The Latest
2012

The Latest: 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.
Effortless Hostessing, the French Way
The French treat every meal as if it’s an occasion. So, how does one hostess the French way? Mimi Thorisson, mom, cook, blogger (and owner of 14 dogs!) shares her secrets. • Effortless Hostessing Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 19, 2012
15 Quick Breads for the Thanksgiving Table
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Here are 15 recipes to fulfill your holiday bread basket needs, including classic potato dough dinner rolls, light-as-air cheese gougères, buttery angel biscuits, and a basic buttermilk quick bread with ten different flavor variations. • Thanksgiving Breads The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 16, 2012
Deb Perelman’s Tiny Smitten Kitchen Rental
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) If you follow Deb Perelman on her enormously popular blog, Smitten Kitchen, you are already familiar with one part of her East Village, NYC home kitchen very well… • Deb Perelman’s Smitten Kitchen The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 16, 2012
Tips for Hosting Guests with Food Allergies
We’re all familiar with the rise of food allergies, so how do you go about keeping your guests safe? Here are some tips for hosting guests with food allergies. • Hosting Guests with Allergies Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 16, 2012
Readers’ Favorite Cocktails
One of the most important elements of a party is the cocktails. Whether it’s a themed drink, a seasonal beverage, or you like to mix it up, we’re asking readers about their favorite. • Readers’ Favorite Cocktails Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 16, 2012
Sources for Handcrafted Tabletop Items
Earlier I took a look at budget dishware sets but if you’re ready to upgrade to something more special, the shops on this list specialize in handcrafted tabletop. • Handcrafted Tabletop Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 15, 2012
The Secrets of Bake Sale Best Sellers
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Do you have a bake sale coming up this season? Maybe you have a favorite recipe that always flies off the table? We put together our first bake sale last year and were a little surprised by some of the best sellers. • Bake Sale Best Sellers The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 15, 2012
Before & After: “Old & Ugly” High Chair
Would you click on this Craigslist ad: “very old & ugly high chair w/potty chair both for $15”? Yeah, me neither. But Jennifer did (and with enthusiasm I might add) and she set to work cleaning it up and giving it new look.The silver paint makes a huge difference and the vinyl cover will surely be easier to clean than the previous fabric. Jennifer shares the steps she took: I had been looking everywhere for a high chair and when I found it I jumped on it.
Carrie McBride
Nov 15, 2012
Be-foyer and After: An Entryway Makeover
Ever since my husband and I moved into our 1997 split level, we’ve been slowly working at removing the builder grade finishes to really make it reflect our taste. A couple of weeks ago I finally finished making over the entryway.I smashed the old green ceramic tiles, pulled the stained carpet off the stairs, and painted what felt like miles and miles of honey oak trim. The front door got a coat of yellow paint and the walls got a pale gray.
Katie Steuernagle
Nov 15, 2012
How To Make a Classic Tarte Tatin
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Here’s what makes a tarte tatin so fabulous: even if your crust isn’t perfect, even if it crumbles a bit when you flip it, and even if the tarte is not perfectly centered on your serving platter, it will still taste like something that came directly from heaven. • A Classic
Cambria Bold
Nov 15, 2012
Use Chalkboard Cloth to Label Party Food
This DIY table runner makes it easy for guests to identify wine and cheese pairings, but it’s not limited solely to swigs. I think this would work equally well to label platters at a buffet table or list suggestions for fun little things like DIY sundae bars! • Chalkboard Cloth for Parties Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 15, 2012
Studded Suede Trivet Tutorial
Every year, as I’m putting a big Thanksgiving dinner on the table I realize I don’t own enough trivets. This year I’m heading that moment off at the pass, and adding some more to my paltry collection, including this one I made. Here’s the tutorial… • Studded Trivet Tutorial Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 14, 2012
Before & After: Unfinished Basement Into “Organized Chaos” Play Space
Julie’s basement needed some work to become a cozier spot for her kids to play and she also wanted it to be a relaxing, attractive spot for the whole family. The new room has big changes: new floor, new ceiling and painted walls as well as furniture and storage.Julie shares: When we moved into our new home, the basement was unfinished. I had dreams of making it into a world-class chaos wrangler, I mean playroom.
Carrie McBride
Nov 14, 2012
How To Make Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Anyone else here think that the stuffing is the best part of Thanksgiving dinner? As the self-designated stuffing-maker in our house, I’ve tweaked and tested my recipe over the years until finally settling on this one easy method. • How To Make Stuffing The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 13, 2012
Seasonal Fruit Centerpieces
In the summer, using fresh fruit to create pretty centerpieces is common. As the temperatures drop, however, it’s easy to forget that seasonal fruit still makes for fantastic arrangements. • Seasonal Fruit Centerpieces Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 13, 2012
Tips for Mailing Food to Troops Overseas
(Image credit: Gregory Han) Do you have a friend or loved one on active duty overseas? If you’d like to send them a holiday food package this season, here are a few rules to keep in mind when shipping edible goodies to troops overseas: • Mailing Food to Troops The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 13, 2012
Dinnerware on a Budget
My first time hosting Thanksgiving, I found myself with a serious lack of dinnerware. Don’t let a lack of dinnerware keep you from entertaining. Take a look at this roundup of affordable dinnerware sets… • Dinnerware on a Budget Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 13, 2012
Easy Holiday Decor: Birch Branches
Birch branches are plentiful at many garden centers and floral departments this time of year, and their sparse beauty can be used a number of ways, from elegant centerpieces to chic alternatives to traditional evergreen trees. • Birch Branch Decor Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 12, 2012
How To Cook a Turkey
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Are you roasting a whole turkey for the first time this year? Or perhaps you want a quick refresher to brush up on the basics? We’ll help you make your mama proud with these step-by-step instructions for roasting a delicious turkey. • How to Cook a Turkey The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 12, 2012
Thanksgiving Kids’ Table Decor
A kids’ table for Thanksgiving is attractive for a lot of families. Here’s a selection of decorating ideas sure to help make your young guests happy to gather around their own little celebration. • Kids Table Decor Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 12, 2012
15 Savory Dishes for a Potluck Party
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Call me crazy, but I love a good holiday potluck. But finding that perfect dish that will simultaneously please and impress, plus be easy to shuttle along in a car or on a bus, is no small feat. Perhaps one of these this year? • 15 Potluck Dishes The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 9, 2012
A Repurposed Kitchen Island
Once Liz started searching for an island with the proper measurements for her kitchen, she realized she might require a custom solution and a DIY plan. Here’s what she came up with… • A Repurposed Kitchen Island Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 9, 2012
Tips and Tutorials About Meat
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) How do you cook and shred a pork shoulder? How do you carve a roast chicken? What’s the secret to crispy skin? The answers to all these, plus many, many more in our definitive tips, tricks, and techniques guide to MEAT. • 28 Tips & Tutorials About Meat The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 9, 2012
A Hostess Vents About Failure To RSVP
It seems like people have become woefully rude and negligent at RSVPing to invitations. Is the shift to electronic invitations the problem here? Are people just plain ruder now? Busier? Both? • Failure to RSVP Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 9, 2012
Before & After: DIY Custom Kitchen Island
When Liz and her husband completed their kitchen renovation, they still couldn’t agree on whether or not to add an island. Liza was a fan of the idea, but her husband was concerned about overwhelming their space. After months of debate, and recent entertaining experiences, Liz decided to take the bull by the horns.Once Liz started searching for an island with the proper measurements for her kitchen, she realized that such a specific size might require a custom solution.
Colleen Quinn
Nov 8, 2012
5 Essential Tips for Home Cooks
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Jodi Liano and Catherine Patsios recently launched The San Francisco Cooking School, a new professional cooking school that also has an extensive home cooking program. They have a real understanding of what a home cook needs to know. Here are their top tips: • Essential Tips for Home Cooks The
Cambria Bold
Nov 8, 2012
How To Deal with a Downed Tree
Whether it’s a tornado, flood, high winds, or a hurricane that causes a tree to go down, there are lots of things to think about. How to clean it up, what to do with all of that wood, and ultimately how to replace it are questions that come to mind. • Dealing with a Downed
Carrie McBride
Nov 8, 2012
Choosing Wisely: Tips for Getting the Perfect Paint Color Every Time
Sometimes there is nothing quite so daunting as a big, blank wall, waiting to be painted. With all the time, money and effort that painting entails, you want to be sure that you’re actually going to like the finished product. Read on for some tips on how to choose color wisely.Consider your light. First of all, you should be realistic about your space and the colors that will work within it, and light plays a big role here.
Eleanor Büsing
Nov 7, 2012
A Beautiful Reuse of Honey Bear Containers
Emma and Elsie of the blog A Beautiful Mess know how to transform ordinary objects into something special. They shared this simple and sweet idea for turning honey containers into a whimsical golden vase. • Reuse Your Honey Bears Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 7, 2012
How To Make Chunky Granola Clusters
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I love chunky, clumpy sheets of granola that hold together until you chop them up. And I finally found two significant elements that will help you get deliciously clustered granola! • How To Make Chunky Granola Clusters The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 6, 2012
Dark vs. Light Floors in the Kitchen
If you had to pick, which would it be – the rich elegance of a dark floor or the crisp, airy feeling of white floors? When deciding between these two extremes, there’s more to consider than what initially meets the eye… • Dark vs. Light Floors Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 6, 2012
Pamela’s Blank Canvas Goes Bold
Name: Pamela BeecroftLocation: Washington, DCSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 4 months (at the time of the tour); Rented When the owner of her rental apartment suddenly decided to move back in, Pam found herself scrambling to find a new place to live. With few options (it was winter…not a lot of available apartments) and very little time to search, she was forced to move from a smaller space with plenty of soul and character to a larger and more impersonal place.
Guest
Nov 6, 2012
Photographing Products: 4 Useful Tutorials
Today I’m sharing a few approachable tutorials written by a handful of great bloggers. With a few useful tips, as well as a little thought to your setup, you’ll be on your way to great photos in no time. • Photographing Products Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 6, 2012
Your Home as a Catalyst to Your Dreams
Home is a place to sleep, to eat, to hang out with your family and your friends. It can also be the place where you get started working on those big dreams of yours. • Home as a Catalyst to Dreams Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 5, 2012
Election Night Cocktail: The El Presidente
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The name itself and the fact that it’s delicious make the El Presidente cocktail the perfect drink of choice while you’re nervously waiting out the election results on Tuesday. • An Election Night Cocktail Recipe The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 5, 2012
On Introducing Fine Cheese To Children
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) There’s something to be said for exposing young kids to new flavors. Sharing food builds bond and prepares your young’ins for a life full of unique and fulfilling food experiences. Plus, it’s much more fun to raise an adventurous eater than a picky one. • Make Mongers of the Kids
Cambria Bold
Nov 2, 2012
Use the Color Wheel to Choose Complimentary Colors
Remember the color wheel? Colors that lie opposite to one another on the wheel are especially pleasing together. Here’s how to make it work for you. • Complimentary Colors Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 1, 2012
How To Make Sparkling Cider at Home
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We’re always amazed by how truly easy it is to make things like sparkling cider at home. All you do is add a bit of yeast to some juice, bottle in recycled soda bottles, and wait for it to carbonate. Presto chango, fizzy cider! • How To Make Sparkling Cider
Cambria Bold
Nov 1, 2012
Maker Tour: Visiting Brooklyn Soda Works
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) It all started on a whim. Back in early 2010, Antonio, a chemist, and his partner Caroline, an artist, just wanted to make a good ginger beer at home, but what followed was the basis for a new business… • Brooklyn Soda Works The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Nov 1, 2012
Round Dining Tables for Small Spaces
Round dining tables tend to work great in small spaces and traffic flows easily around the shape of circular table. Here are 5 modern round dining tables to consider. • Round Dining Tables Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Nov 1, 2012
Kitchens in Every Color of The Rainbow
Buying colored cabinets (or even painting the ones you have) is not a choice for the faint of heart. But you spend a lot of time in your kitchen — shouldn’t it be a color that makes you happy? • Colorful Kitchens Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Oct 31, 2012
15 Scrumptious Pumpkin Recipes
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) You guys — it’s pumpkin season! Of course, pumpkin has so much more to offer than just pumpkin pie. Take baked pumpkin steel-cut oatmeal, for instance, or soft, cakey pumpkin spice cookies. Are these on your fall menu yet? • 15 Pumpkin Recipes The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Oct 31, 2012
10 Spooky, Clever Foods For Halloween
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Once a year you’re allowed to delve into the dark, twisted part of your mind and come up with something that’ll scare the bejeesus out of people. These 10 Halloween recipes are sufficiently spooky… • Creepy Halloween Food The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Oct 31, 2012
Rounding Up the Best Small Compost Bins
All of the composters on this list will fit on the counter or under the kitchen sink. And just like that you’re a friend of the earth! • Best Compost Bins Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Oct 31, 2012
10 Things To Do If You’re Homebound with Sandy
East Coasters are stocked up on canned goods and water and waiting out Hurricane Sandy. Consider this my way of sending good thoughts and best wishes to everyone who is at home today. • Homebound with Sandy Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Oct 30, 2012
Washington Square Park Living Room and Kids’ Room
A big, open space in a home is a nice thing, but sometimes it can be hard to divide the space into useful areas. That’s exactly the problem Bob and Cortney tackled with their clients on Saturday’s Home By Novogratz, and the best part is that we get to see it in Before and After format!I’ve loved before and after transformations ever since Brady Bunch episode 71 where Marcia gave her friend, Molly, a makeover. This Novogratz design was similar.
Katie Steuernagle
Oct 29, 2012
Leah & Bill’s Modern Love Nest
Name: Bill Johnson and Leah Forester Johnson, wife, mother, and blogger Location: Venice – Los Angeles, California Size: 3,300 square feet (main house), 1,000 square feet (man cave) Years lived in: 8 years (approximately 2 years since the remodel) If you’ve ever believed in fate, keep reading: this story is for you. I am not just showing you a beautiful house on the boardwalk in Venice — this home has a special story behind it.
Marcia Prentice
Oct 29, 2012
Before & After: Third Time’s a Charm DIY Cabinet
When Terry’s neighbor offered her this piece to redo, she knew she had a challenge on her hands. This sturdy little cabinet had already been altered by a previous owner who removed doors and the bottom to create a mini-desk, adding odd triangular trim pieces for support. Terry knew those pieces had to go if this cabinet was going to get a new lease on life.Terry removed the V-shaped trim and lined the inside of the cabinet with painted bead board.
Colleen Quinn
Oct 29, 2012