The Latest
2016

The Latest: 2016

Welcome to the hub for accessing all our latest posts! Easily sort through content by date to quickly find what you’re looking for — you’ll never miss out on the latest updates here.
How to Throw a Party When Your Living Room is Also Your Bedroom
Do you want to invite friends over — maybe even have a dinner party — but you’ve been hesitating because you live in a studio apartment and your living room is also your dining room, kitchen, office and bedroom? Though it might feel a bit strange to have guests (good friends or acquaintances) milling about in your sleep space, I don’t think having a small home should be a road block for entertaining.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 29, 2016
Partner
Show Us How You Keep It Clean to Win $5,000 and Star in a Commercial
Stanley Steemer wants to know how you keep your home clean. Whether your mess is the result of kids or pets or…you…what’s your ritual for cleaning house? That’s the question at the center of their #KeepItCleanContest, and there’s a big bounty for showing them how: $5K cash, a starring role in Stanley Steemer’s next TV ad, and (best of all) a year of free deep cleanings.
Sponsored Post
Oct 29, 2016
How To Have Fun When You’re Staying Home on Halloween
Going out on Halloween night is always a good time, but if you live in a neighborhood or apartment complex where kids go trick-or-treating on Halloween, sometimes it’s fun to stay home and pass out candy instead. And if you have kids or want to have some fun with your nieces and nephews, taking them around to go trick-or-treating can be a good time too, if you really get into the spirit.
Brittney Morgan
Oct 28, 2016
Before & After: A Totally ’80s Dining Room Gets an Eclectic, Glamorous Update
Project by: Whitney Jones of Whitney J Decor Homeowner: Coletha Kennedy Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Coletha Kennedy’s dining room in her New Orleans home was in desperate need of reinvention. Dated wallpaper and dingy wall-to-wall carpeting just wouldn’t do for the mother of two, who owns a fashion boutique in town. Designer Whitney Jones of Whitney J Decor stepped in to help her bring her maximalist, glamorous dream to life.
Arlyn Hernandez
Oct 28, 2016
Before and After: Six Kids and a Bright White Kitchen
When tasked with updating a kitchen for a family with six kids, Syd and Shay of Studio McGee wanted to create a “next level” monochromatic kitchen, that could still house a large brood. From Studio McGee: When it comes to a bright, monochromatic kitchen, it’s all in the details. All-white kitchens are the number one request we receive. You might see a lot of people churning out white kitchens, but it’s the subtle design decisions that can take a kitchen to the next level.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 28, 2016
10 Containers That Will Help You Pass Out Halloween Candy in Style
(Image credit: World Market) From Kitchn → 10 Cool Containers for Passing Out Halloween Candy
Apartment Therapy
Oct 28, 2016
Budget-Busting Red Flags to Look for When Buying an Older Home
Wooed by its close proximity to our favorite beach, my husband and I bought an older home in Charleston, SC, last spring. One year and tons of cash later, we’ve learned the hard way that it isn’t always the big, glaring problems with older homes that’ll bite you right in the butt—er, budget. In our experience, it’s the little red flags that sneak up and rob you blind before you can close the front door.
Julie Sprankles
Oct 28, 2016
Partner
What Does It Take for a Small Space to Work?
A smaller space can actually be an urban homeowner’s dream: a beautiful, functional answer to the busy chaos of everyday life. With an eye for efficiency, square footage becomes irrelevant — and the old adage “less is more” becomes decidedly modern. So what does it take for a small space to work? When it is intentional.
Sponsored Post
Oct 28, 2016
A Spanish Style LA Apartment Full of Warm Wood & Salvaged Finds
Name: Meghan & Jesse Location: Los Angeles, California Our Apartment is a 1920s Spanish Studio in an older neighborhood of Los Angeles. We fell for the roof beams, dark hardwoods and french doors in the apartment immediately, as we’d been looking for an older place with charm, and it had even more than we’d have hoped (especially for LA). It’s around 550 square feet and has a lot of old, fun details like a pull-down ironing board and a stained glass kitchen pendant light.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 27, 2016
Why is Vinegar Such a Cleaning All Star?
(Image credit: Gina Eykemans) From Kitchn → What Is Vinegar and What Makes It a Good Cleaner?
Apartment Therapy
Oct 27, 2016
Halloween Decor Done the Chic, Grown-Up Way
The Kitchn Editors
Oct 27, 2016
What is Castile Soap? Here’s the Scoop…
(Image credit: Amazon) From Kitchn → What Is Castile Soap and How Does It Work?
Apartment Therapy
Oct 27, 2016
High & Low: What It Costs to Rent a 1200-Square-Foot Apartment in 5 U.S. Cities
Anyone who’s ever started on an apartment search knows the basic math of renting, delivered here à la Biggie Smalls: Mo’ money, mo’ square footage. If you have more dollars to spend, you can get yourself into a bigger apartment. Much bigger, in some places. From the deep South to deep in Manhattan, here is what it costs to rent five 1200-ish-square-foot apartments across the U.S.
Taryn Williford
Oct 27, 2016
A Bay Area Apartment Full of “Timeless Eclectic” Style
Name: Ellen Location: Oakland, California I don’t know if our home can be pinned down to any one style! It’s a mash up of what I like most from many different eras. Timelessly eclectic! We have a lot of inherited antiques from my parents. My father was an antiques dealer and ran a very successful estate sale business. I grew up rummaging through estates with him, and over the years I have acquired many treasures.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 26, 2016
Date Night In Tips From the One and Only Ina Garten
(Image credit: Quentin Bacon) From Kitchn → Ina Garten’s 5 Tips for a Better Date Night In
Apartment Therapy
Oct 26, 2016
The 7 Swoon-Worthiest Shipping Container Homes
I think part of the reason shipping container houses are so appealing is that building a house from shipping containers is like the grown-up equivalent of making a really sweet fort from cardboard boxes — you have succeeded in making something awesome from something that you just found, something that would otherwise be in the trash. (Of course, the actual reality of shipping container homes is a bit more complicated than that — but there’s no denying they have a certain draw.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 26, 2016
Before & After: An RV Kitchen Gets an Update
Katie’s RV kitchen was functional but cookie-cutter. She wanted something that was unique and warm, and she took a chance on black paint in a small space and it totally paid off! From Katie: When we first purchased our RV the interior was in good condition, it just wasn’t our style. Not to mention every single person that owns the same model has this exact kitchen. We needed a space that felt like ours, ya know?
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 26, 2016
Before & After: A 1920s Kitchen Gets a Bright & Modern Makeover
Sarah and Nick purchased their 1924 traditional island cottage in 2013, and spent the next five months renovating much of their new home. They were working with a very tight budget and a very real deadline; baby number two was on the way and the couple had made a pact that the kitchen be completed before his birth. Naturally, this made tackling the project a particular challenge.
Emily Billings
Oct 26, 2016
Partner
Benjamin Moore’s 2017 Color of the Year Is…
The much-anticipated color of the year is here, and it takes a completely new direction from 2016’s Simply White OC-117! One of our favorite things about Benjamin Moore’s big reveal each year is how it speaks to larger design trends; this year’s is unexpected, but on point. The Benjamin Moore design team explains their arrival to this color, “People are growing braver and more confident about working with color.
Sponsored Post
Oct 26, 2016
A Black & White Brutalist-Inspired Loft
Name: Alexandre Location: Akron, Ohio In March of this year, my partner Dominic and I moved into a custom built 1,700 square foot loft space after three years of renovation. Formerly a rubber factory in downtown Akron, Ohio, the building features original steel beams and stunning maple floors over a century old, scarred from years of tire manufacturing. The building had been abandoned for years and is now beautifully restored for the first time as a residential space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 25, 2016
15 Ways to Sharpen Your Kitchen Skills, In 5 Minutes or Less
(Image credit: David Hopler of D Square Photo & Video) From Kitchn → 15 Ways to Improve Your Cooking Life, 5 Minutes at a Time
Apartment Therapy
Oct 25, 2016
5 Chunky Yarn Projects You Can Arm Knit (Besides a Blanket)
Super chunky knits are all the rage right now (we even had Kaitlin arm knit us a blanket on Facebook Live). After watching a cozy throw get knit in just 15 minutes, I wondered what other cool things you could make with this gorgeous bulky yarn. Here are five more projects for your home that you can arm knit in an afternoon: Who can say no to a chunky knit pillow? This is the sort of cushion cover that would cost nearly $100 at a store, but you can make for about $30 in yarn.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 25, 2016
Before & After: The Haunted Mansion Bathroom of Your Disney Dreams
Carrie, a serious Disney fan, has always fancied living Disney’s Haunted Mansion After trying to fix up her small bathroom she finally decided to let it go and follow her dream (which is a wish your heart makes) of a Disneyland-inspired bathroom. With a lucky wallpaper find (definitely not a poor unfortunate soul) and some smart internet shopping that let her remain one jump ahead of the design, even the bare necessities were on brand.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 25, 2016
The Cheap Thrift Store Find That’ll Solve Your Blank Wall Woes
Working within a budget and trying to find affordable wall art? Don't overlook this one common thrift store bargain.
Katie Holdefehr
Oct 25, 2016
8 Rules for Bringing Food to New Parents, Sick Friends and Anyone Else
(Image credit: Lauren Volo) From Kitchn → 8 Rules for Bringing Food to Friends
Apartment Therapy
Oct 25, 2016
The Trick to Surviving a Colorful Vintage Tiled Bathroom
Whether you rent and can’t make any changes or just don’t have the funds to remodel, moving into a home with a vintage bathroom can be a challenge. When that bathroom sports vintage tiles in intense colors, it can be especially puzzling to figure out how to decorate. If the tiles have to stay — and the color palette’s been forced on you, for better or worse — try a trick to making vintage bathrooms work.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 25, 2016
A Modern & Stylish Italian Apartment Full of DIYs, Family Pieces & Color
Name: Danny Location: Rome, Italy This apartment used to belong to my grandparents, and then my parents took over the rent, and now my husband and I are living in it with our mini dachshund. Three generations (and counting)! It’s a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment on the third floor of a residential building in the center of Rome. The whole home was interior designed by my husband and I—a blend of mid century modern, timeless design, and lots of color.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 24, 2016
What Will the Next Mid-Century Modern Be? 3 Contenders to Watch
First off, let me preface this post by saying I think mid-century modern is a classic and versatile style that will be relevant in home design for many decades to come. Unfortunately for me, when a style becomes increasingly popular, I immediately start panicking about how soon it will lose its luster.
Jessica Isaac
Oct 24, 2016
8 Health Myths You Really Shouldn’t Worry About
The Kitchn Editors
Oct 24, 2016
Before & After: A Dingy Brooklyn Kitchen Brightens Up
Prior to their renovation, Laura and Matthew’s kitchen had a few problems common to lots of NYC apartments: a tiny footprint, not enough storage space, and cabinets caked with years’ and years’ worth of paint. As you can see, the cabinets in their galley kitchen had taken on an unusual texture, and the oven was positioned about 18 inches from the opposite countertop. Definitely time for a change.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 24, 2016
Before & After: A Delicious (Mostly) DIY Kitchen Upgrade
Kylie’s kitchen is also her office, so while the original was livable, it wasn’t really blog-worthy. After about six months of hard DIY work, she got a gorgeous, open and photo-worthy space. From Kylie: Our house is 1,500 square feet and was built in the 1950s. We love our location and want to stay here for a while, but the kitchen had to go.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 24, 2016
Get Salty: Adding Salt to Your Cleaning Routine
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From Kitchn → 3 Reasons Salt Is a Smart Cleaning Choice
Apartment Therapy
Oct 24, 2016
Life, After You Move In Together: What It’s Like to SHARE a Studio
890 square feet isn’t exactly tiny, but with the lack of walls or doors, this high-rise jungle paradise in downtown LA has the potential to be a too-small leopard-print jail cell when two people share this space. Chris and Rory’s home is definitely giving off studio apartment vibes and is PACKED with personality, color, pattern and clothes. So how do two people with big personalities fit into a one-room home?
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 24, 2016
How to Befriend Your Next-Door Neighbors (I Mean, If You Want To)
When you move into a new apartment building or a new neighborhood, do you try to make friends with your neighbors, or do you just go about your business? Sometimes, it makes sense to keep to yourself, but if your neighbors seem like the kind of people you’d like to get to know, it might be worth it to put yourself out there a little bit.
Brittney Morgan
Oct 23, 2016
Decade-by-Decade: A Look at the Typical American Household by Decade
Popular design trends are hard to pinpoint when you’re in the midst of them, but painfully easy to spot once you’re a decade or two removed (the groovy pad of Megan Draper on AMC’s Mad Men screams of the swinging ’70s). Post WWII, decor trends seem to have had about a 10-year lifespan, and we’ve chronicled the nostalgic bullet points for each period.
Jessica Isaac
Oct 23, 2016
6 Easy & Clever Ways to Organize Your Hair Styling Tools
You wouldn’t trade your favorite curling iron for anything, and yet, you probably don’t even have a designated storage space for it. Keeping your heat styling tools clean and organized is important for more than just aesthetic reasons—having a safe place to store them will help them last longer, since easy organization means no more destroyed cords and damaging falls from the countertop.
Brittney Morgan
Oct 22, 2016
One-Day Warriors: Tips for Cleaning Your Whole Home in a Day
Even if you happen to be a Monica Gellar type—someone who spends their free time dusting and sweeping—spending an entire afternoon indoors cleaning is still way less fun than, well, just about anything. It’s really no wonder that so many people make a habit of putting off cleaning until it’s absolutely necessary, i.e. until you’re suffering from either out-of-town visitors or out-of-control allergies.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 22, 2016
A Downtown LA Loft That’s “Like IKEA on Steroids”
Name: CC Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, California My apartment is a 725 square foot loft located in the heart of downtown LA. I love the feeling of downtown because it reminds me of NYC (where I lived for 10 wonderful years prior to coming to the West Coast). I’d say my style is organized crazy. Like IKEA on steroids. I may have a slight hoarding problem but I keep my stuff clean and in order haha.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 21, 2016
How to Trick Yourself Into Spending Less Money at the Grocery Store
This month we’ll be sharing solutions that are so simple and easy—and at times, automated—that they feel like magic. Hocus Pocus celebrates all the small ways you can trick yourself into living a better life. There are a lot of ways to spend less money at the grocery stores. Couponing or buying cheaper food are two that come to mind, though neither are always ideal for our sanity or our health.
Shifrah Combiths
Oct 21, 2016
Real Couples on the Best Things About Sharing a Small Space
We all know that living in a small space has its benefits — cheaper rent, better locations and more — but sharing that small space with another person…well that can get a little tricky. Sure, there are downsides, but let’s choose to focus on the positive! These five real couples revealed what they think the best thing about sharing a small space with someone else is.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 21, 2016
Partner
The 10 Principles of a Purposeful Home
For a century that’s still so young, the speed of life has changed rapidly. Now more than ever, we’re seeking ways to streamline and curate our busy lives. Nearly 100 years ago, the Bauhaus design movement began as a similar reaction. Its reigning principles, such as the unity of form and function, are still a pillar of modern, purposeful design.
Sponsored Post
Oct 21, 2016
An Austin Home That’s Not Afraid of Color
Name: Katie Location: Austin, Texas I love my home because it’s filled with things that make me happy! I consider my style to be “collected eclectic,” and my home is a perfect collection of my vintage finds, DIYs, bargain buys, and even a couple of splurges. I’m by no means a minimalist, and I’m certainly not afraid of a little color!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 20, 2016
Watch this Coffee Table Convert to a Dining Table in One Move
Convertible tables have been a small space staple for decades, but what they offer in functionality, they often lack in style. Paris-based Boulon Blanc wants to change that with their new transformable table. While traditional convertible tables use an X-shaped mechanism that’s reminiscent of an ironing board, Boulon Blanc has a patented rotating hinge instead. The result is an organic-inspired, transformative shape whether it’s used as a coffee table or a dining table.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 20, 2016
How To: Remove the Coffee Stains from Your Favorite Mug
(Image credit: Anjali Prasertong) From Kitchn → The Best Way to Remove Old Coffee Stains from Mugs & Carafes
Apartment Therapy
Oct 20, 2016
7 Ways to Prevent Product Clutter When Your Bathroom Is Tiny…or Teeny-Tiny
When my husband and I were on the hunt for a home last year, one of my must-haves was a spacious master bathroom. You know, the whole nine yards – a huge soaking tub, plenty of storage, dual vanities. So if you knocked on the door of our sweet beach-town bungalow today and asked for a tour, you’d likely be surprised to find a master bathroom so slight that my husband and I can barely fit in it together. (In its defense, it does have a massive tub.
Julie Sprankles
Oct 20, 2016
Try Before You Buy: Say Goodbye to Color Uncertainty With These 6 Paint Color Apps
The world of paint can feel endless. So many blues, grays, whites…how do you settle on one for your wall? I’m a firm believer that nothing will ever replace buying samples and testing a paint color out before diving into gallons of a certain shade, but to get a rough idea of a paint color family or hue without having to head to the hardware store, give one of these six apps a try!
Arlyn Hernandez
Oct 20, 2016
Before & After: A Livably Luxurious Living Room
Brady was blessed with a beauty of a blank canvas, and he did not fail to make it special. By mixing a variety of styles, from Boho to classic Hollywood glam, he was able to create a space unique to his personal style and needs. From Brady: I spent months and months looking for the “perfect place” and saw over 20 apartments before I finally landed on this one.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 20, 2016
The New Shabby Chic: A Little Less Shabby, A Lot More Chic
Do you remember shabby chic? I do. I don’t think I ever got fully into the craze, but there was definitely a time when tousled lacy curtains, distressed painted wood and tiny floral prints were positively everywhere.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 20, 2016