The Latest: Aug 2012

Welcome to the hub for accessing all our latest posts! Easily sort through content by date to quickly find what you’re looking for — you’ll never miss out on the latest updates here.

How To Clean and Restore Rusty Cast Iron Skillets

There are tutorials out there for seasoning your cast iron, but not a lot about getting rust off. Many I found used steel wool which I didn’t have handy so I used what I had sitting around and got to it. • Clean Rusty Cast Iron Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 13, 2012

Creating a Space at Home for Reflection

Whatever your spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs) may be, it can be calming to have a special spot in your home reserved for quiet introspection and reflection. • Reflection at Home Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 10, 2012

Review: IKEA’s Kitchen Drawer Pull-Outs

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) My wife and I solved our own storage dilemma once and for all by converting all of our lower kitchen cabinets—originally outfitted as cabinets with regular doors—into cupboards made of drawers… • IKEA’s Drawer Pull-Outs The Kitchn

Cambria Bold

Aug 10, 2012

Essentials for a New Kitchen

This past year I finally moved into an apartment I could call my own, which meant setting up my first kitchen. Here is what I use weekly, if not daily, and consider essentials for a first kitchen… • Essentials for a New Kitchen Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 10, 2012

A Smart Shelving Unit for Kitchen Storage

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We love seeing our readers’ kitchen solutions for storage and organization. This photo and email from a reader named Brent was especially inspiring. He and his wife organized nearly everything in their kitchen on one wire shelving unit… • Kitchen Shelving Unit The Kitchn

Cambria Bold

Aug 9, 2012

Gameplan for an Organized Fridge

While there are lots of things you can do to save money on food, for me it all starts with having an organized fridge. Not to mention a clean one. • Organized Fridge Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 9, 2012

Real Life Lessons from a First-Time Painter

I have a confession: I’m a design writer who, until recently, had never actually painted a room. I’ve spent countless hours staring at fan decks, and I’ve memorized more shade names that I care to admit, but as someone who has hopped from rental to rental, rarely staying put for more than a year at a time, painting never quite seemed worth it. But as of this month, I’m proud to say that my neophyte status is no more.

Carolyn Purnell

Aug 9, 2012

Strategies for Downsizing

My friend Nina called me panicking. She’d decided to drastically downsize her living space. Here are a few tips if you find yourself in a similar situation: • Strategies for Downsizing Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 9, 2012

Apartment Therapy’s Annual Guide to Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds

Sofa beds may get a bad rap but they’re lifesavers for small spaces – or any home that is expecting guests, for that matter. Check out this roundup of the best sleeper sofas available today. • Sleepers & Sofa Beds Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 8, 2012

Letting Rooms Evolve Instead of Decorating

Most rooms evolve slowly over time. Above is a glimpse of my own dining area six months after I moved in, followed by a snapshot of the same space, now three years later. • Letting Rooms Evolve Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 8, 2012

The Upside of Schlepping

I love living in a city and I love walking, but sometimes it feels like the schlepping never ends. I try to remind myself what a fabulous workout I’m getting — it makes me feel a little more like a badass, and a little less like a pack mule. • The Upside of Schlepping

Carrie McBride

Aug 7, 2012

Mixing It Up: How To Combine Patterns Like A Pro

Mixing patterns is one of those decor areas that people seem to shy away from simply out of fear of not knowing what to match up. Well, we’re here to help get your feet wet and give you the confidence you need to feel free to mix it up!As the lovely living room above, from Lonny, amply illustrates, it’s a worthwhile skill to add to your decorating expertise and the only way to truly get comfortable with using patterns is to give it a go.

Alysha Findley

Aug 7, 2012

Before & After: Stripping Paint to Reveal a Walnut Dresser

Stripping paint often proves time-consuming, frustrating, and sometimes even dangerous — but just as often, it’s worth the effort! This dresser (seen here without its drawers) was found with layers of paint — a thick coat of white being the most recent.The Crafty Canadian (from Crafty in Canada) did some research on the manufacturer and made an educated guess that underneath the layers of paint there would be beautiful solid walnut.

Sarah Dobbins

Aug 7, 2012

Out of the Ordinary Planters

If you’ve been wanting to finally start or expand that fall garden this year, you might need a few planters, and we’ve got a roundup of the most weird and wonderful yet. • Out of the Ordinary Planters Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 7, 2012

The 2012 Olympics from a Design Perspective

The Olympics are off to a smashing start, especially in terms of design. Check out some of London 2012’s design hits so far… • 2012 Olympics Design Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 6, 2012

Tips for Photographing Food: Part 2

Did you practice the the food photography tips from last week? I hope the shutterbugs are having lots of outdoor meals this time of year and documenting them obsessively. • Food Photography Tips Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 6, 2012

Stream Images from DSLR to iPad for On the Fly Proofing

When I’m on a photo shoot I stream photos from my DSLR camera to my iPad so I can proof images on the fly. Nearly every person who sees the setup asks, “How are you doing that?” • DSLR to iPad Streaming Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 3, 2012

Before & After: A Shed Goes from Farmhouse to Modern

David needed to replace his rotted out farmhouse shed and wanted to go for a more modern look. Instead of shelling out the big bucks for a readymade modern shed, he took a stab at building one of his own for a quarter of the price. I have to say I am in awe of his results.For $3000, David demoed, hauled and started building from the ground up. It only took him a few days and some hard work.

Alysha Findley

Aug 3, 2012

Lessons Learned from a First Apartment

In 2007 my new husband and I moved into our first apartment. We ended up staying 3 years and learned many lessons. Here’s what I’m glad I did, and here’s what I wish I’d done differently. • First Apartment Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 3, 2012

Diagnosing and Helping Your Homegrown Tomatoes

When I left for a camping vacation earlier this month, I arranged for a fantastic gardening friend to care for my vegetable patch while I was away. Despite her care, though, I came home to a few troubles with my beloved tomatoes. • Homegrown Tomatoes Apartment Therapy

Carrie McBride

Aug 2, 2012

Bert & David’s LEGO Loving Style

Name: Bert Fox & David Pickett + Sophie the PugLocation: West Lakeview, Chicago, IllinoisSize: 830 square feetYears lived in: 1 year, 10 months; Rented When Bert and David rented their first apartment together, they enlisted the assistance of a friend and interior designer to help them turn it into a home. With a mix of vintage furniture and rich colors, they’ve managed to turn a standard issue Chicago apartment into a comfortable and stylish home.

Jason Loper

Aug 2, 2012

Partner

How To Get Your Friends To Help You Move

Moving can be overwhelming if you try to do it alone — it’s a task which requires more than one set of hands. That’s what friends are for, right? But even if your friends gladly offer to help, you still need to follow a few rules of thumb to ensure that your friends remain your friends, even after moving day.Enlisting friends to help you move can be wonderful, but be prepared for the fact that it requires more preparation on your part.