Apartment Therapy Archive: May 2014

Whether you’ve lived in your neighborhood for years or have recently made the move, we bet there’s something you’ve never noticed before. Home is not just the few rooms you pay for and occupy — it spills out of your front door and stretches into the streets and businesses that surround your address. This weekend, with these tips, get up, out and explore your ‘hood.

See your neighborhood in a new light, explore your city like never before and have fun (and sometimes free!) adventures this summer while seeing new sights, both near and far. Visit the Guide to the Perfect Summer main page for links to all of the posts published so far.

How do you create a home that has a story? That paints a picture of your style that looks and feels like you? As always, we spotted some great and interesting advice in this week’s most popular house tours. Perhaps it will inspire you to create a great story with your home? “Buy secondhand, then reupholster, repaint, upcycle to avoid your home looking like an IKEA showroom.” — From Gigi’s Candy-Colored London Cottage “Peruse stores and magazines.

Your windows deserve to be dressed in style.

We’re always on the lookout for innovative solutions for your home. In honor of the Small Cool Contest, and New York Design Week, here’s a round up of new designs for small scale living, each of which were shown at this year’s ICFF. Keep an eye out for them if you’re in the market, or use as fresh inspiration for upcoming DIY projects. Above, Umbra Shift’s Hanger Chair, designed by Philippe Malouin, is both closet storage and extra seating for guests.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Kitchen Before & After: A 1960s Studio Kitchen Gets a Budget Glam Makeover

I find that when we have a budget and we’re sticking to it, I’m compelled to find ways to stay within the spending limits we’ve set for our family for various categories of expenditure. Following are some of the ways (big and small) that we save money in our family. Use what you have. Rather than rushing to put that item on the shopping list, make it a habit to consider what you already have that could be used for the need at hand.

All the small space goodness from last month inspired me to make some tweaks and additions to make my small Brooklyn kitchen more serviceable and user-friendly (especially since I am its primary user). The changes are affordable, renter-friendly and, hopefully, helpful to some of you simmering and sautéing away in your own small kitchens. 1. Over-the-Stove Cutting Board: small kitchens are a challenge not just for storing things but for actually cooking.

Name: Kerra Michele Huerta Location: Dupont Circle, Washington, DC Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Kerra Michele Huerta is the brains behind the event and interior design business and blog Apartment Envy, based in Washington, DC. She prides herself on the ability to bring a certain flair to small spaces, and nowhere is this more apparent than in her own 600 square feet in Dupont Circle.

Nicole took advantage of a road trip to try a new thrift store, and she scored this cute, little dresser. Since it cost her “practically nothing,” it was the perfect chance to try a little decor experiment. She chose Benjamin Moore Tropicana Cabana and Snowfall White to give this piece some contrast, and we’re loving that cute pop of pattern she picked to decorate the drawers.

(Image credit: Casey Barber) From The Kitchn → Tips for Choosing the Best Beers for a Party, Plus 5 Favorite Picks

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → This Kitchen Island Is An IKEA Hack. Can You Guess How The Owner Made It?

Name: Johnny (3.5) and Freddie (7) Location: Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia Room Size: 12′ x 10′ I tend to think of myself as an “eclectic” person when it comes to decor – mainly meaning that I can’t settle on a particular style. I love the clean lines and fresh colors of modern spaces but at the same time am drawn to the warmth and coziness of a more rustic design.

You might ooh and aah over Jonah & Jodie’s “Enchanted Cottage” In Laurel Canyon, but then despair at phrases like “custom leathered finish” and “hand-chiseled limestone floors”. While I can’t find you a cheap “poured concrete bathtub that opens out to the koi pond”, there are ways to get the look… Akurum Kitchen Cabinets in Lidi White, IKEA, $28-$391 Stockholm Candelabra, IKEA, $29.

A lot of people remodel their homes right after (or right before) moving in, but by the time Kyle and Angela decided to take the plunge and redo their kitchen, they had been living in their Clinton Hill apartment for 11 years. They had a lot of time to save, and scheme, and they knew exactly what they wanted: more counter space, a more open floor plan, and a kitchen with a little bit of midcentury style.

Sometimes I come across an adorable kid’s room on Pinterest and get the urge to spruce up my girls’ rooms a bit. Unfortunately money is tight these days and spending money on a new lamp or cute print is just not in the budget. That’s when I usually start getting creative and try to come up with projects that I can complete on the cheap.

When it comes to budgeting, I almost see it as a sport. And this season, there are plenty of opportunities to get in the game and save. Here’s how my family lives on a small budget in the summertime: 1. Garden. This is the first year we’ve had an actual dedicated garden, but we’ve done some form or another of container gardening for several seasons now. When you can plant basil seeds at less than .

Mary picked up this dark stained end table at Habitat Restore for $25 and gave it a very unexpected style update. See what we mean… We love how, with a few small changes, Mary completely altered the look and feel of this little table. She began by removing the (many) tack heads and handle, and filling and sanding the holes. Then she chose Glidden Duo paint and primer in Rich Navy.

The floor lamp is a great multi-purpose furnishing that is useful when overhead lighting is lacking or you need a bit of brightness for a detailed task, and on top of that, it’s an easy statement home accessory. Dramatic modern floor lamps like the one above can cost up to $3000 and more — but is it worth it? Two of my favorite floor lamps are the Signal floor lamp by Jieldé and the Arco Lamp designed by the Castiglioni brothers.

Bad lighting can date a house. Fortunately, lighting is something that can be updated with a quick weekend project, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. Lighting can also be the item that comes at the end of a remodel when money is tight and you need some less expensive, stylish options. Here are 10 companies providing bright and functional lighting at reasonable prices. 1.

Name: Gigi Eligoloff, editor of Gransnet, her husband John and their children Kit and Delphi Location: Barnes; Southwest London, UK Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 and half years; owned When the money for Gigi’s kitchen fund was stolen, she didn’t despair. She got straight onto Gumtree (UK’s answer to Craiglist) and tracked down another kitchen at a fraction of the price.

(Image credit: Coco Morante) From The Kitchn → Recipe: Breakfast Tacos

(Image credit: Gina Eykemans) From The Kitchn → How To Clean the Refrigerator

When I started reading Apartment Therapy years ago, the hook for me was the house tours. Seeing “real” spaces that felt creative, personal, and above all, attainable taught me that a beautiful home means much more than high-end furniture. As a way of revisiting those roots, here are ten house tours from the AT vaults. 2005, coming right up!

I wouldn’t consider myself an overly thrifty person: I like my foreign travel and my creature comforts, and I’ve chosen to live in one of the most expensive cities on earth. Still, I manage to live debt-free, and my savings account grows every month, so I must be doing something right. I recently had a think about all the ways I save money, so read on for some real-life tips. Bring your lunch to work.

Do you have $10 and a free afternoon? Try one of these beautiful and simple projects to brighten up a corner of your home. The materials for many of these are probably things you have laying around your house. Scope it out and try out one or two of these as a weekend project! Pictured above: 1. Moon clock from Bambula 2. Arrow Jewelry Holder from Lemonade Makin’ Mama 3. Desk Organizer from Amy Krist 4. Compass Banner from Everything Emily 5. Copper Bud Vases from Poppytalk 6.

Name: Michelle, John, and Hattie Taylor Location: Bon Air, Richmond, Virginia Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Four years ago, Michelle and John bought their split-level home in the neighborhood of Bon Air, a suburb of Richmond, Virginia. They appreciated the bones of the house, but it needed a lot of work, so they started renovating and they haven’t stopped since.

While posture, the quality of your chair and the ergonomics of the mouse and keyboard can be big factors in how long you can sit at your desk, for me, it always comes down to eye strain. Without question, if I stare at my screen for more than four hours straight, I’m guaranteed to have a headache. So how can one battle eye strain? That’s the very question I put to my optometrist the last time I went to visit.

Small Cool is upon us once again, and we love it. Here on Apartment Therapy we champion those who live small. But the fact is, living small can sometimes be downright hard. What do you do when living small doesn’t feel chic anymore, or environmentally-friendly, or economically sound? When it’s just plain ol’ getting you down? Reader, I’ve been there, countless times.

Homemade laundry detergent isn’t just about saving you money (although it’s definitely a budget friendly move). In this day and age, when most of us are so far removed from the process of how our necessities are made, there’s something thrilling about making something that you need. If you’d like to try your hand at it, here’s how I made mine.

When Griffin bought this new home back in 2010, it was builder-grade beige as far as the eye could see. Over the course of four years, she transformed the blah space into a room that accommodates toddler play by day, and family sit down dinners by night. Griffin chose a Danish Modern dining set to up the Mid-Century appeal, while practical baskets in the buffet conceal toy storage clutter.

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. If you can, let us know the type of wood flooring you have, and how many square feet you refinished. Did you sand them all the way down, or just rebuff them? Did you do it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you?

Name: Ross Weiner Location: Greenwich Village, New York, New York Size: 700 Square Feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned With a love of the arts and a strong sense of style, Ross went about turning a bare studio apartment into a one bedroom home with charm to spare.

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → Yes, Pregnant Women Can Eat Good Cheese: Pregnancy-Safe Cheese Ideas for a Baby Shower

It’s hard enough making any big move, but add in actual living things like pets and plants, and the stress of moving gets even tougher to handle. You might already be thinking about how to keep pets happy during the journey to a new home, but have you considered the well-being of your botanical friends, too? Here are some great strategies for making sure your plants survive the long trip to a new home and stay happy and healthy along the way. Prep your plants.

Moms and Dads: are you a master of the thrift store? A yard sale guru? An Ikea as-is-aholic? A clearance sale clever-clogs? We’ve been talking all month about living on a budget, and now it’s come to that time again, the time for boasting and bragging about the best bargain you’ve ever scored for your kids! For me? Probably that $20 tub of Duplo (the big brick Legos) I bought at a local community yard sale.

From Apartment Therapy → Kitchen Before & After: A Kitchen Makeover For Only $90

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → 4 Tips for Setting Up a Salad Bar Buffet for a Party

Over the years, we’ve shared a lot of money-saving projects, large and small. If you can make something at home easily and cheaply, why wouldn’t you? Save some cash and flex those DIY muscles with these ten ideas for things to make rather than buy, from the Apartment Therapy and Kitchn archives. Your wallet and your home will thank you. Household cleaners. Ban chemicals from your home once and for all, and save pennies too with these recipes for eco-friendly cleaning products.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Who Needs a Bar Cart? Organize Your Home Bar With Lacquer Trays

A home without art is a home without heart. So cheesy, but so true. Photography is my favorite medium and although it can be expensive to buy or make prints and have them framed, a good photograph can be the main event of a room, the star of the show, the point of visual convergence. Many of the homes we’ve been lucky enough to tour feature wonderful and memorable photographs. Here are twenty of my favorites, in a nice, big, full-bodied slideshow for you to peruse.

Little Maeve Rosalind might only be three months old, but she is living it up in style. Her Tutti Frutti art and animal rug are kid-friendly but sophisticated, and you can’t beat the black wall/pink pom-poms combo. Here’s how to get the look for your baby — or yourself — for less. Grey-brown Sundvik Crib, IKEA, $119.

Name: Hilary Location: Silver Lake; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,450 square feet Years lived in: 1 year Hilary bought a duplex in the hills of Silver Lake and converted it into a single family residence. It was the perfect location, with an incredible view. First she hired an architect and engineer, to figure out the structural aspects of the project, and then she turned to design firm Design Vidal to realize the interior and exterior design.

Reeves is back and rockin another amazing makeover. She was drawn to this Craigslist dresser because of its claw feet and birds eye maple wood, and, in her capable hands, it got a even better. What a pretty pop! It really highlights that unique wood grain. Nice choice. Says Reeves: The finish on the drawers and top needed to be redone, but I could not cover it up in paint. I only painted the frame of the dresser and left the top and drawers natural! See more at the Weathered Door.

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. When you respond, tell us if you are installing a new system, or replacing old gutters and downspouts. Also, let us know the type of actual gutters (aluminum? copper?), the type of gutter guards (mesh? covers?