The Latest
2019
March

The Latest: Mar 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 in pink sweater holding credit card, using laptop at a wooden table with a cup of coffee.
The Best Credit Score Advice Experts Have Ever Heard
As far as credit is concerned, there are no hacks that can cause your score to magically skyrocket overnight. (Ahem, we’re wagging our fingers at schemes promising you a “new credit identity.”) But, what does exist is good, sound credit advice that advocates for responsible borrowing and takes into account the anatomy of your credit score, like utilization and payment history.
Brittany Anas
Mar 8, 2019
I Thought I Was Watching ‘Attack of the Clones’—But It Was Just an Open House
In Los Angeles, people build entire careers out of resembling someone else. There are the impersonators, the stand-ins, and the stunt people who make a living looking like celebrities. It seems pretty cool to look like someone else—until you’re searching to buy your first house in a super competitive real estate market. Suddenly, you’re at an open house, surrounded by a swarm of doppelgängers.
Diana Wright
Mar 7, 2019
This Cute Studio Above a Garage Is How to Do A Lot With a Little
Name: Sarah Choate and a spooky black cat named Jackson Dale Location: Wilmore, Kentucky Size: 400-500 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting This is the first place I’ve lived in totally on my own and so far, I really love the peacefulness that comes with living alone. I’m 24 and work as the marketing coordinator for a faith-based nonprofit that does international community development work.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 7, 2019
These Wooden Pop-Up Hotel Rooms Are Made of Eco-Friendly Shipping Containers
When you hear pop-up accommodations, you’re probably thinking of a tent. AccorHotels has something a bit more glamorous in mind that maintains that connection to your surroundings in an eco-friendly way. The travel and lifestyle group that manages more than 4,300 hotels, resorts, and residences in 100 different countries has entered the commercialization stage for Flying Nest, its mobile hospitality concept.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Mar 7, 2019
8 Things Real Estate Agents Zero In On the Moment They Walk Through Your Door
​Turns out, first impressions are worth a whole lot. Or at least to real estate agents stepping into a home for the first time.
Lambeth Hochwald
Mar 7, 2019
Before and After: This Home Office Nails the Beverly Hills Hotel Vibe on a Budget
After living in her house for five long years, Kate felt a burning need to shake things up. She admits her style has a tendency to change and evolve, and periodically needs to explore a completely new aspect of her personality. This time, she scratched that itch in her home office. The home office had a lot going for it, with its soothing gray-green walls, comfy furniture, and plush shag rug.
Dabney Frake
Mar 7, 2019
Partner
Spring Refresh: 3 No-Fail Projects to Boost Your Curb Appeal
If you feel like you’ve been slogging through cold, rain, and slush for too long, we’ve got good news. Spring (officially) starts March 20, and the shift is in the air. Every week for the lead-up, we’re working with Lowe’s to share quick updates you can do in a weekend, including step-by-step instructions and a list of supplies. This week we’re at the gateway to your home, the front door.
Creative Studio
Mar 7, 2019
I’m 25 and I Can Afford to Live in the City—But Here’s Why I’m Sticking to the Suburbs
Like millions of Americans who graduated with more than $50,000 in student loan debt, I knew it’d be a serious challenge to start my career living in pricey Washington D.C. and pay off my loans. Recent stats show the District’s median rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment is an eye-popping $2,121. At the time, I was only earning $12/hour as a radio station assistant and an unreliable-but-similar rate nannying in the afternoon.
Bridget Reed Morawski
Mar 6, 2019
13 Rooms that Prove Poufs Are the Versatile Furniture Your Home Needs
Think poufs are overrated? Not so fast. There’s a reason these guys keep popping up in room after room. After all, they’re portable, comfortable, colorful, and stylish… certainly not every piece of decor fits this description. Need a little more convincing? Check out the ways in which 14 different homeowners and renters styled poufs in their spaces. Ah, the classic moroccan pouf.
Sarah Lyon
Mar 6, 2019
45 Percent of People Don’t Know Who Pays Their Real Estate Agent—Do You?
Buying a home is expensive. Selling a home is expensive. This is common knowledge. Something I recently learned is not common knowledge? Just who pays the buyer’s real estate agent once a house sells (and who pays the seller’s, too). It’s likely you haven’t really thought about this ever. For expediency’s sake, the answer is “the seller.” Yes, the seller pays their listing agent and the buyer agent’s commission.
Liz Steelman
Mar 6, 2019
This Van Conversion Is Called Big Gigantic, For Good Reason
Transitioning to life on the road is a huge undertaking but thanks to the numerous options for camper and van conversions, the process of pivoting to permanent #vanlife can be a little less harrowing. The latest home-on-wheels to catch our eye deserves an honorable mention based on its name alone: the Big Gigantic is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter build-out, courtesy of Washington-based Freedom Vans.
Kenya Foy
Mar 6, 2019
Another Adorable DIY Van Conversion That’ll Make You Crave a Road Trip
Name: Lara and Adrian Location: Australia Size: Around 150 square feet Years in: 1 year, owned From the house tour of the cute and quirky Melbourne home of Lara Ivachev, Adrian, and their two dogs Otis and Kiku, it’s clear this is a couple that has great style. And that knack for decor extends to the road; they recently renovated a van for taking long and comfortable road trips.
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 6, 2019
IKEA’s Iconic BILLY Bookcase Just Turned 40 and Got a Fresh Birthday Makeover
Am I the only one who wants a complete makeover every time another birthday rolls around? There’s just something about starting a new year that feels like the perfect time to try out a fresh look. My own is coming up next week and I’m already planning to dye my hair a new color and maybe get another ear piercing. And it turns out, IKEA furniture is a fan of the new year, new me mantra too.
Bridget Mallon
Mar 6, 2019
Partner
Simplify Your Spring Cleaning in 10 Minutes a Day
Spring cleaning: It’s a big annual ritual that we actually kind of love, but it doesn’t have to become an overwhelming task that eats up an entire weekend. With little more than an all-purpose cleaner, a good spray mop, and 10 minutes a day, you can keep a mostly clean house year-round so that when the big weekend does come around…it won’t be so big.Making the bed is one of the most powerful things you can do first thing in the morning.
Tim Minerd
Mar 6, 2019
How to Deal With Being Homesick
We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve packed up your life for a cross-country move, or you’re just on an extended business trip, sometimes you can’t help but feel a little homesick. How can you cope when you’re yearning to be home and more importantly, what do these feelings even mean? We called on clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., to help us break down everything we ever wanted to know about homesickness.
Caroline Biggs
Mar 6, 2019
The 6 Food Choices That Saved Us When My Husband Lost His Job
When my husband came home from work and told me that the next day would be his last at his job, we went into immediate emergency cost-cutting mode. And we quickly learned that the easiest place to slash the budget, in principle, was one of the most painful in practice: our food expenses. We love food—eating it, cooking it, talking about it, sharing it. And an embarrassingly large percentage of our budget went to food—good ingredients, kitchen equipment, eating out.
Dana McMahan
Mar 5, 2019
Alexis Stewart’s NYC Triplex For Sale Is Actually 4 Units in One
While Martha Stewart continues to dominate the world one lifestyle venture at a time (see: her pet CBD line), her daughter Alexis is busy working on a major real estate move. The younger Stewart recently listed her impeccably designed West Village triplex for $53 million, after having purchased the home between 2006 and 2007 for approximately $35 million.
Kenya Foy
Mar 5, 2019
14 Colorful Doors That Make a Great First Impression
Colorful front doors are all the rage right now—just take a quick scroll through Instagram and you’re bound to see dozens. The best part is that you can’t really go wrong shade-wise, so now is the time to be creative. Feeling shy? Try transforming an interior door with a pop of paint and you’ll be amazed at how much brighter your space will look. Feeling a little more bold? Slap a fresh coat of paint on your exterior door to really make a statement.
Sarah Lyon
Mar 5, 2019
The Best Affordable City for Your Zodiac Sign
How does moving to a brand new city sound? For some zodiac sun signs, like Cancers, it might sound terrible, as they’re prone to staying close to their family and are nostalgic for the “old neighborhood.” (Though, it might be a great experience for them to get out of their shells a bit!) “They are the homebodies of the zodiac,” explains Jenna Smith of My Stars! Horoscopes. “Once they get nestled into a place, they don’t want to leave.
Brittany Anas
Mar 5, 2019
7 Ways to Add Warmth to a Mostly Minimalist Space
What is it about minimalism that always makes us a little weak in the knees? It doesn’t matter if it’s one of Philip Johnson’s iconic glass houses or a set from our favorite movie, there’s something about those clean lines, pared-down details and neutral color palette that makes us feel like we’re in a stylish sanctuary.
Kelsey Mulvey
Mar 5, 2019
Nearly Every Color Is Represented in This Cozy Delaware Home
Name: Kirsten Olson, partner, college-aged child, pets galore! Location: Bellefonte — Wilmington, Delaware Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned Our family—my husband, college-aged child, and me—have lived in this house for 13 years, along with a constantly changing array of pets. (Right now it’s two dogs and four cats.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 5, 2019
3 Things at Home You Need to “Hand Mop”
As much as we love the cleaning tools and hacks that promise to make cleaning as quick and painless as possible, there’s no real substitute for our own eyes and hands. Getting down on hands and knees and mopping the old-fashioned, bucket-and-rag way results in a detailed kind of clean that no other method provides and that, every once in a while, is so worth it. When you get yourself on a different level, you’ll see things that haven’t been cleaned in a very long time.
Shifrah Combiths
Mar 5, 2019
10 Cities Where It’s Actually Cheaper to Rent Than Buy
On the fence about homeownership? There are many factors that should go into your decision to rent or buy property—and not all of them are purely financial. Perhaps you’re not sure if you’re going to stay in your current city long-term. And, hey, it’s pretty nice to be able to call your landlord when something needs fixing. But for many, the ultimate decision comes down to dollars and cents.
Kate Streit
Mar 4, 2019
Jodie Foster’s Beverly Hills Property Is on the Market
While she prepares for a speaking gig at the upcoming South by Southwest festival, would-be luxury home buyers are somewhere hunched over their laptops, completely mesmerized by the gorgeous Beverly Hills mansion Jodie Foster just put on the market. Listed by Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate David Kramer of Hilton & Hyland, the two-level 1950s dwelling is approximately 7,500 square feet, sits on a little more than an acre and has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
Kenya Foy
Mar 4, 2019
Paint and Personality Transform This Cookie-Cutter New Build House
Name: Anne Neuenschwander, her partner, and three cats, Pele, Babyteo, and Mija Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, owned I am a professional upholsterer and interior decorator while my boyfriend is an architect. We’ve lived together in apartments in Berlin and Raleigh but this is the first home we’ve owned.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 4, 2019
Partner
How to Set Up Your Sleep Space When You’re a Night Owl
Good sleep is hard to come by. Most of us don’t get enough of it, and even when we do it’s not always high-quality, be it because of environmental factors (sound, light, temperature) or our temperamental body clocks. The first step to better sleep is understanding what kind of sleeper you are—and if you’re reading this at 3 a.m., you’re a Night Owl.
Creative Studio
Mar 4, 2019
Partner
How You Can Sleep Better When You Don’t Sleep Alone
Most of us spend about a third of our lives in bed. But that doesn’t mean we’re really getting good sleep for those 8ish hours a day. That’s especially true for Slumber Partiers: those of us who have bedmates who stir, kids who seek refuge from scary monsters in the middle of the night, or pets who weirdly migrate from the foot of the bed to the top of our heads overnight. But no one wants to bust up a good party!
Creative Studio
Mar 4, 2019
Partner
How to Sleep Better When You’re Dealing with External Distractions
Some of us have to battle an army of external forces just to fall asleep: street noise, roommates, external light. We call these people Sleep Warriors, and sometimes it seems like the world is conspiring against them on their simple quest for eight hours of decent sleep. While these warriors have no control over environmental elements, they can arm themselves with several items within their own bedrooms to help keep out the distractions.
Creative Studio
Mar 4, 2019
5 Places to Live if You Love Wine (On Any Budget)
If you’ve ever vacationed in a wine-producing region (known as American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs), you know they’re home to some of the most picturesque landscapes in America. And if you love wine, you’ve probably thought about moving to one of them so you can sip vino surrounded by spectacular views every weekend.
Geoff Nudelman
Mar 3, 2019
You’ve Probably Been Pronouncing IKEA All Wrong
You know IKEA, right? Obviously, who hasn’t heard of IKEA! Most of us have spent many hours inside of IKEA, not exactly trapped, but shopping for so long, the store begins to feel like a maze we don’t actually know how to get out of. At least there are Swedish meatballs to snack on when you’re losing stamina during a shopping trip. Now, if you’re a big lover of IKEA, you surely say the retailer’s name often. Chances are, you’ve been saying it entirely wrong.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Mar 3, 2019
Before and After: This Rental Kitchen DIY Is the Best Thing on the Internet
There are only so many changes you can make to a kitchen you do not own. Jess Bunge, Senior Market Editor for Emily Henderson, faced many of the classic challenges of a rental—dated floors, lackluster countertops, an oddly shaped floor plan—but brilliantly worked around them to make the space one to sigh over. The real star of this new kitchen is the countertop cover. With help from her dad, Jess cleverly cut plywood to fit over the gray granite, and built a matching backsplash.
Emily Shwake
Mar 3, 2019
People Want This Cat Paw Starbucks Mug So Badly, They’re Fighting In Stores
Have you ever wanted a limited edition item so badly, you were willing to fight someone for it? If you answered yes, you don’t need to feel too guilty for that, because you’re not the only one. Apparently, people are so obsessed with a new cup released in Starbucks in China, they’re actually getting into physical altercations in stores. Starbucks has many stylish mugs and tumblers available for sale at each location.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Mar 3, 2019
Your Pet Can Sit on the Iron Throne If You Buy Them This Custom Bed from Etsy
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” – Your cat, probably, telling the dog who is really in charge. If your cat seems to channel their inner Cersei Lannister on a daily basis, then we have the perfect gift for them. Every “Game of Thrones” fan has been sitting with bated breath since 2017, just waiting for the day new episodes will arrive. We only have a little over a month until season 8 premieres on April 14, 2019.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Mar 3, 2019
You’re Not Imagining Things, Your Cat Actually Is More Like You Than You Know
Have you ever looked at your cat and wished you could live their life? They get to spend every day lounging around. If they get up to move, it is usually from the comfort of your bed to spread out on the couch. Their food bowl is always mysteriously refilled without them having to lift a paw. They get treats whenever they want. The spoiled house cat honestly has the perfect life. Which means you might just have the perfect life too.
Ana Luisa Suarez
Mar 2, 2019
Walk-Away Warning Signs: 5 House Hunt Deal Breakers
Before the deal is finalized, it’s important to ensure your dream home won’t come with any hidden surprises. When home shopping, things aren’t always what they seem. Some surface issues are more damaging to the value of the home than they seem, while others are easily fixed. Before you are knee deep in paperwork or empty your wallet for rounds of inspections, consider these five clear warning signs screaming at you to walk away.
Sarah Landrum
Mar 2, 2019
You’ll Love the Way Wallpaper Is Used in This Home’s Master Bathroom
Name: Pamela Thistle, my husband, and two black labs Location: Township of Oro-Medonte — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned My name is Pamela Thistle and I live in this home with my husband Kevin and two black Labs—Harley and Fionnegan. Our home is roughly 2,100 square feet. Slowly, we have been adding our stamp on our otherwise plain new-build home. We have done all the work ourselves and yet we are still talking to each other!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 2, 2019
This Rental House Is the Definition of “Modern Bohemian Farmhouse Style”
Name: Jessica Morris, my husband and our four kids Location: Campbell River — British Columbia, Canada Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting My husband and I have four kids whose ages range from 1 to 9. We live in a smaller 1,500-square-foot rancher and we utilize every inch of our space. We are minimalistic in the sense that we only purchase items we love and we don’t have a ton of clutter around our home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 1, 2019
8 Unexpected Perks of a Library Card
If you thought your library card was only good for borrowing books, then think again. Turns out you can score access to all sorts of awesome stuff with nothing more than your library card—usually for free. Don’t believe us? Here are eight things you probably didn’t realize you could do with your library card. Who knew your library card could also grant you access to some pretty cool streaming platforms?
Caroline Biggs
Mar 1, 2019
7 Celebrities That Prove Living In the Midwest Is Incredibly Cool
Celebs—they’re just like us! Except that, well, they’re usually multi-millionaires with McMansions in Hollywood to match. That’s why it’s so fun to stumble upon superstars living more low-key lives outside of the greater Los Angeles area and in relatively down-to-earth areas, like the Midwest. From the former Commander-in-Chief to one of the richest rappers in the world, here are seven big names who call the “Middle America” home.
Caroline Biggs
Mar 1, 2019
Before and After: A Super Low ($150!) Budget Kitchen Spruce-Up
And it only took four hours.
Emily Shwake
Mar 1, 2019
Partner
Spring Refresh: 3 Easy Indoor Projects to Cheer Up Your Home
Spring may seem like it’s far away (especially if you live in the groundhog-hibernation zone) but its official start date is March 20. If you’re anxious to get outside after a long winter, we can’t promise good weather, but we can give you easy projects to prep your home so that when warm weather rolls around, you’ll be ready to enjoy it.
Creative Studio
Mar 1, 2019
David & Jeremy’s Cozy & Colorful Style Collaboration
Name: David and Jeremy Location: San Rafael, California Size: 954 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years; Owned David and Jeremy purchased their condo just over a year ago, and they have been busy making the home their own with a colorful sense of style—and lots of DIY projects. The home reflects David and Jeremy’s equally vibrant personalities, and the stories behind their place are hysterical.
Claire Bock
Mar 1, 2019
Steve & Heather’s Colorful San Francisco House
Name: Steve and Heather Sacks, kids Cameron and Jasmine, and dogs Rockit and Haley Location: Potrero Hill; San Francisco, California Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 1/2 years; Owned Walking into Steve and Heather’s home makes you feel like you have escaped to a relaxing, tropical retreat in the middle of a city best known for its cold and foggy summers.
Claire Bock
Mar 1, 2019
Southern Style in Northern St. Paul
Name: Victoria Kirchhoff Location: Downtown St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 780 square feet Years lived in: Rent, 8 months Young professional, Victoria Kirchhoff, carves out her own piece of Texas in a downtown Saint Paul apartment. Although an unlikely spot for a Southern girl, her cozy rustic design successfully brings her roots to the Midwest.
Selena Kirchhoff
Mar 1, 2019
A Bachelor Pad in Montreal
Name: Yamine Gluchow Location: Downtown Montreal Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 1 year From an Eastern European family, Yamine Gluchow moved into his very own apartment just over a year ago. For him, living on his own is an extremely liberating experience. You’ll never feel as comfortable, nor will you ever have as much control over the decor, as when you live alone. Being surrounded by vintage finds, wood and art makes him as happy as he gets.
Marie-Lyne Quirion
Mar 1, 2019
A Dreamy 400-Square-Foot Fort Greene Studio Apartment
Name: Emily Schildt, Co-Founder of Thing of Wonder Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, New York Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1 year Emily’s apartment is all the proof you need that living in a small space doesn’t have to mean going short on style, and that with a little ingenuity a smaller space can live just as well as a much larger one.
Nancy Mitchell
Mar 1, 2019
A Simple & Bright Beach House on the Mediterranean Coast
Name: Alicia Peiró Location: Sagunto — Valencia, Spain, Size: 645 square feet Years lived in: Owned 11 years I don’t know if was the amazing and bright light, the warm materials or the sensation of being next to the Mediterranean sea, but this place completely stole my heart. Alicia, is an amazing photographer and her work is full of light, amazing stories and beautiful color. Her love for design is palpable in all the places of her home.
Alicia Macias
Mar 1, 2019
A Bohemian Meets MCM Dallas House (+ Perfect Patio)
Name: Melanie and Dalton Tarver Location: Dallas, Texas Size: 1088 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Melanie writes: “My home is a mid-century traditional built in 1950. I have lived here for three years with my husband Dalton and two pups, Addie and Mr. Cooper. It’s in East Dallas which has a bit of an eclectic vibe and really feels like an escape from the city without being too far.
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 1, 2019