The Latest: 2017

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A Boston Apartment Steeped in Art and Family History

Name: Eva, Jack, their 3 year old Eleanor and Robin Williamson the cat Location: Dorchester — Boston, Massachusetts The basics: Four years, owned 1,100 square feet Eva and Jack’s space is like a cozy and welcoming art gallery. After bouncing back from a fire that destroyed most of their belongings, they’ve created a home that feels stylish and exceedingly personal.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 28, 2017

Discounted Design: Here’s How The Eames Lounger Ended Up At Costco

Turns out, there’s more than just 36-roll packs of toilet paper and giant muffins at your local warehouse store. We’ve recently discovered that you can also snag an authentic Eames Lounge chair at Costco, for quite a discount. Earlier this week, we were tipped off to the designer deal via a Facebook group for mid-century modern fans. The photo was of the iconic chair and its ottoman next to Herman Miller boxes stacked on pallets in the warehouse. The price for both pieces? $3,899.99.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 28, 2017

The Bun Style and the Hair Fork That (Mostly) Eased Me Off Hair Elastics

Last year I came across a video of a young woman repeatedly wrapping her hair into a specific bun style — a nautilus bun — and securing it with a single hair stick. It was transfixing, and it seemed to promise an old-fashioned solution to the modern-day I-don’t-have-a-hair-elastic problem, as well as a potential solution to the hair-elastics-have-been-tearing-my-hair-out-for-decades problem.

Edith Zimmerman

Apr 28, 2017

Barack Obama Used To Live In This Park Slope Brownstone For Sale

The president was here. The Brooklyn brownstone that, thirty or so years ago, was home to 44 is now on the market for $4.295 million. In the mid ’80s, post-Columbia (and pre-Michelle) Barack Obama lived at 640 2nd Street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope. At the time, the property was split into multiple apartments—Obama and his then-girlfriend lived on the top floor.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 28, 2017

Before and After: Third Time’s the Charm For This Den Turned Office Turned Walk-In Closet

Vanessa’s second floor den space was a bit of a puzzle. The layout was a little odd and they didn’t need anymore general space, but she tried it out as a den and then an office. One day her husband had a stroke of genius and decided to flip the place into the kind of walk-in closet storage dreams are made of. From Vanessa: Our home has a second floor den that I could never render useful.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 28, 2017

Tête-à-Têtes: The Answer to Awkward Conversation?

Let's face it: If you're going to have a conversation with someone, a traditional sofa probably isn't the best place to do it. But this is.

Nancy Mitchell

Apr 28, 2017

We Hacked the $35 RAST Dresser Two Ways: Happy Modern and Bone Inlay

The $35 unfinished pine dresser from IKEA is a blank slate for your creativity. To show how it can be customized to match any decor style—no matter if your signature look is understated or over-the-top—we hacked this dresser two ways. Keep it simple with some paint and a bit of patterned gift wrap, or embrace elaborate bohemian details with bone-inlay stenciling. Either way, you’re going to get extra storage with serious style.

AT Video

Apr 28, 2017

Before & After: A Guest Bedroom’s Marvelous Makeover

We can imagine the difficulty of being surrounded by so much beauty in the desert if your living space in the house you purchased just does not compare. Drawing inspiration from natural elements and the beauty of the desert, Lindsay infused her dark and uninspiring spare bedroom with, as she says, “as much white, natural wood, and stone as possible.

Marisa Vitale

Apr 28, 2017

So What’s the Deal with IKEA Refrigerators Anyway?

How do IKEA refrigerators stack up against the competition? We did a little research to find out.

Nancy Mitchell

Apr 27, 2017

This is the Holy Grail of Rentals: 15 Foot Ceilings, a Tiled Fireplace and Wood Paneling

Name: Mohammed & Sally Location: Point Breeze/East End — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The basics: Two years, rented | 1,065 square feet Mohammed’s Pittsburgh apartment is full of the kind of antique charm that seems to only fall into the hands of TV characters and beach read heroines. Not one to rest on the laurels of enviable wood paneling, he has filled the space to the brim with stunning finds and impressive DIY upgrades. Can we move in?

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 27, 2017

Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel’s NYC Penthouse Brings Sexy Back

The word on the real estate street is that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel now have a new piece of property. The couple reportedly snagged a penthouse in Tribeca last month for a cool $27.5 million. According to The Real Deal, the pair snatched up a penthouse at 443 Greenwich Street, where they’ll have some famous neighbors. According to the developer Nathan Berman of MetroLoft, 90 percent of buyers in the building are “household names.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 26, 2017

A Historic Denver Bungalow Survives Fire & Neglect to be Lovingly Restored

Name: Jay Location: Montclair — Denver, Colorado The basics: 5 years, owned | 2,000 square feet Jay’s 110 year old bungalow has quite the history. Once a modest house amongst flashier homes, it has weathered different misfortunes and poor design choices to land in Jay’s hands. Jay and his partner are investing time, love and labor into restoring the home to its former glory.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 26, 2017

I Tried It: Goodbye Gross Disposables, Hello Silicone Sponge

Can a silicone sponge replace your basic disposable kitchen sponge for life, or does it sound too good to be true?

Brittney Morgan

Apr 26, 2017

Before & After: When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them On Your $12 Thrift Store Desk

Mary found a very handsome but somewhat worn desk outside of a thrift store. After snatching it up for less than it costs to buy Lemonade on iTunes, she took it home and restored it to its former glory. From Mary: I had been looking for a small desk for my computer for some time, and since I knew it would be in the family room I wanted it to look nice and not look like an office space.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 26, 2017

How Patricia Urquiola is Taking Over the Design World

For our series about influential women in design, we’re focusing this week on Patricia Urquiola, the Spanish designer who is one of the most influential figures in the world of contemporary design. Her designs are playful, colorful, innovative, and sometimes a little bit irreverent, and she’s working to redefine the look of the contemporary home. Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain, in 1961.

Nancy Mitchell

Apr 26, 2017

Before & After: A Blank Box Living Room Gets a Warm Multi-Functional Makeover

The before: bland, typical and boring. The after? A creative, bright and bold living room with #desertvibes.

Marisa Vitale

Apr 26, 2017

Lessons from Rooms that Nail the Layered Rug Look

Plus, price-conscious combos to get the layered look in your own home.

Hannah Toles

Apr 25, 2017

Turning Two Small NYC Apartments into One Sleek Modern Home

Project by: Ines Ensal of Studio Esnal Location: Gramercy Park — New York, New York Location! Location! Location! Ines Ensal’s clients got New-York-real-estate-lucky when they snatched up two spaces by Gramercy Park in Manhattan. Charged with combining a studio and a one bedroom into one larger, cohesive unit, Ensal took a clean and modern approach, maximizing another precious New York resource, natural light.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 25, 2017

A Built-from-Scratch Vacation Home for Three Families

Name: Janna, her husband and two other families Location: Mohave Valley, Arizona The Basics: Around 3 months, owned 2,400 square feet Building a house from scratch is tough. Building a house from scratch that is going to eventually be the vacation home of three families is extra tough. Janna’s vacation home manages to blend style, function, fun and enough space for a whole host of people.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 25, 2017

Before & After: A Dark ’80s Bathroom Brightens Up

Lots of New York apartments come with charming vintage bathrooms. Not this one. The bathroom of Heather and Doug’s Park Slope condo, true to its roots in the ’80s, had dark, dour maroon tile on the walls and grungy white tile (with grungy white grout) on the floor. The homeowners, with a view to selling the apartment in the next few years, wanted a bathroom remodel that would make their space brighter and more pleasant, and appeal to potential buyers as well.

Nancy Mitchell

Apr 25, 2017

10 of the Best Vegetarian Groceries at Trader Joe’s

(Image credit: Susanna Hopler) From Kitchn → The 10 Best Vegetarian Groceries at Trader Joe’s null

Apartment Therapy

Apr 25, 2017

Design Timeline: An Artist’s Style Evolution Over Six Homes

“Like a great dinner party you want a varied guest list…someone is larger than life, another is quiet but fascinating, another brings beauty, or brilliant conversation, or humor,” artist Judith Bigham says, describing her philosophy of decorating. “If a piece of furniture or art doesn’t work because it’s too big or too exaggerated for a room I often say ‘oh she’s the loudest girl in the room!

Adrienne Breaux

Apr 25, 2017

A Teeny Tiny (200 Square Foot!) Sunshine-y Studio in Rio

Name: Iná Location: Copacabana — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The basics: 2 + years renting | 200 square feet Iná’s small studio is so open and bright, it looks much more expansive than its small footprint would lead you to believe. Yellow pops out against crisp white, while plants add some earthiness. Tell us a little about your home and the people who live there: My home is a tiny, 200 square foot studio apartment. Although it is very small, it has everything I actually need.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 24, 2017

Before & After: How I Completely Transformed My Junk Drawer Without Buying a Single Organizer

(Image credit: Cambria Bold) From Kitchn → Before & After: How I Transformed My Junk Drawer Without Buying a Single Organizer null

Apartment Therapy

Apr 24, 2017

5 Things To Do In Your 20s So You Can Buy a Home In Your 30s

Twenty-somethings are often under the impression that they’ll never be able to own a home, but, of course, that’s not always the case. A lot can change in a few years, so while you may not be in the market to buy a home this year or next, the (slightly) more distant future is still a possibility if homeownership is what you want. If you’re hoping to be a buy down the road, here are a few things you can do now to make the process easier when the time comes.

Brittney Morgan

Apr 24, 2017

IKEA’s Latest Collection Brings New Patterns From Classic Swedish Designers

Your local IKEA is about to get a bit more colorful. Meet AVSIKTLIG, the latest collection from the retailer that taps Swedish design rockstars 10-gruppen for a pattern-filled ode to bold style. If you’ve never heard of 10-gruppen, allow us to fill you in. The design collective was started in 1970 by ten Swedish designers, and the team quickly became “part of the anti-establishment force of the time, turning against the current aesthetic ideals,” according to IKEA.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 24, 2017

7 Surprising (& Surprisingly Gorgeous!) Color Combinations

Here at Apartment Therapy we love our color, and unusual combinations are our Achilles’ heel. If you’re tired of neutral spaces, the same old “pop” colors or just want to feast your eyes on something new, read on for seven inspiring, invigorating and quirky color schemes to try out today.

Eleanor Büsing

Apr 24, 2017

Ridiculous Name, Major Results? We Test the Much-Hyped Milky Piggy Bubble Mask to Find Out

Welcome to another installment of Beauty Bucket List, a series in which we roll up our sleeves to do some hard and fast testing of cult classic beauty products, because just hearing about how great something is just isn’t good enough.

Colleen Murphy

Apr 24, 2017

One Incredible Thing to Do With an Old IKEA Chair

If you know of an old POÄNG chair that’s looking a little worse for wear, you could take a page from Philippa Saul’s book and cover it top to bottom with a glorious, hand-crocheted (-knitted and -embroidered) country cottage and garden.

Edith Zimmerman

Apr 22, 2017

Marilyn Monroe’s Former LA Home For Sale For $6.9 Million

This Spanish hacienda style home in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood has its fair share of charm—just like its former owner. The property that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe came on the market just yesterday for $6.9 million. The white stucco property, built in 1929, sits on the end of a small cul-de-sac.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 22, 2017

Leather-Working 101: The Best Tools and Sources for Real and Faux Leather

If you’ve never made anything out of leather before, it can be difficult to know how to get started and where to shop for supplies. Looking at the prices, it’s no wonder sticker shock can turn many would-be leather workers away from the craft.

Katie Holdefehr

Apr 22, 2017

Before & After: A Blend of New and Old Style in a California Bungalow

Project by: Karen Nepacena of Destination Eichler Location: San Leandro, California Karen was tasked with opening up the kitchen and dining area of a 1940s bungalow. The space had a ton of natural light that was going to waste in the current layout, so she tore down some walls and gave the space a whole new look that still honored the character of the home.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 21, 2017

A Whimsical West Hollywood Home

Name: Will, Florent and Dolly, a Mini Holland Lop bunny Location: West Hollywood, California The basics: 10 months renting Will and Florent’s Hollywood abode is full of small, unexpected moments of delight (spot the bunny!) and fantastic found pieces that give the space a welcoming feel. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live here with my boyfriend, Florent, and our Mini Holland Lop bunny, Dolly.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 21, 2017

A Former Castle in Malibu Gets Rebuilt (With a New $80 Million Price Tag)

Even if the prospect of owning an exceptionally extravagant abode is far from your reality, it’s still fun to peek inside the homes of the extremely rich, particularly if it’s the most expensive property in Malibu’s history. Unoccupied since the Malibu Canyon fire destroyed it in 2007, the manse has undergone a two-year revitalization at the hands of architect and developer Scott Gillen, who paid $9.7 million for the 3.5-acre property in 2015.

Kenya Foy

Apr 21, 2017

10 Really Surprising Things You Can Clean in the Dishwasher

(Image credit: Kitchn Video) From Kitchn → 10 Surprising Things You Can Clean in the Dishwasher null

Apartment Therapy

Apr 21, 2017

How to Turn the IKEA EKET into a Rolling Bar Cart or Bedside Table

The cube-shaped EKET cabinet has us thinking outside the box, to all the stackable, modular options this simple design presents. By adding wheels to the bottom and stacking one on top of another using Velcro, you can easily switch out the cabinets or roll them from room-to-room—proving that this little storage unit has big potential.

AT Video

Apr 21, 2017

A ’50s Ranch Home That Battles the Seattle Weather with Pops of Color and Warm Touches

Name: Stephen and Bobby, their son Cole and beta fish Riley Location: Beacon Hill/Georgetown — Seattle, Washington The basics: 7 years owned | 1,200 square feet and 800 square feet Airbnb Stephen and Bobby’s home is designed to beat the Seattle winter blahs while making the most of the city’s gorgeous summer. A mix of texture and color help create a cozy, mid-century modern oasis in the Emerald City.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Apr 20, 2017

This Chelsea Studio Is Listed for Under $500K—But There’s a Reason

Today in ridiculous real estate, let’s take a trip to New York. While few things about the city’s property market surprise me anymore (ahem—crawl space guy), I have to say I am actually amazed that one can buy a studio in Chelsea for under $500,000. Of course (you knew it was coming), there’s a catch.

Tara Bellucci

Apr 20, 2017

Partner

You Can Sleep a Little Easier This Earth Day

When you’re selecting a new set of sheets, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Thread count, right? Fine. However, a luxurious thread count is a moot figure if those threads have been over-processed, pulled from questionable sources, or manufactured in a way that roughs up the planet. There’s a better way to get better sheets and it comes from Coyuchi, the pioneer of organic bedding and towels.