Apartment Therapy Archive: Jun 2012

If you’re short on space, need to save cash, or just like creative problem-solving, consider all the ways you can make your furniture work overtime. Here are a few examples of helpful, double-duty pieces.Sometimes, as with a daybed or storage bench, the multifunctionality is built in — other times it’s just a matter of how you use what you’ve got.

While remodeling certainly changes your life, it’s not always an option. But there are small changes you can make that will have a big difference in how you feel about your home. • Small Home Changes Apartment Therapy

Audree was always pretty. She definitely has good bones, but over time Audree’s looks had, well, faded a bit. It happens. Life on the road takes a toll on a girl. But then in walked Tiffany, Audree’s new owner. She knew that with a fresh coat of pink and a hip new look, Audree could still turn heads. And she was right. What a bombshell Audree’s become!

Creating a buried pot garden is a beautiful and easy way to ecoscape. Not only will your garden be extraordinarily charming and tidy, it’ll consume less water and energy. Sunken planter gardens like this one provide both form and function. The pots prevent your herbs or plants from overrunning their designated areas, and the mulch keeps unwanted weeds and pests at bay while consuming no water and energy.

Growing up, my family hosted annual (and epic) 4th of July BBQs. This year I’ve decided to share some of my favorite music for the 4th which can add a bit of pep to any shindig. • Playlist for the 4th of July Apartment Therapy

If you’re thinking about having a cookout this Independence Day, don’t let your good taste end with the food and drinks. There are tons of great outdoor wares to make your BBQ patriotic and stylish. • Red, White & Blue BBQ Apartment Therapy

You probably sit too much. I know I do, parked on my backside for stretches for hours (something I’m trying to alleviate with interval breaks; cups of coffee can be good incentive). Standing desks are often cited as a good option, but retail options can be pricey.

Usually the dirtiest things in my home are the ones I forget about completely and, thus, never clean. Luckily, that’s easy to fix; if you have ten minutes, you can get these ten chores done today. • 10 Things To Clean Apartment Therapy

What do I love about cleaning? When it’s done! Usually the dirtiest things in my home are the ones I forget about completely and, thus, never clean. Luckily, that’s easy to fix; if you have ten minutes, you can get these ten chores done today. 1. Sponge — Although you should be regularly replacing your kitchen sponge (right?), you can increase its mileage by nuking your damp sponge in the microwave to kill bacteria. 2.

The next time you’re traveling, stuck at home without Wi-Fi, or just trying to check emails while you wait at a local café, you’ll be thankful you read this post. We’ve found a few suggestions for gaining access to password-protected wireless networks at public spots like resturants and stores.Most of the time, any public place with a locked Wi-Fi network will let you in on the password (as long as you’re a paying customer).

This type of post is a bit of a snoozer, UNTIL you have to purchase engineered hardwood floors. Only then will you be happy our crackpot team of researchers (okay, just me) did the work for you. Like most things, you have to decide what works best for you in terms of the look and function of your new flooring. What exactly is engineered hardwood flooring? And why choose it?

When Elizabeth and her husband bought their house six years ago, the inspector told them the deck stairs should be replaced within the year. Every year they would add the deck stairs to their to-do list, and every year they somehow failed to get to that project. Until this year that is- after watching the deck stairs shudder when the family pet ran down them, Elizabeth decided the time had come to reclaim their outside space.

Lynne wrote in to share her outdoor kitchen with us, made from stone from an old barn foundation she discovered on her property. Read on to learn more about her creative re-use of found materials. • Lynne’s Outdoor Kitchen Apartment Therapy

I’m a sporadically responsible homeowner, but things like using sealant never occur to me. To keep your home looking good, here’s a mini-list of surfaces you just might want to seal. • 3 Surfaces to Seal Apartment Therapy

At the risk of sounding childish or lazy (maybe both?) I’ll just be honest: I hate making my bed. Rather, I used to hate making my bed. Why should I bother? I often reasoned. I’m just going to get right back into it later, and no one except my immediate family will see it (and as it turns out, they are stuck with me and my covers-tossed-in-disarray).But something I read last week in Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit” changed my mind.

New nursery seating can be a huge expense, but secondhand options are often dated and fug. Here are ten makeovers we like. Some are as simple as reupholstered cushions or a fresh coat of paint on a wooden frame, while others involve major structural changes. All are huge improvements on the originals.TOP ROW:1. Norah’s Sweet and Sunny Nursery2. Glider Makeover – Polished3. Makeover: Dutailier Glider4. Glider Makeover5. Before & After: A “Grandma Glider” BOTTOM ROW:6.

When I walk into a room, there are certain things that trigger great discomfort on a visceral level. What are the things you find in people’s homes that you simply can’t digest, no matter how hard you try? • Design “Allergies” Apartment Therapy

Here is my second wave of tips and hints for photographing people. Portraiture is a unique challenge, but it sure provides some of the most fabulous, silly, intense interactions. • Photographing People Apartment Therapy

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Want to eat more salad? Then learn how to prepare all the ingredients faster! The following tools are our go-to kitchen essentials for quick salad making. They’ll help you clean lettuce, chop veggies, and whiz salad dressing in no time. • 5 Salad Tools The Kitchn

Your apartment is charmingly unique, so why would you excpect a manufactured-by-the-hundreds desk to fit your space? It’s time to DIY, and here’s a creative project for a narrow desk with some hidden storage crafted from IKEA pieces.Tee from Alberta, Canada, submitted their franken-desk to IKEA Hackers, made from a white MALM Ocassional Table ($79.99) and one white VIKA ANNEFORS Table Leg with Storage ($40).

Monica had been on the lookout for an armchair to paint ever since she fell in love with one such project she found online. When she finally did find what she through was the right $50 chair for this endeavor, she then changed her mind. A small tear in the fabric convinced her that reupholstering was the better way to go — until, that is, she got a quote for $300 and decided to revisit her DIY options.

The organic modern style is a favorite around here. We often see it represented in our house tours, like this bedroom in Michael Moeller’s Bachelor Pad Project in the Sky. If you’re a fan of the look, you can get it yourself with a little help from these shops…• Yorkwood Co. “Born on the streets of New York,” their tables, stools and benches, are crafted from locally sourced shipping pallets.

Cristina is an adventurous soul. She’s traveled to countries across the globe and lived in more than a few of them. For the last couple of years, she’s ‘settled down’ in Hong Kong, in an industrial district transitioning into a very hip neighborhood. • Cristina’s Hong Kong Flat Apartment Therapy

My absolute favorite annual issue of House Beautiful comes out next week – it’s all about Small Spaces and never fails to inspire and educate. I just got this amazing sneak peek of a truly wonderful home featured this year – can you believe this is a one-room NYC studio? It’s the shrink-ray version of a grand manor house.This is the 640 square foot, single room home of designer Bill Brockschmidt and his partner, Richard.

It is generally believed that around 1 out of 255 women and 1 out of 12 men may have some degree of color blindness. When you consider the importance color plays in the products we buy, our aesthetic tastes, and the design decisions we make when we decorate, it’s quite intriguing to consider that many of us may not perceive colors in the same way.

Next time you are standing in that thrift store (or your great aunt’s living room) pondering whether to take home the groovy chair with the hideous and shredded upholstery, this tool may come in handy. Because sometimes it is hard to imagine just how much fabric would be needed to redo a chair or sofa. And every yard counts.Via: Honey & Fitz. – click through for an option to download them for easy printing or to keep them on file for handy reference.(Images: Butler K.

Children, by nature, are little collectors. So it goes to follow that the Eclectic Collector “style” is perfectly suited to their rooms. Their parents have given them a head start in this area, and have created rooms that welcome varying affinities, whether they decide to acquire sea shells or race cars.

I’m a tolerant person; I’m open to new ideas, new styles. But there’s one design trend I just can’t accept: the karate chop pillow, that silly business of “chopping” an indentation into the top of a throw pillow. What design trend gets on your nerves? • Design Pet Peeves Apartment Therapy

We have seen beautiful concrete floors everywhere, from bars to restaurants to clubs to warehouses, and over the last decade they have become increasingly popular in modern home interiors as well. • Concrete Floors Inspiration Apartment Therapy

Looking for ways to rid your indoor and outdoor spaces of mosquitoes? Here are our best posts on how to keep those little buggers away. Natural Remedy: 5 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes How To Make Your Own DIY Mosquito Repellent Device Make Your Own Citronella Candles That Really Work 5 Tips For a Mosquito-Free Summer How To Make A Wine Bottle Tiki Torch for Under $4.

The tendency to over-own is often attributed to overbuying or to a deep-seated reluctance to get rid of things. I think that an equally important factor is the more subtle feeling that we “should” own these things. • The Feeling of Should Apartment Therapy

I love decorating for a party, but I don’t love spending a ton of money on something I’ll only use once. Here are some creative ideas for making your party unique without breaking the bank. • Budget Party Ideas Apartment Therapy

Of the many Before and Afters we have featured, this one may take the prize for the biggest blindside, meaning when you click through, you will in no way have figured out what was coming and the ‘After’ photo just may knock you flat. While you can sometimes predict how a thrift store dresser or end table will be saved and transformed, just try it with this box spring. You’ll be wrong. Trust us. Just go look.We told you!

Jill’s entry from the garage had been a thorn in her side for months. Though the checkerboard floor was a great feature, the paneled walls were dark and dated; certainly not the warm welcome home she craved. In addition to a brighter color, Jill knew she wanted to add what she calls a “landing pad” for shoes, coats, bags, etc — a spot other than her kitchen table!

Q: I just moved in to this great new house, but the bathroom doesn’t have a tub. My landlord said I can do whatever I want, as long as it’s removable, but I’m not quite sure what to do.I’ve played around with a bunch of ideas – buying a collapsible bathtub, using a kiddie pool or a watering trough for farm animals, and my latest concept is to essentially make a giant sandbag.

You want to get upholstery work done but are new to this and have no clue what such a project would cost. Well, read on! • Real Upholstery Costs Apartment Therapy

The quotable Sir Terence Conran commented, “I’ve never understood why some people say that complex patterns are sensible because they hide dirt. Personally, I prefer to see dirt so I know when to get rid of it.” Which camp are you in? • Dirt: Deal or Disguise? Apartment Therapy

Piper’s bedroom is stunning. I love the over the top plush palette of girly fun. With the help of her mom Traci (of Nursery Works) and Tamara Honey (of House of Honey), Piper has a room that she can welcome and grow into. It’s sophisticated enough for a teenager though she’s still got a few years to be a kid and enjoy its lighthearted approach.

Here are some examples of real people who have had work done–and what they actually paid. And we have also included some words of wisdom (and pricing ranges) from a handful of designers and upholsterers.Case Studies of Real Life Upholstery JobsHere are some real examples from friends who have upholstered various pieces of furniture. It should be noted, of course, that most of these folks live in Washington DC, which is hardly the country’s best locale for bargain goods and services!

One of the wonderful things about the “eclectic collector” style is the ability to say yes to any piece of artwork or any accessory that speaks to you. Even if it’s a strange color or an interesting combination of textures and patterns, chances are, you’ll find a spot for it in an eclectic home. Of course, the downside to being drawn to this style is the responsibility of maintaining and paring down your collection to avoid the dreaded “flea market” look!

Q: I am trying to find an aesthetically pleasing and effective way of separating my front yard from my neighbors. I have been attempting to grow a tall, healthy lawn, and the merged front yards are proving a problem. Not only does my neighbor mow two feet over the property line, but because there is no physical separation, as our yards combine, my lawn doesn’t grow as nicely as I would like.

Is your office desk space getting a little tight? It’s time to move all the non-essentuials out of the way. First use the breadbox test to eliminate clutter. Then, if you still need a little more elbow room, try moving your table lamp to the wall. Really!Rachel and Tyler (of the adorable blog Raenovate) showcased their newly re-styled office on IKEA Hackers. The most unique feature? A work lamp brought up from the desktop and mounted to the wall.

Our readers don’t just come to us for home inspiration – they also share their own projects with us, bring the inspiration around full circle. Jude emailed us this sofa transformation that we think is a great lesson in patience and DIY chutzpah.Jude’s small apartment requires a slim sofa, one that is no longer than 56 inches.

With some table lamps, pendant lights, and sconces there’s something about the way they look, on or off, that cheers up a modern space instantly. We’ve gathered 20 that are doing that for us. • “Happy Modern” Lights Apartment Therapy

Name: AlexandraLocation: North End – Boston, Massachusetts Our condo, located in the historic North End, is not only our first home, but our dream home as well. We wanted an open space with light and charm (and an elevator) in the heart of the city to raise our kids. When we finally found our home, it was love at first “light:” the sun shining in from the vast windows was almost overwhelming.

Karen scored this dresser when it was left behind in a friend of a friend’s garage. She took that dresser with its one green painted drawer home and painted it white and cream to match her bedroom, and there it has lived for the last seven years. She and her husband are working to update their master bedroom, and Karen decided this dresser was just asking for a makeover.