A Comfy, Colorful Mix: 330 Square Feet in the East Village
Name: Mark and Emily (and Kally the cat) Location: East Village; New York, New York Size: 330 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Emily and Mark’s East Village apartment may be small, but it’s bursting with light and color. They make small space living look easy — somehow they’ve managed to squeeze all the things that two people need to live (and work!) into 330 square feet, and still create a cozy, beautiful home.
Jun 30, 2015
Before & After: Beat Up Cabinet to Bold Blue Bar
Jason & Jeff love to entertain. Jeff, a biologist, is the resident mixologist, and Jason, the office manager for Facebook Boston, is a born host. Their Cambridge galley kitchen had this small eat-in area, but with their dining table in the multipurpose entry just behind, this space sat unused as their limited kitchen cabinets overflowed with glassware and spirits. On their first-ever trip to Brimfield Antiques Market, Jason & Jeff found this gem of an industrial cabinet.
Jun 30, 2015
Easy Fixes for 6 Common Design Mistakes
Some design mistakes can be fixed easily and in one day. See if your home has any of these common design mistakes happening currently and have a better-looking house by the end of the day with these fixes.
Jun 30, 2015
Is it Ever OK to Ask Friends How Much They Paid for Their Home?
My husband and I are in the process of saving for a house. We’re among the last of our friends to buy their first place and, since friends know we’re looking, we’re getting some great advice about home ownership. The people in our lives have been very forthcoming about their budgets and payments, something that’s tremendously helpful as we figure out exactly how much house we can afford.
Jun 30, 2015
10 One-Wall Kitchens to Love
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) While the work triangle may be the most efficient way to organize a kitchen, your space might not permit it. If you are working with a small space, aligning all your cooking space and appliances on one wall can make your kitchen feel more efficient. Here are 10 examples of single-wall
Jun 30, 2015
How To Clean a Gas Grill
(Image credit: Rachel Joy Barehl) From The Kitchn → How To Clean Your Gas Grill
Jun 30, 2015
Before & After: Fireplace Fix That Was Almost a Fail
Kelly’s new home was trapped in the 80s; In the family room, the fireplace stuck out— literally. As you can see, there were two protruding brick supports that perhaps once held a mantel. When Kelly decided to get rid of them and update its look, she made it worse before it got better. But get better it did—much better. Can we also talk about that bold choice to hang art under the window?? Loving it!
Jun 29, 2015
Yes, You Can Use Your Freezer to Clean Your Jeans
Certain types of jeans, like those made of raw denim, are not supposed to go through the washing machine. So how should you clean your jeans? By throwing them in the freezer! Watch the video to learn more. From Apartment Therapy → How To Clean Your Jeans Without Water (In the Freezer!
Jun 29, 2015
Fixes for Boring Bedrooms: 9 Stylish Rooms That Have Something to Say
Feeling like your bedroom needs a bit of spice? Interest? Wit? Check out these nine stylish real-life sleep spaces that have something to say, displaying the written word in different decorative forms. You could use their words or take inspiration for your own stylish statement. Simple black letters comprise the three stacked words of “Hang in there,” an appropriate phrase to read on a particularly tough-to-wake-up-to morning or after a really bad day in general.
Jun 29, 2015
Reversible Decor: 15 Temporary Wallpapers for the Bathroom
Want to glam up your rental bathroom and get your security deposit back when you move out? Need to primp your powder room without it devolving into a Lucy and Ethel, Paperhangers debacle? Temporary wallpaper is the product for you. The closest removable wallpaper to the gorgeous orange number above that I could find is Scallop Hills in Mandarin by The Lovely Wall.
Jun 29, 2015
The 10 Commandments of Decorating Your Rental
Decorating a rental home can often seem like a minefield of decisions, forcing you to weigh the financial risk and aesthetic payoff at every turn. How much time and money to invest in a temporary home? Which areas to focus on and which to learn to live with? Read on for 10 Commandments to decorating your rental home. 1. Thou Shalt Decorate First things first- you should actually decorate your rental, even if it’s in small, temporary ways.
Jun 29, 2015
A No-Sew Way to Turn a Pillowcase into a Tote
Jun 29, 2015
How To Grill the Best Vegetables Ever
(Image credit: Karen Biton-Cohen) Depending on how they’re prepared, grilled vegetables can be tender and succulent, or unevenly cooked and charred. Add some color to your grilled menu and avoid disappointment with these five vegetable grilling hints! From The Kitchn → 5 Tips for Grilling the Best Vegetables Ever
Jun 29, 2015
How To Host Without Going Broke
(Image credit: Jessica Fisher) From The Kitchn → 6 Ways to Host Without Going into Hock
Jun 29, 2015
20 Things You Can Do to Make Mondays Suck Less
Ahhh… Mondays. For most of us, they’re the start of the work week, bringing with them a bleak realization that the weekend is definitely over. But if you want to live a happy life, you’ve got to start looking on the bright side of things! Monday is just another day, with tons of opportunity to live, laugh, and explore. Changing your outlook on Mondays isn’t hard, it just requires a few small tweaks to your routine.
Jun 28, 2015
Joyce’s Modern West Oakland Loft
Name: Joyce and her fiancé Location: West Oakland, California My fiancé and I share a loft space in West Oakland. The space used to be an old tile factory before it was converted to six apartment units. The foyer, kitchen and living room are downstairs and our bedroom is upstairs. When my fiancé first moved in the apartment was an empty concrete box — the challenge of decorating was to preserve the character of the space but also to make it feel warm and homey.
Jun 28, 2015
Before & After: Folding Chairs Go From Boring to Balcony-Ready
Anna had these basic folding chairs and wanted to use them on her balcony, but they needed some style first. Using a colorful oilcloth as inspiration, check out her quick and budget-friendly makeover: From Anna: The whole project took 8 hours: 3 hours to separate the seats and the backs from the aluminum frame 2 hours to paint the frame 2 hours to change the fabric of the seats and the backs 1 hour to put together the chairs. It cost €29.58: – 4 spray paint cans X €3.
Jun 28, 2015
How to Motivate Yourself to Clean Regularly, For People Who Hate Cleaning
Judy & Don’s Treehouse in the City Your home is truly a reflection of yourself, and mine definitely says, “I hate cleaning”… at least it does right this minute. See, I’m more than capable of getting my home totally tidy (and I love it when I do), but keeping up a regular cleaning routine is a tough task for me.
Jun 28, 2015
Féline and Ryan’s Upper East Side Surf Lodge Style
Name: Féline & Ryan Location: Upper East Side, New York As soon as we decided to move in together we had a very clear vision of what we wanted our home to look like. We are both insanely crazy about that big vast space which we call the Ocean, everything about it… the salty smell of the wind, the turquoise water, the seashells, the sand, the sound of the surf…It’s one of the very first thing that we bonded over (the second is whiskey).
Jun 27, 2015
Before & After: Old Filing Cabinet Goes Industrial
This $10 filing cabinet didn’t look like much, but Jordan had an idea. Its rusty paint job was not up to snuff, so he stripped it down and gave it some style: From Jordan: The cabinet was in great working order, but the facade was pretty beat from the wear and tear over the years, and had some rust damage to boot. After seeing the cabinet, I decided to go a more industrial look.
Jun 27, 2015
Liven Up Your Lawn: 10 DIY Games to Make + Play Outside
Now that sunshine and warmth have arrived, it’s time to start hosting BBQs, parties, and outdoor hangouts. If you’re looking for some activities to jumpstart your gatherings, here are ten DIY ideas that will liven up any lawn. Top Row: 1. Yard Toss Game via A Subtle Revery: Bright colors make this yard toss set even more fun. 2. Giant Jenga via Momoluv on Instructables: If the blocks seem unwieldy, you could also use a rubber mallet to nudge them free. 3.
Jun 26, 2015
Before & After: A Busted Backyard Goes Beautiful & Bright
When it comes to outdoor space in the city, you often take what you can get. That was Julia & Bruno’s thinking when they purchased their Montreal home and inherited this dumpy backyard. If you remember their House Tour from last year, you’ve already seen part of the colorful transformation! From Julia: We did all the work ourselves with a small budget of about $3000. The main problem with the backyard was the old and dangerous shed. The first thing we did was to demolish it.
Jun 26, 2015
Modern Kitchens with Vintage Cabinets
One (or two) vintage cabinets can provide a handy place to stash things you use often in a kitchen without a lot of upper storage. The patina and texture of a vintage piece also lend a certain depth and richness to a modern space.
Jun 26, 2015
The Right Way to Introduce Guests to One Another at a Party
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Do you know the proper way to introduce guests to one another at a party? If you’re hosting a mixed party with friends from different circles — work, school, church, your skydiving club — there’s a simple trick for getting people to talk to one another. Here’s what it is. From
Jun 26, 2015
Fitting in Fun: Real-Life Rooms Rocking a Small Hobby Spot
No matter the size of your home, it can be hard to carve out a spot to get inspired, practice a hobby or get a little peaceful work done. Whether you like doing crafts, want to find a quiet spot to write or get ready in the morning or just want to do your bills in style, you might find inspiration in the ways these real-life residents from our house tours found room to fit productive surfaces in their homes of all sizes.
Jun 26, 2015
5 Things to Prep on the Weekend
Jun 26, 2015
10 Lovely & Efficient One-Wall Kitchens
While the work triangle may be the most efficient way to organize a kitchen, your space might not permit it. If you are working with a small space, aligning all your cooking space and appliances on one wall can make your kitchen feel more efficient. Here are 10 examples of single-wall kitchens that will have you considering this streamlined option. Gray & Warm Wood – Jason Ball Interiors: One-wall kitchens lend themselves perfectly to a minimalist approach.
Jun 26, 2015
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The Paint Personality Test: What Your Wall Color Says About You
Moody blues, fiery reds, mellow yellows. It’s long been known that color affects our mood and typically reflects our personality. What do your walls say about your personality? The BEHR MARQUEE Interior One-Coat Color Collection offers an exclusive one-coat color collection that’s guaranteed* to help you quickly achieve a color you love.
Jun 26, 2015
Toss This on the Grill: Summer Squash “Hot Dog”
(Image credit: Jessica Goldman Foung) From The Kitchn → Summer Squash: The New Hot Dog
Jun 26, 2015
Before & After: From Down-and-Out to Outdoor Living
With their family home coming in just under 1,000-square-feet, John and Jami knew they would need great outdoor spaces to act as extra living/dining/play rooms when the weather was nice. Therefore, their messy backyard was one of the first projects they tackled after purchasing their house.
Jun 25, 2015
Before & After: An Outdated Mountain Retreat Opens Up
Arron’s Catskills retreat had great bones, but felt closed off and was in need of updating. The after is a picture of modern rustic perfection: From Arron: The first part of the project started with painting the kitchen cabinets white. We added crown moulding to the contractor grade cabinets to give them a “higher end” look. We replaced the laminate kitchen countertops with John Boos butcher block.
Jun 25, 2015
7 Dreamy Outdoor Spaces
If you’re looking for some inspiration for adding a little bohemian flair to your outdoor space, look no further than this collection of seven beautiful patios, balconies, and rooftops, full of interesting textures, colorful textiles, and plants galore.
Jun 25, 2015
Shop The Trend: How To Get the Dark, Moody Botanical Look in 3 Very Different Style Rooms
Botanicals are certainly not a new motif in home decor, but this recent trend takes leafy motifs into a fresh, more modern space. Unlike the light and bright tropical patterns of the past, this look is lush, sophisticated, and more than a little dramatic. Think fantasy jungle vs. summer garden, with a rich and deep palette of saturated blues, greens, and black. Here’s how to get the look, no matter what your regular style might be.
Jun 25, 2015
10 Recipes for Surviving Zucchini Season
(Image credit: Sarah Rae Smith) Now is the Time of the Zucchini. We have sautéed it and stuffed it and sliced it into ribbons. We have had ample slices of zucchini bread and there are enough muffins stashed in the freezer for a month of brunches. And yet, still there is zucchini. When you’ve done
Jun 25, 2015
Sharing a Studio: How A Brooklyn Couple Makes it Work in a Small Space
Danny & Joni’s Brooklyn loft is a pretty generously sized studio at 690 square feet, but to make it work with two, they had to employ some smart strategies that you can steal. Danny and Joni spent two years with a regular bed frame while constantly fighting for storage space. Finally, they bit the bullet and found a builder to make them a custom bed + space divider + storage unit in one!
Jun 25, 2015
7 Things To Have in Your Kitchen by Age 30
(Image credit: Claire Bock) From The Kitchn → 7 Things You Should Have in the Kitchen by Age 30
Jun 25, 2015
10 Extra Reasons to Love Your Small Space
We spend a lot of time throughout the year doling out advice on how to make the best of small spaces. Here are the top 10 benefits to small-space living.
Jun 24, 2015
Perfect Travel Snacks For Summer Vacations
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) There’s just something about travel that brings on the munchies, no matter how long the journey. When planning your next trip this summer, don’t forget the travel snacks. Here are 15 simple sweet and savory recipes that can really go the distance. From The Kitchn → 15 Sweet and Savory Recipes
Jun 24, 2015
20 Fun, Budget-Friendly Activities for Summer
Jun 24, 2015
Greg’s Remodeled Live/Work Space
Name: Gregory Keith Metcalf Location: Downtown Arts District; Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: Less than a year; Rented Fellow photographer Greg Metcalf and I have been friends for years. A move from the suburbs of Silver Lake to the Arts District of Downtown LA has offered Greg quite a contrast in architecture, neighborhood, and lifestyle. I jumped at the chance to shoot his new place; I love a good loft and this home exemplifies the true meaning of live/work space.
Jun 24, 2015
Before & After: A Pallet Wall Without the Pain
Erica inherited a living room with a sponge-painted fireplace and an olive paint job. She had planned a pallet wall, but realized the time (and tools) it would take was not realistic. Until she found a quicker solution: From Erica: After hunting down a few pallets, I realized that the effort and time (and tools that we didn’t have) to find, dismantle, sand, wash, and then nail the boards to the wall just wasn’t worth it. I was downtrodden until I discovered Stikwood!
Jun 24, 2015
Partner
Consider This Your Official Guide to Custom Framing
Forgotten photos, doodles, blueprints, love letters – it’s quite possible that you’ve dug up plenty of frame-worthy candidates during your recent Spring Cleaning. We think that now is the time to pull these markers of your life out of the shoebox and off of your camera, and into a beautiful custom-made frame. Not sure which frame goes with which mat for that funky piece of art? Consider this your friendly custom framing manual.
Jun 24, 2015
This 300 Square Foot Studio in Paris is Pretty Much Perfect
Living in a 300 square foot studio apartment might seem like a bit of a challenge. But when it’s an apartment as beautiful as this one, and that apartment is in Paris — then 300 square feet seems less like a challenge and more like a dream come true. The apartment’s detailing helps to give it an open, airy feel — but it’s also deceptively simple.
Jun 24, 2015
Beat the Summer Heat with 10 Popsicle Recipes
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From The Kitchn → 10 Popsicle Recipes to Cool off with This Summer
Jun 24, 2015
Ways to Brighten Up a Windowless Room
Here are some smart ideas for adding a little “sunshine” to a windowless room. From Apartment Therapy → Let There Be Light!
Jun 23, 2015
Eight Ways to Make Steamed Vegetables More Delicious
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) One of the simplest ways to prepare fresh or even frozen vegetables is to steam them over simmering water. If you find steamed vegetables too plain, don’t want to smother them in butter, or would just like to infuse them with extra zing, here are eight things you can add to
Jun 23, 2015