Apartment Therapy Archive: Jun 2018

Have you ever been in a rush and forgotten something? Don’t feel bad, it happens to all of us. You leave your phone on the nightstand or your wallet on the counter. Whenever this happens, you never seem to notice until you’ve already driven 20 minutes away. But have you ever forgotten something major? Like a house? Apparently, one person managed to forget an entire house. A town in Delaware is confused as to what happened, because there was no note left behind.

It looks like this littlest member of the Fixer Upper crew is settling in just fine at home. One week after he was born, mom Joanna Gaines has shared a first look at her son Crew’s nursery. And he’s got some great digs! On June 23, 2018, Chip and Joanna Gaines welcomed their fifth child (and third son) together. The little one came a bit earlier than planned. The couple surprised their fans by straying from D names for their sons, as their eldest boys are Drake and Duke.

If you have a few million laying around and you really want to have famous neighbors, look no further. Rob Lowe has put his 10-000-square-foot Montecito estate on sale for a cool $47 million. The Georgian-style home was featured on the 2010 cover of Architectural Digest. The home sits on 3.4 acres in California. The actor has resided at the estate since 2005 with his wife and two sons. This isn’t just any regular bit of California real estate, it is a dream come true estate.

It’s no secret we love IKEA. Maybe not quite as much as this clever bride, but we’re well-versed in IKEA hacks. A little spray paint, yarn, contact paper, or new knobs can turn a standard piece of decor into an eye-catching statement that looks way more expensive than it is. And, lucky for us, tons of Etsy sellers are jumping on the IKEA bandwagon, selling small products that turn IKEA finds into beautiful home decor. Here, some of our favorites.

Do you try your best to be eco-friendly? You recycle everything you can and you even sort your recyclables. You try to avoid plastic straws. You prefer to use regular plates and wash them, rather than use paper plates. But you can’t help but overuse paper towels, right? Did you know that about 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used every day in just the United States? Paper makes up the biggest portion of municipal waste in the U.S.

If you think packing is stressful, it’s probably because you don’t have the tools to make it easy. Take it from me, a converted messy person. I was a slob to the nth degree; where chaos reigned in any room I stepped in. But I quickly learned the only reason that most of my messes happened was because I refused to invest in actual organizing tools, which are literally designed to keep your life tidy. When every item has a home, it’s hard to be messy.

Name: Ashley Pennington Location: Roosevelt Historic Neighborhood — Phoenix, Arizona Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting I moved into this rental to reignite my passion for interior design. This duplex is in the Historic Roosevelt District of Downtown Phoenix. I was so excited to come in and show myself what I was capable of designing. The home was built in the 1920s, has original floors, windows, cabinets and bathroom fixtures.

If you live in a major city and don’t make six-figures, you probably live with one or more roommates. And, of course, you probably wish every day that you could move to the middle of nowhere—where rents are cheap—and live alone. Well, surprise! Those dreams will probably never come true, because apartments throughout the country just aren’t as affordable as you think they are.

Summer’s all fun and games until you’re practically eaten alive by a swarm of hungry mosquitoes. Bug bites are a total nuisance—nobody wants to be covered in big, itchy bumps—and potentially hazardous to your health. Not to freak you out or anything, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the United States since 2004.

A real estate agent answers.

It’s no secret that we love a smart storage solution. A storage solution that looks smart too? Well, we just lose our minds over that kind of stuff. And so explains our current obsession with YAMAZAKI home. Do you know the brand? The line features all sorts of accessories (including shelf risers, cookbook holders, tool holders, and more) that puts other kitchen organizers to shame.

Joanna Gaines might be busy taking care of her newborn, Crew, but that won’t stop her from sharing advice for all the current and would-be plant parents out there. The summer issue of Magnolia Journal is out, and Jo has tips galore for her latest plant obsession. What leafy houseplant is on Joanna’s must have list? It’s the sculptural, showstopping staghorn fern.

You live and die by Amazon. You’ve been a Prime member for years, you know all about that secret $2 section, you head to Amazon Handmade whenever you need a unique gift, and you even give preference to hotels with rooms equipped with Alexa. But did you know Amazon has a whole host of private labels? Amazon launched its first private label in 2009; five years later they slowly launched 11 more; today Amazon has approximately 76 private labels.

Interior Designer and CEO Leura Fine has made her living creating beautiful homes for those who deserve it—AKA everyone. Founding the online interior design service Laurel & Wolf in 2014 to help bring a client’s design dreams to life, Fine has redefined who interior designer services are for. But while Fine is bringing design to the masses, she’s no stranger to designing celebrity homes either.

Antoni might be best known for slinging guac and upping folks’ culinary games on the hit Netflix reboot of Queer Eye, but he’s also an expert at working within a small space. The food guru recently chatted with Architectural Digest on how he makes due with his tiny studio kitchen. “My kitchen is limited at best,” he tells AD. “I have one drawer.

Name: Sarah Lyon and her roommate Carrie Location: Dupont Circle — Washington, DC Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Almost a year My roommate, Carrie, and I found our place on Craigslist after doing an extensive search of rowhouse apartments in DC. We were about ready to give up when we found what was truly a hidden gem—a place that was affordable, had equal-sized bedrooms and two bathrooms, and even came with a roof deck. We snagged it right away!

Healthy houseplants are generally described as full and bushy. They’ll have lots of dense, sturdy growth and the leaves will be crisp and green rather than limp and yellowing. If your houseplant is “leggy,” it simply means it has gotten a bit unkempt and scraggly, like a formerly stylish haircut that’s grown out unevenly and is riddled with split ends. Leggy houseplants are marked by flopping stems, uneven and sparse growth, and a general look of untidiness.

It only took 14 years, but we finally have the superhero film we deserve. The hero being mid-century modern design. Picking up right where the first installment left off, the Parr family is on the forefront of the fight to make superheroes legal again. During that process, they are set up in a mid-century design lover’s dream house. And lucky for you, Zillow created a listing so you can really get a sense of the home’s super features.

Looking to purchase your first home? Find out what this popular real estate term really means, and how to pick the best one for your needs.

It’s almost America’s 242nd birthday, and the good news is that you get the gifts. With July 4th landing on a Wednesday, retailers are making sure their sales start early this year. We’re rounding up the best deals across the internet, so that you don’t have to.

Instagram is overflowing with renovated vintage trailers: they’re all adorable, and they all have adorable names. Check out the amazing work that’s been done on Sprite, Scamp, Rosie, Rubie Jane, Lula, Lorelai, Peach, and 12 others—most of these homes-on-wheels are at least 40 years old, and they all look better than ever. This minimal beauty is enormous for a trailer, but fairly small for a family of five!

Open houses can be exciting, no matter whether you’re actively house-hunting or just a nosy Nellie. These events offer a pressure-free (okay, mostly pressure-free) way to scout out any homes on your radar—and maybe even find your dream space. But staying on your best behavior at an open house is paramount: After all, the seller’s agent is right there. Act like a loon and they’ll pass on the memo to their client, who may decide not to accept your offer.

We’ve sung the praises of Fouta (a.k.a Turkish Towels, Peshtemal, Hammam) before. They’re lightweight and thin, which is great for folding and storing, but still pretty absorptive. If they’re authentic, the cotton gets softer with every wash. They come in a bunch of shades, perfect for adding a pop of color to any space that needs it.

Backstage at the August Wilson, the nearly 100-year-old theater currently houses the cast of “Mean Girls,” the delightful Tony-nominated musical adaptation of Tiny Fey’s beloved early aughts teen comedy. Barrett Wilbert Weed, who stars as Janis, preps for eight shows a week in a minuscule dressing room—one that recently underwent a serious style transformation.

"Professional Organizing Fairy Godmother" and owner of MiniMax Juliette Von Hess has transformed her teeny tiny 280-square-foot studio with smart storage.

The holiday weekend is coming up, and as is often the case with a change in schedule (coupled with a possible party!) it’s easy to feel the weight of the home tasks that still aren’t finished. Often, these are the bigger maintenance chores that require a rental or an entire weekend if we did them ourselves. This weekend, let’s make a plan to outsource one of those pesky big chores. Leaving them to the professionals will make sure they get done — and get done properly.

My home, as it is for many, is my respite from the rest of the world. It’s the thing I come home to pretty much every night, and it’s important that it be a safe haven and damn cozy. But because I live in a small studio, I try to keep things interesting by switching out items to create new moments of interest.

If the classic Disney cartoon 101 Dalmatians is what first comes to mind when you hear the term “Dalmatian print,” you might want to rethink your stance. This classic polka dot print variation has been a favorite in design circles the past few years—and will make a bold, fun impact in your home (just check out that removable wallpaper from Etsy, above). Read on to check out our other favorite Dalmatian items below.

If the idea of putting your favorite items away every day seems like an exercise in futility, you’ll be thrilled to realize it’s not at all necessary. We’ve scoured the internet to find usable, practical, and showcase-worthy items that you’ll actually want to leave out. Take a look at our favorite pieces below and pick one (or two!) to complement your own decor. Forget the Nag Champa procured at the corner bodega.

Meet Audrey III, IV, V and VI.

Our favorite portable bluetooth speakers will have you jamming out all summer long.

We know great things come in small packages, but sometimes bigger truly is better—especially when it comes to your art. Sure, we love a gallery wall as much as the next person, but there’s something striking about a mammoth print, photograph, or painting hanging over your staircase or in your dining room. Who can forget the sheer epicness of those large pieces in the Bass/Van der Woodsen apartment in “Gossip Girl”?

We spoke with real estate and home financing experts to get the full picture.

We're talking deep, deep discounts... but are you cut out for the experience?

Name: Alle Fister and Don Popkes Location: Playa Del Rey, California Size: 4,500 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Alle Fister—owner of Bollare, a communications firm that works with well-known beauty and fashion brands—met Don Popkes 10 years ago. Six and a half years ago the couple got married and bought this house, their first home and a total fixer upper.

If you’ve noticed that bamboo decor is just about everywhere these days, you wouldn’t be wrong. This Eastern trend has gained traction in the past several years and the thirst isn’t slowing down. Aside from adorning everything from furniture to lamps, bamboo details are also inspiring tableware, mirrors, wallpaper (see above!), and tchotchkes as well. Take a look at some of our favorite shopping picks below.

If there’s one thing Anthropologie is known for, its beautiful boho-chic housewares. The store is filled with gorgeous ceramic bowls, gilded pitchers and candlesticks, carved wooden bowls, and hand-painted measuring spoons. I love it all. It’s my go-to locale for housewarming and birthday gifts, but one thing I could never bring myself to take home were those decorative floral measuring spoons—they just aren’t practical.

​It might sound counterintuitive, but it could help save you some cash.

You are currently gazing upon a floor that is not only old linoleum—it is the old linoleum floor of a fish-gutting room. Is there any hope for this room, or is it doomed to be forever haunted by dearly departed stinky fishies? The old, fishy floor has been replaced with a watery blue dream; it’s like a river you can walk on. This stained plywood floor was created by Tanya of Dans le Lakehouse, and I’m in awe of her vision.

This week, Wayfair launched their Fourth of July sale, and while there are tons of great deals to be snagged, we have to call out the savings on rugs in particular. While we respect people’s reasons for going rug-less, it shouldn’t be because you can’t find a good one at an affordable price. Rugs are often an expensive item, especially for something that gets walked on all the time.

It’s officially summer and America’s birthday is on the way. With the Fourth of July approaching, Google Maps is encouraging everyone stay in good spirits by providing traffic reports for 25 major U.S cities to help us navigate through the huge holiday crowds. In my hometown of Washington, DC, traffic on the Fourth is extremely intense because of the yearly fireworks show held on the National Mall.

Rugs are one of our favorite ways to decorate. A big statement piece that can bring a room together, and if you’re careful, its also totally possible to get a great piece for not a lot of money. And one of our longtime go-tos for inexpensive rugs is Houzz. Which is why we are so excited to bring you the first collab of its kind: the Apartment Therapy x Houzz Rug.

Name: Sharon and Dan and pup Ruby Location: Long Island City – Queens, New York Size: 1,020 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned We’ve been living in our condo for about seven months! We moved here from Manhattan because we wanted more space to grow a family (we’re expecting a baby girl at the end of August!). Our condo is just over 1,000 square feet with two bedrooms, two baths, dine-in kitchen, dining room, and in-unit washer/dryer.

Here are the top 10 kitchen things we use to solve problems all over the house.

Self-care has really caught on recently—probably because we’re all so over-stimulated in this world. It’s hard to walk down a street without being marketed to in some capacity, and forget about the 24/7 access to EVERYTHING that smartphones provide. Definitely part of the problem over here, but lately I’ve been searching for a solution for all that noise. If you’re craving time for yourself, a place to truly unplug may be half of the equation.

You already know you can get just about anything on Amazon, but you might not have realized that many couples are turning to the online giant to create their wedding registries. The benefit of registering on a site like Amazon is obvious: Rather than craft two or three separate registries, you can create one centralized wish-list. You can even add items from other retailers using the site’s universal registry functionality.