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The Latest: May 3, 2019

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Empty living room with gray walls, white fireplace, ceiling fan, and hardwood floors.
Before & After: This Room’s Beautiful Bones Get Even Better
Here’s a room with beautiful bones—stunning wood floors, classic fireplace, tasteful paint colors, interesting accent wall, high ceilings—but can it be even better? Here’s how the homeowner kept everything that’s good about this room, while remedying the “big empty space!” next to the fireplace. First, here’s how Lindsay of Indigo & Gray described the situation before the change: We had just moved into our brand new house.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Derelict Property Gets a Second Chance
This neglected home was purchased in 2004 and in the intervening years, it’s slowly been made over by a loving new owner. Let’s see how its exterior has changed and improved over the last 14 years. This post is really a “Before and After…and After” project, as the home has evolved over time. Here’s a full-length shot of the house in 2004, when John originally purchased it: I had wanted to find a home to renovate, but had a very limited budget.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Big Blank Wall Gets a Very Functional Facelift
Here’s a lovely dining room that boasts ample natural light, beautiful wood floors, covetable furnishings, a graceful light fixture, and happy plants. It’s nearly perfect! There is, however, the matter of that huge blank wall that somewhat sucks the life out of the room… This is so fun!
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Realistic & Affordable $3500 Kitchen Redo
This kitchen looked pretty good! It was cute and has charm—but it had hidden issues that were driving its owner batty. Let’s see how far $3,500 went in refreshing this sweet space. Before we gaze upon the new kitchen, here’s how reader Alisha described the old one: The kitchen in our townhouse was adequate when we moved in 2+ years ago, but every day it grew more tired.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Returning An Airstream to Its Former Glory
Behold this tragic trailer, 63-years-old and abandoned in the woods of rural Mississippi. Is there any hope for this rusty, busted, pest-infested little sweetie? Hold out for a hero, brave Airlight! It’s so SHINY!
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Velvet Is Taking Over (& We’re Not Mad About It)
For the longest time in home design, velvet has been synonymous with luxury and opulence, and I’m not suggesting that’s changed overnight. But when I spoke to interior designer Nicole Gibbons just before the holidays, she seemed to think that this once fancy pants material was starting to go mainstream, mainly because of advances in fabric technology.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Whoopi Goldberg Lists Her Longtime Old Hollywood Estate for $8.75M
When you’re a Hollywood superstar of the mega-wattage of Whoopi Goldberg, nothing but a property with serious Silver Screen street cred will do. But after more than 20 years at her Pacific Palisades home, the EGOT winner and talk show host is moving on — listing the pedigreed estate for $6.25 million more than what she purchased it for back in 1993.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
10 V-Day Gifts Under $10 for Your Many, Many Galentines
Whether you call them your besties, squad, or BFFs, they’re your closest friends and you love them more than anything. And just like anyone you truly adore, it’s only natural to want to spoil your squad on Galentine’s Day. However, sometimes, okay most of the time, our budgets aren’t nearly half as big as our hearts — and squads. And because you might have a bunch of gals to buy for (lucky you!
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
Minimalist Entryways That Have Just What You Need (& Nothing More)
The entryway. It’s the last touch point with home on the way out the door, and the first point of contact after a long day. Home to shoes, bags, and accessories, it carries the important responsibility of organizing the things that help your day run more smoothly— not to mention warmly welcoming you and your guests back home.
Autumn Hachey
May 3, 2019
These Sleek Fidget Spinners Could Help Break Your Phone Addiction
Resisting the urge to swipe and scroll the day away is a battle many of us face and inevitably lose. Fortunately, Vienna-based designer Klemens Schillinger has done his part in trying to help us loosen the grips on our smart phones with the invention of five “substitute phones.” We know – who knew there was such a thing?
Kenya Foy
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Smart Solution to the Cat Litter Conundrum
This is a cute little cabinet, perfect for storing all manner of things. But Melissa had an entirely different purpose in mind, and the whole project took about thirty minutes from start to finish. One member of her household is particularly happy with the end result.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
6 Solid Downsizing Tips from Tiny Home Dwellers
When going from a 2,200-square-foot traditional home to a 300-square-foot renovated RV, my family and I ended up getting rid of 80 percent of our belongings. Downsizing is an experience that I recommend to anyone—no matter the size of your home. While living in a tiny vehicle might not be for everyone, I believe that getting rid of all that overwhelming “stuff” can help you live simpler and sometimes even happier.
Brynn Burger
May 3, 2019
Plant Parents Will Love This Brazilian Home Designed Around a Tropical Garden
This stunner of a modern home seamlessly blends indoors and out with a sleek elegance that delights and surprises. Architect David Guerra designed this concrete and glass oasis for clients in Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Located on a hillside with stunning views, the ground floor of the home is designed with sliding glass doors to create a sense of unity with nature.
Nora Taylor
May 3, 2019
Busy Philipps’ Pantry Transformation Is Majorly Therapeutic
There are few things more inspirational than seeing an impressive before-and-after that takes place in the home. From the smaller spaces like this shoe storage area to the larger projects like this incredible kitchen reno (for under $400!), these jaw-dropping transformations can get you vamped up and ready to organize. To put it plainly, we just can’t get enough of these refreshes—part of the reason why we’re currently swooning over Busy Philipps’ pantry.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
How to Get Your Whole Home in Order, One Weekend at a Time
Slow and steady wins the race, even in cleaning. In the proverbial tale of the tortoise and the hare, the hare is all of those people who drive themselves crazy with back-breaking quick-sprint cleans before their mother-in-laws drop in for the weekend. We… we are the tortoises. By signing up for Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects, you’re already one step ahead in the race.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Is This The Bathroom That Finally Brings Avocado Fixtures Back?
Green bathtubs, sinks and toilets — and especially avocado green bathtubs, sinks and toilets— are usually the thing of bathroom nightmares, and the one of the first things to go during a renovation. But we just spotted a recent renovation that might help change your mind about uniquely colored fixtures. This beautiful bathroom arrived in my inbox and caught my eye, with its green fixtures, light blue walls, and marble sections of wall and floor.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
No One Knows What To Do With The New York Times’ Confusing Modern Office Furniture
Picking office furniture is generally a no frills, utilitarian endeavor. Grab some desks, chairs, file cabinets, conference tables and call it a day. Whoever was in charge of that task for the New York Times, though, decided to spice up the workspace with some modern pieces—so modern, in fact, that they’re baffling the staff.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Here’s What Changes in Your Kitchen When You Move in with a Significant Other
Moving in with your significant other can be a weighty next step in your relationship (or one taken lightly to save on rent), but no matter how seriously you take it, it’s going to affect how you work in the kitchen. If you were living solo before, it could be a bit of a shock to the system to share this busy space with another being. And even if you’re used to roommates, it’s a totally different animal to share the kitchen with someone you love romantically.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
May 3, 2019
One Good Reason Not to Throw Out Those Mesh Produce Bags
Repurposing your household items doesn’t just reduce waste—it saves money, too. That’s the good news. The great news is: You don’t have to be super crafty to reap the benefits of creative reuse. If you think you’ve got the chops (read: literally five minutes) for a super quick, easy, and clever home project, we’ve got just the kitchen DIY for you.
Ashley Abramson
May 3, 2019
Check Out The Floor Plans From Your Favorite TV Kitchens
Ever since Lucy Ricardo accidentally baked the world’s biggest loaf of bread on a 1952 episode of I Love Lucy, kitchens have been at the center of virtually every TV family’s story. In honor of TV’s love affair with the kitchen, HomeAdvisor, the marketplace that connects homeowners to home improvement pros, has carefully rendered the floor plans of some of your favorite TV hearts of the home.
Marni Epstein-Mervis
May 3, 2019
Sneak Peek: The New Anthropologie Catalog is Coming & It’s GOOD
Well, Anthropologie has done it again, folks. Their Spring 2018 House + Home catalog is about to drop tomorrow, we got a sneak peek and it’s GOOD. Almost good enough for me to feel like the end of all this sub-freezing, winter weather nonsense is really just around the corner (also so good that we almost titled this piece “We’re calling it: The Anthropologie Catalog Might Be the New IKEA Catalog” but then decided to cool our jets).
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
The House In ‘Winchester’ Is a Real Place, And It’s Gigantic
A new Helen Mirren movie about a rich heiress who builds a strange mansion is based on real events. While it sounds like the real house it centers around was less about ghost stories than Hollywood makes it out to be, the place is still imposing. Winchester’s trailer shows Sarah Winchester, the widow of rifle magnate William Wirt Winchester, as she builds room after room onto her mansion, trapping inside each of them the ghosts of those who died as a result of her husband’s firearms.
Meryl Williams
May 3, 2019
We Compared Prices for 27 Household Items at Target & Costco
I always leave Costco a bit traumatized by my receipts. When you’re spending $24 on paper towels alone, the bill adds up fast. But even though buying in bulk costs more upfront, it’s usually cheaper in the long run (that’s actually the whole point, of course). The question is: how much cheaper is it? Is it really worth it to have to stash all those big bottles and tubs just to save a few cents (not to mention the cost of membership)?
Danielle Centoni
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Pretty Jaw-Dropping Living Room Redo
This is a very nice living room! If it has a flaw, it’s that it is all a bit…beige, with endless shades of taupe and brown. Check out the renovation that makes the room’s many assets pop — and makes you forget there was ever any beige involved. It’s now so fantastic!
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
This Man Is Responsible for the Gardens at NYC’s Top Restaurants
It was a gray Friday afternoon, but Studio—a café and restaurant tucked inside the recently opened Freehand New York—felt alive. I was sitting across from the person who helped to create that vibe through a surprising vehicle—plants. They filled the corners, shelves, and the area between the tables, bringing each space very much to life. And, it turns out, the man responsible for their being is also behind the plants at a host of New York City’s hottest restaurants.
Charlotte Parker
May 3, 2019
Forget Creepily Screenshotting Your Friend’s Stories: Instagram Is Testing a New Alert
Sorry, creepers: Instagram is once again “borrowing” a feature from Snapchat. The photo app is reportedly testing a screenshot alert notification for Stories, so you can no longer save photos undetected. The feature was reported yesterday by TechCrunch when people took to social media to share the new feature. Good bye freedom to screenshot IG stories. ? Thank you, Instagram for the warning. pic.twitter.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
This Cali Cool Home Masters the Modern Boho Look
Project: Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design Location: Los Feliz, California California vibes are hard to shake in interior design these days, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want a laid-back, relaxed place to call home? That’s exactly what Los Angeles-based designer Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design gave her client, a tech executive, in this furniture and decor-focused makeover.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
This $1 Garden Supply Item is a Decorating Secret Weapon
I love finding overlooked products in hardware and garden supply stores that I never knew I needed. I recently discovered one hiding right under my nose that’s a clever, inexpensive way to add life and style to a living space. I, for one, can’t wait to use it at home. What is it? A flower pot clip. They are a quick, easy and cheap way to hang plants. Simply drill a hole, hang the hardware onto your chosen surface, then clip on a planter.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
The Biggest Mistake I Made During My Budget Kitchen Renovation
Anyone who’s ever done a renovation on a budget knows that you have to find places to cut costs. Everything can’t be a splurge, after all. When my husband and I redid our home’s third floor to make it a full-time Airbnb, we were starting from scratch, so expensive things like HVAC systems ripped huge chunks out of our budget. I knew we had to restore the gorgeous original wood floors, and that meant another big expense.
Dana McMahan
May 3, 2019
Get the Look: Queer Eye’s Industrial Atlanta Loft
As someone who has watched the Netflix reboot through twice, I’m confident in saying it is a smashing success. I laughed. I cried. I wanted another eight episodes. The new Fab Five are so charming; it’s hard to stop watching. They’ve retained the same format at the original: Five gay men make over a (usually) straight guy. They redesign his home, his clothing, his hairstyle, and his inner confidence.
Anita Shriver
May 3, 2019
Here’s What Happens to Your Body When You Don’t Move All Weekend
It’s a brutal winter. The world outside can be a horrible place. Can you blame anyone for wanting to cancel their plans, stay in, sleep late and watch TV all weekend? It’s self care, after all, and we can all get behind that. I mean, it feels good to get cozy and binge on, well, pretty much any shows out right now. And who among us doesn’t need some more shut-eye?
Dana McMahan
May 3, 2019
The Mega List of Things to Do Together in Bed (That Have Nothing to Do With Sex or TV)
Let’s preface this by stating clearly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with sex or TV. They’re both fantastic when enjoyed with a loving partner (or by yourself). But whether your relationship is brand new or you’ve been together so long you’re inadvertently starting to dress the same, building intimacy as a couple is important. And real intimacy, well, that can sometimes take more than just a little Netflix and chill.
Julie Sprankles
May 3, 2019
8 Sneaky Ways your Bedroom is Sabotaging your Sex Life
It’s the end of the day, and you crawl beneath the sheets next to your significant other with a *certain* expectation (cue bedroom eyes). Then, something happens — and, spoiler alert, it’s not sex. You get distracted. Or your partner does. Long story short? The only things going down in that bedroom are libidos. If your bedroom is more fizzle than sizzle lately, it might be time to re-examine the source.
Julie Sprankles
May 3, 2019
The Internet Thinks You Need an Italy Towel — And They’re Only $2
Are you a card-carrying member of Exfoliation Nation? Then you need to know about the Italy Towel, a sandpaper-esque mitt worshipped by skincare fanatics. If you’re one for falling down the rabbit hole that is internet skincare sites — Reddit’s Skincare Addiction is a personal fave — then you may have seen the abrasive and (often) electric green-colored towel before.
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
10 Reasons Why Menards Has Such a Huge Cult Following
Hi, my name is Sarah Smith and I am a ridiculously devoted Menards shopper. Now, please understand: this doesn’t just mean that I like the store and shop there often. At this point, I may as well have my own cot in the lumber yard so I can just spend the night and be there when it opens again in the morning. Why you ask? Oh child, you just don’t even know, but let me enlighten you. Then maybe you can get a cot too —or wait — bunk beds!
Sarah Rae Smith
May 3, 2019
The Surprising Health Benefits of a Clean Closet
Have you ever noticed that stepping into your cluttered, messy closet makes you stressed? Understatement of the day? Well, you’re not alone. It turns out that exposure to a greater density of “stuff” – like a jam-packed closet – can lead to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Assistant professor of psychology Darby Saxbe, Ph.D., worked on an intriguing study at UCLA where married, dual-income couples gave researchers a video tour of their home.
Dana McMahan
May 3, 2019
20 Doable Ways to Deep Clean Your Home This Weekend
My personal cleaning schedule builds in one day a week to do a deep cleaning task that needs to be done monthly. Honestly, though, I’m rarely on-schedule enough that these monthly projects aren’t bumped out to catch up on skipped weekly chores. Whether a deep cleaning project is a catch-up task for you or it gets you ahead of the game, this weekend we’re going to pick something to clean deeply.
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019
Before & After: One Family’s Small Yet Smart Closet Conversion
Reader Tamera is having a baby — yay! Tamera’s rental apartment does not feature a room for a baby — boo! Fortunately, it does have a generously proportioned master closet, and Tamera had a vision to transform this space. This is so very sweet! The accent wall really makes it feel like a room, the pretty mirror adds natural light to the space, and every inch has been used so wisely.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Genevieve Gorder Is Engaged & Her Fiancé Has a Role on Trading Spaces
Trading Spaces‘ Genevieve Gorder is prepping to trade some vows. And when the beloved TLC show returns to airwaves in April, her new fiancé will be making an appearance too. Just a few days ago, Gorder announced her engagement to designer and builder Christian Dunbar, PEOPLE confirmed. “It takes a pretty big love to interrupt a beautiful life…this one was undeniable,” said Gorder, 43. “So off we go to the dance again.
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Makeover for a Disastrous, Doorless Closet
If your home doesn’t contain at least one disastrous closet, I salute you. (And if you only have one closet, it’s even more likely to be overstuffed and overwhelmed!) This doorless closet, which was a catchall for everything from cakestands to lampshades, got a full makeover for less than $100 and is now totally display-worthy.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Blank Balcony Wall Goes Bananas
When I opened this reader-submitted project, I thought, “Aha! Our dear reader has obviously uploaded their “after” photo to the “before” box, happens to the best of us, not a bit of trouble,” because it never occurred to me that the lovely space you see here could possibly be a “before” photo. Oh, but it is! Now this balcony is a tropical retreat—in Switzerland, no less.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Here’s What It’s Like To Win The HGTV Dream Home
Since 1997, HGTV has made viewers’ lives by giving away their annual Dream Home—a picturesque retreat most people can only dream of owning. And this year’s grand prize was no exception: A 3,500-square-foot home on the waterfront in Gig Harbor, Washington, the four-bed, three-bath beauty came with a Honda Accord and $250,000 from Quicken Loans.
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
Owning a Famous Property Has Its Downsides: American Horror Story House Owners Suing Over Tourists
Have you ever thought how cool it would be to own a famous house recognizable from popular culture? Maybe think again. The current owners of the L.A.-located Rosenheim Mansion, AKA the famous haunted house featured in the initial season of American Horror Story, are way over the novelty. In fact, they’re suing the previous owners for not giving them a heads up about how often the house is visited by fans of the horror anthology.
Meryl Williams
May 3, 2019
Why You Should Always Put a Coffee Filter In Your Flower Pots
Plants add vibrancy to our living spaces like nothing else quite can. And although tending to them isn’t necessarily hard, they are living things that require our time and attention. Anything that makes caring for plants a bit easier is a plus in our book — because this means we can add a few more! Here’s how coffee filters contribute to smart, less-mess plant maintenance.
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Very Unique Twist on Traditional Herringbone Floors
When I saw this living room, I crossed my fingers that the ceiling beams and wood-burning stove survived the renovation. Spoiler alert: they did! Just don’t get too attached to that amazing, but undeniably eccentric, hutch. Beams and stove are intact, but the problem now is that they’re utterly upstaged by that astounding floor by Fairwood.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A 1950s Apartment goes from “Money Pit” to Modern Perfection
Today, Mel (a designer) and Mario (a filmmaker) live in a stunning Spanish apartment they own, having spent the last few years slowly decorating the space to be an open, airy and warm home for themselves and their baby daughter Mia (as well as pups Coco and Marni). But it didn’t always look this good. In fact, this 1950s apartment had NEVER been renovated before.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
We Compared Prices for 25 Items at Home Depot & Amazon
We all know spring is the season for growing: grass, flowers, trees…and to-do lists. After a winter of cocoon-like inertia, it’s time to get busy deep cleaning, organizing, fertilizing and mowing. So to get the ball rolling, we made a list of some of the most essential things you’ll need, then compared their prices at two mega-stores known for their bargains: Home Depot and Amazon. Here’s how they stacked up.
Danielle Centoni
May 3, 2019
One Couple Shows What It’s Like To Baby Proof a Tiny House
When Robert and Samantha Garlow of Shedsistance designed and built their tiny home in the woods of Yakima, Washington, they created a super cool small space with an impressive amount of room for all of their outdoor gear. Fast forward a few months and they have to make room for another form of adventure: parenthood. The couple spent about $30,000 building the 24-foot long, eight-foot-six-inch-wide, 13-foot-five-inch-tall home.
Nora Taylor
May 3, 2019