How To Give Your New Home Good Energy
Why bring that negative energy into your new home?
Sep 18, 2018
Empty Nesters Downsize to a Cheery, Patterned California House
Name: Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery and husband Location: San Rafael Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned When we first saw the fabulous bungalow home at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, we were smitten. The interiors were mostly original and there was a giant blue farm sink in the kitchen, original to the house. Regretfully, the sink was completely impractical but we are turning it into a potting sink in the garden.
Sep 17, 2018
$989K L.A. Bungalow Comes with a Reading Nook and Fig Trees
This light and bright home in Los Angeles is everything you want in a cute California abode. 952 Lucile Ave Located in Los Angeles, California $989,000 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms When you conjure up sunny images of a California bungalow, it’s this home that ticks all the boxes. The exterior is dreamy with curved windows, a Spanish tiled roof, and bursts of green. There’s a sweet little porch and lots of plants and trees.
Sep 17, 2018
What Most People Get Wrong About Open Houses
If you’re selling a house, one of the first things you may want to do is hold an open house. While opening up your doors to potential buyers might seem like an effective way to sell your humble abode, it might not be worth the hassle. Joe Cleary, owner of The Cleary Group in Florida, says that open houses are slowly becoming a thing of the past, largely due to advances in virtual listings and home tours.
Sep 17, 2018
A Blogger’s Home Is New Traditional Meets Modern Farmhouse
Name: Thalita Murray, her husband, and twin boys Location: Cobourg — Ontario, Canada Size: 2,100 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned Thalita is an interior design professional who believes in keeping it real. She owns Thalita Murray Design and runs the design and lifestyle blog, The Learner Observer, and if that wasn’t enough, she is also a wife and mother of twin 2-year-old boys.
Sep 17, 2018
Before and After: $200 Goes a Long Way in This Messy Entryway Makeover
This entryway is so incredibly relatable: purse, recycling, tote bag, Roomba, grocery cart—all necessary and conveniently accessible, but perhaps a bit too visible. One impressive DIYer took $200 and totally revamped this space, making it a lot more attractive and practical. Here’s a description of the pre-makeover entryway, plus how it affected the rest of the home: My entryway was a complete disaster.
Sep 17, 2018
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How to Make Your Fall Decluttering Project So Much More Painless
You do NOT schlep in this age of on-demand everything!
Sep 17, 2018
A Sacramento Spanish Revival Home’s Stunning Refresh
Name: Christina Dobrinski, my husband, our three boys—Jack (5), Wyatt (3), and Adler (4 months)—and our pup Murphy Location: Sacramento, California Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, owned When we bought our Spanish Revival home in the older Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento—a home that hadn’t been updated in nearly 70 years!
Sep 17, 2018
An 1870s Victorian Conversion in London Is All Kinds of Lovely
Name: Kelly Love, my boyfriend Chris Location: London, England Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned Our home is a two-bedroom Victorian conversion in the Greenwich borough of London, built in the 1870s. It has beautiful high ceilings with the original cornice details and bay windows in the two main rooms, which flood the space with light. We also own the main hallway and big old front door of the house plus the front garden, which is often communal in conversions.
Sep 16, 2018
This Redditor’s $250 Pantry Makeover Is Kitchen Storage Gold
This Redditor’s pantry was impressive, both in terms of its size, but also in the amount of food, kitchen supplies, and cookbooks he had stuffed in there. For $250 and some DIY power, he completely revamped the space and made it so much more functional and appealing. I think we can all relate to what this pantry looked like before: Standard wire shelving, jumbled up goods, the works.
Sep 16, 2018
7 Creative Ways to Decorate and Stay Organized with Used K-Cups
Are you addicted to single-serve coffee? We can’t blame you. It’s fast, convenient, and of course, delicious, but unfortunately, also super wasteful. (Even the inventor of the Keurig K-Cup has expressed regret over inventing the technology in the first place.
Sep 16, 2018
Before and After: A Sophisticated IKEA Built-in Bookcase Hack for $1K
This dining room is so graceful and elegant—that delicate molding and beautiful hardwood floor, but its new owner found it lackluster and hollow. IKEA’s BILLY bookcase to the rescue! Well, more like eight BILLYs to the rescue… Reader Oriane Szekelyhidi-Williams kindly shares a wealth of details about the inspiration behind this project and the challenges faced: We purchased our condo knowing we would be doing a BIG overhaul on the space.
Sep 16, 2018
An Architect’s Renovated Home Is Rough and Refined
Name: Cara Hyde-Basso, husband, and our dog Oso Location: Highland Park, Illinois Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned My husband and I are architects who met while living in Brooklyn. We have since moved to the Chicago area where we bought our first home, which is our first project together as designers. The first phase was a complete gut renovation of the kitchen and opening it up to the adjoining living and dining rooms.
Sep 15, 2018
This $5 Handy Item Fixes Just About Everything in Your Home
We love a good multi-use product. Household putty (aka Sticky Tack, Blu Tack, mounting putty, museum putty) is one of those products that can solve a slew of household predicaments in a matter of seconds. From eradicating matted messes of electronics cables to stabilizing your new gypsy caravan, we’ve got 14 useful ideas to get you started on your lifelong love affair with putty. As an interior photographer, cords are my mortal enemy.
Sep 15, 2018
What No One Tells You About Living in a Doorman Building
For doorman-building devotees, there’s nothing like seeing a familiar face on the way in and out of that place you call home. But for others, there’s nothing worse than having to chit chat with this person—or having him know your business. For those lucky enough to have the option, the decision is of personal preference.
Sep 15, 2018
Get the Badass, Audacious Look of Aelfie’s Home (and Our Top Marketplace Finds of the Week)
Plus, our top marketplace picks this week.
Sep 14, 2018
A Designer and an Artist’s Cozy Carroll Gardens Home
Name: Amy Ilias, Jim Denney (and kitties McCabe, Billie Pilgrim, and 3) Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 21 years, owned As the Executive Vice President of Art & Design for ABC Carpet & Home, you could definitely say Amy Ilias knows design. And the Carroll Gardens house she’s owned for over two decades is a beautiful display of her elegant and design-forward style.
Sep 14, 2018
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5 Designers You Should Start Following on Instagram
Thinking about shifting gears to a career in interior design? Here's the first thing you should do.
Sep 14, 2018
The Best College Towns to Move to (If You’re Not a Student)
From inventive dining options, to world-class music, to ample outdoor recreation, these five college towns tick all the boxes for non-student residents.
Sep 13, 2018
The Brooklyn Loft of Aelfie’s Founder Is as Audacious and Badass as You’d Think
Name: Aelfie Oudghiri, her husband, their daughter, and Shah the cat Location: Brooklyn, NY Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Fans of textile, furniture, and accessories company Aelfie are familiar with the brand’s stylish offerings—quirky graphics, loud colors, patterns that complement (and sometimes even clash, in a good way).
Sep 13, 2018
It's International Coffee Day—Here's How to Store All Your Mugs
It's the perfect weekend project.
Sep 13, 2018
Before and After: This $4K Bathroom Reno Looks More Like $40K
This totally DIY bathroom took seven months to go from damaged and dangerous (faulty electrical work!) to sleek and safe; and from “standard, average” to something truly special. Here’s a little backstory on this bathroom: When we moved into our home our guest bathroom was your standard, average space. It had newly updated cabinets and lighting, was painted a shade of beige, and was topped off with budget-friendly $5 blinds.
Sep 13, 2018
A Former Retail Space Is Now a Funky, Book-Filled Apartment
Name: Samantha Ladwig, my partner and our cat, Ingrid Location: Port Townsend, Washington Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 3 months, renting My partner, our cat, and I moved from Los Angeles last December. I had been working as a film cataloger at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for a few years, while freelance writing part time. I wanted to jump ship and freelance full time, so we saved up for a year and moved back to Seattle, with all 20-some plants in tow.
Sep 13, 2018
Proof Decorating With Pastels Doesn’t Have to Feel Juvenile
The result is a beautiful space that's stylish, not saccharine.
Sep 12, 2018
An Animator’s Seattle Cottage Is Sun-Filled and Charming
Name: Joe Gast and Willow the Weimaraner Location: Leschi — Seattle, Washington Size: 1,690 square feet Years lived in: 25 years, owned My 1908 Leschi cottage was a victim of several ill-conceived remodels and plenty of deferred maintenance. A transplant from Ohio, with an Ohioan’s modest budget, I purchased the house because it was in my price range and it was located on a magical stairway, steps above Lake Washington.
Sep 12, 2018
3 Reasons Why Tiny Homes Are Now So Damn Expensive
Tiny homes have had a big rise in the popularity over the last two decades, with television shows, books, and Instagram pages dedicated specifically to the under-400-square-foot abodes. And the next trend in these kitschy, wanderlust-style homes? Having a huge price tag.
Sep 12, 2018
This Is How Much It Costs to Live 10 Minutes from Disney World
Each year, millions of people flock to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a magical vacation. But for those lucky enough to live in the area, a fun day at the parks can be more than just a once-a-year or once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live close enough to Disney World to visit on a regular basis? If you’ve dreamed about making the Orlando area home, you’ve probably been curious as to how much it would cost to live there.
Sep 12, 2018
This Teeny 250-Square-Foot L.A. Studio Feels So Much Larger
With a gorgeous outdoor space to lounge in, this rental apartment is much more than a studio, even though the rent is the price of a studio.
Sep 12, 2018
This $13 Gadget Saves a Ton of Counter Space in My Small Kitchen
When your kitchen is as small as mine, every bit of countertop space counts, no matter how small. You want to have as few things occupying those precious few square feet as possible, to maximize the space for actual food prep. Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite space-saving kitchen solutions: the cabinet-mounted paper towel holder.
Sep 12, 2018
Before and After: A $150 Makeover of a Blah, Beige Bathroom
This appears to be a landlord-special bathroom, with the classic beige walls and floor, but with a twist—it’s not a rental, so the new homeowner dove right in to make some crucial but affordable and approachable changes. Here’s a closer look at what the bathroom was like upon move-in: This small bathroom is outfitted with almond fixtures. There’s a beige sink, toilet, shower, and tile. The yellow walls made the space feel tight and crowded, almost headache inducing.
Sep 12, 2018
The Real Answer to “Does This Come With the House?”
If you’ve ever looked at a house for sale and thought to yourself, “That is an incredible washer/dryer set, fridge, piece of artwork, etc.” then you’ll be pleased to know that if you play your cards right, you actually can get it with the house. It just needs to be in your inclusions/exclusions list.
Sep 12, 2018
Partner
Moving In Together? Do These 4 Things to Find Your Shared Style
Whether you’re moving in with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friend, chances are your personal styles aren’t a perfect match…yet. But there’s good news! Mixing and matching styles is actually pretty easy if you follow a few cardinal rules. We went on a shopping and styling spree with Overstock.com to show how two distinct living room styles can become one. Turns out, Overstock.
Sep 12, 2018
A Small Sacramento Studio Has an Enviably Organized Closet
Name: Kachet Jackson-Henderson Location: Sacramento, California Size: 450 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting As a creative consultant, the writer at The Kachet Life, and the founder of The Blog Bloc, Kachet Jackson-Henderson needs a home where she can live, unwind, and work in. Though only 450 square feet, this Sacramento studio apartment is just the space.
Sep 11, 2018
7 Ways to Hack Your Way to a Kick-Ass DIY Kitchen Island
Another way to personalize your kitchen.
Sep 11, 2018
14 Designers Share Their Best Productivity Tips
What is it about the beginning of fall that always brings out the back-to-school spirit in us? It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you graduated school, there’s something about September that makes us want to turn over a new leaf and be more productive. So, we get organized, set bigger goals for ourselves, and buy some super chic office supplies.
Sep 11, 2018
Furniture Store Owners Have a Stunning Chicago Home
Ty and Lynne are the owners of the award-winning furniture store An Orange Moon, located in the West of Western district of Chicago.
Sep 11, 2018
Before and After: This Old, Busted IKEA POANG Chair Gets a Brand New Life
This sad chair—IKEA’s ubiquitous POANG—was languishing on a curb, doomed to rot away, dreaming of those good old days when it was useful. Fortunately, someone with a vision (and 20 meters of rope) happened to walk by and oops-a-daisy! Britt Winter of Regroovinator on Etsy describes happening upon this chair, and the makeover time crunch: This sorry-looking IKEA POANG was a curbside find: bare bones and a ripped-up seat. However, those bones were good.
Sep 11, 2018
5 Signs You Can Save Money on Your Dream Home
After toiling through an endless trail of listings and showings, you’ve found your dream home. The only problem? The price tag that’s out of your budget. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream of home ownership; if you’re willing to put the research and effort in, you can often move the price point down significantly (within reason, of course).
Sep 11, 2018
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This Piece of Furniture Is the Key to an Organized Home
When it comes to controlling clutter, your entryway is the most important part of your house. When you walk in the door, you’re probably carrying all kinds of stuff: purse, keys, mail, etc. Finding a place for it all to go—a place that’s not the floor of your living room—is essential for maintaining a beautiful, peaceful home. One of our favorite solutions for corralling entryway clutter? The console table. Meet your new organizing BFF.
Sep 11, 2018
A Cocktail Blogger’s Palm Springs-Inspired New Jersey Home
Name: Natalie Jacob and Ethan Urban Location: Jersey City, New Jersey Size: 1,000 square foot apartment in a row house Years lived in: 1 1/2 years, renting Natalie Jacob has great taste across the board. As the beverage consultant and blogger behind Arsenic Lace, she knows good cocktails. Her colorful, playful interior design aesthetic—think ombre stairs and flamingo print in the back of a china cabinet—reaches every corner of the New Jersey home she shares with Ethan Urban.
Sep 10, 2018
Starbucks Opened a Location in Milan, and It Embraces Italian Design
There is undeniable mixed feelings about Starbucks opening its first store in Italy, where cafes serve their espresso much differently than the American coffee company. But it is obvious that the new Roastery in Milan—which opened last week—is different from its sibling stores in the U.S. All you have to do is look at the design.
Sep 10, 2018
This Former Clock Factory Loft Encapsulates Brooklyn Cool
As if the Park Slope neighborhood isn’t idyllic enough, the address is even better. 420 12th Street, Apt B1L Located in Brooklyn, New York $1,899,000 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Located among the charming brownstones of Park Slope, this co-op happens to be in one of the most coveted buildings in the neighborhood: Ansonia Court, once home to the Ansonia Clock Factory. But the space itself is a showstopper from the entrance.
Sep 10, 2018
The Afro Minimalist’s Small Apartment Is a Peaceful & Practical Oasis
This author's style is best described as "minimalist chic influenced by the beauty and diversity of the African diaspora."
Sep 10, 2018
The Best $30 You’ll Ever Spend on Your Kitchen
When it comes to our kitchen cabinets, most of us are stuck with what we’ve got. Sure, if you own your place, you can do a full remodel — but even if you’re going the IKEA route, a renovation will easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars. And as anyone who’s ever done it knows, painting kitchen cabinets is an enormous pain. But there is one thing you can do for your kitchen cabinets that will keep them clean, preserve them long-term, and make them look better, too.
Sep 10, 2018
Before and After: A $300 Kitchen Upgrade Thanks to a Lenient Landlord
This rental kitchen was covered top to bottom with fixtures and finishes from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, so one brave tenant finally gathered the courage to ask for permission to make improvements. Amazingly (and smartly), the landlord said yes and the DIYing was on. While the kitchen looks pretty nice in the photo before, its resident has the real scoop: The kitchen in this rental is a galley-style kitchen.
Sep 10, 2018
Partner
Here’s How to Create Infinite Moods with Only 3 Lights
Most of us have two lighting settings: off and on. But how we use our homes isn’t so black-and-white — one person’s meditative bedroom yoga practice might be just as beneficial as another’s high-intensity living room workout, but they definitely don’t look the same. The fanciest homes have lighting designers to address all these nuances, but you can give your home the same benefits using the lights you already have.
Sep 10, 2018
Calling All Book Lovers: This Backyard Reading Retreat Is Library Goals
Backyard sheds are all the rage right now. They provide convenience for homeowners who have hobbies, but don’t have the square footage to bring their vision to life indoors. For avid readers, the image of a perfect home includes an elaborate library; fully stocked with first edition novels and a rolling ladder for easy access.
Sep 10, 2018
A Cookie-Cutter New Build Is Now One-of-a-Kind
Name: Hannah Leonard, my husband and two kids Location: South Jordan, Utah Size: 1,775 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years, owned My husband and I moved from Portland, Oregon, to Utah back in 2014 and settled on a beautiful, up-and-coming new community called Daybreak. I was six months pregnant with our first when we moved, so this is the home we became a family in. We decided to go with a new build so we could have control over the finishes.
Sep 10, 2018