Bathroom with white tiled shower, window with blinds, and a metal grab bar above a toilet paper holder.
Before and After: This $4K Bathroom Reno Looks More Like $40K
This totally DIY bathroom took seven months to go from damaged and dangerous (faulty electrical work!) to sleek and safe; and from “standard, average” to something truly special. Here’s a little backstory on this bathroom: When we moved into our home our guest bathroom was your standard, average space. It had newly updated cabinets and lighting, was painted a shade of beige, and was topped off with budget-friendly $5 blinds.
Sep 13, 2018
A Former Retail Space Is Now a Funky, Book-Filled Apartment
Name: Samantha Ladwig, my partner and our cat, Ingrid Location: Port Townsend, Washington Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, renting My partner, our cat, and I moved from Los Angeles last December. I had been working as a film cataloger at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for a few years, while freelance writing part time. I wanted to jump ship and freelance full time, so we saved up for a year and moved back to Seattle, with all 20-some plants in tow.
Sep 13, 2018
Proof Decorating With Pastels Doesn’t Have to Feel Juvenile
The result is a beautiful space that's stylish, not saccharine.
Sep 12, 2018
An Animator’s Seattle Cottage Is Sun-Filled and Charming
Name: Joe Gast and Willow the Weimaraner Location: Leschi — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,690 square feet Years lived in: 25 years, owned My 1908 Leschi cottage was a victim of several ill-conceived remodels and plenty of deferred maintenance. A transplant from Ohio, with an Ohioan’s modest budget, I purchased the house because it was in my price range and it was located on a magical stairway, steps above Lake Washington.
Sep 12, 2018
3 Reasons Why Tiny Homes Are Now So Damn Expensive
Tiny homes have had a big rise in the popularity over the last two decades, with television shows, books, and Instagram pages dedicated specifically to the under-400-square-foot abodes. And the next trend in these kitschy, wanderlust-style homes? Having a huge price tag.
Sep 12, 2018
This Is How Much It Costs to Live 10 Minutes from Disney World
Each year, millions of people flock to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a magical vacation. But for those lucky enough to live in the area, a fun day at the parks can be more than just a once-a-year or once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live close enough to Disney World to visit on a regular basis? If you’ve dreamed about making the Orlando area home, you’ve probably been curious as to how much it would cost to live there.
Sep 12, 2018
This Teeny 250-Square-Foot L.A. Studio Feels So Much Larger
With a gorgeous outdoor space to lounge in, this rental apartment is much more than a studio, even though the rent is the price of a studio.
Sep 12, 2018
This $13 Gadget Saves a Ton of Counter Space in My Small Kitchen
When your kitchen is as small as mine, every bit of countertop space counts, no matter how small. You want to have as few things occupying those precious few square feet as possible, to maximize the space for actual food prep. Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite space-saving kitchen solutions: the cabinet-mounted paper towel holder.
Sep 12, 2018
Before and After: A $150 Makeover of a Blah, Beige Bathroom
This appears to be a landlord-special bathroom, with the classic beige walls and floor, but with a twist—it’s not a rental, so the new homeowner dove right in to make some crucial but affordable and approachable changes. Here’s a closer look at what the bathroom was like upon move-in: This small bathroom is outfitted with almond fixtures. There’s a beige sink, toilet, shower, and tile. The yellow walls made the space feel tight and crowded, almost headache inducing.
Sep 12, 2018
The Real Answer to “Does This Come With the House?”
If you’ve ever looked at a house for sale and thought to yourself, “That is an incredible washer/dryer set, fridge, piece of artwork, etc.” then you’ll be pleased to know that if you play your cards right, you actually can get it with the house. It just needs to be in your inclusions/exclusions list.
Sep 12, 2018
Partner
Moving In Together? Do These 4 Things to Find Your Shared Style
Whether you’re moving in with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friend, chances are your personal styles aren’t a perfect match…yet. But there’s good news! Mixing and matching styles is actually pretty easy if you follow a few cardinal rules. We went on a shopping and styling spree with Overstock.com to show how two distinct living room styles can become one. Turns out, Overstock.
Sep 12, 2018
A Small Sacramento Studio Has an Enviably Organized Closet
Name: Kachet Jackson-Henderson Location: Sacramento, California Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting As a creative consultant, the writer at The Kachet Life, and the founder of The Blog Bloc, Kachet Jackson-Henderson needs a home where she can live, unwind, and work in. Though only 450 square feet, this Sacramento studio apartment is just the space.
Sep 11, 2018
7 Ways to Hack Your Way to a Kick-Ass DIY Kitchen Island
Another way to personalize your kitchen.
Sep 11, 2018
14 Designers Share Their Best Productivity Tips
What is it about the beginning of fall that always brings out the back-to-school spirit in us? It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you graduated school, there’s something about September that makes us want to turn over a new leaf and be more productive. So, we get organized, set bigger goals for ourselves, and buy some super chic office supplies.
Sep 11, 2018
Furniture Store Owners Have a Stunning Chicago Home
Ty and Lynne are the owners of the award-winning furniture store An Orange Moon, located in the West of Western district of Chicago.
Sep 11, 2018
Before and After: This Old, Busted IKEA POANG Chair Gets a Brand New Life
This sad chair—IKEA’s ubiquitous POANG—was languishing on a curb, doomed to rot away, dreaming of those good old days when it was useful. Fortunately, someone with a vision (and 20 meters of rope) happened to walk by and oops-a-daisy! Britt Winter of Regroovinator on Etsy describes happening upon this chair, and the makeover time crunch: This sorry-looking IKEA POANG was a curbside find: bare bones and a ripped-up seat. However, those bones were good.
Sep 11, 2018
5 Signs You Can Save Money on Your Dream Home
After toiling through an endless trail of listings and showings, you’ve found your dream home. The only problem? The price tag that’s out of your budget. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream of home ownership; if you’re willing to put the research and effort in, you can often move the price point down significantly (within reason, of course).
Sep 11, 2018
Partner
This Piece of Furniture Is the Key to an Organized Home
When it comes to controlling clutter, your entryway is the most important part of your house. When you walk in the door, you’re probably carrying all kinds of stuff: purse, keys, mail, etc. Finding a place for it all to go—a place that’s not the floor of your living room—is essential for maintaining a beautiful, peaceful home. One of our favorite solutions for corralling entryway clutter? The console table. Meet your new organizing BFF.
Sep 11, 2018
A Cocktail Blogger’s Palm Springs-Inspired New Jersey Home
Name: Natalie Jacob and Ethan Urban Location: Jersey City, New Jersey Size: 1,000 square foot apartment in a row house Years lived in: 1 1/2 years, renting Natalie Jacob has great taste across the board. As the beverage consultant and blogger behind Arsenic Lace, she knows good cocktails. Her colorful, playful interior design aesthetic—think ombre stairs and flamingo print in the back of a china cabinet—reaches every corner of the New Jersey home she shares with Ethan Urban.
Sep 10, 2018
Starbucks Opened a Location in Milan, and It Embraces Italian Design
There is undeniable mixed feelings about Starbucks opening its first store in Italy, where cafes serve their espresso much differently than the American coffee company. But it is obvious that the new Roastery in Milan—which opened last week—is different from its sibling stores in the U.S. All you have to do is look at the design.
Sep 10, 2018
This Former Clock Factory Loft Encapsulates Brooklyn Cool
As if the Park Slope neighborhood isn’t idyllic enough, the address is even better. 420 12th Street, Apt B1L Located in Brooklyn, New York $1,899,000 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Located among the charming brownstones of Park Slope, this co-op happens to be in one of the most coveted buildings in the neighborhood: Ansonia Court, once home to the Ansonia Clock Factory. But the space itself is a showstopper from the entrance.
Sep 10, 2018
The Afro Minimalist’s Small Apartment Is a Peaceful & Practical Oasis
This author's style is best described as "minimalist chic influenced by the beauty and diversity of the African diaspora."
Sep 10, 2018
The Best $30 You’ll Ever Spend on Your Kitchen
When it comes to our kitchen cabinets, most of us are stuck with what we’ve got. Sure, if you own your place, you can do a full remodel — but even if you’re going the IKEA route, a renovation will easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars. And as anyone who’s ever done it knows, painting kitchen cabinets is an enormous pain. But there is one thing you can do for your kitchen cabinets that will keep them clean, preserve them long-term, and make them look better, too.
Sep 10, 2018
Before and After: A $300 Kitchen Upgrade Thanks to a Lenient Landlord
This rental kitchen was covered top to bottom with fixtures and finishes from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, so one brave tenant finally gathered the courage to ask for permission to make improvements. Amazingly (and smartly), the landlord said yes and the DIYing was on. While the kitchen looks pretty nice in the photo before, its resident has the real scoop: The kitchen in this rental is a galley-style kitchen.
Sep 10, 2018
Partner
Here’s How to Create Infinite Moods with Only 3 Lights
Most of us have two lighting settings: off and on. But how we use our homes isn’t so black-and-white — one person’s meditative bedroom yoga practice might be just as beneficial as another’s high-intensity living room workout, but they definitely don’t look the same. The fanciest homes have lighting designers to address all these nuances, but you can give your home the same benefits using the lights you already have.
Sep 10, 2018
Calling All Book Lovers: This Backyard Reading Retreat Is Library Goals
Backyard sheds are all the rage right now. They provide convenience for homeowners who have hobbies, but don’t have the square footage to bring their vision to life indoors. For avid readers, the image of a perfect home includes an elaborate library; fully stocked with first edition novels and a rolling ladder for easy access.
Sep 10, 2018
A Cookie-Cutter New Build Is Now One-of-a-Kind
Name: Hannah Leonard, my husband and two kids Location: South Jordan, Utah Size: 1,775 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years, owned My husband and I moved from Portland, Oregon, to Utah back in 2014 and settled on a beautiful, up-and-coming new community called Daybreak. I was six months pregnant with our first when we moved, so this is the home we became a family in. We decided to go with a new build so we could have control over the finishes.
Sep 10, 2018
Your Feelings Toward Gym Class Probably Match Your Feelings About Exercising
In grade school, everyone had a least favorite subject. Maybe you really didn’t like reading, so English was boring for you. Or maybe you struggled with math and science and felt left behind during those classes. Honestly, did anyone enjoy running the mile in gym class? Sure, sometimes gym gave us an excuse to stand around and talk to our friends, but more often than not, it was awful.
Sep 9, 2018
This Old-School, Small-Space Bedroom Solution Will Streamline Your Morning, Every Morning
It might sound like something straight out of “Downton Abbey”or “The Crown,” but you need a clothes valet. No, it’s not a butler you can tell your deepest secrets to as he fastens your cufflinks. But it is going to make getting dressed—and by extension, your mornings—a bit more luxurious and a lot more smooth. A clothes valet is a tall piece of furniture, usually about the size of a full-length mirror, that holds your clothes for the next day.
Sep 9, 2018
How to Paint Your Bathroom and Not Screw it Up
Painting the bathroom is just like painting any other room, right? Not so much, it turns out. I’ve painted my share over the years and never treated them any differently than any other room, but I’ve been doing it wrong. When it comes to bathrooms, there are a few things that make painting a little trickier than the rest of the house. Sam Ross of Nailed It Contracting was nice enough to pepper him with painting questions when he painted my bathroom recently.
Sep 9, 2018
Before and After: A Clever $400 Upgrade for Rental Bathroom Tiles
In today’s Before & After, a Berlin guest bath gets a six-hour, $400, low-key upgrade that’s sure to inspire even the least DIY-inclined among us. Here’s a hint: If you can operate a sticker, you can handle this project. Before we ooh and aah, let me just say that the bathroom is already pretty nice. It’s black and white, which is a great palette for a rental bathroom, and I love that little black stripe.
Sep 9, 2018
5 Lazy Person-Approved Ways to Declutter Your Space
With a move on the horizon, chances are you have a massive closet clean out on your schedule or the vision of redecorating your living room (and finally discarding that sofa from college) is in your head. But when moving day gets closer (and you realize how much stuff you really have), all you want to do is lie down. Well, there are actually easy ways to make sure your discarded items and furniture go to worthy causes—and in many cases, you don’t even have to take off your slippers!
Sep 9, 2018
There’s a ‘Stranger Things’ Haunted House and Here’s How You Can Visit
Grab some Eggo waffles, Christmas lights, and put on a “Ghostbusters” costume, it is time to head to the Upside Down. For Halloween this year, you can get the pants scared right off of you at a “Stranger Things” haunted house. You might want to be careful, not everyone is ready to face the Demogorgon alone. “Stranger Things” became one of the most popular TV shows shortly after it debuted on Netflix in 2016.
Sep 9, 2018
I Tried Furniture-Free Living for a Week to See if I Felt Healthier
Minimalism is all the rage in decor. From Marie Kondo to the airy white images floating around Instagram, it’s hard to escape the burgeoning love for simple living. I used to joke with colleagues that soon, the new minimalist trend would be to toss out your furniture. Well friends, it’s finally happened. The furniture-free movement is the newest home decorating trend—and it’s all in the name of optimal health and minimalist living.
Sep 9, 2018
5 Ways Tiny Homes Don’t Actually Save Money in the Long Run
Sure, you already know a tiny home is likely to be a fraction of the cost (and size) of a traditional starter home. But you may be curious how the two home types compare when it comes down to day-to-day living costs—and which one shakes out to be a better investment in the long run. While expenses (often unexpected ones) are a common denominator in ownership for both home types, the things that will siphon money from your savings account can differ dramatically between the two.
Sep 8, 2018
SoCal Meets Mid-century Modern in a Small Santa Monica Guest House
Name: Hank Geer and girlfriend Location: Santa Monica, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting We live in a guest house in Santa Monica, surrounded by an avocado tree, a lemon tree, and an orange tree. When we moved in it was mint green and covered in fleur de lis. Hank took his love for furniture and turned our apartment into his first interior design project.
Sep 8, 2018
KitchenAid Just Released a Gorgeous Retro-Inspired Mixer Color for Their 100th Anniversary
Every kitchen needs a KitchenAid mixer. Yes, they are a bit pricey and take up a decent amount of space, but they are so versatile. You can make cakes, cookies, pies, dough, and so much more using your mixer, especially if you get the KitchenAid attachments. Not only can you get a lot done with this mixer, it really stands the test of time. People can have their mixers for decades, as long as they take good care of them. KitchenAid is celebrating a big anniversary in 2019.
Sep 8, 2018
6 Celebrities with Awe-Inspiring Swimming Pools
If you’re struggling with summer’s departure, fear not: In Hollywood, it’s always bright and sunny. In fact, it’s rare to come across a big celebrity who doesn’t have a sparkling swimming pool in their backyard. Whether they’re smack-dab in Los Angeles or 3,000 miles away, here are some of our favorite celebrity swimming pools: When Anna Faris sold her Nichols Canyon home last month, she actually lost money on the deal.
Sep 8, 2018
Before and After: This IKEA Room Divider Hack Solves Two Problems at Once
IKEA’s KALLAX is perfect for holding boxes, bins, baskets, and books, but one DIYer saw its potential as an understated entertainment unit—and the results are inspiring. This looks so great. Nicole Witney of Meraki came up with and completed this smart hack, which has so much going for it. Its central position means it is viewable from the kitchen—essential for tedious food prep/cleaning tasks—and yet it doesn’t dominate the space.
Sep 8, 2018
5 Dorm Room Transformations You Need to See to Believe
Plus, smart tips for making the most of these often sterile spaces.
Sep 7, 2018
An Artist’s Charming Blue and White Australian Cottage
Name: Michelle Grayson and family Location: Brisbane, Queensland Size: 2,874 square feet Years lived in: 10 years, owned Atop one of the highest residential streets of Brisbane grows a huge fig tree, and beneath its leaves is a nearly 100-year-old home. Inside this house, behind its stained glass front door, is the cozy and inviting home of Michelle Grayson, one half of the genius behind Sprout Gallery.
Sep 7, 2018
9 Easy Ways to Save Money When Buying a Home
They say that your home is your biggest investment–meaning you’re going to sink a good chunk of change into your new abode, both at the outset and over the years. With that kind of money on the table, it’s crucial to save some dollars wherever you can. With that in mind, I picked the brains of three real estate professionals to determine the easiest ways to save money when buying a home.
Sep 7, 2018
A Small Studio Above a Garage Is Perfect for a Minimalist Artist
Name: David Becker Location: Ottawa — Ontario, Canada Size: 420 square feet Years lived in: 4 years in flat, 24 years in main house, owned The original house is a 1,200-square-foot, one-and-a-half story house built in the early 1950s. When I found myself living there alone (widowed empty-nester), I decided that, though the house is not large, it was larger than I needed. I renovated the house and designed an addition that contains a studio apartment above an attached garage.
Sep 7, 2018
5 Things on My “Farewell to Target” Shopping List
As a good rule of thumb, you should never be too far from a Target. I found out that this is especially true if you’re planning a move; and boy, was I ever planning a move. I was a young newlywed who would soon be shipping off to Alaska to join my husband at his military station.
Sep 6, 2018
15 Brilliant Things You Can Clean With Bar Keepers Friend (According to Reviews on Amazon)
One extremely valuable feature of Amazon—one that takes some of the uncertainty out of buying many things sight-unseen—is the power of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of user reviews. When at item has pages upon pages of high-star ratings, it’s almost impossible not to check it out. Especially when it’s touted as a miracle cure-all for all your cleaning conundrums. Bar Keeper’s Friend is one of those.
Sep 6, 2018
Want A Big Yard? Move Here
If there’s one home amenity that frequently tops a house hunter’s wish list, it’s a big yard. And though you might have had a mammoth half-acre backyard to play in, your kids (and pets) will have less room to grow—especially if you’re buying a newly-built home. According to a new analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), via data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Survey of Construction, yards are growing smaller and smaller every year.
Sep 6, 2018
Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani’s Lively L.A. Remodel
Name: Emily V Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, and cat, Bagel Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned When the writer, podcast host, and all-around talented Emily V. Gordon posted on Instagram about the newly remodeled house she shares with her husband—equally talented actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani—I knew I needed to see more.
Sep 6, 2018
Before and After: A Rental’s $100 Bathroom Makeover
This vintage bathroom had a color scheme its renters described as “lentil yellow and seafoam green,” which Pantone probably isn’t going to be announce as the 2019 Color Combo of the Year. But in a rental, what can be done? It turns out that paint is the problem, but it’s also the solution.
Sep 6, 2018