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Apartment Therapy Archive
2012
August

Apartment Therapy Archive: Aug 2012

Use a Balloon To Make Custom Glassware
Say you’re going to have a dinner party and you’re using tumblers instead of stemware. Well, this simple balloon trick makes your average cup look like high-end dipped glassware. Want to see how it works? • Balloon Glassware The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 31, 2012
How To Make a Chalkboard Menu Board
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Inspired by a pin or two of chalkboard walls in kitchens, I thought it fitting to have a chalkboard menu prominently on display in the dining room. So I DIY’ed a chalkboard-painted piece of plywood on the wall. Easy, not-permanent, moveable, perfect. • DIY Chalkboard Menu Board The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 31, 2012
Tips for Downsizing To a Smaller Kitchen
Sometimes you have to downsize, for one reason or another, to a kitchen with less storage and space. Here are some of the most important elements needs to keep organized and functional. • Downsized Kitchens Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 31, 2012
Cutting Cable? A Review of the Roku 2 XS
Angela recently made the decision to free herself from cable and was worried all she’d be watching was P90X infomercials. She agreed to share her experience transitioning over to the Roku 2 XS… •
Carrie McBride
Aug 31, 2012
One Easy Trick for Instantly Pulling Together a Room
Recently I helped a friend get her home ready for an AirBnB photo session, We had, literally, 5 minutes while the photographer unpacked so I pulled out my favorite trick and went to work. • Trick to Pull a Room Together Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 30, 2012
A Guide To Storing Fruits and Vegetables
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) With so much produce at our fingertips this season, it’s time for a refresher on the proper way to store various fruits and vegetables. Here are the best ways to store apples, tomatoes, fresh basil, and many, many more varieties of fresh produce. • Fruit + Vegetable Storage The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 30, 2012
4 Couches Over 16 Years: What Went Wrong
Couch shopping is inevitably a stressful situation for me I somehow always end up with the wrong couch. Follow me after the jump to see what I have learned from my past couch failures. • 4 Couches in 16 Years Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 30, 2012
5 No-Bake Energy Bar Recipes
Whether you’re ready or not, here we are in the last week of August, and if you have wee ones at home, it’s back to school time. While those little pre-packaged snacks are appealing in their simplicity, making your own can be just as easy. • No-Bake Energy Bars The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 30, 2012
5 Tips for Planning Out a Downsized Living Room
You’ve made the decision to downsize. What do you do when your carefully-selected assortment of furniture doesn’t fit into your teeny-tiny new living room? Well, edit. • Downsized Living Room Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 29, 2012
Kitchen Tour: Alina’s Exotic Cooking Lair
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Alina takes the best of what a country’s cooking and design tradition has to offer and brings it into her home. All the materials are natural and all the colors are warm. It seems that, aside from the food, everything about this kitchen will last forever. • Alina’s Exotic Cooking Lair
Cambria Bold
Aug 29, 2012
Natalie and Kevin’s Perfect Parkdale Perch
Name: Natalie and KevinLocation: Parkdale, Toronto, CanadaSize: Approx. 1500 square feetYears lived in: 9 months; Rented When searching for a new place to call home, Natalie and Kevin never dreamed they could find such a spacious, bright, and charming place within their budget in the city. Nine months after moving in, Natalie is still pinching herself.
Abby Cook
Aug 29, 2012
How To Get a Bird Out of Your House
Bird in the house! Bird in the house! Oh my God, there’s a bird in the house! OK, first things first: Relax, this happens to everybody. (It does, right? It’s not just me?) I personally ran through about a million scenarios before remembering that I know absolutely nothing about birds. So while the bird continued to fly around in a crazy tizzy as though it were my fault he was trapped in my house, I called a friend who owns like 10 birds.
Elizabeth Licata
Aug 29, 2012
Why You Need at Least 4 Email Addresses
We’ve talked before about simplifying your life by paring down your email addresses to two, but today we’re going to encourage you to use at least four. Why? Read on for the details as to why we’ve had a change of heart.Three Reasons Why at Least Four Email Addresses are a Good Idea: 1. Personal & Work. 2. Spam. Ever enter a contest where you just know they’re going to send you unwanted email, but you still want to enter and not have to deal with unsubscribing?
Joelle Alcaidinho
Aug 29, 2012
Before & After: Restoring a Discarded Dresser
Titia was out running errands when she decided to swing by one of her favorite junk stores. While wending her way through back streets, she came upon a treasure trove of furniture just being discarded, and hopped out to look. Her luck held when she found two pieces she knew she could work with — and when a passerby offered to help her load them into her car!Even before she began stripping off that terrible brown paint, Titia was certain she had found a very special piece.
Colleen Quinn
Aug 29, 2012
30 Tips, Hints, and Recipes for Avocado
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Around here, a perfectly ripe avocado can induce mania and ecstasy. Forget drugs — let’s just do avocados. We have the best of avocados for you today, from one brilliant piece of advice on how to pick a good avocado, to smart tips on dicing and storing them. • Avocado Tips
Cambria Bold
Aug 29, 2012
A Natural Way to Clean Your Wood Cutting Board
I inherited this pull-out wooden cutting board with our condo but use it rarely due to its damage. Since I’ve started a new bread-baking habit, it was time to at least get to cleaning and caring for it. • Clean Your Cutting Board Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 29, 2012
Craig’s Tiki Hut
Name: Craig ShimalaLocation: River West, Chicago, IllinoisSize: 990 square feetYears lived in: 3 years; Owned Most people tend to shy away from labeling themselves as hoarders, but Craig has made the fact that he “doesn’t throw anything out” a central part of his aesthetic. Showcasing an impressive collection of vintage nautical-themed knick-knacks, Craig’s cozy Chicago apartment manages to embrace the collector within, while managing to remain uncluttered without.
Guest
Aug 28, 2012
Storage Solutions From Our Kitchen Tours
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Whether it’s finding a clever way to make use of every last inch of space, or developing a way to keep appliances and utensils neat and organized, we love clever kitchen storage solutions. Here are 15 examples: • 15 Storage Solutions The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 28, 2012
How To Make Authentic Italian “Caffe”
Sicilian-born artist and actor Vincenzo Amato shows us how to make perfect Italian “caffe”. This is the first in a series of coffee rituals that connect people to their space. • How To Make Italian Caffe Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 28, 2012
DIY Nut Milks: 5 Easy Recipes
Once you make homemade nut milks at home, you’ll likely stop buying them at the store. They really are so simple, and it’s nice knowing exactly what’s in them and being able to completely control the amount of sweetness on your own. • DIY Nut Milks The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 27, 2012
The Best Trick Ever For Separating Eggs
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We’ve shared a few tips before on how to best separate eggs, but this trick made us stop in our tracks. We can’t understand a word of the video, but the visuals are so compelling that we don’t need to. Prepare to be amazed: • Egg Separating Trick The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 27, 2012
A Guide to Refinishing Wood Floors Yourself
Do you have wood floors that have seen a bit of abuse or been hiding under carpet for years? You can refinish them yourself for just a couple hundred dollars. • Refinishing Wood Floors Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 27, 2012
A Visit To Kumquat Cupcakery
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Inside a nondescript warehouse on a busy street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Keavy Landreth makes some of the most delicious mini cupcakes I’ve ever had. Join us as we tour her kitchen! • A Visit To Kumquat Cupcakery The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 24, 2012
How Many More Days? Creative Countdown Calendars for Kids
We are taking our first big family vacation this fall (off-season prices rock!) and already I am hearing choruses of “how many more days until we go to the beach?” Whether it’s a vacation, school break, holiday, or some other special occasion, help your kids keep up with the countdown and visualize the time left with one of these creative calendars.1. Here’s an easy one that takes only minutes and requires no special supplies — a paper chain!
Sarah Dobbins
Aug 24, 2012
Before & After: Rescuing a Dumpster Dive Dresser
It is obvious that Karen must a dedicated DIYer with an artist’s eye if she could find the beauty in this dilapidated dresser. Her father-in-law rescued this dresser from the dumpster knowing that Karen would be able bring this piece back to life.After waiting for inspiration to strike, Karen got to work scraping and stripping and sanding to remove the layers of peeling paint. She then painted the dresser in a slate grey and created a pattern to help celebrate her 19th wedding anniversary.
Colleen Quinn
Aug 24, 2012
Carve Your Own Wooden Spoons
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I have a beautiful wooden spoon, one of my favorite things in my kitchen. It was carved by hand and because of that, it was expensive. So when I stumbled on an old article from Mother Earth News on how to carve your own wooden spoon, I was intrigued. • DIY
Cambria Bold
Aug 24, 2012
The Best Way to Cut Up a Watermelon
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Cold from the fridge, a cup of watermelon is my favorite August treat. Here’s the best way I’ve found to quickly and easily cut a watermelon into neat, even cubes for snacks and salads. • Cutting a Watermelon The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 23, 2012
Apartment Therapy’s Guide to Best Bar & Counter Stools
With the rise of open floor plans, stools have taken a more prominent position in the home. Here’s our look at the best bar and counter stools on the market today. • Best Bar & Counter Stools Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 23, 2012
7 Ways To Get Your Cooking Mojo Back
When you’re single, it’s all on you to keep it new and fresh in the kitchen, and that can be a challenge. Read on for seven ways to introduce new ways of cooking and thinking about food. (And yes, these tips will work for non-single households as well!) • Get Your Cooking Mojo Back
Cambria Bold
Aug 23, 2012
5 Non-Traditional Wedding Registries
Wedding registries can be tricky, but if you’re setting up a new home, check out these unique ones you may want to consider. • Non-Traditional Registries Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 23, 2012
15 Homemade Snacks for the Lunchbox
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I cannot believe school is starting already! It’s time for the lunchbox to emerge from the dark cupboard you stashed it in all summer, and it’s time to stock it with some good snacks for fall. Here are 15 favorites — all homemade and yummy. • 15 Homemade Snacks The
Cambria Bold
Aug 22, 2012
Tips for Breaking a Lease Agreement: A Landlord’s Perspective
Yep, Ann and I are big bad landlords. I like to think we’re on the nice end of the landlord spectrum, but we also have to do right by ourselves. For example, it requires (sometimes very significant) time and/or money to find new tenants. In the case of early lease breaks, this means several searches in the course of the year, which is a huge drain. Since we don’t live on the premises (or even in the same state) it’s even harder to find a replacement.
Dabney Frake
Aug 22, 2012
A Double Murphy Bunk Bed by Casa Kids
A common dilemma for expanding families in small spaces is what to do when the number of kids outpaces the number of bedrooms. Bunk beds are a popular and obvious solution, and rightly so. Going vertical is always a good option. But what if your small space cannot accommodate a traditional bunk bed setup? All is not lost. In fact, floor space is gained with the Tuck Double Compact Bed.
Richard Popovic
Aug 22, 2012
5 African Spice Blends To Make Yourself
It isn’t always easy to find premade versions of common African spice blends like Ras el Hanout at the local supermarket, but the truth is, if you have a well-stocked spice rack, you likely have almost all the components to make these mixtures on your own. • 5 African Spice Blends The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 22, 2012
10 Stylish Family Dining Rooms
Just because your kids have temporarily hijacked adult dinnertime rituals doesn’t mean that having kids has to mean eating in a dining room void of style. • Stylish Family Dining Rooms Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 22, 2012
Budget & Bargain Sources for Furniture, Rugs, & More
Whether you are looking to dress your floors, stock up for an end of summer cocktail party or create a fresh bed for the fall season, here are roundups of places to do so, on the cheap… • Budget & Bargain Sources Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 21, 2012
3 Kitchen Tools to Clean Right After Using
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) Cleaning up is not exactly anyone’s favorite part of cooking. Even so, there are three tools that are worth washing as soon as you’re finished using them. It will make life so much easier for you. • Tools To Clean Right Away The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 21, 2012
15 Hearty & Healthy Kale Recipes
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Today we celebrate kale’s heartiness in all its forms: Baked into crispy, light kale chips. Shredded into a salad softened with peanut dressing. Tender underneath baked egg and chickpeas. Simmered into a turkey chili. • Kale Recipes The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 21, 2012
Eliminate Excuses for Not Hosting Gatherings
If you’re anything like me, you don’t host gatherings at your place nearly as much as you would like. Here are tips to create an excuse-free zone so you can have your friends over. • Eliminate Excuses Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 21, 2012
An Outdoor Dinner for 200 at Quail Hill Farm
On Saturday Maxwell attended the Peconic Land Trust’s annual fundraiser at Quail Hill Farm. If these folks can do dinner for 200 in an orchard, think of what you can do at home next weekend. • Outdoor Dinner for 200 Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 20, 2012
Where To Buy Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Shopping for cabinet hardware can be overwhelming, so to help ease the stress we’ve provided a list of 10 online shopping sources for cabinet knobs and pulls to get you started. We think you’re bound to find what you’re looking for at one of these places! • Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
Cambria Bold
Aug 20, 2012
Before & After: A Dresser Refresh
Vanessa spotted this dresser in Portland and fell in love with the shape and style, but not the dried-up, cracked surface. So instead of the typical paint over we so ofter see, she went the wood purist way. See what some hard work and dedication will uncover after the jump…She began with a good clean and strip. The natural soy based stripper she began with didn’t do the trick, so she had to call in the big guns to get rid of the old varnish.
Alysha Findley
Aug 20, 2012
Before & After: Refinishing a Craigslist Console
Michelle had been searching for a media console since she moved into her condo, something to replace the modern IKEA piece that came with her home. When she saw the above piece listed on Craigslist for only $40, she immediately headed out to purchase it. She knew that after a little TLC, it would be the perfect addition to her home.
Colleen Quinn
Aug 20, 2012
A Look at Kitchens in Studio Apartments
The owners of these studio kitchens understand the effort it takes to live large in a small space. Some have kitchens with architectural quirks, and some have done their best to add quirk to an otherwise bland space. • Kitchens in Studios Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 20, 2012
Cookie Monster’s Famous Cookie Recipe!
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Cookie Monster’s famous cookie dough recipe first appeared in Big Bird’s Busy Book, from the 1970’s. If you like a bit of nostalgia mixed in with your sugar and eggs, this recipe is for you! • Cookie Monster’s Cookie Recipe The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 20, 2012
How Would You Modernize This Kitchen?
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Some acquaintances are about to buy a new (to them) home, one that has been in the hands of one owner since the 50s. What would you do with this kitchen to update it, especially if you were on a budget? • Modernize This Kitchen! The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 17, 2012
Unconventional Ideas for Hanging Art in Your Home
Hanging art makes a house feel like a home. If you want to do something different from just plain hanging pictures on the wall, try one of these unconventional ideas. • Ideas for Hanging Art Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 17, 2012
25 Time-Saving Freezer Tips
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) When I first learned to freeze herbs in olive oil, it’s like a lightbulb went on in my head. So easy! Such a time-saver! And a great way not to let food go to waste. In the spirit of that easy freezer-friendly tip, here are 24 more. • 20 Freezer Tips
Cambria Bold
Aug 17, 2012