The Latest: Jul 2018

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10 Stylish Ways to Add Texture to Your Wall

There’s no faster way to bring interest to a room than with texture—but there’s no reason to limit that design trick to fur rugs or velvet sofas. While an artfully placed knit throw on an armchair makes a space feel more “finished,” and a sheepskin rug underneath a planter lend sophistication, those same principals can now be applied to walls. There are plenty of genius ways to add texture to your walls, but be warned: they may not be for the faint of heart.

Marlen Komar

Jul 14, 2018

Amazon’s Echo Show Is $100 Off – Get it Now Before Prime Day Ends

Are you trying to decide what you’re going to get on Amazon’s Prime Day this year? The deals and steals are even better than ever before. Amazon really stepped up their game for 2018 and it is giving us a very tough choice on what we’ll drop tons of money on. If you’ve wanted an Amazon Alexa product in your house but never could reason spending the money on some of the more expensive products.

Ana Luisa Suarez

Jul 14, 2018

Before and After: This Kitchen Took Five Weeks, and A Bunch of IKEA Products

This kitchen had a somewhat odd configuration—water heater and washing machine, but not a dryer?—and two of our readers were plumb sick of it. In just over a month, they transformed this slightly confused space into a kitchen that’s as practical as it is elegant. Plus it has a bonus laundry room! This is so different and exvellent.

Tess Wilson

Jul 14, 2018

Snapchat Wants To Let You Shop Amazon Using Your Camera

If you live on Snapchat and Amazon, your life might just be getting a whole lot better. Or possibly worse, depending on if you have bad spending habits. We’ve all been there, buying something on Amazon we don’t actually need but “it’s such a good deal, how can I not buy it?” Don’t feel too bad. Snapchat is looking to launch a new search feature that will team them up with Amazon.

Ana Luisa Suarez

Jul 14, 2018

Closer Look: The Quirky Details in this Classic Family Home

There’s a lot to love about Charlotte and Tom’s Charming 1904 Family Home in London. They’ve made it a priority to retain their old home’s original charm, and decorate in a way that feels really genuine–eschewing trends in favor of classic, colorful pieces. Thankfully, there’s still some room for fun, quirky details, too. Two of my favorite things in this home come from Charlotte and Tom’s daughter’s room.

Taryn Williford

Jul 14, 2018

Conserve Resources and Money: How to Take Shorter Showers

According to the Boston University sustainability department, an average shower uses about 5 gallons of water per minute. That means if you shorten your shower by just 2 minutes each day, you can cut your water use by 10 gallons at a time. It really adds up–with major impacts to your wallet and the environment. Whatever your goal–lowering your bill or just your water usage overall–it’s quite the challenge to try and shorten your time in the shower.

Taryn Williford

Jul 14, 2018

This Sofa-In-A-Box Company Just Added Ottomans To Their Collection

When it comes to buying furniture, the two options tend to be expensive pieces hand-delivered to your door, or cheaper ones that come in boxes and can sometimes end up feeling flimsy when assembled. Fortunately, some companies are trying to change that, offering high-quality furniture that cuts costs through shipping flat (think IKEA) with fast assembly.

Marshall Bright

Jul 13, 2018

This Living Wall Is The Most Gorgeous Soundproofing Option We’ve Seen

Belgian company BuzziSpace teamed up with American designer Cory Grosser to create a nature-inspired solution to noise reduction. Trying to soundproof your space so that it’s completely devoid of noise can be rather tricky, but outside-the-box thinking led Cory Grosser + Associates to using preserved reindeer moss as a main material for his series of geometric framed wall panels.

Kenya Foy

Jul 13, 2018

10 NYC Quirks That Will Confuse Any Midwestern Transplant

We Midwesterners are known for our polite ways (except when it comes to… well, pretty much every major sport), but moving to NYC is a different playing field. Truly. This hits on all facets of life – decorating and more – and living here almost a decade (wow, let’s pretend I didn’t say that), I am more than able to speak to the differences of the two. Here we go.

Samantha Leal

Jul 13, 2018

Before and After: You Won’t Recognize This Living Space Now

When reader Erika moved into this house, the living room was musty and dusty. But after four months and a ton of work (and a fair amount of money), this space is transformed and totally fresh. It’s easy to look at that room before and assume the only issue with it is that it might not be someone’s taste. But here’s the truth, from reader Erika Thompson: These are the pictures that were on the listing when we bought the house.

Tess Wilson

Jul 13, 2018

8 Things on a Craigslist Listing That Shout “Scam!”

Much like dating, searching for a place to live can be the opposite of fun. In love, you’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs. In realty, you’ve got to scroll through a lot of listings. Both, in their own way, pose the risk of catfishing. But at least if you get duped by an embellished Tinder profile, the worst that usually happens is a bad date (which you can get through with the help of a drink or two!

Anna Buckley

Jul 13, 2018

This Adorable Red A-Frame Is Even Cuter on the Inside

After years of living life at a busy pace in San Diego, Liz and Andy were ready to slow down, both for themselves and for their two young daughters.

Heather Keeling

Jul 13, 2018

9 Ways to Use Basic Wire Baskets All Over the House

I’m always searching for ways to make organization look like it’s part of my decor (an inescapable reality of small apartments with no closets). Flimsy plastic bins just don’t cut it. Lately, I’ve been turning to basic wire baskets to use all around the house. Once you start thinking of them less like boxes, and more like flexible storage or shelves that don’t require brackets or a saw, you open up new organizational possibilities.

Cat Meschia

Jul 13, 2018

This Dyson Vacuum Is 25% Off On Amazon Today Only

Vacuums are one of those appliances that can invoke a lot of passion. And few brands invoke quite as much passion as Dyson. The company’s powerful, ergonomic vacuums have legions of devoted fans who credit their clean floors back to them. But to get one, you usually have to shell out upwards of $500 for a new model. Well for today only, you can score this refurbished one on Amazon for $274.99. The model on sale is a certified refurbished vacuum from the manufacturer.

Marshall Bright

Jul 13, 2018

Oh Snap, Target’s Planning Big Sales For Prime Day

Now that Prime Day is officially A Thing, a lot of retailers are coming out with their own “Black Friday in July” deals. This year, Target enters the fray, and they are not messing around. On Friday, the bullseye announced their deals for a huge one day sale on Tuesday, July 17, and they are GOOD. Not to be outdone, the Minneapolis based retailer notes that their sales are for everyone, no membership required (need a sweater for that chilly shade, Amazon?).

Tara Bellucci

Jul 13, 2018

Partner

What’s the Best Vacuum for Your Space?

Vacuums do a simple job, but shopping for them can seem anything but. Do you have pets? What about hardwood? Have you ever thought about carpet pile? The variations can seem confusing—but shop the right way, and you only have to think about them once. We’ve broken down some of the characteristics of your home that’ll help you find the right forever vacuum and make shopping for it a clean sweep.

Creative Studio

Jul 13, 2018

This Earth House in Colorado Is a Wonder Inside & Out

Name: Adrian Young, husband, two children (ages 4 and 5) Location: Pagosa Springs, Colorado Size: 2800 square feet on seven acres Years lived in: 1 year, owned We dreamed about creating a space to cultivate curiosity, celebrate play with our kids and immerse in the great outdoors. We believed we weren’t the only family yearning to disconnect from frenzy and focus on simplicity, presence and intentional connection.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Jul 13, 2018

The Easy, Lazy Way to Clean Your Floors This Summer—Just Don’t

Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s Chore-Free Summer. Every weekday until July 20, we’re arming you with time-saving shortcuts and hacks that’ll help you work smarter, not harder, when it comes to homekeeping this summer. Because cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. Our goal with this whole chore-free summer series is to give you back your time and let you enjoy a more carefree season.

Taryn Williford

Jul 13, 2018

The New Bright.Bazaar Furniture Collection is Seriously Impressive

One of the best parts of being a design editor is getting a sneak peek at upcoming furniture collections and products launches before they hit stores. One of the worst? Having to keep quiet about that news until it’s public knowledge—especially when it’s something particularly exciting. So I’m truly jazzed that we can finally talk about the new Bright.Bazaar furniture line that just launched at grandinroad. Will Taylor, the blogger and creative behind Bright.

Bridget Mallon

Jul 12, 2018

See All the Art From Beyonce and Jay Z’s APESH*T Video On This New Louvre Tour

Have you ever seen a crowd going apes**t over a world-renowned art museum? Well, you could soon bear witness to this phenomenon, that is, if you’re one of the lucky visitors who get to take the new 90-minute self-guided tour of all the paintings in the Louvre that appeared in Beyonce and Jay’s recent music video. OK, so tourists will definitely be required to keep their reactions low-key (please see: European etiquette rules).

Kenya Foy

Jul 12, 2018

6 “Broke” Characters Who Still Had A Better Apartment Than You

Television isn’t known for treating viewers to reality. Even “reality” TV is far from what fans experience in the real world: Not everyone can sit around, look fabulous, and get paid like the Kardashians. And though some shows “get it” (we see you Atlanta, Malcolm in the Middle, and Broad City), fictional television tends to be regularly outrageous in the living department: Many characters live lavishly in amazing homes with a pretty standard income.

Kendra Beltran

Jul 12, 2018

Inside Designer Rick Owens’ “Death, Mortality, and Utopia” Venice Penthouse

If you’ve ever seen furniture designed by Rick Owens, then you can already picture the interior of his Venice penthouse. The fashion designer began creating pieces for the home in 2007 with his wife, Michèle Lamy. MR PORTER recently toured their Italian home, the first public feature of the space. Indeed, you’ll see quite a bit of his brutalist designs around the space, peppered with the occasional antique, like a set of Eliel Saarinen high-backed chairs.

Tara Bellucci

Jul 12, 2018

A Couple Compromises in a Small Clinton Hill Home

Name: Adam LaGreca and Gabriela Gallegos Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, NY Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Adam was coming from a minimalist studio already in the neighborhood. Gabriela was coming from the East Village, where she could walk to her office in Astor Place. They both were tired of packing overnight bags, and after five years of dating, knew it may be time to combine forces.

Minette Hand

Jul 12, 2018

Get This Air Mattress For 30% Off Today And Never Banish House Guests To The Couch Again

Air mattresses feel like one of those things that you don’t need until your college friends from out of town need a place to crash, or you get invited to a very crowded beach house weekend. So rather than get caught scrambling to find one, take advantage of one of today’s Prime Day countdown deals and get the Etekcity airbed for over 30% off for the rest of the day. Typically $80, Prime members can pick it up for $55 until 3 a.m. ET on Friday, July 13th.

Marshall Bright

Jul 12, 2018

These Living Rooms Make Us Want Matching Sofas

You don’t see matching couches like you used to. The trend seems to have taken a dated turn and gone the way of Tuscan kitchens and popcorn ceilings: as in, it disappeared. But the matchy-matchy look is having something of a resurgence, with some homes and apartments either creating order in eclectic and busy spaces by displaying matching sofas, or adding an airy, minimalist vibe to the living room by sticking to the same style, just multiplied by two.

Marlen Komar

Jul 12, 2018

4 Fool-Proof Ways to Stay Centered When Life Is Chaotic

Well, we try our best, most of the time. But there are some things that are just out of our control. From natural disasters to DIY disasters to science projects that start on the dining room table and spread out to other parts of the home (to work projects that do the same) — sometimes our homes are chaos.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 12, 2018

7 Grimy, Gross Things You Can Just Spray Down With a Hose

Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s Chore-Free Summer. Every weekday until July 20, we’re arming you with time-saving shortcuts and hacks that’ll help you work smarter, not harder, when it comes to homekeeping this summer. Because cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. There are few summertime tools as versatile as the garden hose. It’s a pool-filling, sprinkler-fueling, heat-quelling, thirst-quenching blessing of a thing.

Taryn Williford

Jul 12, 2018

3 Packing Mistakes Professionals See Over and Over

You’ve chosen your moving company and booked the movers, but there’s one thing that still needs to be done before the big day: packing up your belongings. Before you get too excited and begin stuffing your boxes with all your stuff, make sure that you’re setting yourself up for a smooth and efficient move.

Maddy Sims

Jul 11, 2018

This Neck Pillow Got Me Through a 14-Hour Flight to Tokyo. And It’s on Sale

I love travel, which means I tolerate air travel. When the flight attendants say, “Sit back and enjoy your flight,” I feel like the more honest phrase would be, “Sit back and get through your flight.” And I am generally pretty good at doing just that: a few Netflix shows downloaded on my phone, some podcasts and Candy Crush and I can keep myself occupied for the next few hours. But, for the longest time, there was one part of flying I couldn’t figure out: sleeping.

Marshall Bright

Jul 11, 2018

Here’s How New Girl’s Hannah Simone Spent Move-in Night In Her First Apartment

Welcome to My First Apartment! Whether it’s your first studio, a four-bedroom deep in the city shared with a handful of roommates, or even an entire house (lucky you!), there’s something special about moving into the first place that’s truly your own. In this series, we’ll showcase actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond—asking them to revisit that oh-so-sweet nostalgia of newly-found freedom.

Liz Steelman

Jul 11, 2018

This 250 Square-Foot Space-Inspired Tiny House Pays Homage to Moon Missions

For a glimpse at an over-the-moon imaginative design, look no further than this space craft-inspired tiny house in central Washington constructed by naval architect Kurt Hughes. With the help of his boatbuilding prowess, Hughes came up with a hexagonal domicile that hovers nine feet above the ground on the support of three steel beams attached to concrete pads.

Kenya Foy

Jul 11, 2018

Questions We All Ask: Is There a Difference Between a Sofa and Couch?

We found out everything you need to know about your favorite piece of furniture.

Kelsey Mulvey

Jul 11, 2018

Before and After: A One-Week $5K Bathroom Remodel for the Ages

Yes, that’s right: sponge painting! If any of you are old enough to remember when sponge painting (or feather duster painting, ooh-la-la) was the hot new thing, this bathroom is probably bringing back a few flashbacks. While sponge painting is sure to make a comeback any day now, the homeowner was ready for a change—especially from the peeling floors.

Tess Wilson

Jul 11, 2018

How I Aggressively Paid Off Two Mortgages in Only 15 Years

After watching our parents retire and still have to make mortgage payments on a fixed income, my husband and I decided we would do whatever to prevent that for ourselves. So we approached our mortgages with aggressive and out-of-the-box steps that aren’t for everyone, but definitely worked for us.

Amy Barnes

Jul 11, 2018

This $14 IKEA Find is Perfect for Smart & Savvy Travelers

No surprise we are big fans of IKEA’s home decor. But you ought to know by now that the Swedish superstore delights and amazes outside the home as well. In fact, an $14 IKEA find is the best travel companion that’s ever hit the road with me. (No offense to past travel buddies!) It was love at first sight when I saw this FÖRENKLA shoulder bag hanging on the wall at IKEA. I adore the color, the functionality, and the smart design.

Anna Goldfarb

Jul 11, 2018

Partner

Before & After: Paint This Easy DIY Headboard Now

If you can draw a line, you can handle this pattern.

Creative Studio

Jul 11, 2018

21 of the Most Gorgeous, Unique Modern Home Designs

Modern is such a broad genre of design. And one not easily defined in terms of the home, frankly. Sure, there’s likely an “official” definition floating around out there, but in practice, modern is personal, varied, and often tied to an era. Sometimes I think it’s easier to talk about what modern design isn’t. It isn’t always minimal, but it can be.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 11, 2018

Chip & Joanna Gaines Are Selling a Boutique Hotel In Texas

Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines are constantly growing their Magnolia empire, and that means a hefty dose of high-end real estate. But their latest property to hit the market isn’t a single-family home: Instead, the couple’s Magnolia Realty just listed a historic boutique hotel in the small town of Hico for $2.35 million.

Megan Johnson

Jul 10, 2018

From Blank Slate Spec House to Bold Boho Home

Name: Lita Lee, Mike Martin and their four children Location: Edmonton, Alberta Size: 2,550 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Lita Lee claims to be “just a girl who decided to go for it.” And the it she went for was taking a large spec home from a blank slate to a bold, bright home that’s the perfect fit for her family. And in the process, she discovered her passion and talent with interior design, launching Crave Interiors.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 10, 2018

I Lived With My Mom Until I Could Afford My Own House—Here’s What I Didn’t Realize

I worked two jobs for four long years, coming home at the end of the day to the house I grew up in, saving up some cash for a down payment on a house of my own.

Abby Heugel

Jul 10, 2018

The Cleaning Workhorse You Already Carry in Your Purse

It’s become ubiquitous. Whether it’s a tiny bottle of colored gel clipped to a teens’ backpack, or the more natural version that’s a common diaper bag companion, hand sanitizer is becoming a staple of everyone’s personal bag. Besides its obvious purpose (don’t forget that the CDC still recommends hand-washing as the best line of defense!), you can also bust out your hand sanitizer to accomplish these little cleaning tasks, at home and on the go.

Shifrah Combiths

Jul 10, 2018

The Most Hollywood Thing? Buying a Home from Another Celebrity

Sometimes it feels like everyone in Hollywood knows each other. We see celebrities commenting on each other’s Instagrams as if they’re all members of the same club. (“So-and-so is friends with Chrissy Teigen and Busy Philipps? Who knew!”) And when you put all of those people into the same 50-mile radius, it’s no wonder that their real estate purchases tend to overlap. And when you’ve got many millions to spare, you gotta spend them on something, right?

Megan Johnson

Jul 10, 2018

This Stylish Retro Speaker You Won’t Mind Displaying Is Crazy On Sale On Amazon Right Now

These days, you can stream millions of songs from apps on your phone—and stream—and stream those songs to Bluetooth speakers that range from under $20 to hundreds of dollars. Finding a balance between affordable, attractive, and high-quality is nearly impossible, but today, Amazon is making it a little easier. As part of their lead-up to Prime Day, one of the countdown deals is an insanely good deal on the retro-chic Marshall speakers.

Marshall Bright

Jul 10, 2018

This 450-Square-Foot Apartment Is Incredibly Bright Despite Being at Basement Level

This basement apartment in the city feels more like a handcrafted cottage, neatly nestled in a hidden forest somewhere in the mountains.

Brian and Nicki Rohloff

Jul 10, 2018

IKEA Hacks That Make Your Living Room Look Expensive

You might never guess that these furniture and decor projects all began their humble little lives wedged tightly into a cardboard box and stacked on metal industrial shelves deep in the bowels of an IKEA store. Here are a handful of recent hacks that began as budget basics, and ended up looking like a million bucks. Leaning ladders are such a great and practical addition to bedrooms and living rooms. Not only to they look beautiful and sculptural against walls, but the vertical storage is A+.

Dabney Frake

Jul 10, 2018

This Is Why I Bought My First Home Sight Unseen

In 2017, 35 percent of people who bought homes did so sight unseen. In 2018, I was one of them. In the midst of purging, packing, and organizing all our things, my husband and I put in an offer on a house in Indianapolis, Indiana—1,500 miles away from our apartment in Denver. We’d been house hunting for a few weeks and always said we’d wait until we moved to put in an offer. So what changed?

Zina Kumok

Jul 10, 2018

Before and After: This Bathroom Keeps Its Original, Beautiful Tiles

When I first saw these dreamy blue tiles, I held my breath that they would survive this bathroom’s makeover. And when I saw the results? Legitimate gasp! This Before & After is so, so fun and incredibly well done. This is glorious! I would never have thought of that wallpaper with these tiles in a million years; fortunately, Carrie Hayward of Disney Travel Babble has a lot more vision than I do.

Tess Wilson

Jul 10, 2018

Partner

How to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space…Even If You Have None

Our outdoor M.O. takes its cues from the Parisian sidewalk bistros of our dreams: sit, relax, repeat. Whether you’re working with a spacious yard or a tiny balcony, your outdoor space should be as stylish as the indoor space you’ve worked so hard on. That means investing in furniture that you actually want to sit on (read: not those scratchy plastic chaises at the home-improvement store).

Creative Studio

Jul 10, 2018