A DIY-Obsessed Couple’s Renovated 1960s Austin Home
Name: Amy and Jed Rogers, dog: Prancy and cat: Barney Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Owned 2.5 years When my husband, Jed Rogers, and I started our house hunt four years ago we knew our list of “must haves” was going to be tough to find all in one home. What we ended up finding? A 1964 one-story home with good bones and lots of potential in a desirable neighborhood.
Apr 30, 2019
Scandinavian Simplicity Meets Victorian Charm in East London
Name: Irina Melsom and Hans Askheim (and kids Aleksandra, Markus) Location: Bethnal Green — London, UK Size: 1000 square feet Years Lived In: Owned for 4 years Originally from Norway, artists Irina and Hans have shared this Victorian three-bedroom terrace in East London with their daughter Aleksandra and son Markus for four years.
Apr 30, 2019
How To Hack a $10 IKEA MELODI Pendant Lamp
IKEA’s MELODI pendant lamp is a really great blank slate — there are a million ways to tweak and hack one to make it yours. Weave the plastic shade with natural round reed get a contrasting mix of materials that’s both organic and modern. IKEA MELODI Pendant Lamp Natural Round Reed Scotch Tape Spray Paint (optional) Tools Drill & Bits X-Acto Knife Measuring Tape Pen 1. Wrap the tape measure around the diameter of the lamp and put an odd number of pen marks on the shade.
Apr 30, 2019
A Textile Lover’s Print & Pattern Paradise
Name: Kate Sykes Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Size: 840 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 months To find her new apartment, Kate bypassed typical rental search engines and opted to drive around her ideal neighborhood in Raleigh, scouting beautiful facades and “For Rent” signs. That’s how she landed this home just three months ago. How she managed to pull it together so quickly and skillfully speaks to her background in design.
Apr 30, 2019
A Look Inside a Young Woman’s Super Cool Vintage Clothing Business
Name: Rosewood Clothing Co. Location: 16 W. Broad St., Richmond, Virgina Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years With one visit to Rosewood Clothing Co.’s vintage insta-shop, founder Ashley Carruther’s style is immediately enviable.
Apr 30, 2019
How To Make a Knotted Macramé Glass Bottle Cover
Bottles covered in macramé, or knotted rope, are an old school craft — the result reads either nautical or Bohemian. The netting’s an easy way to add texture and decorative pattern to a surface, and it works particularly well with glass bottles and tall vases. Learn how to do it here, and then start knotting! IKEA 365+ Glass Carafe Twine Scissors 1. Tie a circle of twine around the top of the glass bottle.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Nostalgia Meets Now” 495-Square-Foot Home
Name: Irwin Gueco Location: The General Scott — Washington, DC Size: 495 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 years / Owned 2 years “Your home should tell your story,” says Irwin. And everywhere you look in his home there is a good story, providing insight into Irwin’s personality. Filled to the brim with carefully selected mementos, artwork and furniture, his home feels like a lovingly curated museum. Which is fitting, because he spends his days at a museum.
Apr 30, 2019
A Furniture Designer’s Renovated House Fits Her Family Like a Glove
Name: Kirsten White, Darcy Killeen and Brydie Killeen Location: Dufferin Grove — Downtown Toronto Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 16 years, owned It took over a decade for Kirsten and Darcy to begin their home renovations — other than a few fresh coats of paint. But when you’re a professional designer (and self-proclaimed perfectionist), “it was all worth the wait to achieve exactly what I had envisioned for the space,” explained Kirsten.
Apr 30, 2019
Real Life Rental Challenge: How To Temporarily Wallpaper Staircase Risers
This week Camille is sharing her real life rental challenge and how she transformed her dingy carpeted entryway stairs (with her landlord’s permission!) into something more welcoming, yet still temporary. If you want to see the first post, check out the before photos here. Removing wallpaper can be a terrible task and it’s the last thing anyone wants to deal when they move. This tutorial uses a temporary adhesive that works well for wallpaper in smaller pieces.
Apr 30, 2019
A Kitchen Opens Up for Entertaining
Project by: Rebecca Chan Location: Toronto, Ontario My kitchen used to be a small extension of the main floor, cut off from the rest of the living/dining area. Opening up the wall was our main priority, which would make the whole main floor feel much larger and open concept. We had to move our electrical, main stack and water lines, which ended up taking a whole week to move. This ate up a big chunk of the budget, but it was so worth it to do.
Apr 30, 2019
How to Make a Vintage-Style Felt Message Board For Under $25
making a comeback 9″ x 11″ frame that has an interior depth of at least ¾” and spring-loaded backing clips on the back of the frame. I used this picture frame. 36″ x 12″ piece of black felt 1″ White plastic letters Pencil Scissors Ruler or T-Square Hot glue gun Mitre or circular saw Qty 18 – 3/16″ thick square balsa wood dowels, 24″ long 1.
Apr 30, 2019
A Colorful, Cozy, Nursery Rhyme-Themed Room for a Baby Boy
Name: Roman Anthony Location: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, California Room Size: 12.5′ x 11′ First there were two, Amy and her husband, Corey. You may remember their inspiring Echo Park home. Then baby Marlowe made three. Remember her playful nursery? Now the couple are ready to welcome the newest addition to the family, baby Roman, in a new Mar Vista home. Amy put all of her creative stylist skills to work on decorating his academia-themed nursery.
Apr 30, 2019
An Enviably Organized Amsterdam Apartment
Name: Farida Location: IJburg — Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: 11 years; owned A twenty-minute ride by streetcar will take you from the bustling Amsterdam center to IJburg, a cluster of six artificial islands in the IJ lake. Surrounded by water, it feels like being on an island holiday. Even though it’s still a part of the Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam East) borough!
Apr 30, 2019
“California Vintage Global Glam” in North Carolina
Name: Ariene C. Bethea and Daren Z. Bethea II (and Mini) Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Size: 3,100 Square Feet Years lived in: 9 years, owned There are dreamers and there are doers. Ariene Bethea fits into the latter. Ariene brought her dream to life through her designer furnishings storefront, Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. She has been called a “design maven,” whose arrival is “changing the face of design in the South.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Rainbow Chips Ahoy!” Modern Montreal Apartment
Name: Jonathan, graphic designer and founder of Pulp and Pixel Location: Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Montréal Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Graphic designer Jonathan has a great eye for design, and he’s carefully collected decor for his rental apartment that reflects his personality. His home is something like a Rainbow Chips-Ahoy! cookie: mostly plain with pops of color throughout.
Apr 30, 2019
Color, Light & Life in a Puerto Rican Home
Name: Sylvia De Marco Location: Ocean Park — San Juan, Puerto Rico Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years Live a Great Story. The front of Sylvia’s house boldly displays the slogan on a pink wall, with potted plants and bright flowers on the wall ledge. The facade says a lot about what guests will find upon entering. Like her bright and hip Ocean Park neighborhood, Sylvia’s home is filled with an array of colorful furniture, lively plants, and unique art.
Apr 30, 2019
A Bright Detroit Rental Loft Full of Local Pride
Name: Lori Location: Downtown — Detroit, Michigan Size: 1,195 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Lori’s downtown Detroit apartment is a good example of a space that appreciates functionality and modernism, but still manages to be a warm, welcoming home. She used her move to this space as a fresh start, and prioritized incorporating local designers’ work into the mix. From art to custom-made furniture, Lori’s love and support of her city is on full display.
Apr 30, 2019
A Couple’s Cozy Hollywood Regency Rental in Hell’s Kitchen
Name: Paul Giordano and Simon Mathis Location: New York, New York Size: 625 square feet Years lived in: 15 months, rented This extremely welcoming home in Manhattan is full of vibrant colors, natural textures, and personalized treasures. Though on the small-ish side, big windows let in a lot of light, and charming architectural features like a brick wall add tons of charm. But it’s Paul and Simon’s ability to mesh styles and colors that has created such a warm, eclectic home.
Apr 30, 2019
A Tiny Townhouse in Brooklyn for Two History Lovers
Name: John and Wesley Yates-Parietti Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Size: 630 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years Before John and Wesley moved into this 1890s Brooklyn townhouse, they say they were each living in separate “windowless dumps.” It took lots of unpacking and plenty of painting, but this small shared space is filled with historic artifacts, collected treasures and the couple’s heart and soul. (No windowless dumps in sight.
Apr 30, 2019
A Down-to-Earth Houston Home
Name: Des Ellis Location: Houston, Texas Size: 1,440 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented and owned Some people have an effortless style, amazing taste and the gift of knowing how to put all the pieces of their life together perfectly. Des is one of those people. She’s the buyer and general manager at Manready Mercantile, a “one-stop shop” that sells American-made goods for the home and closet.
Apr 30, 2019
We Rated the Top 10 Houses From HGTV’s ‘Fixer Upper’
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.
Apr 30, 2019
A Cozy “We Grab What We Like” Apartment in Toronto
Name: Sara, Kyle, and Monty the dog Location: Forest Hill, Toronto Size: 750 square feet| Years lived in: Renting 10 months. (They lived in the one-bedroom unit directly next door for 5 years.) This space proves that we should never judge a home by its exterior. Built in the late 1960s by architect Uni Prii, this apartment building was described as “space age” by Spacing Toronto. However, Kyle and Sara have created a home that leans far more toward cozy vintage than futuristic.
Apr 30, 2019
Someone Meticulously Carved a Map of Westeros Onto This Table
Here we have a perfectly ordinary drop leaf dining table. You’ve seen its ilk at thrift stores, and maybe one is in your home right now. This particular one, however, has been totally transformed by a talented Game of Thrones fan into something you might see in The Red Keep. Get the look: How amazing does that look?? It could basically be used by Daenerys to take the Iron Throne. The step-by-step was posted to Imgur yesterday by smife0, whose brother updated the table.
Apr 30, 2019
A Colorful “Bohemian Meets Western” Studio Apartment in D.C.
Name: Kallie Seniff Location: Logan Circle in Washington, D.C. Size: 456 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Kallie’s colorful studio apartment couldn’t be more representative of her personality. She’s an energetic, thrifty person and she found a way to combine these traits into a home so stylish that it makes me wild with envy.
Apr 30, 2019
This Complete Studio Makeover Went From Gut to Gorgeous
Project by: Melissa Location: Upper East Side — New York, New York My girlfriend Melissa and I purchased a small studio apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in October 2015. With a reasonable renovation budget, our goal was to take this fixer-upper, maximize the space and create a home for us for the next few years. Since Melissa loves to cook, and I love to eat, we made the kitchen our main priority. Deciding to tear down the wall that separated the kitchen was a no-brainer.
Apr 30, 2019
A Cozy, “Southern Eclectic” Nashville Home
Name: Kaitie, Tyler + cats (Jolene, Bruce, and Robin) + dog (Trae) Location: East Nashville — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 1,540 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned California natives Kaitie and Tyler wanted a change of pace, and Music City fit the bill. So they put down roots in Nashville about two years ago. At the time they were house hunting, real estate in Nashville was selling quickly.
Apr 30, 2019
An Artist’s Bold & Brash 450-Square-Foot Brooklyn Apartment
Name: Niki Azevedo and Bennett Harrell Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn— New York Size: 452 square feet Years lived in: Renting 6 years Niki’s 450 square foot Brooklyn apartment is a reflection of the years she’s lived as an artist in New York City. From DIY wallpaper, to rescued portraits of Jesus on the cross, to a mounted deer head, Niki’s personality shines throughout the space. “I am never giving up this apartment,” Niki says.
Apr 30, 2019
A Photographer & Musician Share a Serene Nashville Nest
Name: Lisa Diederich and Samuel Stephenson Location: Inglewood — Nashville, Tennessee Size: 1,248 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, renting Sam and I recently moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee and have spent the past few months settling into our home and our businesses here in Music City. After five years in Sydney, we both felt it was time for a new adventure, and Nashville was calling!
Apr 30, 2019
A Sunny Attic Apartment in a 15th Century Utrecht Building
Name: Kenny and Robbert Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Size: 969 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, rented Robbert and Kenny are quite the complementary pair — Robbert’s practicality balances out Kenny’s flair for the dramatic — and their Utrecht attic apartment wonderfully reflects that balance. Located on one of the main canals of Utrecht, this building was once a warehouse and dates from the 15th century.
Apr 30, 2019
A Serene “Bohemian Eclectic” San Francisco Studio
Name: Jory Dayne Location: Tenderloin — San Francisco, California Size: 525 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented The bustle of the street scene just outside Jory’s doorstep is a contrast to the warm, serene studio apartment he calls home. A flood of light pours in through bay windows, reflecting off the cluster of plants in the corner.
Apr 30, 2019
An Art-Filled Australian Home in a Former Hotel
Name: Vicki and Ross Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Years lived in: 8 years, owned Vicki and Ross moved into their home in the inner-city suburb of Carlton eight years ago. Their building was originally part of an adjoining hotel — and it housed a hand ball court sitting in the back. (The first Inter-colonial Hand Ball Competition was played there against New South Wales, in fact!) You can still see some of the original paint markings on the walls in their gorgeous courtyard.
Apr 30, 2019
This House Has a Sunken Living Room at Pool Level
We’ve found the perfect place to watch the Olympic swimming events. Here is an Australian home with a sunken living room that’s right at water level. The pool, designed by Melbourne company OFTB, further blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor living—like when being inside is just too far away from the water. An acrylic panel separates the pool from the sunken living room, and is giving us clear glass tub vibes.
Apr 30, 2019
A 350-Square-Foot NYC Studio Honestly Feels Much Bigger
Name: Sarah and Dan Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, New York Size: 350 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4.5 years Sarah and Dan live in a beautifully preserved brownstone apartment in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. The pre-war space features an abundance of architectural charm, like high ceilings, a floral ceiling medallion, and a gorgeous fireplace. The couple describes their style as modern and minimal, but above all, they value comfort.
Apr 30, 2019
An Artist’s Cozy, Textile-Rich Apartment in Chicago
Every ounce of artist Hillery's place is dripping in warmth. There are stacks of cozy blankets to curl into and Mali the dog appears perpetually huggable.
Apr 30, 2019
Make a Splash With a DIY Wallpaper Backsplash
If you love a good backsplash and want to bring some DIY flair to your kitchen but are a little tile averse, Claire has a fun solution for you! Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: 2-3 Hours Project Cost: $150-$200 Harlequin Wallpaper – Palmetto Demoiselle about 1/3 roll Wallpaper adhesive 5.5mm thick hardwood ply cut to size of backsplash (can be done in store) 4mm toughened low iron glass which we got cut to size at the store.
Apr 30, 2019
A Creative Couple’s 400-Square-Foot Handmade Home in Clinton Hill
Name: Tomoko and Michael Yates and cat Mochi Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, New York Size: About 400 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years, renting Tomoko and Michael met in Austin (in fact, you might remember the Austin house tour we did of his old apartment), but moved into their Clinton Hill apartment about three and a half years ago. The couple, respectively from Japan and Texas, describe their home’s style as simple and cozy.
Apr 30, 2019
Chaplin Slept Here: A Vintage Studio Apartment with Hollywood History
Name: Catherine Masi Location: Santa Barbara, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Designer Catherine Masi’s small studio apartment is in the historic Eastside of Downtown Santa Barbara. The area is beautiful and full of history — and so is the building she lives in.
Apr 30, 2019
Crafting a Serene and Relaxing Space in Moscow
Project by: Anna Location: Moscow, Russia This apartment is located in the center of Moscow – only a five minute walk from the Red Square and Kremlin. It is located in a historic building and its surface is 65 square meters/700 square feet. My clients were a young couple – they travel a lot and wanted me to recreate a mixture of French and Scandinavian looks.
Apr 30, 2019
Is Your Apartment Relationship-Ready? 5 Ways to Make Sure
You may be ready for a relationship, but what about your apartment? If dating is on your mind more than ever, it may be a good time to make some home improvements. You don’t need to do much to turn your home into a date-friendly abode; a few simple changes can make a huge difference. From bedding upgrades to organizational changes, here’s how to make your apartment more relationship-ready.
Apr 30, 2019
Desert Vibes in a Jewelry Designer’s Oakland Apartment
Name: Cheyenne Cannon Location: West Oakland — Oakland, California Size: ~250 square feet (part of a 2-story, 4-bedroom house) Years lived in: 1.5 years, rented Though Cheyenne doesn’t get to claim an entire apartment to herself, her small workspace and bedroom provide the bright light, privacy and inspiration she needs. She lucked out when the private second floor bedroom opened up.
Apr 30, 2019
A One-Size-Fits-All DIY Project That’ll Keep Your Kitchen Drawer Organized Forever
We all know that the kitchen tool drawer can get messy fast. Housing everything from uni-tasking gadgets to everyday workhorses like cooking spoons, it’s easy for them to become a tangled jumble. And since we all have different items and drawers, there’s no one organizational solution that will work for everyone. Or is there? The answer is to build your own drawer inserts. You can customize them to fit both your exact drawer dimensions and your specific needs.
Apr 30, 2019
A Bright Montreal Home Bursting With Cheery Spring Colors
Name: Elyse Location: Ville-Marie — Montreal Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 6 months Elyse’s apartment is a museum of small objects that are decorative rather than strictly functional. In fact, she calls it her “tchotchke heaven.” The bright light pouring in through big windows and the clean white walls prove to be the perfect gallery for her collection.
Apr 30, 2019
DIY Moss Wreath
This gorgeous wreath perfectly straddles summer and fall, and is super easy to make. Set aside one hour and you can have earthy and welcoming door decor! Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 hour Project Cost: $25-30 (if you already have a glue gun) From Caitlin: An inspiring DIY wreath project you can enjoy anytime of year from the photographer and stylist, Caitlin Atkinson, and author of Plant Craft: 30 Projects that Add Natural Style to your Home.
Apr 30, 2019
A Swoon-Worthy San Francisco Home with Killer Views
Name: Leo and Daniel Location: Dolores Heights — San Francisco, California Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Leo and Daniel consider themselves fortunate to live in a stunning, spacious San Francisco apartment overlooking the city’s skyline. Daniel’s parents own the building, so he and his sister (who lives in the unit above the couple) got first dibs.
Apr 30, 2019
Tour the Sophisticated (But Still Fun) Office of BLND PR
What makes a space one where you want to create? Does color have something to do with it? Does art play a role? Everything—from the furniture to the colors used to the accessories—has to blend together to create just the right mix when a space needs to be a work space. Laurel & Wolf reached out to us to share the office of BLND PR, designed by Luca Pepitone. It’s a flirty, casual space that strikes just the right balance of energizing and calming.
Apr 30, 2019
“More is More” in a Vintage, Luxe 1920s Queensland Cottage
Name: Jesse Roebuck and Alastair Emmett Location: Ipswich, Queensland Years Lived In: 1, owned Jesse and Alastair made the move from an inner-city Art Deco apartment to Ipswich when they purchased their first home. They found a beautiful “Queenslander” style cottage, and quickly made the house a home in just under a year. Choosing a house with character and charm was just the first step of this vintage luxe home.
Apr 30, 2019
Affordable Quality: 9 Top-Rated Blenders Under $200
A good rule of thumb for home purchases is the following: if you use something regularly (at least weekly, especially if it’s daily!), you should always buy quality. A dirt-cheap blender (or even one that you might have “borrowed” from your parent’s garage) is almost guaranteed to leave you frustrated with leaky pitchers and clumpy drinks. Say “No more!
Apr 30, 2019
A Cookie Cutter Apartment Goes Romantic & Cozy
Name: Christina and Matt Location: Novi, Michigan Size: 720 square feet Years lived in: 3 years Just married, these newlyweds are both in creative fields: Christina is a talented wedding photographer and Matt is a copywriter. Their creativity is on full display in their apartment, like Christina’s photographs, which are sprinkled around each room. They also got creative to transform a plain, cookie cutter space into a bright, airy, romantic home.
Apr 30, 2019