The Latest: Aug 2015

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6 Tips for DIY Stamping

The power of DIY pattern is well within the grasps of even the most amateur of crafters, thanks to the can’t-mess-it-up charms of stamps.

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 31, 2015

What Every Teen Should Know About Making Salad

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) “How do you make that dressing?” I didn’t give it much thought until my son asked. It seems simple — and it is — but it hadn’t dawned on me to teach my kids to make a basic vinaigrette. Maybe because I never knew how until I met my French mother-in-law.

Apartment Therapy

Aug 31, 2015

Today’s 7 Biggest Kitchen Trends

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 31, 2015

A Dreamy, Rustic, Eclectic 1729 Yorkshire Farmhouse

Catherine & Michael Frawley

Aug 31, 2015

The Secret Design Weapon Your Boring Bathroom Needs

For many of us, bathrooms are a blank slate. And sometimes a blank, boring slate. While color and pattern are great tools for adding interest, they’re not the only way to create a little excitement in a bathroom. This design element is often used in living rooms and bedrooms but in a bathroom it’s the design secret weapon you didn’t know your bathroom needed.

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 31, 2015

10 Lessons From Traveling (& Eating) Across the World

(Image credit: Cambria Bold) From The Kitchn → 10 Things We’ve Learned on Our Travels

Apartment Therapy

Aug 31, 2015

3 Ways to Save Your Memories (So You Can Let Go of the Actual Things)

One of the our biggest emotional blocks against reducing clutter is nostalgia! We want to keep remembering the great things that happened to us while wearing that sweater or the time in our lives when we loved those plates, so we hang on to stuff that we no longer need. But guess what? You don’t need the actual items to keep those great memories at the front of your mind. Try these ideas.

Jennifer Hunter

Aug 30, 2015

10 Things in Your Home You Should Toss by the End of Summer

Spring cleaning is overrated, y’all. The best time to purge around the house is right now. The end of carefree summer offers the perfect framework to really re-assess your needs and determine exactly what products, items and pantry staples you want to bring with you into fall. If you need a jump start on the Autumn Ablution (we’re trying to make it happen), here are 10 things around the house you should throw away by the end of summer.

Taryn Williford

Aug 30, 2015

Our Best Tips & Inspiration for Dealing with Low Ceilings

A lot of the spaces that we feature on Apartment Therapy have gorgeous, soaring ceilings. “Sure,” I hear you say, “it’s easy to make a space look good when your ceiling are 14 feet tall.” But what if your living space is a little humbler, with ceilings no higher than the standard eight feet? There are still things you can do to make your home look fantastic — and spacious to boot. Here are four ideas, with plenty of (low-ceilinged) examples to inspire. 1.

Nancy Mitchell

Aug 30, 2015

Joyce’s “Bohemian Wonderland”

Name: Joyce Location: Los Angeles, CA My little house is my ultimate happy place! I work in the interior design field so the aesthetic of my home and the state of my surroundings are very important to me. Before finding this little gem I was living in an apartment building and yearned for an entertainment space- somewhere that looked out into lush greenery. I couldn’t have gotten more lucky! It’s a bohemian wonderland with a porch that wraps around to reveal a romantic hammock.

Nora Taylor

Aug 30, 2015

Find a Fresh Perspective: 4 Ways to Look at Any Room As If It’s For the First Time

Getting your home to look its best means an occasional decor shake up, furniture rearrangement or new color palette. But sometimes it’s hard to see your space for exactly what it is. We’re all tied up emotionally to our homes, which is great, but it also limits the change we can visualize. We’re so used to the way things are! If you want to stop glossing over your home and really get a fresh perspective, try these things.

Jennifer Hunter

Aug 30, 2015

Thomas & Tara’s Eclectic Collected Home in Nashville

Name: Thomas and Tara Steffen Location: Nashville, TN Size: 2,650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Who buys a house based on the wallpaper and lighting fixture in the front entryway? Tara does. She fell in love with her mid-century home the moment she walked in the door. This house, with its bright pops of color and classic lines, is just perfect to house her ever-evolving collections. Gallery walls are quite the trend these days and Tara has turned them into an art form.

Monique Larroux

Aug 29, 2015

15 Awesome Kitchen Makeover Projects

We love a good transformation, and some of the biggest happen in the kitchen. Here are 15 of our favorite kitchen makeovers sent in from our readers that are sure to inspire you to get cooking. From Apartment Therapy → Before & After: 15 Kitchen Makeover Projects from Our Readers

The Kitchn

Aug 28, 2015

The Worst Things About Dorm Cooking

(Image credit: Danil Nevsky) shutterstock Dorm cooking is kind of a double-edged sword. It feels liberating to branch out from the meal plan, finally eating the foods you want to eat, and cooking for yourself. But as anyone who’s tackled dorm cooking can tell you, it’s only a little while before you realize cooking in

Apartment Therapy

Aug 28, 2015

Grow Your Own Cucumbers

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 28, 2015

Monique & Stu’s Bright Happy Family Home in Melbourne

Name: Monique, Stu, and their daughters, Lulu and Petula Location: Eltham; Melbourne, Victoria Size: 200 square metres (2,153 square feet) Years lived in: 6.5 years; Owned Monique and Stu’s home is cute, colorful, and inviting. Located in a leafy outer suburb of Melbourne, it is a perfect place to bring up their two young daughters.

Natalie Jeffcott

Aug 28, 2015

Teeny, Tiny (Room for a Bed But Not Much Else) Bedroom Decorating Tips

Can you touch one of your bedroom walls…while you’re laying in your bed (and not even stretching out all that much)? You might have a teeny tiny bedroom, the kind of small space where there’s room for a bed…and not much else. If you do (or you just like smart small space living and decorating solutions), you might find some inspiration in these bedroom decorating ideas.

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 28, 2015

Before & After: Modern Updates for a Tiny Brooklyn Bathroom

When one couple bought their Clinton Hill co-op in 2014, the space’s one bathroom was old, a little bit dated, and really, really small. Their renovation didn’t change the space’s footprint any, but smart, modern choices mean that their new bathroom has a spacious feel that belies its small size. The transformation of the couple’s entire apartment is documented in a separate Apartment Therapy post, which you can find here.

Nancy Mitchell

Aug 28, 2015

Before & After: Fireplace Gets a Quick Renter-Friendly Makeover

Jess’ rental had a beat up fireplace that was a bit of an eyesore in the middle of her living room. She found the perfect low-cost way to give it some glamour, with a classic renter’s trick that we love: Contact paper!! From Jess: The main materials are contact paper and an exacto (or utility) knife. Prior to doing anything to your fireplace make sure you give it a good wipe down so that the contact paper will stick to the fireplace surround.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 28, 2015

This “Wood” Tile Is a Cheap, Durable Alternative to Hardwoods

Hardwoods are the ideal flooring solution for beautiful homes. Unless, of course, you have kids. Or dogs. Good thing there’s a solution that looks like wood, but isn’t wood at all.

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 27, 2015

Before & After: A Powder Room Wins the Race

Deirdre’s powder room needed a punch of color and a little style upgrade. This Charleston resident decided to go with a horse racing theme and a jewel-toned wallpaper that, when paired with the glossy beadboard, makes the space. From Maggie: Leland galCandy Shop Vintage Thank you Maggie & Deirdre!

Tara Bellucci

Aug 27, 2015

5 Things That Make Overnight Guests Feel Welcome and Comfortable

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 27, 2015

5 Things People (Almost Always) Forget When Designing Their Living Room

There’s the picking out of the sofa. Choosing chairs. Deciding on a credenza. Arguing over where the television should go. There’s waffling over rug color and size. And there’s considering whether you should paint or wallpaper. But there are also a handful of things to think about that most people tend to forget when first setting up their living room. How does one come up with the optimum number of seats for a living room?

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 27, 2015

No Doorman? No Problem: 5 Ways to Get Your Packages on Your Own Schedule

Some fortunate folks out there have the luxury of a doorman at their apartment building; someone to accept packages on their behalf while they’re away at work or on vacation. The rest of us just come home to “missed package” slips stuck to our doors. Until now. Here are 5 services popping up in some big cities that let you get home deliveries on your time.

Taryn Williford

Aug 27, 2015

20 Meal Templates (Besides Taco Tuesday)

(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → Go Beyond Taco Tuesday with 20 More Meal Templates

Apartment Therapy

Aug 27, 2015

The Right Way to Get Rid of Toxic Items in Your Home

Do you have toxic items you’re no longer using hanging around your home? Check out our resource guide for handy tips on where and how to properly dispose of hazardous items in your home.

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 26, 2015

The Right Way to Microwave Leftovers

(Image credit: Kelli Foster) Have you ever reheated leftovers in the microwave, only to end up with a plate of food that was unevenly heated? You know, super hot around the outside of the plate, but barely even warm in the center? When it comes to microwaving leftovers, how you arrange food on the plate

Apartment Therapy

Aug 26, 2015

Try Peel-and-Stick Tiles for a DIY Backsplash

From Apartment Therapy → Hate Your Backsplash?

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 26, 2015

Does Making the Bed Really Make You Happier? I Found Out

We tell you all the time about the importance of making your bed — the one task that will make you happier, healthier, permanently stress-free and rich beyond your wildest dreams (or something along those lines). But against my own advice — I know, I’m a hypocrite — I rarely make my bed. Mornings are always such a scramble that it never seemed like much of a priority.

Jennifer Hunter

Aug 26, 2015

Carla’s Calm & Eclectic Collector Style

Name: Carla Caruso Location: Ashfield, MA Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned Designer Carla Caruso, of Carla Caruso Jewelry, bought her home in the sleepy town of Ashfield, MA, five years ago. Nestled in the hilltowns of western Massachusetts, Carla embarked on a years-long renovation project, which she tackled largely on her own. The result is an eclectic and vibrant take on the New England farmhouse.

Emily Billings

Aug 26, 2015

Before & After: $50 Table Goes Farmhouse

Robyn snagged this thrift store table for $50, and with some elbow grease, it became the farmhouse table of her dreams: From Robyn: When I walked into a thrift store and saw a two pedestals and the table top leaning nearby I knew that this was what I had been looking for and bought the table without even assembling it. I was motivated to finish this table and use it right away so refinishing a table this size could be a weekend project for someone who wanted to work long hours.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 26, 2015

5 Steps to Becoming a Well-Rounded Cook

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → 5 Habits of a Well-Rounded Cook

Apartment Therapy

Aug 26, 2015

5 Habits to Help You Stay More Organized

Have you always dreamed of being a naturally organized person? Well, it’s possible to train even the most un-organized of folks to create homes where everything’s in its place (most of the time). From Apartment Therapy → Want to Be More Organized?

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 25, 2015

5 Curved Kitchen Counters That Go Beyond the Straight & Narrow

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The island counter is a contemporary kitchen standard. If the room has enough space, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a kitchen without one. So what’s the next level of design? A curved island counter. From The Kitchn → 5 Curved Kitchen Counters That Go Beyond the Straight & Narrow

Apartment Therapy

Aug 25, 2015

4 Ways to Make Vinyl Tile Work

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 25, 2015

Topaz’s Basement “Burrow” Retreat

Name: Topaz Location: Downtown Wheaton, Illinois I work as an Art Director in the Chicagoland area and about two months ago moved into a gorgeous, half-basement nook. In the style of one of my favorite authors, L.M. Montgomery, I like to name my homes. However, accurately naming a home that is partially underground turned out to be more difficult than expected. After many word searches and some rather depressing synonym discoveries, I settled on “The Burrow.

Carrie McBride

Aug 25, 2015

Let Your Bedroom Breathe: 5 Things to Consider Getting Rid Of

I had the most transforming (literally) moment not too long ago when I took a bench out of my bedroom. While I had styled it lovingly with a comforting and cozy vignette and it technically fit in the spot it was in, it made my room feel cramped. Or at least, I didn’t realize it felt cramped until I moved it to another room in my home and breathed in the fresh air of a roomier, more wonderful bedroom!

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 25, 2015

Before & After: ’70s Fireplace Gets a Facelift

Rachel’s home hadn’t been updated since it was built in 1975, and it was evident in the dark fieldstone fireplace. Not having the funds for a full renovation, she got creative with paint—and boy, does it look great. From Rachel: We painted the 1970’s field stone fireplace. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and watered it down quite a bit which allows the texture and various colors to still come through.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 25, 2015

Tip Testing: Can You Ripen an Avocado in 10 Minutes?

(Image credit: Kelli Foster) From The Kitchn → Can You Really Ripen an Avocado in Just 10 Minutes?

Apartment Therapy

Aug 25, 2015

How To Prep Your Kitchen for Back-to-School

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) There’s the obvious back-to-school prep — like stocking up on pencils, pens, and notebooks, maybe even a new lunch tote or backpack — but there’s another area that deserves consideration: your kitchen. With a little prep and organization in the kitchen, the transition from lazy summer to back-to-school will be a

Apartment Therapy

Aug 24, 2015

6 Space-Saving DIYs for Cramped Kitchen Counters

Here are six accessible projects and ideas (for even the smallest of homes) that show you how to eke out even a few more feet of precious counter space — with no major renovations needed.

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 24, 2015

17 Examples of the “New Rustic” Kitchen

The Kitchn Editors

Aug 24, 2015

Understated Elegance & Clean Lines in Houston

This 100-year-old Craftsman-style home and opened up the living room, dining room, and kitchen to create one comfortable, communal space.

Katy Cartland

Aug 24, 2015

10 of the Best Uses for Mason Jars (Outside of Canning)

(Image credit: Christine Gallary) From The Kitchn → 10 of the Best Uses for Canning Jars

Apartment Therapy

Aug 24, 2015

Leah & Mike’s 1940s Ocean Beach Beauty

Name: Leah and Mike Location: Ocean Beach/Outer Sunset neighborhood, San Francisco, California My husband and I just finished renovating our 1940s, 800 square foot home near Ocean Beach. We fell in love with the neighborhood, the east/west light in our house, and the huge backyard.

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 23, 2015

Furniture Facts: 5 Important Things To Do Before You Buy

Furniture shopping is about more than just style; there are so many elements that go into getting the right fit for you and your home. These five are the essentials. Don’t leave the store without doing this stuff. Duh. But sit on it mindfully! You’re looking for not only comfort, but also how this piece fits your body. Does the seat accommodate the length of your thighs? Do your feet rest comfortably on the floor? Is the arm rest at the right height for your own arm?

Jennifer Hunter

Aug 23, 2015

One Fool-Proof Way to Buy the Right Size Rug? Work Backwards

When buying an area rug, most people start with the rug measurements available in a store – maybe from a catalog, or online – and try to imagine how the given dimensions would fit in their space. Instead, the next time you need to buy a rug for your room, begin with your space. Read on and try this one backwards method for rug shopping, which takes just a roll of painters tape and 15 minutes of your time.

Taryn Williford

Aug 23, 2015

3 Secrets of People Who Know How To Say “No”

For such a small word, it sure is hard for some people to say no, even when they really, really want to. So how do some people breezily refuse an invitation while others begrudgingly accept? How do they pull if off? Like this! Here’s the deal: even though it doesn’t feel like it, saying no is your right. If you choose that path, you don’t need to explain yourself. That’s not to say you need to be rude.

Jennifer Hunter

Aug 23, 2015