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.
Cluttered sunroom with white shelf, paint cans, ceiling fan parts, and potted plant near a door and windows.
Before and After: This Sunroom Becomes a $300 Second Living Room
The owner of this space described it as “a very scary sunroom,” and the presence of asbestos alone earns it that designation. After six weeks of hardcore work, it’s now anything but scary. Here’s a bit more insight about what our intrepid DIYer was facing: The before of my sunroom was symbolic of the entire house—unloved, a little broken, but with a lot of potential.
Tess Wilson
Oct 29, 2018
This Grad Student’s 350-Square-Foot Studio Is Stylishly Inspiring
Name: Zahra Clayborne, my cat, Tenny Location: Ottawa — Ontario, Canada Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting I am a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, studying psychiatric epidemiology (that’s a mouthful!). I moved here two years ago from Calgary, and this is my first apartment.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 29, 2018
Why You Should Go to IKEA Before You Even Start Packing
Every IKEA teems with last-minute movers the first and third weekends of the month—it’s just a fact. And if you are like me, you also probably accept as fact that if you’re moving, you are going to have to do an IKEA run the moment after the movers leave.
Liz Steelman
Oct 29, 2018
9 Super IKEA Shelf Hacks Anyone Can Pull Off
For every item IKEA brings into this world, there’s at least 10 ways to improve upon it, or make it your own. Some hacks are laboriously complicated and too involved for most humans, other projects are easy for just about anyone to pull off. If you’re looking for some super simple ways to tweak, alter, improve, or upgrade your shelving, here are nine ways to hack those BILLYs, EKBYs, EVETs, and LACKs.
Dabney Frake
Oct 29, 2018
A 450-Square-Foot D.C. Home Is Small But Sweet
Name: Anne Feldman Location: Columbia Heights — Washington, DC Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Columbia Heights in Washington D.C.. Most recently, I lived in Columbia, Missouri, where I worked on a campaign. Campaigns are a lot of fun, but it usually means living in an atypical housing situation – in my case that meant a basement apartment that I shared with two other roommates in an off-campus house near Mizzou.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 29, 2018
A Modern and Eclectic Manhattan Remodel
Name: Jan Eliasberg, my daughter Location: Lenox Hill — New York City, N.Y. Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, owned The “classic six” apartment had great bones, a huge, loft-like living room with southern light and open views of the downtown skyline, but the beauty was obscured by horrible finishes and the worst kind of seventies style: disco wallpaper; a pink formica kitchen; builder’s brick red tiles, and imitation marble linoleum flooring.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 28, 2018
Costco’s Best-Selling Item Is One You Never Want to Run Out Of
Have you ever gone shopping and forgotten the one real item you went to the store for in the first place? Obviously, it happens to all of us. Even when you write down a list of “must get” items, you always manage to forget one thing. Maybe you didn’t actually check the cabinets before leaving, or it just totally slipped your mind when you put your pen to paper. Whatever happened, we’ve been there, and it stinks.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Oct 28, 2018
3 Things You Can Do Instead of Moving to a Bigger Apartment
Feeling like it’s time to size up your space? By all means, do it. But know that it’s going to likely require a bigger investment month-to-month, and probably drain your change right now as you scramble to pay for moving costs and the other expenses that inevitably creep up when you decide to pick up your roots and settle down in a new spot.
Taryn Williford
Oct 28, 2018
Before and After: Wait Until You See What This Target Headboard Turns Into
What can you turn a headboard into? Here’s a hint: this decadent blush velvet, channel-seam headboard is leaving the boudoir for the cuisine… I love everything about this: the fantastic floor, the black-and-white base palette, the luscious green, mustard, and blush accents, the enviable bistro vibe, the elegant storage in the benches, and the visionary decision to use a headboard to create a comfy yet glam breakfast nook.
Tess Wilson
Oct 28, 2018
An Organic Modern House by the Ocean Is Airy and Bright
Name: Elizabeth Burns Location: Mission Canyon neighborhood — Santa Barbara, California Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned A mid-century modern home was the farthest kind of house from my mind when I began house hunting in Santa Barbara. My husband is bicoastal and so the search for a West Coast home fell on my shoulders. After nine months, I walked into this house and knew it was the one.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 27, 2018
Our Favorite Household Cleaners for $5 or Less
A good household cleaner can make housekeeping a breeze. But a good household cleaner that only costs five bucks or less? Well, that’s a game-changer for your home. To help make your housekeeping endeavors go more smoothly (and affordably), we rounded up the best commercial cleaning products under $5.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 27, 2018
What Everyone Gets Terribly Wrong About “No-Fee” Apartments
There are generally three categories of agents who list and show apartments: brokers to whom renters pay a fee, no-fee brokers, and apartment owners who take care of the job themselves. You probably know that the best deals are usually found in owner-listed situations. Since there’s no broker to middleman the process and demand tribute, both owner and renter can save money.
Billy Domineau
Oct 27, 2018
Am I The Only One Over Mid-Century Modern Design?
You don’t need to be an interiors expert to be familiar with mid-century modern design. Even if you can’t spot its signature clean lines and minimal details from a mile away, most stores have products that are blatantly labeled “mid-century inspired.” The mid-century modern movement first broke onto the design scene over 50 years ago and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Kelsey Mulvey
Oct 27, 2018
This Wild West Movie Town Is for Sale
Anyone looking to settle down in a place with a movie-inspired backs tory should look no further than this wild west-themed town just outside of Palm Springs, California. The owners of the Stargazing Desert Retreat in Pioneertown are asking $1,495,000 million for the Big Horn Ranch, which is located just 20 minutes away from Joshua Tree National Park.
Kenya Foy
Oct 26, 2018
6 Small Spaces That Totally Nail Bohemian Style
You don’t need a huge house in order to have fun with bohemian themes. The style looks just as beatnik and free spirited in a studio apartment or small outdoor porch as it does in a sprawling home. One could even make the case that those bohemian accents help a small space feel even more cozy, what with boho’s reliance on layered rugs, fur throws, and intricately woven wall tapestries.
Marlen Komar
Oct 26, 2018
The Salary You’d Need to Afford Each State’s Most Expensive House
If you were planning on winning the lottery and buying yourself a totally elaborate multi-million dollar mansion… all I can say is I’m sorry. (In full disclosure, I did win… $2.) But the time you spent swimming through listings and the feelings you felt for that perfect mansion don’t have to go to waste, right? Is it really so far-fetched that you could one day afford to live there?
Liz Steelman
Oct 26, 2018
Before and After: A Major Upgrade for a Generic IKEA KALLAX
We’ve seen a few IKEA KALLAX hacks before— the room divider, the terrarium, the amazing craft credenza—and they’re all inspiring, and this one is no exception. The secret, magical ingredient? Plywood. Reddit user thehomestud scored some free IKEA KALLAX units with drawers and decided to make the most of this windfall.
Tess Wilson
Oct 26, 2018
Partner
My Day at Brooklyn’s Huge New Design Destination
Remember when shopping was fun? Remember when a trip to the mall was something you’d get excited about, connect with friends over, plan a whole day around? You just might want to revisit that as an adult at Industry City, a new design destination in Brooklyn where you can score a deal on a Saarinen tulip table, grab a vegan banh mi and a beer, and play miniature golf—all in the same place. Really. On a recent afternoon, I headed over to Industry City to see what it had to offer.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 26, 2018
A Fun Mid-Century Modern Home Is Hiding a Cute DIY Faux Fireplace Idea
Name: Chelly Tavss, my cat Sheridan, and occasionally my canine brother Sunny Location: Athens, Georgia Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, owned I am a photo archivist, and relocated from Charlotte to Athens a year ago for a position with UGA Libraries. It was difficult leaving my home of five years and all of the friends that I had made, but it allowed me to move closer to family.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 26, 2018
Partner
One of Our Favorite Sofas Just Added to Its Family
Did you know that Apartment Therapy’s founder is also a furniture designer? Last year, as part of his continued collaboration with Interior Define, Maxwell created Ms. Chesterfield, a modern take on the classic Chesterfield sofa. It kept the Chesterfield’s iconic form but replaced some of its stodgy (and uncomfortable!) trappings with more streamlined details. It was a hit. And now the Chesterfield family has grown to include the Ms.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 25, 2018
The Most Versatile Whole-Home Organizer You’re Not Using Right Now
Wire grids are an organizational basic, which can then be outfitted and customized to suit any space in your house. They are one of the most versatile tools around, and also happen to be pretty affordable. Here are a handful of ways to hang and use them all over the place. There’s a swathe of space inside your kitchen cabinets (or bathroom vanity for that matter) that you’re overlooking, which can be used to store any number of things.
Dabney Frake
Oct 25, 2018
20 Small Acts of Kindness That Will Make Somebody’s Day Today
For 10 days at the end of October, Apartment Therapy wants to help you get ahead on the holidays. Together, we’re checking off doable daily tasks to get one step closer to the effortless holiday season you deserve. Sign up now (it’s free!) so you don’t miss a thing. Contrary to what TV commercials might tell you, the holidays are not just about buying gifts and spending money. The reason we’re all enamored with this season is the spirit of it all.
Taryn Williford
Oct 25, 2018
11 Questions to Ask Your New Roommate (Before You Move In)
A couple years back, the New York Times published an article about the 13 questions you should always ask someone before getting married. Which got me thinking about another kind of relationship, one possibly even more fraught than marriage, and one that people enter into with perhaps even more unwarranted optimism: that between roommates. Here are a list of 11 questions you really ought to be asking your potential roommate, before you move in.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 24, 2018
Amazon’s Hidden Feature Lets You Easily Budget Your Spending
If you’re anything like me, a.k.a. prone to compulsive late-night Amazon Prime purchases (especially after a couple glasses of wine), then boy do we have the solution for you. Amazon Allowance is a feature on Amazon that allows you to fund your shopping (or someone else’s) with gift card credits you set aside ahead of time—so you can shop to your heart’s content without ever sharing your credit card info.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 24, 2018
Before and After: An ’80s Bachelor Pad Gets a New Minimal, Modern Kitchen
This ’80s kitchen had ample cabinet space, a dishwashing sink, and wonderfully high ceilings—but the rest of it needed some major work. One excellent interior designer to the rescue… Before we admire the kitchen today, let’s take a step back and learn more about what it look liked before—and its owner: Drew is a bachelor living in Santa Monica. We were introduced by a mutual friend whose home I also helped design.
Tess Wilson
Oct 24, 2018
8 Small-Space Living Room Layout Ideas We’re Stealing from IKEA
A well-organized living room can be a game-changer for your entire home. Not only do they look sleek and stylish, a thoughtful living room layout can offer up loads of unexpected storage space. Case in point: IKEA’s gallery of streamlined living rooms—which is overflowing with small space-friendly furniture arrangements and storage solutions.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 24, 2018
A Small NYC Apartment Is Slightly Bohemian, All-the-Way Cozy
Name: Astrid Parenty and my husband, Jack Location: Greenpoint — Brooklyn, NY Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting My name is Astrid and I’m a 27 year-old art director. I live in my Brooklyn apartment with my husband Jack. The apartment is located on a quiet street in Greenpoint, in between two parks. It’s a railroad apartment featuring an eat-in kitchen, a small living room, a tiny bathroom, and a super spacious bedroom/office.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 24, 2018
Five Things I Don’t Miss After Downsizing (and One Thing I Do)
When I moved from a two-bedroom townhouse in Houston to a 250-square-foot studio apartment in New York, I was ready to do without. What I didn’t know, at the time, was what that would look like. I was all idealism, sure that I could blaze new trails, go bravely without things many Americans couldn’t imagine giving up. Three years in, this is what the reality of that transition looks like.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 23, 2018
Your Dog Can Sense When Someone Is Being Rude, Just An FYI
If you didn’t already realize what our furry friends are capable of, here’s a new one for you—they can detect impoliteness. A new study from Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews has proven that dogs negatively evaluate people who refuse to help their owners or, in other words, express a rude behavior. After hearing about a study that proves one-year-olds can sense when someone is being rude, psychologist James Anderson got the idea of doing similar research on dogs.
Nicoletta Richardson
Oct 23, 2018
6 Cool Tiny Houses You Can Rent on Airbnb
Living a downsized life sure sounds appealing—but chances are, you don’t want to commit to minimalist living full time. So why not try vacationing in a tiny house? No matter where you’re traveling, Airbnb has a stylish and streamlined place for you. Here, a look at six Airbnbs that will make you want to book a trip and “Marie Kondo” your own house—stat. This tiny house might be compact but it sports a king bed replete with an organic mattress and bedding.
Lambeth Hochwald
Oct 23, 2018
Soapwalla Founder’s Calming Brooklyn Apartment
Name: Rachel Winard, and Stacey Flannery and their cat Location: Carroll Gardens — Brooklyn, NY Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned When Rachel and her partner Stacey bought their Brooklyn apartment five years ago, they put in lots of work to create a clean and comfortable space that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Melanie Rieders
Oct 23, 2018
9 Homes That Were Once Entirely Different Things
The history behind homes can be just as interesting as the people and designs presently occupying them. And perhaps no more so than the homes of those who live in buildings that used to be for entirely different purposes other than living. From garages, to schools, to factories, all of these nine homes have something in common: These structures once housed much different activities than the ones happening in them today!
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 23, 2018
Before & After: A $3.65M Brownstone Reno in Iconic Chelsea
Manhattan, NYC
3 Bedroom + 2 Bathroom | $2,850,000
Anne Roderique-Jones
Oct 22, 2018
This Mid-Century Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Home Is For Sale
If you appreciate a fine piece of architecture when you see it, then you are likely drawn to Frank Lloyd Wright’s beautiful homes. But here’s a double-take, because this home for sale wasn’t designed by Wright, but rather by his apprentice, E. Fay Jones. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this 4,300 square foot property is currently listed for almost $1.8 million. This mid-century estate sits on 1.27 acres, complete with four bedrooms and three and a half baths.
Nicoletta Richardson
Oct 22, 2018
7 Common Ways You Can Go Wrong with Window Cleaner
Window cleaner can be a game-changer for your housekeeping routine. Along with cleaning everything from your windows to your shower tile, this bright blue household staple is slightly less abrasive than most other multi-purpose sprays—making it great for use on more fragile surfaces. Unfortunately, however, there are some things you should never use window cleaner on, no matter how contradictory it may seem.
Caroline Biggs
Oct 22, 2018
Before and After: An Ultra-Budget Bathroom Makeover
This bathroom is pretty great. It has a ton of original 1957 features that appear to be in pristine condition. It’s got more going for it than many bathrooms we see, but its owner wanted to add crucial storage and “finally get a real coat of paint on the walls to cover up the three different kinds of paint sheen”—all for only $100. So pretty and practical.
Tess Wilson
Oct 22, 2018
Partner
This Might Be the Chicest Home Organization System Ever
Things no one has ever said about their closet: “Look how clean it is!” “It’s just like shopping in a boutique!” “I’m so organized.” Until now. Leave it to The Laundress, who somehow made laundry day an Instagram opportunity, to unveil a new home storage and organization collection that’s both a small-space lifesaver and the stuff of chic dreams.
Creative Studio
Oct 22, 2018
This Is How You Can Get a Refund If Your Package Shows Up Late
There is no greater feeling than reader “your package will arrive in 3 to 5 business days.” It is like buying yourself presents, without needing a reason! Online shopping is pretty addictive, but it is convenient. Does anyone really have the time to go to the mall and look for a dress to wear to a wedding? There’s more of a selection online anyway, so why not cut out the middleman?
Ana Luisa Suarez
Oct 21, 2018
The Salary You’d Need to Afford “The Father of the Bride” House
If you watched “Father of the Bride” with envy—admiring the complex relationship between George and Annie Banks, or wistfully dreaming up your own backyard wedding—the news that the Alhambra, California, home was for sale just a few years ago may have sent you running to mortgage calculators. What could a home like that—a gorgeous 4,400-square-foot center-hall colonial on a tree-lined street—possibly cost? And what would it take to afford something so grand?
Brigitt Earley
Oct 21, 2018
A Tiny Boston Home Has a Cute Breakfast Nook and an Even Cuter Bunny
Name: Nora Crotty and Croissant the Bunny Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 486 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting I’m a 31-year-old writer who recently moved back to Boston after spending around six years in New York. I’ve shared this apartment with my free-roaming house rabbit, Pillow (who sadly died last spring), and now with my new muppet of a bun, Croissant!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 21, 2018
How to Decorate a Small Space the Right Way, According to Interior Designers
Living in a small space sometimes isn’t as fun as all those Instagrammable tiny houses make it look. With square footage at a premium, smaller apartments and houses come with their unique hurdles that make it challenging to decorate your space. Where are you supposed to put all your clothes? How do you fit an entire dining room into an area that’s as big as most people’s closets?
Kelsey Mulvey
Oct 21, 2018
The Money-Saving Secret This Former Real Estate Agent Swears By
So—you’re searching for an apartment on Craigslist. You click on “housing” and enter your search criteria: min bedrooms, max price, X miles from your zip code of choice, only show ads with pictures—GO! Aaaaaand you’ve already made a huge mistake. Not only did I do an annual housing hunt every five years while living in Brooklyn (I’m now in L.A.), I also worked as a real estate agent in Brooklyn for two years. I know the deal.
Billy Domineau
Oct 20, 2018
Target Sells a Spooky Haunted House for Cats and It’s Under $20
Halloween is just over a week away and everyone is getting into the holiday spirit. People are spending their free time at orchards to pick apples and pumpkins. The fall candles have officially been lit. “Monster Mash” and “This Is Halloween” have been played at least once on everyone’s playlist. People aren’t the only ones who can get festive for Halloween. Cats can enjoy the holiday too! Thanks to Target, you can now purchase a haunted house for your cat.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Oct 20, 2018
How to Make A Quick Floating Shelf with Invisible Brackets
This is a quick and satisfying project.
Ashley Poskin
Oct 20, 2018
10 Free (or Very Cheap) Tiny House Plans
So you’re going to build a tiny house. It may be small, and it may be cute, but you’ll still need a plan to build from, just like with any other house. Even if your tiny budget doesn’t allow for an architect, there are plenty of free (or very inexpensive) tiny house plans available on the internet. Here are some of our favorites. This tiny home has a distinctly modern look, and the inside is filled with light.
Nancy Mitchell
Oct 20, 2018
Before and After: This Remarkable Small Bathroom Refresh Was Only $100
This powder room boasts a pretty pedestal sink (that doesn’t offer much surface storage space), a nice big mirror in an interesting shape (but those faceted clips are less than ideal), and nice pale walls (though it’s that generic cream-beige). It was an excellent setup that could use a bit of a spruce… Oooh baby, this is so much nicer. The changes aren’t huge, but they’re so, so effective, especially considering they only cost about $100.
Tess Wilson
Oct 20, 2018
How I Decided Between an FHA and Conventional Mortgage
It took some deep digging to figure out which option best fit our needs right now and for the term of our loan. Here's how we made our decision.
Zina Kumok
Oct 19, 2018
These 3D Printed Tiny Houses Are Made of Mud and Compost — And They Cost $1,000
Going directly head to head with low-cost, eco-friendly temporary housing from the likes of IKEA, Italian production company WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) has just debuted a $1,000 3D printed tiny house—and it’s made of materials as old as civilization itself.
Melissa Massello
Oct 19, 2018