Apartment Therapy Archive: May 2018

We all love IKEA for its simple, Scandinavian design and reasonable prices, but that versatility and affordability often makes decorating your home painfully ubiquitous. Instead of unearthing a one-of-a-kind piece—and feeling like a total design pro—you end up with the same furniture as your coworker, best friend, old college roommate, and your favorite influencers. Ugh. But just because you (rightfully) love IKEA doesn’t mean your space needs to fall into basic territory.

If you’re anything like me, your Instagram feed over Memorial Day Weekend was filled with FOMO-inducing photos of friends camping out in nature’s splendor across the country—whether shot from the rear windows of a camper van or RV or from within the confines of a glamping resort. ‘Tis the season to rusticate and sleep under the stars, and these tiny glamping pods are the new objet d’envy.

At $15.5 million, the townhouse that actors Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany just purchased on Brooklyn Heights is believed to be one of the most expensive transactions ever closed in the New York City borough.

Name: Jory Sutton and Alex Simon Location: Washington Heights, NYC Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Jory and Alex’s 650-square-foot NYC apartment is a feast for the eyes. So much so, the small sneak peek we shared with their house call last year just wasn’t a long enough look. With hand-me-downs from family members, vintage pieces purchased at thrift shops, DIY artwork, and different periods and styles of decor, every room has a conversation starter.

New month means new Netflix. And June is looking to be a good one, what with a bunch of the streaming service’s original programming returning and new shows debuting. Check out our must watch picks below. Everything leaving Netflix in June It’s been just a few short months since the Queer Eye reboot introduced us to the new Fab 5 and brought us some of the most heartwarming TV of 2018. Now they’re already back for round two, so grab your yogurt-laced guac and get ready.

It's hard for me to fork up the cold, hard cash (or credit), even if I really like a piece. So imagine my surprise when this budget find ended up being cooler than I expected.

Gorgeous hardwood floors, a large window, posh location, a fireplace, and built-ins galore? Yes, please. This Upper East Side apartment’s living room was already dreamy as hell, but one bold client-designer team knew it could be so much more. My favorite part of this transformation is the way the newly painted built-ins echo the tone of the fireplace, creating, along with the mirror, a delightful triptych. The coffee table appears to be the same hue, further unifying the space.

When it comes to taboo life advice that one can actually use in their 20s and 30s, beloved humorist and author David Sedaris dishes out some of the best. (Hello, that cautionary-tale tip from Me Talk Pretty One Day that keeps us all from trying on thrift store jeans before they’ve been washed, amiright?) On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, Sedaris shared a peek of the commencement address he gave at Oberlin College—and his strong feelings about candles.

There’s no shortage of places to purchase art prints that you love, but sometimes you’re on the hunt for something a little more unique—and maybe a little more affordable. If so, this may be the incredibly easy art hack for you. While this art hack is a great way to upgrade a wall in your home, it also solves another common problem: What to do with your favorite tea towels you don’t want to use because you don’t want them getting ruined with food stains.

The days are short and the world is wide, my friends—there’s so much to see out there and seemingly so little time to do it, which is perhaps why some of us (read: me) have an incurable case of wanderlust. And, hey, it’s not exactly a bad habit to have. After all, they say travel is the best teacher. Still, there will be days when you can’t afford to satiate your thirst for someplace new, and that’s OK too. There’s nothing wrong with pacing yourself!

While Sweden might not have the most extensive public transit system, it certainly might have the prettiest—which some people are actually calling the longest art gallery in the world. Nearly 90% of Stockholm’s train stations feature an art installation of some kind, and if these subway stops were part of our commute one thing is for sure: We’d only ever be late to work from gawking and trying to get the perfect shot of each and every one.

There’s a scene in the new PBS adaptation of Little Women that takes place at the Walden Pond Boathouse. The girls are having a picnic outing with friends. They’re running through a lush forest, down to the bank of the pond and jumping into wooden canoes. Beth sits on a blanket on the shore, with a cute boy and a picnic basket. The colors are bright and vibrant, like the girls’ moods.

You can’t really go wrong with a floral accent or two in a room. Of course, they sometimes feel a little too saccharine, plus there’s crazy granny potential there, too. And you definitely don’t want to go overboard, unless you’re trying to live in a Liberty of London or Laura Ashley ad.

Name: Tracy Bunkoczy Location: Koreatown — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,170 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned A massive leak in her last home—a beautiful Silver Lake rental apartment— forced design executive Tracy Bunkoczy to move a year ago.

From sleepless nights spent caring for your crying baby to being on bottle and diaper duty 24/7, parenthood is one of the most challenging milestones you may ever experience—and the last thing a new parent should worry about is setting up the nursery. In a perfect world, you’d have an expansive wing for your bundle of joy to crawl, coo, and play in. But in reality? You’re probably working with a crammed room (if you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated room at all).

There are plenty of ways to turn your yard into a mini-tropical paradise without breaking the bank!

There are many ways living in Germany has changed my life, but the greatest change came from a most unexpected source: a cheese box. How has a five-Euro plastic container made such a huge impact on my dinner habits and well-being? And what makes a cheese box so superior to a dedicated cheese drawer in your refrigerator? A cheese box is ingenious because you can fill it with cheese from the market and put it straight on your dinner table — that’s why.

Name: Shawna Smith, her husband and two sons Location: Downers Grove, Illinois Size: 1,350 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned “Myself, my husband, and our two little boys lived in Chicago for years before deciding to take the leap and move to the ‘burbs,” writes interior stylist Shawna Smith. “We chose Downers Grove for its small-town appeal and outstanding schools.

Be forewarned: This disco-fabulous backsplash is not long for the world, so enjoy it while you can. The rest of the kitchen was perhaps not worthy of such sparkle—two words: burnt linoleum. Now it’s fresh, unified, and bright. This kitchen is right at home in a 100-year-old house, and the modern appliances are nicely camouflaged against the white cabinetry and tiles.

Designer Michelle Gage has an amazing ability to design homes, which was on full display in her and her husband’s first home that they renovated themselves. After transforming every single room in the 2000-square-foot Philadelphia home, the couple sold that house last November and moved into what they consider to be their forever home. “We fixed up everything we possibly could, while not pricing ourselves out of the neighborhood we were in.

We all know on some level, even if we forget from time to time, that the filtered and staged images we see on Instagram aren’t exactly real life. Take, for instance, a picture-perfect plant placed in just the right woven basket in a ubiquitous pale-palette living room. It could be a happy, healthy plant cared for by a doting owner. Or it could be fresh from the nursery and not yet showing signs of the imperfect care ahead of it. (Or maybe it’s a full-blown fake.

Have you ever gotten sick after traveling? There is a pretty high chance you’re going to answer that question yes. Airplanes, airports, cabs, and buses are always full of germs. On top of that, when you fly, it opens up your sinuses and that is like inviting a cold to take home! There are places you might try to avoid while traveling, but you actually might have been avoiding the wrong places.

Name: Jasmine Waheed and cat Barney Location: Garment District — Montreal Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, 8 months, owned After traveling across—and falling in love with—Canada, Jasmine Waheed decided to move from London to Montreal 15 years ago. Her background is in graphic design, but upon arriving in Montreal, she decided to make the switch to photography.

We got the skinny on the polarizing trend.

This past Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend gave me a potted orchid instead of the usual bouquet of carnations and roses. Having never owned an orchid before, I checked the tag for care instructions and learned I was supposed to water it with three ice cubes, or about ¼ cup of water, once a week. I’ve been feeding my orchid its ice every Friday, and it’s been blooming spectacularly for the past three months. But are the ice cubes really the secret to orchid success?

No matter how old you are, it is always okay to love Mickey Mouse. He is the symbol of all things Disney and he is like a link directly back to your childhood. Maybe you even just posed for a photo with Mickey in Disney World or Disneyland when you went recently. Because Disney is so expansive, between TV shows, movies, franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and more, it is easy to find Disney merchandise anywhere.

Have you ever wondered where your money disappears to each month? You work hard; you know you make it—yet it seems as though you never have any, or at least not as much as you think you should after you pay your bills (and Uncle Sam takes his portion). It’s like it goes into some giant universal dryer that only spits out part of what you put in—obviously stashing the rest of it away in that secret place where the matches to all of your socks are sent.

There is a tough choice that cat owners have when it comes to decorating their space but also making it livable for their pet. Cats will claim every inch of space in your home as their own. But, you do want to give them a space that is just theirs, so you can have the couch to yourself every once and awhile! One of the best ways to do this is to buy a cat tree.

Name: Emily Zirimis and Jesus Antoshka Location: Bushwick — Brooklyn, New York Size: Honestly unsure! Years lived in: Almost 2 years, renting Emily and her boyfriend Jesus must have felt like they won the lottery when they landed their Bushwick apartment. Their place has a lot going for it: It’s in an increasingly hip area, features original architectural details, and boasts a dressing room for Emily and a pottery room for Jesus. Oh, and the rent is reasonable.

Have you ever seen a little hack on the internet (looking at you, Pinterest) that seems so exciting? You just can’t wait to try it and make your life a million times better. You change your plans so that you can go home right after work, do a little trickery, and then spend the rest of the night marveling at your brilliance. You might not have come up with the idea, but you found it! And you implemented it! You deserve a parade! Something like this recently happened to me.

What can’t Joanna Gaines do? She’s a former Fixer Upper star, cookbook author, and savvy business mogul when it comes to the Magnolia empire. If there is anyone we trust to pick out the perfect farmhouse sink for our home or to find us enough shiplap, it is Joanna Gaines. However, she knows a lot more than just fixing up houses. She’s got some incredible tips for the kitchen.

If you’re serious about saving up for a down payment on your dream home, a quick virtual trip to the app store might make the journey easier.

What a nice living room, with vaulted ceiling, dramatic beams, nonstop windows, and luxurious couches you could sink into for days. But brace yourself for something entirely different. Here’s a full-length shot of the room that really shows off that impressive ceiling and the amazing wooden beams. I love the concept of a living area arranged around a view, but I also love what they did with the space instead: Wow!

Name: Tiffany Williams Location: Jacksonville, Florida Size: 689 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting “Currently I reside by myself in a one-bedroom dwelling on the Southside of Jacksonville, Florida,” writes Tiffany Williams. “I relocated to this area for work and I wanted to create a space that I felt comfortable in as well as something that was pleasing to the eye.

A good documentary has the power to make you look at the world differently, and if it’s really impactful, might change the way you live your life. Case in point: Sustainability documentaries—like ones that educate viewers about the global effects of excessive trash and waste. Watch one stellar documentary about the importance of sustainability, and we can pretty much guarantee you’ll start thinking twice about all the stuff you throw away in a day.

The battle of charcoal versus gas grills is one for the ages — and the grilling enthusiasts in your life are sure to have strong opinions. But if you’re considering buying a grill for the first time or, perhaps thinking about making the switch from #teamgas to #teamcharcoal (or vice versa), what are the key factors you should consider? We’ve laid it all out here. There are a few reasons to opt for a charcoal grill, not least of which is cost.

I always tell my kids that we don’t always get to choose our feelings, but we get to choose what we do with them. Sometimes those emotions, though, can be so strong that they feel impossible to overcome. This is where it helps to fake it ’til we make it: Acting as if we feel a certain way can cause us to actually feel that way. It’s science.

Costco has some of the best food around. From their rotisserie chicken to their pre-seasoned salmon, to their ice cream and hot dogs, their frozen food selection, and so much more, they’ve got a great setup. You can spend your entire day taste testing food in Costco and be happy. Now the chain is jumping right onto the healthy bandwagon. Chances are, you’ve heard of acai bowls. It is 2018 after all.

While winning the Olympic bronze medal in the figure skating team event in Pyeongchang this winter was probably Adam Rippon’s #BestWeekEver, no doubt this is a close second. America’s BFF and modern sweetheart just won Dancing With The Stars and announced that he’s moving in with his new Finnish boyfriend, Jussi-Pekka Kajaala.

This splendid Arts & Crafts home delivers on all accounts: Location? Check. A designer’s eye for style? Check. Plenty of lush outdoor space? Check. This home is the whole package. 904 E 36th Street Located in Charlotte, North Carolina $699,000 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms This beauty of a bungalow in Charlotte’s hip NoDa historic arts district surprises and delights from the moment you walk in.

This “useless” little closet looks like somewhere the Dursleys would make Harry Potter sit whilst wearing a dunce cap, but one creative homemaker saw the potential for so much more. This is so cute and efficient, and that green paint is delicious. This makeover was done by Molly Sikora of My Sweet Lilac, and let’s back up to get a full view of the project.

There’s wearing your heart on your sleeve, so why not wear your love of tacoson your chest? Thanks to the Etsy store Xenotees, you can celebrate tacos fashionably—as well as pizza, cats, and bold, graphic designs. Xenotees is the brainchild of Philly-based artist Noëlle Burke. Her eclectic Etsy shop is full of giftable, useful home goods, and t-shirts.

It’s impressive enough that Samantha and Brendan Binger were able to fit their stuff, three dogs, and two cats in their home RV… and make the space look warm, lovely and homey. But did you notice all those plants?! Sam says there are an amazing 95 plants present (and that’s NOT including “all the succulents packed into terrariums”).

Toilet-cleaning ranks as one of the most dreaded of all household chores, and no wonder; it’s a dirty, dirty job. Personally, I don’t mind it that much because I’d much rather know it’s clean and shiny than put off doing it. Plus the more often you do it, the less yucky the whole ordeal is. There’s one part that always flummoxed me, though, until I had a silly epiphany that solved the problem.

Philadelphia-based designer and illustrator Alisa Wismer has discovered the perfect living and working setup for where’s she’s at in her career. “I actually live at home (you’re thinking, ‘Typical millennial,’ right?), but it makes sense for where I’m at right now,” she says. “My parents have been super supportive in my decision to work for myself while I try to build my own business up.