Apartment Therapy Archive: Feb 2015

Marlane spotted this broken wardrobe at a thrift store. She decided with a little love, it could be a solid replacement for an IKEA piece. From Marlane: I got this 1930s wardrobe for $50 at my local thrift, broken pieces and all. It seemed like the wardrobe had once been dropped, but other than that it was in good condition. Definitely old, but not a priceless antique. When I got it home, it was a lot more broken than it had looked!

Name: Julie Carroll Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota I live in a classic 700 square foot Art Deco apartment in Minneapolis. The building was constructed in the early 1930s and maintains much of the original charm (cast iron radiators, porcelain farm sink, crystal door knobs, and the ornate brass light fixtures.) I was drawn to the beauty and opulent architecture of this otherwise modest space. My interior styling is inspired by my Minnesota/Scandinavian heritage.

Name: Anabelle, Edward and Fifi Location: Mile End; Montreal, Canada Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years; Owned Upon entering Anabelle and Edward’s apartment, I immediately noticed the numerous qualities that make this space a quiet, comfortable and very “homey” home. Brick walls, hardwood floors, moldings, wood elements, architectural details, and many books make this condo a place full of charm, character and style.

Writer and editor Melanie Warner Spencer’s apartment in Uptown New Orleans is filled with charm, but no guest bedroom. So she’s come up with a way to transform her dining area into an inviting space a guest would actually want to stay in — and has tips and ideas you could steal for your own home.

Winter is rough on our floors from wet snow, mud and more, especially on our carpets and rugs. This Weekend Project is about giving one carpeted room or rug a deep, thorough clean that will make your whole space feel invigorated and refreshed. Experts suggest that you deep-clean rugs and carpet at least once a year. This weekend, knock out one spot in your home really well.

Everyone knows you’re supposed to limit your screen time before bed, but do you really know why? It’s more serious than you probably realize. Ready to be scared straight? Read on. According to The Atlantic‘s Dr Dan Siegel, using your phone or other device right before you go to bed is detrimental in several ways.

Are you struggling with how to fit your furniture in the living room, and can’t for the life of you come up with a good layout? You might need to “float” your furniture — or pull everything out from the wall and create an island of sorts comprising your sofa, chairs and tables — and anchor it all with an area rug. What decorating magic is this do you ask? And how will you know if this is the answer?

Name: Sarah Location: Lakeview – Chicago, IL After graduating from the University of Michigan with a B.F.A. in Art & Design, I risked a move to the bustling city of Chicago to begin my pursuit towards a career in fashion. I only planned on staying a few short years, but, five years on, I’m still a happy resident of the ever chic and fashion-forward Windy City.

Everyone has certain problem places in their homes. You know, the spots where it’s just easier to look the other way than to actually deal with the thing? C’mon, you know we’re not gonna let you get away with that! Are any of these the areas where you could use a little tough love? We’ll help you ID the problem and fix it the right way. This is so silly. Not only are you wasting your storage space but you’re keeping these things that can be an emotional minefield.

We can all use a little organizing reminder every now and again; I know I do. I always start out with the best intentions, and then they fall by the wayside shortly thereafter. I’ve gathered 10 tips used by professional organizers— just to scan over — whenever I need a little help getting back on track: 1. Get Ready The Night Before.

Did you take a shower this morning? Me too. So what about citizens of some of the world’s other countries? How do their shower habits stack up? These graphs will tell you and it’s probably not what you think. In fact, you might just be pretty surprised by who is stretching their time between showers and which countries are soaping up on the regular. Check out this graph that compares not only weekly showers by country but also how often they shampoo.

You see a chair on the curb. It’s sitting right in front of your building and it’s free. Or, you’re at the thrift store and spy a cheap sofa. But something holds you back. You’re just. not. quite. sure. If only there were guidelines — holy reminders if you will — of things to keep in mind while looking at used furniture. How do you decide if it’s the right thing to re-do? Or if you should run in the other direction?

Tranae picked up this Louis chair in good condition, but was less than excited about its outdated fabric. She paired it with a cheery modern floral that’s more suited to her style: From Tranae: After months of looking for a Louis chair at yard sales and thrift shops, I finally found one for $40. The chair was in good condition but I hated the fabric. First, I removed the old fabric and padding using a staple remover and pliers.

The space above a refrigerator is often overlooked and underused. It’s not particularly accessible for oft-used items, but it’s a shame to have the space go to waste, especially in a small kitchen. I looked at a selection of real homes to see how people were using this space. Some of these examples involve clever built-ins, but many will work for renters, too. Simple shelves were installed on the wall above the fridge to hold a few cookbooks and some barware.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From The Kitchn → 5 Ways to Eat a Lot More Fruits and Vegetables in the Winter

It’s always interesting when homeowners make an unexpected choice in their spaces. In these nine rooms, one might expect to see a rug, yet these decorators have chosen to forgo one. It’s a slightly more subtle, sparse look that really lets the rest of the room shine. Take a look. So, tell us. What do you think about this look? Would you (do you) sport a bare floor?

How do you eat your breakfast in the morning? Rushing around, throwing some cereal in a bowl while you watch the news? Drinking a cup of coffee while you run out the door? We spotted both a design and life trend while perusing the exhibits and booths at Ambiente this year — the idea of making breakfast a more enjoyed and well-designed way to start each day. We all enjoy a different type of breakfast — but the most important thing is the “enjoy” bit.

At Ambiente, experts curated four different booths illustrating four current design trends dominating the design landscape. Clarity + lightness we found to be perfect for folks who live in small spaces, because you can bring in a lot of design and beauty without taking up a lot of visual space. Another trend that resonated with us was craft + culture — ideas we think any space could use more of.

I’ve had my own home for almost a decade, so while I can’t quite say my advice is sage, it is backed up by some lessons learned. With a few moves and the experience of both buying and building a house as well as adding three children to the family, here’s what I’d tell my younger self about setting up a home. Don’t buy “grownup” furniture right away.

I’ve moved cross-country several times, each time motivated by proximity to loved ones, whim, and/or “I’ve heard good things.” How different would my life be if I made such decisions based on tax structure, marriage laws, and per capita income… do you? your SALES TAX Highest Sales Tax: Birmingham and Montgomery, AL 10% Lowest Sales Tax: Honolulu, HI 4.5% No Sales Tax: Portland, OR and Anchorage, AK; NH & DE INCOME TAX Highest Income Tax: California 12.3% (or 13.

One of my favorite new trends for the kitchen is big, bold, attention-getting tile. It’s not just about subway tile anymore — there are lots of new players on the scene that can really transform the look of a space. We’ve rounded up ten kitchens with showstopping tile, and sources where you can buy the same (or similar) tile, to get the look in your own kitchen. Above: In this kitchen, from Corriere, the black and white Portuguese cement tile is the main event.

Hi Alice, I am in desperate need of your help! My husband’s sister got engaged in November and decided she wanted to get married this coming September. I was asked to be a bridesmaid in front of the entire family — so basically I was too embarrassed to say no. Because of my student loans, my husband and I have been in a very tricky financial situation. I wanted to decline because I didn’t think I could afford it.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 5 Things We Can Learn from This Dreamy Luxe Kitchen

When Cassie from Hi Sugarplum! moved into her home, the basic features were solid: a wall of windows, a brick fireplace, and plenty of space. But the room seemed too dark for her taste, and the furnishings didn’t feel quite right. Fast forward a few years, and it feels like a completely different room. The white walls instantly brightened the room, while all the accents and accessories keep the room colorful and happy.

Pom poms are a great way to add color and texture, and refresh older items in your home. They are incredibly easy to make and if you’ve got yarn, you’ve got everything you need to get started! Yarn Scissors Piece of cardboard or Pom Pom maker (optional) There are quite a few different ways you can make pom poms, so we decided to show you three of our favorite. The first, easiest, and in my opinion, best way: Clover’s pom pom maker!

Name: Liz Klafeta, Founder Bangtel Location: Lakeview; Chicago, Illinois Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: 1 When Liz moved to New York two years ago, she started renting out her revamped home in Humboldt Park on Airbnb. She couldn’t bring herself to sell since she had gut rehabbed every inch of the space. Instead, she chose to share the fruits of her blood, sweat, tears and expenditures with Chicago visitors. You can experience the magic for yourself on your next Chicago visit.

Sometimes clutter is the big stuff in your home. But sometimes it’s the small things you use often that you’re not sure what to do with — the stuff that is sprinkled all over your tabletops and shelves. What to do? Invest in a few small to medium containers that can coral your clutter. We couldn’t help but notice quite a few of these cute containers as we walked the halls of Ambiente — six in particular caught our eye.

Dignity first!

A great exhibit at Ambiente is their Trends section, where experts curate booths based on upcoming trends. One of our favorite booths (and favorite trends) was Clarity + Lightness — a trend of spaces and products that boast very delicate, light and organic shapes. Products that have soft colors, a lot of white and are even see-through. The idea of reflecting light, not taking up a lot of visual space and giving a relaxing, calming feel dominated this trend.

Cuddling is so hot right now. Everywhere we look people are embracing (get it?) cuddlebug behavior. Let’s talk about it. First it was a service, then an app and now there’s a whole cuddle convention in (where else?) Portland, Oregon. Just look at all these professional cuddle services that offer friendly, non-sexual physical comfort. Not unlike a massage, they cite the healing power of physical touch as the benefit of their services.

This poor dresser sat out all winter, but Meredith decided it was worth trying to save. See how she restored it to its former glory. From Meredith: A former tenant had left this outside of a property all last winter…yes, that winter that started the first week of October and didn’t end until the last week of April. I had met my maintenance man at the property and we were deciding what to keep and what to take to the dump.

Transforming IKEA furniture — and especially the BILLY bookshelf — has been done before. But when I saw this hack, I was truly impressed. Prepare to have a bunch of superlatives spewed your way, because it’s really that good… Gwen from The Makerista recently redecorated her friend Laura’s living room and, as part of the project, brought someone in to create these remarkable “custom” library shelves, using the IKEA Billy as the base.

Utility carts are exactly what their names suggest—carts that can be utilized for whatever your needs may be. Whether they are in the kitchen, bedroom, garage, office, or craft room, let your creative juices flow when it comes to organizing and storing items on these carts! Here are 12 of the best utility carts out there, plus suggestions of how you can use them around your home.

Shopping is a fact of life. You need to eat, clothe yourself and furnish a home. For some people, shopping isn’t a problem – they buy what they need and move on. For others, being in a store leads to impulse buys and, later, regret. Regret because you couldn’t afford it or regret because you really didn’t need or even want it after all. If this sounds familiar, here’s one simple shopping rule to live by: Don’t pick it up.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen) Emma’s a better cook because of her time with an electric stove, but she also won’t miss it when she moves. From The Kitchn → 4 Lessons I Learned From My Electric Stove

Amanda’s boys had defaced this plain Jane dresser, so she decided to give it a heroic update with some super fabric: From Amanda: After years of carrying around these boring dressers that my children had graffitied, I figured it was time for a new look. A random stop into Walmart yielded the motivation I needed: 2 yards of Marvel comic book hero fabric. A little mod podge and some bright color paint was all I needed to make the magic complete.

I like to have a nice set of steak knives that can also double as good, sharp anytime knives and these, up top, are my splurge pick. Really a small kitchen knife from Spain, these kill it in the kitchen and at the table. Nice description here and a few more picks below: “Each Pallarès knife is hand-fashioned from high-quality carbon steel, and set with a boxwood handle.

The UK, my adopted home for the past eight years, has what I would call a “home ownership fixation.” When I first moved here, I was perplexed when getting on the property ladder came up in conversation nearly as often as, say, tea or the weather. I’d also wager a guess that there are more reality television shows geared toward buying and renovating houses here than in any other country.

Name: Carla Location: Historic downtown; Los Angeles, California Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented You may think living in the heart of a major metropolitan city would be stressful, but Carla proves adapting to city life can be surprisingly serene. Living in a small, but airy studio in Downtown Los Angeles, she resides four floors above the streets and rides her bike to work, successfully avoiding the “joys” of traffic.

When faced with an empty room, it’s so tempting to rush out and just grab what you need right away—but resist! The best, most satisfying spaces grow with you over time. They look layered and purposeful, not like they came from a catalogue. Here’s how to condition yourself to operate from that mindset. In order to successfully slow down, you are going to have to be okay with a blank canvas.

Every household has minor, but needling, annoyances that repeatedly drive you crazy. Picture frames that won’t stay straight, bunching duvet covers, and wobbly furniture are first-world problems to be sure, but exasperating nonetheless. A few quick fixes and modifications can relieve your pain, and make your home enjoyable instead of endlessly frustrating. Here’s how to fight back against some common pet peeves, in five minutes or less. 1.

This floral patterned chair may not look classic, but with some Pottery Barn inspiration, Brittany was able to transform it into a stunning staple: From Brittany: Before reupholstering this armchair, I’d done a few smaller projects (think loose cushions and wood-framed side chairs), but this was my first time taking on a fully-upholstered piece. It was also my first time doing upholstery work for someone else.

Designer Bailey McCarthy recently revamped her downstairs bathroom in the Hamptons. The small space was pretty cramped with fixtures, and needed to be reconfigured. By re-doing it, she not only rendered it more functional, but she made one design choice that totally “makes” the room…. Already a big fan of GP&J Baker’s Nympheus wallpaper, Bailey knew she wanted to use it in her home.

Hi Alice! Thanks, Moving On Up Dear MOU, By all means yes! It sounds like you will be leaving your apartment better than you found it anyway so there’s most likely no need to spend time spackling during an already stressful moving weekend. In fact, it sounds like your super already give you your answer when he told you that your apartment would most likely get the same makeover that you’ve witnessed in the other units.

Always on the hunt for ways to reclaim space from your small or cluttered home? Look UNDER your shelves — you can make use of that space for storing stuff, too.

If your favorite part of cleaning is when it’s over, then listen up, lazybones. You can do less work and still have a clean and tidy house if you set up these strategies ahead of time to diminish dirt, wrangle clutter and keep yourself on track. It’s sooo much easier to prevent dirt from coming inside than it is to clean it up afterwards.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Before & After: The Most Amazing $700 Kitchen Remodel We’ve Seen