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.
Colorful geometric placemat with black fork and spoon on yellow-striped napkin.
Before and After: Another Gorgeous Use For a Cheap Placemat
What a lovely placemat! It would be great for protecting a table or beautifying a table or . . . that’s pretty much it. A throw pillow, you say? Well, now I’ve heard everything! This is so pretty! I’m now convinced that placemats (which I generally have no use for) are made to be pillows. They’re generally nice and sturdy, as well as being just the right size.
Tess Wilson
Feb 24, 2018
The Unfortunate Downsides to Having Two Bathroom Sinks
Having two sinks in a master bathroom is either a nice little luxury, or a total relationship-saver, depending on how much your schedules overlap, how well you share space when they do, and just how messy you both are. Would anyone turn an extra one down? Turns out this set up does have a couple of drawbacks however, which might give you pause. There’s lots to love about having his/his, his/hers, or hers/hers sinks.
Dabney Frake
Feb 23, 2018
The Mortgage that Pays Itself: What You Need to Know to Get Started Hosting on Airbnb
If you have any extra space in your home — a spare bedroom, guest house, a finished garage — chances are you’ve toyed with the idea of listing it on Airbnb. Pros: extra money for bills or savings, a fun way to meet cool people, and not a lot of real work. Cons: the potential for weirdos in your space, property damage, and near-constant mental labor in the form of requests and bookings.
Carrie Murphy
Feb 23, 2018
More Than Just a Tiny House: One Doctor’s Innovative Alternative to Assisted Living
Dr. Bill Thomas has spent the majority of his career trying to improve nursing homes, but now hopes to make it so that people no longer need them, period — by offering scaled-down residences that actually fit the needs of aging seniors. Just, whatever you do, don’t call them tiny homes. The physician turned building developer is the creator of Minka, a prototype 330-square-foot kit home designed and tested for aging seniors.
Melissa Massello
Feb 23, 2018
Medieval France Actually Had the Perfect Bedroom Solution for a Studio Apartment
In the third chapter of Wuthering Heights”, the narrator, finding himself at the manor house of the same name, describes a room with a curious kind of bed: The whole furniture consisted of a chair, a clothes-press, and a large oak case, with squares cut out near the top resembling coach windows.
Nancy Mitchell
Feb 23, 2018
If Disney Princesses Lived in Tiny Houses
We love a good castle as much as the next person. But what we love even more is a really good tiny home. So much so that we started to wonder what would happen if we took the grandest castle dwellers of them all—six of Disney’s princesses—and reimagined their lives in modern day smaller spaces. It’s proof that living light can bring about a whole new world of possibilities for adventure in the great wide somewhere. (So, so, so many more puns to come.
Jessica Isaac
Feb 22, 2018
9 Hacks We Discovered Hiding Deep in IKEA’s Website
IKEA might love it when customers hack their products, but I particularly love it when IKEA hacks themselves. I recently dove deep down into their website, and pulled out some of my very favorite decorating and storage projects hiding in there—all of which take their items up a notch or ten. Here’s a way to add a little interest and style to an otherwise functional yet basic IVAR storage system.
Dabney Frake
Feb 22, 2018
This 187 Square Foot Tiny House Is Built Around a Whiskey Still
Tiny houses can truly run the gamut of style. From prefab basic to completely eclectic to sharp and modern, these homes aren’t letting a lack of square footage put a damper on their style. This tiny home, Honey on the Rock, took the lack of space and a request to use a family heirloom and made a home that is next level beautiful. The team at Carpenter Owl, a Bloomington, Indiana based firm, built the home around a request to incorporate a family’s heirloom whiskey still.
Nora Taylor
Feb 22, 2018
Before & After: One of The Best $2K Bathroom Makeovers We’ve Ever Seen
Wow. This is one of those makeovers that you can’t believe was done on a budget. The results are so impressive, and the new bathroom looks like a million bucks. We shouldn’t be surprised, however, since Kristine has shared some equally impressive DIY projects in the past, including this gorgeous dresser refresh and jaw-dropping cabinet transformation.
Tess Wilson
Feb 22, 2018
The Best Cleaning & Decluttering Plan for Every Myers-Briggs Personality Type
Cleaning and organizing strengths and pitfalls for each type, as well as suggestions for how to tackle homekeeping and embrace your unique personality,
Anne Momber
Feb 22, 2018
Before and After: An Endlessly Satisfying $100 Closet Makeover
This is one of the most inspiring types of projects: it was done for approximately $100, it includes a detailed budget breakdown, it is neither glamorous nor thrilling, both the before and the after photos were taken in the same artificial light, and it hugely improved someone’s quality of everyday life. May we all tackle similarly approachable yet satisfying projects! Let’s explore. It’s so much brighter now! Well done, Old House To New Home.
Tess Wilson
Feb 21, 2018
Mandy Moore’s Pantry Is Organization Goals
We love a good sneak peek inside a celeb’s home via Instagram. If you’ve been following This Is Us star Mandy Moore lately on the ‘gram, you’ve seen an eyeful of her newly renovated pad, and recently, we got a look inside the pantry. While Moore and fiancé Taylor Goldsmith moved in last month, final touches are still in the works on the mid-century space.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 20, 2018
Self-Care Obsessed? Here are 8 Books You Need to Read
If you’re feeling burnt out by your career, sleep deprived and stressed about the future, or even insecure about how your life looks on Instagram, then it’s time to start practicing self-care. It’s a simple lifestyle change that encourages you to prioritize your mental health without taking up an expensive new habit or learning how to become an advanced meditator.
Samantha Zabell
Feb 20, 2018
Check Out The Full Opalhouse Lookbook, Target’s New Boho Home Collection
Boho babes, rejoice: Target’s newest in-house home decor brand, Opalhouse, launches next week, and we have your first look at all the amazingly colorful pieces you’re going to want to snatch up. The bullseye announced the new brand back in February on their corporate blog .
Tara Bellucci
Feb 20, 2018
Partner
How to Make Your Bed Like an Instagram Star
The just-so rumpled sheets, the perfectly plump pillows, the A+ color mixing: Is anyone else’s Instagram feed full of the dreamiest beds ever? Before you get too jealous, know that these beds did not wake up like this. (Except for Queen Bey’s. Her bed is obviously perfect at all times.) No, these beds were just styled by folks who know how to turn sleep into chic. Good news: So do we.
Creative Studio
Feb 20, 2018
A Natural, Non-toxic & Colorful Clay Home in Colorado
Name: Kim and Kip Golden and two kiddos, Shae (9) and Micah (5) Location: Boulder, Colorado Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned We just remodeled our townhome to make it work for our family of four for a long time coming. I am obsessed with a healthy home, and so my most important priority during the remodel was to keep all of our choices as non-toxic and healthy as possible, without compromising our style.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Feb 20, 2018
Here’s How You Should Really Be Cleaning a Cutting Board
Although there’s a lot of room for variation when it comes to how you clean around the house, you can’t escape this one truth: You’re either getting something clean, or you’re not. This distinction is especially important in the kitchen, where cleanliness is not only a matter of taste, but of health and safety, too. That’s why you need to know what techniques will get your cutting boards clean for real.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 20, 2018
A Beautifully Restored Bungalow (and Backyard Studio!) in Los Angeles
L.A. real estate prices are known for their general insanity, so the odds of finding a great property at an incredible value are about the same as the odds of hitting the lottery. That’s what makes this two-bedroom, two-bathroom restored bungalow with a bonus studio space such a winner.
Colleen Egan
Feb 19, 2018
If You Love An Old Fixer Upper, This Instagram Is For You
Some people are just old house people. Never content to live in a cookie cutter new build, creaky floors and dated wallpaper are selling points. If period details and the promise of a lot of elbow grease are for you, then this Instagram account is your new (old) favorite thing. Cheap Old Houses is an Instagram account created by the team at Circa, a magazine, community, and listing platform for people who love historic homes.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 19, 2018
Before and After: A Dramatic “Renovation Free” Kitchen Redo
Although Charlotte says, “A full kitchen renovation was never in our budget,” you’ll be astounded by the changed appearance of this “renovation-free” kitchen. With a few clever moves and a lot of paint, it went from super ’70s to marvelously modern. Check out what it looks like now… Wow! This makeover was done by Charlotte of At Charlotte’s House, and the most dramatic changes were the painting of the cabinets and walls (au revoir, chartreuse!
Tess Wilson
Feb 19, 2018
Why You Should Never Throw Away Silica Gel Packets
Those tiny little packs of dessicant that come in your new pack of shoes or your vitamins have many uses around your home. Anywhere that moisture is a problem, silica gel packets can help alleviate the issue. Keep them stored in an airtight container away from pets and children (they are a choking hazard) and whip them out in the following scenarios. Keep vitamins from moisture damage.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 19, 2018
A Glamazonian 1934 Craftsman Bungalow in Connecticut
Name: Jessica Brigham, her husband, Christopher, two dog-like cats, Marla & Sylvester, and their doofy mutt, Murphy Location: New Haven, Connecticut Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 4.5 years, owned I’m from New York and I met my California-bred hubby, Chris, here in New Haven, Connecticut.
Adrienne Breaux
Feb 19, 2018
This Stunning Arctic Circle Hotel Is Also Energy Positive
Taking energy efficiency to the next level appears to be the goal of this “energy positive” hotel that’s set to be constructed within the Arctic Circle. Design firm Snøhetta teamed up with a few other Norwegian companies to create a vision for the hotel that’s energetic output will surpass the resources it consumes over the span of its 60-year lifetime.
Kenya Foy
Feb 18, 2018
30 Ways to Remake the IKEA MOPPE Mini Storage Chest
The MOPPE is one of IKEA’s most popular products, and it’s not hard to see why: it offers six storage compartments for $16.99, it’s made of attractive minimal birch plywood, it’s eminently stainable and paintable, and its drawers can be reversed to hide the opening notches. As one featured DIYer put it, it’s a perfect craft victim. Here are 30 ways to make the MOPPE — freshly available after a much-lamented hiatus — your own.
Tess Wilson
Feb 18, 2018
Twitter Is Entrenched In a Debate About Toothbrushes
It’s something we do every day, but who knew it could be so controversial? This week, Twitter got into a debate on toothbrushing habits, and we want to know where you stand. According to Mashable, it all started with one tweet asking whether people put the toothpaste on first or wet the brush first. Let’s just say that no matter which pattern people follow, they are very convinced that they are in the right, and everyone else is wrong.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 18, 2018
9 Secret Shortcuts of People Who Are Good at Everyday Math
Crunching numbers quickly can give you answers to pressing real-life questions such as, "Is this shirt a good deal?" or "How much should I tip my Uber driver?"
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 17, 2018
Before and After: The $100 Closet-Turned-Mudroom Makeover
Other than the John Malkovich/Narnia door in the back, this was a totally ordinary closet. Thanks to a clever vision, some spatial strategizing, and a bunch of affordable accessories from IKEA and Target, this closet is now a super-handy mini-mudroom — and the whole makeover cost less than $100. For such a small space — just 3’x3.75′ — this room now contains an enormous amount of super-smart storage.
Tess Wilson
Feb 17, 2018
These 9 Stores Have the Best Return Policies
Oh, the joys of online shopping. Not only can you bypass crazy long checkout lines and cramped dressing rooms, you get all the stuff you ordered delivered straight to your front door. The only drawback: Returning items that don’t work for you can be trickier when the post office gets involved. That’s why it pays to know ahead of time which stores have stellar return policies, so you can have a totally worry-free online shopping experience.
Caroline Biggs
Feb 16, 2018
Disney Fans Are Going to Flip Over Their New Homewares Store
Big news, Disney fans: now you can deck out your whole house, courtesy of the mouse. That’s right, a new store dedicated exclusively to housewares has opened at Disneyland in Southern California. Located in the Downtown Disney District, Disney Home sells (you guessed it) Disney-themed home goods from glassware to linens, kitchen accessories and more, according to a Disney Parks blog post about the opening. The curated assortment will also change seasonally.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 16, 2018
Is Skinny the New Tiny? This Super-Slim $1.4M Brownstone Fits Into a ‘Growing’ Trend
With urban real estate by the foot at an ever-increasing premium, building or renovating “gap houses” — super-slim buildings designed to fit into the narrow egress between two more historic structures — are a growing trend around the globe, like this $1.4 million townhouse in London that’s only 91 inches wide.
Melissa Massello
Feb 16, 2018
Before & After: One Big Change to a Dreamy New York Apartment
In another real estate market, you might take a pass on that otherwise perfect place with one or two not so great features. But not in New York. When, after almost a year of searching, Gall and Ingrid found this stunning Upper East Side apartment, they knew they were onto something good — even though the kitchen left a little bit to be desired. Look at those bay windows! There were three in the living room, and one in each of the two bedrooms.
Nancy Mitchell
Feb 16, 2018
Want to Predict The Hot New Neighborhood? Follow The Dogs
By analyzing every single dog registration in New York City between 2012 and 2016, a new report by the New York Times claims that in order to understand urban real estate trends these days — which neighborhoods are poppin’ versus which may have begun to bottom out — all we need to do is “follow Fido.
Melissa Massello
Feb 16, 2018
Common Household Items You Didn’t Know Had Reset Buttons
Is there anything more gratifying than a reset button? When your cell phone is acting finicky, you reset it and suddenly the world returns to normal, right? Turns out there are a bunch of household items that have one, and knowing a problem can be fixed by pushing a button — instead of shouting and swearing, or worse, calling customer service or a repair service —might just save your sanity. Some of these will be quite familiar, but there are a few that you might not know about.
Sarah Rae Smith
Feb 16, 2018
Are Interest Rates Rising? What Can I Do?
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the real estate market recently, you’ve probably heard a few rumours about rising interest rates flying around. We’re sad to say that what you’ve been hearing is true — but that doesn’t mean you should give up hope on your dreams of becoming a homeowner. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening with interest rates today — and what you can do to stay competitive.
Tara Mastroeni
Feb 16, 2018
Chip & Joanna’s Spring Collection for Target Is a Breath of Fresh Air
While the end of Fixer Upper may have dashed our dreams of getting our very own shiplap makeover courtesy of Chip and Joanna, their collection with Target has been one way we can emulate the duo’s farmhouse chic aesthetic. Their collaboration with Target was first announced in September of last year, and this is the second time the line has undergone a “refresh” with seasonally-pegged items.
Marshall Bright
Feb 16, 2018
A Pop Art-Filled Loft in Portland’s Pearl District
Name: Myisha and Armon Moore Location: Pearl District — Portland, Oregon Size: 996 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Our home is a blend of both of our personalities. Armon is a Creative Director and I ( Myisha) am a Digital Brand Manager. Armon loves to play with color and I love storytelling through design. Pop art definitely speaks to us both; it’s fun, whimsical and most importantly, it provides a feeling of sunshine/brightness to the grey skies of Portland, Oregon.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Feb 16, 2018
Mini IKEA Dollhouse Furniture is What’s Missing in Your Life Right Now
Dollhouses are experiencing a revival right now, as busy people turn to them as a type of therapy, lovingly spending hours designing and crafting decor, albeit on a small scale. We’ve had our eye on some of the envy-inducing, jaw-dropping miniature houses out there. So imagine our glee when we stumbled on a cache of little IKEA furniture and decor to make all of our tiny Scandinavian dreams come true.
Dabney Frake
Feb 15, 2018
Now Airbnb Can Help You Refinance Your Mortgage
For the first time, Airbnb hosts can now count their home-sharing earnings as additional income when refinancing their mortgage at three national lenders: Citizens Bank, Better Mortgage, and Quicken Loans (the company behind that Rocket Mortgage app you see each Super Bowl). That may sound trivial, but like Ron Burgundy, it’s kind of a big deal. Refinancing a mortgage isn’t exactly easy; it’s almost as tedious as taking one out in the first place.
Jon Gorey
Feb 15, 2018
Stop Making These 5 Storage Mistakes in Your Small Space
One of the most pressing challenges of living in a small home is: where are you gonna put all your stuff?
Nancy Mitchell
Feb 15, 2018
Why You Should Save Your Spent Coffee Grounds
If you’re a coffee-drinker, you generate a generous amount of coffee grounds each day. Definitely don’t toss them down the literal drain (coffee grounds are among the biggest offenders when it comes to drain-clogging kitchen scraps), but don’t toss them in the garbage either! Here are several ways you can use the grounds, even after you’ve run water through them for your morning brew. Use them to scrub pots and pans.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 15, 2018
A Childhood Home’s New Boho Glow in Colorado Springs
Name: Arianna Danielson, my husband, our 2 children, and 2 mini Schnauzers Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Size: 4,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, rent-to-own This home is actually my childhood home! My parents owned this house for 22 years and were ready for a change and to downsize. This home has a lot of sentimental value and I have so many fond memories growing up here, and when my parents decided to move, my husband and I jumped on it.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Feb 15, 2018
Here’s What 8 of the Healthiest People Do First Thing In the Morning
Even if you aren’t a self-proclaimed “morning person,” creating a solid AM routine can set the tone for your day. If right now that “routine” includes 30 minutes struggling with the snooze button, followed by guzzling coffee while simultaneously blow drying your hair and responding to your email, you might be ready to switch things up. Who better to borrow some inspiration from than some of the healthiest people out there?
Madeleine Burry
Feb 15, 2018
This Michigan Home For Sale Is a Pure Late ’70s Time Capsule
Every once in a while you stumble across a real estate listing so unique, so exquisite that it must be shared. This beaut is located in Sturgis, Michigan and it is a sprawling gem of late ’70s opulence, perfectly crystallized in amber. What makes this property feel like such a find is that so many of its vintage elements are making a comeback. Crystals! Velvet! Animal patterns!
Nora Taylor
Feb 14, 2018
Is This The Thing That (Finally) Gets You To Change Your Air Filter?
Some things are just plain old hard to remember, especially when it comes to ongoing home maintenance. I’m not talking about doing the dishes or laundry regularly, but the stuff that only needs doing every once in awhile, like cleaning your ceiling fan blades or washing windows. Which is why I love the idea of an air filter that tells you exactly when it’s time to swap it out. My air filter gets a workout.
Sarah Rae Smith
Feb 14, 2018
The “Thrift Store” Tip That Forever Changed the Way I Declutter
The pleasure of a perpetually less-cluttered house is worth the possibility that I might need to buy something again, someday.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 14, 2018
Why Going to IKEA Is Actually a Great Date Option (Really!)
I asked a woman out to dinner, to a place I’d been wanting to try. As is often the case with New York dates, we began talking logistics. The IKEA closest to me is a trek from my apartment. Hopping in a cab feels unadventurous when the Brooklyn behemoth painstakingly made sure it’s accessible by ferry. Without knowing this woman long enough to tempt a Gilligan’s Island-level fate, we chose the next best option: riding our bikes.
Naima Pearce
Feb 14, 2018
Before and After: An Unbelievable $5K Kitchen Renovation
This kitchen has an enviable amount of storage, but that same storage — the hanging cabinets — make the room feel a bit claustrophobic and dark, and make the counters less accessible than would be ideal.
Tess Wilson
Feb 14, 2018
A Retro Catskills Cabin Becomes Home Away from Home
Name: Lauren Zaser and Ryan Oskin Location: Big Indian, New York Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 5 months, owned Originally built in the 1950s, my boyfriend, Ryan, and I put our ’70s modern twist on the house. Filled with big windows, wide plank oak floors and bluestone fireplaces, we instantly knew we had to make this house our own. Surrounded by about five acres of woods with a small creek running on the side you can really feel peaceful seclusion away from busy city life.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Feb 14, 2018