A Thrift Store Junkie’s Wild, One-of-a-Kind 1920s House Reno
Name: Virginia Chamlee, my boyfriend, Tom, and our 13-year-old dog, Chloe Location: Jacksonville, Florida Size: 1767 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, first-time homebuyer Tom (my boyfriend), Chloe (our lab-shepherd mix) and I purchased our home and moved in roughly seven months ago. In the time since, we’ve gutted the kitchen, painted just about every surface in the home, hung dozens of pieces of art, and even ridden out a hurricane.
Apr 16, 2018
This Tiny Home is Only 238 Square Feet But Packed to the Brim With Interior Design
The whole point of a tiny home is to cut down on size, but still have an optimal living space, right? Many tiny home designers have to get creative when making the layout of their home. But they don’t always manage to include interior designs that everyone would enjoy. Not this little coastal tiny home, though. The Coastal Craftsman has got you covered on the interior design vibes.
Apr 15, 2018
Before and After: This $700 Kitchen Redo is the Stuff Rental Dreams Are Made Of
This builder-standard kitchen’s strength lies in its plainness: there might not be a ton here to flip over, but there’s not really anything to be put off by either. Fortunately, this kitchen’s new renter found a way to play up its strength and minimize its flaws—and all for only $700!
Apr 15, 2018
Move Aside Mudcloth: This is The New “It” Home Textile
Perhaps you’ve currently got a piece of mudcloth casually draped over the foot of your bed or the edge of your sofa. It’s probably been happily living there, undisturbed, for a couple of years without so much as a second thought. You might be surprised to learn, however, that a new fabric is taking the design world by storm. If you haven’t heard of cactus silk, allow us to introduce you.
Apr 15, 2018
A Jewelry Designer’s Pretty Nest in Vermont
Name: Tamar Frenkel-Schechner of Nest Pretty Things, husband, two of my adult sons (temporarily), and our cat Location: Shelburne, Vermont Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned I’m a New Yorker originally but lived in Israel for most of my life, and in NYC for years when I attended Parsons School of Design in the early ’80s; my husband and I moved to Vermont from Tel Aviv in 2005.
Apr 15, 2018
These Chic Cat Beds Will Give Your Kitty a Fancier Room Than You
If your cat lives a fancier life than you do, then they deserve a bed from Meyou Paris to match their style. These beds aren’t for basic little kitties. You’re going to be so jealous of these chic beds, you are going to want one for yourself. Have you ever wanted to take a nap in your cat’s bed? These furry little felines always have the cutest beds! If you’re looking for a chic cat bed that will fit in with your open concept home and modern space, look no further.
Apr 14, 2018
This Etsy Store Is The Ultimate IKEA Hack
No nails, hammers or paint required.
Apr 14, 2018
Before and After: A Whirlwind Weekend Bathroom Renovation
This windowless bathroom was a bit drab and dated, and over the course of just one weekend, it was transformed into a light and bright space. Oh, the power of a coat of paint and some new fixtures! That horizontal picture didn’t show much, so here’s a full-length shot, with a description of the pre-refresh situation from Genevieve Claire of Vieve Claire: The walls and ceiling were painted with a caramel colour making the bathroom look and feel outdated.
Apr 14, 2018
The Wing’s New D.C. Location Is Stunning, Historical, and More Important Than Ever
Popular women’s co-working space, The Wing, has officially begun its (highly anticipated) seven-city expansion. The first stop? The historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. As a former place of residence for the co-founders, D.C. made a natural fit as the first new location outside New York City limits. “I’ve lived here in D.C.
Apr 13, 2018
10 Ways to Fake a Window Seat Even as a Renter
Nothing speaks to my bookworm heart as much as window seat, but, as a renter, I thought my dreams of a window seat would have to wait. Apparently other renters felt the same. These clever folks DIY-ed their cozy nooks and now we can all have a reading haven! Note that most of the window seat DIYs out there aren’t “from scratch” but start with IKEA products as a base.
Apr 13, 2018
Check Out This Missile Silo Turned Condo Building
If the last year has made you think the end of days might actually be nigh, you aren’t alone — and it’s no longer just the tinfoil-hat-wearing crowd, either. Luxury doomsday condos are now a thing. If you have a few million to invest and a fear of the apocalypse, either caused by mankind’s folly or natural phenomena, luxury property developers like Larry Hall have just the condos of your preparedness dreams.
Apr 13, 2018
A Succulent Seller’s Studio Is 300 Square Feet of Simple, Sweet & Pink
Name: Lauren Williams and cat Levi Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, NY Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting My little studio is inhabited by Levi (the cat) and me. I’m a fashion designer with a pottery/cactus side hustle and Levi is a professional cutie pie. Levi’s been with me since college (RISD) and has traveled around with me between Providence, Long Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn. She is key to making every place I move to feel like home.
Apr 13, 2018
The One Thing Your Small Space Needs From IKEA’s New Releases
If you’re dealing with organizing a small space, it’s highly likely that at some point, you’ll be hitting up your nearest IKEA. And thankfully, the Swedish retailer recently released a real workhorse of a system for diminutive dwellings. We’re expecting to see this one thing in many a cramped kitchen very soon. The sage advice when you’re short on floor space is to maximize your walls. And the new KUNGSFORS series is definitely here to help with that.
Apr 12, 2018
7 IKEA Staples I Still Have (and Love!) 10 Years Later
Some are long retired, but some are still there on the shelves for you to take them home right now. Make sure you're ready for the commitment!
Apr 12, 2018
Life Lessons from 8 Homes 400 Square Feet & Under
The incredible thing about super small homes is their genius isn’t limited to their square feet. A space might be tiny, but it can teach you a lot. Constraint sparks creativity, after all. All of these homes are 400 square feet and under…and the folks who live in them have advice to share.
Apr 12, 2018
Only Have One Minute to Spring Clean the Bathroom? One Hour? Try These Tricks
This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Nobody really likes cleaning, do they? I’m a home editor and I don’t even like cleaning. I enjoy having a clean home, of course.
Apr 12, 2018
This Modular Furniture Is Made From Giant LEGO-Like Blocks
The brightly hued building blocks from our childhood famously known as LEGOs have inspired many a design, from bridges to storage options and even accessories for real-life homes. So it’s not at all shocking to see that this collection of modular plastic blocks from Everblock is perfectly suitable for a grownup’s decorative aesthetic. Now, whether you choose to transform these blocks into a stunning bookshelf, a table or even a customized room divider is totally up to you.
Apr 11, 2018
This Loft in a Restored Firehouse Is Fearlessly Decorated
Name: Bailey Li of Bailey Li Interiors Location: The Valley Arts District — Orange, New Jersey Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting I love the idea of residing in a restored firehouse that is now used as a live/work art gallery that houses a group of creatives from different mediums! It’s like living in a piece of history that is birthing a new story.
Apr 11, 2018
A Pro’s Take on How to Avoid Buying Fake Antiques
It’s finally springtime, and if you’re an antiques lover like me, that means it’s antique market season. What a glorious feeling to be weeding your way through Brimfield Market or Les Puces de Saint-Ouen and coming across an alluring oil painting of someone 300 years older than you, or pair of Marcel Breuer Wassily Chairs that are just worn-in enough? It’s love at first sight and you have already begun mentally refinancing your mortgage to bring those babies home.
Apr 11, 2018
Clever Small-Space Ideas From a Super Functional 269-Square-Foot Apartment
Any way you slice it, 269 square feet is just not a lot of space. But thanks to a clever design, and lots of smart storage solutions, this small Japanese apartment manages to fit in everything that’s needed for living comfortably—and look good doing it. Here’s how. Open shelving can be a nice way to display your stuff, or keep things you need within easy reach, but it’s not always the best choice for small spaces.
Apr 11, 2018
Tavi Gevinson’s Brooklyn Apartment Is Just As Cool As You’d Guess
Name: Tavi Gevinson Location: 300 Ashland — Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Almost everything in Tavi Gevinson’s one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment has a story. “That’s really special,” the 21-year-old repeats often as I point something out or pick it up. I ask, for instance, about the fleece blanket splayed across her bed. Here’s how its story goes: she printed a customizable blanket from Walmart.
Apr 11, 2018
Before and After: A Bold $230 Rental Bathroom Redo
This rental powder room has bright white walls, interesting art, enviable jewelry displays, and very nice fixtures, but there’s just something missing. What could it be? STRIPES! The answer is stripes. This bathroom is now so bold and glamorous. I love the way the wallpaper highlights the interesting ceiling, and the way the lampshade echoes the shape of the skirt in the illustration.
Apr 11, 2018
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This Free Tool Will Replace Every Notebook You’ve Ever Bought
I first started using Trello a couple years ago. It’s a project management app (for desktop and mobile), but it’s way more visual and fun to use than any others I’ve seen. Once it got all my work projects together, I quickly realized it could be useful for way more: all my home project planning, to-do lists…really anything I find myself writing down or pinning or bookmarking or emailing to myself or group-texting about. Which is to say, everything. And it’s free!
Apr 11, 2018
Green Beauty Product Makers Share a Bohemian-Inspired Holistic Family Home
Name: Dominique and Syeed Harris and their four kids Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee Size: 2958 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Our home is a 1960 Georgian Colonial that we have enjoyed since closing in December on our anniversary in 2016. We love taking our time purchasing furniture for all rooms in the home, we love to get a sense, a feeling and we are striving to only include pieces that speak to us, that we love. Our family is a lively bunch.
Apr 11, 2018
The Space Second-Time Homebuyers Want More Than a Living Room
Nearly 3 of 4 house hunters call it "essential."
Apr 10, 2018
The $1 Kitchen Storage Trick That Might Save Your Plates
If you’re a practical person and invested in high quality tableware in classic white, good for you! Your dinner guests will have to look long and hard to spy those tiny chips your plates may have accumulated over the years. For the rest of us who opted for brightly colored vintage dishes that we have to constantly protect with our lives — we need all the help we can get to keep our priceless pieces looking pristine. So what help do we offer? What ingenious tip have we? Ready for it?
Apr 10, 2018
Before and After: A 10-Day, $2300 IKEA Kitchen Makeover
This kitchen, submitted by reader Claire-Anne, underwent a huge transformation without a huge renovation budget. As you’ll see, the new space has so much more personality and flair than before, but it still has something in common with the old: IKEA. If you’ve ever wondered how to update old AKURUM cabinets with new SEKTION doors, here’s your answer.
Apr 10, 2018
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Win: A Customized Comfort Sleeper Sofa
Prize: A customized Sleeper Sofa from American Leather (your choice of finishes!) From: American Leather Value: $4,999 Even if you only read fashion magazines in airport gift shops, you’ve seen those “Day to Night” photo spreads that show you how to turn what you wore to the office this morning into an elegant ensemble for after-dark.
Apr 10, 2018
A Brooklyn-Based Artist’s Home Is Awesomely Honest and Humorous
Name: Adam J. Kurtz and Mitchell Kuga Location: South Williamsburg — Brooklyn, NY Size: Literally not sure I think around 650 square feet ????
Apr 9, 2018
Why You Should Always Steal the Shower Cap From the Hotel
Who among us hasn’t snatched a tiny hotel toiletry (or 10) in our time? Let she without blame cast the first miniature moisturizer bottle. For the record, though, why would they leave them out if they didn’t want you to take them? We say keep growing your collection. And while you’re at it, make you don’t forget the most underrated of items: the humble hotel shower cap. You may be wondering, “But, why? Like, why?
Apr 9, 2018
Before and After: This Makeover Comes With a Multi-Purpose IKEA Storage Bed Hack
What a nice bedroom! What will it have that’s new? Fresh bedding and/or wall paint? Or perhaps something a bit more dramatic . . . and even dog-friendly? This is so fun! And incredibly practical: additional storage, a nest-like reading/sleeping spot, a large mirror for outfit-evaluating and space embiggening, and a lovely new home for Deacon the dog. This makeover was created by Erica Massey—be sure to check out her Instagram for lots of puppy pics.
Apr 9, 2018
Live Like an Architect in this Modern Country House in Connecticut
Fleeing the city for views of trees instead of skyscrapers doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a love of streamlined, forward-thinking design. This Connecticut escape offers a respite from the city and the chance to live like an architect.
Apr 9, 2018
A Mid-Century “Modern Moroccan Mountain” Catskills Cabin
Name: Meagan Mullens Location: Wurtsboro, New York Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned I’ve lived in NYC for the past 17 years. And as soon as I discovered that you can drive just an hour and half north of the city and be in the mountains, I was hooked. I started off renting places all around the Catskills/Hudson Valley and Berkshires. And I always thought to myself… “I should just buy a place.” But of course that seemed like just a pipe dream.
Apr 9, 2018
This Plain Off-The-Grid Bunker Has a Gorgeous Vacation Home Hiding Inside
How many times did your mom tell you to “never judge a book by its cover” when you were growing up? Well, as silly as that might have sounded when you were a kid, it is 100% true and this vacation home in Arizona is proof of that. This bunker might seem plain on the outside, but it is gorgeous on the inside. In Arizona’s San Rafael Valley sits Casa Caldera, an off-the-grid, self-sustaining home.
Apr 8, 2018
The Story of How the Magical ‘Museum of Ice Cream’ Came to Life
Anyone who’s scrolled through Instagram in the past year or so might have spotted someone knees-deep in a pool full of sprinkles. If you’ve thought “what on earth is this magical land where you can swim in millions of rainbow Jimmies?,” here’s the answer: the Museum of Ice Cream. It’s part-playground, part-“museum,” and 100% FOMO inducing.
Apr 7, 2018
A Different Type of Tiny House: Replicas of Homes Are The New Decorative Trend
You know you’re completely satisfied with your humble abode when you drop stacks of cash to have someone create a miniature replica of your house. Apparently, these tiny examples of non-kid-friendly, grown-up decor are perfect to display alongside your other pricey trinkets that are presumably placed out of the reach of tiny, toy-seeking hands. According to Bloomberg, these small scale models have become popular thanks to companies like U.K.-based model maker, Chisel & Mouse.
Apr 6, 2018
5 Crazy Clever Features Hiding on Your Tape Measure
Learning how to take advantage of them will make you a pro at wielding this hard-working tool around your home.
Apr 6, 2018
One City Plans To Combat Affordable Housing With ‘Micro-Estates’
In order to combat its growing affordable housing issue the city of Tempe, Arizona is slated to break ground on a community of relatively low-priced tiny homes on city-owned land next spring. The desert city just outside Phoenix has seen an average rent increase of $200 per month since 2015. The community of 12 “micro-estates,” as the developers are calling them, will sit on approximately an acre of land with each home coming in at 600 square feet.
Apr 6, 2018
This Cheery California Home’s Hand-Built Woodwork Is Must-See
Name: Peter and Jana Deeble and their four kids Location: Long Beach, California Years lived in: 7 years, rent to own For 14 years, Long Beach resident Peter Deeble was a math teacher who had a side hobby of designing and building furniture. In the beginning the work was just meant as a way to furnish his and his wife’s (to whom he’s been married for 15 years!) home.
Apr 6, 2018
Before and After: A Pretty Amazing Master Bath Remodel
This bathroom window is amazing — just imagine gazing outside while in the tub! —but, unfortunately, it gets a bit lost in what the owner describes as an ultimate late-’80s/early-’90s bathroom: “Lots of beige, fancy flourishes and brown granite.” It will take a total gut job to bring this bathroom into the 21st Century. Here’s a full-length shot of what Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio‘s bathroom, pre-renovation.
Apr 6, 2018
This 1930s Austin Bungalow Is a Magical Rainbow Inside & Out
This 1930s house in Austin may no longer be a home, but I sure want to live here. A former barber shop, and before that (presumably) a regular old house, this building has recently been transformed into the Cute Nail Studio, a business opened with the idea to “create a place that celebrates artistry and provides an all-inclusive safe space for beauty treatments.
Apr 5, 2018
The IKEA Storage Piece We Spot Over and Over Again (It’s Under $100!)
The folks at IKEA seem to have a knack for making pieces that are incredibly simple and also fit into all different kinds of interiors. They’re like the little black dresses of design. Case in point: the IKEA PS cabinet, which looks like a school locker and a credenza had a baby and somehow, despite its somewhat industrial appearance, is just the right thing for all kinds of spaces. And the best thing? It costs less than $100.
Apr 5, 2018
The Little-Known Secrets Hiding in Costco Price Tags
If you’re a card-carrying Costco member, you probably already know the many benefits of the retailer. Of course, buying in bulk can be a huge saver, not to mention they have some exclusive products with cult-followings. But there’s one downside, at least for me, of frequenting the warehouse: FOMO.
Apr 5, 2018
Before and After: This Small Hallway Gets a Massive Makeunder
Reader Anne’s home featured these somewhat overwhelming teal-shuttered cabinets, and while they provided a ton of storage, they made this petite hallway feel dark and crowded. They also trapped a dark secret in place… The cabinets were thoroughly installed, making it impossible to remove what lies beneath. The nailed-in wooden wardrobe covered a shabby 33-year-old carpet. There was even a newspaper from 1985 hidden under it! A time capsule!
Apr 5, 2018
This Is How Much It Costs To Sell Your Home
As if selling your home wasn’t stressful enough already — from the emotional freefall of saying goodbye to the place you live, to the logistical nightmare of packing up and moving all of your worldly belongings — it costs a hell of a lot of money to do it, too. The costs associated with selling a median-priced U.S. home total about $13,357, according to a report by Zillow and Thumbtack.
Apr 4, 2018
Don’t Make This Common Small-Space Furniture Mistake
When furnishing a small space, it would seem to make sense to pick pieces that are small. After all, you don’t want to overwhelm the room with bulky, oversize furniture. But there’s one big exception: the sofa. In most living rooms, the sofa is the biggest piece of furniture, and the biggest design statement, and a larger sofa (that still fits comfortably in the room, of course) can help to visually expand the boundaries of the space.
Apr 4, 2018
A 500-Square-Foot, Unbelievably Beautiful Basement Apartment in DC
Name: Samantha Nobles and her husband Daniel Location: Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting My husband and I have been enjoying life on Capitol Hill for five years; this basement is our first home together as a married couple, and so it has a special place in our hearts. I work in real estate and own a side interior decorating business, and my husband works for an insurance company.
Apr 4, 2018
4 Foolproof Ways to Fit Decluttering Into Your Schedule Today
This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Sign up with your email so you don’t miss a spot!
Apr 4, 2018