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December

The Latest: Dec 2018

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.
Wooden cabin with large windows and string lights on a deck, surrounded by trees at dusk.
This Mountain Retreat Was Built to Escape from Urban Life
When the typical city dweller yearns for a break from the traffic, crowds, noise, and light pollution, some of the most immediate forms of relief can come by hopping on a quick flight to a remote, quiet destination, or packing up the car for a weekend road trip. But when California couple Jeff Waldman and Molly Fiffer faced this familiar conundrum, they decided on a more permanent solution.
Kenya Foy
Dec 31, 2018
A North Portland Rental Is Bohemian, Eclectic, and Filled with Plants
Name: Jordan Jones, my boyfriend, and our Maine Coon Cat, Thor Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting I’m a fashion blogger, barista, and hairstylist and I live in a one-bedroom apartment in North Portland with my partner Grant Thomas and our 20-pound Maine Coon cat named Thor. Grant and I met on Tinder three years ago back in San Diego, California, which is where we used to live.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 31, 2018
13 of the Most Vibrant, Colorful Homes of the Year
Full of boldly colored walls, fun furniture, and vibrant accessories, these 13 homes are bursting with vivid hues in bold ways. They just might inspire you to do some painting in the new year. This home is practically a playground of color and pattern, spearheaded by a budding interior designer. DIY projects abound in this beautifully modern home, but what caught my eye the most was the inventive use of color.
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 30, 2018
Inside a 160 Square-Foot, Off-the-Grid Cabin With A Minimalist Vibe
For getaway seekers eyeing remote accommodations of the more sophisticated variety, Virginia design studio GreenSpur has come through marvelously with the Lost Whiskey Cabin. This particular accommodation is a beautiful example of the cottage’s natural aesthetic meshing perfectly with a pared down, industrial style. The 160-square-foot, solar-powered domicile sits just an hour outside of Washington, D.C.
Kenya Foy
Dec 30, 2018
5 Great Places in the U.S. to Live in a Tiny House
These five places in the United States are especially noteworthy when it comes to being tiny home-friendly.
Brittany Anas
Dec 30, 2018
I Keep My Holiday Lights Up All Year Long—Here’s Why You Should, Too
I wish I could tell you about the first time I realized that holiday lights look great as year-round interior decor, but I don’t remember a specific incident that acted as a catalyst here. Perhaps—in fact, most likely—it was when I was still in high school, living with my parents in the woods of Appalachia. Without much to do as a byproduct of living in a remote place and being a teenager, my bedroom became my sanctuary, just as it is for other teenagers across the world.
Elizabeth Seward
Dec 30, 2018
A Sacramento Home Is “Bright, Eclectic, and Slightly Chewed-Upon”
Name: Sarah Huchel Location: East Sacramento neighborhood — Sacramento, California Size: 1,020 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned I was looking for a home to buy for over a year, and I completely lucked out with this place. Not only is the neighborhood geographically amazing (I commute to work and can do nearly all my errands by bike!), the neighbors are fantastic (one of my best friends ended up buying a house three doors down), and my sewer line has not yet collapsed.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 30, 2018
10 of the Best Decluttering Tips and Tricks from 2018
Sometimes all you need to declutter your space is a new frame of mind. Sounds easier said than done? Not so fast. Take a look at some of the best lessons we learned this year about how to live with less. You need to purge, but you might need that gigantic waffle maker at some point. Stop playing that game; you’ll never get the job done. Find out how washi tape can help: A Brilliant, Regret-Free Way You Can Use Tape to Declutter Your Kitchen. A marathon cleaning sesh only leads to fatigue.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 30, 2018
One Clutter-y Thing You Should Pack Away with Your Decorations
For those of us with limited kitchen space (or a penchant for minimalism), designer and blogger Melissa Coleman of The Faux Martha has a genius tip: When it’s time to put away holiday decorations, pack your specialty cooking supplies with them. The premise: Why take up valuable real estate in your home with cookware and gadgets that only get used twice a year, at best?
Ashley Abramson
Dec 30, 2018
The Smartest Studio Apartment Layouts We Saw in 2018
Our homes have to host many different functions for our lives, from sleeping to cooking to lounging to working, and even sometimes entertaining. It’s hard enough living in a small home, but when that home is literally only one room? It can be tough to relax when you can see every inch of your home from your bed. But some of the most popular studio apartment tours this year showed you don’t have to let the lack of walls dampen your home or living style.
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 29, 2018
Dog Owners Take More Pictures of Their Pet Than Their Significant Other
If you were to hand someone your phone right now, what would the camera roll look like? A few snaps from recent date nights, a couple pictures of your loved ones, and roughly 500 photos of your pet, right? You just can’t help yourself, they fell asleep in the cutest position and you had to snap a couple (50) pictures of them! Don’t be ashamed, every pet owner has been there. Chances are, if you are a dog lover, your camera roll is just photo shoot after photo shoot of your pet.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Dec 29, 2018
The Best Colors to Make Your Small Space Feel Bigger
A room-by-room guide to making the most of your space.
Kelsey Mulvey
Dec 29, 2018
9 of the Most Underrated Items at Home Depot, According to Long-Time Renters
Think Home Depot is just for suburbanites working on DIY projects or shopping for a washer/dryer? Ask long-time urbanites-who-rent and they’ll tell you that there are so many gems in this big-box store. In fact, many of the things you’d order from Amazon or pick up at Target for your place can be found at Home Depot—and with a better selection (and sometimes better prices).
Lambeth Hochwald
Dec 29, 2018
A Small Denver Apartment Is a Latin American-Inspired Boho Sanctuary
Name: Maria Cronin and my cat Frida Location: Cheesman Park neighborhood — Denver, Colorado Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting I love that I smile when I walk in my apartment and throw down my work bag. My cat Frida (yes named after Frida Kahlo) awaits me while lounging on my favorite Peruvian throw blanket. I put a lot of thought into my home aesthetic. The inspiration behind my feminine meets eclectic vibe comes from my travels, my mother, fashion, and art.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 29, 2018
This Artist’s Home For Sale Comes With All the Sculptures
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that belongs to multimedia artist Michael Jude Russo is proof that the concept of becoming one with nature isn’t just an overused cliché. The art-filled abode sits slightly north of Fort Lauderdale in Wilton Manors and is currently on the market for $1.2 million. Included in the sale are the hundreds of artwork and sculptures displayed in the home, the gardens, and the two-story studio.
Kenya Foy
Dec 28, 2018
A Vintage Furniture Collector’s Thrifted Home
Name: Kelly Wheeler and three kids Location: Darien, Illinois Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned I bought my home six years ago and live here with my three kids, Jack, Brice, and Ireland. The home is a split-level that was built in the ’80s and when I moved in, it had wall-to-wall carpet and white walls. It was very dark and generic but I loved that it had lots of windows and space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 28, 2018
Is It Cheaper to Live in the City or the Suburbs?
Is it cheaper to be a city dweller or a suburbanite? When it comes to real estate, the obvious answer is that, yes, it’s probably much cheaper to buy a home or rent in the suburbs. (Thank you, next!) But, wait just a second! When you start factoring in other costs of living, or you hone in on some housing markets, you may be surprised to find that in some cases, living in the ‘burbs can be more expensive than city life.
Brittany Anas
Dec 28, 2018
These Bathrooms Make the Case for Matching Your Wall Tiles to Your Floor Tiles
There is nothing quite as luxurious as a stylish bathroom, but sometimes it’s hard to design the small space in a way that makes your eyes pop while simultaneously leaving a lasting impression. There are an infinite number of light fixtures and shower curtains you can choose from, but one way to take your bathroom up a design level is to match your wall tiles to your floor tiles. Does it sound intense? Sure, but have faith and hear me out.
Marlen Komar
Dec 28, 2018
The Most Pinned Homes of the Year
End-of-year round-up lists are the best if only because they’re an opportunity to see any house tours you may have missed! In 2018, many folks shared their beautiful homes, but somereally resonated with readers, particularly those who find inspiration on Pinterest. The photographs in this post represent the most pinned house tour photos of the year… did any of your favorites make the list?
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 27, 2018
7 Under-$100 Area Rugs on Amazon That Only Look Expensive
Because anything that makes finding a rug easier is greatly appreciated.
Caroline Biggs
Dec 27, 2018
A Los Angeles Rental Is Warmly Whimsical
Name: Schalah Mitchell, one dog, and two cats Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting I live alone with my dog and two cats, but my mother is a very frequent visitor and has made the guest room her home away from home, along with her two tiny chihuahuas. Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Warm, whimsical, classic and eclectic I have a lot of French furniture inherited from my grandmother or the home I grew up in Paris.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 27, 2018
8 Super Smart Small Space Hacks, According to NYC Real Estate Agents
If you’re looking for the best way to maximize a one-bed or studio, here’s an unexpected source: New York City real estate agents, who are in and out of these small apartments all day long. Here, seven of the smartest real world small-space hacks these agents have ever seen. “The sweetest thing I’ve seen in a one bedroom was in the home of a single mom who had a trundle mattress underneath her four poster bed.
Lambeth Hochwald
Dec 26, 2018
A Countdown of the 10 Most Liked Rooms of 2018
Apartment Therapy’s Instagram feed is a scrolling wonderland of stunningly gorgeous interior spaces, due in no small part to the photos from all of our house tours that end up on the feed. Curious about which house tour photos were the most liked on our Instagram this year? See if it was one of your favorites from the countdown below!
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 26, 2018
5 Fail-Proof Ways to Make Your Home Look More Expensive
Fake fanciness, without looking cheap.
Tess Wilson
Dec 26, 2018
11 Things You Really Can Get Rid of Between Christmas and New Year’s Day
The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is usually a quiet one, so it’s the perfect time to go through your things and declutter. Between donating old pantry items and gently worn clothes, recycling gift boxes and catalogs, and tossing out old wine and leftovers, there’s plenty to clear out so you can make your home ready for the new year—and it’ll be conducive to helping you keep your resolutions.
Brittney Morgan
Dec 26, 2018
This Suburban SoCal Home Has the Most Beautifully Boho Bedrooms
Name: Melanie Raver, husband, three daughters (8, 4, and 3 years old), and dog Location: San Diego, California Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned We are the Ravers! My handsome hubby, my mini girl gang, and our extremely furry German Shepherd. We upgraded from our small starter home to a home with more space for our growing family. We found our home in a great area of North County San Diego, plenty of rooms, great schools, and a killer view of the Pacific Ocean!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 26, 2018
Apartment Therapy’s 20 Best Cleaning Shortcuts of 2018
There are no gimmicks here—just genius hacks that'll keep your home sparkling all year long.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 26, 2018
Peek Inside This “Simple, Low Cost” Cabin in the Panama Forest
Of all the ways to become one with nature, a pretty straightforward path to convene with Mother Earth is by living in a forest. For some, it may sound like quite an outlandish proposal but this off-the-grid, open-air cabin in the mountains Panama makes the thought much more palatable. To bring the project known as Cabin 192 to fruition, architect Jose Isturaín of JIA enlisted the help of family members, friends, and area builders.
Kenya Foy
Dec 25, 2018
Before & After: A 7-Hour Makeover We Can All Feel Good About
The holidays are a season of giving, and since today is Christmas, we wanted to highlight a Before & After that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. In just a few hours, Emily Henderson and her team transformed the living and dining room of a deserving family, treating them to a brand-new space as a holiday surprise. Last month, Emily put out a call on her website for readers to nominate someone they felt really deserved a free makeover.
Nancy Mitchell
Dec 25, 2018
One Thing You Need to Know About Recycling Your Christmas Wrapping Paper
Few things inspire more joy than a collection of beautifully wrapped presents under a Christmas tree! The problem with gift wrap, though, is that it’s often not recyclable. Even though the base of most gift wraps is indeed paper, many have overlays like metallic foil or glitter, have tape stuck to them, are saturated with problematic inks or dye, or are so thin that the fibers aren’t useful for recycling.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 25, 2018
A Small Seattle Home Is Urban Modern with a Touch of Bohemian
Name: Vonny Halim and husband Kevin Location: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington Size: 525 square feet Rent or owned: Renting I live here with my husband, Kevin. We are originally from Auckland, New Zealand. We moved to the U.S. in 2016 and lived for two years in San Francisco before deciding to move to Seattle. I love crisp winter air and gloomy weather, and Seattle has both which makes it perfect for me to knit.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 25, 2018
9 Paint Colors to Try If You Have a Small Living Room
For those who have small living rooms, picking out paint colors can be a little tricky. On the one hand, painting the whole room white can open up the walls and make the small room feel a little more airy. On the other hand, limiting yourself to just one stark color can put a cramp on some people’s creativity.
Marlen Komar
Dec 24, 2018
If You Have These 12 Things in Your Closet, It’s Time to Get Rid of Them
A new year is about to start, and with that comes a new set of wardrobe needs with items that tend to be much bulkier and take up far more shelf space. If you’re hurting for storage, take a look around your closet and get rid of these items that you totally do not need anymore. If you haven’t worn that ketchup bottle getup since you bought it 10 years ago for your office Halloween party, it’s probably time to say goodbye.
Arlyn Hernandez
Dec 24, 2018
Look Inside: This 600 Sq. Ft. Hamptons Home Is Pure Scandi Magic
This Sag Harbor stunner is the pied-à-terre of your dreams. 61 Madison Street Located in Sag Harbor, New York $1,495,000 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom This Hamptons home is like a magic trick. It was built in 1927, but looks completely modern. It’s 660 square feet of space, but feels spacious. Perhaps that’s what JANGEORGe Interior Design had in mind during renovation. Here, a bright and light living space flows into a dining room, and then onto the kitchen.
Anne Roderique-Jones
Dec 24, 2018
The Best Way to Cozy Up Your Cold Bedroom for Under $25
Colder, winter months often means dealing with windows that are old or weren’t installed correctly—ones that let cold air seep into your home. If you’re a renter, or don’t want to shell out the cash to replace them entirely, there’s a simple and cost effective solution: Hang some thermal curtains. A thermal curtain has several thick layers of fabric, in addition to an added layer of foam or insulation.
Caylin Harris
Dec 24, 2018
10 Efficient Dish-Washing Tactics to Try (from People Who Hate to Do Them)
Let’s face it—doing the dishes is one of the worst chores there is. But it’s often the people who can’t stand doing the dishes who are the best at avoiding them—by getting them done most efficiently. That’s exactly why I reached out for advice from people who don’t have a dishwasher and just absolutely hate doing the dishes.
Brittney Morgan
Dec 24, 2018
Before and After: This Kitchen Got a Huge Return On a $600 Investment
This 100-year-old kitchen had a lot of charm and a ton of beautiful natural light, but it had some major issues—and a century’s worth of random features and finishes. In a poorly scheduled bout of renovation bravado, this kitchen was made over in the few days before Thanksgiving for just $600.
Tess Wilson
Dec 24, 2018
A Small Swedish House by a Lake Is a Minimalist’s Dream
Name: Evi Ritter, husband, and two kids Location: Västervik, Sweden Size: 861 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned My husband (an architect) and I (a photographer) have renovated this house for the last couple of years. It was in pretty bad shape and needed lots of love. We kept everything minimalist, organic (used lots of white and wood), and simple (because we have two small children), but also wanted it to be cozy. The house is located by a lake, surrounded by nature.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 24, 2018
Ford’s New Noise-Cancelling Doghouse Keeps Your Pet Calm During Storms
When you think of the name Ford, your first thought probably isn’t about dogs and it is focused on big trucks, right? Same here. Well, if you’re not up-to-date on Ford’s other ventures, pet owners will be pleased to learn that Ford has begun creating doghouses and they’re perfect for pets that can get a little skittish during thunderstorms and fireworks displays.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Dec 23, 2018
7 Books Experts Say Every Potential Homeowner Should Read
​If you’re planning to buy your first home, you should pick up a guide (or two) to help you get started on thinking about what homeownership really means.
Lambeth Hochwald
Dec 23, 2018
The Salary You’d Need to Buy the ‘Home Alone’ House
You’ve probably watched “Home Alone” at least a handful of times since it was released in 1990—it’s a holiday classic. And if you weren’t too distracted by the implausibility of Kevin’s hijinks, you may have noticed that the McCallisters’ house is a beautiful six-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom Georgian. And, if you’re like us, you’re probably wondering what a house like that costs.
Kate Streit
Dec 23, 2018
You Can Buy Your Dog a Pair of Socks To Wear on Christmas Morning
Christmas is now just days away. People are scrambling to buy last-minute gifts and rushing to wrap everything to get it under the Christmas tree. Maybe you’re one of those down-to-the-wire shoppers or maybe you have had everything purchased before November even was underway. No matter how you shop, buying little things the days leading up to Christmas always seems to happen. How is it that we always tend to spend more than we planned on when Christmas rolls around?
Ana Luisa Suarez
Dec 23, 2018
A Snoball Slingin’ New Yorker Has a Colorful & Cozy Home
Name: Rebecca Duckert Location: Upper West Side — Manhattan, NY Size: Around 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting When I moved to New York three and a half years ago from my hometown of New Orleans, I drove up here in a U-Haul with all of my belongings because I was committed to starting a real life in my new city.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 23, 2018
3 Smart Tips That’ll Make Unloading the Dishwasher Way Easier
In my experience, there are two kinds of dishwasher users: people who have figured out the right way to load the dishwasher, and people who really don’t care. Also in my experience, those two camps of people tend to marry each other and spend the rest of their lives complaining about the other’s method of loading or critiquing the other’s loading technique (sorry, husband of mine).
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 23, 2018
Mindy Kaling Proves She Has the Best Puns With Her Newest Christmas Decorations
It is that time of year again! Christmas is just days away and Mindy Kaling has her Wreath Witherspoon hung on her door. Not familiar with a Wreath Witherspoon? It is Mindy’s decorative Christmas wreath that is adorned with photos of the beloved actress, Reese Witherspoon. Mindy first debuted her wreath in a 2014 episode of her hit TV show, “The Mindy Project.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Dec 22, 2018
How the 7 Stages of Grief Helped Me Finally Declutter
The closets of my two-bedroom apartment overflowed with things from literally every stage of my life. Though the craft supplies, decorations, and souvenirs could be evidence of a life well-lived, these stuffed storage bins overwhelmed me—a reminder that the clean, clutter-free, minimalist-inspired home I dreamed of was becoming less of a reality each day. I work from home.
Lauren Strasser-Spinosi
Dec 22, 2018
A Chic Chicago High-Rise Apartment Mixes Modern, Glam, and Wallpaper
Name: Candy Scott, two dogs, Rosie and Ruby. Location: River North — Chicago, Illinois Size: 765 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting My home is a high-rise apartment in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. As an interior designer, I spend a lot of time at the nearby Merchandise Mart working with vendors and running to client meetings. It was important for me to be in a convenient location in the heart of the city.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 22, 2018
6 Surprising Celebs Who Have Called Atlanta Home
Who doesn’t love a little southern hospitality? The beloved city of Atlanta is a thriving metropolis filled with diversity and character, so it’s no wonder that some of Hollywood’s biggest names have settled down there. Here are just a few of Atlanta’s most famous homeowners: You know her for “How I Met Your Mother,” “Buffy,” and the “American Pie” trilogy, but you might not know that Alyson Hannigan has a thriving side gig.
Megan Johnson
Dec 21, 2018