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The Latest: May 2019

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These Are The Books Everyone Will Be Talking About This Summer
Memorial Day is around the corner, so we’re officially allowed to start planning our summers, wearing white jeans… and updating our TBR lists. One of our favorite bookworm communities, Goodreads, used their 75 million members to compile the most anticipated books of summer.
Samantha Zabell
May 3, 2019
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Buy Penthouse in Their Old Nolita Building for $9M
Five months after the celebrity duo were spotted touring an available condo at their old Brewster Carriage House building, the Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are the proud new owners of this $9M penthouse in NYC. It’s back to their old stomping grounds at 374 Broome in Nolita, but now with loads more space—both indoors and outdoors—for their growing family.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Move Over Hygge, This Austrian Word Might Be the Real Key to Happy Living in 2018
Move over, hygge. There’s a new unpronounceable #lifegoal in town for 2018, and though it does have some roots in Scandinavian tradition it’s now the Austrians who are claiming they have the real secret to happy living—with gemütlichkeit. According to the Oxford Institute, gemütlichkeit is a German-language word that sums up as “quality time” and is used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, cordiality, and good cheer.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
8 Eco-Friendly Things You Should Always Have in Your Bag
When you’re on the go all the time, it’s easy to be overly (almost accidentally) wasteful. Not-so-eco-friendly disposables—think plastic bottles of water, tissue, and shopping bags—often become the go-to when we’re running around in a rush. That’s why it pays to stock up on compact, eco-conscious items ahead of time, so they’re already in your bag in a pinch.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
8 Streaming Documentaries That’ll Force Anyone to Watch Their Waste
A good documentary has the power to make you look at the world differently, and if it’s really impactful, might change the way you live your life. Case in point: Sustainability documentaries—like ones that educate viewers about the global effects of excessive trash and waste. Watch one stellar documentary about the importance of sustainability, and we can pretty much guarantee you’ll start thinking twice about all the stuff you throw away in a day.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Living Room Gets Upgraded with Pattern and Color
Gorgeous hardwood floors, a large window, posh location, a fireplace, and built-ins galore? Yes, please. This Upper East Side apartment’s living room was already dreamy as hell, but one bold client-designer team knew it could be so much more. My favorite part of this transformation is the way the newly painted built-ins echo the tone of the fireplace, creating, along with the mirror, a delightful triptych. The coffee table appears to be the same hue, further unifying the space.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Oddly Shaped Bedroom’s “After” Is Awe-Inspiring
Designer Michelle Gage has an amazing ability to design homes, which was on full display in her and her husband’s first home that they renovated themselves. After transforming every single room in the 2000-square-foot Philadelphia home, the couple sold that house last November and moved into what they consider to be their forever home. “We fixed up everything we possibly could, while not pricing ourselves out of the neighborhood we were in.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
The $10 Organizing Solution You Can Customize for Your Messiest Drawer
We may not know what tomorrow brings, but that doesn’t stop us from worrying about it. Because let’s face it: There’s a lot going on in the world and in life. We need to carve out as many happy-making moments as we can. One really good place to start? Your underwear drawer. As sexy as the things within it might be, the drawer itself is a pretty unsexy idea.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
David Sedaris Has Very Strong Feelings About Candles
When it comes to taboo life advice that one can actually use in their 20s and 30s, beloved humorist and author David Sedaris dishes out some of the best. (Hello, that cautionary-tale tip from Me Talk Pretty One Day that keeps us all from trying on thrift store jeans before they’ve been washed, amiright?) On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, Sedaris shared a peek of the commencement address he gave at Oberlin College—and his strong feelings about candles.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany Buy Most Expensive Brooklyn Townhouse Ever
At $15.5 million, the townhouse that actors Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany just purchased on Brooklyn Heights is believed to be one of the most expensive transactions ever closed in the New York City borough.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Peek Inside the Real Life LA House from The Holiday, Just Listed for $12M
Calling all Nancy Meyers fans and softly-lit rom-com addicts: the real-life house where The Holiday (with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black) was filmed just want on the market in Southern California—for $11.8 million.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Here’s What It Would Cost to Rent Your Favorite Netflix Originals Apartments
What does a basement closet in Brooklyn have to do with an exotic animal-laden ranch in Colombia? They both live in the Netflix universe, of course. ForRent.com compiled a list of some of the most memorable properties of Netflix Originals characters, and determined how much it would cost to rent them. Whether you’re in the market for a sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion or a small apartment above a Chinese restaurant, here’s a look at some of Netflix’s most iconic properties.
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
Your Plant is An Introvert (and Other Things Black Thumbs Should Know)
Most of us have that one friend or family member who reliably texts you with life updates, posts Instagram Stories about her commute to work, and generally goes out of her way to keep you informed. And then there’s the friend who’s a bit more private about her feelings. You can usually recognize the signs when something’s bothering her, but she makes you guess to figure out what the problem is. Your houseplants are like this second type of friend.
Rebecca Straus
May 3, 2019
A Smart and Frugal Way to Make Your Cast Iron Skillet Last Longer (With Just a Paper Towel)
The first time I cooked with my now-husband, I was surprised to learn he had a collection of cast iron pans in an array of sizes. What impressed me most wasn’t that he had a larger (and more well-seasoned) set of cast iron than me, but the smart way he stored his cast iron pans. Instead of simply nesting cast iron pans one inside another, metal on metal, he used a single paper towel to separate each piece of cookware to prevent friction.
Kelli Foster
May 3, 2019
5 Reasons Why Gray Kitchens Aren’t Going Anywhere
We’ve written before about kitchens with green cabinets, and blue cabinets, and black cabinets, and those are all lovely, but this post is dedicated to a particular favorite of mine: gray cabinets. Whether you’re looking for a pearl gray or a seal gray or a dark almost-charcoal gray, this color has a timeless allure, and suits practically any space. Here are five reasons why this style is here to stay.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have a New Weekend Home
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle are in nesting mode. The royal duo, who were wed just two weeks ago, have signed a two-year lease for a new home in the Cotswolds. Located about 90 minutes outside of London, the Grand Tew Estate is described as the “archetypal English Country Estate. Spring lambs playing in rolling grassland, oak woods with a carpet of bluebells, chocolate box thatch cottages.” Damn, that’s bucolic!
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
Moving? This Book Purging Method Is Bibliophile-Approved
I’d like to start by saying: I hate moving. I am known to be extremely dramatic when it comes to getting organized, packing up my belongings, and essentially living in a real-life obstacle course (dodging suitcases, stepping over boxes) while I await my move. But there was one aspect of my recent relocation—only 20 blocks, but in New York City that still feels like an undertaking—that was justifiably overwhelming: The Purging Of The Bookshelf. Sounds like a horror movie, right?
Samantha Zabell
May 3, 2019
Here’s What Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment Would Look Like in 2018
On June 6, 1998, the world was introduced to Carrie Bradshaw and her sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating, but always fabulous life in New York City. Twenty years ago, Sex and the City debuted and we all fell in love with Carrie’s friends, her fashion, and yes—her apartment.
Maggie Fremont
May 3, 2019
Our Recent Kitchen Makeover Has An Unbelievably Small $6K Price Tag
One of our freelancers, Ashley Poskin, owns a beautiful old house in small-town Illinois. She recently moved with her husband and daughter to Chicago for job-related reasons, and needed to put their home on the market. There was just one thing holding them back: the kitchen. Although they upgraded a few things over the years they lived there (new subway tile backsplash, some black chalkboard paint) the room still wasn’t a huge selling point.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
5 Budget-Saving Secrets Of Our $6K Kitchen Remodel
We just revealed our most recent original makeover —this time a budget kitchen renovation in a small town in Illinois. If you missed the full kitchen reveal, head over to see all the before and after shots. We wound up spending under $6,000 from head to toe, soup to nuts, which we’re feeling pretty good about, especially given that the house sold less a week (four days) after we shot the final kitchen.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Bathroom Got the Perfect Paint Job
This penny tile floor is fabulously snakeskin-like, but an unstable subfloor caused tiles to pop out. Similarly, that pedestal sink is graceful but offered no counter space, while the intriguingly low tub was unused and unnecessary. After 15 years, this remodeled bathroom was remodeled again and the results are dreamy. So pretty. Pink, black, white, and wood is a fantastic combo that I might not ever have thought of.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
The Best Thing We Did During This Recent Kitchen Reno Was Add Space-Saving Storage
We’ve had a kitchen renovation in the works for months upon months now, and I’m just getting final photos back, but couldn’t resist sharing this one corner over the weekend. The kitchen before was totally adorable—part of an old house in small town Illinois, owned by one of our freelancers, Ashley Poskin. It had tons of vintage character and charm, but needed a bit of an update, especially because she planned to put it on the market to sell.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Architect Gets Her Dream Kitchen
Where exactly is the kitchen, you ask? Why, it’s behind that grey dividing wall. And while the room’s cabinetry and other surfaces were very nice, this home’s new owner found the kitchen to be “small and closed-off.” It was perhaps the most closed-off kitchen in the history of our renovation posts.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Level Up Your Accent Wall With This DIY Finishing Touch
“When we bought our first condo, our immediate focus was to try our hand at a wallpaper project,” Andréa writes about the home she shares with her husband Stefan. “Rental properties had never afforded us the luxury of doing something so dramatic and custom. We knew we wanted a statement wall somewhere in our home, but given that the main area is one large room (like many open-concept condos), it didn’t quite fit there.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Before and After: We Can’t Believe This is the Same Philadelphia Row Home
This Philadelphia row home came with many enviable features when Matt and Anne Thomas bought it. Stunning architecture. Tons of space. All that natural light. The one thing they didn’t love was the home’s extremely red-toned cherry wood floors. But, the floors had just been re-done and were nice in every other regard. Replacing them would have been wasteful.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
This Under $200 Way to Double Your Kitchen Storage Comes From IKEA
I thought the simple and affordable bed hack in Erica Massey’s Dallas, Texas rental apartment was pretty brilliant. A tall bed with storage for her, and a cozy and cool spot to call his own for her dog Deacon. The fact that most of the components were sourced from IKEA for not a lot of money is the cherry on top. But that’s not the only smart IKEA hack in her home! One IKEA trip and less than $200 later and Erica was able to nearly double the storage space of her kitchen.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
How To Fold Towel Animals at Home Like a Luxury Hotel
You know you’re staying in a luxury five-star hotel when your wash cloth or hand towel is folded into some sort of flower or zoo animal. It’s one of the little touches that signifies the level of care that’s been put into every aspect of your stay, so how cool would it be if—without a lot of extra effort—you could surprise your house guests with the same experience?
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Sherwin-Williams On What Color Palettes Will Take Us Into 2019 & Beyond
While we still have six months left of 2018, that hasn’t stopped paint companies from looking forward to 2019 and beyond. If you’re dying to know what colors will be hot for the last year of the decade (we’re looking at you, renovators and redecorators), Sherwin-Williams just announced their color forecast for next year. Here are its picks for color trends for 2019.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This $15K Kitchen Reno Lives Up To Its Open, Airy Potential
This kitchen was super cozy and sun-soaked, and it boasted an ample and intriguing island/peninsula hybrid—pretty sure that’s what an isthmus is—but it had a few shortcomings: The finishings were getting worn, and the freezer was a full 70 years old. Now it’s light and airy, and full of personal charm and quirky objects. Reader Catherine S. Vodrey of OutspokenWomen.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
PPG Paint’s 2019 Color of the Year is a Gorgeous Green
We’re halfway through 2018, and you know what that means? It’s time to start trend forecasting for 2019. Just yesterday, Sherwin Williams shared their color forecast for 2019, but PPG Paints is taking it one step further and announcing their pick for the Color of the Year. So what shade do they predict will reign supreme next year? Night Watch, a deep, almost jade-like green.
Bridget Mallon
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This IKEA MELLTORP Table Is Now Unrecognizable
The MELLTORP is one of IKEA’s ubiquitous and affordable tables. It’s minimal and modern, but it also makes a great blank canvas for a DIY. Here’s how Tiphaine of Kraft & Carat transformed it. This is extremely cool, and the way the table now matches the chairs is uncanny; choosing colors that close to each other often leads to awkward almost-matching, but this looks perfect.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Pros Weigh In: These Are The Best Paint Colors For Your Kitchen
Years ago most kitchens were dark and full of autumn tones, like red, gold, and even orange. More recently, those bolder shades have given way to all-white kitchens. Why? Homeowners are building and renovating kitchens to be open to the rest of the floorplan, rather than segmented. “Kitchens have basically become invisible to blend with the rest of the home.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Get the Look: The Night Manager’s Egyptian Inspired Space
With the monster hit of Avengers Infinity War still going strong at the box office (topping $2 billion worldwide), I’d like to celebrate Tom Hiddleston in his role as…Jonathan Pine, The Night Manager! And by celebrate him, I mean focus solely on the Egyptian interiors of the Nefertiti Hotel in Cairo.
Anita Shriver
May 3, 2019
Oprah Buys 43-Acre Pacific Northwest Island Estate for $8.28M
The rumors have been confirmed: Puget Sound is getting a new celebrity resident. Oprah Winfrey just picked up an $8.275 million estate on Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago, halfway between Seattle and Vancouver—the first Pacific Northwest property for the billionaire media mogul and her burgeoning real estate empire.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
How Dinosaurs are Responsible for Bobby Berk’s Success on Queer Eye
If you watched Season One of Netflix’s Queer Eye, chances are you benefitted from the Fab Five’s heartwarming antics as much as the men being made over— or, “heroes”—as home design expert Bobby Berk lovingly referred to them as during our recent chat. In season one, Berk and his castmates delivered viscerally-satisfying transformations that tugged at our heartstrings and basically gave us all a restored hope in humankind.
Jessica Isaac
May 3, 2019
The Weird Story of How Recliners Became a Staple in American Living Rooms
Growing up, it never really felt like an official family party until my dad and uncle retired to the twin tan recliners in my grandparents’ living room after dinner, while my grandpa settled into his own rusty orange recliner on the opposite side of the room. Within minutes of sitting down and kicking up their feet, all three would be sound asleep. How they could sleep through the sounds of six shrieking children pretending to be wolves, I’ll never know. It must have been the chairs.
Bridget Mallon
May 3, 2019
The Trick to Growing Your Own Pineapple At Home
Fun fact: Pineapples are actually a member of the bromeliad family, a tropical species long popular with houseplant enthusiasts for their dramatic spiky leaves and neon-colored blooms. And, it turns out, you can even grow a pineapple as a houseplant, too. You don’t need to make a special trip to the nursery either—just add a pineapple to your grocery list and you’ll have exactly what you need to start growing a brand new pineapple plant.
Rebecca Straus
May 3, 2019
Everything Sucks, So Here Are 8 Fun Games to Play Outside This Summer
I know I am not the only one depressed by the state of the world right now, growing more and more incredulous and outraged with each passing day. If you work hard, and do what you can to make things better out there, it’s okay to take a break too. One of the best ways to recharge is to gather a group of friends, go outside, and indulge in some brainless fun this summer. Balance your rage/shock/concern with some wholesome/ridiculous/playful outdoor games.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
10 Ways the Smartest People Spend Their Downtime
Life can get crazy. That’s why it’s important to take mental breaks from daily stress throughout the day. And while for some of us that might mean watching a mindless reality TV show or playing a silly iPhone game, there are also some more enriching ways to spend your downtime, when you feel so inclined. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by work or family, try calming yourself down with a more cerebral distraction.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
6 Plants That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes
I live in a one bedroom “garden” apartment, which means that I get to have my own front door, porch, and small strip of flower bed. The only downside? The flower bed is under the porch roof, which means it’s constantly damp and shady, and also an ideal mosquito habitat. So this year, after frantically trying to squash a few rogue mosquitoes that snuck indoors while I was carrying in groceries, I’ve decided to get myself some mosquito-repelling plants.
Rebecca Straus
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Dilapidated Church Was Transformed into an Amazing, Modern Home
Hugh Molten, a South Carolina-based real estate agent, didn’t plan for such a big project when he bought this falling-down old church. “I originally had the vision to simply clean it out and live in it basically as-is; create a small shower in the corner, stainless prep tables for the kitchen and call it done.” Today, this 1600-square-foot former house of worship is an incredible industrial modern home, and how it ended up that way was a long and interesting journey.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
This Tiny ‘Mean Girls’ Broadway Dressing Room Got a Really Fetch Makeover
Backstage at the August Wilson, the nearly 100-year-old theater currently houses the cast of “Mean Girls,” the delightful Tony-nominated musical adaptation of Tiny Fey’s beloved early aughts teen comedy. Barrett Wilbert Weed, who stars as Janis, preps for eight shows a week in a minuscule dressing room—one that recently underwent a serious style transformation.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
21 of the Most Beautiful Bohemian Style Home Designs
You can find definitions of Bohemian style decor online. They’re described as spaces filled with lots of plants, colors, patterns, rattan, and stuff. You can even take online quizzes to see if “Bohemian” style is for you. But while all of these adjectives are technically true, boho decor has always been a “I know it when I see it” sort of style for me.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
The Kitchen Paint Color That Could Cost You Thousands
While you may love your barn red kitchen, a new report released today by Zillow finds that it could cost you when looking to sell your home someday. The report found that painting your front door, kitchen, or bathroom with certain color palettes can drastically depreciate your home value by more than $2,000.
Tim Latterner
May 3, 2019
4 Cats Graciously Let 2 Humans Share Their Stylish Home
Name: Anne Hodder, husband, 4 cats, and a ton of plants! Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting Our home is a sanctuary hidden behind a tall wooden gate and invisible from the street. Even though it’s a duplex, the only shared wall is behind our fridge so we NEVER hear our neighbor. It feels like a separate little house. What is your favorite room and why?
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
This $9 Kitchen Tool is a MoMA-Approved Design Icon
If you’ve been to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in midtown Manhattan, you’ve probably marveled at its permanent collection, which includes some of the most iconic and immediately recognizable works, ever — there’s the melting clocks of Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, the soft-focus pastels of Claude Monet’s massive Water Lilies triptych, and everyone’s go-to poster from their freshman year, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
Jelisa Castrodale
May 3, 2019
Thinx Wants to Conquer Period Sex Stigma — With a $369 Blanket
Period sex is a highlight of what I, personally, consider the most miserable 3-5 days of the month. Because of my birth control, it’s been about a year since I’ve had an actual period, but the previous fifteen years of intermittent anguish are burned into my memory: cramps, mood swings, anxiety attacks, ruined underwear, bloating, acne, and spotted sheets, to name just a few symptoms. But sex on my period?
Angela Lashbrook
May 3, 2019
Here’s Everything That’s Leaving Netflix In July
Summer: the season where you neglect Netflix to spend more time outside—or, the time when it’s too hot, so you stay cool and comfortable on your couch. Either way, if any of your faves are on the list of July’s expiring titles, you might want to make a date with your (streaming) device. Sadly, the 1994 version of Alcott’s March sisters will snowball fight out of our queues in July, but it could be the impetus you need to check out the recent PBS/Masterpiece adaptation.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019