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The Latest: May 2019

Welcome to the hub for accessing all our latest posts! Easily sort through content by date to quickly find what you’re looking for — you’ll never miss out on the latest updates here.
Kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wooden island, and countertop items like a red cup and bananas.
Before & After: “Nothing Wrong” Kitchen Brightens Up
For those amongst us who have a strong urge to stick with “perfectly good” spaces that have “nothing wrong” with them, either look away or be inspired. Becky’s kitchen was fine, but she didn’t love it. So she and her husband ditched what they didn’t like and made it a room they truly love: From Becky: Right from the start we kept the upper cabinets empty, just to see if we could live without them.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Free Chair Gets a Feathered Makeover
Chelsea picked up this chair for free, and dove into her fabric stash to find some new life for it. Check out the makeover that cost her $0: From Chelsea: I had been looking for a simple modern chair to use in our office makeover, and when I saw this sleek, chrome number in a garage sale leftover free pile, I jumped on it!
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Colorful Update for a Vintage Bathroom
Although they originally thought about combining the two baths into a single much larger one, budget considerations prevailed, and they decided instead to keep the bathrooms separate and make the most of each. Here you see ‘before’ pictures of bathroom #2 — if you missed the first one, you can witness its transformation here.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Boring Bathroom Gets Some Dark Drama
This is Marissa’s old bathroom. It’s certainly not the worst ‘before’ we’ve seen here on Apartment Therapy — but beneath its bland, dingy-80s exterior lurked a nasty surprise. The previous owner of Marissa’s co-op spent a lot of time away from home, and didn’t realize that leaks were causing extensive water damage. On top of that, the random dropped ceilings were making this tiny space even more claustrophobic. It was time for a change.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: An Old Victorian Fireplace Gets A Facelift
Our home is full of lots of really gorgeous original details—and some not so gorgeous, not so original details. Somewhere around 1980, our fireplace’s original cast iron surround and summer cover were removed and replaced with plug-in, light-up logs and delightful glass doors.
Ashley Poskin
May 4, 2019
How To Strip Paint From Hardware
Not all painters are created equal — especially those who ch0ose to slop paint over beautiful, antique hardware. It may seem like a daunting task to return those beautiful bits to their original glory, but don’t be fooled. Homeowners and renters alike can remedy this problem with just a few supplies, none of which are toxic. If you live in an old apartment building you’ve probably got interesting design details hiding in your hardware just beneath a few layers of paint.
Ashley Poskin
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Stenciled Wall Makes It Modern
With such a large and in charge antique headboard, Chelsea’s bedroom was looking one-note. Deciding to create an accent wall behind it, she fell in love with, and then rejected, some really expensive wallpaper. See how she transformed this bedroom for $40! From Chelsea: For years I have had the pleasure of owning an antique family heirloom bedroom set, (my great-great grandmother was born in the bed….TMI?)!
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Beat-Up Tallboy Dresser Makes Waves
This tallboy dresser had been relegated to a garage to store junk, but Polly saw some potential. Inspired by the beach, this dresser got a wavy makeover. From Polly: I got this beat up old tallboy from a lovely lady on Gumtree. She used it for junk in her garage. I kew the draws and feet would make it a really interesting piece to upcycle and I have been wanting to try a really different paint technique for a while.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
A Pretty Palette: New 108 Paint Color System from Serena & Lily and Colorhouse
I always find that painting is (relatively) easy and affordable, once you’ve selected your colors, but the process of getting your choices narrowed down is the lion’s share of the work (and for those of us prone to fretting over design decisions, the potential stress, as well).
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
Before & After: An IKEA Dresser Goes from Elementary to Elegant
Believe it or not, this dresser is not vintage. Nor is it a high-end retail piece. Thanks to the ingenuity of Sarah Sherman Samuel over at Smitten Studio, a basic, no-frills IKEA staple was transformed into a sleek, beautiful, and functional feature. Hard to believe this dresser is not vintage or a high-end retail piece, right? The IKEA Tarva is as basic as it gets.
Carolyn Purnell
May 4, 2019
Alice, Should I Let My Friend (& Her BABY!) Move In With Me?
Dear Alice, Thanks, Stuck between a friend and a large space Dear Stuck, I think you already know what to do. You’re clearly not looking for a roommate, even your best friend. Your concerns about privacy and her lifestyle are valid, but whatever your reasons, you don’t need to justify why you don’t want to let a grown woman and her baby share your space.
Ask Alice
May 4, 2019
Before & After: From Bland Bedroom to Longed-For Library
Mandy’s first-floor master bedroom was strangely laid out and not particularly “master-sized.” She and her husband decided to sleep in another room upstairs, and completely change this one to something they always wanted—a library. The “before” faces the window that’s on the left in the “after,” since they completely changed the floor plan and that door no longer exists! From Mandy: My husband and I bought our first home last October.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Alexis & Nathaniel’s Cozy Modern Cottage in Portland
Name: Alexis & Nathaniel Location: Portland, OR We bought our home in 2007 because we loved the SW Portland neighborhood of Multnomah Village and though the house is small – just under 800 square feet. we loved (still love) that it felt larger because of all of the windows and natural light.
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
15 Clever Things You Didn’t Know You Really Needed in Your Kitchen
Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Here are 15 clever details you might want to consider adding. They’re all elegant solutions that make life in the kitchen just a little bit easier, and we wouldn’t blame you one bit if you want them all. Built-in, pull out cutting boards. From Residence Magazine via Nordicspace. Even better, a pull-out cutting board right about the trash bin, to make sweeping away scraps super-easy. By Gary Wafford.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Boring Studio to Beautiful Family Home
Ok, so here’s a fun one. I know you guys love seeing transformations that involve entire rooms, and especially entire apartments, and this ‘before’ was particularly bleak. It’s not the worst we’ve ever seen, but it is a perfect example of the kind of soul-deadening blandness that afflicts NYC postwar apartments. In addition, the homeowners, who had just moved from a two-bedroom, were expecting a new addition.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Former Rental Kitchen Gets Pop of Personality
Kari’s cottage used to be a rental. The kitchen had been “updated” with the cheapest options available, so she set out to give it a bit more style and functionality, while sticking to a first-home budget. From Kari: I purchased my home in 2012. It is a 1950 post war cottage with 2 bedrooms and 770 sqft. Prior to closing, it had sat vacant for 8 months and prior to that it had been a rental.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: 70s Bathroom Gets a Moody Makeover
With shag carpet, vintage wallpaper, and a mustard counter, this bathroom was firmly planted in the 70s. Rosalind decided to bring it into this century with a dark and dramatic makeover. From Rosalind: Our master bathroom in our new-to-us house was lacking, to say the least. It had not been updated since our house was built in the 70s. A mixture of wallpaper and shag carpet had us dreaming of a renovation. It also sported two long, narrow closets that housed clothes for the master suite.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Kitchen Opens Up for Entertaining
Lana’s home was built in the 1930s, and the separate rooms made it tough to entertain. She was also lacking counter space on either side of the stove. See how she opened up the space while keeping the same layout: From Lana: Our old kitchen was a great size and decent layout, but was difficult to entertain in— I always felt like I had my back to the conversation and only had 12 inches of counter on either side of the stove.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
What I Learned from Refinishing Our Kitchen Table Myself (Twice!)
Our eat-in nook is in the shape of half a hexagon. And our “temporary” table was a hand-me-down Craigslist loaner from some friends — in the shape of an octagon. I should have known we were destined for each other.
Shifrah Combiths
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Vintage Eichler Home Opens Up
This is an especially interesting project because it shows how an older home can be adapted for the needs of a modern family without sacrificing the things that made the home charming to begin with. The owners of this Eichler home home in Mountain View, California were in love with the home’s midcentury detailing… but not with the midcentury floor plan.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Maggie Remodels a Dark & Dated Den
Maggie and her husband are in the process of renovating their Pittsburgh home, transforming it room by room from a dark, dated place into a light and bright space that’s a joy to be in. One of their favorite projects-in-progress is this window-filled room, which they has tons of potential… So far they’ve ditched all the wood paneling, raised the roof, and installed drywall.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: The $800 Sell-This-House Kitchen Makeover
With Erica and her husband hoping to sell their home, they wanted to differentiate their builder-grade kitchen from their neighbors’— without spending a ton of money. See how they transformed the space: From Erica: With the knowledge that kitchens sell homes and our goal being to move out to the country, we needed to upgrade our builder-grade ’90s time warp.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: The Hardest-Button-to-Tuft Chest Makeover
Sarah wanted this cedar-lined chest to serve as extra seating in her music room. Instead of simply upholstering the top, though, she was inspired by a White Stripes song to try something a little more advanced. From Sarah: During my recent music room makeover, I found myself looking for ways to incorporate some extra seating. My sights settled on an old cedar-lined storage chest, which was the right height for seating but didn’t present the most inviting surface.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: ’70s Bathroom Addition Finally Fits In
While glad for the extra space, the addition made on Amanda and Dustin’s Sears Kit home felt out of place. So, when they started an update on its bathroom, making it fit in with the rest of the home was a priority. From Amanda: My boyfriend and I bought a 1925 Sears kit home in December of 2014. The entire house needed improvement, but the worst part was the way the addition they added on in the 70s felt too much like an addition.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
The Pros & Cons of Living Near Family
My day job is the only one I’ve ever had in which the employees never socialize outside of work— it’s also the only one I’ve ever had in which all of the employees’ families live locally. Coincidence? I can’t help but wonder: do all of the family recitals, parties, graduations, brunches, and favors take up so much time that there’s little-to-none left over for a non-family social life?
Tess Wilson
May 4, 2019
Before & After: The ‘Yes, You CAN Fit in a Bathroom on the First Floor’ Makeover
Homeowners Shannon and Scott loved their home, except for one problem: their two-story house didn’t have a bathroom on the first floor. This was particularly annoying and inconvenient for Shannon — at home during the day with their young daughter, she found herself constantly running up and down the stairs. So Scott and Shannon turned to architect Andrew Mikhael, who identified a spot where they could add a bathroom, without adding to the home’s foundation at all.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Carpeted Bathroom Earns its Stripes
In Ashley’s family farmhouse, only main floor bathroom (and only shower) hadn’t been touched in decades—and was carpeted. She decided to make it more welcoming, without spending a ton of money. From Ashley: We’ve recently moved to my husband’s family farm and into the house that he grew up in. The house is a turn-of-the century farm house, but has had an addition added to it in the late 80s/early 90s.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Susan’s Dream Come True Nantucket Cottage
Name: Susan Location: Bedford, New Hampshire In 2002 I found myself a single mom raising two daughters, I had a dream of designing and building a Nantucket Cottage. I set out to find land, design my cottage and sub contract out the work. The property is surrounded with the charm of the old gray stone walls once used by farmers to mark their land. In 2005 I opened an interior design and home furnishings store in historic downtown Concord New Hampshire.
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
Henry’s “Room for Style” in San Francisco
Name: Henry Location: San Francisco, CA I believe that no matter the size of your home, there is always room for style! I live in a 1BR, 795 SF condo on the cusp of SOMA and Mid-Market. I share this space with my partner and our 11 year old chihuahua. We make the most out of our home by creating cross-functioning areas and we are conscientious of what we bring home. The apartment is furnished with a carefully selected mix of finds from Craigslist, consignment shops, galleries and flea markets.
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
Taylor’s West Coast Surfer Style
Name: Taylor Location: Twin Peaks neighborhood – San Francisco, CA My apartment was built in 1964 at the top of the highest hill in San Francisco. The apartment features unparalleled views of downtown and the bay, so the key to decorating is to let the view be the focus. I’m primarily inspired by a mid century modern aesthetic, with vivid pops of color and a casual, West Coast laid back feel. Thanks, Taylor ! • Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy?
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
Caitlin & Dave’s “Victorian Eclectic” Apartment in Oakland
Name: Caitlin and Dave Location: Lake Merritt neighborhood – Oakland CA We live in a two bedroom, approximately 900 square foot apartment in beautiful Oakland California. My husband Dave and I moved here from NYC almost two years ago and we share the apartment with one roommate, Patrick, who is a good friend of ours.
Janel Laban
May 4, 2019
Before & After: An Aging Bathroom Enters the Modern Era
At 50+ years old, this vintage bathroom was starting to show its age. The sink and tub were pitted and dented, and since replacing them would mean subbing in new tiles that didn’t match the old, vintage ones, the homeowners decided to go for a full remodel — and bring this aging bathroom into the modern era. Between them, these two homeowners knew quite a bit about interior design.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Need-to-Know Tips on the Proper Care and Storage of Your Sweaters
We’re coming up on sweater weather, y’all. While you’re slowly changing out your closet – pulling those cool-weather clothes out of under-bed storage and trying to sartorially navigate between the seasons – you might find your closet getting a bit tighter with all your bulky knits. The solution? Slim down your sweater collection to your most favorite and best-built pieces, then take really good care of them.
Taryn Williford
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Wingback Chair Gets a Wild Waverly Print
It took three years, but Misha finally worked up the courage to tackle reupholstering this $5 Craigslist chair. We’re so glad she did—check out the impressive after: From Misha: After weeks of scouring Craigslist, I found the perfect chair – it was in good condition, only a few minutes away, & cheap ($5)! Then I began the search for the perfect fabric. After weeks of online searches & trips to Jo-Ann, I finally decided on a medallion print in a purple colorway.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: ’80s Pendant Goes Cagey
DeaAnna really wanted a caged geometric pendant, and she saw potential in this ’80s brass fixture. See how she made it modern: From DeaAnna: Over the past year I have been obsessing over the open metal geometric shaped chandeliers that are popping up just about everywhere. I love the modern yet classic look they give a space and I have been wanting a more interesting light for our eat-in nook in the kitchen.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Inexpensive Flooring Choices That Actually Look Really Really Good
If you’ve ever embarked upon (or even have just priced out) a remodel, you’ll realize that flooring is one of those things that seems like not much of a big deal but can actually add up to a whole, whole lot of money. So today we’re taking a look at inexpensive flooring choices: ones that initially may not seem particularly glamorous, but might actually wind up looking really great — and saving you a lot of money in the process.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
E-Readers vs. Book Books: A Book Lover Weighs the Pros and Cons
I love books. From a very young age I’ve been surrounded by them, and the feel and even the smell of books is something I find incredibly comforting. I love them so much that I wrote a manifesto about how, even if the printed word becomes technically obsolete, I’m never letting go of my books. And then, about a year ago, on the eve of a six-week trip to Europe, I made an uncharacteristic decision: I decided to get an e-reader.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Craigslist Cabinet Turned Cat Box
After too many dinner parties in view of the litter box, Tina decided to DIY a solution. Here’s how a $10 Craigslist find became a cat box: From Tina: I live in a small apartment in Chicago that has no room for a litter box, so the idea for this project came from one too many dinner parties where my guests had to look at the catbox while eating at the dining room table. I wanted a furniture unit that would cover the catbox and also fit in with the decor of my dining room.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Park Slope Kitchen Looks Up
Claire and Mike loved everything about their co-op in a converted Brooklyn industrial building, except for the kitchen. In appearance it was rather inoffensive — not nearly as terrible as some of the ‘before’ kitchens we’ve seen on this site — but in storage ad counter space it was seriously lacking. Also, with its standard-height cabinets, the kitchen looked awkward and squatty in such a tall space.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
We Tried It: The Best Way to Keep Flowers Fresh
There’s nothing that can freshen up your space or brighten your day like a bouquet of flowers. The only downside to these lovelies is that we wish they would last longer. We’ve all heard of different tips and tricks to help our flowers stay fresh as long as possible, and I thought I would put some of the common options to the test. Keep reading to see the results and the big winner!
Melissa DiRenzo
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Danish Chairs Get a Fresh New Fabric
Dena picked up this pair of Danish chairs at an antique market. The fabric was nasty, the finish not great, but she saw the potential. They look much more modern and fresh now: How much do you love that Nate Berkus fabric?? From Dena: A few months ago I spotted a pair of chairs hiding underneath a rug at Scott’s Antique Market.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Alice, I Don’t Want to Be Friends With My Neighbors But They Won’t Quit Trying
Dear Alice, I live alone in a large apartment building in the city and usually this would provide some level of anonymity, however, a new couple just moved into the unit next door and they won’t leave me alone. I’m an introvert and I really prefer to keep to myself. I’m happy to nod politely and say a quick hello to other residents that I see in the lobby or the elevator, but I really don’t feel the need to get into long conversations every time I step out of my door.
Ask Alice
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Murray Hill Bathroom Goes Modern
After living in their apartment for twelve years, Carrie and Jack felt that the time had come to overhaul their bathroom. They’d tried little, inexpensive fixes over the years, like a new medicine cabinet and new lighting, but nothing made their bathroom feel any less cramped and, with grout stained by years of use and tiles replaced haphazardly over the years, just plain dirty-looking.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
The Guilty Art of Stealth Purging
I have a pair of beloved sweatpants that has a hole in them. I would still continue wear them — in spite of said hole — IF I could find them, but I have a sneaking suspicion that my partner boxed them up and toted them off to Goodwill. She is curiously mum on the subject, feigning perfect innocence in the face of my pointed questioning and unblinking stares, but it’s been months since I saw them last. I am quickly losing all hope of ever seeing, let alone wearing, them again.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Kitchen Goes From Grossness to Gorgeous for $2500
Jill purchased a foreclosure last year, and her first project was fixing up the kitchen which had seen better days. This casita said adios to laminate, honey cabinets, and fire-starting stove! From Jill: I bought this casita in August of last year. It was a foreclosure and a fixer-upper – and it had apparently not been cleaned, much less updated, in what appeared to be a long time. My first priority was improving the horrible kitchen.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Free Dresser Finds New Life
Molly scored this free dresser, and gave it a mix of staining and painting in line with its mid-century roots. From Molly: I was home with a sick child one sunny Friday, so I decided to browse the free pages of usedvictoria.com (used everywhere.com). I found a gem of a mid-century dresser posted for free, and I happened to be Lucky Caller Number One!
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Plain Chairs Get the Artist’s Treatment
Kaitlyn bought these chairs as a medium for her art show. The fabric she chose is definitely a work of art! From Kaitlyn: I bought these chairs from a local thrift store in Santa Fe, although they originally came from a hotel on the plaza. I bought them to reupholster and put in my college senior art show, where I am sharing a space with 8 other students. I wanted to create something that would be stick out, and also incorporate my skills outside of traditional studio art practices.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: ’80s Kitchen Gets a Breath of Fresh Air
Paige’s ’80s kitchen needed to time travel a few decades forward. Now, hardly any wisp of the past remains; say goodbye to the cabinets, appliances, floors, counters, and even a wall. This kitchen transformation is truly stunning! From Paige: Last August we set out to destroy our ’80s nightmare of a kitchen and replace it with something fresh and unique.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019