Apartment Therapy Archive: Sep 2017

Name: Björn Holmenäs Location: El Poble-sec — Barcelona, Spain Size: 506 square feet (plus a 430 square foot terrace) Years lived in: 6 years, owned Björn’s apartment is located in the Barcelona neighborhood of El Poble-sec, a neighborhood with a history that can be traced back to ancient Rome. The streets in the neighborhood are small and narrow, yet filled with creativity and inspiration.

Project by: Sarah and Nick Karakaian of Nestrs LLC Location: Seattle, Washington Sarah’s sister found herself with a lovely, slightly imperfect home in Seattle. She called in the pros, aka Sarah and Nick, to help give her house some simple sophistication. A lucky find in the form of a brick wall, a few smart paint choices and a mix of DIY and shopped furniture pieces helped to create a warm and modern home.

Along with our love affair with everything mid-century right now, A-frame cabins have resurged in popularity — and one couple in Missoula figured out how to get the look for a lot less by building a tiny home in the iconic style. It’s giving us cabin fever, in the best possible way.

Two new companies are betting on modern efficiency and our collective premium on the value of our time by breathing new life into an old decorating concept: renting, or renting to buy, our furniture.

In today’s real estate market, affordable ranch homes are proving their potential. When they aren’t dismissed, torn down, and then replaced by larger McMansion-style homes, they get snapped up by eager buyers happy for the large lots, large windows and friendly layouts. These exterior renovations show you don’t have to compromise your style, and that there are so many ways to customize and modernize an ‘outdated’ home’s appearance.

A starring turn on television, much like it does for actors, can also make a house famous — or infamous as the case may be. That was what happened to this picturesque Everett, Washington colonial home. The house took center stage on TV’s cult hit Twin Peaks, during its original two-season run from 1990-1991, as the home of the fictional murdered teen Laura Palmer.

I recently made the switch to an adjustable standing desk in my office, and it has made a world of difference. That said, I soon realized that my regular desk chair just wasn’t going to cut it anymore. With a more active desk I needed a more active seating option — and it turns out that the medical community agrees. Active seating — specifically ergonomic stools — helps to strengthen core and back muscles, while allowing the spine to achieve its natural curve.

You love design, you love your dog, it’s only natural that you’d want great looking, modern pet pieces at home, right? Well, lucky for you (and Fido), the Internet delivers with a plethora of stylish dog beds, bowls and beyond. From basic dog treat jars to totally bougie acrylic and brass feeders (thanks Jonathan Adler!), here are 10 fabulous things for your home and fur baby. Let’s start with the most five-star piece of the bunch….

Name: Krysta Jabczenski and Joel Leshefka Location: Barrio Libre — Tucson, AZ Years lived in: 3 years, owned Tucked away in the historic Barrio Libre neighborhood of Tucson is a little strip of lovingly restored adobes. The airy structures are full of desert charm, and they owe their new lives to a couple that split their time between arid Tucson and soggy Seattle.

By now there’s plenty of evidence that shipping containers can make for some absolutely beautiful residences, but in case you’re not hip to how cool it can actually be to live inside of the bulky structures, have a look-see at this concept shipping container home in Joshua Tree, California and try not to marvel at the modern, sleek renderings.

Our hats are off (sorry) to this popular and DIY-able decor.

There’s a problem frequently encountered by designers of very small houses, which is that beds are very nice to have while sleeping, but, even when you’re not sleeping, they take up a lot of space. Our caveman ancestors, presumably, solved this problem by having beds that rolled up when not in use: more recently, designers of so-called “tiny houses” have gotten around this by lofting beds up high, with living space below.

An unexpected sleeper hit in the form of a true crime parody came out on Netflix earlier this month, poking fun at huge hits like The Jinx, The Staircase, and even the streaming giant’s own Making A Murderer. American Vandal is a mere eight episodes long and centers around a group of high school students, teachers, and administrators. Unlike the documentaries it plays off of, the seriously-not-serious crime in question throughout American Vandal hardly matters.

Darren and Catherine’s client wanted their new office space to be welcoming, interesting and a reflection of their interests. Going from bland basic office white to a bold orange gave the space an immediate jolt of personality, and then the team layered on vintage and flea market finds, colorful industrial furniture and funky patterns. From Darren & Catherine: The new Senior Dean wanted his office to be a warm and inviting space for students, families and faculty.

California Gurl Katy Perry is on the move. The pop star and recent VMAs host has listed her Hollywood Hills home atop the city’s popular hiking spot, Runyon Canyon. Variety reports that it’s one of two properties the singer is unloading, since they failed to sell off market with a rumored combined asking price of $15 million. This one is the larger of the two, and boasts 7,416 square feet, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two half baths on 2.33 acres.

Summer is officially done for the year, but that still doesn’t do much to diminish our visions of sitting poolside. That fantasy actually doesn’t have an off-season, which is why we are still imagining how it must feel to go for a dip in this elevated outdoor swimming pool with a glass bottom—that’s suspended over another pool.

It’s no secret that modern Americans love our doggos — to the tune of 89 million dog-owning households — and that we sometimes (always?) base decisions around whether or not the dog can tag along. But where, exactly, is the most dog-obsessed city in the country? According to the methodology in this new research from WalletHub, which ranked the 100 most populated U.S.

When I think of bathroom buildup, I think of grout first, and all the ick that accumulates in between the tiles. Tackling those lines is a major chore, requiring a ton of elbow grease and most likely a stiff brush. Turns out there’s a second spot that also gets gross, but, in this case, couldn’t be easier to clean. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how painless this particular weekend project will be — there’s no scrubbing required!

While obviously listening to amazing podcasts is a year-round activity, now that fall is here, there are five in particular that I’ve been loving while walking to work. Grab a cute knitted hat and some earbuds and give these shows a listen. Fall means nothing if not new TV shows, and Appointment Television is my very favorite podcast dedicated to the small screen. Three Kenyon College grads (Margaret H.

Name: Olivia Mae Romano and her cats Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Sonia Sotomayor Location: Pilsen — Chicago, Illinois Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, rented Inspired by her mother’s eye for design and skill at finding home decor gems in back alleys, Olivia has made her Pilsen loft an inspiring space. As a little girl, Olivia remembers being driven to school by her mother who would constantly pull off the road to pick up furniture she spotted.

After spotting this bright pink, approachably Boho IKEA hack on the internet superhighway, we knew we had to share it with you. After hitting up the IKEA ‘as is’/clearance section, Becky and Kelsey (aka The Sorry Girls) knew they could make something out of this compact, but slightly boring desk situation. They snatched it up, took it home and worked their DIY magic! From Becky and Kelsey: We started by priming then painting our set pink.

Project by: Sophia Shibles of SCS Design Location: Providence, Rhode Island Sophia’s clients had an enviable inheritance of mid-century modern furniture and art that they wanted blended into their older home. With incredibly rich colors and varied textures the space is sumptuous yet playful, striking an impressive balance of artistic nonchalance with classic glamour.

We’re all busy, but we can probably all spare 10 minutes or so, right? Just a few minutes a day is all you need to keep your home clean and in order—and if you don’t believe it, we’ve got proof. The guide you need to turn you into a believer? “Simply Clean,” a new book out this year by Becky Rapinchuk (aka Clean Mama).

Project by: Barbara of Galyean Vail Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Barbara’s clients’ condo in a former church was naturally architecturally interesting, but needed a cohesive style that could highlight the more enviable aspects of the home. She worked with them to bring in color, play up the natural lights and sprinkle in sophisticated accessories to create a cohesively stylish home.

When Kia Designs renovated a house in London that had been previously used as a house share, they knew they had a lot of work ahead of them—especially in the kitchen, which was easily the worst part of the house. They hoped it would come to be the heart of the home, a place that people would love to gather in and hate to leave. To give you a sense of how far this room came, take a look at it in it’s original state: Clearly, mission accomplished!

Oh, American Horror Story. You have such campy, spooky promise, and when you deliver, you really deliver. The scenery was always a draw: even when the plot flailed, the sets gave your eyeballs a treat. Now that AHS is gradually leaving Netflix, queue up your television and relive the architectural highlights, before the episodes disappear like so many bodies. Begin with Hotel, arguably the weakest season and the first to get the axe.

Now that it’s officially autumn, how are you updating your space for the season? Thrill of the hunt retailer Marshalls released their fall trend report this week, and here’s what they have to say about the home. Marshalls surveyed 1,000 women and found that an overwhelming majority (72 precent) feel like fall has officially arrived when they put out the first pumpkin decoration in their home.

When I moved to a small town and first encountered an Aldi, I did not understand it. There was, like, one employee working? And you had to pay a quarter for a cart (you get back the quarter, but still, good to know beforehand in case you don’t normally have change on you)? After a couple more visits, however, I was in love, and Aldi is now my favorite grocery store. It’s chock-full of incredibly low-priced food, wine and beyond, and the selection changes constantly.

If you aspire to a home that’s dripping in succulents, you’ll save a lot of money if you start raising baby succulents. And if you want to grow baby succulents, well, look no further than your kitchen, because you’re going to need an egg crate! Made of terra cotta, ceramic or concrete, and generally used to hold, um, eggs, these multipurpose trays are great for succulent starts.

We asked recent homeowners to tell us — without sugarcoating it — what you should look for when hiring a real estate agent.

They weren't realistic, but they were cool.

Name: Jenny, Konstantin & Simone Peysin (plus their dog Murray) Location: Windsor Terrace — Brooklyn, NY Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Jenny and Konstantin were married in 2015, moved into their beautiful Brooklyn apartment in 2016, and recently welcomed baby Simone into their lives and the home they share with their quirky pup, Murray.

Imagine, if you will, that you only had to pay the recommended maximum of 30% of your income on rent. For a family earning $100,000, that would be $2,500 a month. Not exactly chump change, to be sure — but still not enough to afford even a median-priced two-bedroom apartment in cities like New York, San Francisco, Washington, Boston, or Los Angeles (places where a six-figure salary doesn’t stretch like it used to).

Even as a self-proclaimed “maximalist,” I still find myself drawn to the clean lines and effortless simplicity of Scandinavian style. The soft, neutral color palette is very versatile in a variety of spaces without adding too much visual weight. If you’re down with hygge (and willing to try your hand at some amateur carpentry), then these nightstands are definitely for you.

Closets come in all shapes and sizes—including ones with little to no storage space. Sometimes, they even come in no shape and size, as in…there is no closet. Good news: Garment racks are stylish and—if you know where to look—surprisingly affordable. They can help you stay organized when you’re working with a tiny closet (or no closet at all).

Make a statement before guests even enter the house with these amusing options.

Entryway in need of some TLC? We have a dozen ideas to try on for size.

Small done right.

With a wedding on the horizon, Cali knew that she didn’t have a ton of extra money lying around but also wanted to give her bathroom a bit of an upgrade before hosting guests. A well-timed bridal shower gift, a rich dark paint color and three days later, she found herself with a sleek and sexy new bathroom. From Cali: We have wanted to fix up this bathroom since I moved in five years ago.

If you plan on selling within five months, or even five years, a renovation is usually planned with extra consideration for resale value. Though there are certain updates that will always be a worthy investment with wide appeal (read: hardwood floors), some projects aren’t worth the trouble if your goal is to maximize your home’s value. One of the most common pitfalls for value-focused renovators is going overboard on the extras.

We spend approximately one third of our lives sleeping, so it goes without saying that our bedrooms are an important room in our homes. They’re also storage areas and often working spaces as well, creating layout issues. Furthermore, not every size and style of bed works for every lifestyle, and neither do they necessarily work with the space in our homes. In this series, we’ll be exploring layout options for different bed sizes within various-shaped bedrooms.

Spice up your entryway, bedroom, or hallway with a bold statement piece that’s sure to mesmerize and beautify. The blush pink fringe is the perfect pop of color, and the sleek shape has “chic” written all over it. See how to make your own, from cutting your own custom mirror to dip-dyeing the perfect fringe, with this helpful tutorial.

Bey and Jay have been quite the busy real estate moguls as of late. The most recent deal? Queen B recently unloaded a Midtown apartment for a cool $9.95 million. The NY Post reported Thursday that sources say that “the sale happened really quickly. They were hard to reach — there was so much going on.

(Image credit: Charity Burggraaf) From Kitchn → What Your Coffee Order Says About You null

Nothing strikes terror into the hearts of millions like one simple word: bedbugs. Thankfully, new research published yesterday reveals how to avoid bringing the creatures home with you, and therefore infesting your apartment. Instances of bedbugs have been on the rise, in part because of increased international travel. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has found that there are some things you can do to prevent the pests from coming home with you.