A Couple Puts a Home Together With the Help of Some Craigslist Kismet
Name: Alannah and Alex Location: Vancouver, British Colombia The basics: Two years, rented — 700 square feet Alannah and Alex moved to Vancouver and set about making their apartment a home. With a limited budget, they scoured Craigslist and thrift stores, finding individual pieces they loved and blending them together into one cozy home.
Jul 31, 2017
Machine Washable Rugs? They Exist, and Here’s What You Need to Know
Story time: When we first started talking about this at Apartment Therapy, my immediate reaction was, “Machine washable rugs exist?!?” so if you’re reading this thinking, “wait, really?” you’re not alone. (If you did know this already, you can probably still learn a thing or two, and those of us who didn’t know appreciate your patience with us.
Jul 31, 2017
Great News: Pottery Barn Is Expanding Their Small Spaces Collection
Good news: Pottery Barn just added new items to their small space collection, which debuted earlier this year. Check out some of the pieces below: Back in January, the retailer announced a collection of space conscious, multifunctional pieces that represented a new market for a brand that can often be associated with spacious suburban living. And it’s proving successful: What started out in just 15 stores is now expanding to 56 in “thoughtfully selected markets.
Jul 31, 2017
DIY Handpainted Faux Wallpaper: Easy & Beautiful, Even on Textured Walls
Meet Katherine Freeman Hocke, a Texas-based artist who specializes in mixed media, layering textures and colors to get her signature look. While she primarily practices her art on canvas and paper (check out her shop here), with her recent purchase of a 1930s home she has begun translating her painterly visions and passion for interiors into DIY-able projects in and around her home.
Jul 31, 2017
Before & After: A Pepto-Pink Guest Room Looks So Good Now
Christine’s pepto-pink guest room had a lot of potential but needed a ton of work. Wanting to create a space for out-of-towners that is as interesting as it is welcoming, she set off restoring as many original historic features of the room as she could, while making updates to the space to ensure comfort. From Christine: Even before moving into our Edwardian house in Manchester we knew that we had a lot of home improvement work ahead of us.
Jul 31, 2017
Partner
How to Paint Your Floors — the Fool-proof, Fail-proof Way
If it’s time for new floors but you don’t want to deal with the time or expense of refinishing them, why not paint them? It’s affordable, adds character to the space, and gives you the freedom to bring in some color. Though for all the reasons to jump in…it’s entirely possible to make a big mess. However, there’s a really simple solution available at your local home improvement store. That solution is to use the right paint for the job.
Jul 31, 2017
A Colorful “Mini Pop Culture Museum” Apartment in the East Village
Name: Jeanie and Tater Tot the Bulldog Location: East Village — New York, New York The basics: 23 years, rented — 850 square feet There’s a perception out there that New Yorkers live and die by the color block. Jeanie has taken that idea and turned it completely on its head, filling her apartment with colors on colors on colors!
Jul 30, 2017
Before & After: A Small, Cramped Apartment Kitchen Opens Up
Upon closing on their first home, Maria and Eric found themselves in a situation that will probably seem quite familiar to anyone who’s ever looked at real estate in New York: they were the proud owners of a really great apartment with a not-so-great kitchen. The 850-square-foot two-bedroom in Queens was nice and roomy, but the kitchen was small, cramped, and dark, with discolored floor tiles and old, warped cabinets that required a little effort to shut completely.
Jul 30, 2017
Before & After: A Master Bedroom Shapes Up With Shiplap
Melissa was looking to add some farmhouse style to her home but didn’t want to break the bank doing so. Enter shiplap! An intrepid DIYer, Melissa added a shiplap accent wall without professional help, keeping it well within budget (but not without a few headaches). From Melissa: Shiplap – It’s timeless and classic. It goes hand in hand with farmhouse style and I’ve been patiently (big fat lie – no patience here my friends!
Jul 30, 2017
Easily Bring Your Rusty Cast Iron Skillets Back To Life
(Image credit: Kitchn Video) From Kitchn → How To Restore a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet null
Jul 30, 2017
Check Out This Insta-Worthy Vision for Central Park That Never Was
Slate Vault has uncovered some drawings for an alternate vision of one of America’s greatest public spaces: New York City’s Central Park.
Jul 29, 2017
Cost-of-Living Smackdown: New York City vs. Philadelphia
Are you a New Yorker who has found yourself chatting with someone from a smaller city, only to discover that their rent is about what you spent on Seamless last month? Okay, an exaggeration (we hope) but it’s safe to say that the contrast between living expenses in New York and those in smaller “secondary” cities can be significant. Recently, Mercer’s Cost of Living survey determined that New York continues to be the most costly US city to live in.
Jul 29, 2017
Past Perfect: The 10 Best Etsy Shops for Vintage Furniture
Looking through Etsy can be a dizzying whirlwind, because it offers a mix of garage sale quality bric-a-brac and diamond-in-the-rough vintage gold…you just need the patience to sniff out the latter. To help you pick through the terrain just a little faster to get to the good stuff, we dug through to unearth 10 awesome Etsy storefronts specializing in vintage furniture. They might just inspire you to update a room or two!
Jul 29, 2017
Creative Ideas for Covering Breaker Boxes & Other Unsightly Electrical Panels
Don't let them harsh your design mellow.
Jul 29, 2017
Before & After: A Dated Dresser Gets a Stylishly Dark & Stenciled Makeover
As with so many romances these days, this one began online. Julie spotted this handsome dresser on Craigslist and knew she could truly make something of it. A mix of the original veneer, a new coat of paint and some gorgeous stenciling turned this tired looking piece into a true showstopper. From Julie: I saw this piece on Craigslist and felt like he was winking at me! I knew I had to go and visit him.
Jul 29, 2017
A Totally Unexpected 3-in-1 Design Solution for Blank Walls
Some rugs are so beautiful, banishing them to the floor seems like a tragedy. Filling your vertical space with texture, color and warmth, rugs are the perfect three-in-one design solution for any blank wall in need of a boost. Go big and bold or small and understated, just make sure you hang them properly so gravity doesn’t take its toll on your woven works of art (tips ahead). Jungalow maven Justina Blakeney is no stranger to using rugs in unconventional ways.
Jul 29, 2017
Tesla’s Solar Roof Is Actually Cheaper Than a Normal Roof
Just under six months after announcing its Solar Roof, Tesla has finally put a price tag on those eco-friendly solar tiles that look like the real thing — and they’re actually really affordable. Orders are now being taken for the Tesla Solar Roof at a price of $21.85 per square foot, which is nearly 20 percent less than the cost of a normal roof — even without factoring in the energy savings.
Jul 29, 2017
A Semi-Renovated Family Oasis in Sydney
Name: Jane, Peter and their 3-year-old daughter Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia The basics: One year, owned — 147 square meters (1,582 square feet) Jane and her family live in a Brutalist-style building that they have been renovating and updating to fit their tastes. Fans of clean lines and funky art, the home is calm, curated, and toddler friendly.
Jul 28, 2017
Cost-of-Living Smackdown: Los Angeles vs. Phoenix
Before you hop onto the roof of your car on the 405 and bust out some dance moves, we have some devastating news: Life in Los Angeles isn’t like a scene out of La-La Land. But that certainly doesn’t mean that the City of Angels is without merits. With almost four million residents, Los Angeles is a diverse metropolis that attracts people from every corner of the world in search of success, be it professional or personal.
Jul 28, 2017
It’s Time to Fall In Love With the Canopy Bed Again
The canopy bed of your childhood dreams has grown up and looks spectacular.
Jul 28, 2017
This Weekend: Give the Proverbial Squeaky Wheel a Little Grease
It’s easy to forget about all the little things in our home that are broken or just not working. Don’t get me wrong — it’s good to focus on the big picture — we all have priorities after all —but, when we bump against the same tiny, irksome problems again and again, they start to wear on us mentally. Your goal for the weekend: feel a little bit better about your space.
Jul 28, 2017
You Should Steal These Styling Secrets from This Chic London Home
Blogger and freelance stylist Ruth Matthews shares her beautifully designed London home with her husband Dan and son Ted. Each room is filled with an array of vintage and modern furniture, textured woods, clever art, energetic patterns and bold color. But it’s how she’s deftly arranged her home — each room and the vignettes within — that deserves extra attention.
Jul 28, 2017
7 Kitchen Drawer Organizers to Actually Get Excited About
When you think of a silverware organizer, you probably think of a standard cutlery tray—a plastic bin with sections for knives, forks and spoons, with maybe an extra section or two for other miscellaneous utensils. But just because most of the options you come across are simple, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck settling for the basics.
Jul 28, 2017
A Small Space Squeezes in a Bathroom & Laundry Room Beautifully
Project by: Clara Jung of Banner Day Consulting Location: Oakland, California Clara’s clients had a weird little nook in their home that sat unused, just begging for something to do. They decided not to let limits on space limit their dreams, so they decided to put both a bathroom and a laundry into the same space, divided by a pocket door, and we’re screaming for joy. Not only does the remodel add functionality, it’s easy on the eyes as well.
Jul 27, 2017
Partner
Summer Brunching: Keep It Simple, Keep It Beautiful
Summer brunch is peak brunch. The meal’s whole purpose is to let it be lazy and rambling, and lazy and rambling feel so right in the languid summer months. We set out to plan a summer brunch menu that does exactly that by keeping the heat low and the work minimal. In doing so, we quickly realized the two things we needed to think about to pull it off: bold flavor and beautiful presentation. A little extra thought in these areas let us get away with a lot by doing less.
Jul 27, 2017
The Easiest Way to a Decluttered Home: The Power of One
Decluttering a home is never easy. The thought of organizing a packed hallway closet or a stuffed storage room can be exhausting enough to make you put it off for another year. But what if we told you there was an easy, foolproof way to finally get your clutter under control that won’t take more than a few minutes of your day? All you have to do is remove one thing—just one thing—from your home that you no longer need – every day .
Jul 26, 2017
A Young Couple Rehabs a Building with Many Former Lives
Name: Shara and her husband Location: Hurricane, Utah — Zion National Park is our backyard! The basics: 3 months, owned — 900 square feet Fate brought Shara and her husband together. After abandoning his plans of buying a boat, the couple bought a building in Utah that has lived many lives. From a post office to a pool hall, it’s now stylish and minimal living spaces.
Jul 26, 2017
Two Colorfully Whimsical NYC Pads Are For Sale
Full of art, natural light, and eclectic accessories, maximalists will appreciate these two new multimillion dollar listings. Let’s take a look at two colorfully creative Manhattan spaces that are just a little bit off-beat. Starting in Chelsea, this $2.2M apartment owned by eBay executive Bradford Shellhammer (formerly founder of Fab.
Jul 26, 2017
Minimalism Is Just Another Boring Thing Wealthy People Can Buy
(Image credit: Pexel) From Kitchn → Minimalism Is Just Another Boring Product Wealthy People Can Buy null
Jul 26, 2017
The Best Ways to Remove Berry Stains from Your Clothes, Skin, and Kitchen
(Image credit: Maria Siriano) From Kitchn → The Best Ways to Remove Cherry Stains from Your Clothes, Skin, and Kitchen null
Jul 26, 2017
Why It Works: A Pattern-Packed “More is More” Bedroom
As the bedroom is a place in which you want to be lulled to sleep, its design is typically tackled in ways that could be described as “soothing” and “serene”. Soft colors and delicate patterns are the norm for a “sophisticated” retreat. But what if you want something with more pizazz? A room that’ll get you excited about the day the second you peel your eyes open?
Jul 26, 2017
Before & After: A Pretty in Pink Desk Upgrade
Leanna’s office desk had a gorgeous shape, but the dark wood wasn’t right for her new space. Since she had made the decision to stick with a lighter and brighter color scheme for her new office, she thought a touch of pink would set off the delicate aspects of the piece to great effect. From Leanna: Our previous home was decorated in soft earth tones, lots of greens and browns. At the time it really suited are long, low bungalow.
Jul 26, 2017
Where To Buy a Whole Bunch of Wooden Hangers Without Going Broke
Wooden hangers are supposed to be the best—Martha Stewart swears by them, and a quick Google search reveals tons of sites extolling the benefits of using wooden hangers. They protect your clothes by preventing your clothes from being hung too closely together, they’re less abrasive and they allow for more air circulation, according to The Spruce.
Jul 25, 2017
All About Philadelphia, By Locals Who Love It
You probably already know Philadelphia is a city rich with history and things to do, but unless you’ve experienced it first-hand, you might not know just how great Philly is—it’s more than just cheesesteaks and Rocky movies, it’s a big city with a tight-knit community feel that’s chock full of culture. Ask any local what they love about their city, and they’re sure to tell you the same (and more).
Jul 25, 2017
A Handmade Brooklyn Home That Maximizes Space With Style
Name: Ali and Chip, their poodle Gigi and cat Dinah Location: Cobble Hill — Brooklyn, New York The basics: 3 years, owned — 475 square feet Ali and Chip’s Brooklyn condo has the sort of hazy cool that many aspire to. It comes from pouring yourself into the space like the pair has, tackling most of the updates and renovations themselves, and slowly filling it with personal pieces.
Jul 25, 2017
Before & After: A Little Chair’s Upholstery Gets a Spray Paint Makeover
Not fully ready to commit to a reupholstery project, Emma opted to spray paint her chair and go jewel tone.
Jul 25, 2017
Partner
Two Ways to Style a Patio: Which Works for You?
One outdoor space, one pair of outdoor lounge chairs…infinite possibilities for creativity! We asked two style experts to put their distinct personal touches on one patio setup using pieces from Ashley HomeStore, and the results are in. Each created a stylish summer escape and offered their own advice for styling your outdoor “room.” Check out their looks, then choose which one works best with your own style; everyone who votes will be entered to win the setup they voted for!
Jul 25, 2017
Before & After: Hidden Surprises in a Master Bedroom Makeover
"When we moved into the house we discovered an original 19th Century fireplace had been lurking behind a desk and beneath the carpet the old floorboards were still in tact."
Jul 24, 2017
A Biology Professor’s “Modern Mary Poppins” Atlanta Home
Name: Meleah Location: Old Fourth Ward/Virginia Highland — Atlanta, Georgia The basics: 2 years, rented — 1,000 square feet Meleah’s Atlanta home is full of light thanks to gigantic windows that also offer up a gorgeous view. She’s filled her home with art and trinkets from her travels, making the space totally unique and fantastically interesting. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My place is distinctly ‘Meleah.
Jul 24, 2017
You Can Rent Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s LA Home for $14K a Month
Timeout: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, star of the beloved 90s show Saved By The Bell, is renting out his Sherman Oaks, California home. Gosselaar, whose career took a turn for the dramatic with series regular status on NYPD Blue and TNT lawyer drama Franklin & Bash, has listed the five bedroom, five bathroom home for $13,500 per month. The 5,266 square foot “custom French country” home sits on a .44 acre lot and was built in 2005.
Jul 24, 2017
Made for Your Shades: A DIY Display for Organizing Sunglasses
On any given week, I’ll see anywhere from one to seven pairs of glasses and sunglasses make their way onto my kitchen island. (Why is the kitchen island the ultimate catchall for junk?) Coming in or going out, it’s the landing pad for shades.
Jul 24, 2017
The Brooklyn Apartment Where Style & Function Are Equally Weighed
We’ve all heard it before: small but mighty, tiny house = big style. But, in this petite stunner it was all about lifestyle taking precedence over every design decision, which left this city dweller even foregoing a conventional sofa. The Williamsburg apartment belonging to Sarah Ashley Schiear, chef and founder of Salt House, is a strong lesson in style and function conveyed in just 635 square feet.
Jul 24, 2017
Partner
3 Unexpected Ways Pet Owners Can Keep a Cleaner House
Brian and Tanika have always loved dogs, and both had four-legged best friends when they were children. Their problem is that, even though they’re dog people, they’d prefer that people couldn’t tell by looking at them, by seeing the dog hair on their pant legs, sofa cushions, or anywhere, frankly. That’s tough at the moment, because their new pup, Tanzie, has a serious shedding problem.
Jul 24, 2017
Partner
3 Ways Busy Athletes Can Keep Their Homes Smelling Less…Athletic
Although newly engaged couple Cecila and Jesse are good about splitting their chores, they have two distinctly different approaches to keeping their house clean. She admits that she’s the messy one and is more likely to throw things into a slightly chaotic heap during the week before tackling it over the weekend. Jesse, though, likes to organize as he goes along, making sure that their place is reasonably tidy at the end of each day.
Jul 24, 2017
Partner
2 Cute Cleaning Tasks Kids Can Do (And 1 to Do for Them)
When you’re a busy parent with young kids, sometimes it feels like the easiest way to clean the house is to burn it to the ground and just start over. That’s not exactly the most feasible solution – especially on a weekly basis. Clare is a mom who’s constantly on the go, so she’s looking for easy ways to keep her home slightly more organized.
Jul 24, 2017
9 Decorating Ideas You Can Steal from Joanna Gaines
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 9 Decorating Ideas to Steal from Joanna Gaines null
Jul 24, 2017
The Best Kitchen Trash Cans for Your Space
From Apartment Therapy → The Best Kitchen Trash Cans: Rubbermaid, Simplehuman, IKEA, Brabantia & More null
Jul 24, 2017
Before & After: A Dark and Dated Kitchen Gets Open and Airy
Claire’s kitchen was dark and dated, with an office-style ceiling and a tiny little rodent problem. Claire set about repurposing the kitchen and rebuilding an extension to create a kitchen and living area, perfect for hosting. Now the kitchen is bright and dance party-ready. From Claire: We bought our house in 2012 after falling in love with its large Edwardian proportions and central location.
Jul 23, 2017