes to place in pages of magazines. I drew my inspiration by piecing together things I liked from the homes I scouted in order to create my perfect family abode.I also designed our home on a budget and because we have a 2 year old, I made sure to include many ways to cleverly hide clutter!Thanks, Sarah!• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy?

New patio furniture can be prohibitively expensive, but the good news is that if you’re on a budget, it’s easy to find old stuff at thrift stores and flea markets. Although it may have seen better days, don’t write it off. You may be able to rescue it using one or more of these techniques. Clean it. Because outdoor furniture is left to the elements for long period of time, it can get pretty grimy.

I recently purchased one of these RE dressers on sale at Target, and after 2 days of putting it together, it was crying out to me for some kind of bold hardware. Not wanting to spend a lot on 6 knobs but still wanting something with some mid-century flare, I came up with an idea: mason jar lids.I remembered as a kid occasionally watching a show called Family Affair. Remember Uncle Bill and Mr. French?

Dabney has been documenting the renovation of what she dubs “the world’s ugliest condo”. Today she reveals the fresh, renovated kitchen… • Kitchen Renovation Reveal Apartment Therapy

Tired of white, gray, and steel kitchens? If you just want to take a visual vacation and walk on the wild side of kitchen design, we’ve pulled together ten tantalizing kitchens that will brighten your day. • 10 Vibrant Kitchens Apartment Therapy

Q: My boyfriend and I have been in our apartment for about three years now. As much as we would like to buy a place of our own, it looks like that won’t be happening anytime soon. In an effort to make our apartment feel more like home I am slowly taking on new projects to pull everything together.For my next project I would like to begin refinishing some pieces of furniture that have been handed down to us.

Years later, we are still fans of Julia Child’s pegboard full of pots and pans: it’s practical for small spaces, and keeps your cooking tools at an arm’s reach. For those of you who are thinking of building your own, check out these great examples below, and find a tutorial on how to make one here.TOP ROW1. Apartment Therapy2. The Kitchn3. Alexandra Angle Interior Design4. Apartment Therapy5. Apartment Therapy BOTTOM ROW6. DIY Network7. Jeanne Lurvey via Apartment Therapy8.

Black and white floor tiles for the bathroom have a long history. They were popular during the Victorian times and during the Arts and Crafts period. The style has been copied in vinyl form, but there are many elegant versions available today. White hexagon tiles can be used with contrast dots, or with contrast circles which look like flowers. Or you can go with simple square tiles in various sizes and patterns. And then there is the pinwheel design, with its lovely geometric symmetry.