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The Latest: Aug 2014

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Before & After: A Faux Wood Cabinet Gets the Midas Touch
We’ve all seen them before: those sort of faux-wood furniture pieces that aren’t exactly screaming style but could still function in your space if you need it. Instead of letting this piece stay dark and sad, Cassie gave it the Midas touch for a cabinet that now exudes sophistication. From Cassie: These faux wood cabinets were in need of a makeover that would take them out of the realm of 1970 office furniture.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 31, 2014
Abby’s Dose of DIY in DC
Name: Abby Greenawalt Location: Capitol Hill, Washington, DC Eight years ago I stumbled upon a quirky little apartment in the heart of Capitol Hill, located about two and half blocks from the Capitol (not kidding). It’s about 750 square feet with a very sweet balcony. Perfecting the art of tiny apartment living is a continuous work in progress. If something comes in, something has to go out.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 31, 2014
Robert’s Supremely Cool Craftsman
Name: Robert Fleming Location: Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California Size: 1700 square feet, 3 bedroom Years lived in: 5 years; owned Musician Robert Fleming’s Los Angeles home is nestled in the hills of Silver Lake and is a great representation of the danceworthy indie-pop music he plays with his band Sneakout. Fun patterns and and a mixture of sleek modern and vintage elements stand out against moody backdrops of dark grays, forest greens, and navy blues.
Jessica Isaac
Aug 31, 2014
Before & After: A Boring Powder Room Gets a DIY Industrial-Inspired Makeover for Just $150
We’ve all seen them before: the sort of boring, beige bathrooms that don’t inspire anyone. How do you take a small space and turn it into something stylish without spending a lot of money? Tasha transformed this bathroom space with DIY ideas and fun design details. From Tasha: Our powder room BEFORE was beige, boring, and messy. We didn’t even have anywhere to hang a hand towel. In fact, we didn’t even have a hand towel!
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 31, 2014
Before & After: A Budget Black & White Home Office
How do you take a bland spare room with builder’s beige carpet and turn it into a sleek, modern, black and white home office and craft room combo…without spending a lot of money? Well it took a lot of patience and some awesome used furniture finds but Melissa turned this boring blank room into a sleek home office for her and her husband. From Melissa: Our home office doubles as a work space for my both my husband and me.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 30, 2014
Make Your Own (Better!) Pumpkin Spice Latte
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → How To Make Pumpkin Spice Lattes (Even Better Than Starbucks!)
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 29, 2014
Before & After: A Leather Top Table Goes Sleek and Chic
Kathy got this leather-top table for free from her employer and we can see why! The leather top was stained and discolored like crazy. Kathy almost didn’t take it home, then she thought of one last-ditch DIY thing to try and that made all the difference. Turns out, it was the brilliant magic of leather dye that helped this table look so good. Great save! From Kathy: Thanks to the internet I learned that you can re-dye leather. It went really well!
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 29, 2014
Before & After: A Beige Kitchen Gets Some Personality
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Kitchen Before & After: A Beige Kitchen Goes Blue & Gray
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 29, 2014
You Can’t See Them But You Still Need These 10 Things in the Kitchen
(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → 10 Things Every Kitchen Needs That You Can’t See
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 28, 2014
Before & After: A Brooklyn Kitchen Brightens Up
From Apartment Therapy → Before & After: A Clinton Hill Kitchen Lightens Up This kitchen went from dark cabinets and tile to a lighter, brighter color scheme. The result is an airy, breathable kitchen that’s a joy to cook in.
The Kitchn
Aug 28, 2014
Before & After: A Crusty Cabinet Gets a Marine-Inspired Makeover
We all need a friend like Bethany. She recently took on this DIY project for a friend and her family. This damaged heirloom was almost beyond restoration, but Bethany found a way to make it sail once more. Ahoy! We love the crisp, nautical look that Bethany coaxed out of this nearly-dead piece. Great job! It took me a while to really be confident with how I wanted to paint it.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 28, 2014
Did You Know You Can Make These 8 Things in a Waffle Iron?
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 8 Surprising Things You Can Make in a Waffle Iron
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 28, 2014
5 Habits to Help You Be More Organized
From Apartment Therapy → Want to Be More Organized?
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 28, 2014
Before & After: The Teeny Tiny Balcony Total Makeover
Makeover by: Judit Location: Budapest The balcony of my 1st floor flat is a mere 2 sq m, and previously it was only used for storage. I got rid of it all at the annual junk-clearing and set out to renovate. The walls have been repainted a new color, the old glass banister has transformed into a white-glazed fence and astroturf has been placed on the floor. I’ve mounted white curtains for shades and to add a romantic touch to this miniscule space.
Janel Laban
Aug 27, 2014
Before & After: Wallpaper Gets a Rental-Friendly Makeunder
Nadia loved everything about her new rental except for the very…err.. loud wallpaper in the bedroom so she came up with a temporary DIY way to style it to her taste. Heads up, renters, you can so copy this one. From Nadia: I loved practically everything about our new home, except one thing: this seizure-inducing wallpaper in my bedroom! Unfortunately, this beautiful, wonderful place I’m so glad to call home is also a rental which means, I can’t replace (or rip and burn!
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 27, 2014
Perfect Your French Press Coffee
(Image credit: Gideon Tsang) From The Kitchn → 3 Common Mistakes People Make When Brewing French Press Coffee
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 27, 2014
From a Cat Whisperer: How to Keep Your Cats Off the Counter
(Image credit: Veronika Mannova/Shutterstock) From The Kitchn → Cat Whisperer Jackson Galaxy’s Advice for Keeping Your Cats Off The Counter
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 27, 2014
12 Gorgeous Marble and Wood Kitchens
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 27, 2014
March’s Small(er) Scale Lovely Life
Name: March Location: Bethesda, Maryland Last year I packed up our four kids and maybe 20% of our furniture and we left our big house, and everything in it, to be sold. At the time, it felt like – it was – an enormous loss, although I did everything I could to make it seem like an adventure. We moved to a temporary rental; I caught my breath. I was determined to stay in the same general area, so my kids could have the same friends and go to the same school.
Janel Laban
Aug 26, 2014
4 Ways to Use Castor Oil at Home
From Apartment Therapy → 4 Random (But Helpful) Uses for Castor Oil at Home Lucky for us, castor oil has fallen out of fashion as a medical remedy, but it can be useful in other ways at home instead!
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 26, 2014
Alternative Uses for Ice Trays
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → 10 Great Uses for Your Ice Cube Trays, Aside from Making Ice
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 26, 2014
10 Ways to Squeeze a Little Extra Storage Out of a Small Bathroom
Is your bathroom clutter getting out of control?
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 26, 2014
Before & After: Valerie Revives a Sun Stained Dresser
Valerie fell in love with the Mid-Century details on this solid oak 1960’s Thomasville dresser but 50 years in front of a window had given the stain a yellow tinge and the wood a greenish glow. That wasn’t going to stop her. From Valerie: As soon as I saw this sun-stained dresser I knew she deserved some TLC. I fell in love with her beveled drawers and dainty legs and decided to make it my first restoration project.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 26, 2014
10 Ways to Decorate Like the World’s Most Stylish Restaurants
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 26, 2014
Before & After: Rebecca’s Dresser Re-Do
Rebecca was drawn to the simple lines of this dresser and the unexpectedly awesome brass pulls, but the finish was just wasn’t worthy of her baby’s room. Well, it is now. From Rebecca: Sometimes it’s painful to paint beautiful vintage furniture, and sometime it’s just so right. In the case of this amazing vintage dresser, the original finish was just too far gone to refinish. So we decided to turn this gem of a find into a sparkling emerald dresser.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 25, 2014
An IKEA Cutting Board to End Table DIY Hack
From Apartment Therapy → Before & After: IKEA Cutting Board to Industrial End Table An easy weekend project that turns IKEA cutting boards and plumbing pipes into a modern, industrial end table.
The Kitchn
Aug 25, 2014
Lauren’s 500 Square Foot, 5th Floor West Village Walk-Up Studio
Name: Lauren Location: West Village, New York City I’ve been living in my 500 square foot, 5th floor walk-up studio in the West Village for about a year now. I moved approximately seven blocks south from another West Village place. The neighborhood feels like a dynamite grown-up version of Sesame Street to me where everyone knows everyone, which is a huge rarity in New York. I couldn’t possibly move out of the ‘hood!
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 24, 2014
Before & After: A Spare Bedroom Becomes a Spot of One’s Own
What do you do when you move into your boyfriend’s house full of his stylish things? You work on carving out a space for you. That’s what Chris did with this tiny spare bedroom that had been rented out to a tenant before. He wanted to turn the dark room into a more welcoming guest bedroom but also create a spot he could get work done while at home, too. From Chris: Moving in with a significant other is never an easy task.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 24, 2014
Before & After: A Boring Office Chair Blooms With Bold Fabric
These office chairs were functional — but certainly not very motivating with their boring upholstery color and bland gray frame color. It’s hard to imagine how these could be made more interesting, but Vicky had plans. And the result is a much more beautiful and productive result! From Vicky: Sometimes you have to buy a used office chair for $20 so you can get working in your new home office. Eventually, the drab fabric with questionable stains on it starts to wear on you.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 24, 2014
9 Free Ways to Instantly Improve Your Bedroom This Weekend
Most good things in life do take time, but every now and then you can cut some corners, spend zero dollars and take a few minutes to improve a room in your home without a significant time (or money) investment. This weekend, make your bedroom a slightly better place with these nine easy changes you can tackle. 1. Move your phone charger across the room from your bed Actually, if you have a separate alarm clock then take your phone and charger out of your bedroom all together.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 24, 2014
Erika’s Seattle Craftsman
Name: Erika Stanley Location: Seattle, Washington My husband, six kids, and our yorkie live in a 2000 square foot, 1909 Craftsman in Seattle. My parents bought this house when my firstborn was a baby. It had brown shag carpet, walls dripping with nicotine, the original kitchen, electrical and plumbing. My parents were new to town and thought it was way over-priced. I begged and convinced them to buy it with the secret hope of one day owning it myself.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 23, 2014
Before & After: A Creative Solution for a No-Closet Bedroom
When you don’t have a closet, it might make sense to fill your bedroom with big furniture so you can pack away your clothes and accessories, hiding your apparel as a method to cut down on clutter. But what if those big, bulky and dark furniture pieces are doing more harm than good? Christina did away with her furniture, instead replacing it with a DIY clothes organizing solution that might be inspiration for folks with small spaces and little storage.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 23, 2014
Before & After: An Affordable Mid-Century Modern Couch Makeover
Many of us love the look of authentic mid-century modern sofas and furniture but not all of us can afford their sometimes steep price tags. So when Natalie got this couch for free, she loved the shape, but wanted to show off the lines with a more modern fabric. From Natalie: After recently moving into a new place, I was on the hunt for a new couch. I’ve been in love with the mid-century style for awhile now but the ones I had been looking at were $2000+. Not ideal for a 23-year-old.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 23, 2014
Want to Be More Organized? 5 Habits to Start & Keep Today
Have you always dreamed of being a naturally organized person? Well, nature or nurture, it’s not impossible to train even the most un-organized of folks to create homes where everything’s in its place (most of the time). But since building habits is a long process, spend your energy wisely. Invest your time in forming these five home habits. 1.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 23, 2014
Cha-Ching: 5 Domestic Skills That Will Save You Money
No matter how small your paycheck, you can always save money by doing things yourself that you would otherwise pay someone else to do. Below are five skills you should have in your domestic toolbox, ideally when you’re just starting out on your own, but it’s never too late to learn (and to save). Cooking is probably the most effective money-saving domestic skill you can possibly have.
Carrie McBride
Aug 22, 2014
A Summer Squash Hot Dog
(Image credit: Jessica Goldman Foung) From The Kitchn → Summer Squash: The New Hot Dog
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 22, 2014
Samantha Rose’s Daydream Nursery
Name: Samantha Rose Location: Atlanta, Georgia Room Size: 13′ x 13′ I love when a nursery strikes that perfect balance between being sweet enough for a baby, but sophisticated enough for the grown ups in the family to feel right at home as well. Ryan and April managed to do just that when they created this lovely nursery for their baby girl, Samantha Rose.
Lauren Hufnagl
Aug 22, 2014
Before & After: A Card Catalog Gets Character
As all DIYers know, sometimes the flea market is just not your friend. Yari had visions of finding a vintage library file to buy and restore for her home office, but after months of searching, she realized it just wasn’t in the cards. So she bought this new but plain Jane chest and really put her own spin on it. Yari says, “I painted the drawers in different shades of pink creating the ombre effect, spray painted the handles gold and added legs. I love how it turned out.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 22, 2014
The Important Kitchen Measurements You Need to Know
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 22, 2014
Canning? Download These 15 Free Labels
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 15 Free Downloadable Labels for Your Canning Jars
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
Apartment Therapy Contributor Style: Shifrah’s Own Bedroom
I never would have done it consciously, but it turns out that most of the rooms in our home are decorated around some kind of red/orange and blue color scheme. Our bedroom illustrates this well. Again, it’s a mix of old family treasures and new pieces my husband and I picked out together. We both find it warm and restful, cozy and enveloping, just like we want our bedroom to be. There was really only one place where the king bed fit with the nightstands, and that was between the windows.
Shifrah Combiths
Aug 21, 2014
4 Things I Learned About Homebuilding from Naked and Afraid
It’s the ultimate DIY, survival-style. The wildly popular reality show Naked and Afraid throws two strangers (without clothes) into the wilderness for three weeks to see if they can come up with their own food, water and shelter. Being somewhat interested in shelter ’round here, we thought that their hard-learned lessons were pretty applicable to your home (although hopefully with fewer snakes). 1. Location, location, location — Yep, this law even applies to the jungle.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
Before & After: A Flea Market Table Returns to Its Roots
Christine and her husband found this interesting table at a flea market for only $40. They loved its unique shape and Mid-Century Modern feel, but knew it could get even better. That is impressive. They really brought this little table back to life. From Christine: When we bought it, it had a shabby chic distressed white paint finish which really didn’t work with the overall form of the table.
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
Here’s What Your Daily Recommended Fruits and Vegetables Look Like
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → Here Are 10 Pictures of Your Daily Recommended Servings of Fruits & Vegetables
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 21, 2014
How to Make Perfect Boiled Eggs
(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → How To Boil Eggs Perfectly Every Time
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 20, 2014
Table Linens On Sale Now
From Apartment Therapy → Dress That Table! Tablecloths, Napkins & Candleholders On Sale Now New table linens can go a long way to freshen up a dining room and table. Take advantage of some of the ones on sale right now!
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 20, 2014
Before & After: A Punchy Pink Bathroom Gets Gutted (and Gorgeous!)
Maggie’s 880 square foot Hudson River home only has one bathroom and this was it. The layout was outdated and cramped, there was no storage and the pink tile drew attention to how small the room was. Wait until you see this bath today. Even though she ditched the pink tile, Maggie still managed to pack lots of sleek personality into this room, from the beadboard to the art to a repuposed DIY vanity. Great job!
Jennifer Hunter
Aug 20, 2014
8 Smart Storage Tricks for Small Kitchens
The Kitchn Editors
Aug 20, 2014