Design (& Life!) Lessons from a Forever Renter
My name is Jessica and I’m a serial renter. I first dipped my toe in the proverbial musky beige carpet in 2007, signing the lease on an affordable two-bedroom unit in Riverside, California.
Oct 12, 2022
Change The Fabric, Change the Look: Upholstery Magic
Apple green plush or tweed linen? Each one gives a different lookIt’s true that even a simple change of fabric can change the look of a piece. Take this sofa, the Chet from CB2, which we’ve blogged before. In apple green velvet, the sofa reads nouveau 80s, modern and sleek. In linen, the look is softer and would easily fit in amongst the simple wood pieces we’ve been seeing a lot of.A good upholsterer can: change a straight arm to a rounded or flared arm.
Oct 12, 2022
A Renter’s Life in London: The Inside Scoop
London is a city with so many vibrant neighborhoods that there is one for every type of personality. I moved to London four years ago with no clue as to where I would end up. But with a little exploring, I found my fit, and you can too! Here is an American ex-pat’s perspective on London neighborhoods. Neighborhoods Notting Hill, Kensington, & Chelsea Types of Rentals: Lots of houses that have been broken up into flats and large family homes.
Oct 12, 2022
Project ROYGBIV: A Rainbow of 20 Great Paint Color Inspiration Pics
Making a big commitment like colorful walls can be a bit daunting, so spend some time getting cozy with these stunning examples of paint jobs in every color of the rainbow. As you can see, some of these spaces choose to use major color only as an accent; others go whole hog. Many offset their swath of color choice with white trim to really show off the punchy hue while a few brave souls combine their color with…gasp…more color!
Oct 12, 2022
Black and White and Gold in the Bathroom
Black and white and gold is a striking color combination, and nowhere is that more true than in the bathroom. Gold fixtures in the bathroom is a look we’re seeing more and more of, and paired with a black and white color scheme, they add a pleasing bit of drama to a humble space. Above: A black ceiling, black door, and encaustic tile floor add delicious drama to a bathroom spotted on Desire to Inspire. A black bathroom with white and gold accents from Godrich Interiors.
Oct 12, 2022
A Craigslist Pro Shares His Buying and Selling Secrets
If you’re looking for an easy and rewarding “in” to buying and selling online, there is no better option than Craigslist. Far easier than eBay, Craigslist offers more regionally relevant listings for the sharp-eyed shopper, and as a student with an uncompromising taste in good (and often expensive) design, Craigslist was one of the few venues available to me for furnishing my apartment.
Oct 12, 2022
Stuck in a Rut? How To Fall in Love With Your Home All Over Again
Once upon a time you were madly in love with your home. Then you found out that your home sometimes forgets to brush his teeth and leaves socks all over the floor. You don’t need therapy to get the magic back, you just need this stuff to rekindle your relationship. Your first and easiest way to regain some home bliss is to get your whole space spick and span.
Oct 12, 2022
B&A: An '80s Kitchen's Overhaul Gives It a Retro-Meets-Scandi Vibe
HOME PROJECTS
This homeowner calls her kitchen reno's style "modern eclectic." Her tile, color, counter, and floor choices work great together.
Oct 12, 2022
Just a Peek: House Call Roundup
Our reader-submitted House Calls offer just a taste of their homes and style. Though only some go on to become full House Tours, we love these little glimpses into spaces all over the globe.
Oct 12, 2022
Benjamin Moore’s 2023 Color of the Year Is Here
And it’s making me rethink pink!
Oct 12, 2022
The Most Iconic Mid-Century Modern Pieces You Need to Know
Simple silhouettes, minimal hardware, and pared-down color palettes. Let’s face it, most design enthusiasts can spot a modern piece from a mile away. (Psst… we broke down the difference between minimalist, modern, and contemporary, if you’re not up to date!) In 2018, almost every store has a slew of furniture and accessories that are inspired by mid-century modern classics—and for good reason. The style is contemporary, timeless, and looks good in virtually any space.
Oct 12, 2022
How To Make Space for a Growing Family: The A Line, Episode 3
Welcome to “The A Line”! In every episode of this new video series, we visit two homes that have an identical floorplan – and see how its inhabitants use the same space in different ways. Today we travel to Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, where two growing families struggle to adapt their space and make room for their changing lifestyles. Ana and her husband have two kids and have chosen to live in their space for a while before they decide what renovations to make.
Oct 12, 2022
I Bought a House on a Corner Lot — and Now I Could Never Go Back
We wound up with so many unexpected perks.
Oct 12, 2022
How To Turn Your City Apartment Into a Cozy Ski Chalet in 7 Easy Steps
Full disclosure: I’ve never been skiing, or snowboarding, or so much as stepped foot on a snow-covered mountain range. But I’ve seen “Force Majeure” and have taken a virtual tour of Aerin Lauder’s Aspen home, which basically qualifies me as a pseudo expert on the après-ski aesthetic. To get the look (without actually hitting the slopes), here are some cozy ways to work ski style into your apartment that won’t look totally out of place.
Oct 12, 2022
HomeGoods Just Launched a Shoppable, Bookable Vacation House Upstate
Style
And it's a fall dream!
Oct 12, 2022
Feeling It: Wall Treatment Ideas to Match Any Mood
What you do to your walls can have a HUGE impact on the look, feel and mood of your home. So start with how you’d like the room to feel — what kind of vibe you’d like it to rock — and use this guide to give you ideas for the kind of treatment that would work for your walls. Go for polka dots! Paint the on or use vinyl wall decal stickers to get the look. Go for a medium-hue gray. Amherst Grey by Benjamin Moore really sets just the right tone in the room below.
Oct 12, 2022
This Renter Got Her Security Deposit Back After Painting Her Entire Place
Yes, she got back every dime.
Oct 12, 2022
7 Little Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe While Entertaining at Home
Here's how to keep them stress-free at your next holiday party.
Oct 12, 2022
8 Miracle Products That Help Me Be a Better Plant Parent with ADHD
These $3 plant food spikes keep my houseplants thriving.
Oct 12, 2022
Are These Fancy, $6-a-Pop Neon Acrylic Hangers the Key to Happiness?
For me, maybe?
Oct 12, 2022
Great DIY Desks with IKEA Countertops and Legs
This is a pearl of wisdom that I received years ago and wanted to bring back right now. When in need of a really simple, nice, natural material desk, use IKEA butcherblock countertop (which is cuttable, sandable, stainable and paintable) and some cool legs (like the Vika Inge style seen here, which has been replaced with Vika Runtorp).
Oct 12, 2022
8 Tips for Making a Dual-Purpose Bedroom Work
Home Projects
Make a space that can do it all!
Oct 12, 2022
5 Bold Pieces That Will Instantly Amp Up Your Style
Perhaps you’ve been playing it safe, decor-wise, your whole life, and are ready to do something wild. Or perhaps you have a room that you feel is finished, but you’re still just a little bit bored with it. Either way, here are five different pieces that will take your space to the next level, that will have your friends (and yourself) convinced that you are a person of taste, refinement and aesthetic derring-do.
Oct 12, 2022
This “Broomba” Hack Turns Your Robot Vacuum Into a Witch’s Broom
Get your floors Halloween ready.
Oct 12, 2022
Antique Collectors Transformed a Victorian Terrace Into a Dreamy, Warm, Minimal
Tours
Ben and Cat Bailey, owners of an online antique shop, have renovated and filled their British home with all their favorite pieces... many they originally intended for their shop!
Oct 12, 2022
“Yeah, I Could Totally Live Here”: House Boats, RVs & Other Unconventionally Stylish Homes from Real-Life Nomads
I’m risk-averse. Quite a homebody. Somebody who likes a routine and finds comfort in being surrounded by her collections of things day in and day out. I’m exactly the type of person who you’d never expect to turn it all in for life on the road in an Airstream trailer. And yet, that’s all I can think about sometimes.
Oct 12, 2022
HGTV Stars Share the Secrets to Pulling off a Large-Scale Renovation
News
“I think anyone can do a renovation like ours.”
Oct 12, 2022
5 Repurposed Antiques You Didn’t Know Your Garden Was Missing
Gardens are destined to be charming little spaces, the type where you’re surrounded by life and charm as you sit down to sip tea and read a weathered paperback book. If you’re reading this thinking, “That doesn’t sound like my garden,” you might just need a little touch of antiquity. Make it your mission this weekend to scout out thrift stores, flea markets and antique shops for something old and quaint that you can repurpose for your outdoor space.
Oct 12, 2022
How to Display Your Favorite Artwork — Without Hanging Anything on Walls
This is a guaranteed solution for any home — any size!
Oct 12, 2022
Gregory’s Refreshed & Refreshing Home Office
Name: Gregory Han
Location: Silver Lake, California
Size: Home office measuring 60″ width x 106″ length
Years lived in: 4+It’s been awhile since we last had a tech tour, so I thought I’d offer my own newly updated home office today. Let me begin describing what my home office first looked like before the redo: the small narrow sun room was filled with a hodge podge of vintage, IKEA, and miscellaneous items.
Oct 12, 2022
Amazon Toy Book Has Arrived And Adults Are As Excited As Their Kids
News
If the Amazon toy book has already arrived in the mail, then prepare for your kid’s holiday wishlist to be several pages long. Apologies in advance.
Oct 12, 2022
Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy enough to get Art Nouveau and Art Deco confused, probably owing to the fact that they both start with ‘art’. But Art Nouveau and Art Deco are actually two very distinct design movements, with very distinct looks, that appeared around the turn of the 20th century. After perusing this brief disambiguation, you may not be an expert on design history — but you can casually drop these two descriptors into conversations, and your friends are sure to be impressed.
Oct 12, 2022
Quick History: The Parsons Table
The Parsons table is one where the square legs have the same width as the tabletop, regardless of its other dimensions. Its history is characterized by contradiction: created to be a simple canvas for exceptional materials, its design is simultaneously credited to the famous designer Jean-Michel Frank and to anonymous design students. But is the real story even more muddled?
Oct 12, 2022
10 Annual Checkups First-Time Homeowners Need to Keep in Mind
Real Estate
They'll save you time and money down the road.
Oct 12, 2022
5 Furniture Pieces You Can Totally Live Without
Are you looking for ways to trim a little furniture weight around the house? Get rid of a few pieces that you thought you might need but could totally live without to have more room (and less stuff to haul around next moving day?) Examine the five furniture types we mention in this post to see if you and your home could live without them!
Oct 12, 2022
LEGO's Advent Calendars Include Harry Potter, Marvel, And Star Wars
News
LEGO has unveiled their advent calendar collection for this year, and though the calendars might not have a partridge in a pear tree, they do have Harry Potter, Groot, and Darth Vader.
Oct 12, 2022
Eames Knock Offs, Fakes & Copies
This is the real thing and I love it – an Eames LCW from Herman MillerLately, I’ve been seeing more not-so-bad knock offs of some classic designs.
Oct 12, 2022
Trick of the Trade: Sectional Sofas in Small Spaces
It’s a common misconception that small spaces can’t handle large furnishings. One large piece can do a lot to make a small room inviting, anchored, and even feel bigger! Take the sofa, for instance. Arranging a small sofa in a tight space with a couple of other chairs can make a space feel over-full, with little spots of furniture all over the place (not to mention all of those legs!).
Oct 12, 2022
Real Life Small Space Solutions From Studio House Tours
Inspiration comes in all shapes in sizes, but at Apartment Therapy we have a special place in our hearts for the smallest of spaces and an extra special place for the impressive small spaces where all the living happens in one room! This year our community offered no shortage of inspiration in the form of creative studio apartments.
Oct 12, 2022
Partner
Fall Colors from Valspar Paint
Nature can be one of the best places to find color inspiration, and fall is is a great time to look for it. Rich reds, golden yellows, and deep greens are everywhere. Valspar Paint is ready to help you turn those inspirations into reality with five palettes for fall.A bright orange, used sparingly, brings just enough pop to enliven this mostly-neutral living room. The long, horizontal stripe on the wall keeps it looking clean.
Oct 12, 2022
How To Make the Most of a Bathroom with a Pedestal Sink
Does your bathroom have a pedestal sink? I definitely feel your short-on-storage pain. Here’s how to make the most of your small bathroom, with examples from our House Tours: 1. Add furniture. If your bathroom has a layout that allows for a freestanding piece of furniture, count your lucky stars and get to shopping. 2. Utilize the top of your toilet. If your tank has a flat top, use it for some practical and pretty open storage. 3. Any flat surface is fair game.
Oct 12, 2022
You Live Where?: 8 Unlikely Homes from Our House Tours
Think you have what it takes to create a comfortable living space in a re-purposed structure? It requires vision for what’s possible, and custom solutions for carving out space. If weird is in the eye of the beholder, these eight tours have us seeing beautiful, interesting homes in strange places. Chris and Kristen live afloat on a boat, and appear to love it. Can you guess what Dan & Sarah’s house used to be? I think you can.
Oct 12, 2022
A Home Stylist's Australian House Is Filled with Plants and Fun Vintage Finds
Tours
Collette's house is no stranger to guests. With children and grandchildren coming over for frequent visits, Collette prioritizes having a space that invites visitors in. She uses color to bring in a fun, homey feel that she loves.
Oct 12, 2022
The Story Behind the (Slightly) NSFW Trend That’s Suddenly Everywhere
Hope you’re reading this one at home because it’s about to get a little risqué up in here. But for good reason. Lately, designers have been featuring the body—female breasts and butts to be specific—on housewares, art prints, embroidery, and clothing, and it’s not simply in appreciation of those killer curves. But we’ll get to that later.
Oct 12, 2022
Before and After: A Wood-Everywhere 1950s Home Gets a Bright New Life
When Laura Wilson of Velvet Sweatpants Interior Design and her fiancé purchased their 1959 home from the original owner, they knew the home needed a lot of love. They also knew they had their work cut out for them.
Oct 12, 2022
Before and After: See an Outdated Dining Room with a ‘Yellow Hue’ Get a Plant-Infused Refresh
During Meredith Svoboda's final walk-through of her Nashville home, she photographed the dining room, "dreaming of the life I could bring to this room," she writes.
Oct 12, 2022
7 Times Terracotta Accents Turned a Room from Good to Great
(And we’re not talking tile or clay pots.)
Oct 12, 2022
We Asked 3 Plumbers to Name the Best Dishwasher Detergent
There was a clear winner.
Oct 12, 2022