The Latest
2018

The Latest: 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.
Bathroom with granite countertop, dual sinks, and sliding glass shower door.
Before and After: Great Ideas for a Builder Grade Bathroom
This ordinary-appearing bathroom was harboring a terrible secret, so a renovation was urgent and 100 percent necessary. And if the finishes just happened to get (majorly) upgraded in the process? So be it… As usual, the Before photo doesn’t tell the whole story—here’s what this bathroom was like before it was gutted: Original floor tiles, missing drawers, and mismatched faucets. This is what our master bathroom looked like when we purchased the home in summer of 2017.
Tess Wilson
Jul 9, 2018
Partner
Before & After: How One Couple Gave Their Home Year-Round Summer Vibes
Our three favorite words? Pop of color. It’s a phrase that works in just about every space, but it’s especially helpful in the teeniest homes. Here, color can simultaneously define different areas in the home while providing the illusion of depth and light. Case in point: Shaina and Michael’s tiny house. While every inch of their 400 square feet works hard, the MVP may well be their workspace area.
Creative Studio
Jul 9, 2018
This Adobe House in Utah Is a Natural Desert Dream Home
Name: Holli Zollinger, my son Lorenzo and two kittens Zizi and Zara. Location: Moab, Utah Size: 729 square feet Years lived in: 5 months, owned My name is Holli and I live in this 729-square-foot desert adobe home with my son Lorenzo and two kittens Zizi and Zara. I’m a full-time working textile/surface designer and artist of 26 years.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 9, 2018
English Cottage Meets American Colonial in a Gorgeous Ohio Home
Name: Megan Miller, my husband Jesse and our two daughters, Navy and June Location: Alliance, Ohio Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 4.5 years, owned I share my home with my husband Jesse and our two daughters, Navy (3) and June (1). I’m a homebody at heart and spend most of my time at home taking care of our girls, so I wanted it to be a place I truly enjoyed being in. I love antiques and vintage home goods because I feel they bring warmth, charm, and history to a home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 8, 2018
The Real Use For Pull-Out Cutting Boards Might Actually Surprise You
Think about your mom or grandma’s kitchen, in 2018 they might seem a little bit outdated (if they haven’t been remodeled). Some older kitchens have butter churns, crockery pots, pull-out cutting boards and more. Some things might have gotten replaced over the years, but others have stuck around. Now, the pull-out cutting board your mom used to slice and dice every vegetable imaginable isn’t actually a cutting board. It was created for an entirely different purpose.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jul 8, 2018
Here’s What Living 2 Blocks from Trader Joe’s Is Really Like
When I moved to Boston for graduate school several years ago, my first apartment was inside a rundown 150-year-old mansion. The plumbing was shoddy, the bathroom reeked of mildew and the furnace liked to quit during snowstorms, but there was one incredible perk: A Trader Joe’s was only two blocks away. The ease of stopping to pick up a bag of yogurt pretzels and a $4 bottle of Chardonnay on my way home from class almost made the leaky roof worth it.
Paige Towers
Jul 8, 2018
7 Powerful Things You Can Do with Just an Ice Cube
Dare we say these hacks are… really cool?
Samantha Zabell
Jul 8, 2018
Before and After: A Terrific $2K ‘Temporary’ Bathroom Remodel
This bathroom was built in the ’30s, redecorated 30 years later… and then used as-is for decades. The new homeowners wanted to give the bathroom a much-needed update without spending a ton, and the results are a delight. First, here’s a tiny bit of backstory: 1931 Craftsman BADLY needed repainting when my then-boyfriend (now husband) purchased the house in 2003… This year we did a “temporary” budget remodel on a TERRIBLE 1960s bathroom remodel.
Tess Wilson
Jul 8, 2018
8 Money-Saving, Life-Changing Things Hidden on the Amazon Website
If you're willing to spend some time digging, you can find some pretty special deals.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 8, 2018
A Soon-to-Be Shop Owner’s Ohio Home Is a Boho Vintage Oasis
Name: Nicola Wilhelm and my rescue cat, Oscar Location: Tremont Neighborhood — Cleveland, Ohio Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting I am a lifelong vintage collector, soon-to-be shop owner (Helm Collective coming to the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland this summer). When I look around my home, I can honestly count the number of pieces that I purchased new on one hand.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 7, 2018
Did You Know These 4 Things Can Affect Your Home’s Value?
From location and lot size to curb appeal and area schools, most people know the most common factors that can affect a home’s property value. However, the list doesn’t quite end there. “Surprisingly, there are many out-of-the-box factors which may not be quite obvious that affect property value either positively or negatively,” says Marlene De Cespedes, director of luxury sales at Douglas Elliman in Miami, Florida.
Chelsea Greenwood
Jul 7, 2018
The 9 Deadly Sins of Bad Paint Jobs, According to a Pro
With so many things that really ought to be done by a professional when it comes to home improvement, the temptation—the need if you don’t have deep pockets—to DIY the simple stuff is totally understandable. And first on that list has got to be painting. All you do is grab a brush and go to work, NBD. Right? Well, it’s true that most anyone can do it. Doing it well, on the other hand? Maybe not so much.
Dana McMahan
Jul 7, 2018
Now That I’m an Adult, I Finally Understand My Mom’s Unfair Rule for Keeping the House Clean
Now, as a 30-something adult, I get it. I have the exact same rule for keeping the bedroom clean at home.
Lisa Freedman
Jul 7, 2018
5 Signs Your Real Estate Agent Really Knows What You’re Looking for
You’ve heard this piece of home-buying advice time and time again: When it comes to buying property, you should work with a qualified real estate agent. While it may be tempting to go it alone, real estate agents do this for a living and their professional expertise can make a difference. However, you’ve probably also heard horror stories about subpar real estate agents who made the home buying process more of a nightmare than a dream.
Kate Streit
Jul 6, 2018
A Brooklyn Townhouse Is Organized and Incredibly Cute
Name: Sunny Shokrae, Ryan Eugene Kelley and Leo Arya Kelley Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, NY Size: 1,183 square feet Years lived in: Less than 1 year, owned Sunny and her husband Ryan became homeowners just shy of a year ago. The longtime Williamsburg, Brooklyn, residents needed a change in anticipation of birth of their son Leo. And moving a few miles south to Bedford Stuyvesant offered the growing family more space and freedom in how they style their home.
Melanie Rieders
Jul 6, 2018
Playful or Played Out? Designers Weigh in on Gray and Yellow Decor
Artist Wassily Kandinsky once said, “Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” Yet, finding a color combination that’s cool, modern, sophisticated, and complementary is easier said than done. For years, yellow and gray fit the bill. Easy and unexpected, the two hues were an unstoppable duo for gender neutral nurseries and cheery rooms alike.
Kelsey Mulvey
Jul 6, 2018
A Homebody Claims Decorating’s Hobby, but Her Home Is Professionally Beautiful
Name: Katie Varela, husband and three kids Location: Lake Forest, California Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned My husband, Jon, and I live in this three-bedroom home with our three kids, ages 13, 11, and 9. We moved here a year and a half ago from a neighboring city and a house that was under 1,000 square feet, so this 1,700-square-foot home feels like a mansion to us!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 6, 2018
Tracy Morgan’s $2 Million New Jersey Home Is For Sale
After acquiring a lavish 21,000-square-foot colonial-style home in Alpine, New Jersey in 2015, Saturday Night Live alum Tracy Morgan is hoping to offload his comparatively modest digs in nearby Cresskill. The Emmy-nominated comedian initially listed his 6-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom-home at $2.248 million but has since dropped the asking price to $1.998 million, which is slightly less than the $2.11 million Morgan paid for it back in 2011, according to Variety.
Kenya Foy
Jul 5, 2018
12 Things Good Neighbors Always Do
In a perfect world, your neighbors would be as lovable as Joey and Chandler, as kooky as Kramer, or as beloved as Fred and Ethel. But, in reality, you don’t have to be BFFs to establish great relationships with the folks living next door or down the hall.
Lesley Kennedy
Jul 5, 2018
This Actress Hand Built Her Own Funky Brooklyn Loft
"If nothing goes together, everything goes together."
Darragh Dandurand
Jul 5, 2018
9 No-Fail Ways to Style Your Coffee Table
A well-styled coffee table can be a game changer for your home. Not only does it offer up a little extra space for stashing stuff, when thoughtfully organized, your coffee table can double as an artful living room centerpiece. To prove our point, we scoured our house tours high and low and rounded up nine of the most beautifully styled coffee tables we could find. From a full-blown bench display to an airy Scandi-style scene, here are some of the chicest ideas for organizing your coffee table.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 5, 2018
Why You Should Sleep With a Sock on Hot Summer Nights
I don’t know about you, but on hot summer nights I don’t want anything remotely close to me, unless it’s the frigid, steady breeze from the AC unit. I’ve been known to draw an invisible boundary line down the center of our bed (not unlike the line that separated my sibling and me in the back of our parents’ car on long trips when we were kids), restricting my husband to “his side” so his body heat stays as far away from me as possible.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 5, 2018
4 Things You Should Never Clean with Baking Soda
From scrubbing pots and pans to deep-cleaning appliances, baking soda is such a great cleaning agent that it’s tempting to want to use it on everything. But even though it’s gentler than some alternatives, baking soda still has some downfalls. Because it’s abrasive, you have to be careful with surfaces that are lightly sealed or that have a finish that can be worn away (the same way you would be careful with scrubbing too hard with a scratchy sponge).
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Jul 5, 2018
7 Ways to Hack Your Way to More Closet Space
Closets come in all shapes and sizes—and often, with not enough storage space. Thankfully, with a little imagination (and research), you can turn your cramped closet into a stylish storage hub, no matter how tiny it may be. To prove our point, we rounded up some of the easiest—and not to mention, affordable—ways to carve out more storage for your wardrobe.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 4, 2018
The Modern Way to Decorate With Terrazzo
It dates all the way back to ancient Egypt.
Marlen Komar
Jul 4, 2018
This Company Will Build a Beach In Your Backyard
If the closest you’ve managed to come to dipping your toe in some salty ocean water this summer is Googling affordable beach resorts or longingly scrolling through photos of celebrities hanging out at their dreamy beach homes, consider kicking those nagging symptoms of beach withdrawal to the curb by investing in your very own backyard swimming pond.
Kenya Foy
Jul 4, 2018
Peek Inside This Gorgeous Treehouse For Adults
When it comes to elevated dwellings, tree houses will always be in style. The universal adoration for these nature-friendly living spaces is undeniable, and designer Antony Gibbon has once again tapped into that appeal with the creation of Inhabit, a sleek treehouse located near the town of Woodstock, New York. Situated on a tract of forest land, Gibbon’s design was inspired by geometric forms.
Kenya Foy
Jul 4, 2018
204 of the Most Beautiful & Inspiring Homes in America
Check out these house tours of America's beautiful and diverse array of home decor styles and people. A healthy and happy home helps you feel and be the best version of yourself.
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 4, 2018
10 Creative Ways You Can Save Money While Moving
You just bought a new home or signed the lease for an apartment you’ve been coveting. Spending your discretionary dollars on a great piece of art or furniture sounds a lot more fun than blowing money on boring moving boxes and tape, right? If only it were that easy: Moving can be a pricey endeavor once you layer in all of the costs associated with professional movers, rented trucks, housing deposits, and miscellaneous fees.
Brittany Anas
Jul 3, 2018
After 11 Homes in 17 Years, This Blogger Is a Rental Makeover Master
Name: Jewel Marlowe and family Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island Size: 3,000 square feet Years Lived In: 10 months, renting “As a military family, we have learned that even short-term rentals can have high style. This 10-month rental home is a prime example,” shares Jewel Marlowe, blogger, interior stylist, and frequent customizer of rental homes.
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 3, 2018
A TV Personality’s Home Mastered Mixing Wallpaper and Woodwork
Name: Vanessa Sicotte, Jonathan Plourde and three kids Location: Montreal West — Quebec, Canada Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Vanessa and Jonathan were able to see the vast potential beyond the yellow walls (in every room!) of their home when they purchased it in 2014. As an interior design writer, blogger and TV personality, Vanessa put her expertise to use in designing a home that reflects the personalities of her family both as a unit and individually.
Lauren Kolyn
Jul 3, 2018
Before and After: Finally, A Big Change for A Neglected Master Bedroom
This master bedroom was perfectly nice but understandably neglected, having been low on the family’s priority list for years. But it finally got its much-desired makeover, and the hotel-inspired results are totally worth the wait. This is so dreamy and calm! I’ve never stayed at a Four Seasons hotel, but now I want to know if the rooms are anything like this. Stephanie of Olive and Tate is responsible for this excellent bedroom upgrade.
Tess Wilson
Jul 3, 2018
An Old Victorian Maisonette in London Gets a Fresh New Look
Name: Marlene Fao, her partner Keith and two Bengal cats, Leopold and Enso Location: Wimbledon — London, United Kingdom Years lived in: 1 year, owned Originally from France, Marlene has been living in London since 2010, and bought this Edwardian Maisonette home last year with her partner Keith, a civil engineer.
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 3, 2018
6 Feng Shui Tips Every Novice Should Know
Feng shui is all about creating harmony between your inner self and the world around you, but if we’re being totally honest, incorporating it into your home is hard stuff. Similar to the latest trends in tech, fashion, or design, the definition of good feng shui is constantly evolving, which means your home should follow suit. Ugh. “It can be intimidating—even for us consultants,” says Laura Cerrano, founder and CEO of consulting firm Feng Shui Manhattan.
Kelsey Mulvey
Jul 2, 2018
Instead of Moving, This Couple Rearranged, Updated, and Revitalized Their Current Home
Awaiting the arrival of a baby and unable to find another home they liked enough to move, they decided to stick with the home they already have, updating it for their new life.
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 2, 2018
A Brooklyn Apartment That Architects Daydream About
This design-savvy one-bedroom in Prospect Heights is full of surprises—including a private roof deck with views for days. 430 Sterling Place, Apartment 4D Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn $799,000 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom It’s not surprising that this apartment was designed by an architect—you’ll spot it in the details the minute you pop open the door. Here, every inch of the 750 square feet of space has been smartly utilized to make it feel big, airy, and beautiful.
Anne Roderique-Jones
Jul 2, 2018
It’s Cancer Season: Here’s Your July Home Horoscope
Slip into your seashelled sanctuaries, star-kissed space holders. This month in the cosmos finds us craving deep emotional retreat, and learning how to live with our longings, even when they can’t immediately manifest in the external world. The Sun spends most of the month in feel-it-to-heal-it Cancer, and the sign of the crab asks us to tuck into our secret shelters and childhood hideaways, to protect our tenderness, and to lean into our loony inner lifeworlds.
Bess Matassa
Jul 2, 2018
Before and After: These Homeowners Made a Very Bold Move in Their Kitchen
Why are we showing you a photo of a kitchen in a post allegedly about an entryway? Well, because the wall you see is about to disappear, opening up the entryway in a major way. Kimberly Smith of Turning It Home helpfully describes the situation: In our home was a non-load bearing wall that separated the entry way/dining room from the kitchen.
Tess Wilson
Jul 2, 2018
The Scottish Castle Where Kit Harrington & Rose Leslie Got Married Has a Long Family History
Jon Snow and Ygritte finally got their happy ending – IRL that is. Any Game of Thrones fan knows that on the show, Ygritte did not get such a happy fate. And we have no idea what will happen to Jon, will he sit on the Iron Throne? Will he just be by Daenerys Targaryen’s side? We won’t know until the TV series concludes in 2019 (yeah, we’re not mad we’ve already waited one year and still have another to go).
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jul 1, 2018
The World’s Most Requested Airbnbs Will Give You Some Serious Design Inspiration
If you’ve ever stayed in an Airbnb, you know that those homes can pack a seriously stylish punch. And with the newly launched Airbnb Plus, you’ll see even more of that. All of the homes are a new tier of breathtaking listings, inspected and verified in person against a 100-point checklist for quality and comfort to ensure a premium experience for guests (AKA us). Here, a look at the top wish-listed Airbnbs on Airbnb Plus and the design takeaways you can use in your own home.
Samantha Leal
Jul 1, 2018
Partner
How the Hommeboys DIYed Their Way to a Gorgeously Eclectic Dream Home
We’re endlessly inspired by the Hommeboys (aka Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer) and their creative design DIYs. Their Sonoma, CA, home is the definition of #stylegoals, packed to the brim with texture, pattern, and color. Now, that is.
Creative Studio
Jul 1, 2018
The Organizing Accessories Expert Travelers Always Have in Their Suitcase
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.
Marlen Komar
Jun 30, 2018
This Phoenix Rental Reignited a Passion for Interior Design
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.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 30, 2018
This Is The Wage You Need to Live Alone Anywhere in the U.S.
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.
Leeza Dennis
Jun 30, 2018
4 Amazon Private Labels You Need to Know About (Plus Top-Rated Picks)
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.
Brigitt Earley
Jun 29, 2018
You’ll Swoon Over This Small DC Rowhouse’s Exposed Brick & Beams
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!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 29, 2018
What Does “Starter Home” Really Mean?
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.
Chelsea Greenwood
Jun 29, 2018
11 Things You Should Never Ever Do at an Open House
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.
Jamie Wiebe
Jun 29, 2018