Apartment Therapy Archive: Feb 2017

Every ounce of artist Hillery's place is dripping in warmth. There are stacks of cozy blankets to curl into and Mali the dog appears perpetually huggable.

So, first things first, can someone please alert the Pulitzer Prize folks about this article? Because there’s hard-hitting journalism and then there’s “Sheet Masks: A Journey in Pictures.” I know, guys, deep stuff. But truly, if you are even a little bit interested in trying the ever popular sheet masks, we’ve got a lot of reviews for you that range from, “I feel like I can take on the world!” to “SO slimy!” Life changing.

Name & Location: Nicola in Leeds, United Kingdom My Favorite Room: Living Room Specs: 215 square feet, owned Nicola’s living room if full of deep, dark colors, funky textures and the sort of textiles and fabrics you just want to snuggle up and get cozy. With a fun mix of thrifted and new purchases, the space has a ton of personality that complements the Victorian architecture of the home. All of the elements work together to make a perfectly welcoming family living room.

If you could leave your job right now to be your own boss and set your own rules, would you do it? Ask the majority of freelancers in America, and they’ll tell you it’s totally worth it. A recent study from Upwork and the Freelancers Union looked at how freelancers feel about their employment situation, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. According to the study, 35 percent of the U.S.

(Image credit: Alicia Macias) From Kitchn → This Is How Much You Should Spend on Food and Groceries

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to personal style, and lighting is no exception. For every design preference, we have your pendant light counterpart: are you bohemian and all-natural? Industrial and hard-edged? Just thrifty and know how to grab a good deal when you see it? With the huge selection available, there’s no wrong answer (only many, many great options). Have your ideal vision in mind?

Move over, Martha, there’s a new mogul in town. Here’s how Ellen DeGeneres has—in just a couple years—taken over our hearts, our homes, and our wallets. Martha Stewart was not the first to to turn her name into a brand, but she’s arguably one of the most successful and enduring.

Ahhhh, the beloved IKEA Forhoja kitchen cart. Useful, sturdy and if we’re being honest, a little bland. But hey! Sometimes that’s what you want in a kitchen cart. Mylinh was looking for something with a little more pizzaz, so she decided to add some dreamy romance to this classic work horse. With this easy and inexpensive project you can adapt it to your style and in endless ways.

If you love the price tags associated with thrifting but would rather not spend an afternoon digging through racks, then you’re in luck. There are plenty of online consignment and thrift stores that you can browse through right from the comfort of your own couch. From five dollar steals to designer treasures, there’s a little something for everyone, in every price range. Best For: The shopper that’s unsure of their style.

You might not have many walls or square feet, but studio apartment living comes with a lot of advantages. Studios can be just the perfect size for someone living solo, or make a couple sharing a space super close. They are often more affordable, allowing you to live a little closer to the action if you live in a pricey city. And because of the space limitations of studio apartment living, gorgeous studios are also great examples of tiny living inspiration.

From Apartment Therapy → Want to Live Longer?

Name: Karli Kane Hendrickson and pup Olive Location: West Side, Providence, Rhode Island Size: 659 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Karli lives in a cozy apartment in a larger house inhabited entirely by female artists. On the first floor are two musicians in the Providence band Secret Circle, on the second floor is Muffy Brandt who runs a very successful Etsy shop.

Name: Tracy, Jason and Lucy the Chihuahua Location: Historic Village — Zionsville, Indiana Tracy and Jason have a bright, clean and modern aesthetic that makes their 1890s historic home sing. After moving around for a bit their new home has beautiful hardwood floors, enviable amounts of natural light all in a seriously quaint small town. After a year in their space the home looks curated yet warm and is still a work in progress.

Francesca and Alexandra are sisters, but they share more than just genes. They both recently experienced moving into small studio apartments! Alexandra is in 350 square feet in New York, and Francesca is in 380 feet in Minneapolis. Their current homes — much like their childhood bedrooms growing up — reflect each sister’s individual personality. Alexandra, the oldest, has always loved cheery colors. Francesca, the youngest, favors calmer spaces bathed in cool colors.

Teeny tiny bedroom got you down? Fear not. We're here to help.

Shara’s old bathroom, while not totally on the cutting edge of design trends, was still pretty cute and seemingly livable. Turns out there were some structural issues with the bathroom (discovered during a kitchen remodel), so Shara jumped at the opportunity to rethink and upgrade the small space. She switched around the layout, built her own beautiful wooden vanity and added some sleek design elements that turned the bathroom into a spa-like space of serenity.

Navigating the world of registry etiquette is tough work. To put together The Registry Rule Book, we asked some industry experts to weigh in and answer some of the hardest questions engaged couples might have. The reason wedding registries can be such tricky territory is that the whole process is a delicate dance.

(Image credit: Cathy Pyle) From Kitchn → The 5 Questions You Should Always Ask Before Buying a Big Appliance

It looks like those plant lady vibes may actually be improving your lifespan. Recent research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital dives into the results of an eight year study covering the possible link between vegetation and life expectancy—and the data suggests it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Spoiler alert: Women who live in homes surrounded by vegetation not only have lower mortality rates, but improved mental health, too.

Copper is definitely the metal of the moment. It always adds a little bit of warmth—and a touch of the unexpected—to any room. If you’re looking to inject some of the rosy metal to your home in the form of a dramatic light fixture, look no further than these 10 beautiful, modern copper chandeliers. A modern, geometric style at a nice price. This retro style puts a funky twist on warm metals. I love the simplicity and elegance of this three-bulb style.

Sometime a few decades back, it seems that designers cottoned onto the fact that mirrors are (er, make that can be) fantastic for interiors. They reflect light, thus making a space look brighter and larger. There’s also a certain shiny-glam factor to them, owing to the fact that traditionally, glass is an expensive finish to splash about. That all being said, there can definitely be too much of a good thing, especially when mirrors are concerned.

If you aren’t already hip to the value of a good cleaning book, now’s the time to listen up. Along with offering useful housekeeping tips, these books often provide eye-opening philosophical insight about organizing your life. Case in point: Mary Kondo’s bestselling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

Name: Sarah and Dan Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, New York Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4.5 years Sarah and Dan live in a beautifully preserved brownstone apartment in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. The pre-war space features an abundance of architectural charm, like high ceilings, a floral ceiling medallion, and a gorgeous fireplace. The couple describes their style as modern and minimal, but above all, they value comfort.

It’s up for debate for sure but I think for many, the living room—especially for apartment or condo dwellers—is the most used space in their home. It’s where you relax, entertain, get some work done and maybe even have a bite in front of the T.V. Having a small space doesn’t mean you can’t do all that and still have a stylish and functional living room.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → The One Cleaning Tool You Really Need in Your Kitchen

I started last year with a promise to myself that I would do more things that scared me, take more risks, and challenge myself more. I’ve always been a “safe” kind of person, following rules and talking myself out of things that others have no problem doing spontaneously. I didn’t follow that promise to the letter, but I did take one major leap that changed my life: I changed my last name. For as long as I can remember, my last name just felt wrong.

Meg Ryan’s moving on from her spacious New York City loft. Peek inside the When Harry Met Sally star’s SoHo space. In 2013, Ryan purchased the property from The Simpsons star Hank Azaria for $8 million, and she’s given it a bit of a facelift in the four years since. The 4,100 square foot loft comprises the entire fifth floor of a building built in the 1880s. The apartment has two bedrooms plus an additional sleeping area with French doors and three bathrooms.

In an effort to help you catch more Zzzz, we rounded up three types of sleepers—back, side, stomach—to test the five best-selling pillows on Amazon. Here's what they thought.

Design by: Veronica Koltuniak of Verokolt Architect: Ben May Design Home Builder: Bryer Construction and Installation, LLC Location: Austin, Texas Scratch-n-sniff wallpaper isn’t usually the first jumping off point in a design plan, but when Veronica Koltuniak of Verokolt lucked out with such a cool client—a self-confirmed bachelor who prefers a home filled with friends, music and late night jam sessions—requesting such rarities, she couldn’t believe her luck.

It’s a funny thing what happens when you move into a new home. All of a sudden, the furniture pieces that worked so well for you in your previous abode just don’t feel…right anymore. Sure, some things transition seamlessly, but others end up feeling too small or too basic in the new space. Vijay Nathan—Apartment Therapy Media’s Product Manager—and his wife Anita would certainly agree. If you’ve been following along with the couple’s rental loft 2.

Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we can assure you you’ll be wooed by this Icelandic spinoff. Keeping Up with the Catdashians is the cutest reality TV show you’ll ever watch. In this Big Brother-esque livestream, four orphan kittens share an oversized dollhouse, and you can watch them eat, sleep, play, and make a mess—just like a Kardashian, but way cuter.

Name: Vicki and Ross Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Years lived in: 8 years, owned Vicki and Ross moved into their home in the inner-city suburb of Carlton eight years ago. Their building was originally part of an adjoining hotel — and it housed a hand ball court sitting in the back. (The first Inter-colonial Hand Ball Competition was played there against New South Wales, in fact!) You can still see some of the original paint markings on the walls in their gorgeous courtyard.

Like many of you, I am obsessed with visual apps like Instagram and Pinterest, and happily scroll through hundreds of images in a sitting. When I see something interesting or new, I regularly take a screen grab and make a mental note to share it with you readers. My brain sieve is what it is, so my intentions are often better than my follow through. This isn’t one of those times. This kitchen is so great and freshly inspirational, and it’s hot off the digital presses.

As a close watcher of trends in the design world, I will say that there’s a lot out there that is very beautiful, but few things that feel really new. There are always exceptions, though, like these iridescent homewares (and accessories). They feel different and futuristic and maybe even a little bit magical, the perfect thing for taking your home, and your style, to the next level. Above: Definitely a bit pricey, but watch for sales.

We love a teeny apartment, and we especially love a teeny apartment that proves that you can have it all in a small space: a cozy bedroom nook, plentiful storage, great lighting, and even the gourmet kitchen of your dreams. This little Stockholm apartment, currently listed on Nooks, manages to squeeze all that into a footprint of 33 square meters (about 355 square feet). The floor plan, which is quite open, doesn’t waste any space.

Floating frames are having a moment. There’s something so eye-catching about seeing a photograph, feather or message suspended in midair—and the fact that it’s one of the simplest framing techniques (no matting necessary) makes it even more popular. If you want to add more art to your home, but don’t have time for yet another project to procrastinate on completing, turn to these three ideas that take less than 5 minutes to make.

Fans of the colorful style of Bri Emery, we have great news. The Los Angeles-based creative director and founder of Designlovefest partnered with Target for a new travel collection, and it’s available right now. Emery has been teasing the collection on her Instagram for nearly a week now, giving glimpses of the pieces in action in her IG Stories.

It’s easy to spend an entire day clicking through photos of gorgeous houses and apartments and finding decor inspiration, but what about when it comes to organizing? There are beautiful, clever ways to store your things that you may not have even thought of yet.

I feel fairly confidant in my ability to spot an IKEA hack, but this project had me doing a double take. Christina’s project is not a casual, pick up and craft DIY, but it’s so perfectly executed that we had to share!

Every week, it feels like Monday through Friday takes forever. Then when the weekend gets here, it whizzes by so fast it’s like it never even happened. You spend the whole week working, maybe go out on Saturday night, and then before you know it, it’s Sunday evening and it’s time to go to sleep and do it all over again. That’s why, for many people, it’s important to make every Sunday a good one—whether that means doing something fun, or being super productive.

Thrift stores carry a lot of, eh, “interesting” pieces on their racks. Bedazzled evening dresses from the ’80s rub shoulders with floral sundresses from the grunge era; sweater vests mingle with mom jeans, and Peter Pan collars throw you back into a time where Twiggy ruled the magazine stands.