Isabelle’s Top Floor Flat of an Old Converted Church in London
Name: Isabelle Palmer, the Balcony Gardener Location: Hampstead; London, United Kingdom Size: 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 14 years; Owned Isabelle Palmer has made a career out of small space gardening, and it’s not hard to see how her home has inspired her business. Isabelle’s flat is a top-floor treasure inside of an old converted church in London’s leafy Hampstead neighborhood. Living in one place for the past 14 years, Isabelle has constantly reinvented the space.
Feb 28, 2019
Tamasyn’s Colorful, Patterned London Flat
Name: Tamasyn Gambell Location: Bow; London, United Kingdom Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath Years lived in: 3 years; owned Who else lives here: Tamasyn’s boyfriend Jamie and their baby Stepping into the home of Tamasyn Gambell, the first thing you notice are the patterns and collections, but go deeper into the home and you will see that her use of pattern and color is united by nature themes which lend a tranquil feel to the home.
Feb 28, 2019
Carl & Ben’s Modern Art Collective London Flat
Name: Carl Blucher & Ben Location: Hackney; London, UK Size: 900 square feet Lived in: 1 year; Owned Carl has built his career curating gorgeous collections for retail stores throughout London, and his home is filled with the best furniture, art, and objects he has found. Located in a classic Victorian mansion, Carl’s flat is the exact opposite of what you expect to find in an old Victorian building.
Feb 28, 2019
This West Elm Sofa Is a Longtime AT Favorite—And It’s on Sale for 20% Off
This is the best deal on West Elm right now.
Feb 28, 2019
The Hottest Real Estate Listing for February 2019 Would Cost You $37,000 a Month
Whether or not you’re actually in the market for a new home, scrolling through real estate listings can be habit-forming. Looking at all the cool living spaces available can be oodles of fun, even if they’re halfway across the country or seriously out of your budget. Case in point? One of Trulia’s most popular listings this month: This stunning nine-bedroom, 10-bathroom mansion in Encino, California. At a listing price of $7.
Feb 28, 2019
Enjoy Renting Because Homeownership Really Does Suck Up All Your Cash
You saved up that down payment—and those extra closing costs. The furniture has been bought and the rooms have been painted. You’ve sent the movers a deposit and even paid your first mortgage payment! You’re past the most stressful financial part of homeownership, right? Not so fast. A large portion of American homeowners say they’re still facing financial anxiety—even after move-in day.
Feb 28, 2019
Target Just Announced an Upcoming Collab with Vineyard Vines
If you’ve been waiting for the next big brand collab from Target, well, we have great news. The Minneapolis-based retailer announced today that it’s partnering with vineyard vines for an exclusive collection that will launch this spring. Details are slim at the moment, but what we do know is that the collection will launch online and in stores on May 18, 2019, just in time for summer fun.
Feb 28, 2019
This Apartment Building’s Luxury Amenity? Daisy, The Newfoundland
It’s one thing to check into a hotel, like at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco, where Buster, the hotel’s “Canine Operating Officer” is available 24/7 for an on-demand cuddle. But to get to live in a rental building with an on-site dog who lives in the lobby during the day? That’s a building I want to move into right now. To that end, meet Daisy the 12-year-old ‘House Dog’ at NEXT Apartments in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
Feb 28, 2019
Before and After: This Basement Living Room Was Lacking a Wow Factor
This garden-level space was the home’s entrance, office, guest room, and living room all in one, and though it was full of intriguing art, fantastic patterns, and great furniture, it needed a little something to make it as welcoming and cozy as possible. Removable wallpaper to the rescue!
Feb 28, 2019
Partner
4 Interior Design Students Share Their Favorite Tips for Refreshing Small Spaces
No one knows interior design better than interior designers, and no one knows small spaces better than students living in New York (#studioliving), so it makes sense that interior design students really know how to make small spaces sing.
Feb 28, 2019
A Couple (and 3 Cats) Beautifully Renovated This Old House
Name: Sara Ruch, husband, and three cats Location: Jersey City, New Jersey Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned My husband and I bought this home in the fall of 2017, after searching for close to a year in the Jersey City area. We knew we wanted a single family home, and the process was so much longer and more competitive than we imagined. We were lucky to have our offer accepted on this home, which was previously owned by the same family for many years dating back to WWII.
Feb 28, 2019
You Still Have Time To Cancel Your Plans and Snuggle Up with the Coziest Blankets on Etsy
It’s not getting warm anytime soon for most of the country, and while that forecast can feel a tad bleak, it also means that we’re not saying farewell to blanket season quite yet. From oversized thick knits to lightweight throws, blankets come in all shapes and sizes—and they can all be found on Etsy, the online marketplace for one-of-a-kind goods.
Feb 28, 2019
This Is How You Get a Perfect 850 Credit Score
In the world of credit, establishing a credit score of 850 is like being granted a lifetime achievement award. Both FICO and Vantage—widely used credit-scoring models—consider 850 to be the highest possible credit score. The score is perfect. Exceptional. Untarnished. But… is it possible? The short answer, according to experts: Well, yes. But an 850 credit score takes time and strategy.
Feb 27, 2019
Bazaar Daily Finds
Japanese Leather Safari Chair – $695 – A classic safari chair design, easy to dismantle for portability, in raw Japanese leather with black trim. One available – NYC Wednesday, February 27 Dear Readers, What are you looking for? We’ve just cleaned out and relaunched our marketplace as Bazaar – the best place on the web for vintage designer furnishings and accessories directly from others in our community. These are my top picks for today.
Feb 27, 2019
The Least Expensive City to Own a Home in Every U.S. State
When it comes to owning a home, it’s all about location, location, location. The city you choose to put down roots will affect so many aspects of your life, including the home you can afford. While certain urban hubs are notorious for being unaffordable, there are other markets that make buying a home just a little more achievable. Wondering where housing costs are lowest in your state? Yearly, the Census Bureau produces the American Community Survey (ACS), which asks U.S.
Feb 27, 2019
How a $300 Portable Washing Machine Makes New York City Actually Livable
Living in New York City brings its fair share of rewards and challenges. For me, the biggest continuous struggle—even after almost a decade in NYC—was doing laundry (#blessed, I know). When I lived in Brooklyn, my building had a basement laundry room, but it was creepy down there and I learned the hard way that the super locked the room at 9 p.m.—with my wet clothes trapped overnight in a washing machine.
Feb 27, 2019
4 Ways to Achieve an Anxiety-Friendly Home
Designing a cozy home isn’t just about on-point aesthetics. Have you ever thought about how your home actually makes you feel? Interior designers and therapists alike believe home design influences your well-being and emotions, and can even exacerbate your anxiety and stress levels. Whether you are facing clinical anxiety or situational stress, creating a peaceful living space is a great first step toward preventing—and managing—stressful emotions.
Feb 27, 2019
Before and After: This Bathroom Answers the Question “Can You Paint Tile?”
While this bathroom would have been the absolute height of luxury and style a few short years ago—and it’s still extremely nice—it was basically the opposite of its owner’s style. After a creative, approachable DIY, this went from earth-toned bath to brightly colored… ball pit? Roxanne of @daintylibrarian is a visionary who saw a spa tub and thought, probably, “This could be a lot more fun.
Feb 27, 2019
8 Rooms That Just Might Make You Abandon Your All-White Bedding
For as clean and unobtrusive as all-white bedding can be, it’s also a bit, well, boring. So we searched our home tours high and low for eye-catching bedding–that isn’t plain white—to show just what a little color and pattern can do in a bedroom. Here are eight bedrooms that might make you rethink your all-white bedding. A little color goes a long way in an all-white room.
Feb 27, 2019
A KonMari Cleanse Allows This Couple to Live Comfortably in a Small NYC Home
Name: Erica Riha and fiancé Location: Upper East Side — New York, New York Size: Under 500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting My fiancé and I moved into our Upper East Side apartment a few years ago after living in a much larger Queens one bedroom. We both work on West 57th Street and moved to have a shorter commute, the trade-off being less space; I’m an interior designer so I knew I could handle the challenge.
Feb 27, 2019
How You Can Use Chopsticks to Seemingly Double Your Fridge Space
This quick trick instantly delivers more space—just by raiding your utensil drawer.
Feb 27, 2019
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard Created a Plant-Based Baby Line (and OMG, There Are Sloth Diapers)
In between juggling film and TV roles, being a wife, mother and getting her zen on with the help of organization photos, Kristen Bell somehow managed to find time to launch a line of baby products with her husband Dax Shepard. This week, the couple announced a collection of baby goods named Hello Bello, an adorable moniker that pairs well with Kristen and Dax’s reputation for being unbelievably cute at all times. There’s even a nod to K-Bell’s favorite animal—the sloth.
Feb 26, 2019
This Amazon Vitamix Blender Sale Is Better than Black Friday
If you’ve ever missed out on a Vitamix sale and later regretted it, today you can redeem yourself. Amazon’s Deal of the Day features two full-sized Vitamix models, including one for nearly half off. Deal of the Day quantities are often limited, and come midnight PST, the sale will be over. So, really, what are you waiting for? We doubt you’ll ever see a Vitamix for $150 again.
Feb 26, 2019
Chip & Joanna Gaines Just Bought a Literal Castle
This is the ultimate fixer upper.
Feb 26, 2019
How to Make Your TV Feel Like a Real Part of Your Design Scheme
It doesn’t matter if you have a streaming service or cable box or if you binge-watch the latest shows the second they air or only tune in for big things like the Super Bowl, practically everyone has a television set somewhere in your home. And, more likely than not, your television is the focal point of whatever room it’s in. Do those lounge chairs in your living room face your television set instead of each other?
Feb 26, 2019
Before and After: This Is Not a Minimalist, Monochromatic Bathroom Makeover
This master bathroom was perfectly fine, but certainly not in keeping with the rest of Studio DIY’s vibrantly playful, creative, fun, and always-intriguing design sensibility. This one is definitely not a minimalist, monochromatic makeover. Studio DIY turned an ordinary bathroom into something undeniably fabulous. The green tile on its own is utterly glorious, a lush color that would be the statement in many bathrooms.
Feb 26, 2019
These Paint Roller Hacks Will Save You Time, Money and Mess
Make your whole project that much easier.
Feb 26, 2019
6 Majorly Discounted Pieces We Love From AllModern’s Warehouse Sale
The midcentury modern trend isn’t going anywhere–it’s so prevalent we’re just as likely to refer to it by its initials, MCM. The prevalence of the trend also means you can now spend as much–or as little–as you want on these vintage-inspired buys. But rather than compromise quality for price, we like to find reliably affordable sites like AllModern that still sell things that will last.
Feb 25, 2019
Look Inside: A $619K Vintage Colonial That Perfectly Blends Whimsy & Americana
Photos courtesy Jennifer Procopio A historic home with all the modern updates. 2 Murray Street Located in Norwalk, Connecticut $619,000 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms This home makes a serious first impression—both inside and out. The punchy red exterior of this vintage colonial is offset by the modern entrance. Here, you open the front door to an entry with a raised panel staircase and spacious coat closet—all wrapped with statement-making geometric wallpaper.
Feb 25, 2019
5 Surprising Places to Live in the U.S. If You Love Hiking
For some people, a big backyard is a priority—as in a backyard that boasts hundreds of miles of trails perfect for weekends spent hiking and exploring. You know of the biggies like the Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon and The Narrows in Zion National Park. But there are several, lesser-known destinations throughout the United States where hiking is spectacular, thanks in part to preservation efforts, volunteers who groom the trails, and good ole’ Mother Nature.
Feb 25, 2019
Embrace the Ease of a “Day-of” Party (So You Can See Your Friends More)
Life is stressful enough as it is—so make this the weekend you stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself when it comes to hosting. Does your house need to be impeccably clean with a three-course dinner planned and a carefully crafted evite in order to have a good time? No. Is it easy to get swept up in appearances and pretend it does? Absolutely.
Feb 25, 2019
Bazaar Daily Finds
Crate & Barrel End Table – $150 obo – Like New. Driftwood base – round glass top. List Price $400 – SHIPS Monday, February 25 Dear Readers, What are you looking for? We’ve just cleaned out and relaunched our marketplace as Bazaar – the best place on the web for vintage designer furnishings and accessories directly from others in our community. These are my top picks for today.
Feb 25, 2019
Before and After: This KonMari-ed IKEA Closet Cost $1,700 and Is Basically a Boutique
It took two days to create this walk-in wonderland.
Feb 25, 2019
Why You Should Put “Clean the Fridge” at the Top of Your Grocery List
I hate to toss around tired old adages, but the truth of the matter is that taking care of a problem when it’s small is far easier than addressing a bigger problem once it’s grown. “Stitching in time” is particularly relevant when it comes to home-keeping—where procrastination, like not sweeping dirt from hardwood floors, can lead to major tasks like eventually refinishing your scratched-up floor.
Feb 25, 2019
Yes, Marie Kondo Really Wrote a Graphic Novel About Tidying Up
Does reading bring you joy? What about organizing and tidying, do those things bring you joy? Are you able to fold your shirts so that they have the ability stand on their own (spoiler alert: I still struggle with this)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then brace yourself, because tidying guru Marie Kondo is releasing a new book.
Feb 24, 2019
How To Disguise Drying Dishes?
Q: Hi all! We are renovating a town home and I have a question related to our kitchen renovation. With the new layout the sink needs to be in a center kitchen island which faces our main kitchen/dining area, as opposed to against a wall. Are there any solutions for drying dishes (e.g. draining pans) that somehow hide the dishes that people have had success with?
Feb 24, 2019
How To Make Playdough with Kool-Aid
Playdough can provide hours of entertainment for kids and adults! Next time you find your store-bought dough has reached the end of its road, try making your own. It’s a simple, fun process, and a great way to introduce kids to the kitchen in a way they’ll be excited about!
Feb 24, 2019
How To Make a Paper Airplane
Along with being allowed to write in pen, chew bubblegum, and walk home from school alone, being able to construct your very own airplane is a sort of rite of passage when you’re a kid. If it’s been a while since you’ve made one, brush up on your skills and share it with your favorite niece, nephew, or young friend. The basic dart is one of the simplest airplanes to make.
Feb 24, 2019
An Easy, Inexpensive Method: How To Clean Silver Jewelry Without Buying Silver Cleaner
Are you ignoring your gorgeous artisan jewelry (you know, that piece that you had to have at the craft market?) because it’s tarnished and you just keep forgetting to pick up silver cleaner at the store? We’ve been there. And we have a simple solution for you using what you’ve probably already got in your pantry! Lemon juice Baking sodaClean ragWarm waterDishwashing detergent 1. In a small dish, add lemon juice to a small amount of baking soda to make a paste.
Feb 24, 2019
How To Paint a Brick Fireplace
The fireplace is almost always the centerpiece of the room —all furniture and decor tend to revolve around it. If you don’t happen to be head over heels for yours, chances are you won’t ever really love that room. The most effective and satisfying way to remedy the problem? Update the interior with paint. Cleaning supplies (vinegar + water, nylon scrub brush) Dropcloth Painters tape Paintbrush Small paint roller for textured surfaces Primer Flat or Satin topcoat Clean.
Feb 24, 2019
3 Ways to Display Your Collections
If you have a collection of lovely things, why keep it hidden? We’ve dug through our video archives to find three great ideas for displaying your favorite things, so you can see them and enjoy them every day. Is your jewelry collection all jumbled up in a drawer? Hang it up! You can use a rack like in the video, or create a pegboard display like Parisian jewelry designer Sophia did.
Feb 24, 2019
How To Replace an Electrical Outlet
Are your outlets holding plugs nice and snug? If not, it might be time for you to change them out. Yes, fatigued outlets are a nuisance but they can also be potential fire hazards. And what about the appearance of your outlets? Are they old and outdated and could stand a new look? Don’t be intimidated! It’s not as hard as it looks (or expensive!) to replace an electrical outlet. ScrewdriverNeedle nose pliersNew electrical outlet (Also called a receptacle.
Feb 24, 2019
Spring Cleaning: 3 Tips for Your Cleanest Home Yet
Spring is here! It’s the season of flowers and bunnies and new life, and it’s also the season for throwing open the windows and doors and giving your home a really deep clean. We’ve dug through our Apartment Therapy video archives for some of our best cleaning tips. Here are three solutions and shortcuts that will have your home gleaming in no time. Here’s a tip from Maxwell about how to get the chrome in your bathroom super shiny.
Feb 24, 2019
Spring Cleanout: 5 Things to Get Rid of Right Now
In last week’s video roundup we wrote about spring cleaning, but we may have put the cart before the horse a bit: after all, it’s hard to clean effectively when your house is full of clutter. So this week we’re focusing on something we’re calling a ‘spring cleanout’ — getting rid of some of the unnecessary stuff that’s been burdening you so you (and your home) can feel light and free in the coming season.
Feb 24, 2019
How To Make a Moth-Repellent Sachet
Whether you’re just pulling out your sweaters or putting them away for the season, a moth repellent is key to making your winter wools last. Forget the stinky, toxic moth balls—and who really has the space for a cedar closet? What you need is good smelling, tiny alternative, and we’ve got just the thing!
Feb 24, 2019
How To Make a Room Diffuser
Scents play a pretty significant role in my home, and I’m always searching for the perfect combo of comfort, cleanliness, and freshness. Creating your own room diffusers allow you the opportunity to make exactly the fragrance you are looking for — and it’s way more cost effective than what you’ll find in a boutique. bamboo skewers or paper straws Essential Oils 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup vodka 1/3 cup mineral oil Vase or similar container 1.
Feb 24, 2019
The Last Lap: Empty the Outbox
Hopefully by this point in the Cure you are an outbox convert, like me. I believe it really is the easiest way to break the hold that things can have on us and create a less crowded home. You’ve been filling ’em up for the weeks now and it’s finally time to take the last step and let go. Today is the day to make a plan to empty those outboxes.
Feb 24, 2019
The “Finally Off the To-Do List” Bedroom Closet Makeover
Project by: Erica of Dwell Beautiful Location: Seattle With the new year beginning and the days getting longer, I got inspired to tackle one of the bigger projects that’s been on my to-do list for over a year: our master closet. Our master closet is unique in the fact that we have to walk through it in order to get to our master bathroom. There is no door on it of any sort, and I can see directly into from my bed.
Feb 24, 2019