Apartment Therapy Archive: Feb 2014

You know the saying: give someone a fish and they eat for a day. But teach that person to fish and they eat for a lifetime? Wise words, and completely applicable to IKEA hacks. Because, we can show you good examples of “Before & After” projects all day long but, sooner or later young lady, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a broke-down MALM dresser and you won’t know what to do. And then where are you going to be? Huh? Can you answer me that?

Nearly a year ago, I wrote about how moving from San Francisco to rural Illinois would change my economic reality. Some friends even assumed that it was so cheap to live in the country that I wouldn’t have to work at all! My plans actually changed a bit, and I’ve spent the last 8 months in one of Illinois’ small towns (Pop.

Sticking to a budget when you’re furnishing a space is tough, especially when the furniture that’s considered to be “cheap” these days really isn’t all that inexpensive. If you’d much rather spend your money on a modern Eames chair or a Moroccan rug instead of a couch or bed frame, you’ll have to make some compromises—and borrow heavily from your overall budget.

The power drill is, to me, the most essential power tool anyone can have in their collection. It’s always the first thing I unpack after a move. In addition to curtains and blinds, it can also help hang shelves, place anchors for artwork, drill holes for cabinet hardware, and aid in DIY furniture projects. The list could go on forever! Here’s a guide to this indispensable tool. Cordless drill power is measured in volts, with the most powerful models being up to 20 volts.

King Charles II of England posing for his royal portrait while being gifted a pineapple by the Royal Gardener, John Rose, 1675. My parents used to live in Hawaii on a military base, where almost all of the door knockers were pineapples. I always assumed that the “welcome pineapple” or door and foyer adornments depicting pineapples, etc., had to do with the lively culture of Hawaii — wrong! I was delighted to find a much richer history when I did some digging.

I love the Japanese aesthetic and concept of Wabi-sabi. Architect Tadao Ando describes Wabi-sabi as “underplayed and modest, the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered.” Lately I’ve fallen in love with the slight imperfections of handmade ceramics. So, embrace the slight dent or crooked lip—these flaws are innocent marks that represent the hand of the maker. With this in mind, why don’t you try creating a handmade jar?

Is there anything better than an organized entryway for making you feel like you’ve got it all together? These 10 standing coat racks come in a variety of shapes, materials, colors, and styles, but they all have two things in common: they’re functional and fun! Find among our highly subjective favorites list plenty of affordable options, many under $100. IKEA’s TJUSIG Hat and Coat Stand in black is a steal at $49.

Name: Taryn & Sanford Parker (and their dog Iris and cat Tron) Location: Logan Square; Chicago, Illinois Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years; owned It’s almost unimaginable. You buy a house, and a few days before you’re slated to move in, some hooligans break in and burn the interior, and you are faced with a gut rehab of what you thought would be a virtually move-in-ready space.

Hindsight truly is 20/20. You might think that I figured things out the first time around, but having twins 23 months after a singleton is sort of like learning two new languages in rapid succession. We brought our son home to a city condo while our girls were welcomed to a suburban single family home, but in both cases we were grateful for a few reliable, functional, go-to items. We also had a few missteps. These are our greatest hits and flops from the early days. 1.

Kim wanted to update her son Carter’s nursery into a big boy room. They never used the room except for sleeping, and it was stuffed with forgotten gifts and baby gear. Kim knew she wanted the new space to be light and airy and to reflect Carter’s personality and interests, so she painted the walls a bright white, added a splash of Carter’s favorite color on the ceiling, and added fresh accessories: What a stunning transformation! Thank you Kim!

Rita wanted to really go bold, but keep her dining table and chairs at the same time (she lucked into these four chairs and table at a garage sale for just $6), so she found an ingenious way to spice up the set. Gorgeous! What an ingenious way to add lots of pattern and brighten up the room. From Rita: This material is what inspired me to paint the living room navy in the first place. I knew I wanted to make this fabric the focal point in the dining room, but I wasn’t sure how.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 15 Cute Projects for a Happy Kitchen

Name: Krzysztof Palacz Location: Buena Vista, San Francisco Size: 880 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned House tour veteran Christopher Reynolds tipped me off about his friend Krzysztof’s San Francisco apartment. Since I trust Christopher’s eye, I didn’t ask for many details, and showed up site unseen with tripod in tow. Krzysztof first had me at the Cherner chairs, a modern classic I’ve been coveting since design school.

If I had a dollar for every birdcage I’ve seen at yard sales, I’d be in Belize right now. I always note them, but never know what to do with them, which is why this project piqued my interest. See what Kathy and Karen did with a cage they found on the curbside on trash day…. After painting the cage, and removing one of the walls, they outfitted the whole thing with shelves and mounted it on a wooden base.

I’m a graphic designer by trade, so of course I love type. But you don’t need to work with it to appreciate how beautiful it can be and want to decorate your space with it. There are about a million different ways you can use type, but it’s important to remember that however you use it it should be intentional, something you chose specifically for that space and not just some random letters.

Since I ventured out on my own into the big, scary, real world, I’ve learned a thing or two about what kind of decor works, not only for my taste, but also with my lifestyle. I don’t claim wisdom in many areas, but I will cop to picking up some helpful tidbits in the last decade or so. Just starting out? Read on. 1. You’re gonna move a lot. If you’re staring at ugly rental carpet and stained ceilings right now, then moving probably sounds pretty good.

Sometimes you feel like your home needs a refresh, but you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money. These are my 10 go-to tricks, whether I’m preparing for company, getting things photo shoot ready, or just feel the need for a little pick me up without spending much money. 1. Bring the outdoors in with houseplants. A little green can go a long ways towards bringing life into your space. Choose something low maintenance, like a succulent, if you have a less than green thumb. 2.

Handmade pottery is my latest Pinterest obsession. I’m ready to upgrade from my plain white Crate and Barrel plates, which I scored at Goodwill, to something a little more special, like these handmade pieces. They fit the bill for what I’m looking for, although my budget isn’t quite there yet for a whole set. (A friend of mine registered for a full set of Heath, an idea I liked). Do you have any favorite potters not featured here? Share below!

If photo shoots make you cringe, then Lisa’s Lego-themed family portrait might be more up your alley. It’s cute, but not TOO cute. See how she did it…. Lego Minifigures IKEA Ribba Frame Heavy Cardboard Command Strips Scissors Glue Stick Hot Glue Gun 1. To make the mini figurine family, choose the right hair, heads, bodies and legs (and dogs!) from your Lego stash.

Name: Maggie Handel Location: Georgetown, Washington, DC Size: 1,024 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned “Nothing says 19th century like three exterior gas lamps,” said Maggie, who moved in to this mid-19th century home last year and promptly installed the lamps out front and in the side garden.

The annual Toy Fair wrapped up last week and it was its usual high energy, sensory overload, wheeling and dealing atmosphere. As usual, I skipped the licensed characters, collectibles and tv/movie/video-game tie-ins (I even resisted a stop at the Grumpy Cat booth) to visit some of the smaller booths showcasing the quieter toys.

Do you have a white wall that needs a little something? Take inspiration from these fabulous walls and consider hand stamping them. You can make your stamp from inexpensive materials like craft foam, cardboard, or potatoes, and the project doesn’t need to be ornerous — all of these walls were completed in a afternoon or two. Pictured above: 1. Dot Wall, DIY from Oh Happy Day 2. Yellow Diamond Wall, DIY from Design Sponge 3. Clementine Wall, DIY from A Beautiful Mess via The Kitchn 4.

Modern nurseries on a budget can be tough. Since changing tables have such a short lifespan, Whitney didn’t want to spend too much money on something that wouldn’t grow with her babe and when she saw this wood sideboard at a thrift shop for $25, she had a flash of vision. Wow, what a style transformation. With just a little cash, Whitney completely changed the look and feel of this piece and made it work for her family. Great job.

Bubble wrap really is uncannily fascinating, isn’t it? I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like popping all those little bubbles. Now Vicky at Mess for Less has come up with a brilliant activity for kids that involves painting, stomping, and bubble wrap. It’s a kidtastic trifecta. The concept is simple: attach some bubble wrap to your child’s feet, dip them in paint, and let them stomp all over some big paper.

(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → Can a Silver Spoon Keep Champagne Bubbly? I Decided to Find Out

Q: Hi. I have been on a month-long quest for sheets. I researched everything and decided on linen. I then decided on Restoration Hardware because of a combination of color, style, price point, recommendations, etc. On the RH website for linens, it proudly, in large letters, states that the finest linens are Made in Italy. When I click on the Belgian satin stitch, it tells me “100% linen woven from Belgian flax.” Says that the sheets are imported, but, any sheets from Italy would be.

The idea of a dedicated vanity space instantly conjures up visions of over-the-top makeup counters surrounded by rows of bright globe lights, better fit for a drag show dressing room than my modest apartment. But just like feathers and glitter, there’s a way that vanities can be tastefully done. 1. All that’s needed to start is a mirror and a chair. Blogger Alysha of Old House New Tricks made over an unused nook in her home to create this prep space. 2.

Full disclosure, I hate cleaning. No really, I do. I hate how it makes my allergies flare up, the time it takes, and well, just about everything about it. But while I dislike cleaning, I do enjoy having guests in my home, and so I’m left in a bit of a pickle unless I want to spend a small fortune on a daily housekeeper. After a friend commented over the weekend that my place always looks “sooo tidy,” I knew I had to share my tips.

Name: Vana Chupp of Le Papier Studio Location: Mount Prospect, Illinois Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; rented When Vana and her husband, both trained as architects, decided to move her office back into their house, they knew they were going to have to create a space where they could both be comfortable (he’d be using it occasionally, too) as well as a space that would keep Vana recharged and inspired.

This kitchen was originally built in 1989, and after 20 plus years of daily use, it was falling apart. While it may not look too bad on the surface, behind the before photograph were broken cabinets, a cooktop that barely worked, and granite countertop edges that were falling off. The kitchen had a contemporary feel for 1989, but for 2013 the owner was hoping for a softer, more family friendly feel.

You’ve just stumbled upon the mother lode of DIY projects and ideas for your entryway. That’s over 50 ways to make your landing strip, hallway or foyer pretty, organized and inviting. So dig right in and find something that works for you and your home: double functionalitySmart storage solutionperfect entry benchpaintable patternumbrella standcute ideacoat hooksfabric wall organizertiered cake standwall-mounted landing stripshoe storage See anything here that could work for you?

Name: Kelly Stewart Location: Rampart Village; Los Angeles, California Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 years; rent Kelly lives in a quaint stylish studio apartment in Rampart Village, where she has indulged her interior design know how. Taking note of all she’s learned working along side various designers mixing that with her own personal aesthetic, she has created a wonderful place to call home. It’s pretty awesome what Kelly was able to accomplish in 400 square feet.

I love hanging original artwork in my home, but I don’t have enough of it or enough time to DIY some to create an entire gallery wall. A desire to hang a series of frames in my narrow stairway, however, led me to look into the idea of a gallery wall made of mirrors: Mirrors will bounce light around in the narrow space and open things up a bit while giving us a chance to check our hair on the way down the stairs and out the front door at the bottom.

Lucky Kaycee scored these two Kofod Larsen Lounge Chairs on Craigslist for $225 each. The chairs came without cushions (and with a very strange patio-chair replacement for the original webbing) so Kaycee was able to put her own spin on these classic chairs. Kaycee paid around $200 per chair for professional upholstery — including new cushions, upholstery and webbing — and $140 for about 7 yards of fabric.

Product: Stick N Find Price: $49.99 Rating: Recommend* For people who are constantly losing their Kindle, keys, pet, wallet, iPad, or any other important or expensive thing, the Stick N Find is bound to be your new favorite product. Want to page your wallet? Me too. Here’s how. The Stick N Find is easy to set up. Simply download the app, place the stickers (without the backing removed) right next to your phone, and pair them with your device.

(Image credit: l i g h t p o e t) shutterstock From The Kitchn → 10 Tips to Help the Dishwasher Run Better

Name: Emilie Location: France We live in a small stone cottage from the 17th century in a little hamlet at the top of hill in Dordogne, France. It’s our escape in the countryside. We furnished it only with flea markets and brocante stuff. Our favorite furnitures are in the kitchen, we found an old icebox furniture from the 50’s on “Le bon coin” (like Craiglist in France). Thanks, Emilie! • Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy?

Finding out that you have food sensitivities is an enlightening experience — both in good ways and bad! For one, you finally figure out why you’ve been feeling terrible for months, years, or perhaps your whole life. On the bad end, you’ve got a lifestyle change coming! When you’re extremely sensitive, it’s time to either buy new pans and kitchen tools, or do a very extensive cleaning.

Aniko’s in the middle of a major master bedroom makeover but she’s not one to eschew perfectly functional furniture, so she found a super cheap and super chic way to revamp her 6-year old IKEA Malm headboard and make it worthy of her new space. Whoa! Crafty Aniko made herself an upholstered masterpiece without the huge price tag usually associated with such a stunning look.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones to be caught in the middle of the Polar Vortex, odds are that you’re suffering from a bit of cabin fever. And with kids that can become a real problem. If you’re on a tight budget like me, new toys and trips to Gymboree are simply not an option.

IKEA’s announcement last week that they were discontinuing the ubiquitous Expedit storage unit was, ultimately, much ado about nothing as its replacement, called Kallax, is nearly identical. But the public outcry by many fans was a reminder of how beloved this versatile and functional piece is. The Expedit transcends nationality, budget and decor styles as you can see in this gallery of children’s rooms.

Name: Bree, creator of Capitol Romance, and husband Andy Ryback Location: Trinidad, Washington, DC Size: 1250 square feet Years lived in: 3; Owned There’s no question Bree and Andy Ryback want you to feel welcome in their home, and they start up front, where their sunshine yellow door and mustache ‘Bonjour’ mat instantly brings a smile to your face.

Every once in a while, we need a change. My husband and I loved our bedroom before: clean, cozy and colorful, it made us happy every time we were in it. That is, until I decided I was being smothered by it. When an apartment feels cluttered, regardless of space, sometimes it’s more about your own emotional issues with the space itself. Here are a few simple tips and tricks that can help to open up a space and give it the breath of fresh air that it (or you) so desperately needs. 1.

I am always on the lookout for new hanging planters, but I usually find them to be out of my price range or just not quite right. Recently I spent an evening searching online for DIY versions, and I rounded up 15 tutorials based on the old school macramé planters of the 70s. There are plenty of ideas to inspire you, using a variety of materials — rope, cording, leather, brass fittings, even t-shirts.

Currently, our extra throws and throw pillows are hidden between the couch and the armchair (conveniently creating a beloved “cave” for the little one to camp out in), but I have a vision of corralling all of them in a stylish, oversized, reasonably-priced basket. Easier said than done… Here are the biggest baskets I’ve found, though the affordable ones aren’t quite big enough and the big ones aren’t quite huge — or affordable — enough.

I recently read an article in USA Today about the resurgence of the US textile industry, which is encouraging news in a culture of seemingly outsourced everything. Both small- and large-scale textile companies are turning out stylish, high-quality, competitively priced goods, offering consumers viable means to support US manufacturing. Check it out.

Sometimes, while thrifting and searching about you come across something amazing, and in perfect condition. This wasn’t one of those times. Kelly found this old Eames-style Plycraft chair whose leather was nasty, grime-covered, torn and faded.