Small bathroom with beige tiled shower, white toilet, and gray bath mat.
Before and After: This Bathroom Just Got a Mind-Bending Paint Job
This bathroom was pretty nice, with a pleasantly neutral palette, big windows, and all the fixtures and finishes appearing to be in fine shape. But now, thanks to a mind-bending paint job, it is bright, poppy, bold, and fantastically fun. The tile, toilet, and tub are the same (at least so far), but the wall and floor have a dramatically different look.
Feb 8, 2019
A Spacious Brooklyn Rental Is Modern with a Homey Southwestern Flair
Name: Lindsey Swedick, my boyfriend, cats Freddie and Ramona Location: Brooklyn, New York Years living in: I have lived here for 1 year, but my boyfriend has lived here for 8 years, renting I moved to NYC from Albuquerque, New Mexico, seven years ago. I currently work in Digital Editorial and Social Media Marketing at West Elm and have always had a passion for photography, both for work and outside of it (I recently set up a film photography developing set-up at home!).
Feb 8, 2019
A Newly Remodeled, Maximalist Philadelphia Home
Name: Rachael, Rob and Frankie Wetherington + Liza Minnelli the Cat Location: East Kensington — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Size: 1,600 square feet Years Lived In: 5 years, owned Rachael and Rob’s first house wasn’t their “dream home” when they bought it five years ago, right before their wedding. But with a giant yard in the city and an open floor plan on a corner in a neighborhood they loved, it had enough potential to be pretty darn close.
Feb 7, 2019
A Globally Eclectic 19th-Century Haddonfield House
Name: Sarah, Will, baby Romilly and Ramsey the bulldog Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey Size: 3,795 square feet Years Lived In: 3 years, owned Sarah and Will live in a beautiful 19th Century Haddonfield Manor House, designed and built by notable architect, Clement Remington. Remington was also involved in the construction of Philadelphia’s City Hall, the Curtis Building, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Feb 7, 2019
The Coastal Chic Australian Home a Couple Built Together (from the Ground Up)
Name: Franz and Patsy Knapp with kids Felix (6) and Betty (4) and dog Ludo Location: Dunsborough, Western Australia Size: 1,615 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Franz, a stonemason, and Patsy live in a home they built together from the ground up. Their beautiful home is located on seven and a half acres in the coastal town of Dunsborough, well-known for its white sandy beaches and holiday atmosphere.
Feb 7, 2019
A Gorgeous & Global Italian Apartment
Name: Lezli Clendening Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 1,614 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, renting Walking into Lezli’s second floor Italian apartment is like walking straight into a museum. With artifacts from all around the world, beautiful canvases from artists (some of whom she is related to) and even bones, insect display cases and taxidermy pieces, it certainly could be mistaken for one of the coziest exhibits ever.
Feb 7, 2019
A Calm, Renovated, “Post-IKEA” Portland Home
Name: David and Katy Kippen, and dogs Violet and Wally Location: Laurelhurst — NE Portland, Oregon Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 12 years, owned When Katy and David bought their 1922 Craftsman bungalow in Portland a dozen years ago, they visualized a place where they could enjoy privacy and calm, despite their home’s very urban location. With time and patience they have created their ideal space: modern, minimal and inspired by “nature, open spaces, and contrast.
Feb 7, 2019
A Small Seattle Studio That Looks Much Larger Than It Is
Name: Angel and Ben Location: Fremont — Seattle, Washington Size: 580 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting The first thing you notice when walking into Angel and Ben’s Fremont studio is the huge floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the space, letting light pour into their living area.
Feb 7, 2019
An Airbnb Content Manager’s Chic San Francisco Studio
Name: Holly Location: The Mission — San Francisco, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting The first thing you notice when you open the door to Holly’s apartment in San Francisco’s popular Mission neighborhood is the light in the hallway that runs two-thirds of the length of the space. Windows all along the right side — some stained glass — make it feel very airy and ethereal.
Feb 7, 2019
A 100-Year Old Home in Oregon’s Wine Country
Name: Matt and Ali Murray, daughter Tennyson, 2, and Lucky, the Mini Aussie Location: Newberg, Oregon Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: Owned, 5.5 years Six years ago, Matt told Ali that he found their dream home in Newberg, a small town in Oregon’s wine country about an hour from Portland. They had previously lived together in downtown Portland, and later owned a house in a southwest suburb of the city…and weren’t actually in the market for a new home.
Feb 7, 2019
A Mid-Century Modern Home in Delaware
Name: George Marrone Location: Wilmington, Delaware Size: 4,300 square feet Years Lived In: 7 years, owned George discovered this stunning house — just outside of Philadelphia — while helping a friend look for properties online. He works in healthcare, but has always had an affinity for architecture and design. Today, this artist-built 1959 gem is set along a creek among gardens in a setting that’s utterly captivating. But the house itself was near ruin when George found it.
Feb 7, 2019
An Industrial Maximalist Italian Apartment
Name: Kirsten Schofield and Eric Ng Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Some apartments have good bones, and some apartments feature inhabitants who know good design. Amazingly, Kirsten and Eric’s apartment in downtown Vicenza features both! With thoughtfully chosen items from estate sales and antique stores around Europe and the U.S., this couple has quite the collection of beautiful things from their travels around the world.
Feb 7, 2019
A Natural, Neutral & Sunny Duplex Penthouse in Barcelona
Name: Fabiola, Javier, Claudia (5) and Guillermo (2) Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,720 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned When Javi and Fabi first saw this space on the top floor of a beautiful duplex in the family-friendly neighborhood of Eixample, it was completely different. All of the fixtures were outdated and the layout needed to be reconfigured. Undeterred, they saw the potential of the space and decided to do a complete overhaul.
Feb 7, 2019
A Lovely Little LA Nook for Two Roommates
Name: Lucia and Paige Location: Highland Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, rented Roommates Lucia and Paige have a decorating motto when it comes to treasures from thrift stores: If you want it, you get it! That’s how they were able to create a pretty home even though they don’t have a big budget. The roommates say they complement each other perfectly: Paige is good at solving problems and Lucia is the handy one.
Feb 7, 2019
A “Mountain Modern” Cabin in the Woods
Name: Amanda and Courtney Sprinkling-Felt, and daughter Georgia Location: Stevenson, Washington Size: 1,800 square feet on 28 acres Years lived in: 1 year, owned When Courtney saw a foreclosure listing for a “retreat” on 28 acres in remote Stevenson, Washington, she thought it could be the perfect woodsy getaway for her family. She went to see the property that day…and discovered that it had been uninhabited for years and was in pretty bad shape.
Feb 7, 2019
A Modern Refresh of a Victorian-Era Portland Home
Name: Andy Barlow, and his cat Cavanaugh Location: Eliot Neighborhood — Northeast Portland, Oregon Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Andy and his cat Cav live in one unit of a Portland duplex that was built in 1890 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Andy is a multi-talented real estate agent, freelance interior designer, and professional home-stager, who never thought that he would end up living in and loving a 127-year old home.
Feb 7, 2019
A Quirky, Retro, Playful and Unexpected Home
Name: Glenda and David Pedersen Location: Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue — Quebec, Canada Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 18 years, owned Glenda — a most charming woman — finds the best inspiration from her dreams when it comes to decorating. She has a thing for the quirky, the retro, the playful, and the unexpected.
Feb 7, 2019
A Young Family’s Eclectic, Sentimental First House
Name: Bonney Johnson and Lou Patrick, and son Hal Location: Arbor Lodge Neighborhood — Portland, Oregon Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned After living in a series of apartments in California that were that were sad, gray boxes, Bonney and Lou found a 1904 home to call their own in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of North Portland, just a couple miles north of downtown.
Feb 7, 2019
A Seattle Jewelry Designer’s Paris-Inspired Studio
Name: Kim Location: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting Having great style kinda comes with the territory when you’re a successful jewelry maker (and the owner of a business like Fresh Tangerine), but Kim has a particular brand that you just don’t see very often. She describes her home’s look as quirky Parisian with some PNW cozy mixed in. And it’s so true!
Feb 7, 2019
An Insanely Dreamy Rental Apartment in a Converted Stable in a 14th Century Italian Villa
Name: Whitley Glasgow, her husband Josh, and pup Maxwell Location: Vicenza, Italy Size: 4,500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting When Whitley and her husband, Josh, first imagined themselves moving to Italy, they knew they had to find a place with character. When they came across this rental apartment—a part of the Villa Fracanzan Piovene—they found it in spades.
Feb 7, 2019
A Beautiful, Minimal, Light-Filled Barcelona Renovation
Name: Tami, Gleb and their two-year-old daughter, Mia Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 915 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, own Imagine relocating to a new city where the language, culture, and landscape is completely different from your own and with only three suitcases in hand for both you and your partner. This is exactly what Tami and Gleb, a young couple from Moscow, Russia, did just four years ago when they decided to uproot themselves to the sunny city of Barcelona.
Feb 7, 2019
Dynamic Details Define a Chic and Simple Barcelona Remodel
Name: Anna Location: Barcelona, Spain Size: 754 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned Anna has a degree in geography and has worked for 13 years as a publicist for IKEA, but after finally finishing her apartment’s two year-long renovation, I think it’s safe to say she also has quite the passion and expertise for design. Responsible for all of the design decisions in the 754-square-foot space, the biggest priority was a roomy and functional kitchen.
Feb 7, 2019
A Small “Bohème Moderne” Condo with Vibrant Downtown Views
Name: Andréa Crofts and Stefan Jovanović Location: Toronto, Canada Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, owned Andréa and Stefan’s home is a 700-square-foot unit in a modern condo overlooking the beautiful skyline of Toronto’s downtown. The eastern view is what sold the couple on this particular unit, and you can’t blame them. Even if the condo was completely empty, it would still be gorgeous with that view.
Feb 7, 2019
You Can Buy This 238-Square-Foot Tiny House That Fits A Queen-Sized Bed
Allswell has become known for their luxury “bed-in-a-box” mattresses that are new to the saturated market and have already made some serious noise. As of today, the Walmart brand launched another risky but bold endeavor to stand out in the home space: selling their own custom-made tiny houses.
Feb 7, 2019
5 (Way Too Common) Mistakes You Might Make with Bleach
Bleach is a strong cleanser that, when used properly, can be a safe and effective option for sanitizing various objects and surfaces in your kitchen, in the laundry and around your house. “But it’s not an all-purpose cleaner,” says Nancy Boc, senior vice president of education at the American Cleaning Institute.
Feb 7, 2019
8 Problem-Solving Target Buys Tiny House Dwellers Swear By
If you live in a tiny home, you’re faced with living a full life with less space—and less stuff. This makes going to Target a difficult task for tiny homeowners, because, well, they’re just as tempted by all the cute, quirky, and cool things in the aisles as you are (the Target effect is real, y’all!) But it also means that these residents are experts at cutting through the clutter to find the best problem-solving products while shopping.
Feb 7, 2019
Before and After: $500 Later, It’s Really Hard to Believe This Is the Same Kitchen
Three cheers for lenient landlords.
Feb 7, 2019
6 Color Combos That Shouldn’t Work But Totally Do
There are any number of color “rules” you can follow when you’re picking out your home’s palette. The classic 60-30-10 Rule is a place to start. You can lean on the smart suggestions of a color expert. Those looking to add dark colors in a small space might even want to consult some online guidance. But the six stunning homes in this post prove that you can play around with what some might consider “clashing” color combos and pull it off beautifully.
Feb 7, 2019
A Barcelona Home Got a Scandinavian-Inspired Remodel
Name: Line Tiller Location: El Clot — Barcelona, Spain Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Stepping into the home of Line (pronounced Lee-Nuh) Tiller is like stepping into a cozy retreat in the middle of the city. “Warm and cozy are the main ingredients of a Norwegian home because it’s cold in Norway,” says Line, originally from the Scandinavian country.
Feb 6, 2019
Here’s What You Can Get for $2,300 a Month (And Under) in NYC Right Now
To live in New York City is to crack your wallet way open every month to pay for a roof over your head. And while once upon a time $2,300 per month could yield a perfectly reasonable place to call home, these days it takes some sleuthing to find something in this price range.
Feb 6, 2019
Before and After: We Wouldn’t Change a Thing About This IKEA Living Room Hack
This simple white storage bench, designed by the Swedish powerhouse, IKEA, has found a new home and a totally new look in a Victorian in London. IKEA’s PLATSA storage bench—not currently available in the U.S. so the STUVA might be the best alternative—fits perfectly into this living room nook, with just a little bit of wiggle room. It looked just fine in the white space, but the room now has a completely different look—and, therefore, so does the PLATSA.
Feb 6, 2019
A Very Beige, Carpeted Rental Is Redeemed By Florals
Name: Mary Martha Meyer Hill Location: South Austin — Austin, Texas Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting I am a recent graduate living in my first post-college apartment. I studied art history and classical studies in college, and I’ve always been drawn to subjects, objects, and styles that possess a history that feels distant and somewhat untouchable.
Feb 6, 2019
This Minimal, Modern Home Proves Practical Can Also Be Fun
Name: Raul, Igone, Nora and Naida Location: Sagrada Familia — Barcelona, Spain Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned As their children grew, Raul and Igone started to look for a bigger apartment where their two girls could have more space to run and have fun. House searching was not easy, however, and it took Raul and Igone three years to finally find the place. Though the apartment certainly didn’t look like it does now when they first viewed it.
Feb 5, 2019
This Artist Uses LEGO to Repair Structures All Over the World
Reason one million and one why LEGO will forever remain relevant. In addition to being classic toys and reminders of the best of our childhood days, they serve us in the most unexpected ways. There’s the extremely eye-catching LEGO kitchen island, and the 6,000-piece Hogwarts set made entirely out of the colorful building blocks to satisfy your inner wizard. At the intersection of art and functionality are the LEGO repairs by street artist Jan Vormann.
Feb 5, 2019
Here’s Your Chance to See Maxwell’s Dream House Finished (Before It Gets Messy)
Back in the early spring of 2016 I tore down a little house my family had purchased 18 years earlier and, taking it on as finally my own and with money that I inherited when my father passed away, I rebuilt it from the ground up (actually below the ground, up) with the help of three wonderfully skilled people, John Berg (architect), Peter Germano (contractor) and Rebecca Robertson (interior designer). The project took nearly two years, allowing me to move in by Christmas 2018.
Feb 5, 2019
The 5 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Homeowners
It’s no secret that the dream of home ownership is increasingly a daunting prospect. From overwhelming student loan debt, to less-than-stellar credit scores, to steadily-climbing home prices, there’s no shortage of factors keeping a lot of us from achieving that hallmark of adulthood. However, some markets are tougher to pull off this particular aspect of “adulting” in than others.
Feb 5, 2019
This 300-Square-Foot RV Is a Sleek, All-Black Abode
There are your basic campers, and then there’s the Draper RV by Land Ark. If you’re familiar with the company, that means you’ve probably already fawned over the previous model, the all-black, super sleek and, dare I say, sexy Drake RV. Founders Brian and Joni Buzarde model all Land Ark designs after their tiny house, and their signature homes on wheels prove that you don’t have to sacrifice sophistication just because you’re working with a smaller space.
Feb 5, 2019
Before and After: A Neglected, Smelly Florida House Gets a Striking Renovation
Name: Erika Hinn, husband Sam, daughter Christa, and two dogs, Molson and Maple, and two cats Location: Longwood, Florida Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Our house was built in 1978 and had suffered some years of neglect when we first saw it. It was in the process of being purchased by an investor as a flip, but we saw it and even in its terrible, smelly condition I loved it and saw what it could be.
Feb 5, 2019
16 Genius Hacks that Make Your Microwave Worth the Counter Space
Any tool that multitasks in the kitchen means less wasted space and more bang for your buck. A gadget with a specific use has to be downright amazing for me to give up kitchen real estate to it. (A strawberry huller falls under that category in our family, and gets used several times a week in the summer.) But multitasking isn’t a trait reserved just for kitchen tools that fit in cupboards and drawers.
Feb 5, 2019
This Stunning Pinecone-Shaped Treehouse Is for Sale
One of the cool parts about being an adult is buying the stuff your folks wouldn’t or couldn’t get you as a child. Before you allow those nostalgic desires to fade into sadness and resentment, here’s how you can make up for at least one of the major requests your parents either strategically ignored or flat-out denied: signing on the dotted line for this magnificent pinecone-shaped treehouse, which has been placed up for sale by its designers, O2 Treehouse.
Feb 4, 2019
6 People Told Us What They Notice About Your Messy Home
We polled some of our favorite cleaning, organizing, and design experts on what messy spots they might pick up on in others' homes.
Feb 4, 2019
Look Inside: A $1 Million Contemporary Home in Houston That’s Bigger Than It Looks
This three-story house can easily be a party pad or family estate. 6504 Rodrigo Street, Unit A Located in Houston, Texas $999,900 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms You know what they say: Everything is bigger in Texas. And it certainly feels that way with this Camp Logan home. Built by On Point Custom Homes, a prominent Texas architecture firm, this contemporary property has a first-floor space that’s dedicated to living and dining.
Feb 4, 2019
Why I Deep Clean Before Chinese New Year (and You Should Too)
I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am that the Year of the Dog is almost over. For Chinese people, the year of one’s zodiac sign is traditionally the unluckiest year for them with warnings of trouble and danger at every turn. So as a Dog person, I am looking forward to welcoming that first day of the Year of the Pig (February 5) with all the new positive energy that comes with it. But first, I have to sweep the past year away—literally.
Feb 4, 2019
Letter from the Founder, Maxwell Ryan
This April we will be celebrating our 15th birthday. For me, it will be a celebration of growing, doing better and better work over the years, and staying true to our mission.
Feb 4, 2019
Steve & Rhea’s Renovated Fisherman’s Cottage
Name: Steve Schappacher & Rhea White of SchappacherWhiteLocation: Shelter Island, New York We bought this 1904 fisherman’s cottage 5 years ago. Originally planning to use the home as a weekend retreat from NYC, we now spend most of our time in the 1,100 square foot house, a block from Cockles Harbor.
Feb 4, 2019
Grey Gardens Is Under Contract
Update: Grey Gardens has found a buyer, according to the Washington Post. Owner, journalist Sally Quinn, hasn’t disclosed who is purchasing the property or the selling price (it was reduced to $17,995,000 in April), but mentioned that “she’s ‘happy’ with the contract and the new owner ‘really understands the house’ and plans to preserve it.
Feb 4, 2019
The Great Gatsby Mansion is For Sale
Well, old sport, now you can live that West Egg fantasy life. This over the top mansion on Long Island was the inspiration for the titular character’s estate in the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. And the price? You’ll need Gatsby’s fortune to match, because this place is listed for $85 million.
Feb 4, 2019
The Price of Spite: Boston’s Skinny House Is For Sale For $895K
Before people threw shade and sent subtweets, they built spite houses. One of the more famous real estate clap backs is Boston’s Skinny House, and it is currently for sale. Spite houses are exactly what they sound like: real estate built to spite someone else by blocking a view, annoying a neighbor, or to get around a zoning law. There’s usually an interesting story attached, and who doesn’t like a home with its own legend?
Feb 4, 2019