Apartment Therapy Archive: Apr 2019

Olive Velvet Sofa – $3200 – Vintage Sofa Frame newly reupholstered in a gorgeous olive velvet fabric with new foam padding. – BROOKLYNFrom 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.

After 79 episodes of HGTV’s ‘Fixer Upper,’ we’ve seen a lot of what Chip and Joanna Gaines have to offer. Typically: a big, open-concept floor plan; a kitchen island; exposed brick and beams; barn doors… and shiplap. Lots of shiplap. The transformations make for good TV, but a few homes truly stand out.

Sure, all your friends know you consider your pet your child. But just in case your phone background, frequent group text photo updates, and targeted ads for all-natural, human-grade pet food and tiny sweaters didn’t give it away, why not make it extra obvious? Put some extra effort into cultivating the perfect pet-parent lifestyle with these DIY projects.

Even the birds knew we were in trouble. In addition to two canaries, the previous tenants in our rental had left three dressers, a kitchen table, two chairs, a storage cabinet, mountains of newspaper and a smell—not unpleasant but definitely unfamiliar. The extra furniture was the least of our problems. Every room had a different theme: a nautical bathroom, a country dining room, a fishing kitchen, an ’80s living room.

These gifts for newly engaged couples are both adorable and affordable.

Sometimes, in the tiniest apartments and even the biggest houses, there just isn’t enough closet space to keep everything that needs to be out of sight, well, out of sight. Visible storage that’s attractive and effective is the holy grail for keeping you organized and stylish. West Elm, with its focus on city and apartment living, is a great source for those kinds of pieces.

Name: Monica Wheeler Location: Bronx, New York Size: 600 square feet – built 1950 Years lived in: Renting 2.5 years Tucked along a grassy and tree-lined East Bronx street is the ground-level home of Monica Wheeler, an interior design enthusiast. This patterned, cozy, and wholly inviting space is subject to cycles of furniture, art, and trinkets coming in and out whenever the mood strikes her.

As it gets harder and harder to imagine a life without Amazon, the newest move from the company is bound to further entice people to sign up for a Prime membership. Amazon just announced that it will be switching the standard shipping for members from 2-day to 1-day. Although faster shipping has long been available for many items and locations, it often comes with an additional fee.

Some spoilers for “The Good Fight” below.TV show sets are meant to build a world, to add context to a character, and to tell a character backstory visually, all while the actors are performing their dialogue and moving within it. To be able to create these spaces that tell stories is a true talent, and it’s why “The Good Fight” set decorator, Beth Kushnick, is one of the best in the business.

Rattan home decor items for those on a budget.

Planning a family vacation to Disney is a bucket list item for many parents. But all the decisions, like choosing where to stay and knowing what to pack, can get incredibly overwhelming almost as quickly as you can say ‘Fast Pass.’ Thankfully, one enterprising Etsy entrepreneur has created the ultimate spreadsheet. For $18 you can get an instant download that includes an editable Excel planner and editable PDF planner.

Name: Morgen Walker Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Size: Approximately 350 square feetYears lived in: 7 months, rentingThis is my first apartment after my recent divorce. I work for HORNE so most of the furniture I have collected has been damaged items that I’ve repaired myself over the years. Other pieces have been in my family for over a hundred years that I’ve collected from family members.

One of cats’ most impressive abilities is how they can find endless new spaces to occupy. How did they even get up there? Did you know she could fit in that? Where is the Marquess of Pawsbury now?Rather than sacrificing another shoebox or bookshelf, give your furry overlord new spaces to explore—or at least watch over—with these perches.

New York City is filled with mystery. Around every corner and down narrow streets are unexpected twists and secrets waiting to be discovered. One secret lives in and around the clapboard home at 17 Grove St, a one-of-a-kind West Village property that popped on the real estate market this month.The two-building residence commands a lofty asking price of $12 million, but it has the intriguing history and square footage to back it up, according to Streeteasy.

Confession time: right now, my room is a mess. Like, a serious mess. As in, I would not let anyone but me actually step foot in there. But guess what? I don’t mind it in the least.There’s something undeniably soothing about letting myself just ignore chores like cleaning when I’m not in the mood. Especially when it comes to my bedroom.

Pair of Mies Van Der Rohe MR10 chairs – $1000 – A pair of vintage MR10 chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe. Mid century modern cantilever chrome legs with aged caramel leather. Leather tied corset backs. The leather on one chair is more aged than the other, these are from the 1970s. Great dining or accent chairs! – BROOKLYNFrom Maxwell:Dear Readers, What are you looking for?

It’s no secret: We love IKEA in all of its attainable, design-forward glory. But that’s not to say it’s the easiest store to shop in. In fact, we generally recommend you head in-store only if you already know what you want. Otherwise, prepare to be overwhelmed. That said, there is a somewhat secret section of IKEA that will change the way you approach the IKEA experience: the As-Is section.

It’s about time to perk up your patio—or at least start thinking about what you might want to replace or tweak about your yard or deck. If you’re wondering where to start your shopping, I’m here to tell you not to discount IKEA. You might even want to move it to the top of your list. This Swedish retailer has really upped its outdoor game in the past couple of years across multiple categories. Seriously.

Aiming to achieve the indoor jungle look? Vining plants are the way to go. Whether you strategically arrange the stems around bookcases and window frames or allow them to go free-range, charting their own course, vining plants quickly up your home’s green factor. These five easy-care picks will stun in a hanging basket or high plant stand—and if you want to explore more plant options, check out our guide to the best indoor house plants.

Name: Jennifer Hutter, my husband Bodhi, our 19-month-old son Ryder, and our two dogs Daisy and Summit Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Size: 400 square feetWe spent the past nine months renovating our vintage 1968 Chris Craft Cavalier. Bodhi did all the work inside himself. I did the design work. It was one of the biggest challenges we’ve had together as a couple to really figure everything out one step at a time, but one of the most rewarding.

You may know David Burtka through a number of accomplishments. It might be his theatrical performance in productions like “The Play About the Baby,” or his appearances in episodes of “How I Met Your Mother,” or his current profession of being a successful celebrity chef. (And yes, of course we know he’s married to the wonderful Neil Patrick Harris.) A graduate of Cordon Bleu, Burtka now runs his own catering company, Gourmet M. D.

This elegant house in Salt Lake City is all about the details—and lots of space. 1533 E. Federal Heights Dr. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah $975,000 7 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms This chic, two-story home in the Salt Lake City suburbs not only looks like it’s fresh from a magazine photoshoot: It’s also big enough to raise a family, with plenty of room to spare.

If you’ve ever been to Disney with little kids, you know that your stroller is home base. Not only does it serve as a respite from long walks, long lines, and as a cozy spot to snooze for your child, but it also holds all the stuff your family doesn’t want to carry. That’s why some parents are especially alarmed to know that starting May 1, oversized strollers as well as stroller wagons will be banned from Disney parks.

Name: Adrianna Gardini and Craig Youngren, two kids, and two cats Location: Alphabet City — New York City Size: Approx. 520 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned When Adrianna, a display artist, and Craig, a teacher and editor, bought their apartment, it was a bare, white, and bright space that felt outdated and in need of change.

Save up to 40% off furniture, decor, and more.

If your parents used dryer sheets in the laundry, chances are you do, too. But have you ever thought about why you're using them? Do you know how they work?

How many times have you dreamed about living in a house you’ve read about? We’re sure this is something that book lovers often imagine after enjoying a good novel. If this is you and you additionally love historical context, then you’re going to want to dig deep into your pockets. Henry David Thoreau’s “Yellow House” is on the market. The home sits at 255 Main Street in Concord, Massachusetts.

It's the one type of expense that creeps up on me every single year.

Have you ever wanted to tell people how you’re feeling before you even see them? We’ve all had those days. The ones where you’d much rather communicate with a series of eye rolls and grunts than by speaking actual words. They tend to always happen before coffee has been dispensed. Well, if you like to make your feelings very clear, but also love designer things, you’re in luck. Thanks to Hypebeast, we now have more details on the Virgil Abloh x IKEA collection.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you haven’t bought something yet, you should probably work on that ASAP. Moms work so hard to make our lives manageable and happy, they deserve everything we can give them. Have you ever got your mom a gift and instantly known she didn’t like it? She’s too nice to say it, but you just knew when you saw her face. Well, if you’ve been stuck on what to get your mom for the big day, you can get an answer now thanks to Reddit.

After a recent divorce, zero-waste advocate Ariana has created a cozy and comforting home in just 400 square feet, using minimal decor and DIY projects.

Here's why labeling is key to a well-maintaned organizational system

Not that we ever doubted it for a second, but magic does exist. Harry Potter fans know this to be true, but now we have proof to share with others! Fans of the series can actually spend a night in a replica of Hagrid’s Hut. How magical does that sound? Hagrid is easily one of the most beloved characters in the entire series.

We called on a real estate expert to help us break it down.

Succulents are very trendy right now. They are easy to care for if you’re not a huge plant aficionado. You only need to water a living succulent every couple of days and it isn’t hard at all. But if remembering to water anything but yourself is tough for you to do, that’s fine. Fake succulents are just as popular as the real ones. They come in many shapes, sizes, styles, and vase. You can buy succulents that look like they’re sprouting from a pineapple!

Going to the zoo is a very popular American past time. Every little kid has gone on a school field trip to the zoo at one point or another. Still, as adults, many of us are fascinated with going to the zoo to see all of the animals. Some people fear that going to the zoo isn’t perpetuating the containment of animals, but that isn’t the case. A vast majority of zoos and aquariums in the U.S. are AZA accredited.

From mid-century-inspired styles to sleek end tables, here are nine finds that won't break your bank account.

These organization systems are a step in the right direction and are also small space-friendly.

Deep down, we all want to lead more thoughtful lives—and who can blame us for believing organizational nirvana will get us there? So we're turning to the place where all good hacks start: IKEA.

What is it about thumb-sized terrarium plants that makes me clasp my hands together and coo? If you’re in the market for a truly small plant, consider one of these diminutive options.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword for these brands.

Starting in July, every single one of Kohl’s stores will accept Amazon returns, no shipping box required.

Small bathroom-dwellers, this is for you!

My husband and I have a bit of a country mouse, city mouse relationship–he grew up in rural Virginia surrounded by cattle and I grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by professors. Normally we’re two peas in a pod, but occasionally we’re reminded of our different upbringings in unexpected ways—like when we were picking paint colors to paint our first apartment together.

Name: Rachael and Virgil Gibilterra and Jovie (our little border collie mix!) Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 408 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting We found this little slice of L.A. on Craigslist. I was sold on the windows. We jumped on it as quick as we could! We were living briefly in an Airstream before this (we unfortunately had to sell that beauty due to job opportunities in L.A.

It’s human nature to dream up what’s to come, to prognosticate, to hypothesize about what life will be like in the future. It’s always been this way. So you can imagine that way back when, people had some interesting takes on what our world would look like today—especially when it comes to homes.

Just off South Congress Avenue, one of the most highly trafficked streets in Austin, lies an apartment community that is just as eco-friendly as it is Instagram-worthy. La Dueña, which was originally constructed in 1973, was remodeled in 2018 by Jeanne Schultz Design Studio and now contains 10 400-square-foot fully furnished units.