Why I’m Living Abroad to Buy a Home in the U.S.
While I’ve always wanted to buy a house to make into a home, my partner has always looked at real estate as a financial investment, not an emotional one. We both have our reasons: My family lost our home when I was 13, and I love the idea of raising a family and creating memories in a financially-stable house I own. My partner comes from an immigrant family, and he was brought up to see homeownership solely as a means of generating passive income. The thing we can agree on?
Apr 3, 2019
You Can Rent Claude Monet’s French Country Home For $250/Night
If you’re an artist, or you just want a dose of inspiration and French country je ne sais quoi, you don’t have to become an expat to do it. This quiet rental in Normandy offers a retreat for backpackers and families alike. Oh, and the house was once owned by the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. He’s kind of a big deal. The owners call this picturesque rental The Blue House, because the shutters are a striking shade of robin’s egg blue.
Apr 3, 2019
It’s Aries Season: Here’s Your April 2019 Home Horoscope
Crack open the cans of eggshell paint, and rev your vacuum cleaners, astral voyagers. April ignites the cosmos with a clean, clear call to action, as Aries energy urges us to refurbish, renew, and re-dedicate ourselves to our one-of-a-kind designs. This particular season comes locked and loaded with Pluto power. The lordess of the underworld, this planet’s position in April is a crushed red velvet carpet invitation to relish taking responsibility for our own existences.
Apr 3, 2019
10 Stylish (And so Affordable!) Dresser Knobs You Can Find on Amazon
It’s no secret that replacing standard dresser or nightstand knobs with more stylish options can do wonders to transform a piece. But finding the perfect drawer pull—or figuring out how to score a whole set of them without spending too much money—can be a bit of a challenge, especially if time is of the essence and you just want to finish decorating your bedroom, like, now. Luckily, all of these drawer pulls are eligible for two-day shipping (thanks, Prime!
Apr 3, 2019
25 New Ways to Reuse Your Old Pill Bottles
There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from finding solutions to problems that use things you already have on hand. I’m still very proud of myself for MacGyver-ing a broken pop-up shade canopy with a hair tie and a plastic bag—it’s silly, but it made me feel like I might just have made it in the pioneer days. Taking things you already have and making them more useful isn’t just self-congratulatory, it’s also frugal and earth-friendly.
Apr 3, 2019
Color-Blocked Furniture and a Moody Forest Mural Make This London Home
Name: Ola Zwolenik, my husband and our dog Location: Bromley — London, United Kingdom Size: 2,005 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned My husband, our dog, and I moved to England from Poland in 2012. We fell in love with the idea of having a period property and in 2017 we decided to buy our first ever home. It’s a cute little terraced house in South East London. We started renovating right away, but still have some big plans for it. What is your favorite room and why?
Apr 3, 2019
Tamara’s Quirky Cape Town Home
Name: Tamara and her children, Jonah and Sophia-Rose, and their Boston Terrier, Ollie. Location: Cape Town, South Africa Size: 2583 square feet Years lived in: 15 years; Owned Vintage lovers will take great delight in discovering Tamara’s charming collections spread throughout her home. Nostalgic kitchen scales, glass perfume bottles and china tea cups to name a few. Tamara has a creative eye and a real flair for curating vignettes and quirky nooks.
Apr 2, 2019
Here’s the Real Difference Between a Foreclosure and a Short Sale
If you’re in the market for purchasing a home, looking into foreclosures and short sales might seem like a more affordable way into homeownership. The properties can be quite inexpensive in comparison to the traditional housing market, and if you’re a seasoned buyer, the idea of a fixer-upper might sound appealing.
Apr 2, 2019
Someone Turned an Airplane into a Home
From above, gray metal starkly contrasts with the lush green trees surrounding the instantly recognizable shape. But Bruce Campbell’s airplane nestled in the forests of Oregon isn’t just a monument to humankind’s feats of engineering and mastery of aerodynamics… it’s his home.
Apr 2, 2019
The Most Common Money Mistakes When Building (or Renovating) a Home
In this modern era of home improvement TV, where homes go from beast to beauty in the amount of time it takes to do a quick scroll through Instagram (what? It’s called multitasking), what often gets lost is the immense amount of work and money that goes into an actual home renovation, let alone building a home. Beyond that, many of the everyday issues that DIYers, developers, and owners run into are edited out of the final cut—making things seem a lot rosier than in reality.
Apr 2, 2019
Sandra Bullock Lists Her Georgia Island Home for $6.5 Million
Recently, we let you in on a few good reasons to live in the Southeast, and now here’s an even more tempting reason to pack up and head to a rapidly expanding part of the country. According to the real estate grapevine, Sandra Bullock recently listed her Tybee Island house for $6.5 million. Offering 3,360 square feet of beachfront bliss, the gorgeous home off the coast of Georgia boasts seven bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms and sits on a little less than three acres.
Apr 2, 2019
Every Room in a Barn-Turned-Home Is Dark, Bold, and Spectacularly Sassy
Name: Sally Worts, husband, four sons, two dogs Location: Skipton — North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Years lived in: 7 years, owned My home is a barn conversion in a tiny North Yorkshire village. We don’t have a village shop or a pub but what we do have are wide open views of the countryside straight outside the back barn doors and that is priceless. I live here with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. We have two older sons as well but they have left home now.
Apr 2, 2019
6 Confidence-Boosting Tips to Remember The Next Time You Need to Be More Assertive
Standing your ground isn’t always easy. No matter how confident you feel about something, being openly assertive with others when communicating your needs is an entirely different beast. So we called on Antonia Di Leo, licensed therapist and clinical director of Andrea Cornell Family Therapy for advice on how to be more assertive from day-to-day.
Apr 2, 2019
Look Inside: A Vintage Florida Beach Cottage with all the Updates for $878K
This retro beach cottage is just blocks from the beach and has charm for days. BYO cruiser bike. – 421 Pine Avenue – Located in Anna Maria, Florida – $878,000 -3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom We’ve found the ultimate Florida beach home on Anna Maria Island. Seriously, if we were to conjure up an image of the dreamiest Florida beach cottage, this would be it. There’s character for days—no cookie-cutter McMansion here.
Apr 1, 2019
7 Small Ways to (Potentially) Save $737 in a Week
If you’re anything like the average American, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates you spend just over $164 per day, with the bulk of that money going towards housing, transportation, and food. But in 2016, the median income per capita was estimated at just $33,205—that’s $26,855 less than the average American is spending each year. Yikes, that math just doesn’t add up.
Apr 1, 2019
Melissa McCarthy Could Be Your Landlord—For $10,000/Month
In the latest installment of “We *So* Wanna Live Here,” Melissa McCarthy’s Toluca Lake bungalow is back on the rental market. Though it might be a bit outside our price range; the comedian is asking would-be tenant(s) to shell out $10,000 a month. To put that number in perspective, it’s more than the annual hidden costs of homeownership. With the in flow of cash, McCarthy could easily support her dollar store shopping habit and probably have a bit left over each month.
Apr 1, 2019
Partner
7 Little Spots You’re Not Cleaning…but Should Be
Considering that most of us at Apartment Therapy consider spring cleaning our favorite national holiday, this may come as a surprise: Even we have some spots in our homes that we regularly miss, overlook, or just plain ignore. But this is the year we break the cycle! We’re keeping these seven little trouble spots on our mind as we set off on spring deep clean—which, fortunately, are all laughably easy tasks.
Apr 1, 2019
See Inside This Adorable, Cozy, Practically Perfect Cottage
Name: Shana Cohen and all of the pets that are on our farm! Location: Southwest Ranches, Florida Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned My home resides at the back end of my family’s farm, Blue Stallion Farm. It is small and cozy, both from the outside and within. The entrance of my home overlooks the paddocks and barn where the horses are kept, truly capturing my passion and essence.
Apr 1, 2019
Partner
Win: Your Everything-You-Need Spring Cleaning Tool Kit from OXO
Prize: OXO Spring Cleaning Tool KitTotal Approximate Value: $1,000From: OXO It may sound odd to hear someone say they’re excited to do chores, but every year we truly look forward to our spring cleaning. We see it as a big welcome sign for the new season and a way to reenergize our homes — and we’re guessing you do, too.
Apr 1, 2019
You Can Buy a Stunning Cherry Blossom Tree for Your Backyard at Home Depot for Under $40
It is finally spring! Springtime means we can enjoy the beauty of nature, now that those cold and dreary days of winter are behind us. Is there anything more refreshing than looking at flowers blooming after spending weeks on end surrounded by dull gray skies? Of course not! If you’re a fan of cherry blossoms, you’re in luck! You don’t need to drive all the way to Washington D.C. to enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival (though it is something incredible to see).
Mar 31, 2019
This Is What It’s Really Like to Live in a Converted Church
American churches were built in bounty in the 1950s as a result of post-war population growth and a national focus on family values—but as time has gone on, more Americans are identifying as “nones” (none-affiliated), forcing these places of community gathering to close, as the cost of upkeep outweighs the number of congregants. Each year, between 6,000 and 10,000 American churches close.
Mar 31, 2019
These Aren’t Your Grandma’s Bathmats
Is it just us, or does buying a bathmat feel like a Catch-22? On the one hand, you need a mat in your bathroom. What’s the alternative? Getting your floor all wet or, even worse, slipping after a relaxing bath or shower? Um, no thank you. But while bathmats are integral to every home, you have to admit they’re not always the most stylish accessories.
Mar 31, 2019
Why I Really Regret Buying a ‘Good Enough’ House
When my husband and I first started looking for a house in 2017, we had just brought our second baby home from the hospital. By the time we sat down at the settlement table, she was just a few weeks away from crawling. Neither of us expected the process to take so long. After all, “for sale” signs were going up and coming down across the state with breakneck speed. We didn’t realize at the time that those quick moving properties were actually bad news for us as buyers.
Mar 31, 2019
The 10 Best Places to Live If You Hate Driving
Driving to work can eat up your time, stress you out, and pollute the air. Worse, owning a car gets expensive. But in many cities across the U.S., you don’t have much of a choice—but some places allow you to sit back and let a bus, train, subway, or streetcar take you where you need to go. Some of the best places for those that don’t want to drive? New York, New York; Union City, New Jersey; and San Francisco, California, says Redfin’s 2019 Transit Score report.
Mar 31, 2019
8 Expert-Approved Ways to Carve Out a Play Area in a Small Space
It doesn’t matter if you were playing with your American Girl Dolls, doodling in a coloring book, or racing a stylish set of Hot Wheels, one thing’s for sure: A child’s playroom is so, so much more than a room. It’s a place where kids can foster their creativity and, well, be kids. Chances are, you probably have some pretty wonderful memories if you were lucky enough to have your very own childhood playroom.
Mar 31, 2019
Partner
7 Things in Your Home You Should Be Vacuuming…But Aren’t
Let’s talk about a secret cleaning weapon — one you’re probably already very familiar with and are probably underusing. If you’re only using your vacuum cleaner to clean your floors, you’re missing out on all the great things it can do for you. Here are seven hard-to-clean spots that the right vacuum (and the right attachments!) can make short work of. How do you clean a mattress, anyway? You can’t exactly pop it in the washing machine.
Mar 31, 2019
A Small Spanish Studio Has Some Splendid Small Space Ideas
Name: Sergio Gutierrez Location: Santander, Spain Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Sergio first lived in this small studio apartment—around 500 square feet—by himself, but when his partner and then a baby came along, the family moved from this space into a larger home.
Mar 31, 2019
7 Things Every Homeowner Should Know for Tax Day 2019
It’s that time of year again. The time where we either pull out the cumbersome, confusing forms to file our taxes—or look to an online service to do most of the heavy lifting for us. (Hello, Turbo Tax.) Last year’s major tax changes seemingly doubled or tripled the annual filing headache on top of all of the additional requirements for homeowners.
Mar 30, 2019
The Coolest Ways to Update Your Home Bar for $10 or Less
A good bar setup at home ensures that you’re always ready for happy hour. Luckily, Amazon is brimming with cute and clever bar accessories—many of which are priced for 10n bucks or less. Read ahead for seven items that will transform your bar cart—for cheap. Looking for an easy way to squeeze some fresh lemon or lime into your cocktail? This savvy spritzer has serrated teeth, so you can stick it straight inside a piece of fruit and then spray away.
Mar 30, 2019
15 of the Best U.S. Cities for Work-Life Balance, According to Statistics
Tired of telling your niece you can’t come to her birthday party out in the ‘burbs because you have to get some work done this weekend? Or maybe it’s more that you have too much time—like you’re underemployed and can’t partake in all the amazing opportunities your city offers? It may be time to move to a city with a better work-life balance. Might I suggest Provo-Orem, Utah?
Mar 30, 2019
Your Dog Will Never Track Mud Into the House Again with This Handy Paw Cleaner
Now that we’re officially done with winter and spring has sprung, we’re headed toward better weather days. We can expect to see some beautiful flowers blooming shortly. However, before we get flowers, you know how the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” The rain isn’t too awful unless you have dogs. Every dog owner knows that with rain comes mud and with mud comes muddy paws.
Mar 30, 2019
The Surprisingly Simple Bedroom Trend We’ve Been Seeing Everywhere
It’s no secret that streamlining is in right now. Many of us are carefully evaluating everything from our wardrobes to our kitchenware and enjoying feeling lighter as we let unneeded belongings go. And with that, it’s no surprise that we’re more and more drawn to a streamlined look when it comes to furniture and decor, too. Take bed frames and headboards, for example. Gone are the days of tufted, upholstered numbers and in are sleek, simple wooden options, like the ones below.
Mar 30, 2019
The Untold History Behind Why Most Real Estate Agents Are Women
A little over a year ago, Dani Rosenthal was at a crossroads. After spending more than 10 years working for homeware and apparel companies, she was looking to leave city-life and spend more time in Lake Arrowhead, California, where her family had decades-long roots. She loved architecture and historic renovations, and wanted to nurture these interests. After talking to friends and family members, she thought maybe becoming a real estate agent could be a smart next step.
Mar 30, 2019
NASA Is Willing to Pay You $18,500 and All You Have to Do Is Stay In Bed for 2 Months
Do you have a pretty deep love of your bed? Is it your hardest goodbye each morning and your fondest hello at night? Yeah, same here. We love to sleep and we especially love to be cozy in our beds. If sleeping for two months straight sounds like something right up your alley, then you might want to check out this opportunity from NASA. Yes, NASA, as in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Independent reported that NASA is looking to pay volunteers $18,500 for 60 days of work.
Mar 30, 2019
A Historic Row House Has a Colorful Exterior and Charming Interior
Name: Blair Wilson, my spouse Stephen, and our two pets, Tina the dog and Masaki the cat Location: Historic downtown — Frederick, Maryland Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Three years ago we were living in suburban Washington D.C., and on a weekend drive we discovered charming and picturesque Frederick, Maryland.
Mar 30, 2019
8 Superhero Cleaning Brushes That Save Time (and Effort!) All Over Your Home
Still using the same basic brushes to clean all the nooks and crannies of your apartment? You should know there’s a whole world of superhero brushes and scrubbers with all kinds of special features that will help cut your cleaning time in two. From soap dispensing dish brushes to a rechargeable spinning scrubber, here are eight cleaning brushes that will put your current basics to shame: Consider this soap-dispensing sink brush the Cadillac of dish brushes.
Mar 30, 2019
James & Mark’s Haute Flea Market Style
Name: James Franco and Mark Goldrick Location: Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1200 square feet (includes an outdoor deck) Years lived in: 8 years; rented When James and Mark first laid eyes on their third floor apartment, they saw past the hideous wall mural in the stairwell, dingy cabinets and linoleum in the kitchen, holes in the walls, and ratty stained carpeting. The dumpy place that scared every other potential renter away filled them with a sense of excitement and possibility.
Mar 29, 2019
11 IKEA Products Every Renter Should Know About
I'm a lifelong renter and IKEA products have come to the rescue for many of my rental conundrums over the years.
Mar 29, 2019
This Controversial Exterior Might Be Making A Comeback
When it comes to curb appeal, prospective home buyers are being wooed by a classic: red brick exteriors. Trulia zeroed in on the trend after analyzing its most searched listings for March. Among the East Coast properties that are garnering the most attention, several had red brick facades, according to the real estate and rental listing site. Red brick is an oldie—some people may say “dated,” even—but others may see it as a “goodie” for its vintage charm.
Mar 29, 2019
This Artist Bought Her Grandparents’ Condo—Here’s What She Kept (And What She Changed)
A mix between "Mad Men" and "Pee Wee Herman," artist Kim Alpert's self-proclaimed style is "Folk Futurism."
Mar 29, 2019
These Are the Best Cities for Working Moms
One day we’ll collectively evolve into a society that fully supports the struggles of juggling work and parenting. But until we can get everyone (employers, specifically) to get on board with stuff like paid family leave, here’s a list of cities that are the best—and not so great—for working moms. First, the not so good news—the list excludes an entire region of the country, which isn’t exactly promising for mothers in the Northeast.
Mar 29, 2019
This Bell Tent In Mexico Marries Luxury And Eco-Friendliness
Whether it’s recycling, composting, or using cloth grocery bags, living an organic, eco-conscious lifestyle has never been easier. And great news, travelers: this can be the case for when you’re vacationing, too, as you don’t always have to choose between chic and luxury or environmentally-conscious. Say hello to this ultra-chic luxury bell tent in Tulum, Mexico, that is totally eco-friendly.
Mar 29, 2019
A 300-Square-Foot Studio Is a Cozy, Crafty, Kitschy, “Spinster” Pad
Name: Chelsea Del Rio, and cats Cat Millett and Fannie Purrkins Location: Sunnyside, NYC Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting I share my apartment with my feline companions Cat Millett and Fannie Purrkins (named after queer women in history because that’s my thing). This home was a miracle.
Mar 29, 2019
Partner
5 Little Ways to Unwind at Home
With a bustling lifestyle business—including a mega-popular Instagram account and a curated shop of vintage finds, Harper & Arrow—plus two little ones to chase after, Cynthia Harper knows that relaxation usually comes in small doses. Her trick is to create a home that’s immediately immersive so that when she does find a couple of minutes to herself she’s instantly at ease. Her trick for that? Think of more sense experiences than what you can see.
Mar 29, 2019
The Biggest Souvenir You Buy On Vacation Could Be Your Whole Hotel Room
Some people can look at an empty room and visualize where every furniture item will go, what fabric will work for the curtains, and what planter they should buy for the corner by the window. Others need real, tangible inspiration—spaces they can shop like you might buy clothes off of a mannequin. And while there are showrooms for that, they can feel cold and uninviting—it’s hard to picture living in a showroom. Enter: the shoppable stay.
Mar 28, 2019
The Best Time to Put Your Home on the Market, in Every Metro Area
Watching your house sit while it’s on the market can be a real drag. So maybe you’ve been hesitant to list yours. Well, now might be the time if you live in the New York metro area, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, or another major city. The first week of April is a real estate market sweet spot where high buyer demand, low competition, speedy sales, and strong prices come together to give sellers who list a major wallet win. Don’t believe it? We’ll show you the numbers.
Mar 28, 2019
This $150K Philadelphia Home Is the Most Popular Fixer-Upper on the Market
Flirting with the idea of a fixer upper? Those who are searching for homes online are majorly crushing on this massive stone home in Philadelphia that was originally built in 1900 and is for sale, “as is,” for $150,000. While the sprawling 2,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms is definitely begging for some TLC, it’s among this month’s “most searched” properties on Trulia, a home and neighborhood site for buyers and renters.
Mar 28, 2019
This Old School Bus Was Given a New Life as a Tiny House on Wheels
It's only 280 square feet and currently home to two parents, a baby, and a dog.
Mar 28, 2019