Apartment Therapy Archive: Nov 2013

It can be tough to get everyone outside in the winter, what with the windchill factor, freezing rain, and infinite amount of layers required…but it’s so worth it! I’ve gathered a handful of sweet and low-stress outdoor activities that might be perfect for this winter, and many winters to come. Sparklers In The Snow What better way to welcome the new year than with ultra-festive sparklers?

Name: Zoie Kingsbery Coe, founder of Kid & Coe Location: Marylebone, London Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; owned The location of Zoie Kingsbery Coe’s central London home is hard to beat. Situated in a tranquil and beautiful old mansion block, the apartment is tucked away, yet right in the heart of Marylebone with all the buzz of the city just moments away. The flat is the London home of Zoie, her husband and their two kids.

Today, we here at Apartment Therapy are offering you some therapy of a different kind — retail! We’ve gathered the 101 best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales so you can pounce. From big-name, designer furniture to small, indie shops; from tech deals to pet purchases to great gifts, you’re sure to find something (and most likely many things) you simply have to score. And it’s all on sale! So scan the list, make a plan and get your bod (or your fingers) in gear.

Name: Tyler and Lolly Lux Location: Kensington, London, United Kingdom Size: 560 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, rented The morning of my photo shoot at Tyler and Lolly’s west London mews home, the couple were visited by an unexpected guest, in the form of a pigeon who somehow managed to fall down their chimney into the living room. “We woke up and could hear this strange flapping noise” Lolly told me when I arrived several hours later.

Secret santas exchanges, office holiday parties, a little token for the the helpful neighbor next door…sometimes something small but special is in order. Here are our 10 picks for ultra inexpensive (all under $10!) goodies that are fun to give and even more fun to receive.

The title pretty much says it all folks— here are 30 of the best DIY craft projects that you still have lots of time to do. These little things will elevate your Thanksgiving dinner table, so your family and guests will say “Bravo!

Name: Jevon Lake Location: Central Phoenix, Arizona Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned When Jevon was hunting for a home five years ago, his agents brought him to a unit in a Mid-century condominium community. The unit was a slow moving project by a local designer, not yet on the market, and Jevon immediately fell in love with it. A deal was struck and Jevon lived in a hotel for about a month, while consulting on the finished design.

It seems like only yesterday that I was cutting stems of late summer’s herbs and drying them before the freezing weather. Well, winter is here now and I still have plenty of dried, bundled herbs. And I just heard of a great idea for using them that goes hand-in-hand with the bitterly cold weather. Throw a bundle in as kindling when you’re starting a fire in the fireplace! Be it rosemary or lavender, the herbs give off a subtle fragrance before the fire really gets going.

With Hanukkah and Thanksgiving occurring this week, holiday shopping is in full swing. While Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days, Cyber Monday seems to be much more convenient — you don’t even need to leave the house, and you can ship directly to your recipient. With friends and family spread across the country, it almost seems most convenient to do all your gift shopping online. But there may be some pros and cons to this approach.

Jamie took one look at this plain lamp and imagined a world where it was a cool, woven statement piece. Want to see how this creative chica did it? Jamie says: Balsa wood is a crafting miracle. That’s pretty much all you need for this shady craft. I used 7 strips of balsa wood and painted them with in different shades of watered down brown acrylic paint. I cut the wood with scissors and hot glued it to my plain white shade. It’s that easy! See more DIY goodness at C.R.A.F.T.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Label Your Leftovers with These Pretty Printables

Name: Rachel, Zach & Skye Location: Little Italy, San Diego, California Size: You’d think that we would know that since Zach’s dad is the architect, but we have no clue. Big enough for the three of us! Years lived in: 11 years If you want to live in one of the coolest concrete lofts in San Diego, it doesn’t hurt to be related to the architect.

Emily of Chez V joined in the One Room Challenge this year, a semi-annual event where 20 design-oriented bloggers transform a room of their own, from start to finish. Emily threw herself into renovating her master bedroom and, over the course of six weeks, sanded the walls, painted, printed fabric, and shopped for the perfect pieces. See the finished product next… Yes, yes, before you say anything — no, there is nothing wrong the before, it’s lovely, blah, blah, blah.

I took a trip to the craft store a couple of weeks ago with the intention of picking up a few Christmas decorations. On a whim I decided to DIY my own succulent wreath, and walked out with my arms filled with supplies. I love the idea of decorations that can easily be modified and used year round. When the season is up I plan to remove the bow and hang my wreath outside.

Irina had a few extra things taking up space in her garden so she found a way to transform a boring brown shed, an old bed and an IKEA side table into a wonderful surprise for her daughters. She gave the inside of the shed a coat of white paint and made the side table into an adorable play kitchen by adding silver coasters and knobs. The bed frame transformed into a comfy bench for playroom naps or lounging.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Kitchen Before & After: A Yellow 1970s Kitchen Gets a Crisp, Clean New Look

Who needs a traditional alarm clock anymore? Seriously? I haven’t used mine in years and my smart phone is not prone to sudden power outages. I was going to get rid of mind, but then I got nostalgic: alarm clocks might just be a relic from the past worth holding onto. I’m especially inclined to hold onto clocks with extra tech features. Here are five worth keeping on the nightstand: 1. Tetris Animated Alarm Clock ($29.99) Numbers made of Tetrominos?

We are big fans of natural cleaners here on Apartment Therapy, and generally they are very easy (and inexpensive!) to make. I personally try to use citrus in my cleaning repertoire whenever I can because I find it to be an effect whitener and grease cutter, and it leaves the room I am cleaning pleasantly fragrant. Here are 10 of my favorite DIY citrus cleaners and cleaning techniques. Please share your favorites in the comments below! All Purpose: 1. How To Make Homemade Citrus Cleaner 2.

Name: Cori & Jake Roberts Location: West End; Glasgow, Scotland Size: Three story town house Years lived in: 3 years; owned I can only conclude that Cori, her husband Jake (a film editor) and their three beautiful boys, Milo, Jonah and Louis, have effortless style running through their veins. Cori was born in Sweden, and with a photographer for a mother and artist for a father; their home was a hive of creativity.

Most refrigerators stand around 70″ tall, slotting into a 6 foot space in the kitchen. Many homes have over-the-fridge cabinets designed to add storage and blend into the rest of the kitchen space. But more often than not, these high cabinets are difficult to reach, and regularly end up being untouched storage space. Which brings us to the question: more kitchen cabinet storage or a taller refrigerator with more food storage capacity?

In small rooms it just makes sense to “go up” and optimize your vertical space. Faced with the challenge of making better use of a tiny bedroom (7′ x 12′) in Manhattan, architect Benjamin Marcus conceived a lofted bed structure with stairs and desk and storage below. Benjamin tells us more about this project: The room has two points of entry on opposite long walls, making it a very tight space.

(Image credit: Anne Wolfe Postic) From The Kitchn → A Pre-Thanksgiving Tip: Don’t Get the Kitchen Dirty

This is Mattie’s old bathroom, pre Style Cure. Even though she was a little off of the usual Cure schedule, due to some conflicts with work and potty training, it doesn’t make her results any less impressive. The best part? The budget for her entire bathroom redo was a low low $49. After: what a difference a little paint makes! The blue walls, with a pattern of little birds and clouds, lend just the right amount of color and whimsy to this previously drab bathroom.

This is my son, age 5, practicing cello by Lake Michigan, a few blocks from our home. What I love about this picture is not that it looks like he’s got some mad skills (full disclosure: he’s playing “Hot Cross Buns”, not Bach, and he’s not about to fall into the lake, though it kind of looks that way). This picture reminds me how invigorating this experience was for him, and to keep thinking outside the box when it comes to engaging in learning and practicing.

Maker: Rita Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 2 hours Project Cost: $10 Since inadvertently getting each other socks for Christmas one year, Rita and her mom have made it an ongoing tradition. After spotting this project in a crafting book, she decided to make these cute slippers from thrift shop sweaters! Spoiler: Mom loved her sweater “socks.

Name: Antonia and Cinzia Nespoli Location: Notting Hill; London, United Kingdom Size: 1,115 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; owned For Antonia and Cinzia, sisters and Italian transplants to London, the concept of home is an important one. Both have busy careers and hectic social lives, despite being self-described homebodies.

Mia’s kids scribbled on her microfiber sofa with an extra-strong, “rub a dub” Sharpie which is marketed as, “stays permanent through washing and dry cleaning.” But instead of getting mad (well, she was probably a little mad), she found an easy way to hide the marks, while including a clever nod to the makeover’s inspiration. From smudged scribbles to lyrical script! Now, it looks like a glam accent rather than a messy accident.

For most people, the laundry room is something unsightly they’re happy to hide behind a closet door or in the back of the garage. But there are others who—by choice or by chance — opt to show off their laundry machines in a mudroom or (looking at you, kitchen laundry renters) some other high-traffic area of the home. If that’s the case in your home, this simple and temporary polka-dotted and striped machine makeover is for you.

Whether you need to whip up a tablet case for either a 7″ or 10″ tablet for yourself or to gift a friend, we’ve got you covered this week with a several do it yourself projects, ranging from beginner to DIY pro. There’s surely at least one in here that will rock your recipient’s socks off… For each of the projects listed, we’ve included an estimated skill level needed to complete the project.

(Image credit: Bethany Nauert) From The Kitchn → 15 Tips and Ideas to Help You Get the Neatest, Most Organized Kitchen Ever

From Apartment Therapy → 10 IKEA Holiday Decorating Ideas to Steal

I have to admit, I’m bored with my space. I love our condo for sure, but my experience with moving so frequently as a child has made seven years in one spot feel stale. Obviously, it’s not always a possibility to just pick up and move, so if you’re like me and feeling anxious to pack your suitcase, here are a few tips that might help you refresh your space and yourself. 1. Decorate seasonally. Not just for Christmas!

‘Tis the season for pretty wreaths. Last year I did this roundup of pretty twig wreaths, and this year I went searching for some easy and natural wreath tutorials. If you’re looking for inspiration for making your own wreath, here are 5 easy projects that do not require a lot of time or supplies. 1.

If you’re preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, you may be feeling like this week is the silence before the storm. Rather than let nerves build to a day-of crescendo, here are some things you can check off of that Thanksgiving to-do list a full week in advance, freeing up time on the holiday itself: Make a shopping list. Depending upon what’s on your list, you might be able to even get your shopping out of the way now, before stores are overcrowded.

Name: Dai, Polly, Minnie & Rosie Hughes Location: Crackington Haven, North Cornwall Size: 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 3, owned Polly and Dai’s colourful cottage in Cornwall is just a short walk to the rugged cliffs and sandy beach at Crackington Haven. The couple moved to this idyllic spot three years ago when their twin daughters, Minnie and Rosie, were babies.

I have always been a Christmas person. Even as a child, it wasn’t just the presents that made this my favorite holiday. It was the weeks-long build-up and all the traditions along the way. In early December my mom would get out all of the decorations from the attic and we would help her decorate the house, something in nearly every room. The grand finale, of course, was trimming the tree and it was so pleasurable to open the boxes of ornaments – “remember this one?

This space-starved NYC couple is practical about their design choices so when the time came to furnish their first nursery (congrats!), they were horrified at the choice in baby furniture — most of it was insanely expensive and huge. But thanks to some lucky thrifting, great directions from Honey And Fitz and a very handy husband, Alison got the perfect, customized rocker on the cheap!

In response to my recent post, Trying To Cut Down On Heating Costs? Go Gradually, a commenter wrote, “If I feel a little cold, I just tell myself that I am burning more calories when I am chilly… because that’s true.

Ssh! We’re putting together a dress up box for my kids this year for Christmas! To aid in my quest for putting together the best dress up box ever, I have made this handy “Ultimate Dress Up Box Checklist”. How many of these do you have in yours? Or, even better, waiting to add to yours, currently lying around your house? Used adult clothes: short dresses (they will become full length on a child) bridesmaid dresses (possibly cut short?

Scandinavian magazine Allt I Hemmet recently featured this laundry room, submitted by one of their readers. Far from exciting, Anna-Lena’s space was devoid of color and personality, not to mention cramped. With Allt I Hemmet’s help, the laundry room got a good cleaning itself, and came out on the other side with a sparkling new personality.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Before & After: 20 Inspiring Kitchen Renovations

Ikea stylists are good at showing us common folk how to style our homes in inspirational ways for the holidays. You don’t need to shop at the Swedish giant in order to have a festive and fun household this season. Follow these tips, tricks, and suggestions to do it yourself. TOP ROW: Hang Ornaments on the Wall: Perfect for small spaces, wall-hung “trees” have all the festive feeling without the large footprint.

It’s a magical sight, right? All those perfectly wrapped, brand new presents under the Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened? I’ve been there: receiving new toys in the mail from some crazy online shopping spree, my eyes a-twinkle when I open those boxes and how nice they look, how much my kids will love them in their packaging. But then I remember places like this… …and I find myself completely overwhelmed by the amount of stuff on the Earth already.

It happens every few weeks. I turn on House Hunters (yes, I know it’s allegedly fake, let me be) to watch lucky couples pick out some real estate, and within minutes I’m sighing in frustration and yelling at the screen. “I’m not crazy about this red,” whines one young wife, “I hate that chandelier,” says her husband. Do you see what I’m driving at? They’re focused on all the wrong things!

Name: Lori and Jeromy Murphy, accesibility consultant with ACI, plus their two daughters Location: Heights Area; Houston, Texas Size: 2,480 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Lori and her husband Jeromy are both architects. These days, she looks after the kids and he’s an accessibility consultant, but the house they built together has every bit of the ingenuity and style you would expect from the home of two designers.

It was time for Danielle to update her 2-year-old son’s space from baby blue nursery to little boys room. She found this dark brown laminate nightstand on Craigslist for just $10, and knew it had serious potential. She painted the entire surface with Martha Stewart’s Driftwood Gray then used painter’s tape to add the adorable white stripes. Danielle says: I normally remove the old dated hardware when refinishing furniture. But I loved these handles.

Whether you’re hanging out with friends, or hosting family for an extended amount of time, there’s nothing like a good old fashioned party game to keep the holidays fun. Games are a great social activity to help avoid conversation lulls, congregating around the TV or eyes glued to smartphones. From classics to Kickstarter-funded newbies, here are a few of our current favorite party games. Charades: A classic game that doesn’t require any cards, boards or game pieces.