Newsletters
Lifestyle image relevant to the website

The Latest

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.
Before & After: Simple Shelves Become a Stylish Cabinet
Most of us have a set of shelves that are decidedly more functional than they are fashionable. This shabby set survived the move into our new house and managed to look even shabbier sitting on our brand new tile floor and adjacent to a freshly painted wall. It only took me three years but it finally got a makeover more befitting its new station in life.The epiphany came as I was sketching plans for a cabinet and realized that, duh, a cabinet is basically a set of shelves with a back and a door!
Richard Popovic
Feb 6, 2012
Imaginary Holidays: Happy Pfeffernüsse!
Did you manage to send holiday cards out on time this winter? Some years I send “Happy Winter” cards because that buys me a couple of months to get them out. This year I removed all deadlines, however vague, and made nonsense holiday cards… • Imaginary Holiday Cards Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 6, 2012
Pulling Off A Patterned Floor
As part of making over my parents’ mudroom, one of the projects we’re planning is going to be repainting the plywood floor. I’ve got big stripes in mind, and I found plenty of online inspiration for patterned floors. • Pulling Off A Patterned Floor Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 6, 2012
“Working” Play Kitchen
We never tire of seeing the play kitchens submitted by our readers. This one, however, may take the cake as far as burners are concerned – they light up and are adjustable. Game on! • “Working” Play Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 3, 2012
Before & After: Thrifted Chair Goes Gold
As Brittany herself says, this story began (as so many here do) with a trip to the thrift store. Celebrating the sale of an old white coffee table, Brittany was delighted to find this sticky, smelly, and admittedly in need of repair chair for the bargain price of only $5. With a little elbow grease and gold leaf, Brittany created a marvelous addition for her home.After removing the seat, Brittany sanded the whole chair with 400-grit sandpaper, then wiped it down to remove any dust.
Colleen Quinn
Feb 3, 2012
Before & After: Old Trunk to Out of the Ordinary Filing Cabinet
In the past I’ve tried several times to turn an old trunk or camp box into a filing system. Sure they work and I had things inside to keep all my papers and accessories organized, but I was missing out on some serious structure that makes it all truly come together. Check out this great before and after that makes this thrifted object into a serious piece of office organization.
Sarah Rae Smith
Feb 3, 2012
Creating an Office in the Kitchen
It can be hard to stay organized when your office isn’t an office. Luckily, Martha Stewart’s team comes to the rescue with a few inventive solutions to making a workspace work in the kitchen. • Creating an Office in the Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 3, 2012
10 Cool Knifeholders
Getting to play with knives might be half the fun of cooking (the other half is eating). And while you’re working on your knife skills, you might as well have something cool to look at. Check out this collection of 10 awesome knife sets, blocks, and holders to fit any kitchen. • 10 Cool Knifeholders
Carrie McBride
Feb 2, 2012
20 Home Tasks To Do During Downtime
There are chores and then there are household tasks that you say, “I’ll get back to that later.” Well baby, it’s cold outside and you have nothing to do but watch Firefly on Hulu, so why not tackle these 20 things too? • 20 Downtime Home Tasks Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 1, 2012
Best Advice for Hiring a Contractor
Last summer, I hired a contractor for the very first time. I knew all the basic advice, but eventually found a great contractor thanks to one piece of sensible advice: • Best Advice for Hiring a Contractor Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Feb 1, 2012
Interview: Kitchen Crasher Alison Victoria
Interior Designer and host of DIY Network’s “Kitchen Crashers,” Alison Victoria has a lot going her way. She tells us the most important areas to address in a kitchen, the coolest tech she’s designed into her projects and the old-school way she stays organized to meet her goals. • Kitchen Crasher Alison Victoria Apartment
Carrie McBride
Jan 31, 2012
Non-Edible Uses For Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has amazing health benefits, adds a subtle richness to foods and doesn’t break down at high temperatures. But, it’s also great outside the kitchen! Here’s some of the ways you can use it around the house. • Non-Edible Uses For Coconut Oil Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 31, 2012
At the Office With Tommy Chambers
Name:Tommy Chambers InteriorsLocation: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize/Room: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 10 years A couple of weeks ago, we got a peek inside the home of Tommy Chambers, where he puts his skills to personal use in his own abode. Next door to his flat is another apartment which houses his interior design business. Mirroring an identical elongated floor plan, this office is a root of inspiration.
Bethany Nauert
Jan 30, 2012
Who Has Your Brand Loyalty?
When it comes to most things I buy for my home, I am pretty flexible. But with certain products I am very brand loyal (even when my budget tells me to be otherwise). Do you have brand loyalty with certain household products? • Who Has Your Brand Loyalty? Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 30, 2012
What is Your Housework Worth?
When I was a kid, I always got stuck doing dishes while my brother and cousins climbed trees outside. My grandma told me it was women’s work and I told her that was a bunch of hooey. Yet here I am, many years later, a part-time homemaker. Truth be told, I agreed to the arrangement.
Carrie McBride
Jan 30, 2012
Heather’s Charming Modern Farmhouse Brooklyn Loft
Name: Heather Chontos, Kodie (12) and Zana (3), and dog MarvinLocation: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1000 square feetYears lived in: 3 years — rent If this post title seems to have a lot of adjectives to describe the home, we felt it only fitting consider the creative woman renting this space happens to wear a lot of hats herself.
Adrienne Breaux
Jan 27, 2012
Lizzie’s Wallpapered IKEA Lack Table
With a $20 price tag and simple design, the Lack table from IKEA is just screaming for customization. Ssshh … listen carefully. Can you hear it? Please, dear DIY diva, take me from a cookie cutter cheap-o table to a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of furniture! Lucky for you, little table, Lizzie heard your pleas. Oh, humble IKEA Lack coffee table. How we do love to see what clever DIYers can do to enhance your simple little design.
Jason Loper
Jan 27, 2012
Dorie’s Dynamite Kitchen Redo
This kitchen was a total disaster when owner Dorie bought her 1916 bungalow in Mesa, Arizona. Check out her gorgeous kitchen after the remodel… • Dorie’s Dynamite Kitchen Redo Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 27, 2012
Do Certain Colors Feel “Cleaner”?
Upon hearing this question, our minds probably jump to white. It’s a color commonly used in messy areas, but after two years of living in an all-white apartment, I realized that white kitchens and bathrooms also mean constant cleaning since white shows every molecule of dirt. • Do Certain Colors Feel “Cleaner”? Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 27, 2012
Remove Candle Wax from Anything
The bad news is that there is no quick and easy way to remove candle wax from anything. The good news is that with patience, elbow grease and a little knowledge, you can remove wax from just about everything. • Remove Candle Wax from Anything Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 26, 2012
Valentine’s Garden Recipes
Second only to Christmas, Valentines Day is a baking holiday. This year, I’m trying out a different kind of baking: garden baking. Not for human consumption, they still let you mix and blend and get your hands dirty and are perfect for a heartfelt DIY valentine. • Valentine’s Garden Recipes Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 26, 2012
How To Get Marks Off Your Plates
Pulling out my cheap(ish) white dinner plates for a party this weekend I was once again irked by the little grey scratch marks that have cropped up over the years. I did a little web surfing and found someone who had successfully tackled this very problem with an easy solution. • How To Get Marks
Carrie McBride
Jan 25, 2012
A Bright Kids Bathroom Refresh
Bathrooms are something of a catch-22 when it comes to remodeling. On one hand, unless it is one solely intended for guests, not many people see it besides you and your family. But on the other hand, since it tends to be the room where contemplation occurs most naturally, thoughts often drift to how much better it could look with a bit of work.
Richard Popovic
Jan 25, 2012
Before & After: Entertainment Center Turned French Play Kitchen
When Ann Marie decided to take on a project for her son’s school auction, she was lucky to find this old entertainment system for free on Craigslist. After some hard work and for only a $15 investment in supplies, she transformed this unwanted piece into a showstopping French kitchen that any child would love.
Colleen Quinn
Jan 25, 2012
Play Kitchen in the Kitchen
Kids love to imitate their parents. This is never more true than when cooking or baking. So it makes perfect sense to have a play kitchen located in the actual kitchen somewhere. Here, a built-in wine storage area became the perfect play kitchen location. • Play Kitchen in the Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 25, 2012
Emily’s Mighty Modern Mini Home
Name: EmilyLocation: Covington, Kentucky Although I can’t actually live here, working on this mini home for the past few months certainly makes it feel like I could curl up on the tiny couch and call it home. The idea of a renovating and decorating a dollhouse was interesting to me because it allowed me to decorate rooms and transform spaces in days rather than weeks/months and to be honest, I was looking for a project with a little more instant gratification.
Janel Laban
Jan 24, 2012
Handling Smoke Detector False Alarms
False smoke alarms happen to everyone at least once–whether you’re a skilled home chef, a frozen pizza in the oven type of cook, or someone who likes a hot, steamy shower. Here are a few ways to shut them up safely. • Smoke Detector False Alarms Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 24, 2012
Reclaimed Bowling Lane Furniture
What happens to all that great old wood once a bowling alley closes? In this happy ending, it gets a new life as handcrafted furniture. • Reclaimed Bowling Lane Furniture Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 24, 2012
Carolyn’s Bohemian Glam
Name: Carolyn MillerLocation: Hancock Park — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2700 square feetYears lived in: 5 1/2 years — rented Born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles, Carolyn has a love for all that this bustling city encompasses, from the diversity and culture to the helicopters and constant sounds buzzing all around. As a writer and filmmaker, Carolyn does a lot of work from home — she’s created her surroundings to be a place of inspiration.
Alysha Findley
Jan 23, 2012
Kitchen Flooring Choices
If there’s one room in your home where flooring really matters, it’s the kitchen. Aside from aesthetics, the material you choose needs to be durable, comfortable to stand on and easy to clean! We’ve put together six of our favorites as a good place to start. • Kitchen Flooring Choices Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 23, 2012
2 Tips for Easy Breakfast Clean Up
Two things I love for breakfast are a cafe au lait and scrambled eggs. Two things I hate are cleaning the pan I use for warming the milk and the one I use for cooking the eggs. My mornings used to a be a dishwashing battle until I discovered two tricks that make clean up
Carrie McBride
Jan 23, 2012
Sam & Anne’s Colorful Modern Mix
Name: Music industry executive Sam, designer Anne & Vizsla pup Indiana Location: Bouldin — Austin, Texas Size: 2400 square feet Years lived in: 2 — owned You could say that creativity’s been in the center of Sam and Anne’s relationship from the beginning, when one of their first conversations centered around their mutual love of design.
Adrienne Breaux
Jan 20, 2012
Are You Ready for Open Shelving?
Open shelving projects a simple attitude that we’d love to have in our kitchen, but how do you know if you’re ready to take the plunge? We’ve got four ways to tell if you’re ready for open kitchen shelving this year.• Are You Ready for Open Shelving?
Carrie McBride
Jan 20, 2012
Before & After: A 1940’s Kitchen
A green floor, walls and ceiling is what Linn and her husband faced when they purchased their 1940’s bungalow last year. A month of hard work resulted in this modern update… • Before & After: A 1940’s Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 20, 2012
How To Stop Annoying Smoke Detector False Alarms
“You know you’re a bad cook when you use the smoke detector as a kitchen timer.” Har har. Real funny, guys. The reality is the false smoke alarm thing happens to everyone at least once—whether you’re a skilled home chef, a frozen pizza in the oven type of cook, or someone who likes a hot, steamy shower. Here are a few ways to shut the thing up safely. Whenever you’re tampering with a safety device, you want to tread lightly.
Taryn Williford
Jan 20, 2012
A Mini Facelift for your Kitchen
As home entertaining has loosened up over the years, the kitchen has become the gathering place of many houses. If your kitchen is feeling like it should be hidden due to its frightful appearance here are a few small changes you can make to give your kitchen a mini facelift. • A Mini Facelift for
Carrie McBride
Jan 19, 2012
Rainbow Themed Kids’ Party
A few months before our daughter was to turn one, I saw a poster with the phrase, “There’s no rainbow without a little rain.” That’s when I knew that Scout had to have a rainbow party… • Rainbow Themed Kids’ Party Apartment Therapy
Carrie McBride
Jan 19, 2012
Tricks for Dealing With a Hairy Home
Whether the hair in your home is your own or belongs to your pet, dealing with shedding hair is a challenge. Here, some tips on how to deal with it… • Dealing With a Hairy Home Apartment Therapy
Janel Laban
Jan 18, 2012
Adrianna & Paul’s Eclectic Perfection Home
Name: Adrianna Lopez and Paul Olson Location: Belmont Shore, – Long Beach, California Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 2 1/2 years I met Adrianna through a friend who shared a few pictures of her stylish home. I was blown away by the cultured aesthetic and attention to detail. When I met Adrianna in person, her fun personality matched the aesthetic and I couldn’t believe that this was her first try at interior design.
Marcia Prentice
Jan 17, 2012
Before & After: IKEA Trondheim Madeover With O’verlays
It’s a rare home that doesn’t have a little IKEA in it. Hacking IKEA furniture has become a sport for design-loving nuts such as ourselves. There’s no shortage of creativity and ingenuity but we also like to see the simple hacks that give a lot of bang for the buck. If you haven’t yet heard of O’verlays, jump below and take a look at what they can do.
Janie Lee
Jan 17, 2012
You Can Do It: 100% Realistic Budgeting Tips & Resources
Budgeting is one my least favorite subjects. One, because I am one of those right brained people who avoids math and numbers at all costs and two, because I was never taught how to make a proper and realistic budget. But, whether or not it’s in our comfort zone, we inevitably hunker down and try to crunch numbers and make a plan.
Alysha Findley
Jan 13, 2012
Christopher Alexander on Kitchens
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Christopher Alexander’s book, A Pattern Language, has been used for decades by architects, designers, and homeowners to help create a home life that is comfortable, delightful, and functional. While I’ve referred to the book often in my practice as an architect, I’ve never set out specifically in search of how the
Faith Durand
Jan 13, 2012
Bright & Light Kitchens
White serves as the perfect backdrop in kitchens and makes the most of the great light from the outside. Take a look at how using natural light and a white palette can be beneficial in any size kitchen. • Bright & Light Kitchens Apartment Therapy
Janel Laban
Jan 13, 2012
A Quick History of Forks
The youngest member of the flatware family, the fork has only become an essential utensil in the last couple hundred years — after all, who needs a fork when you have fingers, aka the perfect tools for picking up morsels? • Fork This: A Quick History of Forks Apartment Therapy
Janel Laban
Jan 13, 2012
Scott’s Modern Heritage in Ottawa
Name: ScottLocation: Ottawa, CanadaSize: 1200 square feetYears lived in: 6 years; rented Scott is a lucky guy; the place he calls home is one of the most beautiful and iconic apartment buildings in Canada’s capital. Hovering on the edge of the downtown core, The Windsor Arms was built in the Art Nouveau style and features leaded stained-glass windows, Belgian tiles, wood-burning fireplaces and an enviable entrance hall.
Eleanor Büsing
Jan 12, 2012
Elizabeth’s Urban Artist Retreat
Name: Elizabeth DuvivierLocation: Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 1,200 square feetYears lived in: 5 months — rented Elizabeth’s 2-bedroom apartment embodies all the those ephemeral qualities that transform an empty shell of space into a real home — it’s artful, personal, comfortable and above all, designed for actually living.
Sarah Rainwater
Jan 12, 2012
An 1890’s Farmhouse in Los Feliz
Alexandra and Eliot’s house was built in the 1890’s and is the first original home in Los Feliz. Now surrounded by a residential city block of homes and apartment complexes, the Angles have the ideal hidden getaway. Completing the modern farmhouse with a gorgeous “sleeping” barn and front yard, these savvy designers added plenty of
Janel Laban
Jan 12, 2012
Alexandra & Eliot’s 1890’s Farmhouse
Name: Alexandra & Eliot Angle (shared with their daughter and their puppy) Location: Los Feliz — Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years — Own Alexandra and Eliot’s house was built in the 1890’s, and is the first original home in Los Feliz. Now surrounded by a residential city block of homes and apartment complexes, the Angles have the ideal hidden getaway.
Bethany Nauert
Jan 11, 2012