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The Latest: May 10, 2019

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NY Good Questions: How Can I Hide These Security Bars?
Hello AT, I’m looking for a solution to hide really ugly security bars on my living room window.I need a solution that still allows light to enter the room because the room is dark.Any suggestions are appreciated!Thanks! Emily(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)Dear Emily,This is a perennial NYC question and one that we wish was answerable by simply saying TAKE THE BARS DOWN, but we know that is not reasonable for everyone.
Maxwell Ryan
May 10, 2019
How To Create a “Dust-Free” Bedroom
Since my husband has asthma, we’re always looking for ways to reduce allergens and dust in our home (although it’s impossible to create a completely dust-free environment). We came across a good resource the other day. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has a step-by-step plan for reducing dust in the bedroom. Some of the tips on the site were for extreme cases. To read the entire article, click here.
Sarah Coffey
May 10, 2019
Quick Tip #35: How to Make Shower Curtains Glide Over Rods
Rub wax paper on your shower’s curtain rod to make rings run smoothly (and quietly) over the metal. The same concept works with metal hangers and closet rod. A single sheet of wax paper is usually enough, but if your curtain is especially screechy, it might take two. The paper will get gritty as it picks up the fine metallic dust.
Aaron Able
May 10, 2019
Before & After: A Teenage Bedroom is Completely Transformed into a Coastal Library
My mom is always happy to see me. But the last time I visited, she was also a little nervous; I was about to tear up the house and disrupt her space for several days while keeping the plan shrouded in secrecy—all for a surprise Mother’s Day room makeover. As I’ve gotten older, I find Mother’s Day feels woefully inadequate. The person who raised you and sacrificed for you, for the better part of two decades (and beyond), deserves more than a text or card.
Tara Bellucci
May 10, 2019
10 Tips for Buying Expensive-Looking Rugs on a Budget
Shopping for rugs with a tight budget can be difficult. Here are some ideas to score one that doesn't look cheap.
Leah Groth
May 10, 2019
How to Get Rid of Gnats
If your apartment is plagued by tiny floating black dots, you might think you’re hallucinating or your eyes are failing. We can’t totally rule those out… but it’s more likely you’ve got a much less alarming but still extremely annoying problem.Gnats.There are a few strategies for getting rid of your pesky new visitors.
Rena Behar
May 10, 2019
A Playful Home Shows Off the Power of Pops of Color
Name: Leslie and Gilbert, kids, and pets Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Leslie and Gilbert moved to Michigan a couple of years ago and were excited to find a fun mid-century modern house next to some wooded land. They love music, learning, and nature and wanted to be able to bring all of those things together into their home.
Diana Paulson
May 10, 2019
How To…Get Rid of Bleach Stains in the Bathroom
Bleach stains…sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Well, a few days ago, in an effort to unclog our drain, we followed the advice of one of our friends and poured bleach down the drain. And man, we learned our lesson: Don’t. Do. That. EVER! Even after we rinsed the tub, the next morning we found nasty bleach stains around the tub. After two hours of scrubbing to no avail, we went online to hunt for some kind of remedy… After some research, we tested out a few solutions: 1.
Grace Shu
May 10, 2019
3 Things Ridiculously Organized People Do Before They Move
Moving is one of life’s most stressful events, and it’s no wonder why. It’s expensive. You have to go through all your belongings and decide what no longer sparks joy. Then there’s all the packing. This is all before actual moving day rolls around, which adds physical labor to the equation. It’s not hard to see why the whole thing generally makes people want to pull their hair out.But it doesn’t have to be that way!
Kate Streit
May 10, 2019
How to: Naturally Clean Up Pet Vomit From Carpet
Occasionally our cat scarfs down his kibbles so fast he doesn’t properly digest his meal, undoubtedly resulting in a small pile of partially digested dinner ontop of our rug. Cleaning it fully requires some careful handling, since you don’t want to press in the mess into the fabric and leave a stain…First, use a butter knife or a spoon to pick up the bulk of the mess from ontop the carpet.
Gregory Han
May 10, 2019
This Arizona Home Is Filled With Utterly Fantastic Hand-Painted Florals
Name: Bari and Kevin Ackerman (grown daughters Anna and Emily live here only part time). Pets include Kevin’s saltwater aquarium fish. Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Size: 3,400 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned We moved to Arizona in December 2011 with our two daughters who were in 8th grade and sophomore year of high school at the time. Because we hadn’t sold our house in California yet, we stayed with my parents for a bit. When the house sold in January, we began hunting.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 10, 2019
The Sex Chairs: The Tantric Sex Chair and The Esse Chair
Okay, so here’s the skinny. A friend of ours told us that she r e a l l y w a n t e d one of these for her and her husband, but they were pricey, so they built one. Then we opened the New York Times and found out about a couple that ordered “The Sex Chair.
Maxwell Ryan
May 10, 2019
How To: Hang Art in Groups (Like Kate Spade)
Full disclosure: I think Kate is soooooo much cooler than Andy Spade (and, yes, I’m a guy). Hilary (woman) may lose, but Kate (woman) has won. Her style seems so much more grown up, fun and exciting than his little confused downtown boy club around the corner from her SoHo store. Okay, that’s harsh, but it’s true (his bags are nice, but that’s it). And even though I have NO USE for anything in HER store (bags, glasses, etc), I still go in there and I like it.
Maxwell Ryan
May 10, 2019
Switch Up Your Pillow Covers with These 9 Affordable Options
You can never truly own too many throw pillows, right? I mean, just scroll through these pillow-filled rooms and take a look at how comfortable and stylish they seem! But for those who are short on space or prefer a more minimalist look, I maintain that purchasing a few great inserts and then swapping out covers from time to time is the best bet.
Sarah Lyon
May 10, 2019
How To: Build A DIY Humane Mouse Trap
It appears that my recent house guest was an elderly member of a rodent community underneath our building. Our friend and neighbor found another rodent brought in by her cat in her adjoining unit, and was notified that some workmen discovered a nest of mice living beneath the building in the foundation. She’s been looking to get rid of it, but humanely, but isn’t too keen on traditional traps.
Gregory Han
May 10, 2019
A Classic Rock-Inspired Home Has the Cutest Pink Plant-Themed Powder Room
Name: Andrea Isabelle Lucas, my partner, and two kids, ages 12 and 19 Location: Boston, MassachusettsSize: 2500 square feetYears lived in: 2 years, ownedOur home is just north of Boston, built in 1880. My favorite original feature is the wide pine plank floors. I have a love of classic rock, mid-century modern style, and also do circus arts in my spare time. I could never feel at home somewhere average or plain-looking.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 10, 2019
How To Read Upholstery Cleaning Codes
Upholstery should be marked with a code that allows the buyer to know in advance, what type of cleaning is suggested. This is an important thing to keep in mind when purchasing new pieces for your home, or dragging something old back from an auction or estate sale. Click through the jump to see what these letters mean and share your tried and true methods for stain removal.
Sarah Rae Smith
May 10, 2019
How To: Foolproof Red Wine Stain Removal
Our new friends before the wine mishap.A recent lovely evening of food, conversation and wine came to a halt when we noticed a few drops of red wine had stained the embroidered tablecloth we were dining upon. Emily immediately turned to the ole fashioned pile of salt routine, but this didn’t seem to work as well as we had hoped.
Gregory Han
May 10, 2019
How To: Grow an Avocado Tree
With the recent onslaught of hot weather, we’ve been scarfing the guacamole and thought it a shame to just chuck the avocado pits. We grabbed a couple of our trusty Spega yogurt glasses and did our best to recall the glory days of elementary school science class. Jump below for a refresher on how to turn your seed in to a little tree…. Straight from the official avocado website: 1. Wash the seed.
Shayna
May 10, 2019
How To: Clean Your Driveway
Although cleaning your driveways seems like something painful, it’s like most things and needs routine maintenance. It’s easy to forget about, but will be quickly remembered when you have to fork over the cashola to have a new one poured. Click through the jump to learn 8 essential driveway cleaning tips that can save you great hassle down the road. Cleaning your driveways is something best done with regularity.
Sarah Rae Smith
May 10, 2019
House Call: Maggie Mason of Mighty Goods
There’s a good chance that you’ve stopped by at least one of her websites. Maggie Mason is the genius behind Mighty Goods (a shopping site), Mighty Junior (devoted to kiddies), Mighty Girl (her personal blog), Mighty Finds (an Etsy shop) and — as of last week — Mighty Haus (a shopping site devoted to housewares). Somewhere between running all of these lovely sites, she found time to snap some photos of her San Francisco apartment and give us a little insight into her decor.
Anh-Minh
May 10, 2019
Reusing Milk Crates
Ah the milk crate, the original building block for DIY furniture. Milk crates are often abused in a design sense by students looking for cheap – read free – storage solutions. But we’ve always known they could be so much more which is why we were so excited when we saw Tasmanian furniture designer Simon Ancher’s clever milk crate stool. With the simple addition of a wooden ‘top’, the crate is transformed into an attractive comfortable seat.
Gregory Han
May 10, 2019
Good Questions: How Can I Get Rid of Bathtub Stains?
AT DC, I moved into an apartment with old bathtub stains that really gross me out. The former resident’s bathmat left dark stains on the bottom of the tub. I love taking baths but wouldn’t be able to relax with those icky stains. I’ve tried various bathroom cleaners and none have gotten rid of the stains. Any ideas? I really miss my bath time!
Rachael Grad
May 10, 2019
Zadie’s A to Z Abode
Name & Age: Zadie, 4 months old Location: West Virginia Zadie’s mom, Beth, channeled Tim Gunn while creating her daughter’s bedroom: I see the space as a mix of modern and “make it work” because we really just had to use the resources available to us here in West Virginia with our limited budget.
Carrie McBride
May 10, 2019
Mother's Day Surprise Room Makeover
Mother's Day Surprise Room Makeover
May 10, 2019