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2019
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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.
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
How To: Reuse Tin Cans as a Container Garden
Growing up, we were taught that everything can have more than one purpose. One man’s trash is another’s treasure, some would say; we like to think we just concentrated on the “reuse” part of reduce-reuse-recycle. So when we went home earlier in the week, we snapped this photo of one of our mom’s trash-to-treasure successes. Here’s one small, simple project that you can do at home, whether you’ve got a green thumb or not.
Amber Byfield
May 9, 2019
How To: DIY Paint Ceramic Tile
Got a bathroom or kitchen with an outdated colour palette? That burnt umber and avocado green tiling not floating your boat in the kitchen or bathroom any longer? Tiling around kitchen backsplash, floor tiles non-sink countertops, fireplace tiles and wall tiles all can be repainted even if they have a shiny finish (continually and regularly wet tiling require an epoxy formula). You might want to consider repainting those eyesore tiles rather than replacing them.
Gregory Han
May 9, 2019
Tips For Using Communal Laundry Facilities
In our apartment building there are 15 units with roughly 40 people in them. On the main floor there are 2 washers and 1 dryer for everyone to share. Needless to say, laundry is always running around our place (even at 6am, which we have found to be the best time to do ours!) and because of it, there are a few tricks and tips we have picked up to insure our laundry turns out clean and timely. Before heading downstairs to run a load of laundry we always fill our Downy Ball with a bit of vinegar.
Sarah Rae Smith
May 9, 2019
6 Essential Tips for Container Gardening
For many apartment dwellers, growing flowers and veggies inside containers is the only way to have a home garden. And having a home garden is awesome! Spending time in the sun after being trapped at work all day can cheer you up. Growing your own food, herbs, and flowers is rewarding. Getting your hands dirty will make you feel closer to nature. Plus, container gardens can be as small or as big as you want.
Rebecca Straus
May 9, 2019
These New Fitted Sheets Promise To Prevent Waking Up in a Bedding Burrito
Far too many of us have had unfortunate encounters with bed sheets. From searching high and low for soft sheets that don’t pill to finding an affordable high thread count set that doesn’t force you to shell out more money than the actual bed, the sheet struggle is real. But for those of you who are thisclose to sleeping on a bare mattress with a blanket and a pillow, an innovative new bed sheet named Beddingo hopes to put an end to all of your bedding nightmares.
Kenya Foy
May 9, 2019
7 Green Reasons to Use a Bread Machine
You might remember my argument for going back to the basics last year, which is why I fought the idea of a bread machine. But my boyfriend gave me one as a gift and in the last week I’ve been converted. Sure, you can accomplish some of this list by making bread the old-fashioned (or no-knead way), or by purchasing a fresh loaf at your local bakery.
Amber Byfield
May 9, 2019
House Tour: Inside Marc and Lana’s Big Dig House
Name: Marc and LanaLocation: Lexington, MassachusettsYears lived in: Just about two Last fall on a tour of Lexington’s mid-century modern homes, we were lucky enough to see the inside of the famous “Big Dig House” and meet its current owners. We were thrilled that Marc graciously allowed us to come back and take a few photos for you.Living in such an unusual space turns conventional decorating on its ear.
Jeanine Brennan
May 9, 2019
House Tour: Jeanine’s Smooth and Soulful Home
Name: Jeanine Hays Location: San Francisco, CA (North Beach) Size: 900 square foot one bedroom apartment Years lived in: 4 years Jeanine, also known as the voice behind Aphrochic, has been bringing her blend of “modern style with soul” to the blogosphere for years. We’ve been intrigued with the occasional shots of her house that have been featured on the blog, so it was with pleasure that we headed over to North Beach to meet Jeanine and tour her home.
Lily Gahagan
May 9, 2019
Here’s What Really Happens During the Home Appraisal Process
To the uninitiated, the home-buying process may feel like a never-ending cycle of hoops to jump through. But those hoops are there for a reason—there’s a lot of money at stake and so many moving parts between buyer, seller, and lender. The more firewalls prior to closing, the less likely someone’s getting stuck with a bad deal. One of these tedious, but necessary final steps is the home appraisal.
Gina Vaynshteyn
May 9, 2019
How To: Get Rid of Pesky Home Odors
We were going on day six (no, that’s not a typo!) of living with the horrific lingering smell of burnt popcorn. The usual drills of opening the windows, spraying air freshener, and lighting candles seemed to have little lasting effect, so it came time to do some research. Here’s a roundup of the helpful tried and true advice that restored our home’s air quality to breezy good health… 1. Vinegar.
Leah Moss
May 9, 2019
9 Under $25 Amazon Buys Plant Parents Swear By
These are the best things we've bought for our plants.
Dabney Frake
May 9, 2019
The Best Glass Water Bottles
Glass water bottles are not only eco-friendly (as they’re reusable and not made of plastic), but the glass won’t affect flavor or your health. Many glass bottles are made with borosilicate glass, a high-grade glass that’s more durable and heat-resistant than other types of glass, while also being lightweight. But which glass bottles are the best?
Samantha Leal
May 9, 2019
7 Design Tricks That Will Make Your Small Outdoor Space Feel So Much Bigger
Summer will be here before you know it, which means it’s time to schedule some beach trips, stock up on rosé, and get your outdoor space in tip-top condition.We know what you’re thinking: “What outdoor space?
Kelsey Mulvey
May 9, 2019
A Small But Sunny NYC Apartment Was Decorated with Community in Mind
Name: Simone and Mimi McGurl, their cats Jimmie and EZ Location: NoMad (Flatiron) — New York, New York Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting (but 10 years in NYC) Simone and Mimi had moved away to San Francisco for the winter a couple of years ago, with a plan to come back in the spring. After looking at hundreds of apartments online and many in person, she let her lease lapse and figured they’d find something after they took a pause on searching.
Minette Hand
May 9, 2019
Why You Should Never Take Your Shoes Off On an Airplane
Flying (at least for us common folk in economy class) is perhaps one of the least glamorous parts of travel. Fighting for overhead bin space, cramped quarters, and an overall lack of personal space only scratch the surface of plane travel woes.So when we heard that even the ice served in drinks is a no-go (is nothing sacred anymore?!), it got us thinking about what other ways we could be inadvertently introducing germs into our system during air travel.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest
May 9, 2019
House Tour: Marcella’s Miracle Cob House
Name: Marcella de Boom Occupation: ArtistLocation: Cullinan, South AfricaType: Cob houseSize: 970 sq.ft.Years lived in: 9 >> Marcella de Boom is no ordinary woman, she has built her entire home with her own two hands. The inspiration was “creative poverty”, a wild dream of building a home, without spending more than $5000! The dream started to materialize when she met Interior Architect and Cob lover; Dawn McAdam by coincidence.
Liezel Strauss
May 9, 2019
IKEA’s New Collection Will Add Some Much-Needed Calm into Your Home
If nothing excites you more than a brand new IKEA haul, then prepare to empty your wallet now. The Swedish retailer recently announced a new limited collection called TÄNKVÄRD, and it is a feast for the eyes. It’s also got a pretty interesting story behind it, too. According to IKEA, the new line is all about self-care and “bringing beauty and calm to your home.” (I mean, who wouldn’t want that?
Kaitlin Stanford
May 9, 2019
How to Grow 100 Pounds of Potatoes in 4 Square Feet
On many occasions, we’ve been tempted to grow our own potatoes. They’re fairly low maintenance, can be grown in a pot or in the ground, last a fairly long time if stored properly, and can be very nutritious (high in potassium and vitamin C). Here’s more incentive: according to this article, you can grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 sq. feet.
Trent Johnson
May 9, 2019
Nursery Tour: Ashley and Family Welcome a Girl
Name: “the newborn baby sister” (that’s what her brothers call her)Age: Coming this week!Location: Oklahoma If you told us this nursery was put together by an interior designer (it wasn’t) we’d be impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a mother with three young boys underfoot (it was) we’d be really impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a pregnant mother of three boys expecting her first daughter any day now (it was!
Carrie McBride
May 9, 2019
Look! Terraced Herb Garden
We love the geometry and repetition of a terraced garden, and this little set-up, from the home of Susann Larsson of Purple Area, is an ingenious way to bring the look to your small-space deck or balcony garden. It works perfectly for herbs, which will stay small with constant harvesting… Susann’s lovely little garden benefits from the uniformity of the galvanized steel pots.
Susie Nadler
May 9, 2019
Nursery Tour: Phoebe Rose’s Mom-made Room
Name: Phoebe Rose Age: due any day! Location: Ann Arbor, MI >> Like her friends, we’re amazed that mom-to-be Emily made almost everything in her daughter’s nursery: toys, quilts, cross-stitch, burp cloths, chair slip cover, bird mobile…the list goes on! Although not yet lived in, this nursery speaks volumes of love and attention, originality mixed with vintage pieces, and has “Phoebe” creatively written all over it (both literally and figuratively).
Heather Blaha
May 9, 2019
5 Hard-to-Kill Houseplants
We’ve said it here before: plants bring life to all living spaces. If you’re concerned about killing plants, we’ve consulted with a plant expert, Debra Prinzing, to bring you the hardiest ones. 1. Dracaena marginata (also known as Dragon Plant) “It’s pretty sculptural,” Debra says. “Good for the young and modern.” She recommends getting two and putting them on your fireplace mantel or on your entry table.
Lindsey Roberts
May 8, 2019
Before & After: Black and White Stripe Linoleum Floor
Attention, all you renters out there: this is an easy, affordable, and ultra-stylish way to upgrade your dingy rental floors. We have been meaning to do something like this ourselves for quite some time, and seeing this project by Orlando Soria on Design*Sponge totally got us all jazzed up to copy her.
Cambria Bold
May 8, 2019
Nursery Tour: Norah’s Sweet and Sunny Nursery
Name: Norah Age: 4 monthsLocation: Utah Norah’s mom Caroline says she smiles every time she walks by this room and we can certainly see why. The aquas, yellows, reds, oranges and pinks manage to be both vivid and soothing at the same time to create a feeling of warmth and calm.
Carrie McBride
May 8, 2019
This Modern Mansion Featured in “La La Land” is for Sale
Are you still captivated by the contemporary abode Emma Stone danced her way through in search of stardom in “La La Land?” In the film, Stone and her roommates twirl their way up to this incredible mansion to attend an industry party, and every room is filled with dancing guests and flowing Champagne. Cue the musical number “Someone in the Crowd.”Located in Encino, California, this 8,500-square-foot party palace is officially on the market.
Elizabeth Seward
May 8, 2019
9 Rooms That Prove Neutrals Aren’t the Be-All, End-All When it Comes to Rugs
Sure, I love a classic jute rug from time to time, but no one ever said that rugs have to be neutral-colored. Some rooms of the house just call for a little something extra, after all. Whether you’re sprucing up your living room, dining room, bedroom, or nursery, don’t be afraid to play the pattern or color card. These images are bound to inspire. This isn’t your grandma’s oriental rug.
Sarah Lyon
May 8, 2019
We Cleaned Our Sofa In The Washing Machine!
Last year we purchased a sectional sofa with clean lines and best of all, removable and washable upholstery. Even though the tag said it was ok to do so, we were still shy about using our washer to get things clean. Curiosity won in the end, so we tossed them in — said a silent prayer — and hit start! We originally purchased our ridiculously large sofa (over 15 feet total!) from a dealer in KC, just before the holiday season last year.
Sarah Rae Smith
May 8, 2019
Small Play Kitchens & Stove Tops
A friend and apartment dweller recently asked us for small play kitchen suggestions for her daughter’s Christmas present. We tried talking her into some DIY ideas, but she is more the DI-Buy type. If you’re in the same boat, here you go – fifteen small play kitchens (under 31″ H) so your kids can play “dorm room” and “flop house” too. My Portable Cooker by Wonderworld ($55.
Carrie McBride
May 8, 2019
The (Slightly Scandalous) Way Murphy Beds Got Their Name
Chances are, you’ve seen one while visiting a friend’s apartment; or maybe you even have one yourself. But either way, I’m willing to bet that no matter how familiar you are with Murphy beds, you don’t know the story behind how they got their name. And it might just might surprise you.But let’s back up for a minute, shall we?
Kaitlin Stanford
May 8, 2019
Plants and Prints Pack This 400-Square-Foot Studio
Name: Atia NaimLocation: Laurel Heights — San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 400 square feetYears lived in: Almost 2 years, renting My home is a little studio that I’ve inhabited for close to two years now. This is the first time in my life that I’ve been both able to afford a place by myself and decorate it the way I’ve always dreamed of. I wanted to become an interior designer growing up but ended up going into the field of Biotechnology instead.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 8, 2019
How To Build an Interior Window
Contemporary homes are built with open floor plans, great rooms, and high ceilings — a result of current tastes, as well as programmatic and structural changes in residential architecture. Unlike homes from the mid-century and prior, the contemporary home incorporates the previously private kitchen into the public living space and capitalizes on longer span beams to create rooms that flow together.
Julia Brooke Hustwit
May 8, 2019
The Davidson’s 1949 Railroad Caboose
Name: Samuel and Barbara DavidsonLocation: Mercer Island, WashingtonSize: 260 square feetYears lived in: 30 years In the middle of beautiful Lake Washington, nestled amid four acres of wooded land, sits a tiny red caboose from 1949. Colorfully out of place among the giant evergreen trees and sprawling rhododendron, it’s a small jewel full of light and warmth.
Anne Reagan
May 8, 2019
How a Moving Expert Can Help You Declutter—Even If You’re Staying Put
It’s so easy to let our things pile up until moving day when you look around and can’t believe how much stuff you have. But wouldn’t it be far more productive to do regular “cleanse-outs,” where you routinely look at your stuff with a critical eye? We posed that question to Ali Wenzke, a moving expert—she and her family have moved 10 times in 11 years in seven states around the U.S.
Lambeth Hochwald
May 8, 2019
Stacey’s 40s-Inspired Bedroom by Patrick J. Hamilton
Name: StaceyLocation: Union Square, NYC Designer Patrick J. Hamilton sent in Before & After images of his client’s bedroom — and included one of the most thorough list of resources (and links!
Aaron Able
May 8, 2019
Recessed Lighting: How To Change The Bulb
Yesterday, our friend Abbey posted this pic on her Facebook page along with the following text, “I need help changing this light bulb. Seriously. Anyone?” She went on to explain“It doesn’t pull out, there’s no way (that I can figure out) to get the bulb through the fixture, it’s totally attached to the ceiling…????” We can totally empathize with Abbey and her frustration with home repairs.
Beth Zeigler
May 8, 2019
How To Remove Paint From Textured Glass
While renovating our bathroom, we got an annoying amount of paint on the window. The glass is textured so even though we had prepped the window with painters tape it still leaked [we were also a bit clumsy in other places]. The textured glass meant a razor blade wasn’t very effective so we got creative!Materials:Razor BladeNail Polish RemoverMicrofiber ClothCotton TipsGlass Cleaner 1. Scrape as much paint off the glass as you can with the razor blade.2.
Jenny Butler
May 8, 2019
How To Swap Out a Pendant Light
We just moved into a new place and even though we’re renting, we wanted to swap out the pendant above the dining table for a nice upgrade we can take with us when we go. I was going to call an electrician until a friend mentioned that I ought to be able to handle it myself. So I did, and was a lot simpler than I expected!Materials:ScrewdriverWirecutters/strippers (or if you’re handy, a pair of scissors) 1. Turn off Electricity!2.
Laure Joliet
May 8, 2019
How To Remove Jar Labels and Odors
We reuse jars and bottles everywhere in the home – to store bulk grains, dish soap, buttons, nails, you name it. Removing the sticky labels and any odors (most often from foods like tomatoes, pickles, and garlic) from the jars is a mundane yet satisfying task. Here’s how we do it.MaterialsHot waterDish soapSponge or steel woolVegetable oil or peanut butter (optional)Sunshine (optional)Vinegar (optional)Baking soda (optional) ToolsHair dryer (optional) To remove labels1.
Emily Han
May 8, 2019
How To Swap a Two-Prong for a Three-Prong Outlet
It’s rare to find two-prong outlets in homes these days. Landlords and home owners have slowly switched over to three-prong outlets as more and more devices and appliances need them to power up. Occasionally though, you move into a place that doesn’t have a three-prong outlet where you need one, so how do you remedy the situation? You switch out your two-prong for a three-prong, but there’s a lot to consider before you start rewiring your apartment.
Sonia Zjawinski
May 8, 2019
How To Extend the Life of Your Cut Flowers
Fresh flowers are a fleeting pleasure no matter how you slice it, but we think they bring so much life and color to a room that they’re absolutely worth the effort and expense. A few simple tricks borrowed from the pros will help you keep flowers around a good long while. So go ahead, buy yourself a Valentine bouquet!
Susie Nadler
May 8, 2019