The Latest: 2017

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Kitchen with wooden cabinets, black countertops, and a chandelier on the island.

Before & After: A “Go With Your Gut” Kitchen Remodel

Spenser saw this mid century property and new that even though it needed some updates, it would be well worth the time, money and effort. Working on a tight timeline, they laid out their vision for a versatile yet stylish kitchen that honored the homes roots and got to work creating an open and breezy space out of a cramped ’80s kitchen. From Spenser: We bought a 1964 mid-century modern home in foreclosure. It was pretty rough, but that didn’t scare me.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Sep 4, 2017

A Former New Yorker Happily Fills up her Michigan Home

Name: Lissa and her two cats, Cleo and Miley Location: Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids — Michigan The basics: 3.5 years, owned — 1,600 square feet Lissa has filled in the square footage of her home in a way only those deprived of space for years (aka former New Yorkers) can. A station bench here, a camel statue there, she’s started to fill her historic home with funky finds.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Sep 3, 2017

This Victorian-Era Fixer Upper in Scotland Is Under $260K

The opportunity to add a “protected historic structure” to your renovation resume has arrived in the form of Chesterhill House, a 5,300-square-foot Tudor Italianate located in Scotland’s countryside. According to Curbed, the unoccupied country home is entertaining offers over £200,000, or around $259,000. With an estimated construction date around 1870, the six-bedroom, five bath-home features a west wing addition that dates between 1893 and 1912.

Kenya Foy

Sep 3, 2017

Partner

Two-Hour DIY: Plain Chairs Become Statement Chairs

You know when you look around and everything’s OK, but you can’t help but feeling a little blah? When you want an exclamation point, but all you see is a period? The exclamation points of home decor are pops of color, and the nice thing about them is that they’re made in single afternoons, not whole weekends. Take these chairs, for example. They were fine, mid-centuryish chairs and already had some nice style going on.

Tim Minerd

Sep 3, 2017

Before & After: Breathing New Life Into a Vintage Roadside Find

In an origin story worthy of Antiques Roadshow, Ariana spotted this lovely little number on the side of the road, amongst a group of other discarded chairs, and decided to snatch it up and see what was what. Turns out it had its original tags and she was able to verify that it was made in the ’20s. She decided to restore this beaut back to its former glory by spiffing up the bones and adding a new gorgeous fabric.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Sep 2, 2017

A Living Room Area Designed For Conversation

Name: Ariel and Ruby the dog Location: Simsbury, Connecticut The basics: 5 months, owned — 1,200 square feet Sometimes what you’ve been looking for has been right under your nose the entire time. In true rom-com fashion, Ariel realized after looking elsewhere that her hometown was in fact the perfect place in which to settle down.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Sep 1, 2017

Emily Blunt & John Krasinksi Are Selling Their Park Slope Pad For $8M

Despite having just renovated the place, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are selling off their Park Slope townhouse that they bought in 2016—for a cool $8 million. The Wall Street Journal reported today that the couple is selling the Park Slope pad because they’re constantly traveling for work. “We’ve been nomads for a while now, but that’s the nature of the business,” Krasinski told WSJ.

Tara Bellucci

Sep 1, 2017

Millennials Are Killing Doorbells & Honestly, Good Riddance

This week on Millennials Kill Things, we present the generation’s latest victim: the doorbell. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece about how young people are no longer using the humble buzzer to announce their presence, and are instead texting, DMing, Snapping, or whatever to alert their friends that they’re downstairs. My Millennial might be showing, but honestly, same.

Tara Bellucci

Sep 1, 2017

Modernizing a Family Home for a New Generation

Project by: Amy Jameson of Jameson Interiors Location: St. Johns – Austin, Texas Amy Jameson’s client was ready to pass their childhood home on to their daughter, but knew it needed some serious upgrading. They called in Amy to modernize the kitchen and expand the footprint of the home. The addition of an island, as well as a thorough upgrade of almost everything in the space, resulted in a bright and modern new kitchen that is sure to please generations to come.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Sep 1, 2017

Partner

The Reveal: Ariel and Dillon’s Harmonious “Newlybed” Bedroom

When we met them in June, Ariel and Dillon had just taken their five-year, long-distance love local and moved in together. With Ariel’s old apartment styled to her liking, they were both excited to move into a new space together, where they could work both their tastes into one cohesive design. A big part of that change — a queen-sized part, to be exact — was a new bed perfect for a pair.

Creative Studio

Sep 1, 2017

You Have to See Inside This, Like, Totally Untouched ’90s House

The dream of the ’90s actually isn’t in Portland, but in Michigan, where this untouched mansion has not been updated since it was built in 1996. It might be relatively unassuming from the outside, but inside it is basically a pink and turquoise fever dream. Oh, 1996—the year that gave us Tamagotchis, Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show, the Spice Girls, Space Jam, and the dance song to end all dance songs, the Macarena.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 31, 2017

This Guest Bedroom is Like Your Deepest, Darkest Wallpaper Fantasies Come True

Project by: Karen Knox of Making Spaces Location: Harrogate, Yorkshire We’ve seen Karen work her magic on this Edwardian home before and this go-round is just as stunning as the last. Continuing with the rich colors of the living room, this guest bed refresh is dark and dramatic with an unexpected wallpaper choice thrown into the mix. A few carefully selected furniture pieces play up the “grand design” of the space, filling it with romantic drama.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 31, 2017

First Look: Tour thredUP’s New Austin Store

Just steps from department store stalwart Dillard’s, thredUP’s second brick-and-mortar store wants to “disrupt” everything we think we know about not just secondhand shopping, but retail in general — and a first look at its Austin store, opening tomorrow, did not disappoint. Actually, it was downright dreamy.

Melissa Massello

Aug 31, 2017

One Woman’s Timeless “Dream Home” in San Francisco

Name: Katie Location: San Francisco, California The basics: 4 months, rented — 1,100 square feet Katie managed to find her dream apartment in the notoriously competitive San Francisco rental market. With plenty of space, light and a killer neighborhood, all her apartment was missing was her personal touch. Mixing heirlooms with souvenirs, old favorites with new pieces, she crafted a space that feels classic and welcoming.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 31, 2017

Black Walls = Instant Grown Up Home (Here’s How to Make Them Work)

White walls seem to be a designer secret weapon: they open up rooms of all sizes (make small rooms seem larger, large rooms appear…even airier) and look incredibly crisp and cool; plus, it’s easy to match your room’s decor to the snowy hue (because, well, white goes with everything). You know what other color is just as easy to work with (even if you might not think so at first glance)? Hint: It’s the complete opposite of white.

Arlyn Hernandez

Aug 31, 2017

Before & After: A Cost-Effective and Stylish Kitchen Reno

After making some smaller, manageable repairs and updates upon first moving in, Allie and her husband decided to tackle as full of a kitchen reno as their budget would allow. By mixing in DIY projects along with hiring out a contractor and prioritizing major functional and cosmetic fixes over new appliances, they were able to keep to their budget and walk away with a bright new kitchen.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 31, 2017

Partner

Take a Tour of the Refreshed (But Still Teeny Tiny) OG Apartment Therapy Apartment

In 2004, Apartment Therapy was born in a teeny tiny apartment in NYC’s Greenwich Village. Maxwell Ryan, our founder and the original Apartment Therapist, lived in a 265-square-foot 1-bedroom, relying on his decorating savvy and small-space know-how to make it work. It was in this tiny home that all our space-saving, zen-inducing, style-savvy solutions for small-space living first came to life. The apartment remains an icon to us, but over a decade later it was in need of a refresh.

Tim Minerd

Aug 31, 2017

How to Add Color When You Can’t Paint Your Rental Walls

Color lovers who area also renters (and can’t paint your walls), rejoice! You CAN have a colorful home even if wall paint is against the rules. Interior designer Rachelle Padgett didn’t let the no-wall-color constraints of her small rental apartment get her down. Instead, she got creative. And the tricks she used to add more hues to her home could easily be translated to any home.

Adrienne Breaux

Aug 31, 2017

All About Kansas City, By Locals Who Love It

If you haven’t spent much time in Kansas City, you might not realize that it’s a city with a vibrant culture, tons of great food (barbecue, of course, but it goes beyond that, too) and friendly, creative people—but that’s exactly what it is. It’s an up-and-coming city with a lot to offer, so we asked KCMO residents to share what they love about their city, along with their recommendations for visitors and transplants.

Brittney Morgan

Aug 30, 2017

Check Out Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s $16M Former Fairytale Bel Air Pad

This Bel Air manse has a boatload of charm, and we’re not telling Big Little Lies. The former home of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe is back on the market for $15.999 million. The celebrity couple split in 2007, but sold this fairytale estate back in 2004 for $4.5 million, according to property records and noted by The Real Deal. Built in 1969, the home was designed by architect Gerard R.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 30, 2017

Partner

Building a Capsule Wardrobe with Thrift Store Basics

You've heard about these capsule wardrobe things and how they help us simplify. Here's how you start.

Jelisa Castrodale

Aug 30, 2017

One Day at a Time: The Only Chore Chart You’ll Ever Need

It’s no secret that the key to cleaning success is to do a little bit every day. Of course, there are the things you already keep up with daily or regularly—like doing the dishes, taking out the trash, or wiping down the kitchen counters—but it’s the tasks beyond that that can so easily fall by the wayside if you don’t have a plan that fits in with your already busy schedule.

Brittney Morgan

Aug 30, 2017

After Three Years, Plenty of Work (and Wine) a Historic Home is Reborn

Name: Justine, her husband Ian and their bulldog, Miss Waffles Location: Edmonton, Alberta — Canada The basics: 3 years, owned — 1,950 square feet Justine and her husband jumped at the opportunity to breath life back into this historic home, affectionately known as The Madame. It took three labor heavy years, but they wanted to do the renovation right, preserving as much of the charm and history of the home as they could.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 29, 2017

Homepolish and Lulu & Georgia Team Up With Karlie Kloss to Create a Super Stylish Office Space

Project by: Tina Rich Location: SoHo — New York, New York We here at the Apartment Therapy Media offices fancy ourselves cool, calm and collected New Yorkers, but that all flew out the window when we heard none other than Karlie Kloss would be setting up shop in our building. Once we got a peek at her incredible new office (and let’s be real, also that outfit) we became full blown fans.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 29, 2017

The Apartments that Listing Sites Have Been Hiding from You

How often do you browse popular websites for apartment listings? As it turns out, they might not be giving you all the facts—at least not according to a new report from Apartment List. It’s what they’re calling a “luxury bias.

Brittney Morgan

Aug 29, 2017

Reviewed: The Most Comfortable Sofas at Joybird

You asked us to test out Joybird's online-only sofas, so we hiked on over to LA and put 17 models through the ringer. Here's what we thought.

Arlyn Hernandez

Aug 29, 2017

Before & After: A Bland Rental Kitchen Gets a Personality-Packed Upgrade

Vi’s garden apartment came with a standard, if somewhat underwhelming kitchen. After getting their landlord’s blessing, they painted over the yellow cabinets that were giving the space a somewhat grimy patina and called in the help of one of our favorite renter friendly products…peel and stick tiles. From Vi: When we first rented this Brooklyn garden apartment, I absolutely was dreading the kitchen. It was dark and dull.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 29, 2017

The Rescue of a Bright Blue Farmhouse & Barn in Nova Scotia

Name: Shaune, Greg and their daughters Faye and Charlotte Location: Just outside of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada The basics: Just over a year, owned — 1,400 square feet Shaune and her family found the perfect weekend getaway in this farmhouse and barn. Filled with vintage and local finds, the decor of the home feels rooted in the history of the land and house itself.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 28, 2017

10 Tiny Kitchen Organizing Tasks You Can Do in as Little as 10 Minutes

(Image credit: Diana Paulson) From Kitchn → 10 Tiny Kitchen Organizing Tasks You Can Do in 10 Minutes null

Apartment Therapy

Aug 28, 2017

Space to Sleep Four in a Studio Apartment? Believe It.

Last week, we looked at the transformation of a teeny-tiny kitchen in a New York City apartment. But the kitchen wasn’t the only change made to this Gramercy Park-area studio. Sleeping four people in a studio apartment might seem like an impossible task — but homeowners Frans and Dalal, who wanted a little privacy for their sleeping space, as well as a little room for overnight guests, made it happen. Previously, the studio was a single space, with a wall of windows on one side.

Nancy Mitchell

Aug 28, 2017

Here’s Exactly How Much Whole Foods Dropped Its Prices Today

The news swept the internet last week that due to their acquisition by Amazon, Whole Foods was going to start dropping prices on a variety of items as of today. Several news outlets have visited different locations of the organic grocer and are reporting on just how much savings there is to be had.

Tara Bellucci

Aug 28, 2017

How To Refurbish Old Furniture: A Damaged Dresser Gets a Second Chance

As the popularity of mid-century modern furniture has risen, so have the prices. Finding an “MCM gem” for anything less than a few hundred bucks has become rare, so I practically did a double take when I stumbled on a Facebook listing for a four-drawer, tapered-leg dresser for a shocking $20. But on closer inspection I saw that the price was indicative of severe damage.

Cate Henderson

Aug 28, 2017

Before & After: Livening Up a Living Room By “Shopping” the House

"It's amazing how much decorating you can do simply by shifting around items you already own."

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Aug 28, 2017

Partner

The Quickest, Easiest Way to Add a Backsplash

What’s the fastest, simplest way to update your kitchen without the time and expense of remodeling? Use the power of paint. You don’t even have to repaint the whole kitchen. For the biggest impact, start with the backsplash. Painting such a small area is fairly painless, and it allows you to get creative with color in ways you might not if you were repainting a whole room. You just need to follow one essential rule. The basic rule of painted backsplashes?