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.
Pillow Talk: 6 Ways to Style Decorative Bed Pillows
The way you make your bed up can say a lot about your decor style. Like to keep it simple and no-fuss? Neatly stack the pillows you sleep on, smooth out your linens and turn down your top sheet and bedspread. You’re done. However, if you prefer something with a little more decoration, we’ve created six simple set ups you can copy at home in your own bedroom. Check them out! A quick note on the bed size.
Arlyn Hernandez
May 3, 2019
You’re One Click Away From Never Forgetting Anything Again
The art of forgetting isn’t hard to master. No matter how organized and prepared we attempt to be, sometimes well, it happens. We forget stuff. But what if there was an iPhone app designed to ensure you don’t ever walk out the door without everything you need? Don’t Leave It! is a location-based reminder app that helps you keep track of your everyday necessities, so you always remember to take them with you when you leave. And best of all: it’s free.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
4 Simple Steps for Ruthlessly Clearing the Clutter in 2019
Emily Ley is a mama of three, a designer, author, and the creator of the wildly popular Simplified Planner. She lives in a perfectly imperfect new-build house in Florida with her husband and kiddos…and she knows a thing or two about simplifying life. Below, her four simple steps for ruthlessly clearing the clutter in the New Year. Here’s Emily: The beginning of a new year feels so fresh, doesn’t it? The giant, light-up holiday decor has been put away.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Grab Your Headphones: Guided Meditations for Every Part of Your Day
If you feel like you can stand to become more centered and relaxed throughout your day, then take a look at the guided meditations free on YouTube – there are hundreds of videos to choose from that take you from a stressed, anxious state, and back down to a zen attitude. No one’s weekday is an absolute breeze, and it’s easy to get caught up in stress when your responsibilities and to-do lists pile up mile high.
Marlen Komar
May 3, 2019
Completely Charming 2,000-Square-Foot Portland Craftsman
Portland, Oregon
3-Bedroom | $615,000
Julia Brenner
May 3, 2019
Partner
Here Are the Only Supplies You Really Need When You Paint
It's the simplest checklist to do the most professional-ish job.
Creative Studio
May 3, 2019
Check Out Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher’s New $10M Santa Barbara County Surf Shack
Is Santa Barbara the new Malibu? Judging by the recent $10M luxury beachfront home purchased by Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, the answer may be a resounding: “It’s all alright!” Modest by most celebrity and California coastal real estate standards (and down $2.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Last Chance: Everything That’s Leaving Netflix in July
Netflix giveth and Netflix taketh away. While we’re excited about what’s returning to the streaming service next month, that means some things have to go. So to prioritize your watch list for the remainder of June, here is everything that’s leaving Netflix in July. Sorry, Sandra Bullock fans: Two of the actor’s classic rom coms starring floppy haired leading men are giving their notice.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Before & After: New Bedrooms for the Whole Family in a Brooklyn Brownstone
Considering the amazing renovation work done on the living room, dining room and kitchen of Nicole and Dan Lucey’s Brooklyn brownstone, it’s not exactly a surprise that they also showed the same care, intention and design savvy with the family’s upstairs bedrooms. What is surprising are the bold design choices in two of the rooms, and the serene space the master bedroom turned out to be. Nicole and Dan’s sophisticated son originally wanted ALL black walls.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Before & After: This Boring Bathroom Got a Serious Dose of Personality
Structurally, there was nothing wrong with the bathroom in Nikki and Chris’ Astoria condo. Aesthetically, it looked a bit like an upscale gas station bathroom from the early 90s. The ‘after’, I think you’ll agree, is a huge improvement. The couple’s vision for their new bathroom was a modern twist on a classic NYC bath.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Renovation Makes the Most of a Small Kitchen
House-hunting in New York is a notoriously harrowing process. After months of searching, Nikki and Chris thought they had found the perfect apartment in Astoria. It was beautiful, had all the features they wanted, and was within their budget. But after a few weeks, the deal fell through. Incredibly discouraged, Nikki and Chris wondered if they would ever be able to find a place that felt like home. Two days later, they were putting in an offer on another place.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
These Are The Most Popular Paint Colors By State
People have strong opinions on color—in general, and especially the ones they choose to live with and add to their homes. So we find it inherently interesting to see if certain areas prefer one color over another. The people at BEHR recently studied paint sales across the country, and determined each state’s most popular shade.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Home Game Changers: 10 Mundane-But-Awesome Amazon Finds
We all have those unassuming, everyday things we buy that become game changers for our homes, right? They might not be the flashiest most stylish finds, but they are products that just make adult life easier (or at the very least, more bearable). These are the items we tell our friends/family/anyone that will listen about. (For instance, a really good hair unclogging tool.
Arlyn Hernandez
May 3, 2019
True Advice from People Who Are Truly Bad at Email
There's a way to turn a vice into a virtue—just listen to these brilliant tips by self-admittedly awful emailers.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
The New Look For the Kitchen is More Classic Than Ever
Lately, new designs for the kitchen look more and more like old designs for the kitchen. There’s a certain style of British kitchen — vintage-style appliances, Shaker-style cabinets, a bit austere but with very traditional accents — that’s becoming very popular. Looking at these kitchens, I am struck by the fact that they look remarkably similar to some of the 1920s kitchens I came across while researching this series about the history of kitchen design.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
17 Insider Things to Know About IKEA (from Employees Who’ve Worked There)
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at IKEA? With stores that resemble mazes and tons of products everywhere you turn, it’s sure to be just as much of an experience working there as it is shopping there. And of course, those who do work there just may be able to give us IKEA civilians a little helpful shopping advice.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
Rooms that Made Us Love Vinyl Flooring (Really!)
For the longest time, vinyl flooring has been as a compromise rather than a design choice made with confidence and enthusiasm. Yes, it’s budget-friendly, durable and easy to clean. But has it been the kind of material that others would devote a Pinterest board to? Not so much. In recent years, big and small brands alike have taken a new approach to vinyl floor products.
Brie Dyas
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Home Under the Hollywood Sign Goes Beachy
When updating a vintage home with a past, a designer has to carefully carry out a vision without erasing the past. Such was the case for this vintage home, located underneath the Hollywood sign in the Beachwood Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles and redesigned by Justin Krzyston with Stonehurst Construction. The circa-1950s home was happily lived in by the original owners until they had passed away.
Brie Dyas
May 3, 2019
Golden Girl Rue McClanahan’s Former Encino Home Is Listed for $5.5M
If there’s a person out there who hasn’t fantasized about a slumber party with the Golden Girls’ Blanche Devereaux, we’ve yet to meet them. Now’s your chance to channel the famous Southern belle — the former home of actress Rue McClanahan is now on the market. Curbed reported on Monday that the former home of the late actress (who passed in 2010) was freshly listed in the upscale Royal Oaks neighborhood in Encino, CA for $5.5 million.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Modern Kitchen Update with Vintage Charm
When they decided to start a family, interior designer Meredith and her husband realized that their one-bedroom duplex (with the bedroom accessed by a dizzying spiral staircase) was just not going to cut it anymore. After being outbid on four different houses, they finally found their perfect place: a charming Tudor townhouse in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood, with an apricot tree in the front yard and even — an amenity almost unheard of in New York — a garage.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Dark, Dated Kitchen Gets an Unbelievably Beautiful Update
The kitchen in this Brooklyn brownstone — before its reinvigorating renovation and revival — was dismal. Dark, dated. Grimy and greasy. Peeling paint, cracked walls and a floor you wouldn’t want to walk barefoot on. The whole home needed a lot of work, but the kitchen perhaps most so. After all, for many families the kitchen is the heart of the home. The hub of action. The hangout space of party guests.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Self-Cleaning Toilets Are Here. What Does That Mean For You?
In any survey of most-disliked household tasks, cleaning toilets is high on the list, for obvious reasons. You may know how to clean a toilet properly, and you may enjoy the end result of a less-than-enjoyable toilet-cleaning sesh. But what if you could take cleaning the toilet off your list of to-dos for good? Although the self-cleaning toilet concept isn’t brand new, prices are dropping and they are starting to pop up in more regular homes.
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019
This Gothic Victorian Mansion Inspired by The Munsters Is Under $500K
If your taste runs a little spooky — or your sense of humor just a little kooky — have we got the Portland listing for you: a gothic Victorian mansion inspired by The Munsters is for sale, and for under $500K.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
The Newest Emojis & How Best To Use Them
We’re [insert new emoji face with star eyes] about the news that 56 brand-spankin’ new emojis will be hitting our keyboards this year, thanks the preview of Emoji 5.0 released this week. According to Emojipedia, Emoji version 5.0 “includes 56 new emojis from Unicode 10.0, as well as 183 emoji sequences used for gender and skin-tone variants and subdivision flags.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Quick Guide: What Classic American Homes Look Like Across the Country
The housing stock in America may be just as varied as the population here, particularly in older areas where people have been building for hundreds of years as waves of settlers brought influence from their native countries. Different styles and trends have prevailed over the years, and of course, no city or region is defined by just one style, but certain geographic areas definitely do have a common thread running through their local architecture and design.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Sleek, Modern Update to a Tiny Bathroom
When Maria and Eric bought their two-bedroom apartment in Queens, they knew the bathroom would need an overhaul. Moldering tile and aging, mismatched features meant the bathroom’s aesthetics weren’t great, but the real issue in this small space was a serious lack of storage. So they set about turning a decrepit space that had seen better days into a bright, modern bathroom — and added a few clever storage solutions along the way.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Test Lab: I Tested a Bed Fan (& I’ll Never Spend a Hot Summer Night Without It)
If this test lab review of the BedJet had a CliffsNotes version, it would be: I liked it a lot and I didn’t lose any limbs. But for a more complete assessment, read on. Once upon a time lived a born-and-bred Florida girl who was HOT. Not wanting to crank up her A/C in July (in South Florida) to an acceptable temperature at night (an action that would likely bankrupt her), she sought out alternative ways to stay cool while she slept.
Arlyn Hernandez
May 3, 2019
Now You Can Bed ‘N’ Binge at Netflix’s UK Pop-Up Hotel
The antithesis of a digital detox, this pop-up glamping experience encourages Londoners to literally Netflix and chill while binging on their favorite shows. With hundreds of their friends, in public. The “Bed ‘N’ Binge Retreat” is a first for Netflix, with 15 themed “glamping” bunk room suites and communal spaces popping up on a National Trust park property in West London now through Sunday July 9th, with the last guests checking out on Monday July 10th.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Carving Out a Playroom in a Corner of a Living Room
Project by: Louise Bradberry of Cait’s Room Interiors Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Transformations aren’t always about knocking down walls or elaborate IKEA hacks. Sometimes they’re about looking at your space with new eyes and giving it a new purpose. Louise did just that for her clients. Wanting to supplement limited outdoor play space for their child, they tasked Louise with creating a play nook for their daughter in a corner of their living room.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
One Smart Reason to Keep Your Empty Tissue Boxes
Empty tissue boxes: Can’t live with them, but can’t figure out anything to do with them once they’re empty (other than just tossing them). Luckily, we discovered an awesome reason to save your used tissue boxes from the recycling bin, and upcycle them into something more purposeful for your home. Use your empty tissue boxes to collect dryer lint, folks. Dryer lint! You know, that unsightly stuff you peel off the filter before you do a load of laundry?
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
Phaidon Wrote the Book (Literally) on Humble, Irresistible Nordic Design
The Red Thread: Nordic Design is a gorgeous and comprehensive book exploring the Nordic approach to design for everyday life—from furniture to kitchen utensils to textiles. Exquisite photographs illustrate how Nordic designers have mastered the art of simple beauty and functional accessibility. Spoiler alert: You’re going to see a lot of Apartment Therapy favorites featured in these pages. Take a look.
Julia Brenner
May 3, 2019
Two Savvy Solutions for Ugly Rental Kitchen Lights
Considering the amount of spectacularly hideous light fixtures in rental kitchens around the country, it’s almost as if installing the ugliest, most unflattering light fixture was at one time the law. That’s of course not true, but for anyone who’s ever walked into their rental kitchen, looked up at their light fixture and wondered “why that?,” this post’s for you.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Living Room Goes from Bland to Glam
Spoilers for “Best Room Wins.”While we’ve been in a golden age of TV for awhile now, but only in the past few seasons have we seen more variety in new home and design programming. If you want something besides another flipper taking over their hometown or another pair of questionably employed folks complaining about paint colors, there are actually other options out there.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Plant Lady 101: How To Help Your Plants Stay Happy When You’re Away From Home
You’re going on a two-week trip. You’ve made your lists, you’re running last-minute errands, and you’ve made arrangements for pets and mail. It’s easy to forget about your green household companions, your plants. But if if you do, you’ll come home to find them unhappy or worse. Here are some ways to care for the verdant members of your household when you’re out of town. Before you leave for your trip, remove all dead leaves from each plant.
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019
Go Beyond Craigslist: 5 Furniture Resale Sites You Should Bookmark Now (No, But Really)
Whether you’re looking for a piece to complete a space or want to offload a room full of furniture before a big move, resale sites can often be your best bet for scoring something original or reaching lots of buyers with your listings. E-marketplaces can be competitive for both sellers and shoppers, but the good news is there are more resources than ever for getting into the re-commerce game, and each has its own special twist to offer users.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Kids Room Goes from DIY Mess to DIY Success
Meera knew she was going to have to get extremely crafty with her son’s new room. The previous owners had made some questionable (and potentially dangerous) choices that needed to be fixed immediately, and Meera was able to do so with some very cool DIYs and brilliant money-saving fixes. From Meera: The walls and ceilings were covered in poorly-hung textured wallpaper and the room was a DIY mess.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
How To Customize Your Bookshelves With Diagonal Shelf Inserts
I wanted to change up the look of my bookshelves as well as add a third shelf. With the help of a friend and a trip to the hardware store, this project took an afternoon to pull off and can be accomplished by someone with minimal experience. And, to help you out, I documented the process to walk you through each step. In my head, this project was super elementary. I’m not afraid of using a saw, so I wasn’t worried in the last bit.
Ashley Poskin
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Dull Driveway is Now Super SoCal Cool
Turning a driveway and storage area into a beautiful lounge for adults and children alike seemed like an impossible feat for Ali and Evan. Luckily they had a great friend, Lake, who knew exactly how to transform this space! From Lake Sharp of array.la: The lean-to structure immediately creates a sense of privacy and much needed shade, but still allows for airflow and light. The look of the patio is centered around the colorful Laotian lanterns that Ali showed me at our first meeting.
Marisa Vitale
May 3, 2019
The Most Stylish Chair That Works Both Inside and Out
The number of chairs that I have in my apartment has reached an embarrassing level, but I’m honestly not even that ashamed. I’m just constantly drawn to so many different styles, from funky peacock chairs to classic cane designs. I’m always arranging and rearranging to make room for new finds, like this on-trend Windsor chair I picked up at Target.
Sarah Lyon
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Setting Up a Nursery is a Family Affair
Allison stepped in to help her sister-in-law set up her baby nursery after the passing of her mother. Her act of love and kindness led to one adorable space for the new baby, with a beautifully bittersweet story. From Allison: After my mother-in-law passed away, I decided to step in to help my sister-in-law with her nursery for her baby girl on the way.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Decorating with Crystals: Totally WooWoo, or Something Worth Considering?
You’d have to be living under a rock (pun very much intended!) to be unaware of how popular geodes, gems and crystals have become in interiors. If I had to say where it all started, I’d point the finger at agate, which started popping up on the reg about five years ago in slice and slab form as coasters, trivets and even tabletops.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
A Real Life Exercise Diary: What Happened When I Started Going on Walks Every Morning
Here’s the thing: I used to be a very productive person in the morning. I used to be a wake up early, make myself breakfast, get out the door and make it into the office before everyone else kind of person, but lately I’ve fallen into a very slow and tired routine. My recent mornings have been kind of a struggle, so I decided to try something new to get me out of my AM slump: getting up and going for a walk outside before doing anything else.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
This Blogger Made Over Her Rental Laundry Room Using Only Dollar Store Items
Once in a blue super blood moon, a blogger comes along and from the first time you see them on video, you want them to move into your house and be your best friend. For me, that moment came this year when “meeting” delightful wish-she-would-adopt me mama Tonya Payne of Hey Tonya, whose YouTube tutorial documenting her complete overhaul of a tiny rental laundry room using only dollar store products is going viral. Because it’s genius — and she’s just plain adorable.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
10 Surprisingly Beautiful Decor Finds Worth Shopping For at Home Depot
Home Depot is a home run when you’re in need of screws, plywood, and mulch, but it may not be the first place you think of when it comes to decorating. And while I’m not about to say that it should be, necessarily, it certainly shouldn’t be ignored.
Arlyn Hernandez
May 3, 2019
These Words Were Added to the Dictionary the Year You Were Born
Some words become a part of our collective lexicon with such zeitgeist that it’s hard to believe there was ever a time when they weren’t part of the English language. And some are so definitive of an era that simply seeing them listed next to a year immediately brings you back to that time and a place — and the movies and songs that then dominated pop culture.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
Square Tile is the New Subway Tile and We’re Not Sorry
It's just as cheap and available as subway tile, and you're not tired of it yet.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Fun, Unexpected Ways to Add a Blast of Color To Your Bathroom
One of my favorite trends recently is the re-introduction of color to the bathroom. After so many years of white and beige, it’s about time. If you’d like to take baby steps, you can introduce color to your bathroom with art, or with paint, or maybe even with some nice towels — but if you’re ready to really commit, consider one of these unexpected (and unexpectedly delightful) ways to add color to your bathroom.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Calling all Neatniks: IKEA’s Pegboard System Finally Hits US
Pegboard and IKEA seem like a match made in heaven and now we can enjoy this marriage here on earth. Released in Europe and other parts of the world last spring under the name SKADIS, the line just landed here in the U.S. and neatniks everywhere can rejoice. The basic SKADIS board comes in three sizes priced between $8-$16.
Carrie McBride
May 3, 2019