Empty wooden wardrobe with two sections and a "Before" label.
Before & After: This Old Closet Now Puts Up a Good Front
Medina and her husband Vince inherited this built-in closet when they moved into their current rental, and had to find a way to make it work — especially since the tiny bedroom doesn’t allow for much more storage. They removed its ugly outdated doors early on in their tenancy, but that just left them with this awful view of red faux wood grain, which Medina especially couldn’t stand.
Dec 31, 2017
Joanna Gaines Has a Smart Tip For Dealing With Sentimental Clutter
She's been cleaning out her attic on Instagram.
Dec 30, 2017
Can’t Bring Yourself to Take Down the Tree? The Queen of England Keeps Her Christmas Decorations Up Until February
We probably wouldn’t have pegged the Queen of England as one of those holiday decor stragglers, but it turns out that Elizabeth II is a February type of gal. According to Architectural Digest, the Queen and Prince Philip keep their halls decked until February 6th every year. That means they’ve got tinsel and candy canes kicking around until almost Valentine’s Day!
Dec 29, 2017
Kristen Wiig Now Calls This Pasadena Case Study House Home
Adding to the list of celebrity homes we want to live in but have settled for fawning over, actress and comedian Kristen Wiig recently acquired a new piece of real estate in Pasadena. The $2.96 million, 3,425-square-foot home sits on one-third of an acre in the hillside neighborhood of San Rafael, a picturesque post situated above the historic Rose Bowl. Father and son architect duo Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr.
Dec 29, 2017
7 Inspiring Home Design Resolutions to Set for 2018 for a Happier Home
New year, new you, new home! While you’re busy thinking of resolutions for the new year, slip a few home-related ones onto the list. From promising to hack your organization to giving yourself room to take bolder design risks, ahead are a few ideas to get you brainstorming. Every year we collect a mountain of clutter, usually without realizing it.
Dec 29, 2017
Apartment Therapy’s House Tour & House Call Submission Form
Are you a big fan of Apartment Therapy? Proud of your home? Want to show off your style?
Dec 29, 2017
This Remote Scottish Fixer Upper Can Be Yours for $200K
Has the hustle and bustle of the holiday season inspired you to get away from it all? Well, we might have found the perfect place—if you’re up for a project. Known as Craigencallie House, the property is situated within Galloway Forest Park, which happens to be Britain’s first Dark Sky park, a designation given to places with extraordinary views of the night sky.
Dec 28, 2017
The Best Budget Kitchen Transformations of 2017, All Well Under $1000
Think a new kitchen is currently out of reach? If yours is bringing you down, but you don’t have the means to do a full renovation, don’t give up too soon. These budget renovations all cost under $1,000 (and some well, well under that) and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that you don’t need a wad of money to give your kitchen a brand new look. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of paint, a little bit of elbow grease, and some good ideas. Use these five as inspiration.
Dec 28, 2017
A Pain-Free Trick that Pays Off: How to Save an Extra $1500 Next Year
Anyone who’s searched for a way to save more money has probably heard of the 52 Week Challenge. It’s a way to slowly build up your savings throughout the year—you start by putting aside $1 on week one, $2 on week 2, and so on until you reach week 52, putting aside $52 that week. In total, if you follow the 52 Week Challenge, you’ll save $1,378 by the end of the year. Easy enough, right? While it sounds like a great idea (and if it works for you, keep it up!
Dec 28, 2017
Before and After: A Cramped to Spacious Studio Makeover
This renovation is very near and dear to my heart, having lived in many studio apartments, including one that was nearly identical to this one in size, configuration, and location. Watch this 300-square-foot studio go from dingy and cramped to bright and seemingly spacious. Laurie Jones, of Laurie Jones Home & Lifestyle, designed and executed this remodel for her daughter: The before is what every apartment looks like in Wrigleyville.
Dec 27, 2017
A Classic, Cozy Oklahoma Home Ready for Christmas
Name: Serena Backues Location: Durant, Oklahoma “When we first saw the listing for our home, I fell in love, but Zach not so much,” describes Serena. “I saw this beautiful 100+year-old house with character and space for our growing family… he saw WORK. Looking back now we were both right. It needed a lot of work and our budget was very small, so it has been a true labor of love.” Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Family. livable. collected.
Dec 25, 2017
How To Help Someone Who’s Having a Hard Time This Holiday Season
While we can get swept up in all the holiday cheer, it’s possible to forget that not everyone is having a jolly happy season. Non-profit organization Option B is sharing ways you can help out your friends and family who are having a hard time during the holidays. Option B is an organization started by Sheryl Sandberg that’s meant to help build resistance in the face of adversity, such as grief, discrimination, or assault.
Dec 24, 2017
Before & After: This Costco Playhouse Got Customized for Christmas
If you’ve just spent hours assembling your child’s new dollhouse, or are still pulling things together for Christmas morning, then you might not want to see this. Because mom Melissa just turned this generic brown Costco playhouse into a winter wonderland of beauty.
Dec 24, 2017
Something Called a Pajama Lounge Is Trending (& You’re Going to Want One)
There’s a new term roaming the corridors of the internet that made our ears perk up the second we heard it and we think you’re going to like it, too. It’s called a “pajama lounge”, and we want one. The idea is nothing new, though: growing up in suburbia, you may have had an upstairs loft or living room where the kids studied, watched TV maybe before heading down to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal if your home was spacious enough.
Dec 23, 2017
All The Ways the Holidays Can Send You to the ER, According to New Studies
My mom ends every phone conversation with me “drive carefully.” I could be sitting on the sofa in my living room (frankly in most cases I am) and those will still be her parting words to me. On New Year’s Eve – and most other holidays—that salutation gets even more emphatic given all the alcohol flowing this time of year and the heightened potential to encounter drunk drivers on the road. In fact, a new analysis from Alcohol.
Dec 22, 2017
This Luxury Hotel in India Is For the Dogs — Literally
One pet hotel in India is completely redefining what “pampered pooches” actually means, with amenities for your doggos during boarding or day care that take “lap of luxury” to the next level.
Dec 22, 2017
The Best Small Space Bedroom Solutions We Saw This Year
8 easy-to-execute ideas to maximize your limited bedroom floor plan.
Dec 21, 2017
A DC Condo is a Cozy “Little House in the Sky”
Jenna and her husband Mike moved into their Washington, DC condo right after their wedding. “We fell in love with it the minute we walked in because of the soaring ceilings, natural light, and open feel. We call it our little house in the sky and designed it to feel like a home. Our goal was to make it warm, comfortable, and welcoming.
Dec 20, 2017
You’re Probably Already Paying for Lost Luggage Insurance — Here’s What You Need to Know
Losing your luggage can be a living nightmare. On top of not having access to your stuff while your traveling, you have the daunting task of filing claims and filling out lengthy reports to look forward to—and even then, the safe return of your luggage isn’t guaranteed. It’s no surprise then that more and more travelers are signing up for traveler’s insurance—i.e.
Dec 20, 2017
Partner
The Perfect Rug for Every Zodiac Sign (And the Accessory You Need for It)
The right rug can make all the difference in a room—but which rug is the right one? High-pile, low-pile, kilim, shag: The options are endless, and that’s not always a good thing. If you’re not sure which look says “you” most, trust the stars to shed a little astrological light on the situation. Just remember that your rug and floor will show signs of age quickly if you don’t use a rug pad.
Dec 20, 2017
15 Little Ways to Pay It Forward This Holiday Season
Amidst the planes to catch and parties to attend, it’s easy to forget what the holidays are really about—expressing appreciation and gratitude. Doing this is known to warm our hearts more than any gift under the tree, seasonal dessert, or festive fête. Getting in touch with the true meaning of the season doesn’t require a massive check or hours spent in a soup kitchen (though these are great options, too).
Dec 19, 2017
A Colorful Canadian Home Full of Flowers & Art
Floral designer, interior designer and talented painter Tanya List shares this home with her husband Ry and craft-loving daughter Reid. “We moved from Toronto to Muskoka about four years ago. [Toronto] was lovely, but once we had Reid I craved moving home to my hometown of Muskoka. It’s amazing here with lots of trees, over 300 lakes, and tons of room for a little kiddo to run around.
Dec 19, 2017
10 Tips for Selecting the Very Best Real Estate Agent
Buying or selling a home is a daunting task and a massive learning experience.
Dec 19, 2017
Before and After: This Kitchen Was a Rat-Infested Nightmare
Sometimes, when people describe a room as “a nightmare,” they’re talking about shag carpeting or hideous laminate or cheesy ’80s style. Today’s kitchen sounds like the stuff of actual nightmares—read on lest you think I’m talking about the blue-mustard color combo you see here. (But don’t worry—the space now is totally dreamy.) What a difference a new everything makes!
Dec 19, 2017
Before and After: A Rustic Cabin’s ’80s Bathroom Gets a Total Turnaround
When three friends — Amanda, Kate and Carina — decided to chase their dreams and buy a cabin in the Catskills together, they were ready to start having fun and enjoying their mountain retreat right away. But the home was built in the 1980s, and though the architectural bones were extraordinary, there were still a lot of elements from the era (like bizarre wallpaper, carpeted stairs, funky electrical work, and a mustard yellow shower).
Dec 19, 2017
Partner
How to Make a Hygge Hideout at Home
This is how grownups build living room forts.
Dec 18, 2017
How To Thrive (Not Just Survive) in a Small Apartment
When we first visited illustrator Lisa Vanin’s Toronto studio apartment a couple of years ago, I was so impressed by how she made 390 square feet so livable. Cozy colors, vintage finds, a distinct living room and bedroom area—Lisa’s clearly a small home arranging wizard. But can living in such a small space be sustainable — mentally or physically — for the long haul? Can one thrive in under 400 square feet for years and years?
Dec 18, 2017
Before & After: This Laundry Room Is Now Loads More Bright
Morgan and her husband recently bought a home and, little by little, are updating each room. First up, the laundry room. One of the things that sold them on the house was having a mud room off the garage, complete with a washer and dryer. As handy as that is, the room was very dark with brown walls, brown cabinets and was desperately in need of an update. More than anything Morgan wanted a light, bright and fun space to work in.
Dec 16, 2017
17 Small Space Hosting Hacks (From Tiny Home Dwellers Who Know Best)
“We have plenty of room. Plenty of towels. Plenty of everything.” The Griswold family home in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (otherwise known as the best Christmas movie ever) did have plenty of room—though that didn’t stop mayhem from ensuing, because it wouldn’t be a Chevy Chase movie without it.
Dec 16, 2017
Check Out Abbi Jacobson’s New Mid-Century Home
Looks like New Yorker Abbi Jacobson is putting down roots out west. The Broad City co-creator and star scooped up a mid-century pad in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to Variety. The 2,032 square foot three bedroom, 2 bathroom house is set up from the street and overlooks downtown LA. The 1950s home features a stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and hardwood floors in the living room, though the palm tree framed view from the walls of windows is hard to compete with.
Dec 16, 2017
A Small Southwestern Modern Studio in Downtown Oklahoma City
“I’ve been into interior design for awhile and living in a studio has been a fun challenge,” writes Lyndsey, who shares this small studio apartment with her rescue dog Tux. “A lot of people couldn’t handle living in one large room, but Tux and I seem to make it work! Leaving out room dividers makes the space more open and bright but I have to be mindful about anything I bring in the space. If it isn’t useful or beautiful, its got to go!
Dec 15, 2017
100+ Years of Tradition: Vintage Retail Holiday Window Displays Through the Years
Long ago, before anybody had even dreamed of the internet, people did their holiday shopping in a charmingly analog way: by scoping out gifts in store windows. Then, in 1883, the smart folks at the Macy’s department store in New York City realized that they could draw even more people to their store windows by putting on a show.
Dec 15, 2017
7 Things You Need to Know About the 2018 Housing Market
It’s that time of year when we reflect on the last 12 months, look dreamily out the coffee shop window, and think… “To hell with you, 2017! You were the [bleeping] worst. Let’s hope 2018 isn’t such a slimy armpit stain of a year.” Ahem, er… right. It was a tough year for homebuyers, and lots of other people, too. Is there any relief in store? It looks that way.
Dec 15, 2017
Easy Gifts to Make That Your Furry Friend Will Flip Out Over
Because face it: when they're happy, you're happy.
Dec 15, 2017
Partner
How I Found the Window Treatments for Apartment Therapy’s HQ
This year at Apartment Therapy, we expanded our growing offices into a new space. As project manager for the job, I oversaw everything from getting the lease signed to getting the gas turned on in our new studio kitchen. My very last step was to find and order the window treatments. A minor detail, I thought, until we started working in shadeless offices. Turns out, it’s anything but.
Dec 15, 2017
Check Out These Amazing Ocean Sculptures Made From Glass and Concrete
The ocean has a well-deserved reputation as an instant mood calmer, so it’s no surprise that these ethereal glass and concrete sea sculptures by artist Ben Young have us feeling especially centered and relaxed. Young used bronze, concrete and laminated float glass to create the hand-cut pieces, which look like super realistic three-dimensional ocean topography diagrams. Each sculpture offers a unique perspective of the water’s surface as well as features of the ocean floor.
Dec 15, 2017
This Country’s Homes Master Effortlessly Cool, Casual Vibes
Nothing is really worse than a too stiff and stuffy home. When a home feels more like a museum and less like a place you doing your living in, it’s hard for you — or your guests — to relax. But these homes below are the very opposite of stiff; they’re beautiful spaces that are also casual and comfy, with an energy that feels vibrant and motivating.
Dec 15, 2017
The Top 10 Housing Markets of 2018 Are All in the South and West
Las Vegas will be the hottest housing market in America next year, according to Realtor.com — and not just because the average high temperature is 100 degrees or more from June through August. Realtor.com analyzed data on home sales, prices, and new construction, as well as local economic factors, population trends, unemployment, and median incomes to determine its top 10 housing markets for 2018. Not a single metro area in the Northeast, Great Lakes, or Pacific Northwest made the cut.
Dec 14, 2017
A Cool California Modern Boho Abode
“My husband and I bought our house when I was pregnant with our first-born nine years ago. It was a foreclosure and previously owned by someone who was trying to “flip” it. We did not like the design choices he made but we loved the neighborhood and luckily, choosing to buy in Venice, California has been a great investment,” writes blogger and designer Kristin Dion. “Over time, we have made several improvements.
Dec 14, 2017
This Website Is Here to Help You Avoid Movies Made by Creeps
If you’re a politically minded person settling in for a long holiday break of doing not very much and you’re ready to get your stream on, you may find yourself facing a dilemma. You want to watch something good, or at least entertaining, but you don’t want to support the work of, well, creeps (pause while I cover my bases— alleged creeps).
Dec 14, 2017
Here’s What a Costco Food Court Looks Like in France
(Image credit: Michael Gordon) shutterstock From Kitchn → Here’s What a Costco Food Court Looks Like in France null
Dec 14, 2017
How to Sort Your Closet Like a Professional Personal Stylist
Laurel Kinney more than helps people look their best; she helps them look more like themselves! As a professional personal stylist, a big part of her job is also helping clients organize and sort their closets. Before, she’s shared the four biggest ways you get in the way of looking your best and questions you should ask yourself now (so your closet doesn’t end up full of clothes you never wear).
Dec 14, 2017
Here’s What’s New on Netflix In January
New year, who dis? We can’t believe it’s almost 2018, and Netflix is cementing that fact by letting us know everything that’s due to hit the streaming service next month. After a month of holiday parties and cheer, it’ll be a welcome distraction to cuddle up and dig in to some new—and old—favorites. Here’s what we’re looking forward to.
Dec 13, 2017
Kris Jenner Just Bought the House Across the Street From Kim Kardashian
Brace yourselves, we’ve got some Kardashian real estate news. If the K-word sends a shiver down your spine, might we suggest you not pass Go, close the tab, and find something else to read ASAP (there’s some really pretty fringe to look at over here). But if you fellow reality TV junkies are ready for a (not-so) shocking update, let’s proceed. Kris Jenner just bought the house across the street from her daughter Kim Kardashian West.
Dec 13, 2017
15 Things to Get Rid of Before the Holidays
This time of year is one of influx and more, more, more. Layers of decorations, extra throw pillows and blankets, house guests, that second slice of pie — not to mention all the new items brought into the home as gifts. While everything is still contained in wrapping paper and ribbons, before the shiny new things enter the realm of official Household Stuff, take time to make some space by getting rid of these oldies you’ll never miss.
Dec 13, 2017
Partner
Your Carry-On Essentials for Healthy Holiday Travel
You’d think holiday travel would be somewhat enjoyable since it’s the last step before the celebrating begins. As we all know, it isn’t. You may have no control over an overpacked flight grid, but putting a little thought into your own self-care will minimize as much of the frazzle as you can. We’ve thought through a few unexpected carry-on items that will ensure you arrive healthy, refreshed, and ready to enjoy the season.
Dec 13, 2017
Get Lit: Check Out These Amazingly Simple and Whimsical DIY Menorahs
I can still remember the Kindergarten tradition of making homemade menorahs at my Jewish day school like it was yesterday. Take a sawed-off 2×4, glue 10 small square tiles atop it, in a line (two at the center for the tallest candle), then place 9 screw nuts in a row, one on top of each tile. I’m pretty sure my parents even still have mine — somewhere. With Hanukkah mere hours away now, you may find yourself in need of a last minute menorah.
Dec 12, 2017
A Small Boston Studio Apartment’s Got Great Bones
“In the past, I’ve lived in one-bedroom apartments, so I was a bit nervous about how to set up a studio so that it felt more like a home and less like one giant bedroom,” writes Maeve Stier, the Boston-based blogger behind Chic Now.
Dec 12, 2017