The Latest
2019

The Latest: 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.
A “Kennedys Go Camping” Restored California Craftsman
Name: Matt Gourley and Amanda Lund Location: Pasadena, California Size: 1340 square feet Years lived in: Owned 1 year Amanda and Matt live in a 1947 bungalow in the San Rafael hills of Pasadena. Although most people think of Los Angeles being more like a concrete jungle, Amanda and Matt found a place to call home on a gorgeous, quiet, tree-lined street with no sidewalks that ends at a lake. Wildlife roams their backyard.
Marisa Vitale
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern, Industrial Detroit Loft in a Renovated 1920s Building
Name: Jesse and Cali Green Location: New Center — Detroit, Michigan Size: 980 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1.5 years Jesse and Cali’s apartment building is inspiring, not only because they’ve created a beautiful modern and minimal home without splurging, but because of its deep history in Detroit. The building opened in 1926 as a home to graphic artists working in all of the nearby industries, General Motors in particular.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
A California Craftsman with 70s Cabin Vibes
Name: Jennifer Carolina Tredinnick Location: Piedmont Avenue — Oakland, California Size: 788 square feet Years lived in: Rented 7 years Jen loves all of the natural elements of her home: the plants, the original built-ins, the exposed wood, and the permanent golden hour the stained-glass window creates in the living room. She also lives just a couple of blocks from Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue, a commercial neighborhood where some of her favorite boutiques are located.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: Woodsy Cabin Meets ’70s Vibes
Jen says her Oakland home’s style is like a modern cabin with strong ’70’s vibe. If you love bold patterns, vintage furniture, and lots of plants, you might find the links below useful to incorporate a similar style in your home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
How To Upgrade Your Vintage Suitcase to a Side Table
I found a gorgeous mustardy yellow vintage suitcase, which I upcycled into a fabulous side table. Not only that, I added extra character to the case with some vintage luggage labels. You can download these vintage luggage labels on my blog for free. This vintage suitcase looks great either as a bedside table or a coffee table. It’s also really useful for storage of stuff like magazines.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Help! I Can Hear My Neighbors Through the Vent!
Q: I live in a condo with a concrete structure, so the soundproofing is pretty good. Unfortunately, I hear everything that is going on in my upstairs neighbors’ kitchen, through the range hood vent. Whenever I’m in my kitchen at the same time as they are, I turn the range on so I don’t hear them, but it is a little bit annoying and loud in the morning. I’m also wondering if they can hear me from their kitchen… Does it happen to anyone else?
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019
Will I Be Able to Eliminate Musty Cedar Smell in 1970s Home that I’m Thinking About Buying?
Q: The house we are looking to purchase has a lot of cedar [please see photo below] and it was built in 1975. It just has a lot of that cedar smell, and I was wondering if anyone had an idea on how to remove that? Thank you. -Sent by Sanja Editor: What a gorgeous ceiling! Readers, how can Sanja eliminate the musty cedar odor from this house? Or do you recommend she pass on it because there’s really no solution? • Have a question for our community?
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019
A Shared “Scandi Hippie Kitsch” Montreal Apartment
Name: Mark Andrew Hamilton and Bergþóra Jónsdóttir Location: Montreal, Canada Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: Rented This Montreal rental is shared by two artists with a great eye for design and finding wonderful treasures in random thrift stores and pop-up flea markets. As housemates, they created a cozy home despite the limitations of the apartment — you’ll notice there’s no living room!
Marie-Lyne Quirion
Apr 30, 2019
A Tiny 232-Square-Foot San Francisco Studio Is Bright, Comfy
Name: Cindy Zhang Location: Soma — San Francisco, California Size: 232 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Finding a nice, affordable apartment has become a challenge for anyone moving to San Francisco. When Cindy Zhang moved in 2016 from San Diego, she was super happy to find a cute little studio in the hip neighborhood of Soma.
Ana Kamin
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: A Comfortable, Classic & Rustic Mix
Mimi and Harper’s Nashville home is calm, comfortable, vibrant and eclectic all at once. They achieve this look by mixing traditional pieces with eclectic, rustic accents and art. Use the links below for inspiration to get a similar cozy look in your home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
The Thanksgiving Host’s Complete Cleaning Checklist: 3 Weeks to Go
Thanksgiving, probably more than any other holiday, is all about the food and warmth of togetherness. If you’re hosting, though, the combination of having overnight guests, getting the house ready for them and for meal preparations, and then doing all the cooking can be overwhelming. Here’s how to plan ahead so you can enjoy the festivities too. By this point, you’re likely to know how many overnight guests you can expect.
Shifrah Combiths
Apr 30, 2019
Nada’s Dreamy Bedroom Makeover
Project by: Nada Location: Doha, Qatar I can finally bring to you a long overdue room tour, my own bedroom! I promised awhile back that I would share before and afters from my own home one room at a time, and I’ve already shared Farida’s nursery, my 15 month old daughter, and this is the second room tour that I want to share. My husband and I started looking at the design of the bedroom before our wedding, more than two years ago.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: Historic Meets Modern for a Soothing Blend
James loves antiques and family heirlooms, while Kristen is drawn towards modern styles. The end result of their combined tastes in their Charleston home is “historic meets modern” — vintage accents mixed with items from modern brands like Anthropologie (spot the beautiful leather sofa in the living room). Shop the links below to incorporate a similar style in your home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: A Harmonious Blend of Traditional, Contemporary & Modern
Kathryn and Emilio’s North Carolina home doesn’t feature one specific style. It showcases a harmonious blend of traditional, contemporary and modern styles that provides the family and their guests with a breath of fresh air. Guests are also delighted to find surprises in every corner if they look close enough, such as the Art Deco floor lamp in the living room or geometric lamps in the bedroom. You can now shop the style using the links below!
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Make Your Own Crystal Resin Collage Tray
This lovely little tray can do double duty of both helping you organize your space while jazzing it up. It’s also totally customizable, so follow Cassie’s instructions to make it your own! Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 2 hours active time, 24 hours to cure Project Cost: $50 From Cassie: I am in the middle of redecorating my bedroom, and one of the major upgrades I will be adding is a vanity area.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Carrie’s Moroccan Inspired Los Angeles Patio
Name: Carrie Location: Windsor Square — Los Angeles, California When we first toured our apartment, the patio looked like a prison yard. The paint was dirty and peeling, the floor was inexplicably covered in commercial kitchen mats, and the view was a tangle of power lines looming over the ugly backsides of three neighboring apartment buildings. (And don’t get me started on the flattened toilet boxes one neighbor used for curtains!
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Rental Property Adds Curb Appeal (On Your Advice)
It’s been two years since readers gave Laura advice about increasing the curb appeal of her rental property and she’s back with an update. Her plan was to make the lawn healthier and add some shrubs. She was also considering painting the shutters or siding and asked readers to help decide what color might go nicely with the yellow. So, let’s find out how this house looks now and which advice Laura ran with!
Carrie McBride
Apr 30, 2019
A Sustainable Cozy Modern Home Nestled in the Trees
Name: Maria Rusafova and Jakub Markulis Location: Asheville, North Carolina Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, own Though Maria and Jakub’s house is situated in a dense neighborhood, it often goes undetected — a mark of success for the architects who designed the house with the goal of integrating the structure as peacefully as possible into the urban forest. In fact, not a single tree on the property was disturbed.
Tamara Gavin
Apr 30, 2019
A Classy, Collected Capitol Hill Row House
Name: Brittany, Christian, and (pup) Ted Location: Hill East — Washington, DC Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Brittany, Christian, and their much-adored German Shepard mix, Ted, live in a classic row house in Washington, DC, just east of the U.S. Capitol. They’ve built an elegant and sophisticated home, lovingly filled with details collected over time.
Liz Calka
Apr 30, 2019
A PhD Student’s Perfectly Suited Small Toronto Apartment
Name: Adam Kuhn Location: Little Italy — Toronto, Canada Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: Rented 3 years Finding an apartment in Toronto is no easy feat, so when Adam stumbled upon this gem in Little Italy he was ecstatic and relieved to have finally found a place to call home in the city. One of his favorite things about the neighborhood is the mix of dwellers from renters, owners and families — all folks that say hello to one another on the street.
Lauren Kolyn
Apr 30, 2019
A Chic “New Traditional” Austin Bungalow
Name: Tiffany and Alan Goldstein Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1064 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 9 Months Natural light pours in through large windows, warming Tiffany and Alan’s Austin bungalow. Tiffany’s background in fashion and the couple’s traveling adventures have inspired chic yet playful interior design. In just nine months, they have creatively remodeled the home to make their space feel open and airy.
Reagen Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
An Easy Way to Spruce Up Your Garbage Can
I have to admit, I’ve never once looked at my trashcan as a design opportunity. Now, thanks to Claire, I’m so ready to bring some pattern to my kitchen. Take it away Claire! From Claire: Over the last few years wallpaper has come back in fashion and there are tons of fantastic designs out there. Wallpaper is not just for walls, you can decorate loads of things with it. As many great design houses produce their own wallpapers it can be cheap way of getting that designer look.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Bold Colors & Positive Vibes in a Puerto Rican Guest House
Name: The Dreamcatcher Guesthouse, owned by Sylvia and Stephan Location: Ocean Park — San Juan, Puerto Rico Size: 4,000 square feet Years open: 4 years When my partner and I drove into the gated Ocean Park community, we had to circle the block a couple of times before we found The Dreamcatcher guesthouse, where we were staying during our trip to Puerto Rico. Aside from a bold red fence, its plant-covered facade is non-descript, showcasing only small black letters on a white wall.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: “The Kennedys Go to Camp” Style
Matt and Amanda’s Pasadena home doesn’t have one specific style. But they think that if the Kennedys went camping, this is how it would look: craftsman elements, mid-century furniture mixed with rustic accents, and even a little bit of glam. Combined, those elements create a cozy home the couple can enjoy in their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. Shop the style below!
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
How Can I Keep My Dogs Out of Parts of My Open-Plan Home?
Q: My husband and I are in the process of buying a new home that we’ll be moving into with our two dogs. In our current home we use two stacked tension dog-gates to keep the dogs in our dining area when we want the kitchen or living room to ourselves but we’re not sure what to do in the new house. The new home is an open floor plan and the smallest space we could gate is about 7.5′ across.
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: Chic, Glam & Playful
Tiffany and Alan’s Austin bungalow is chic and playful, inspired by Tiffany’s background in fashion and the couple’s travels. Most impressive is that the couple has only been in the space for nine months. You can easily get this warm, beautiful look in your home using the links below. Shop the style!
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
A Wonderfully Easy & Quick Kitchen Cabinet Pull DIY
An easy way to dress up any kitchen is to switch out the dated drawer and cabinet pulls. With so many options out there it can be hard to narrow down the search (and it can be easy to spend much more than initially planned). But have you ever thought of making them yourself? Sarah did just that! After painting her rental’s super basic kitchen cabinets a dark moody color (Behr’s Submarine Grey) she installed her DIY leather pulls and took her bland stock kitchen to a whole new level.
Emma Fiala
Apr 30, 2019
A Quirky, Colorful, Contemporary Cape Town Home
Name: Vicki Sleet and Justin Spreckley, with four children aged 17 to 2 months. Location: Muizenberg — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 250 square metres Years lived in: Owned 6 years Interior stylist, journalist and blogger Vicki Sleet is known for her love of DIYs and finding a good bargain. She even has a series on her blog, aptly named Bargain Betty. Naturally, you’ll find evidence of her handiwork and upcycled projects throughout their home.
Lana Kenney
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: “Modernized Traditional” & Textured Style
Hannah and Marc’s vibrant and textured Nashville home showcases modern accents and bold paint colors, and infuses them with traditional elements. The end result is a style they call “Modernized Traditional” — a successful way of mixing contemporary pieces in a traditional space. Check out the links below to shop the style for your home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Thrifty Granny Chic Style in a 1940s Minnesota House
Name: Tasha (Granny Tash) and Travis Schultz, Cheeto (Fur child) Location: Falcon Heights, Minnesota Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years Formerly known as “that house” on the block, the one looming there behind an overgrown lawn. Now, Tasha and Travis welcome us into their 1942 home in Falcon Heights, full of vintage charm and its reworked quirks.
Selena Kirchhoff
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: Modern & Cool Meets Classic & Romantic
Kate and Jennifer’s shared space is equal parts modern and cool, but also classic and romantic. In their 1,000 square foot condo, you’ll find bold colors and clean lines mixed with traditional furniture and accents. Shop the style below to get this sophisticated yet edgy look in your home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Get the Look: Detailed Modern Meets Traditional Craft
When Pamela, Michael, and their son Max moved into their 1906 historic Portland home, the floors were layered with soot and grime, the ceilings had water damage and rot, and there were literally holes in the floors. The couple did a major renovation, and now, the home shows off beautiful original features plus finishes of their choice. It’s also filled with gorgeous furniture, accents, and art the family loves. Check out the links below to shop some of those pieces.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
A Cozy Cool Modern Country UK Home
Name: Vicky and Ross Smith, and daughters Olivia & Florence Location: Guildford, UK Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 3 1/2 years With its pared-back yet warm feel, understated color palette and abundant natural light, this family home in the Southern-English county of Surrey is inspired by many elements of contemporary Scandinavian style.
Cathy Pyle
Apr 30, 2019
Do It Yourself: An Easy, Affordable & Super Stylish Upgrade for the $40 IKEA Nolmyra Chair
The Ikea Nolmyra has so much potential. Great lines, perfect scale, cool bent plywood legs. But with that stock gray mesh cover, it’s a like a sexy foot stuck in a dirty running shoe. You can easily upgrade it, though. Just toss a $12 Gurli throw into your Ikea cart, and we’ll show you how to give this cool little lounge chair a whole new look. Gurli throw (or 1.
Katie Steuernagle
Apr 30, 2019
An Exuberant Couple’s “Decor Hunter” Home in Puerto Rico
Name: Sandra Lobos, Juan Carlos Ferrer, and their cat Mimí Location: Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4 months It’s a surprise that Sandra and Juan Carlos‘ apartment in Puerto Rico is so minimal, considering the two have such playful, exuberant personalities.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
A Bright Organic Modern Apartment in Chicago’s Logan Square
Name: Joe and Kim Klomes, plus their cats Laszlo & Eames Location: Logan Square — Chicago, Illinois Size: 690 square feet Years lived in: Rented 8 months Kim and Joe’s Chicago apartment is inspiring for many reasons, but most importantly, it shows both their personalities and illustrates the true potential of patience and collaboration when decorating a home.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
Light & Beauty in a Barcelona Artist’s Apartment-Atelier
Name: Joana Santamans Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 2,152 square feet Years lived in: Renting for 3 years Church bells ring nearby as I stand in front of Joana’s front door — her home seems like it’s in some small village rather than in the center of Barcelona. An illustrator and painter, Joana established her atelier inside her Barcelona home so she could spend more time with her family while creating her art.
Sandra Rojo
Apr 30, 2019
A “Bohemian French” Victorian Cottage in Cape Town
Name: Katia, Chad and their daughter, Milla Location: Observatory — Cape Town, South Africa Size: 1291 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Katia, Chad and their daughter Milla live in a charming Victorian cottage in the heart of Observatory, Cape Town. A wild, overgrown garden greeted me and as I stepped inside, I felt as though I may just be in a French apartment.
Lana Kenney
Apr 30, 2019
A Colorful “Garage Sale” Style Warehouse Apartment in North Carolina
Name: Molly Trask and Trevor Price (plus dogs Eleanor Roosevelt and Martha Washington and cat Abigail Adams) Location: Durham, North Carolina Size: 1,040 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Molly writes: “Our home is a 1,040 square foot converted warehouse apartment in the oldest standing building in Durham, NC, an old tobacco town currently undergoing a brilliant revival.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 30, 2019
No Built-Ins, No Problem: Customizable, Modular Bookshelves that Don’t Require Putting Holes in Your Walls
As a renter, building your own built-in bookshelves is out of the question (unless you butter up your landlord, I guess). But you can get kind of close. Here are a handful of storage solutions that, like liquids and cats, will fill any space. And the best part about modular, design-your-own pieces is that they can be reconfigured to work in your next apartment (and every apartment after that!). Boxy modules snap together with small clips, and can be placed on the floor or on top of a stand.
Taryn Williford
Apr 30, 2019
A Retro Mod Beach Shack
Name: Phoebe, Dylan and Memphis Location: Wye River, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia Size: 753 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Phoebe, Dylan and their one-year-old son Memphis love escaping city life in Melbourne and driving down the Great Ocean Road to Wye River, relaxing at their Australiana fibro shack they’ve named Ipanema. Wye River is a small coastal town a scenic two and a half hour drive from Melbourne.
Natalie Jeffcott
Apr 30, 2019
A Ceramicist’s “Between Minimalist & Maximalist” 1880s Cottage
Name: Rose and Dan Location: Red Hill — Brisbane, Australia Size: 2368 square feet Years lived in: 12 years This gorgeous worker’s cottage in Brisbane’s inner suburbs is owned by ceramicist and collector, Rose, and her musician husband, Dan. Having lived in this house now for a cozy 12 years, their home is well-loved and decorated with a beautiful and organically grown collection of furniture and decor.
Hannah Puechmarin
Apr 30, 2019
A Light and “Lovingly Cluttered” California Apartment
Name: Kendra Gilbert Location: Tower District — Fresno, California Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Kendra’s apartment is in Fresno’s historic Tower District neighborhood, which features some of the area’s most beautiful housing — preserved apartment buildings, craftsmen bungalows, and beautiful mansions.
Esteban Cortez
Apr 30, 2019
A Ceramicist’s Cozy Handmade Fort Greene Home
Name: Helen Levi Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: Less than 1000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2.5 years Editor’s note: We’re re-running this tour because Helen Levi is launching a new dinnerware line on June 14th and we’re excited! Her work is beautiful, earthy and a favorite of mine, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for 2018.
Minette Hand
Apr 30, 2019
A Sunny Soulful Renovated Apartment in Barcelona
Name: Anna Alfaro Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year Anna greets me with a hug when I arrive to photograph her home, and the autumn sun fills her house with warm light. It’s such a lovely scene, the house itself seems to hug you. Anna has spoken about how pleased she is with the results of her apartment renovation, and now seeing it in person I can only feel envy!
Sandra Rojo
Apr 30, 2019
Can You Wallpaper a Wall that Doesn’t End?
Q: Hi! I am hoping you can give me some much needed advice. I am renting my first apartment—it’s a two story townhouse—and I think one wall in the foyer would benefit greatly from a really bold, patterned wallpaper (I have no restrictions on what I can do in the unit). There’s just one problem. I have always been told that paint and wallpaper should only end at a corner or some other break in the wall, and this particular wall has no breaks.
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019
How Can I Protect Stairway Walls from Heavy Traffic?
Q: My husband and I have just purchased our first house, and we are very excited to finally have a space in our basement to dedicate to music. As a musician, he frequently brings guitars, amps, and other large equipment back and forth to gigs and rehearsals. In the past, he has rented practice spaces, which are always covered in gouges on the walls, corners, and doors—an inevitable cost of musicians constantly hauling large heavy things.
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019
Front Door Dilemma: What the Heck Goes with Periwinkle & Mint Green?
Q: I’m really hoping the Apartment Therapy forum will help me out on this one. My husband and I bought our first house in October, and now that the weather is nice we have turned our sights to the exterior. Landscaping aside, we want to achieve a brand new look on the cheap by repainting the upper purple scalloped siding [see listing photo below].
Tess Wilson
Apr 30, 2019