Apartment Therapy Archive: Mar 2019

“Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy, evening TV?…” You know how the rest of the song goes. You can’t help but sing it any time that “Full House” is mentioned because it is one of those theme songs that get stuck in your head. Well, get ready to hum it non-stop, because you’re going to see quite a bit of news about the “Full House” house over the next few weeks. It is going to be on the market!

It is finally spring! Springtime means we can enjoy the beauty of nature, now that those cold and dreary days of winter are behind us. Is there anything more refreshing than looking at flowers blooming after spending weeks on end surrounded by dull gray skies? Of course not! If you’re a fan of cherry blossoms, you’re in luck! You don’t need to drive all the way to Washington D.C. to enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival (though it is something incredible to see).

American churches were built in bounty in the 1950s as a result of post-war population growth and a national focus on family values—but as time has gone on, more Americans are identifying as “nones” (none-affiliated), forcing these places of community gathering to close, as the cost of upkeep outweighs the number of congregants. Each year, between 6,000 and 10,000 American churches close.

Is it just us, or does buying a bathmat feel like a Catch-22? On the one hand, you need a mat in your bathroom. What’s the alternative? Getting your floor all wet or, even worse, slipping after a relaxing bath or shower? Um, no thank you. But while bathmats are integral to every home, you have to admit they’re not always the most stylish accessories.

When my husband and I first started looking for a house in 2017, we had just brought our second baby home from the hospital. By the time we sat down at the settlement table, she was just a few weeks away from crawling. Neither of us expected the process to take so long. After all, “for sale” signs were going up and coming down across the state with breakneck speed. We didn’t realize at the time that those quick moving properties were actually bad news for us as buyers.

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” – You to your best friend when they try to steal your TV-watching seat on a Sunday night. As every “Game of Thrones” lover knows, there are only two weeks until one of the best TV shows to ever air on HBO returns. After an extremely lengthy hiatus, the series is returning for an eighth and final season.

Driving to work can eat up your time, stress you out, and pollute the air. Worse, owning a car gets expensive. But in many cities across the U.S., you don’t have much of a choice—but some places allow you to sit back and let a bus, train, subway, or streetcar take you where you need to go. Some of the best places for those that don’t want to drive? New York, New York; Union City, New Jersey; and San Francisco, California, says Redfin’s 2019 Transit Score report.

It doesn’t matter if you were playing with your American Girl Dolls, doodling in a coloring book, or racing a stylish set of Hot Wheels, one thing’s for sure: A child’s playroom is so, so much more than a room. It’s a place where kids can foster their creativity and, well, be kids. Chances are, you probably have some pretty wonderful memories if you were lucky enough to have your very own childhood playroom.

Name: Sergio Gutierrez Location: Santander, Spain Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Sergio first lived in this small studio apartment—around 500 square feet—by himself, but when his partner and then a baby came along, the family moved from this space into a larger home.

If you’re anything like me, you have a flurry of thoughts swirling somewhere in the back of your head—ones that whisper their contents inconveniently as you’re trying to sleep or sit and relax. They’re the voices you shush as you pick up your book or flick on the TV. Not that you should heed their every intonation, but some of these thoughts are possibly (probably?) necessary to-dos that you’ve been putting off for years.

It’s that time of year again. The time where we either pull out the cumbersome, confusing forms to file our taxes—or look to an online service to do most of the heavy lifting for us. (Hello, Turbo Tax.) Last year’s major tax changes seemingly doubled or tripled the annual filing headache on top of all of the additional requirements for homeowners.

When it comes to our homes, people tend to have strong opinions. Millennials are abandoning their top sheets. People argue about whether or not you should keep your toaster on the counter or in the cupboards. Just recently, people online were debating about how many towels people need in their homes, and the results were varied. But the newest heated debate on Twitter has to do with what side of the bed you sleep on. Twitter user Steve O’Rourke is at the heart of this online debate.

A good bar setup at home ensures that you’re always ready for happy hour. Luckily, Amazon is brimming with cute and clever bar accessories—many of which are priced for 10n bucks or less. Read ahead for seven items that will transform your bar cart—for cheap. Looking for an easy way to squeeze some fresh lemon or lime into your cocktail? This savvy spritzer has serrated teeth, so you can stick it straight inside a piece of fruit and then spray away.

Tired of telling your niece you can’t come to her birthday party out in the ‘burbs because you have to get some work done this weekend? Or maybe it’s more that you have too much time—like you’re underemployed and can’t partake in all the amazing opportunities your city offers? It may be time to move to a city with a better work-life balance. Might I suggest Provo-Orem, Utah?

Now that we’re officially done with winter and spring has sprung, we’re headed toward better weather days. We can expect to see some beautiful flowers blooming shortly. However, before we get flowers, you know how the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” The rain isn’t too awful unless you have dogs. Every dog owner knows that with rain comes mud and with mud comes muddy paws.

It’s no secret that streamlining is in right now. Many of us are carefully evaluating everything from our wardrobes to our kitchenware and enjoying feeling lighter as we let unneeded belongings go. And with that, it’s no surprise that we’re more and more drawn to a streamlined look when it comes to furniture and decor, too. Take bed frames and headboards, for example. Gone are the days of tufted, upholstered numbers and in are sleek, simple wooden options, like the ones below.

A little over a year ago, Dani Rosenthal was at a crossroads. After spending more than 10 years working for homeware and apparel companies, she was looking to leave city-life and spend more time in Lake Arrowhead, California, where her family had decades-long roots. She loved architecture and historic renovations, and wanted to nurture these interests. After talking to friends and family members, she thought maybe becoming a real estate agent could be a smart next step.

The days are getting longer, the weather is finally warming up a bit, and pastel season is just around the corner. While you may not think to switch up your home decor for spring the way you would for the winter holidays, there are tons of adorable, seasonally appropriate products that are just too good to pass up. Take a look at some of our favorite pastel picks that make the perfect addition to your space this time of year.

Despite what MTV’s “Cribs” says, the kitchen is where the real magic happens. Not only is the heart of the home meant for whipping up treats both savory and sweet, but they host communal meals around the table that create the best of memories. It should come as no surprise that delicious-looking food is often created in delicious-looking spaces, and we have the Instagram fodder liked by you to prove it.

Do you have a pretty deep love of your bed? Is it your hardest goodbye each morning and your fondest hello at night? Yeah, same here. We love to sleep and we especially love to be cozy in our beds. If sleeping for two months straight sounds like something right up your alley, then you might want to check out this opportunity from NASA. Yes, NASA, as in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Independent reported that NASA is looking to pay volunteers $18,500 for 60 days of work.

Name: Blair Wilson, my spouse Stephen, and our two pets, Tina the dog and Masaki the cat Location: Historic downtown — Frederick, Maryland Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Three years ago we were living in suburban Washington D.C., and on a weekend drive we discovered charming and picturesque Frederick, Maryland.

Still using the same basic brushes to clean all the nooks and crannies of your apartment? You should know there’s a whole world of superhero brushes and scrubbers with all kinds of special features that will help cut your cleaning time in two. From soap dispensing dish brushes to a rechargeable spinning scrubber, here are eight cleaning brushes that will put your current basics to shame: Consider this soap-dispensing sink brush the Cadillac of dish brushes.

Have you ever been forced to defend your TV viewing habits? One of the most grating examples of this is trying to explain why you keep watching the same shows over and over again. Honestly, if you don’t already know why I’m dedicated to rewatching “Nurse Jackie” every few months, then you might want to check out a new study from the University of Chicago. Long story short: Rewatching stuff you’ve seen a million times before just makes you feels good.

Out with the old and in with the new—it’s time to KonMari your Netflix queue. This is what’s coming to the streaming service in April, along with what you can thank and say goodbye to. Our favorite teen witch is back for season two—The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina debuts April 5. If you want to get scared a little sooner, check out Freddy vs. Jason and Friday the 13th, starting April 1.

It’s confession time: Like a fair amount of Americans who consume alcoholic beverages, I too, have participated in the act (or art?) of drunk shopping. If you’ve ever woken up to an order confirmation you don’t remember, you’re not alone. One survey reports just how much tipsy shoppers are spending, and where they’re doing the damage.

Name: Marta Escoda, husband Albert, and kids Ivet, Marc, and Alex Location: Sabadell — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned When personal shopper and stylist Marta Escoda decided to move into her grandparent’s apartment, she knew it would need renovating. But while she wanted a fresh start and to make new memories in this place, she also knew this apartment was part of her history and heritage, and desired to keep some of the original character.

I'm a lifelong renter and IKEA products have come to the rescue for many of my rental conundrums over the years.

For as relaxing as taking a long, hot shower can be everyday, are they really all that good for your skin? We hit up skincare experts Rhea Souhleris Grous, Director of Aesthetics at Union Square Laser Dermatology and celeb-esthetician Renee Rouleau to help us break down the effects—both good and bad—that regularly indulging in hot showers can have on your body.

“The Simpsons” is in its 30th season—and now holds the title of the longest-running primetime scripted series. Over three decades, we’ve seen hundreds of versions of the opening theme, ending with the family together on the couch, in a home most Americans would probably recognize. That said, Springfield (and its surrounding areas) has some other pretty awesome places to live. So here’s a selection of the coolest pads in “The Simpsons” universe.

When it comes to curb appeal, prospective home buyers are being wooed by a classic: red brick exteriors. Trulia zeroed in on the trend after analyzing its most searched listings for March. Among the East Coast properties that are garnering the most attention, several had red brick facades, according to the real estate and rental listing site. Red brick is an oldie—some people may say “dated,” even—but others may see it as a “goodie” for its vintage charm.

A mix between "Mad Men" and "Pee Wee Herman," artist Kim Alpert's self-proclaimed style is "Folk Futurism."

One day we’ll collectively evolve into a society that fully supports the struggles of juggling work and parenting. But until we can get everyone (employers, specifically) to get on board with stuff like paid family leave, here’s a list of cities that are the best—and not so great—for working moms. First, the not so good news—the list excludes an entire region of the country, which isn’t exactly promising for mothers in the Northeast.

Whether it’s recycling, composting, or using cloth grocery bags, living an organic, eco-conscious lifestyle has never been easier. And great news, travelers: this can be the case for when you’re vacationing, too, as you don’t always have to choose between chic and luxury or environmentally-conscious. Say hello to this ultra-chic luxury bell tent in Tulum, Mexico, that is totally eco-friendly.

Lacquered Regency Desk – $1500 or best offer – I have a Lacquered Regency Desk in white from Anthropologie available for $1,500, OBO. This piece of furniture was bought for home staging, and therefore looks brand new. There are a few scuffs along the edges. I can provide more pictures upon request. Retails for $1,998. – SHIPS From Maxwell: Dear Readers, What are you looking for?

Name: Chelsea Del Rio, and cats Cat Millett and Fannie Purrkins Location: Sunnyside, NYC Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting I share my apartment with my feline companions Cat Millett and Fannie Purrkins (named after queer women in history because that’s my thing). This home was a miracle.

Welcome to UnReal Estate, where we take characters from pop culture and reimagine their fantasy spaces into homes fit for the “real world.” Barbie has it all, right? It’s been 60 years since the iconic blonde was born and she’s never failed to impress us with her trendy closet, impressive career (Doctor! Detective! Astronaut! Olympic gymnast!), and stellar girl squad. But for most design enthusiasts, the coolest part of Barbie’s life is her real estate.

Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects is a guided program designed to help you get the happy, healthy home you’ve always wanted, one weekend at a time. Sign up now for email updates so you never miss a lesson. Is there such a thing as being caught up on housework? I never have been. Even if your weekly chores have been completed and the laundry monster mountain has been defeated, there’s probably something around the house that’s been bothering you to get it done.

There have been so many milestones to celebrate in the world of grooming expert-turned-figure skater Jonathan Van Ness. First, as we already know and have binged, the third season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” premiered this month. Second, the Fab Five member turned 32 today (happy birthday, JVN!). And third, Van Ness’s beloved podcast “Getting Curious” aired over one-hundred episodes. Can you believe?!

Some people can look at an empty room and visualize where every furniture item will go, what fabric will work for the curtains, and what planter they should buy for the corner by the window. Others need real, tangible inspiration—spaces they can shop like you might buy clothes off of a mannequin. And while there are showrooms for that, they can feel cold and uninviting—it’s hard to picture living in a showroom. Enter: the shoppable stay.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. “Charlie’s Angels,””The Wedding Singer,””Never Been Kissed,” “Ever After”—the list of iconic Drew Barrymore classics goes on and on (and on). As it’s known, however, Barrymore’s success goes well beyond the big screen.

Watching your house sit while it’s on the market can be a real drag. So maybe you’ve been hesitant to list yours. Well, now might be the time if you live in the New York metro area, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, or another major city. The first week of April is a real estate market sweet spot where high buyer demand, low competition, speedy sales, and strong prices come together to give sellers who list a major wallet win. Don’t believe it? We’ll show you the numbers.

We all know we’re supposed to save more money. And that sounds great ’til you try to do it. Money sometimes has this quality of magically expanding and contracting in invisible ways—so even if and when there’s extra cash coming in, for a lot of us there never seems to be any left to save for big financial goals.

When it was time for Dana and Dan Asadorian to renovate, they had a secret weapon: Dana's mother is a wizard when it comes to maximizing space and storage.

Flirting with the idea of a fixer upper? Those who are searching for homes online are majorly crushing on this massive stone home in Philadelphia that was originally built in 1900 and is for sale, “as is,” for $150,000. While the sprawling 2,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms is definitely begging for some TLC, it’s among this month’s “most searched” properties on Trulia, a home and neighborhood site for buyers and renters.

Zig Zag Wooden Credenza $525 BROOKLYN Dark wood zig zag credenza functions as a great dresser or storage piece! From Maxwell: 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.

Drew Barrymore is a woman of many talents. She’s been a Hollywood mainstay since she was 4 years old, she’s authored best-selling books, she has her own line of wines, and is an official beauty guru thanks to her Flower Beauty line (shoutout to my personal faves the Flower Pots Blush and Light Illusion Foundation). And now, she’s poised to take the world of interiors by storm with her brand new line of furniture and decor, Drew Barrymore Flower Home.