The Latest
2017

The Latest: 2017

Welcome to the hub for accessing all our latest posts! Easily sort through content by date to quickly find what you’re looking for — you’ll never miss out on the latest updates here.
Gallery wall with framed art, black shelves, blue chair, and a lantern candle on a wooden floor.
IKEA’s New Chair Is Literally Trash
Earlier this year, Form Us With Love designed kitchen cabinets made from recycled plastic bottles. Now, the studio is back with another simple-yet-stunning take on sustainable furniture in the form of this chic IKEA chair made from recycled plastic and wood chips. The sustainable materials used to create the chair – dubbed Odger — were originally intended for pallets, but the designers discovered that the materials were more suitable for its affordable seating option.
Kenya Foy
Nov 16, 2017
Partner
More Storage, Less Clutter, All Style
No matter how cute your storage solutions are, sometimes you look around your space and all you see is…stuff. A science project that’s taken over the kitchen table, mail that you’re definitely going to sort soon, stacks of clothes that are barely letting your closet door close — sometimes you don’t just want to organize these things, you want to make them invisible. Good news: You can.
Creative Studio
Nov 16, 2017
Reality Check: Nearly $1 Trillion Worth of Homes at Risk from Rising Sea Levels
Last month was the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy’s deadly, destructive rampage through New York and New Jersey, which killed 157 people and left $50 billion in damage in its wake. Unfortunately, New York City is still unprepared for an increasingly likely flood disaster, and it’s among the U.S. cities most at risk from rising sea levels in the coming decades. A new analysis by Zillow found that nearly 2 million U.S.
Jon Gorey
Nov 16, 2017
Peek Inside Eva Longoria’s New $13.5 Million LA Manse
Eva Longoria definitely isn’t desperate—at least if her new pad is any example. The actor and producer recently dropped a cool $13.5 million on a mansion in Los Angeles’ Beverly Crest area. Beverly Crest is a neighborhood within the western hills of Los Angeles, surrounded by Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Hills. The two story, 11,000 square foot contemporary home was built in 1996 and has eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms, reports the LA Times.
Tara Bellucci
Nov 16, 2017
Seasteading Is A Utopian Vision for Homesteading the Ocean
There’s a saying that’s always been popular with American homesteaders: “They aren’t making any more land.” While it still holds as modern conventional wisdom, that’s not stopping a handful of innovative city planning pioneers and startup founders around the globe, who are taking their utopian visions of manifest destiny to “the blue frontier” — and using Burning Man as inspiration.
Melissa Massello
Nov 15, 2017
Here’s What Having a Dog Taught Me About My Kitchen
(Image credit: Minette Hand) From Kitchn → What Having a Dog Taught Me About My Kitchen null
Apartment Therapy
Nov 15, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About the Least Stressful Cities in the World
Have you ever daydreamed about moving somewhere totally new and starting over? If you ever decide to make those dreams reality, consider some of the world’s least stressful cities. A recent report by Zipjet ranks the stress level of cities around the globe based on several factors: Individuals feel stressed for different reasons, requiring our study to look at data from a macro level to determine the comprehensive well-being of a city’s population.
Brittney Morgan
Nov 15, 2017
The Alien-Looking Tool that Makes Me Really Happy in the Kitchen
Last spring when my mother was in town, she offered to help me make an epic month-long supply of freezer meals. While preparing for the task, I came across a recommendation for a kitchen tool that I’d never seen or heard of before. Now they make me happy every time I have an occasion to use them. They’re so delightfully handy, I’ve even given them as gifts.
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 15, 2017
How To Organize Your Entire Bathroom for Under $100
Wish your bathroom was more organized? Even in the tiniest of bathrooms, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make things work. Between damage-free hooks and shelves to portable items (like a rolling cart), you get can your bathroom in shape in no time. Pretend you have a budget of $100 to get everything you need to revamp your bathroom; here’s what you can get with that to make it all happen. Let’s get shopping — hypothetically at least — shall we?
Brittney Morgan
Nov 15, 2017
The Most Clever Solution for Storing Your Baking Sheets
(Image credit: Joe Lingeman) From Kitchn → The Most Clever Solution for Storing Your Baking Sheets null
Apartment Therapy
Nov 15, 2017
Before You Sweep, Do This to Your Dustpan to Keep Dirt In
Nothing about cleaning my house is quite as rage-inducing as sweeping the floors. Not because it’s difficult, or even particularly time-consuming, but because the dirt never really ever stays in the dustpan. Does it? That’s what I thought, at least, until a friend tipped me off on this stupid simple household tip. It’s so ridiculously easy and quick that you’ll feel silly for not having thought of it before. Here’s the tip: Just run the dustpan under water first.
Taryn Williford
Nov 14, 2017
These Are the Best Cities to Live In When You’re in Debt —and Here’s Why
Folks, I’m here with some revolutionary news. Eating well and exercising is the best way to get in shape, and the secret to paying off debt is having extra money. But as simple and, yes, obvious as those solutions are, they’re actually really tough to put into practice. So if you’re someone living with debt, and looking for a way to make “extra money” come easier, you may want to consider a move.
Taryn Williford
Nov 14, 2017
How IKEA Does Boho: Our Top 21 Decor Picks
The very essence of a bohemian lifestyle tends to go pretty firmly against big-brand commercialism, but if you’re more about the style and less about the ideals—and also looking for some cheap(ish) ways to round out your aesthetic—IKEA is, quite surprisingly, a great place to hunt. The brand’s minimal Swedish vibes might make you think eclectic decor is not to be found in the blue-and-yellow corridors of the retailer, but that’s where you’d be wrong.
Arlyn Hernandez
Nov 14, 2017
Partner
3 Ideas for Easy, Fuss-Free Friendsgiving Decorating
Friendsgiving brings together two of the best things in life — food and friends — while leaving out one of the, er, more challenging (weird holiday family dynamics). When you celebrate Thanksgiving with the family you create yourself, you can do things up the way you want. Skip the cornucopias and go for easy-to-install decorations, along with a Command™ Brand toolkit that lets you get everything up (or down) in just a few minutes with no damage to walls.
Creative Studio
Nov 14, 2017
It’s Time to Purge Your Holiday Decor: Use Our Two Simple Rules to Declutter
Whether you crank up the Christmas music the second Halloween’s over, or you restrain yourself and stick to fall decor at least until Thanksgiving, now is the time of year that your bins of holiday decor have come down from the attic or out from under the guest beds. Rather than waiting until it’s time to put it all back and bemoaning the amount of stuff you have that, once again, you didn’t use, go through it now.
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 13, 2017
Actually Helpful Advice for Hosting in a Small Home
For many small space dwellers, the thought of entertaining over the holidays—inviting friends and family into a teeny amount of square feet—is plain daunting. Don’t let the challenge of hosting in a small home get in the way of your dinner party dreams this holiday season, though. Not only is entertaining in a small space possible, it can be downright pleasant! And these real small-space dwellers share their tips, advice, and lessons learned.
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 13, 2017
Why You Should Put a Cotton Ball in Your Trash Can
I’m trying to watch my waste. And we recycle a lot. So my trash can—it doesn’t get a lot of attention. An egg shell here, and some uneaten leftovers there. (I should probably start composting, I think.) It takes some time for my trash to get full, and in the meantime… it can kind of start to stink. I’ve heard a gentle sprinkle of baking soda into the can every once in a while can help, but the truth is, I need something more “set it and forget it.
Taryn Williford
Nov 13, 2017
We Tried Updating An Old Appliance With Liquid Stainless Steel
Can this outdated, off-white relic of a stove be transformed into a sleek stainless steel beauty? When I learned about a product designed to replicate the look of stainless steel appliances, I was itching to see if it worked — it just seemed a little too good to be true. Could this paint make appliances blend in a little bit more, or maybe look a little less decrepit? Less almond at least? For this test, I bought Rust-Oleum’s Stainless Steel from Amazon which retails for about $30.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 13, 2017
The $8 IKEA Find Every Messy Person Needs to Know About
From Apartment Therapy → The $8 IKEA Find Every Messy Person Needs to Know About null
The Kitchn
Nov 13, 2017
The Crazy Thing People Would Give Up for Cheaper Rent
When the rent is too damn high, there are a lot of resourceful things people will do and sacrifices they’ll make in order to make ends meet, from a diet of boxed mac n’ cheese for the perfect 2/2, to compromising on location. But would you go an entire year without sex?
Melissa Massello
Nov 12, 2017
From Morning to Night: 5 Ways to Practice Gratitude Today
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many people are starting to think about the things they’re thankful for. But sometimes—especially when things get stressful and you’re dealing with a major life change—it can be hard to get into the right frame of mind or even remember the things you’re grateful for.
Brittney Morgan
Nov 11, 2017
Would You Use This Power Generating, Bacteria Covered Wallpaper?
What do you think of that wallpaper pattern? It’s got a fun ’70s vibe going on, kicky color combo, oh, and it’s made of bacteria. A team of scientists from Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and Central Saint Martins have developed a way to print bacteria (the good kind) on to paper, and here’s how it could benefit your home.
Nora Taylor
Nov 11, 2017
The Decorative Trick That Transformed How I Feel About My Bathroom
For the longest time, I thought there was only one solution for rugs in the bathroom: the traditional bath mat. I always struggled to find something I liked enough. Everything was either too fuzzy and nubby, or too bland in terms of design, as I like to add a punch of color via rugs in my all-beige bathroom to liven things up. That is, until I refreshed my space this past summer and went in a completely different direction. The “area rug as bath mat” concept is not a new one.
Arlyn Hernandez
Nov 11, 2017
The 10 Commandments of a Clean & Happy Pantry
Be it a room, a cabinet or even just a drawer, your pantry deserves a little love.
Taryn Williford
Nov 11, 2017
I’ve Found the Secret to Tackling My Most-Hated Chore
I don’t know about you, but my sense of time is pretty bad. Like “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes” is almost always a lie, bad. And when I call in a to-go order, I set an alarm because I will severely over-estimate how long “15 to 20 minutes” can be. It never seemed like too much of a problem — at least not with an impatient, loves-to-be-early type of husband in the house who regularly overestimates our travel time to surprise parties.
Taryn Williford
Nov 10, 2017
Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson Sell West Hollywood Contemporary For $5.8M
While longtime celebrity couple Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson may have parted ways romantically, their friendship and joint their real estate holdings remain as strong as ever — including the West Hollywood contemporary they built together in 2014. The hands-on couple of nearly a decade built the contemporary concrete, wood, and glass home together from the ground up in 2014, paying about $2.9 million for the corner lot property — which recently sold for $5.
Melissa Massello
Nov 10, 2017
Partner
3 Ways to Wake Up Your At-Home Coffee Station
It's your first stop in the morning. Make it gorgeous.
Creative Studio
Nov 10, 2017
The Millennials Living at Home Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank
Millennials can’t do anything without there being some sort of stigma attached—they’ve been accused of killing everything from chain restaurants to doorbells, and they’re constantly being labeled lazy and wasteful, despite countless studies proving that that’s not necessarily the case.
Brittney Morgan
Nov 9, 2017
Buying a Home at the End of the Year Can Really Pay Off (in Actual Dollars) — Here’s How
‘Tis the season to be house hunting. Yep, you heard us right; if you’re looking to score a deal on your dream home, the end of the year is a great time to do it. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Who would want to trek to open houses in 20-degree weather when you could be curled up by the fireplace at home?” And the answer would be: People who really, really want to get a good deal.
Megan Johnson
Nov 9, 2017
Before & After: A Perfectly Nice Kitchen Gets Unbelievably Better
From Apartment Therapy → Before & After: A Perfectly Nice Kitchen Gets Unbelievably Better null
The Kitchn
Nov 9, 2017
Real Life Rental Challenge: A Genius Update For A Bad ’80s Bathroom Light
There’s nothing worse than those builder grade vanity strips in bathrooms, the ones that absolutely scream “HI, I’M CHROME AND WAS SENT FROM THE ’80s TO DATE YOU!!” As a renter your options are limited, but I came up with a smart way to deal with these common eyesores. Instead of swapping it out with a new light fixture, I decided to instead embrace the challenge and work with what I had. I couldn’t paint it, because that was permanent.
Diana Paulson
Nov 9, 2017
Partner
Do You Really Know What You’re Sleeping On?
We spend about one-third of our lives in bed, but we usually don’t put a lot of thought into how healthy of an environment it is. Avocado Green Mattress set out to change all that when they designed an affordable mattress made from non-toxic, natural, and organic materials. Is going natural at bedtime that important? Yes! Unlike the delightful “new car smell,” “new mattress smell” — aka “off-gassing” — can keep you up at night.
Tim Minerd
Nov 9, 2017
This Painting By Britney Spears Raised $10K for Charity
Britney Spears is an undoubtedly an artist of her generation—and now she can claim that title in a more traditional sense. The pop star can add “painter” to her resume, and one whose work even sells for $10,000. All in the name of charity, of course. In early October, the pop star posted a video to Instagram spending a whimsical afternoon in her Southern California home.
Tyra Wilkes
Nov 8, 2017
Before & After: A Perfectly Nice Kitchen Gets Unbelievably Better
As kitchens go, this one isn’t too shabby. There are really nice white countertops, classic subway tile on the backsplash, and basic wood cabinets that look perfectly sound and in good condition. There’s no horribly dated light fixtures, no crappy peeling wallpaper, or any odd woodwork that needs to be ripped out. Even the walls are white and ready to go. Not much you can do to improve this space, right? So very, very wrong.
Dabney Frake
Nov 8, 2017
How to Quickly Give Your Guest Room a Glow Up
If you like someone enough to let them stay inside your home, chances are you like them enough to want them to have a nice time during their visit. Help that happen by making sure your guest room is a cozy and functional place to stay before the holidays get here! Guest rooms can easily turn into “junk” rooms the longer they sit unoccupied.
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 8, 2017
The Unexpected Way Going Back to Work Improved My Marriage
(Image credit: Jacqueline Marque) From Kitchn → The Unexpected Way Going Back to Work Improved My Marriage null
Apartment Therapy
Nov 7, 2017
Before & After: A Living Room Goes From Perfectly Fine to Flat-Out Perfect
See? Wow! Some of the changes in Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth’s living room are ambitious and intimidating—the wainscoting, the (SPOILER ALERT) fireplace—but others are more doable while still having a major effect. Swapping out the art, throw pillows, and accessories made such a difference, and the new sofa and rug turned a cozy living room into a dreamy, airy space.
Tess Wilson
Nov 7, 2017
Amazing Dining Room Redos that Prove Anything’s Possible
The holidays are just beyond the horizon, and chances are you’ll have at least a guest or two in your dining room. If your current dining area is old, outdated, or just unattractive, you may feel like there’s nothing (affordable) that can be done…or that you’re running out of time. That’s just not true! And these daring and delightful dining room makeovers prove it. Lisa’s dining room before wasn’t terrible, but it lacked pizzazz.
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 7, 2017
This Is The Best Wine to Pick Up for Your Thanksgiving Table
(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From Kitchn → The Best Wine to Pick Up from Aldi for Your Thanksgiving Table null
Apartment Therapy
Nov 6, 2017
A Brief History of the Kitchen Island
Thanksgiving is arguably the star holiday of the cooking world. And, apart from the oven, there’s no other kitchen feature that gets more play during this time of year quite like the island—whether built-in or freestanding. Before you gather around yours this year, take a moment to appreciate how this modern day kitchen staple came to be the status symbol that it has become (because it hasn’t always been that way).
Kelly Weimert
Nov 6, 2017
If You’ve Always Wondered Why Anthropologie Smells So Good, Here’s Why
From Apartment Therapy → If You’ve Always Wondered Why Anthropologie Smells So Good, It’s Because of This Candle null
The Kitchn
Nov 6, 2017
27 Things to Get Rid of in the Kitchen Before Thanksgiving
Nothing turns a happy chef into a frazzled one like rifling through drawers or disassembling the kitchen to dig out the necessary tools. Don’t let this be you at Thanksgiving. For a smoothly running kitchen — and, more importantly, a smiling cook — eliminate everything that doesn’t need to be in your kitchen before the big day.
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 6, 2017
Daybeds, Murphy Beds & More You Can Make Yourself
The holidays often mean houseguests, so start preparing now. If you’re the type who prefers to make something rather than buy something, check out these DIY projects for daybeds, Murphy beds, trundle beds, and more – you’ll have enough room for everyone to sleep and sit.
Tess Wilson
Nov 6, 2017
Partner
These Rugs Are Chic, Durable, and Totally Customizable
Of course we don’t know you better than you know yourself; we just know that FLOR has exactly the area rug you want. With their customizable tiles in a zillion (approximately) gorgeous styles, you can fall in love with a rug that fits your precise style and space. We practice what we preach: Apartment Therapy’s HQ is covered with FLOR, and we’re obsessed.
Creative Studio
Nov 6, 2017
DIY Holiday Gifts That Look Luxe (Not Lame)
From Apartment Therapy → DIY Holiday Gifts That Look Luxe (Not Lame) null
The Kitchn
Nov 6, 2017
What Having a Dog Really Taught Me About My Kitchen
(Image credit: Minette Hand) From Kitchn → What Having a Dog Taught Me About My Kitchen null
Apartment Therapy
Nov 6, 2017
Go Totally Off The Grid With This Sleek Camper
Part of adulting is encountering the urge to pack up a few belongings, abandon all of your responsibilities and set off toward No Man’s Land to live in a self-imposed state of hermithood. We’ve all had that thought at one point or another, but plotting an escape of that magnitude isn’t as simple as it sounds. Luckily, there’s now a “living vehicle” that can support several weeks’ worth of off-the-grid living.
Kenya Foy
Nov 5, 2017
HomeGoods Is Paying Its Puerto Rican Employees, Even Though Stores Haven’t Reopened
It’s been over six weeks since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, and the island is still having major issues restoring power. That means (among many other things) businesses haven’t been able to reopen so that people can return to work. But employees at HomeGoods and its sister stores have one less thing to worry about.
Tara Bellucci
Nov 5, 2017