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This is a public service announcement: The Halloween stuff is already out at craft stores. And I’m not sure how fall came to have a mascot, but I know that autumn is on its way when I hear people start talking about how much they miss pumpkin spice. While there are still several weeks left to enjoy the summer, it might be a good time to start thinking about the tasks you need to get done before cool weather really sets in.
Dread your upcoming move all you want, but it’s going to happen. Make moving day less painful with this series of clever and easy tips and hacks that are simple, but will make the whole process faster and easier. And then maybe, just maybe, you won’t go insane after packing your 99th box, and will enjoy the first night in your new home.
About to welcome their second child, Bernice and Davison were happy to find an apartment with three bedrooms, so that each kid could have their own space (not always a given in New York City). But they were less excited about the kitchen, a dated space whose awkward layout just really wasn’t working. As you can see from the photos above, the refrigerator was immediately to the left upon entering the kitchen: past that was the sink, tucked awkwardly into a corner.
You’ve probably heard it a million times: for the best results, test your paint colors in your room to see how they work with the light sources before committing to a full room (or even a full wall) paint job.
Name: Victoria Mason and Cass Godden (and dog Peggy) Location: Northcote, Victoria, Australia Size: 120 square metres, 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms Years lived in: 6 years; Owned Victoria Mason is a talented jeweler and artist, her partner Cass Godden is a pastry chef, and together they are also talented DIY-ers. Over the years, they have slowly restored, renovated, ripped out, and added to their inner Melbourne home — often with the help of Cass’ dad.
This plastic thrift store cactus was covered in sawdust and broken Southwestern dreams. When Naomi and Sage were tasked to turn it into something amazing, weaker competitors would’ve folded under this nearly impossible challenge. The after might just send you on a hunt for horrible Goodwill cacti: Mind. BLOWN. From Naomi: We painstakingly cleaned off the sawdust and glue, and then cut off the base and drilled a hole through the top through which we ran a metal pipe.
Name: Echo Kao Location: Toy District; Los Angeles, CA Size: 870 square feet Years lived in: 1 years; Owned I knew that Echo was a talented industrial designer, but I was still surprised to learn that every night when she went home she was carefully crafting her own furniture. Her life and her work go hand-in-hand, which is reflected perfectly in the fact that her home has three(!) work spaces for her to spread out in.
When you live life in only a few hundred square feet, a home must become a very fluid thing. Tiny apartments actually exist in four dimensions, and without capturing “time,” it’s impossible to truly reveal what it’s like to live small. Thankfully for all of us, the internet has adopted GIFs as a form of animated photo currency, and we can all see how real people make small homes work.
Name: Libby Gravatt and Tim Caws Location: 4th arrondissement (Le Marais); Paris, France Size: 60 square m (645 square feet) plus 14 square m terrace (150 square feet) Years lived in: 6 months This mid-sized apartment merges Old World French and modern aesthetics perfectly. It’s hard not to fall in love with this space, with its big French windows, marble fireplaces, and hard woods.
Many of the terms you use around the house are actually trademarked. (“Grab me a kleenex, will you?”) Or at least they were at one point, before we all started using them as if they were just a regular part of the English language. And actually, a few of the brands on this list have lost the right to enforce their trademark because the term became so commonplace. So here they are in one tidy list (a little ammunition for your next trivia night).
Carly had held on to her grandmother’s chair, debating whether to fix it up or toss it. Then, after a year of searching for fabric, she found the perfect remnant: From Carly: With the encouragement of my shopping companion, a frantic call to the upholsterer, and the fact that it was JUST over the yardage I needed, I was ready to commit. Plus it was ridiculously affordable because it was a remnant. Bonus.
When you’re feeling like the rooms of your home are design islands — lovely spaces by themselves but not necessarily connected to the architecture of your home or the entire home itself — you might want to try out this trick in the designer’s toolbox. This idea of echoing elements is NOT putting two of the same pieces of something in two different rooms. It’s not having carbon copies of the same art adorning walls in all your rooms.
A few months ago I decided to paint my laminate countertops as a temporary solution to a very ugly, very burnt orange problem in my kitchen. I was a little hesitant to do so since our actual counter space is minimal and sees a fair amount of traffic, but forged ahead because the price and risk (those countertops are coming out this fall either way!) were low. Here’s how they’ve fared… They have unfortunately acquired quite a few battle wounds!
Name: Brandon Kleinman Location: West Hollywood; Los Angeles, CA Years lived in: 4 years; Rented Bachelors may have a reputation for maintaining less-than-desirable living quarters, but as the founder and CMO of online interior design firm Laurel & Wolf, Brandon Kleinman refused to fall victim to such stereotypes.
When Clare and Mike bought this 1950s house in Toronto’s Leaside area, they had just five weeks to transform it into the ideal home for their family of seven. This crowded dining room was too busy for their modern taste so they got to work re-designing the space, starting with the walls. Goodbye wainscoting and French doors, hello clean, modern white! “When we bought the house there was a large, rather ugly kitchen island and cabinets as well as unattractive, dated flooring.
As marketing manager for Eventbrite, Sara is a professional social butterfly. She’s fun, fabulous, and loves to entertain, but her apartment in Boston’s Beacon Hill didn’t exactly reflect that. And, since she works from home, she wanted a space that inspired her. Sara decided to work with designer Victoria Solomon to add some style and cohesion to her place.
Name: Timothy Location: Bed-Stuy; Brooklyn, NY Size: 1,680 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned A home with global flair doesn’t necessarily have to mean a visually noisy space or an overwhelming, over-the-top collection of knick-knacks. Nomad-inspired homes can be tidy and effortless, and I can tell you that after this house tour you’ll want to book an around-the-world ticket to source beautiful material and wander in some faraway markets.
Name: Ricky & McCary Location: Carroll Gardens/Gowanus; Brooklyn, New York Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented What do you get when two people with great taste move in together? A beautiful apartment like this one, where two design sensibilities (she loves prints and patterns, while he’s a bit more minimal) merge seamlessly to create a new, completely unique style. Ricky and McCary are also the stars of the sixth episode of Apartment Therapy’s A Line video series.
After the moving trucks have left and you’ve located the closet grocery store, pharmacy and other essential locations, the reality of a new neighborhood can sink in. It’s exciting to have a new place to explore, sure, but it can also be a little confusing and disorienting. After you settle in a little at home, consider a trip around your new ‘hood to locate these places that will make your transition into a new area a lot more enjoyable.
So you somehow got roped into a family camping trip this summer. If the word camping inspires a particular feeling of dread in the pit of your belly then you need our help. You CAN get through your ordeal vacation. Follow this guide. Maybe you think sleeping on the ground is for suckers or maybe you don’t fancy the idea of being shower-free for multiple days. These problems have solutions!
Name: Maura & Katarina Location: Financial District, NYC Twenty-one floors above it all, our home is our daily respite from NYC cacophony. Cheerful yet serene, and never without fresh flowers – it is my favorite place to recharge, host friends, work, eat, sleep, you name it! The style of our apartment – our first shared space as a couple – was born of the merging of two very, very disparate tastes.
Name: Amanda Holstein and her dog, Auggie Location: Greenwich Village; New York, NY Size: 400-450 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented Amanda lives on a great street in Manhattan, full of life and energy. When you walk into her apartment, you are immediately transported from the iconic Greenwich Village neighborhood to somewhere calm and relaxing. She has fit her colorful, laid-back style into a classic New York apartment beautifully.
An old piano bench and a rug destined to be donated came together to make a stylish statement piece. Just goes to show that you might want to take a second look in your outbox! From Letisha: For step by step photos, check out Blue Eye DIY. Thank you Letisha!
Name: Sallie Location: Tulsa, OK I’m Sallie, and I live in a updated 1950s home in Tulsa, OK, with my husband, Andrew, our puppy Lola, cat Fitz, and 6 backyard chickens. Our home is right around 1,000q ft, which is perfect for our family! We live in the heart of our town, which makes traveling to our favorite hang out spots a breeze.
While buying a home often seems like the mark of adulthood and stability, there are plenty of reasons home ownership is not all it’s cracked up to be. So whether you aren’t in a position to buy a home at this point or you just aren’t sure about taking the plunge, here are some reasons to celebrate your non-homeowner freedom. If you buy a home, get ready to take on the management and expense of every single thing that goes wrong.
With a shared driveway behind her home, Anne had no private outdoor space to relax and entertain. This overgrown side yard might not scream outdoor oasis, but that’s what Anne created: From Anne: Thank you Anne!
Name: Ashley Location: Silverlake, Los Angeles, California I bought my home in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles about two years ago after a really long and exhausting real estate search. I was just about to give up entirely and rent forever, and then by some fluke I landed this place. Some things are totally meant to be. It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath Craftsman house originally built in 1914.
Name: Max Shay and Emily Billings Location: Western Massachusetts Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 9 months; Rented Max and I moved to Western Massachusetts on a whim after deciding to close the book on our city-dwelling life in Boston. We stumbled upon the 1930s stone farmhouse set up on a steep hill through Craigslist. After hearing about the history of the property through the homeowners, we were sold.
Big or small. Traditional or modern. All homes have different styles, but they all have similarities at the heart of them, too. And these four pieces of universal advice can be applied to just about any home you’ve lived in or will live in. So print them out and keep them around. This works for just about any decision you’ve got to make. From which home to choose when you’re on the search, to which sofa to buy, to what color to paint the walls and more. Decisions are tough.
Name: Aki & Chris Location: Clinton Hill, Brooklyn My husband and I live on the second floor of a pre-war brownstone in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Our apt is a 1.5 bedroom, 950 sq ft, cozy space with an open floor plan. We’ve lived in the building for almost 11 years but have only been in our current unit for under two years.
Live with a mate? Thinking about moving in with your better half? Know that in life and in love, arguments are inevitable. In fact we’d bet that these six types of arguments will almost certainly take place with just about any couple sharing a space together.
Living in a small living room, like living in a small home, is a delicate balance of aesthetics and sacrifice. Your living room is often the central hub of your home, and so should have special attention paid to it, particularly if it’s on the small side. Instead of (or in addition to) a wall collage of art, use mirrors to expand the space, reflect light and make the space feel livelier. → 10 Ways To Use Mirrors To Make Your Space Look Larger.
Brooklyn homeowner Ketrina loved her new condo… but as time went by, she became more and more disillusioned with the tiny, cramped kitchen. The cabinets weren’t properly installed, nothing was level, and whenever the refrigerator opened, it would chip away at the kitchen doorway. To make things worse, water leaks from the apartment above were taking their toll on the walls and cabinets. It was time for a change.
There’s no question about it: adding a little color is one of the easiest ways to bring some happy into your home. But what are the happiest hues out there? We partnered with the color experts at BEHR Paint to sift through the swatches and find the happiest paint colors around. Can you guess the happiest hues? Yellow is, predictably, our #1 happy color. We love how this home used Amber Brew to bring some sunshine into their space above the beautiful chair rail molding of their entryway.
Having a summer party that looks like a million bucks doesn’t have to mean spending a million bucks. Here are nine easy DIY ideas that will make your next outdoor party especially memorable… and that won’t break the bank. Above: A wheelbarrow makes a great impromptu drink cooler. Spotted on Style Me Pretty. DIY low table (cinderblocks and plywood perhaps?) + blankets and pillows out on the lawn = an unforgettable outdoor dining experience. Image from Eye Swoon.
Shawn had installed windows on his enclosed front porch, effectively creating a sunroom. But it still sat unused and became a magnet for old furniture, that is, until stylist Carlton Ellis created a cozy spot in which to relax, entertain, or sip morning coffee: From Carlton: The first thing I did was plan the space. I thought it could be a nice area to read and have coffee in the morning so I decided on a settee and bench around a round table.
Name: Josie Location: South East London Our Edwardian flat in South East London was the ground floor of a house that was sort of split into flats when we bought it. We converted it from a one bed to a two bed flat, which involved a lot of wallpaper stripping (like, from every room) and a few unexpected discoveries along the way.
