Bed with green bedding, two black lamps on wooden nightstands, beige wall, and "Before" text in the corner.
Before & After: The $70 Bedroom Makeover
Many of us have often stared at the pages of magazines, wishing we could have a designer look on a dime. Those that actually make that dream come true are usually willing to roll up their sleeves and do things themselves. When it comes to this bedroom that couldn’t be more true — the new look includes an amazing handmade ruffled duvet cover, headboard and more!Over at Kiki Creates, there’s been some action in the bedroom (hubba hubba!
Feb 7, 2011
Before & After: Kim’s Craft Cabinet
When I moved into my apartment, the built-in cabinet in my bedroom was shoddily painted in yellow and blue with brown “accents.” To make matters worse, there were so many layers of paint that the hinges didn’t work well.Basically, I spent several hours over two weeks chipping away at the old paint — a process I found surprisingly satisfying. Beneath the yellow, blue, and brown, I found pink, gray, and lime green.
Feb 4, 2011
Lizzy’s Lovely Little Dollhouse
Name: Lizzy JanssenLocation: Fishtown — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: One Bedroom, One BathroomYears lived in: 2.5 years, rent When visiting Lizzy’s neighborhood you never know what type of house you’re going to end up in. Fishtown is eclectic and certainly stylish and the homes range from industrial lofts in old factories to untouched rowhomes and occasionally you’ll find a complete and utter surprise like the one I was presented with when Lizzy opened the door.
Feb 3, 2011
Time Warner’s Signature Home in NoHo
Name: Time Warner’s Signature HomeLocation: NoHo, ManhattanSize: 3,000 square feet — 3 bedroom triplexYears lived in: temporary showhome In an effort to introduce their new Signature Home product in style, Time Warner took over and redecorated a triplex on Bond Street. The idea was to imagine a seriously wired home, on in which technology was seamlessly integrated into every room in the house.
Feb 2, 2011
Gavin’s Winning Woodsy Nursery
Child’s name: Gavin (7 weeks)Location: Phoenixville, PA Room size: SMALL. I really don’t know the size. But it’s our smallest bedroom in the house. When Amanda entered (and won!) the Small Kids, Big Color contest, we all followed her into the woods and agreed that it was indeed awesome. The contest’s five photo limit left many of you, not to mention us, craving more of this memorable space.
Feb 1, 2011
How to Choose and Place the Perfect Ceiling Fan
If you’ve ever been told that installing a ceiling fan is a great way to keep cooling costs down, you ought to keep that friend close because they’re exactly right. But if you buy the wrong size ceiling fan, or install it too close to the ceiling or walls, you could be counteracting all of the good work your fan should do for you.SizeThe size of a fan probably has the most effect on how well it cools down your room.
Jan 31, 2011
Warren & Mimi’s Highly Personal Architectural Home
Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin Location: Los Feliz, CaliforniaSize: 3600 Square FeetYears lived in: 4 years When I visit an architect’s home, I sometimes find it to be an untouchable piece of art. However, Warren and Mimi’s lovely home was very welcoming and showed signs of life and children really enjoying the space. I asked Warren how he kept the twin babies from not pulling all the books off the shelves or trying to climb the library ladder.
Jan 28, 2011
Pam & Bryan’s Comfortably Creative Family Home
Name: Pam, Bryan, their sons, Sawyer and Zane, and dog, ShaynaLocation: Arlington, Virginia (Clarendon)Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathroomsYears lived in: almost 11, owned Pam is an intuitive decorator. Rather than adhering to any strict design principles or striving for complete cohesion, she’s designed each room with elements that she and her family love regardless of whether the spaces have a strong stylistic connection to each other.
Jan 27, 2011
Joel & McKenzie’s Salvaged Live/Work Loft
Name: Joel & McKenzie Taplin, and their 14-month-old daughter GereLocation: Monohasset Mill — Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 2,700 square feetYears lived in: 11 — rented, then owned One of over 30 live/work spaces in the Monohasset Mill building on Providence’s West Side, Joel & McKenzie’s loft evokes a feeling of cozy farmhouse minimalism despite its expansive size.
Jan 26, 2011
Kristen and Mike’s Mid-Century Oasis
Who lives here: Kristen James and Mike Dunn and their dogs Gaudi and ConanLocation: Lakewood, CASize: 3 bedrooms 2 bathroom house (1,305 Square Feet)Years lived in: 6 years — own Kristen and Mike bought their home 6 years ago, with a keen sense of inspiration and design savvy that has flourished into fruition with their complete renovation and addition this past year.
Jan 25, 2011
Before & After: Kitchen Reno on a Near Zero Budget
Late last year, Edgaroso shared his “Brave Bathroom Renovation” with Apartment Therapy. Well, he’s back with another room makeover in the small home he inherited from his grandmother — this time he tackled the sweetly retro kitchen on a truly miniscule budget.
Jan 25, 2011
Mandy & Michael’s Crafty Charm
Name: Michael & Mandy, author of the craft blog Fabric Paper GlueLocation: Arlington — VirginiaSize: 608 square feetYears lived in: 3 Mandy and Michael’s place is just like them, adorable. Both are Nashville transplants who came to the DC area for grad school and decided to stick around. Michael is a criminal defense lawyer and Mandy works as an analyst for Health and Human Services (HHS).
Jan 24, 2011
Savannah’s Sophisticated Studio Apartment
Name: Savannah Farris-GilbertLocation:West Hollywood — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: Studio apartment Years lived in: 1 — rent Savannah, a Graduate student in the Architecture-Interior Design program at UCLA is perfecting her love of Interior Decorating. I think it must be a craft she honed in on very early — as she told me her mother often helps her hunt for new pieces for her apartment.
Jan 19, 2011
5 Tricks for Moving Furniture
That’s me. And that’s my credenza. which probably weighs in somewhere around 300 pounds, maybe more. I’m not kidding — it’s a monster. And I weigh about 105 wet. But I was able to move it from one end of the room to the other without breaking much of a sweat and without ending up in the hospital or with residual back pain. How’d I do it? I have a few tricks up my skinny arms.
Jan 19, 2011
Lauren’s Collection of Stories
Name: Lauren YoungLocation: Lakeview — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1,500 square feetYears lived in: 10 — Owned When guests enter Lauren’s home, they always pause briefly in her gorgeous, richly-hued foyer. Not only to take off coats and say hello, but because the room — the only one in the apartment that’s not neutral — demands it of you.
Jan 18, 2011
The Best Way to Close Off Any Vent
Remember when we discussed whether or not it’s OK to close off air vents to unused rooms? The answer was that, yeah, it’s OK to do—in moderation. But do you know the most effective way to close off those air vents? Here’s a quick trick that will have your vent sealed up in no time—all you need to do is make a trip to the craft store.Think you need a screwdriver or super-tiny fingers to shut down your extra, extra bedroom for the winter? Nope.
Jan 18, 2011
9 Ways to Organize Books: Which Is Your Style?
I’m not a particularly organized person … except when it comes to my bookshelves, which are arranged in a perfectly logical, consistent way (although it’s logical only to myself). If you have a sizable book collection, it’s worth taking the time to organize them so that you can find whatever you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at some of the best methods to choose from.
Jan 14, 2011
Repair Cracked China with Milk!
Unless you drop your china and it shatters into a million pieces (which is usually my luck), it probably only suffered a small crack from a fall or mishap. Instead of just waiting for the day it inevitably breaks for good, try giving it a milk bath. Yup, your china is getting a day at the spa!Curious about how it works? The idea is simple. You place your cracked piece in a pot and cover it with two cups of milk (or more if needed). Next, heat over low for an hour.
Jan 10, 2011
Liv, Jeff and the Friendly Yeti Sharing a Home
Name: Liv and Jeff McMillan Location: Long Beach, California Size: 1644 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 Months Liv and Jeff are as fun and carefree as their artistic and handmade home. While Jeff finishes his painting in his studio, Liv is in her crafts room writing for her blog and hanging out with Friendly Yeti. Early this summer there will be a new little addition to the family and it isn’t a baby yeti.
Jan 7, 2011
Kate & Mark’s Mission Statement
Name: Kate and Mark ShawLocation: The Mission — San Fransisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears owned: 6 Kate and Mark’s decor mission is simple: to steadily curate their space by adding and rearranging pieces in a way that ensures everything serves a purpose — even if only to celebrate favorite memories. Their collection is largely comprised of natural curiosities, handmade items, and found objects.
Jan 7, 2011
A Trio of Hanging Beds For A Room Shared By Three
Names: Jeremiah, Samuel, and Augustine Ages: 6, 4, 2 Location: Texas Awhile back we featured a room that took all of us here at Ohdeedoh by surprise. Jaws were dropping, we were forwarding the link as fast as we could to friends and family — we were flat out amazed. We’ve since gone behind the scenes and today you can see more of this room filled with color, hanging bunk beds and the opportunity for extreme fun!
Jan 7, 2011
Nan and Michael’s Craftsman Flat
Name: Nan Lawson and Michael JonathanLocation: Silverlake — Los Angeles, CASize: 1 bedroom flat, on the bottom floor of a converted craftsman style homeYears lived in: 1 year and 7 months — rent Last month I randomly stumbled upon the website of Nan Lawson. I was instantly attracted to and amused by her drawings and sketches. She has a knack for simplifying a genre of hipster cool in her prints, which she sells on Etsy.
Jan 5, 2011
Jacquelyn Opts for Opulence
Name: JacquelynLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 712 square feet — one bedroomYears lived in: 1 month Jacquelyn’s goal for the design of this apartment was to infuse it with glamour — a home and a “life filled with beautiful objects, imbued with femininity and opulence.
Jan 5, 2011
Jason & Denise’s Warm and Bright Ranch
Name: Jason, Denise, & OwenLocation: Midway Hollow — Dallas, TexasSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 4 years — owned Denise and Jason’s 1952 ranch style home is an excellent testament to resisting the tear-down movement now common in the surrounding areas of Dallas. Rather than remodeling, they used basic design aesthetics to complement the 1950’s charm: clean white walls, pops of color, and no clutter.
Jan 4, 2011
Steve & Jeremy’s Contemporary Comfy Chic
Name: Steve, Jeremy and dogs Squirt, Elij, Leo & PogoLocation: Medical District — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 3,000 square feet single family homeYears lived in: 8 months — owned Most Apartment Therapy readers are champs when it comes to small space living. I’m continually impressed by the creativity and ingenuity that I find when shooting tours of extra teeny homes.
Jan 3, 2011
The Best Closet Systems
A great solution to making the most out of any closet space is investing in a closet system that will carve out a spot for all your clothes and accessories.
Jan 3, 2011
Felicia & Douglas’ Warm, Mid-Century Modern Condo
Name: Douglas and Felicia GreenfieldOccupation: Douglas, professor; Felicia, social workerLocation: Queen Village — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 1 Felicia and Douglas weren’t looking to buy a place when this light-filled condo became available in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, long before Felicia met Douglas, she had attended parties in this very space.
Dec 16, 2010
Roman, Milo & Luca’s Bedroom of Nooks
Names: Roman, Milo, LucaAges: 9, 5 and 2Location: Bel Air, CARoom size: 11′ x 12′ (roughly) With a two-bedroom house and three young boys to accomodate, Irwin Miller had to get creative. His innovative use of all the nooks, recesses and alcoves results in a comfortable, efficient room that gives all three brothers their own place as well as an inspiring shared space.
Dec 16, 2010
Laura’s Ultra Cheerful Design
Name: LauraLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: 693 square feet — one bedroomYears lived in: 1 month While the Financial District can often seem dark and ominous — especially this time of year — Laura managed to foster a bright and uplifting aura in her home. The colors are cheerful. The design lines are crisp and meticulous. It’s a totally cute place!
Dec 15, 2010
Rob & Barb’s Loft Story
Name: Rob and Barb Location: SoMa — San Francisco, CaliforniaSize: 1,100 square feetYears lived in: 1 — owned For Rob and Barb, it was loft-love at first sight. After months of seeing places in their price range that made them cringe, they happened upon this light-filled gem. The only problem was the small army of other folks who felt the same way. After riding the emotional rollercoaster of a bidding war and a very slow moving bank, their offer was accepted Christmas week of 2009.
Dec 14, 2010
Orna & Reid Willis’ Worldly Live-Work Loft
Name: Orna of Designs by Orna and Reid Willis with their daughter Nina and puppy EstherLocation: Northern Liberties — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 2,950 square feet — 3 bedrooms Years lived in: 6 — own Being an artist certainly gives you an advantage in the realm of design. Artists already have an eye for design and color, so it’s only natural for their homes to be large pieces of art.
Dec 14, 2010
The Wheelers’ Fresh Eclectic Home
Name: Christina, Tom, Luca (7 years old), Amelia (3 years old) and Peaches the bulldog (7 months old)Location: Studio City — Los Angeles, CASize: Large 3 bedroom + 2 bathroom home. Years lived in: 2 years- rent Christina Malpero-Wheeler is a dear friend of interior designer Evan Harrison, who was featured in a a house tour last month. Christina and her adorable family reside in traditional American two story home, complete with a pool and guest house.
Dec 10, 2010
Wash Dishes and Clothes at the Same Time to Save Money
If you don’t subscribe to the “every little bit counts” idea for saving money and living green, we suggest you turn away now. This tip is going to have such a small dent in your monthly hot water bills that it almost won’t seem worth it. In fact, we wouldn’t even suggest it to you—but it is so. incredibly. easy. to do.
Dec 10, 2010
Alexis and Rob’s BoMo House in the Hills
Name: Alexis Tjian, Robert Madison, Stella, Virgil & ZitoLocation: El Cerrito, CaliforniaSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 5 — owned As the Associate Photo Editor of Dwell Magazine, Alexis is no stranger to good design. Her husband Rob, a general contractor, is no stranger to making design a reality. This enviable combination is harmoniously displayed in their El Cerrito home, where authentic mid-century charm is enhanced by modern colors and textures.
Dec 9, 2010
Jan & Jerry’s Global Decor in the Eastern Columbia Building
Name: Jan McCarthy and Jerry McCarthy Location: Eastern Columbia Building – Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1650 Square FeetYears lived in: 3 1/2 Years This lovely home belongs to the parents of one of my good friends. Jan and Jerry’s loft is in the Eastern Columbia building. The industrial building is one of my favorite loft spaces in downtown Los Angeles and is known for the Kelly Wearstler designs in the public areas.
Dec 7, 2010
Kelly & Greg’s Chez Glamouramous
Name: Kelly & GregLocation: Brooklyn — New York, NYSize: 1,300 square feetYears lived in: 6 months — rented As a fashion blogger and photographer combo, Kelly and Greg have a special knack for revealing the glamourous in the unassuming. Behind the doors of their simple and sleek modern apartment lies a whimsical, elegant and diverse collection of finds that is telling of the couple’s adventures in taste-making. “You’re just in time!
Dec 6, 2010
Phil & Hali’s Quintessential Loft
Name: Hali & Philip DurhamProfession: Architect – www.studiodurham.comLocation: Soulard — St. Louis, MOSize: overall building 9,600 square feet, Residence 5,400 square feetYears lived in: 7 — owned It never hurts to be an award-winning architect. Most people in Saint Louis pass decrepit warehouses for years, writing them off as mere evidence of urban blight.
Dec 3, 2010
Chris & Kenny’s Blend of Prints
Name: Chris Sewell and Kenny Osehan, proprietors of the Presidio Motel and on-site shop, the Supply RoomLocation: Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 900 square feet — 1 bed + 1 bathYears lived in: 2½ I met Chris and Kenny while in Santa Barbara photographing their friend’s home, Jesse & Leia’s Inspired Americana Bungalow. I have a theory — people with beautiful homes have friends with stylish pads (which proved to be the case with Jesse and Leia).
Dec 3, 2010
5 Simple Ways to Make Your House Less Depressing
It’s a proven fact that our home plays a significant part in how we feel emotionally. Although if not kept up it can make us physically sick, it can also make you a little down in the dumps. Having a healthy space is key and aside from participating in the Apartment Therapy Home Cure, you can check out these ideas on lightening the mood at home!
Dec 1, 2010
Lainey & Nella’s Pretty Place
Names: Lainey & NellaLocation: FloridaRoom size: 13’x13′ Readers of Kelle Hampton’s blog, Enjoying The Small Things, have come to love Kelle and her daughters, Lainey and Nella. True to her blog’s name, Kelle delights in little details, and her daughters’ shared room is a study in simple and beautiful pleasures.Enjoying The Small Things has a huge and fiercely devoted following.
Dec 1, 2010
Nancy Mims’ Playful and Patterned Home
Name: Nancy Mims, co-founder, designer and creative director of Mod Green Pod, her husband, Rodney Gibbs, her two delightful children (ages 4 and 9), and their very old cat, Fuzzy WeaselLocation: Hyde Park — Austin, TexasSize: 1,700 square feetYears lived in: 6 — owned Nancy and her great organic fabric designs are no strangers to Apartment Therapy — we’ve previously featured her style and her approach to creating healthy materials for the modern home.
Nov 30, 2010
Jesse & Leia’s Inspired Americana Bungalow
Name: Jesse Keenan, Leia Everett, and our two kitties Libby and Nola Location: Santa Barbara, California Size: 585 Square Feet Years lived in: 4 years After a relaxing drive up to Santa Barbara, I visited the home of an endearing young couple living in a bungalow community. The row of homes was so quaint and pristine, I felt like I was in a time warp going back many years to when neighbors still borrowed a cup of sugar.
Nov 29, 2010
Sonja’s Salon de Silver Lake
Name: Sonja TeriLocation: Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CASize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 1.5 years Last week we previewed Sonja’s Silver Lake apartment’s home office and studio over at Unplggd, and now we’re back with the rest of her stylish apartment for a full tour. Filled with a colorful and harmonious assortment of artwork, prints, sculptures and photographs, the quintessential Silver Lake apartment is a glamorous extension of Sonja’s love of the arts.
Nov 26, 2010
A House-Wide Cabinet of Curiosities
Name: Family of Three plus one adorable service dogLocation: Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 3000 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned You get to see plenty of streamlined, minimalist spaces on Apartment Therapy. This isn’t one of them. This is a home that feels more like a delightful, giant cabinet of curiosity. This place isn’t shy about reflecting the stories, experiences and history of those who are lucky enough to live here.
Nov 23, 2010
Aaron’s Astor Tower Apartment
Name: Aaron and Rob + pets, Jan and Ira Katz & Simon Le BoneLocation: Gold Coast — Chicago, ILSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 3 — owned I met Aaron through a mutual friend a couple of months ago and when he mentioned that he lives in the Astor Tower condominiums, I’m afraid I overreacted. I LOVE Bertrand Goldberg’s buildings and so of course I started pestering Aaron about a house tour. After a bit of cajoling, he agreed.
Nov 23, 2010
Allison’s Playful Chinoiserie Modern
Name: Allison and her cats, Pooh Bear and LBA.Location: Cleveland Park, Washington, DCSize: One bedroom, about 850 square feet. The apartment is split into two levels, which helps it feel a bit roomier.Years lived in: 2.5, rented If there’s one thing I learned about Allison from visiting her lovely home, it’s that she is way too modest about her DIY skills. Walking in, my first impression was that her home felt very “put together,” in the best possible sense.
Nov 22, 2010
The Browns’ Cottage Novella
Name: Jess, Erio, Stella & Tiger Brown (& Shorty the dog)Location: West Petaluma — CASize: 1300 square feetYears lived in: 7 — Owned While some peoples homes speak pages about them, the Browns’ home is a vintage encyclopedia set. A set that is hued in the colors of the Sahara desert at sunset, with well worn tea stained pages that only the passage of time and care can create.
Nov 19, 2010
10 Little Things To Do Before Guests Come Over
There’s nothing worse than being at someone’s home and not being able to find an extra roll of toilet paper when it’s needed. Check out our list of things to do before company comes for 10 ideas that will help make your guests’ stay memorable for all the right reasons. Over the years there are little things we’ve noticed while attending parties (and hosting our own) that make guests feel more comfortable while they’re in your space.
Nov 19, 2010