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2019
January

The Latest: Jan 2019

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.
Woman arranging colorful flowers in a vase on a wooden coffee table in a bright living room with large windows.
Here’s Your Chance to Catch Up on the January Cure
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. For those of you who have been doing the Cure with us all month, I hope you’re enjoying it so far, and after a few weeks of small efforts, you’re feeling really good about the state of your space.
Taryn Williford
Jan 24, 2019
You Can’t Win This HGTV Dream Home, But You Can Buy It
It’s one thing to own a luxurious home, but real estate dreams reach peak fabulosity levels when your residence is HGTV-approved. Such is the case with this marvelous property in Gig Harbor, Washington, that is officially on the market after being the network’s coveted prize of Dream Home 2018. At 3,591 square feet, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath coastal home sits on 1.
Kenya Foy
Jan 23, 2019
I Was Able to Buy a Home Because: I Found the Right Agent
If you're in the 63% who doesn't own property, you may be interested in hearing from fellow millennials who accomplished the seemingly impossible. Here's Lauren DiTullio's story.
Brittany Anas
Jan 23, 2019
Tom Dixon’s Latest IKEA Collab Will Make You Never Want to Leave Your Bed
The design partnership that encouraged us to farm in our homes are back with yet another innovative home goods product, and you’ll probably want to take the news lying down—in bed, that is. Perhaps that will help you to better visualize the functionality behind British designer Tom Dixon and IKEA’s customizable bed. The aluminum modular bed marks the second offering from the DELAKTIG line, whose inaugural release was the sleek hackable sofa with interchangeable cushions.
Kenya Foy
Jan 23, 2019
Here’s What Nobody Tells You About Painting Walls White
Here's what you should know, before you pick up that paint roller.
Elizabeth Seward
Jan 23, 2019
This Bright Loft in a Former Sewing Factory Is the Most Colorful Home
Name: George Banks-Weston, my husband, Mark, and our dog, Hilde Location: South Kensington, Philadelphia Size: 1,550 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Our loft is in a building that used to be a sewing factory. My husband, Mark, is a collage artist from Port Antonio, Jamaica and I am a food blogger from a small town in Pennsylvania.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jan 23, 2019
Freezing Weather Turned an Ohio Home Into a Giant Ice Sculpture
The first big storm of 2019 hit over the weekend, some areas saw inches of snow, while others saw freezing rain. The weather plummeted to far-below freezing, with areas in the East Coast getting slammed with temperatures below 5 degrees and with the wind chill, it felt even colder. It officially means that winter is here and we’re in for a brutal one. You might want to rethink your definition of freezing after looking at this picture.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 22, 2019
A Small and Chic Paris Apartment Maximizes Every Inch
Name: Louise Lechat, husband Guillaume Lechat, and 11-month-old daughter Location: Paris, France Size: 580 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned My husband and I bought the apartment in 2016 and use it as our base when we are in Paris. We are both photographers. It’s in a really vibrant area of Paris called Pigalle, which is just below Montmartre. It’s on the sixth floor (without an elevator) but there is a window on the roof, which we replaced with a Velux window.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jan 22, 2019
10 “Tidying Up” Memes to Laugh at While You Avoid Decluttering Your Home
We’re too busy laughing to use the KonMari method right now.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 22, 2019
7 Things You Shouldn’t Do Before Renting an Apartment
If you’ve got your eye on a dream apartment—or any apartment, actually—you want to make sure you position yourself as a top-notch renter. Chances are, you’ll be competing with several other would-be tenants for a rental unit, which, of course, is stating the obvious for anyone who has apartment hunted (scavenged?) in places like New York City or Los Angeles.
Brittany Anas
Jan 22, 2019
I Was Able to Buy a Home Because: I Kept My Living Costs Low for Years
According to a 2015 Urban Institute report, delayed marriage and student loan debt are the biggest factors holding millennials back from buying homes. But though the path to homeownership is rocky, many millennials still want that “American Dream.” In fact, according to the Census Bureau, nearly 37 percent of them already own homes.
Brittany Anas
Jan 22, 2019
Before and After: Small Changes Led To This Dining Room’s Dramatic Makeover
This dining room had so much going for it—moody accent wall, nice wood table, gorgeous chairs and credenza, plenty of daylight, enviably high ceilings—but after a light makeover, it’s quite a bit brighter and fresher. Christina Marie Amundson—The Inherited Home on Instagram—achieved a dramatic makeover by making just a few smart changes.
Tess Wilson
Jan 22, 2019
One Small Way to Get a Head Start on Spring Cleaning
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. Checklists and chore charts are great ways of staying on top of your everyday housekeeping.
Taryn Williford
Jan 22, 2019
Hot Topic Sells a Polly Pocket Makeup Palette and Every ‘90s Kid Is Going to Want One
Who didn’t love Polly Pocket growing up? It was one of those toys you could play with for hours on end. If someone pulled out a little Polly Pocket set right now, that would be the easiest way to tell who the ’90s kids are in the room. The Pocket name comes from the fact that the dolls came inside of pocket-sized compacts. Once you opened the case, it formed a dollhouse that the tiny figurine could fit inside. Along with the dollhouse, Polly Pocket had a huge wardrobe.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 21, 2019
I Was Able to Buy a Home Because: I Borrowed from an Unexpected Source
Though some people may consider a dream home to come with a garage, hardwood floors, and the most quiet neighbors in history, truth be told, simply owning a home could be a millennial dream come true for some. According to a 2015 “Millennial Homeownership” report from the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.
Brittany Anas
Jan 21, 2019
An Eagled-Eyed “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Fan Figured Out Where You Can Buy Her Classic Pyrex Dish
It looks like Midge was ahead of the millennial pink trend!
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 21, 2019
Look Inside: A Funky and Historic Home in East Austin for $740K
This house can be considered vintage and modern all at the same time. 1915 East 10th Street Located in Austin, Texas $740,000 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms This house might look simplistic from the outside—with a sleek white exterior and pretty yellow porch swing—but the inside has a whole lot going on. The East Austin home was first built in 1900, and still features the original structure, long-leaf pine wood flooring, and wood-beamed ceilings.
Anne Roderique-Jones
Jan 21, 2019
7 Tiny Ways to Fit Decluttering Into Your Morning Routine
Nothing is worse than coming home to a messy apartment after a long day, but finding the time to clean in the morning can be equally daunting. That’s why we put together a list of micro decluttering tasks that can easily be incorporated into your morning routine. Read ahead for seven super small ways to organize your space in the AM, so you can start the day off productively (and come home to a tidier place when it’s over). If you’re anything like me (i.e.
Caroline Biggs
Jan 21, 2019
A SoCal-Feeling, Canadian Bohemian Dream Home
Name: Sophie Leger, hubby Laurent, daughters Charlie and Olive, baby boy Louie, and bad dog Willis the miniature dachshund Location: Moncton — NB Canada Size: 2000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned After moving out of our last home, which was very cookie cutter/traditional/boxy/closed off, we knew what we didn’t want. So when we stepped foot in this house, we both instantly fell in love. It was just so bright, open, and airy with the skylights and vaulted ceilings.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jan 21, 2019
You’re 6 Sticky Notes Away from Eliminating Your Paper Clutter Problem
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. You already know your paper problem areas. Maybe it’s the kitchen counter, dining room table, entryway console, or the front of the fridge—or maybe it’s all of the above.
Taryn Williford
Jan 21, 2019
This Hotel In Aspen Has a Resident Bernese Mountain Dog That Will Cuddle With You
Booking my trip to Aspen ASAP!
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 20, 2019
6 Expert Tips for Using Mortgage Comparison Sites
You can shop for just about anything online these days, from your groceries to shipping containers-turned-houses. So, when it comes to home buying, it only feels natural for digital natives to crack open the laptop to start shopping for a mortgage. Once you tell Google you’re in the market for a mortgage, oodles of comparison sites will pop up, eager to get to know you better with icebreakers like “what’s your credit score?”, “where are you looking to buy?
Brittany Anas
Jan 20, 2019
3 Things You’re Forgetting to Pay Attention to When You’re Shopping for a Home (And 3 to Ignore)
If you’re in the market for a house, first of all, congrats! Buying a home is one of the most rewarding—albeit at times exasperating—things you’ll do in your life. By the time you’re ready to buy, you likely have a sufficient grasp on the basic necessities: a solid foundation, a roof that doesn’t leak, wiring that won’t cause your new home to spontaneously combust, and so on. But what about the other stuff you should be mindful of?
Julie Sprankles
Jan 20, 2019
Your Obsession With “Tidying Up” Might Just Be Overwhelming Your Local Thrift Store
We’re not sure – does this spark joy or no?
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 19, 2019
10 Colorful Living Room Ideas to Steal From IKEA
If your living room could use a jolt of color, these images are sure to inspire.
Karen Marsala
Jan 19, 2019
The Best Real Estate Advice for Couples, According to Divorce Attorneys
First comes love. Then comes marriage… or a civil union or cohabitation. From there, we’re cheering for something along the lines of “and they lived happily ever after.” But because life is full of plot twists—and because divorce rates are around 40 to 50 percent in the United States—it can be important to take some precautions when you’re buying a house with a partner. Who better to offer that advice than divorce attorneys?
Brittany Anas
Jan 19, 2019
Target Is Giving Away $20 Gift Cards Today If You Spend $100 On Baby Items
Planning to head to Target this weekend to aimlessly wander the aisles? If you’re a parent, that aimless Target run is actually going to benefit you tremendously. Everyone knows that babies are not cheap. They are growing every day, spitting up on their clothes, and bursting through diapers left and right. Infants go through onesies in the blink of an eye. It would seem that Target understands just how much it costs to raise a child.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Jan 19, 2019
These 4 Bedroom Features Have Fallen Out of Favor
The new year is a great time to reevaulate the aesthetics of your home, especially if you want to make some updates with an eye on resale value. While bathrooms and kitchens offer the most opportunities return on investment, bedrooms also offer ample opportunities for beneficial (and relatively easy!) updates—especially if they feature some common features that now scream “dated.
Kate Streit
Jan 18, 2019
The Best Things to Buy With Your Target Gift Card—Whether You Have $5 or $100
The holidays are over and chances are you have a Target gift card or two burning a hole in your pocket. But before you go blow it all on one fun but frivolous item—guilty!—you might want to consider all the amazing home essentials you could spend yours on instead. To prove our point, we rounded up ten practical products to buy at Target, starting at just 5 bucks. From cleaning tools to luxury sheets, here are the best things to buy for your home using your Target gift card.
Caroline Biggs
Jan 18, 2019
Anthro’s New Collection Reminds Us That Spring Isn’t Far Off
Anthropologie just released a new collection and it’s a perfect match for those of us who love florals and bright colors and hate restraint when decorating. The exclusive collection reimagines the work of Paule Marrot (1902-1987), a French textile designer who favored bold patterns and rich hues in her work. Designed in collaboration with the editors of Paule Marrot Paris, the collection includes goods for the whole home, from the bedroom to the kitchen and everywhere in between.
Nicole Lund
Jan 18, 2019
Ask Alice: I Want My Boyfriend to Move In, But Not His Stuff
Dear Alice, My boyfriend is moving into my apartment. All of the decor in my place is new, in great condition, and I’ve spent a lot of money on it. It is mostly neutrals with a little bit of blues and greens. When he moves in he insists on hanging up his movie and video game posters and placing his little character figurines around the place.
Ask Alice
Jan 18, 2019
Before and After: A Pretty IKEA PAX Hack Elevates This Entire Bedroom
Thanks to a blush of color and a clever installation job, the ubiquitous blank-slate PAX wardrobe from IKEA gets a major upgrade in a graphic designer’s Copenhagen apartment. Four IKEA PAX wardrobes are now painted the same pink as the surrounding walls, giving them the appearance of a built-in closet. Michella Laura has turned pink into a sophisticated neutral that sets off the white bedding and trim to great effect and allows the stunning white-and-blue vintage Murano light to pop.
Tess Wilson
Jan 18, 2019
Marie Kondo Says Her Parents Once Banned Her From Tidying
Here's what Kondo has to say about her childhood home.
Laura Schocker
Jan 18, 2019
No Other Cleaning Project Feels Quite as Satisfying as This One
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. Positive reinforcement is one hell of a high. In our younger days, we might have been motivated to do almost anything for the promise of a gold star or a cookie.
Taryn Williford
Jan 18, 2019
Amy Sedaris’ Apartment Is Just as Quirky as She Is
If you love Amy Sedaris’ quirky, madcap style of humor, then you’ll really love her West Village apartment. New York magazine recently recently published a video tour from Wendy Goodman of the space, which Amy shares with her rabbit, Tina. Commenting on YouTube, user VillageKevTalks described it thus: “it’s like if Barbie, a cat lady, and Wes Anderson shared a home together.” It is! And it’s every bit as delightful as that sounds.
Nancy Mitchell
Jan 17, 2019
The One Thing I Bought (& Still Use!) After KonMari-ing My Entire Home
I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in 2014, shortly after it was released in the United States. I had never read a self-help-style book, but I had always struggled with clutter and felt like I was being pulled in two directions: I wanted to live in hotel room-like minimalism, but I also loathed getting rid of things.
Marshall Bright
Jan 17, 2019
Rent This Chic Shipping Container Tiny House For Under $200
When two of the most popular home building trends collide, you can expect nothing less than stellar results. Guaranteed to put stars in your eyes is this absolutely charming two-story shipping container house from CargoHome. Its stylish tiny digs are roomier than your typical micro home, plus it smartly incorporates the perpetually cool concept of upcycling shipping containers into its chic living spaces.
Kenya Foy
Jan 17, 2019
The Best Free Credit Score Sites, According to Experts
Checking your credit score regularly is smart, especially if you’re planning to buy a home. You shouldn’t have to pay for a monitoring service to help you keep your credit on track, either. Fortunately, you can choose from a variety of free credit score sites and apps to keep tabs on your numbers. But with so many options, which is the best? By law, you’re entitled to view your credit report once a year on annualcreditreport.
Rebecca Renner
Jan 17, 2019
This $5 Trader Joe’s Buy is My Winter Savior
Happy New Year to all of my fellow Trader Joe’s fans suffering from super-scaly appendages, thanks to this lovely cold front we are experiencing! It might be frigid and dry outside, but GUESS WHAT? You still have to wash copious amounts of dishes. Perhaps even more than usual. And go outside to brave the cold regularly. Yay! I have four words for all of you: Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream.
Lauren Masur
Jan 17, 2019
4 Things to Avoid Doing If You’re Trying to Buy a House Sometime Soon
Most first-time home buyers know not to take out a bunch of new debt, quit their job, or ignore their bill due dates when applying for a mortgage. But several other factors—from all those morning java runs, to a lack of planning, to carrying a high credit card balance—can affect your chances at snagging that house at the best interest rate.
Lesley Kennedy
Jan 17, 2019
8 IKEA Bedroom Buys That Look Surprisingly High-End
*Adds to cart*
Kelsey Mulvey
Jan 17, 2019
An Elegant Austin Rental Apartment Is a Lesson in Restraint
Name: Ricky Rodriguez, my partner, Luke Pharr, and our cat, Mr. Bingley Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Our apartment is situated on the banks of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas. Our household consists of myself, my partner, and my cat Mr. Bingley. When we moved in to our apartment a year ago, we wanted to create a space that reflected both of our personalities.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jan 17, 2019
Let’s Bring Your Home’s Big Picture Into Focus with One Small Step
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have big ideas for their home.
Taryn Williford
Jan 17, 2019
The 7 Things No One Ever Tells You About Being an Airbnb Host
If you have Airbnb envy, you’re not alone. After all, it seems so simple: Rent out your place and reap the rewards. But contrary to popular opinion, it’s not that easy—and there are definitely things that can go awry (and they will!).
Lambeth Hochwald
Jan 16, 2019
The Smart Way My Real Estate Agent Quickly Calculates My Home’s Value
Imagine my surprise when my real estate agent gave me a simple appraisal number—and all additional information in a completely jargon-free way.
Dana McMahan
Jan 16, 2019
9 Cliché Decorating Rules We Should All Start Breaking
While some decorating rules of thumb are definitely worth paying attention to, others are made to be broken.
Caroline Biggs
Jan 16, 2019
This Small Project Will Change the Way You Think About Artwork
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. Decluttering is effective at giving your home room to breathe. But equally important is giving that breath some life. Once the counters are clear and the floors have been scrubbed, your happy home should have some warmth and personality underneath.
Taryn Williford
Jan 16, 2019
8 Cool Converted Shipping Container Homes to Rent, Starting at $29/Night
There are glamping tents and treehouses, teepees and covered wagons. But the latest trend in unique vacation rentals? Shipping containers. If you’ve been curious about the tiny house trend—but want something a teeny bit bigger—take one of these eco-friendly homes for a spin. They may be small, but at $100 or less per night, they’re big on value.
Lesley Kennedy
Jan 15, 2019