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.
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Think Like a Minimalist
In the words of Francine Jay, thinking like a minimalist can be “a fun little thought-experiment on what’s truly necessary.” Here’s her list of 15 pieces of furniture that you may be able to live without. • Think Like a Minimalist Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 17, 2012
Pros & Cons of Storing Data in the Cloud
Since I work from multiple locations on multiple devices, I have been pushing more and more data to the cloud. The super cloudified life definitely has its pros, but there are also a few cons… • Storing Data in the Cloud Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 16, 2012
3-Ingredient Cocktail Recipe of the Summer
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) “Faith! It’s the cocktail of the summer,” said my colleague Janel last week when she was visiting me in Columbus. Janel quite handily talked me into trying a Gold Rush for myself. Well, it wasn’t that difficult. Do you know this drink? You should. • The Cocktail of the Summer
Cambria Bold
Aug 16, 2012
Less Is More: 15 Pieces of Furniture You May Not Really Need
Minimalism certainly isn’t for everyone. In fact, it probably isn’t for most people. But in the words of Francine Jay, thinking like a minimalist can be “a fun little thought-experiment on what’s truly necessary.” If you want to play along, here’s her list of 15 pieces of furniture that you may be able to live without. Be forewarned: this list is probably going to strike you as extreme.
Carolyn Purnell
Aug 16, 2012
Inspiring Student Spaces
Some of the most creative, beautiful spaces here on Apartment Therapy have belonged to students, attesting to the power of imagination and enthusiasm when setting up home. • Inspiring Student Spaces Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 16, 2012
One Home: Then and Now
I recently visited my aunt’s new home and she casually mentioned she had photos from the home’s original owners from 1939. I wanted to share them with you along with a photo of the room in its current state. • One Home: Then & Now Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 15, 2012
Living Room Layout Challenge, Revisited: A Before & After Based On Your Advice
One of the best things about Apartment Therapy is the community of real voices weighing in on real-life design dilemmas and challenges. No matter how (relatively) easy it is for me to dish out advice to others about interior decorating and layout, I find I can get stuck in a decorating rut when it comes to some of my own spaces.Sometimes, all it takes is getting fresh, new perspectives on a room to overcome design challenges, especially when it comes to layout and furniture placement dilemmas.
Catrin Morris
Aug 15, 2012
Jennifer’s Touch of Hollywood Glamour
Name: Jennifer LaskeyLocation: Windsor Square / Hancock Park, Los Angeles, CASize: 1,000 square feetYears Lived In: 11 months Bette Davis, Marion Davies, Mae West, Ava Gardner, Douglas Fairbanks, Clara Bow, William Randolph Hearst…a who’s who of Hollywood royalty that once called the historic Los Altos apartments “home”. Now the tony address is home to events planner and vintage design specialist, Jennifer Laskey and her feline sidekick, Capone.
Gregory Han
Aug 15, 2012
A Travel-Inspired Kitchen Redo
Using their clients’ wanderlust as inspiration, DC design firm Residents Understood set about transforming a sterile gloomy kitchen to a bold global one. Check out the “after” shots… • Travel-Inspired Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 15, 2012
Stylish Solutions for Dining in a Studio
Having a studio apartment is great for a lot of reasons, but a lack of distinct rooms, can be a drag when you’re trying to entertain or even just fit a dining area in your space. Unless you have some of these small yet stylish studio dining product solutions. • Stylish Dining in a Studio
Carrie McBride
Aug 14, 2012
Flatbread Recipe: Norwegian Potato Lefse
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Some food lovers collect spices, others collect vintage cake stands. I collect recipes for flatbreads. I love them. Can’t get enough. Lefse, in particular, is a flatbread I’ve been eyeing for some time now. You might even say it’s my birthright. • Norwegian Potato Lefse The Kitchn
Cambria Bold
Aug 14, 2012
Sara’s Vintage, Luxury Find
Name: Sara, Blogger and Real Estate ConsultantLocation: Dupont Circle, Washington D.CSize: 718 square feetYears lived in: 2 years; OwnedWhen you have a blog that focuses on how to achieve high fashion at a bargain, there is a good chance your home will reflect that same sensibility. Blogger Sara’s home radiates world charm, luxury, and her keen ability to mix her taste in high-quality vintage pieces with great low-price steals from her favorite bargain shop, Home Goods, and D.
Nicole Crowder
Aug 14, 2012
A DIY Play Grill for the Kids
If you’re having a lot of barbecues this summer, maybe it’s time to get some help. Put together this amazing play grill for your kids, and they’ll be flipping burgers in no time. • DIY Kids’ Play Grill Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 14, 2012
Advice for First-Time Painter
My guess is that I’m not the only first-time painter out there. Luckily, my boyfriend’s dad is a contractor who’s spent many hours roller in hand. Here are a few things I learned on my first go-round. • Advice for First-Time Painters Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Aug 13, 2012
Before & After: Origami Lack Hack
I love the blank slate presented by Ikea’s Lack table — one simple design, endless possibilities. And I particularly love this creative hack from blogger Naomi Stein of Design Manifest, which reminded me of my childhood love for origami.That’s right — origami. Naomi took paper — specifically, some grasscloth wallpaper left over from another project — and used it to cover her Lack table and completely change its look.
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 13, 2012
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