A Southeast Asian-Inspired Oakland Loft
Name: Thoey and Sutty Location: Jingletown—Oakland, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Thoey and Sutty’s spacious loft is filled with colorful, vintage items that create a happy home they and their friends love to spend time in.
Apr 30, 2019
Nicole & Ben’s Eclectic Family Pad in Western Australia
Name: Nicole and Ben Ward and sons Kit and Sonny Location: Mount Helena, Western Australia Size: 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom Years lived in: 3.5 years; Owned By day, Nicole works as a florist for her company, Boss Flowers, and moonlights as a country singer with her band, Petticoat Junkyard. Ben similarly works as a carpenter for his business, Ward’s Carpentry, and plays in his punk band, LEECHES!
Apr 30, 2019
Denis, Caz & Cherry’s Vintage & Modern Melbourne Home
Name: Caz and Denis Leadbeater and their daughter, Cherry Location: Brunswick; Victoria, Australia Size: 200 square meters (2,153 square feet) Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Denis and Caz recently sold this home, after spending four years renovating the Victorian double-fronted weatherboard house in Melbourne’s inner-city suburb of Brunswick. The home is spacious, with its open-plan living, dining and kitchen area in the back and three bedrooms at the front.
Apr 30, 2019
DIY Rustic Cube Shelves
Shannon is here to walk us through one very elegent IKEA hack. If you’re ready and willing to bust out your power tools and commit a few hours to the cause, you will be handsomely rewarded with this gorgeous shelving unit.
Apr 30, 2019
Ideas for Saving Amazing Vintage Teak Dining Set?
Q: My boyfriend and I received this super awesome teak dining set [photo below] when his parents purchased a new set a couple of years ago. We were so thrilled as it was gorgeous. And as new homeowners, a new and expandable dining set was not in our budget. Well. We ruined it. First I wrecked it when a bottle of oven cleaner tipped over inside a tote bag and was left to burn a hole through the table top for an embarrassing amount of time.
Apr 30, 2019
What’s the Appeal of Sunburst Mirrors, Anyway?
Q: Hi! I am a grad student, and I am writing a paper on sunburst mirrors for my object theory class. I see sunburst mirrors in houses on design and interiors blogs (such as this one) all the time, and I was wondering if you knew what the appeal is. I am fascinated that so many people have them and I would like to find out why and when and who and a bit more why. Many thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Apr 30, 2019
Tessa & Craig’s Blend of Old and New in Cape Town
Name: Craig and Tessa Harding, Ted the dog, and Bear Grylls the cat Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 160 square meters (1,722 square feet) Years lived in: 5 years; Owned Tessa and Craig’s down-to-earth home is full of warmth and character. Built in the 1940s, the semi-detached house has lovely original wooden floors and an interesting series of arches running down the central passage. The house was in a fairly good condition when they moved in, but they did renovate the kitchen.
Apr 30, 2019
Rebecca & Jared’s Eclectic Hollywood Regency
Name: Rebecca and Jared Raskind Location: Glendale, California Size: 1,350 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Rebecca reached out to me in an email, expressing interest in a possible House Tour, and when she sent over images of their recent renovations and before and afters, I knew I wanted to feature her home. This three-bedroom, two-bath house sits on a lovely block in Glendale complete with gorgeous landscaping and a pool.
Apr 30, 2019
Dining Room Design Details to Steal from an Incredibly Charming English Restaurant
Manchester-based Evelyn’s Cafe & Bar is a cozy-looking neighborhood spot for eating and hanging out. Designed by Central Design Studio, it feels less like a restaurant and more like a stylish friend’s home. And there are some design details in this space that inspire. From Ian Haigh, of Central Design Studio: The aim with Evelyn’s Café and Bar was to create a neighbourhood restaurant, which instantly felt like a local favourite.
Apr 30, 2019
Lauren & Dylan’s Historic Split Apartment
Name: Lauren and Dylan Location: Cabbagetown — Toronto, Canada Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; owned Lauren, Marketing Director at Spacing Magazine, and Dylan’s home is nestled on a small, tree-lined street in Toronto’s historic Cabbagetown neighborhood, an area known for having the largest collection of designated heritage homes in North America. Lauren, Dylan, and Dylan’s brother Chris have spent the past three years renovating this 1904 Victorian home.
Apr 30, 2019
Capsule Wardrobe Update: Eleanor’s Spring Capsule
Earlier this year, I wrote a 3-part series about my recent experiment with capsule wardrobes: why I did it, how I did it, and what I learned. While many of you seemed to like the idea of capsules and the posts themselves, a common comment was that you’d prefer to see real-life examples of what a capsule wardrobe looks like— i.e., my own wardrobe. Gulp. There were a few reasons I didn’t do this the first time around.
Apr 30, 2019
This Modern Boston Carriage House Has the Dreamiest Sunroom Ever
Name: Melissa Miranda and Ulises Serret, their son Alex, and cats Tammy and Siddharta Location: Harrison Hill — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 7 years; Owned Nearly a decade ago, interior designer Melissa Miranda moved into her now-husband’s home in the Harrison Hill area of Dorchester in Boston.
Apr 30, 2019
DIY Candy Filled Paper Egg
Easter is coming up quickly, and what a cute and unique way to jazz up your Easter basket! Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 20 Minutes Project Cost: The cost of candy Craft paper A pencil Needle & thread Candy for the filling Pens in fun colors Scissors First you have to draw two eggs on your kraft paper. Its best to use a template from the Internet, so that the two eggs are exactly the same size. Now you can get wild. Paint the two eggs as colorfully as you want.
Apr 30, 2019
Help! My New Furniture Stinks!
Q: I bought a sofa and two chairs from [company redacted]. They were delivered within the timeframe agreed on. Two hours later, we couldn’t even go in the living room. The furniture reeked with a kind of chemical/dead animal smell. We opened the windows and doors and hoped it would go away. It’s been two weeks and it still smells awful. A representative came yesterday afternoon, opened one of the cushions, and declared, “There is no smell”.
Apr 30, 2019
Is It Easy To Move A Thermostat?
Q: My thermostat was installed right smack dab in the middle of my living room wall. On top of the fact that it’s ugly, it’s exactly where I want to hang one of a pair of paintings. I would like to move it to a less obtrusive spot. Is that a DIY possibility? A possibility at all? -Sent by NaturalMama Editor: Great question! Thermostats often seem to be installed in the stupidest, most problematic spot possible. Handy readers, is it possible to move a thermostat?
Apr 30, 2019
How To Keep Litter Box Smells from Overwhelming a Small Apartment?
Q: There have been several House Tours that had a hidden litter box of sorts. How are you able to keep your cat box clean and smelling fresh in an apartment that may be only 600 square feet? 500? 400?? It boggles my mind. I mean, obviously, clean it out as soon as you can, but cat urine has such a strong odor. Even with a cool hidden compartment in a piece of furniture, it wouldn’t suddenly eliminate the smell. Any tips would be great.
Apr 30, 2019
Why Don’t People Reverse Their Fridge Doors?
Q: In so many of the House Tours and House Calls that you show on Apartment Therapy, I’ve noticed that the refrigerator doors open incorrectly. They open in such a way that it’s clearly inconvenient and blocks the rest of room, or opens into the cabinets or work area… Doesn’t anyone know that you can change the refrigerator door to open either from the right or left? It doesn’t take a contractor or handyman to do it either.
Apr 30, 2019
How To Hang Art Around High Chair Rail?
Q: Hi! My fiance and I recently moved into a Victorian terraced cottage in England. Our living room and and dining room are finally coming together and we’re ready to hang art on the walls. But there is this awkwardly high chair rail (or dado rail as the English call it) around the walls of both rooms. It is 44 inches (102 cm) from the floor [see photo below]. We’ve already hung two prints on one wall in the living room and they are okay (although a little too high in my opinion).
Apr 30, 2019
Can I Use Cast Iron Pans on a Glass Top Stove?
Q: I just bought a new glass top stove. I was really in love with the idea of it, but it was delivered and on their way out the door the delivery men said, “Oh by the way, make sure you don’t use any cast iron pans on it”. My heart just broke. I almost exclusively use cast iron. I just didn’t realize it made a difference. My parents have a glass top and they use cast iron all the time. Is there a way around this? Is it more of a suggestion or a law?
Apr 30, 2019
Alternative for Schoolhouse Electric Light?
Q: I’m in love with the Vega 5 Chandelier from Schoolhouse Electric [photo below]! However, Schoolhouse said it may take nine weeks or longer to fabricate and ship. Can anyone recommend a similar chandelier? The price point is under $400. I have searched high and low!
Apr 30, 2019
A Cozy Century-Old Coastal Cottage in Australia
Name: Kirsty Davey and Simon Taylor and their daughter, Mali Location: Victoria, Australia Size: 180 square meters (1,672 square feet) Years lived in: 7 years; Rented Kirsty and Simon moved to Victoria’s coast from Melbourne when they realized they were spending nearly every weekend there to feed Simon’s addiction to the Australian surf. It’s been a love affair ever since, with weekends spent cooking, surfing, gardening, and enjoying the relaxed coastal lifestyle.
Apr 30, 2019
This Weekend: Help Your Body Catch Up With Your Brain
Even though your brain knows the clock is about to turn back, your body doesn’t always get the memo. Some of us will sail through the time change seamlessly, and others will feel out of sorts for days. Start this week so that, before you go to sleep next Monday night — and set your clock an hour earlier — you’re already caught up.
Apr 30, 2019
Vanessa’s Effortlessly Stylish & Relaxed “Chateau” in Montreal
Name: Vanessa Gauvin-Brodeur Location: Montreal; Quebec, Canada Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Vanessa’s Montreal apartment (aka “Chateau Fairmount“) is a bright, spacious gem in the heart of Mile End. The front rooms flow seamlessly into each other with a pattern of white walls and furniture and colourful, textured accents. The dining room boasts a generous, inviting table matched with elegant wallpaper.
Apr 30, 2019
Bec & Tom’s Coastal Western Australia Home
Name: Bec and Tom Hutchinson and their daughters, Rubi Mae and Alice Location: Hamilton Hill, Western Australia Size: 156 square meters (1,679 square feet) Years lived in: 2 years; Owned Bec, an interior decorator, and Tom, who owns his own landscaping business, are the perfect team to make a simple builder-grade house into something so much more.
Apr 30, 2019
Shauna’s Beach House Bathroom Makeover
Project by: Shauna Location: Naples, Florida Our beach cottage in Naples, Florida was a dated 1960s, 2600 square foot home that was dying for an extreme makeover. In just under three months we gutted the kitchen, master bathroom, guest bathroom, guest bedroom and home exterior. The before and after photos are pretty incredible, especially the kitchen and master bathroom. This is our vacation “getaway” home so we kept that in mind with budget and design choices.
Apr 30, 2019
Nikki’s No Longer Neglected Home Office
Project by: Nikki G. Location: Cypress, Texas Do you ever find yourself wondering how some people deal with blending their jobs into their real lives? Do baristas refuse to make coffee at home? Or are chefs huge fans of takeout because they are just over it? Nikki offers insight into bringing your work home with you when you’re an interior designer. From Nikki: As a decorator, my own home often gets no love, or at most, leftover love.
Apr 30, 2019
Erin’s Delightful Closet Makeover
Project by: Erin Location: Atlanta, Georgia Even in her busy family home, Erin managed to carve out a space that is completely her own style, creating the perfect in home mini-retreat. From Erin: As a busy mom of 3 boys, I really craved a space that could just ooze femininity. I thought the closet was the perfect place to go totally glam with the decor.
Apr 30, 2019
James’ Built-In Style Cat Complex
Project by: James Location: Lower East Side — New York, New York My wife and I designed and fabricated a cat duplex for our small NYC apartment. The cat furniture/architecture is comprised of modules that we call the Cat Pole, Cat Bridge, Catwalk and Cat Staircase. Mostly unfinished, natural materials were used throughout for the health of the cats and to fit with the simple look of the rest of the apartment, to which the cat furniture was to appear built-in.
Apr 30, 2019
Jill & Charlie’s Collected, Historic New England Style in Cambridge
Name: Charlie and Jill Bent and their two children Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 13 years; Owned Jill and Charlie Bent live with their two teenaged children in an 1899 Victorian house on a sleepy street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their home is a labor of love, thanks to high-impact renovations paired with carefully collected furnishings—from family heirlooms to found pieces and vintage textiles that have been transformed by Jill.
Apr 30, 2019
Harmony Creates a Warm Welcoming Space
Project by: Harmony Weihs/ Design Harmony Location: Sammamish, Washington We love a good stylish entryway, especially when it tells you something about the owners. Harmony created a stylish and personal space for her clients with a few well-chosen and significant items. From Harmony: Our client purchased a new construction home in a large planned community and wanted to stand out from his neighbors.
Apr 30, 2019
Tim’s Toronto Loft Filled With Plants & Collectibles
Name: Tim Tripp and his dog, Sebastian Location: Toronto; Ontario, Canada Size: 1,150 square feet Years lived in: 11 years; Owned For as long as he can remember, Tim has had an interest in collecting things. His passion for the history of decor and design is present throughout his space, whether it’s embodied by an Art Deco piece of furniture, dinnerware from the mid-20th century, or vintage telephones.
Apr 30, 2019
How To Get Your Outdoor Grill Clean & Ready for Summer
It’s time to take advantage of those warmer weekends by spending time on your home’s exterior, and prepping your grill for the season is a great project to get you started. You could always start with cleaning your gutters —but grilled veggies and BBQ chicken just seem like a much better reward for completely the task.
Apr 30, 2019
Easygoing, Nautical New England Style in Boston
Name: Philip Saul and his cat, Toby Location: South End; Boston, Massachusetts Years lived in: 8 years; Rented For Philip Saul, his South End apartment boasts two major advantages: the incredible amount of natural light his large south-facing windows offer, and the ridiculously short commute to his men’s clothing shop, SAULT New England. Much like his brick and mortar store, Philip’s apartment is easygoing, and reflective of his passion for sourcing New England-inflected decor.
Apr 30, 2019
Chris’ Historic Home in Toronto
Name: Chris Collie Location: Cabbagetown; Toronto, Canada Size: 600 square feet (but feels like 1000!) Years lived in: 2+ years; Owned We recently toured Lauren and Dylan’s Historic Split Apartment in Toronto’s east end. Lauren, Dylan, and Dylan’s brother, Chris, share this Victorian home, which they’ve split into two entirely distinct spaces.
Apr 30, 2019
Anne & Steve’s Relaxed, Eclectic & Casual Home in Cape Town
Name: Anne and Steve Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 2,152 square feet Years lived in: 10 years; Owned Exploring the colorful and eclectic home of Anne and Steve is a real treat. Anne was born in South Africa, her husband, Steve, is British, and they spend their time between the two countries. So when it came to decorating their South African house, Anne knew that she wanted to create a very different look and feel from their UK home.
Apr 30, 2019
Megan & Todd’s Colorful Pad in Asheville
Name: Megan and Todd Walsh, one cat, and three dogs Location: West Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; Rented Applying a fresh coat of white paint on the walls in each room was the first thing Todd and Megan, owners of Atomic Furnishing, did to their new rental—a simple and inexpensive change that created the perfect backdrop to highlight the couple’s colorful collection of mid-century furnishings, rugs and art.
Apr 30, 2019
Partner
Tartans & Tartes: Dinner Party Decor Inspired by Outlander
It takes a real Apartment Therapy fan to appreciate the Starz hit series Outlander. We’ve been hooked on this series since Claire went shopping for a blue vase at the start of the first season. Now we’re counting down the days for the best eye-candy to come back to Starz on April 9th. Ready to throw your own Outlander-inspired dinner party?
Apr 30, 2019
Joe & Keith Share a Tiny & Inviting Oakland Studio
Name: Joe Cafuir and Keith DeNatale Location: Grand Lake—Oakland, California Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented It’s easy for a tiny apartment full of plants and tchotchkes to feel cluttered. But when done the right way—as Joe and Keith have with their tiny 300-square-foot studio—the space can be warm and inviting without feeling crammed or excessive.
Apr 30, 2019
Nick & Katie Redefine “Cozy” in Boston’s South End
Names: Katie Kavanagh and Nick Kuizenga Location: South End — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 550 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Many of us have learned that in the world of apartment hunting, the word “cozy” is often a euphemism for “small.” And Nick and Katie’s apartment, part of a brownstone that was once a single family home, is no exception.
Apr 30, 2019
DIY Wood Planked Ceiling
I have to admit, I’ve never really thought of the ceiling as something you can DIY. Christina proves that you not only can, you can do it beautifully. And while this project may not be for the DIY-faint of heart, it can definitely provide some inspiration. Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: Weekend Cost: $100 2x4s Tongue and groove wood planks Wood stain Crown molding Saw Build a frame on the wall out of 2x4s. Stain the wood planks ahead of time.
Apr 30, 2019
Minky & Tirsh’s Open, Resourceful Oakland Loft
Name: Tirsh Hunter and Minky Lew and their dog, Arnie Location: Oakland, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Rented Minky and Tirsh cite their family’s resourcefulness as their biggest inspiration, and their North Oakland loft is filled with vignettes demonstrating just that. Minky takes after her grandmother, who instilled such traits in her.
Apr 30, 2019
Meghan’s $10 Bathroom Floor Makeover
Project by: Meghan Location: Charleston, South Carolina Our bathroom floor was disgusting. Like, ten year old faux-wood rental apartment sheet vinyl disgusting. Really, the picture does not do it justice AT ALL. I toyed with the idea of putting down vinyl tiles on top (like I did in our kitchen), but the floor is super uneven and I was worried that the humidity would cause the glue to unstick. So, we made peace with it for a year and a half.
Apr 30, 2019
Michael’s Space Saving, Perfect for Entertaining Makeover
Project by: Michael Location: Manhattan, New York I recently purchased my first apartment and wanted to be able to seat up to six people for the occasional dinner party. However, like most New Yorkers, I don’t have space for a large dining table in my apartment. There are plenty of great convertible tables out there, but accommodating six chairs in my living room when the table was not in use presented a real challenge.
Apr 30, 2019
Christina’s “Fun and Light” DIY Bathroom Makeover
Project by: Christina Location: Jackson, Mississippi We had a small leak in our guest bathroom that required a hole to be knocked in the wall in order to access the pipe. I had (at that time) a wonderful idea to just go ahead and redo the entire bathroom to something a little more fun and light.
Apr 30, 2019
An Adorable 1830s Creole Cottage in New Orleans
Name: Kelly Ransom and her dog Omelet Location: Faubourg Marigny; New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Owned Kelly’s 1830s cottage, located on a quiet residential street in the Marigny, has the kind of charm for which New Orleans homes are known. Light blue shutters open to reveal four sets of French doors and classic wrought ironwork.
Apr 30, 2019
How To Make a Quick & Easy Folding Room Screen
Privacy screens are like folding sculptures, both visually interesting as well as functional. In an outside space, they are a buffer between you and the neighbors, or can block out the bright sun. Inside, they divide spaces, hide clutter, or even serve as a headboard. Making a custom screen is also (surprisingly!) a quick and easy DIY.
Apr 30, 2019
A Set Decorator’s Home in a 100-Year-Old Former Wool Mill
Name: Ineke Hutter and sons Leo and Arlo Location: Collingwood; Melbourne; Victoria, Australia Size: 139 square meters (1,496 square feet) Years lived in: 10 years; Owned For interior stylist and set decorator Ineke Hutter, living in a 100-year-old wool mill is something she still gets a kick out of, 10 years after she first moved in. She and her two sons share the space where many moons ago factory workers sorted the wool that came in from farms outside the city.
Apr 30, 2019
Wes & Melinda’s Cozy Toronto Home
Name: Melinda Josie and Wesley Doerksen and their cat, Malkmus Location: The Junction; Toronto, Ontario Size: 1,000 square feet Years Lived In: 1 ¼ years; Rented Upon entering this home you immediately feel like you’ve been transported to a cabin in the woods. On a quiet street in Toronto just west of downtown, the couple have managed to cultivate a quaint and cozy environment inspired by their love for the outdoors.
Apr 30, 2019