10 Places to Shop for “Happy Modern” Products
Happy modern style takes the best of mid-century and modern design and adds a liberal dollop of color and personality. Check out our list of 10 of happy modern resources along with a slideshow of our favorite products. • “Happy Modern” Sources Apartment Therapy
Jul 10, 2012
10 Simple DIY Wall Ideas
Even if you think you don’t have an artistic bone if your body you can still create some pretty beautiful pieces with a little creativity and the some basic materials. Here are 10 wall art ideas from simple enough that anyone can do. • 10 Simple DIY Wall Ideas Apartment Therapy
Jul 10, 2012
How Would You Spend a Day with a Decorator?
What if you won a free day with a decorator of your choosing? How would you use the time? Shopping? Sketching layouts? Big picture or single project? I know what mine would be: choosing rugs, paint colors, fabrics and lighting. • Spend a Day with a Decorator Apartment Therapy
Jul 9, 2012
Before & After: Urban Outfitters Inspired Nightstands
Meagan, of the blog Craft Habit, recently acquired a pair of hand-me-down Ikea nightstands, but really had her heart set on the GiGi nightstand from Urban Outfitters that, at $150 a piece, was out of her price range. So, set on having more minty fresh goods in her house, she transformed the IKEA pieces into such a good match, we’d be hard-pressed to decide which version we like better.
Jul 9, 2012
Joshua’s Vintage Daydream
Name: Joshua Alvarenga (and his cat Valentino)Location: Hollywood – Los Angeles, CASize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 1 year – rented One of my favorite things about a home is when the owner brings out the best in the architecture and original design of the structure. Joshua has collected furniture and personal treasures that are wonderful and cozy but that also allow us to enjoy the Spanish style of the building itself.
Jul 9, 2012
How To Kill Weed Seeds in the Garden
Here’s another gardening video from our friend Ben Gould. In this one, he gives us a one minute tip for killing weed seeds. • How To Kill Weed Seeds Apartment Therapy
Jul 9, 2012
Tips For Choosing Wall Colors
I’ve seen more people agonize over the perfect wall color than the perfect sofa. It’s harder to visualize, and that’s scary. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ease the process. • Choosing Wall Color Apartment Therapy
Jul 6, 2012
Before & After: A Tin-Foiled Nightstand
Silver metallic furniture pieces have been on the scene for a while now and don’t seem to be heading out anytime soon. Mandi wanted to try her hand at creating one without a trusty silver spray can in hand but using a common kitchen goods instead. See what she pulled off after the jump…At first I was skeptical, but by the end of her tutorial I was thoroughly impressed. She didn’t just glue on some tin foil and call it a day (which probably wouldn’t do the trick).
Jul 6, 2012
Before & After: Old-School Desk Gets a Makeover
Holly readily admits that organization isn’t her strong point, so she certainly sympathized with her client’s desire to find a “mommy desk” to help her get organized as her eldest started kindergarten. Holly found this vintage teacher’s desk, solidly built though marked by years of doodling and dings. With strong bones but in desperate need of a refinish, this desk was the perfect candidate for a makeover.
Jul 6, 2012
Sandbox Repurposed as Planter Box
The sandbox had a great run, but the kids were losing interest just as Dana’s daughter Lucy developed an interest in gardening. The answer was to repurpose it as a planter box. • Sandbox Turned Planter Box Apartment Therapy
Jul 6, 2012
4 Things To Consider When Picking A Wall Color
Sure you can always paint over, but that doesn’t make picking the color that you’ll see everyday any easier. I’ve seen more people agonize over the perfect wall color than the perfect sofa, despite the fact that the former is significantly less expensive. It’s harder to visualize, and that’s scary. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ease the process. • Don’t ignore your floor color! Don’t.
Jul 5, 2012
How To Turn Your Digital Photos Into Abstract Art
Joining the ranks of beginner-friendly image styling apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic, comes Textify.it, a simple web app that allows you to transform your images into Monet-esque impressionist art with just a few clicks.Original image of cloudy sky. Textify.it, which is a simple web app, visualizes images using loads and loads of text.
Jul 5, 2012
Source List for American Made Furnishings
What better time than around the 4th of July to update our list of home furnishings manufactured in the United States. We’ve divided our list into furniture, decor and appliances. • American Made Furnishings Apartment Therapy
Jul 5, 2012
Quality or Style: Which Trumps Which?
When faced with the question of whether I prefer quality or style in my furniture, the answer is wholeheartedly, “Both.” But sometimes you can’t have it both ways. • Quality or Style? Apartment Therapy
Jul 3, 2012
10 Reasons I Love Living in a Small Town
Sometimes small-town life can get you down. Everyone’s going to West Elm, or Anthropologie, or heck — even Target, and you can only dream about being close enough to one of those stores to be able to casually drop by. Well, I’m here to remind you of ten reasons why living in a small town can really rock.1. Trendy design is hard to find.
Jul 3, 2012
Mark’s Delicious West Village Home
One of the suggestions to renters I hear most frequently is to treat your rental like a home and put in the effort to make it yours. This home is a perfect example of that advice at work. • Mark’s Delicious Home Apartment Therapy
Jul 3, 2012
10 Summertime Drinking Tubs
I love drink tubs. They’re functional because they keep several drinks cool at once, but so awesome because they put your drinks on display rather than hiding them away in a cooler. • 10 Drinking Tubs Apartment Therapy
Jul 2, 2012
Rooms Photographed From Above
It’s all about your perspective. Menno Aden used this concept to create Room Portraits, a series of aerial photos of everyday spaces that look extraordinary when seen from above. • Rooms From Above Apartment Therapy
Jul 2, 2012
Small Home Changes For A Big Impact
While remodeling certainly changes your life, it’s not always an option. But there are small changes you can make that will have a big difference in how you feel about your home. • Small Home Changes Apartment Therapy
Jun 29, 2012
Playlist For the Fourth of July
Growing up, my family hosted annual (and epic) 4th of July BBQs. This year I’ve decided to share some of my favorite music for the 4th which can add a bit of pep to any shindig. • Playlist for the 4th of July Apartment Therapy
Jun 29, 2012
4th of July Style: Red, White & Blue BBQ
If you’re thinking about having a cookout this Independence Day, don’t let your good taste end with the food and drinks. There are tons of great outdoor wares to make your BBQ patriotic and stylish. • Red, White & Blue BBQ Apartment Therapy
Jun 28, 2012
Ten Things You Can Clean In A Minute
Usually the dirtiest things in my home are the ones I forget about completely and, thus, never clean. Luckily, that’s easy to fix; if you have ten minutes, you can get these ten chores done today. • 10 Things To Clean Apartment Therapy
Jun 28, 2012
Before & After: Restoring a Dilapidated Deck
When Elizabeth and her husband bought their house six years ago, the inspector told them the deck stairs should be replaced within the year. Every year they would add the deck stairs to their to-do list, and every year they somehow failed to get to that project. Until this year that is- after watching the deck stairs shudder when the family pet ran down them, Elizabeth decided the time had come to reclaim their outside space.
Jun 27, 2012
Lynne’s Outdoor Kitchen
Lynne wrote in to share her outdoor kitchen with us, made from stone from an old barn foundation she discovered on her property. Read on to learn more about her creative re-use of found materials. • Lynne’s Outdoor Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Jun 27, 2012
Three Surfaces You May Need To Seal
I’m a sporadically responsible homeowner, but things like using sealant never occur to me. To keep your home looking good, here’s a mini-list of surfaces you just might want to seal. • 3 Surfaces to Seal Apartment Therapy
Jun 26, 2012
Design “Allergies” You Can’t Digest
When I walk into a room, there are certain things that trigger great discomfort on a visceral level. What are the things you find in people’s homes that you simply can’t digest, no matter how hard you try? • Design “Allergies” Apartment Therapy
Jun 26, 2012
Photographing People: Part 2
Here is my second wave of tips and hints for photographing people. Portraiture is a unique challenge, but it sure provides some of the most fabulous, silly, intense interactions. • Photographing People Apartment Therapy
Jun 25, 2012
Faster, Easier Salads: 5 Tools To Help
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Want to eat more salad? Then learn how to prepare all the ingredients faster! The following tools are our go-to kitchen essentials for quick salad making. They’ll help you clean lettuce, chop veggies, and whiz salad dressing in no time. • 5 Salad Tools The Kitchn
Jun 25, 2012
Cristina’s Architect’s Flat in Hong Kong
Cristina is an adventurous soul. She’s traveled to countries across the globe and lived in more than a few of them. For the last couple of years, she’s ‘settled down’ in Hong Kong, in an industrial district transitioning into a very hip neighborhood. • Cristina’s Hong Kong Flat Apartment Therapy
Jun 22, 2012
Share Your Design Pet Peeve
I’m a tolerant person; I’m open to new ideas, new styles. But there’s one design trend I just can’t accept: the karate chop pillow, that silly business of “chopping” an indentation into the top of a throw pillow. What design trend gets on your nerves? • Design Pet Peeves Apartment Therapy
Jun 22, 2012
Concrete Floor Inspiration Rooms
We have seen beautiful concrete floors everywhere, from bars to restaurants to clubs to warehouses, and over the last decade they have become increasingly popular in modern home interiors as well. • Concrete Floors Inspiration Apartment Therapy
Jun 21, 2012
Resisting the Feeling of Should
The tendency to over-own is often attributed to overbuying or to a deep-seated reluctance to get rid of things. I think that an equally important factor is the more subtle feeling that we “should” own these things. • The Feeling of Should Apartment Therapy
Jun 21, 2012
5 Outdoor Party Ideas on a Budget
I love decorating for a party, but I don’t love spending a ton of money on something I’ll only use once. Here are some creative ideas for making your party unique without breaking the bank. • Budget Party Ideas Apartment Therapy
Jun 20, 2012
Before & After: Outdated Entry Gets a Hotel Inspired Makeover
Jill’s entry from the garage had been a thorn in her side for months. Though the checkerboard floor was a great feature, the paneled walls were dark and dated; certainly not the warm welcome home she craved. In addition to a brighter color, Jill knew she wanted to add what she calls a “landing pad” for shoes, coats, bags, etc — a spot other than her kitchen table!
Jun 20, 2012
What People Really Pay for Upholstery
You want to get upholstery work done but are new to this and have no clue what such a project would cost. Well, read on! • Real Upholstery Costs Apartment Therapy
Jun 20, 2012
Dirt: Better to Deal With It or Disguise It?
The quotable Sir Terence Conran commented, “I’ve never understood why some people say that complex patterns are sensible because they hide dirt. Personally, I prefer to see dirt so I know when to get rid of it.” Which camp are you in? • Dirt: Deal or Disguise? Apartment Therapy
Jun 19, 2012
20 “Happy Modern” Lights for the Home
With some table lamps, pendant lights, and sconces there’s something about the way they look, on or off, that cheers up a modern space instantly. We’ve gathered 20 that are doing that for us. • “Happy Modern” Lights Apartment Therapy
Jun 19, 2012
Alexandra’s North End Creativity
Name: AlexandraLocation: North End – Boston, Massachusetts Our condo, located in the historic North End, is not only our first home, but our dream home as well. We wanted an open space with light and charm (and an elevator) in the heart of the city to raise our kids. When we finally found our home, it was love at first “light:” the sun shining in from the vast windows was almost overwhelming.
Jun 18, 2012
Before & After: Bedroom Dresser is Painted No More
Karen scored this dresser when it was left behind in a friend of a friend’s garage. She took that dresser with its one green painted drawer home and painted it white and cream to match her bedroom, and there it has lived for the last seven years. She and her husband are working to update their master bedroom, and Karen decided this dresser was just asking for a makeover.
Jun 18, 2012
Inspiration from the Farmer’s Market
One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is visit the farmers markets in New England. I’ve rounded up some fresh products and ideas inspired by local farmers markets: • Farmer’s Market Inspiration Apartment Therapy
Jun 18, 2012
Tips for Not Being a Hoarder
I haven’t actually seen the A&E series Hoarders. But having lived with a recovering one, I understand the tendency. Here, some habits I’ve picked up as an anti-hoarder: • Tips for Not Being a Hoarder Apartment Therapy
Jun 15, 2012
A Dark, Dated Kitchen Goes Light & Glamorous
Denise and Brad’s dated kitchen was always a sore spot. With a budget of $20,000, Denise designed the new space and acted as her own contractor over several months. • Kitchen Before & After Apartment Therapy
Jun 15, 2012
The Porthole Infuser Flask
Grant Achatz’s cocktail lounge, The Aviary, is like the Cirque du Soleil of bars, and its custom glassware makes every drink look at least 20% cooler. Now the rest of us will be able to get our hands on some… • Porthole Infuser Flask Apartment Therapy
Jun 14, 2012
A Visit to Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market
One of the first things I do when I arrive in a new city is head straight to the market. So when I touched down in Toronto, I headed straight to the market named by National Geographic as the world’s best. • St. Lawrence Market Apartment Therapy
Jun 13, 2012
New Floor Tiles from Chilewich
Chilewich just launched these easily installed, easily repositioned flooring tiles. Because they aren’t traditional carpet, I think they would work well in kitchens, baths and entryways. • Chilewich Floor Tiles Apartment Therapy
Jun 13, 2012
Max’s Eclectic LA Pad & Painted Chalkboard Cabinets
Max Gough lives in a wonderful West Hollywood apartment. It’s eclectically decorated with rich colors and tons of artwork – including his changeable painted chalkboard kitchen cabinets. • Chalkboard Kitchen Cabinets Apartment Therapy
Jun 12, 2012
Options for Light & Durable Countertops
I recently wrote about my kitchen renovation and have been thinking I should try grey or white countertops rather than black. Here are several options for light colored but rugged countertops. • Light & Durable Countertops Apartment Therapy
Jun 12, 2012
Jane & Justin’s Backyard Makeover
Our backyard was a mess of tangled weeds, a steep hill upwards, broken red concrete patio chunks everywhere, and fence holes so big our 90 lb. dog sailed right through them. See it now… • Backyard Makeover Apartment Therapy
Jun 11, 2012