Apartment Therapy Archive: Oct 2013

Name: Fabienne Location: Montreal, Quebec Color, color, color! Cats and dogs and lots of artwork and funky found furniture. What I love most about our apartment is that it feels like a country house even though it’s in a big city. It is a work in constant progress that reflects our interests and passion for animals. Right now, it’s all about birds, birds, birds! Thanks, Fabienne! • Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy?

Happy Halloween Eames lovers, get ready to jump out of your skin. Denny happened upon this Eames DCW chair at an abandoned house in his neighborhood so he took it home and gave it a makeover you won’t soon forget. Boo! Okay purists, before your hearts stop, let’s hear what Denny has to say: The chair was damaged, the lamination was separating in the seat and there were water stains down the legs.

Name: John and Liz Tavarez Location: Fairview Place; Phoenix, Arizona Size: 1,004 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Liz and John live in a Sears Craftsman assembled in 1926. Their neighborhood, Fairview Place, was granted Historic Designation in 1994. It’s the oldest house in their neighborhood by two years. In Phoenix, this is considered incredibly old. In fact, generally speaking, a home built before 1960 is considered old.

I’ve seen lots of upholstered headboard projects over the years, so my eyes often glaze over when they cross my desktop. Not so with this recent one from Mandy at Fabric Paper Glue. There’s something about the vertical tufting — and that green — that really appeals to me. It’s also wider than most headboards, making it more statement piece than furniture. Mandy used a photo of another custom bed for inspiration and figured out how to create the look she wanted.

Some of us have a little birdhouse in our soul and others hang them in the nursery. They’re inexpensive, completely customizable and what could better symbolize the “nesting stage” than a birdhouse? If you really wanted to start from scratch you could build your own birdhouses, but they are also readily available (and inexpensive) at craft stores like Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, etc. Decorate with paint, washi tape, or decoupaged paper or fabric.

It’s not uncommon to find homes today with two, three, maybe even four separate tablets and/or laptops used by individual household members.

(Image credit: Flickr User Gamene) cc by 2.0 From The Kitchn → Bento Boxes: Halloween for Your Lunch Year Round.

It’s a story as old as Halloween itself. The day after trick or treating, the candy’s flying and the wrappers are everywhere. Gather them up and you have the base materials for countless DIY projects. These could easily veer into Tackytown, but with a restrained hand, you can make fun and creative things, especially for the kiddos and for decorations. Here are ten favorites. TOP ROW: 1.

I had a conversation with a friend recently about the creative process and how people seem to just “come up” with amazing ideas in the spur of the moment. For those who depend on their creativity for a living, and even those who struggle to fill a blank wall at home, here is a little secret… If you want moments of inspiration, you have to cultivate them.

Name: David, Jennifer, and Tupelo Clancy Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island Size: approximately 900 square feet Years lived in: 16 years; owned Long rays of golden light stretch across the Clancy lawn and fill their small cottage with a warm glow as the sun rises over Narragansett Bay.

Anna Hansen had a prepped and framed nook in her kids’ playroom for a gas fireplace. But a gas fireplace isn’t exactly the most kid-friendly feature, so Anna decided to repurpose the space. For a while, the frame held a toy rack, until she got inspired and motivated and turned it into a fantastic indoor playhouse. With no carpentry experience at all, Anna managed to build this sweet house. (She did get a little instruction from her in-laws.

In the past, monthly subscriptions only came in the form of magazines and music for a penny, but we have come a long way from then. Now you can give a subscription gift to just about anything from wine to candy to food to beauty products. Here are some of the best monthly subscription boxes and gifts for anyone on your list: What could be better than receiving a surprise gift each month in the mail? It’s a surefire way to put an exclamation point at the end of any good or not so good day.

Name: Erin Tavin, Nathan Stein, and cat, Charlie Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 24 years (Nathan), 9 years (Erin); Owned Creativity abounds at the Echo Park home of Erin and Nathan. Set atop a quiet hillside, Erin and Nathan have lovingly crafted a home that reflects their creative and hardworking personalities.

I hadn’t had much sleep…in months. Groggy, bordering on delirious, I was straightening up the house and found myself standing in the middle of the living room frozen, staring down at the small, fluffy toy in my hand. What was that? Does that belong to the cat…or the baby? My weary brain couldn’t solve this seemingly simple problem so I tossed it aside for another day.

When Chelsea came across this vintage dresser, she knew right away that it was destined to become a fixture in her home. The dresser was in rough shape but after a little bit of rehab and a lot of wood putty, she’s proud to show off her creation. From Chelsea: The mint color is Lowe’s Olympic Paints Sweet Pea and it’s the perfect shade of true mint green.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 14 Fabulous Pets Dressed Up as Food-Related Things for Halloween.

Name: Location: Size: Years lived in: High above the busy city streets, Greg’s home feels like an oasis — serene, comfortable, masculine, and filled with personality. It is clear that all of the pieces that occupy the space are chosen with love and attention. As an interior designer, Greg Schriefer has an exquisite eye — one that finds just the right balance between perfection and coziness. His space is well curated, but also most definitely a home.

Name: Calvin Gilbreath Location: Capitol Hill, Washington DC Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned “Natural” is an apt term for the look and feel of Calvin’s Capitol Hill apartment — not just for the materials that make it up, but his innate ability to mix (and repurpose) high and low decor into a truly fashionable space. And I’ve never wanted to steal someone’s bathroom trash can until I toured Calvin’s home.

I’m not quite ready to go off the grid but I try to be eco in small ways, like turning off the faucet when washing dishes, keeping lights off in rooms I’m not using, and not using paper towels. Using cloth napkins is just one of those things that I’m hooked on. A few stats from Earth911 help put things into perspective: 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used in the U.S. every year.

Project by: Sarah Gunn of Sarah Gunn Style Client: Jules Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Jules and I talked a lot about how she wanted the room to look and function. What she wanted, more than anything, was a desk. And no more pastel pink. Anywhere. Jules’ bedroom is small, and the bunk bed was taking up too much space visually and covered the window on the back wall .

Name: Ursula (7 years) Location: Soho, NY Making a room for Ursula in our new home together took awhile but it was a joy. For her first room to herself in our new life (we were sharing a one bedroom for a year), I was able to take a white sheetrock box with a high ceiling and make it airy but cozy and have plenty of storage for her growing lifestyle of clothes, dolls, costumes and toys. Before! During!

Leslie loves all things 1960’s so when she saw this 1965 Henredon sofa at a thrift store, she had to have it. From Leslie: I could not find an affordable icy blue velvet to redo the sofa in (fabric was discolored with age and faded in spots), but I did find this amazing black swirly velvet-like fabric that gives it so much interest. And such comfort! My upholsterer did a perfect job, reusing all of the original padding because it was in amazingly good condition.

Some may call it dubious, but I truly believe in the power of aromatherapy. Whether it’s for creating a mood with a candle over dinner, or producing a sense of calm with a little aroma-based wash in the bath, our sense of smell is an incredibly powerful tool for setting our mood…especially in our home office.

(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → Why Can’t I Keep The Stovetop Clean?

As wonderful as it would be to decorate your home with flowers gathered lovingly from your lush, rambling garden and arranged impeccably by the finest floral artist in the land, here in reality-land we generally have to go with 1) what we can afford and 2) what we can get. And when what you can get is the grocery store’s finest 3/$12 deal… …go monochrome! The single color bouquets are definitely the way to go.

Forward-facing book displays are being found in more and more children’s spaces. They not only entice little ones to pick up a book, but also help kids to visually find the books they want to read. And as a bonus, book displays can serve as functional artwork. Here are twenty beautiful books that are perfect to put on display… ROW ONE 1. Sleep Like a Tiger by by Mary Logue, Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski 2. Black Dog by Levi Pinfold 3. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans 4.

Name: Naomi Location: Portland, Oregon Last year, my husband and I converted the two car garage of our ’80s ranch home, into an apartment (an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU, according to Porland zoning standards). With the help of our architect friend, we designed and built a beautiful, 1-bedroom, 360 SF apartment that we now call home. We love the space and the fact that we created it together from the shell of a former garage.

This is a great makeover and a cool story because it involves a mom and son working collaboratively to create a completely new room for a budget of only $150! Take a dip into Levi’s newly nautical bedroom (puns = not my strong suit). I know, wonderful, isn’t it?

Name: Elizabeth Tulipana, founder of Anticipation Events + Bad Loo Loo Location: Bucktown; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Putting together a space that functions as both a home and base for her event planning business and Etsy shop came naturally to Elizabeth. A lover of all things vibrant and patterned, her spacious one bedroom apartment reflects her dynamic spirit and boundless creativity.

I’ve begun a new Halloween tradition where I like to turn off all the lights and play a scary game. Where horror movies let you watch others in frightening situations, video games deliver a different experience, where I’m the one running from zombies or creeping through a dark hallway.

When Lara’s family bought their 1949 custom cape, the previous owners had lived there for 50 years and done virtually no upgrades. Says Lara, “The kitchen required so much work it was almost paralyzing.” The yellow wood cabinets were warped, the formica counters were peeling, the tile was troubling and the lack of workspace unworkable. Nonetheless, she knocked it into the 21st century.

(Image credit: http://www.thekitchn.com/15-recipe-ideas-for-hosting-your-own-sweet-potato-bar-196496) From The Kitchn → 15 Recipe Ideas for Hosting Your Own Sweet Potato Bar.

Christine’s husband thought she was insane for falling in love with this 113-year old house — it was a mess of ’70s faux wood paneling, awkward trim colors and in desperate need of some TLC — but she knew they could reveal its charm with a little elbow grease. In the sunroom, she painted the paneling a soft gray and gave the buttery-yellow trim a coat of crisp white. What a difference! From Christine: I was also thrilled with how easily I was able to paint the paneling.

Name: Robert Onderdonk & Gregory Roth Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 1270 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned This sky high condo is as custom-made as they come. While gutting a brand-new home may seem like a surprising choice to some, Greg and Rob were so dissatisfied with their builder-quality basics that they knew it had to be done as soon as they moved in.

What are the elements of a really beautiful room? Of course, you need great furniture and accessories, and the right lighting and colors. But there’s a secret that all good designers know that can really take a space to the next level. It’s the one element without which no room is complete: texture. Of course anything, even if it’s made of shiny metal or plastic, has its own texture. ‘Smooth’ is a texture.

This first project inspired me to add some air-dry modeling clay to my craft supplies. That arsenal includes many years’ worth of odds and ends, and I don’t want the remaining clay to go unused. So I’ve found nine other projects that I’m sharing with you and that you can pass on as gifts. TOP ROW: 1. Clay leaf bowls by Urban Comfort 2. Mini kids’ clay pots by Say Yes to Hoboken 3. Garden markers by Wit Whistle 4. DIY pottery by What Katie Does 5.

She saw the late 1960’s couch sitting there at the local thrift shop, covered in a yellow satin paisley flower patterned fabric which she immediately deemed “very not cool”. Yet something about the style spoke to her as “hella fabulous” (her words, not mine).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → A Fall Pumpkin-Carving Party.

Wendy from Designed to Dwell had a perfectly nice formal study, yet she came to a realization I think we’ve all had at some point: sometimes what we think we like isn’t our style after all. Check out how Wendy lightened and brightened to create a completely fresh new room that’s much more her. After living with the formal study for a few years, Wendy realized her study needed a makeover.

Name: Jordan and Chris Brown and their dog, Quigley Location: Presidio Heights, San Francisco, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Owned The attention to detail in Jordan and Chris’ flat is remarkable. Layers of beautiful architectural elements, smart furniture choices, and on-point styling bring character to each space.

A lot can happen in 100 years. Things like the road in front of your Seattle home gets really busy and dangerous. So Courtney came up with a pretty genius solution. She gave her home the ‘ole flip-flop, making the back, the front! Says Courtney: We tried to respect the architecture and make it look as though our “new front entrance” was the original entrance. We also re-landscaped and redesigned the flow of the outdoor spaces as a part of the effort.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Americans in the Hague: Sonia’s Warm and Welcoming International Kitchen.

Name: Whitney Leigh Morris, Graphic Designer, and Adam Winkleman Location: Canals, Venice Beach, California Size: 362 square feet (interior) Years lived in: 2.5 years; Rented Etc: Built in 1924. One of two original craftsman-style cottages on the lot. You may remember this beautifully renovated cottage from Whitney’s House Call. I was brought in to do a full tour of their space, and I was certainly not disappointed. Whitney and Adam have made living in a small space look like a breeze.

Take heart, rookie decorators; everyone needs a little push once in a while when it comes to finding their personal style. We’ve learned some very helpful lessons through trial and (a lot of) error so don’t follow in our footsteps. Avoid these common first-time decorating mistakes. 1. Catalogue Crush — You know when you walk into someone’s home and it feels sorta familiar? Like you’ve seen it before, say, in your mailbox?

Usha was attempting her first upholstery project and wanted a cheap-o chair in case it went horribly, horribly wrong. She found this armchair on Ebay for £12.50 and got to work. Wow! What a feat for a first-time upholsterer. From Usha: It took me a week to strip the old upholstery (and all those staples!), a further week to plan the project and alter the curved shape of the wings and arms to give the chair more modern lines and more than four weeks to complete the upholstery.

Name: Hannah and Dave Bullivant and their daughter Frankie-Rose Location: Brockley; London, UK Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 10 years; rented Hannah and Dave’s south London flat is proof that a little creativity and lateral thinking can turn a down at heel rented property into a cozy family home. The couple moved in ten years ago as students. Since then they’ve embarked on careers as a freelance writer and blogger at Seeds & Stitches (her) and music video director (him).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 10 Reasons to Break Out the Slow Cooker