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.
Those ’80s Porcelain Figurines Could Be Worth Big Bucks
Check the attic.
Melissa Massello
Oct 22, 2017
This Pinecone Shaped Treehouse Hangs Out in the Italian Alps
Around this time of year, people are practically itching to hightail it out of town and hole up in a cozy holiday vacation rental, so it’s only natural that the serene sight of this tiny pine cone-shaped treehouse in the Italian Alps has us ready to say arrivederci to home and board a flight ASAP. Called “Pigna” (“pinecone” in Italian), the treehouse of our childhood dreams is a three-story structure suspended 30 feet above ground.
Kenya Foy
Oct 22, 2017
This Floating Tent Turns Bodies of Water Into a Campground
If glamour and camping equal glamping, that must mean floating while camping can succinctly be described as flamping, right? Who knows, but that’s our (really weird) attempt at describing The Shoal Tent by Smith Fly, an inflatable floating raft with a tent topper that allows campers to sleep on the water. Obviously, traditional camping rules don’t apply if you’re using this tent.
Kenya Foy
Oct 22, 2017
Quick Question! In or Out: Cheeky Word Art on Decor?
Right? “Hustle” pillows and “I Can’t Adult Today” blankets, “Live, Love, Gymnastics” tea towels and “The Snuggle is Real”…At this point, it’s like, okay okay, I get it. The world is filled with cute sayings, always has been. There were some real zippy zingers back in the mid 19th-century. I mean “bully for you!” or “acknowledge the corn!” That is some first-class slang.
Julia Brenner
Oct 21, 2017
A Bright and Poppy Miami Apartment
Name: Sarah and Max Location: Miami, Florida The basics: 4 months rented, 750 square feet Sarah’s Miami apartment is colorful and fun and full of little surprises. Every picture has a fun detail, full of cool art and funky patterns. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband Max and I actually just moved from Indianapolis, Indiana to Miami four months ago.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 21, 2017
Science Has Figured Out Just How Long Our Vacations Should Be
A lot goes into planning a vacation. Where should you go? When can you take time off? What gets you the most bang for your buck? Should you do a lot of long weekends or a few big trips? At times all of the run around and crazy planning can seem like it just isn’t worth it, how can you enjoy your vacation when you’re not doing it right. Luckily, science is here to remove some of the guess work.
Nora Taylor
Oct 21, 2017
How to Give New Life to Your Old Suitcases
Between spills, errant shoe bottoms, and airplane grease, inside and out, our suitcases may not be the cleanest. This year, before you pack for your holiday trips or winter getaways, give your luggage the royal treatment so you can put your carefully packed clothes somewhere they’ll stay fresh and clean.
Shifrah Combiths
Oct 21, 2017
7 Brilliant Kitchen Storage Ideas to Steal from Real-Life Tiny Houses
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 7 Brilliant Kitchen Storage Ideas to Steal from Real-Life Tiny Houses null
Apartment Therapy
Oct 20, 2017
Before & After: An Unbelievable DIY Rental Kitchen Makeover
From Apartment Therapy → Before & After: An Unbelievably Chic Rental Kitchen Makeover null
The Kitchn
Oct 20, 2017
This $5.5M San Gabriel Valley Mansion Has a Pirate Themed Pool
Tucked into the San Gabriel Valley about 22 miles from Los Angeles, this seemingly castle-like mansion has some quirky and eccentric secrets in store for a buyer with enough whim and the wealth to appreciate them. Dubbed “Castle in the Sky” by its builder, the mansion (sitting atop four-plus acres) is a “private Disneyland to entertain family and friends” — complete with a pirate-themed splash pad that was featured on HGTV’s Extreme Pools in 2014.
Melissa Massello
Oct 20, 2017
Partner
What’s Your Grocery Personality?
People call New Yorkers opinionated, but we just know what we like — and we’d like what we like as fast as possible, please. If we can also get it without changing out of our sweatpants or pausing Netflix? Even better. Enter FoodKick: Powered by FreshDirect, FoodKick is on a mission to bring New Yorkers fresh food fast — crazy fast.
Creative Studio
Oct 20, 2017
Want to Escape to the Wilderness? This Job Comes With a Colorado Cabin
Are you ready to just run away from it all? Willing to trade your office job for some rugged, outdoor labor? The US Forest Service may have an opportunity for you, but you have to act fast the deadline is quickly approaching. The San Juan National Forest in Colorado is looking for someone to take over two of their remote properties. It reads something like a hermit, meets in-keeper, meets homesteader.
Nora Taylor
Oct 20, 2017
A Stylish West Village Home Perfect for Professional Entertaining
Name: Vincent Location: West Village — New York, New York The basics: 2 years, rented — 700 square feet Vincent’s West Village home is classically urban and warmly welcoming, perfect for his supper club, Mr. Jones. His home is both personal and public, well curated with plenty to look at without feeling staged. And with the exposed brick and natural light, he hit the apartment jackpot!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 19, 2017
Rental Red Flags that Signal You’re About to Get Scammed
You know the saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”? Well, that definitely applies to apartment hunting. If you see a listing for a beautiful, spacious apartment that’s well below the median rent for the neighborhood it’s in, for example, there’s gotta be a catch. Like, you know, it might not even exist (!).
Brittney Morgan
Oct 19, 2017
Katie Couric Lists Her Park Avenue Condo for $8.25M
If you’ve ever wanted to peek inside the home of Katie Couric, today’s the day. The news anchor’s Upper East Side home is on the market for $8.25 million. The sale comes after Couric and husband, financier John Molner, bought a full floor, five bedroom place about 20 blocks south for north of $12 million, according to 6sqft.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 19, 2017
Before & After: A Young Man Creates a Relaxing, Travel-Inspired Bedroom
A sanctuary in the city for a young man.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 19, 2017
Partner
How to Make Naturally-Dyed Napkins with Avocados
These napkins are a dream DIY: easy, natural, useful and beautiful. That pretty shade of pink comes from avocado pits and skins. (Seriously!) Don’t avocados make everything better? From toast to textiles, they’re a superfood for sure. The perfect accessory to complement your morning coffee, these napkins just might inspire you to start dyeing your sheets, curtains and clothes next.
Creative Studio
Oct 19, 2017
13 Unbelievably Adorable Halloween Decorating Ideas You Still Have Time to Do
Don’t fret! It may be mid-October but there’s still plenty of time to add a little Halloween spookiness to your home. Jennifer Perkins is a crafter and blogger who goes ALL OUT when it comes to decorating her Austin house for Halloween. And much of her decor is DIY! These cute Halloween decor projects can be spotted in the Halloween tours of her home…and they are fast and easy to make.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 19, 2017
All About First-Time Homebuyer Grants
Buying a home can be crazy expensive, and for most first-time buyers, the hardest part is saving up a sizable down payment. You’ve no doubt heard that the traditional down payment should be 20% of the purchase price — any less, and you’ll likely have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) or get stuck with a higher long-term interest rate. And who’s got 20% of, say, $300,000 just kicking around in their bank account? However, that 20% figure isn’t set in stone.
Jon Gorey
Oct 18, 2017
Calling All Collectibles: Inspiring Ways To Display Your Treasures
Whether you collect Pez dispensers, straw hats, heart-shaped rocks, or anything else on earth, you probably want to corral your treasures in an attractive, efficient fashion. These 15 examples, including detailed DIYs, might inspire you to put your beloved collection on display at last. The upper edge of this large-scale frame is the perfect spot to line up an impressive collection of Pez dispensers.
Tess Wilson
Oct 18, 2017
This Map Shows Just How Many Hours You Have to Work to Pay Your Mortgage
In some expensive cities, it can feel like every dollar you earn goes straight toward housing. It turns out, it may not be your imagination. A new data visualization by HowMuch.net shows how many hours the average household in 98 U.S. cities would need to work each month just to afford the median mortgage payment in their city.
Jon Gorey
Oct 18, 2017
How to Flu-Proof Every Spot in Your Home
While the CDC recommends that “the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season,” it’s also a good idea to pay special attention to where germs in your home can proliferate and be passed around, especially if someone in your household gets sick. Flu germs can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours, so target these hot spots in particular.
Shifrah Combiths
Oct 17, 2017
How to Set Up Your Living Room (Without a Focus on the TV)
Let's focus on another time-honored living room pastime: conversation.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 17, 2017
Decor Double Take: A High & Low Cost Version of a Super Trendy Mirror
Some trends come and go, while others come, stay, and leaving us saying, “wait, why wasn’t this always a thing?”. With a simplicity and softness that feels timeless in its appeal, we think trendy round mirrors are here to stay. If you’ve been on the fence about “rounding out” your mirror collection, here are two nearly identical round brass-framed mirrors in two not-so-identical price points ($50 vs.
Jessica Isaac
Oct 17, 2017
Partner
Benjamin Moore Just Set Us Up for a Strong, Energetic 2018
We wait for Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year like cinephiles wait for Oscar nominations, and the 2018 announcement did not disappoint: The paint pros picked Caliente AF-290, a strong and energetic red with personality to spare. Benjamin Moore chose Caliente for its bold, luxe vibe. “Strong, radiant and full of energy, Caliente AF-290 is total confidence.
Creative Studio
Oct 17, 2017
Glenn Frey of The Eagles’ Brentwood Park Mansion Just Hit the Market for $15M
Jeff Lebowski’s feelings on the band notwithstanding, The Eagles were beloved to many and inducted in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame for a reason. Now, one lucky buyer can scoop up his or her own Hotel California: Eagles founder Glenn Frey’s widow just put their Brentwood Park mansion on the market for $15 million.
Melissa Massello
Oct 16, 2017
Downsizing in Style in a Toronto Condo
Project by: Cynthia Ferguson Designs Location: Toronto, Ontario Cynthia was enlisted to help a family of four downsize from their family home into a condo that would better suit their life now. Working with her clients she was able to create a chic space that mixes new pieces with old favorites. From Cynthia: With their two daughters moving on to University, my client decided to take advantage of the crazy real estate market in Toronto and downsize from their family home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 16, 2017
10 Ways to Get Rid of That Terrible Smell in Your Kitchen Sink
(Image credit: Elissa Crowe) From Kitchn → 10 Ways to Get Rid of That Awful Smell in Your Kitchen Sink null
Apartment Therapy
Oct 16, 2017
Readers Weigh In: This is the Room You Should Always Clean First
Getting the toughest room out the way first will help jumpstart the rest of your housekeeping responsibilities.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 16, 2017
JLo & A-Rod Are Apparently Eyeing Apartments In This Midtown Skyscraper
If the real estate gossip is to be believed, abbreviated power couple J-Rod is closing in on their new pad. The superstar actress and singer and former baseball player have been seen peeking around one (particularly tall) residential building. The New York Post’s Page Six reported that JLo and A-Rod have visited units at Midtown property 432 Park Avenue four times thus far.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 16, 2017
This Is the Only Sheet Brand I’ll Ever Buy Again—Here’s Why
I always thought good sheets were an investment. Until I found the last set of sheets I'll ever buy...and for cheap.
Shifrah Combiths
Oct 16, 2017
The Key to Buying a Home? Be a White College Graduate, According to This Data
A new study by Apartment List shows a stark and concerning racial divide in the homeownership rate.
Jon Gorey
Oct 16, 2017
This Item is the Biggest Lifesaver in My Tiny Kitchen
When I started my hunt for the perfect tiny New York apartment, I knew that it would probably come with a tiny kitchen, too. I got lucky: my kitchen actually has a full-sized fridge, and it even has an oven. (Yes, there are people in New York who are paying lots and lots of money to rent apartments with no oven.) And while my kitchen is small—it only has two and a half feet of counter space—I saw others that were even smaller.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 16, 2017
How to Pull Off Painting Your Living Room Black
Or as the actual (but too long) title to this post should read: How to Pull Off Painting Your Living Room Black and It Not Look Like an Angsty Goth ’80s Teen Is Gearing up for a Halloween Party While Their Parents Are Out of Town. I’m here today to let you know it is possible to rock super dark paint on the walls, ceilings, shelving, mantel, fireplace, etc. and not look like you went on Trading Spaces with The Addams Family.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 16, 2017
Clever Ways to Reuse Clothes Hangers Around the House
No more hanging around in the donation box – give them a new purpose!
Amelia Lawrence
Oct 15, 2017
A Smartly-Styled Milwaukee Studio
Name: Jessica Location: Eastside — Milwaukee, Wisconsin The basics: 3 months, rented —450 square feet Jessica’s apartment looks much larger than its 450 square feet. Since hosting was a priority for her, and she didn’t want folks playing Apples to Apples on her bed, she decided to divide up her studio to carve out a specific spot for entertaining. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I’m a public accountant and photographer.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 15, 2017
Find Your Best Bedroom Layout with a King-Sized Bed
In this space planning series, Layout Lessons, we’ll be exploring layout options for different bed sizes within various shaped bedrooms because things can get tricky sometimes. We tapped Eleanor Büsing, a contributing writer for Apartment Therapy and an interior designer in her own right, for her expert opinion on the matter. Here, how to deal when only a King bed will do.
Eleanor Büsing
Oct 14, 2017
Ugly Design, The Instagram Account That Makes Us Both Laugh and Cringe
Normally, we prefer to feature examples of design we love, but on occasion, something comes along that is such a head scratch (or a belly laugh) that we just can’t help ourselves. Thankfully, an Instagram account called Ugly Design exists to provide a whole host of examples of the latter. Ugly Design, created by Swiss founders Jonas Nyffenegger and Sebastien Mathys, has over 87,000 followers on Instagram as of this writing (there is also a Tumblr). “I consider ugly as beautiful.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 14, 2017
R.L. Stine’s Apartment Tour is Giving Us Goosebumps
Of course everyone’s favorite young adult thriller writer would share his office with a skeleton, a giant cockroach, and a real-life version of his famously homicidal ventriloquist dummy, Slappy. This week on the New York Times‘ video tour series The Daily 360, we get a peek inside R.L.
Melissa Massello
Oct 14, 2017
A Small, Sweet & Plant-Filled Apartment in Raleigh
Name: Hannah Location: Raleigh, North Carolina The basics: 2.5 years, rented — 385 square feet Hannah’s adorable apartment comes complete with an enviable amount of sunlight, which she in turn uses to grow a ton of plants. Green mixes with pops of color and funky finds to create a totally winsome little space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 13, 2017
How to Prevent Pumpkins from Rotting And Keep Your Jack-O-Lantern Looking Fresh for Weeks
For a holiday all about horror, the most terrifying thing about Halloween might just be how long you have to wait to carve your pumpkin. Depending on the weather where you live, you might only get a few days — maybe a week, tops — with your Jack-O-Lantern before mold and rot set in, or the whole thing shrivels and dries out. Cornell University horticulturist Steve Reiners told NPR that the best storage temperature for pumpkins is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Taryn Williford
Oct 13, 2017
Before & After: A Bedroom Gets a Serious Boost of Warmth & Character
Ciao wall to wall carpet!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 13, 2017
I Only Ever Stay in Hostels. Here’s Why.
(Image credit: Eco Mama Hotel) From Kitchn → I Only Ever Stay in Hostels. Here’s Why. null
Apartment Therapy
Oct 13, 2017
This Interactive Tool Will Show You the City Where You Should be Living
There are a lot of factors that go into making a big move, and for many people, the top priority is either their job or their family. But if you’re on your own and you have job flexibility to go basically wherever you want (i.e. you work remotely), then what? In that case, you have the luxury of finding a place that suits you—and not necessarily just your career. To help you figure out the best U.S. city for you and your priorities, HighSpeedInternet.
Brittney Morgan
Oct 13, 2017
An Architect Maximizes Space and Finds The Light in Her New York Home
Name: Sarah, her husband, their daughter and cat Location: New York, New York The basics: Owned, 5 months — 1,100 square feet Sarah and her family have created a sleek, minimalist family home in New York. Full of smartly hidden storage and light maximizing colors, the space feels airy and bright.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 12, 2017
Are People Really Painting Their Walls White For Insta-Stardom?
The Wall Street Journal recently published a story with a simple yet shocking premise: “To make their home interiors look better on Instagram and amass more followers, millennials and social-media mavens are painting their walls white.” What do you think of that? What do we think of that?
Tess Wilson
Oct 12, 2017
What Tax Breaks Can I Get as a First-Time Homebuyer?
In 2008, the U.S. housing market was already cratering as the Great Recession took hold. To try and stop the bleeding, Congress passed a series of first-time homebuyer tax credits, each more generous than the last. First came a $7,500 tax rebate, to be repaid over 15 years with no interest. By early 2009, it had grown to $8,000, and required no payback whatsoever. And for most of 2010, even some repeat home buyers were eligible for a tax credit worth up to $6,500.
Jon Gorey
Oct 12, 2017
Before & After: Creating an Outdoor “Boss Bar” on a Budget
Regine’s backyard presented a bit of a conundrum. She wanted to create a space for lounging and hosting, but a large part of her backyard was taken up with the driveway to the garage. Not to be deterred, she got creative and over the course of three summers, created a backyard oasis on a budget. From Regine: Our backyard before was begging to be made into something pretty.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 12, 2017