A Modern & Stylish Italian Apartment Full of DIYs, Family Pieces & Color
Name: Danny Location: Rome, Italy This apartment used to belong to my grandparents, and then my parents took over the rent, and now my husband and I are living in it with our mini dachshund. Three generations (and counting)! It’s a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment on the third floor of a residential building in the center of Rome. The whole home was interior designed by my husband and I—a blend of mid century modern, timeless design, and lots of color.
Oct 24, 2016
What Will the Next Mid-Century Modern Be? 3 Contenders to Watch
First off, let me preface this post by saying I think mid-century modern is a classic and versatile style that will be relevant in home design for many decades to come. Unfortunately for me, when a style becomes increasingly popular, I immediately start panicking about how soon it will lose its luster.
Oct 24, 2016
Before & After: A Dingy Brooklyn Kitchen Brightens Up
Prior to their renovation, Laura and Matthew’s kitchen had a few problems common to lots of NYC apartments: a tiny footprint, not enough storage space, and cabinets caked with years’ and years’ worth of paint. As you can see, the cabinets in their galley kitchen had taken on an unusual texture, and the oven was positioned about 18 inches from the opposite countertop. Definitely time for a change.
Oct 24, 2016
Before & After: A Delicious (Mostly) DIY Kitchen Upgrade
Kylie’s kitchen is also her office, so while the original was livable, it wasn’t really blog-worthy. After about six months of hard DIY work, she got a gorgeous, open and photo-worthy space. From Kylie: Our house is 1,500 square feet and was built in the 1950s. We love our location and want to stay here for a while, but the kitchen had to go.
Oct 24, 2016
Get Salty: Adding Salt to Your Cleaning Routine
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From Kitchn → 3 Reasons Salt Is a Smart Cleaning Choice
Oct 24, 2016
Life, After You Move In Together: What It’s Like to SHARE a Studio
890 square feet isn’t exactly tiny, but with the lack of walls or doors, this high-rise jungle paradise in downtown LA has the potential to be a too-small leopard-print jail cell when two people share this space. Chris and Rory’s home is definitely giving off studio apartment vibes and is PACKED with personality, color, pattern and clothes. So how do two people with big personalities fit into a one-room home?
Oct 24, 2016
How to Befriend Your Next-Door Neighbors (I Mean, If You Want To)
When you move into a new apartment building or a new neighborhood, do you try to make friends with your neighbors, or do you just go about your business? Sometimes, it makes sense to keep to yourself, but if your neighbors seem like the kind of people you’d like to get to know, it might be worth it to put yourself out there a little bit.
Oct 23, 2016
Decade-by-Decade: A Look at the Typical American Household by Decade
Popular design trends are hard to pinpoint when you’re in the midst of them, but painfully easy to spot once you’re a decade or two removed (the groovy pad of Megan Draper on AMC’s Mad Men screams of the swinging ’70s). Post WWII, decor trends seem to have had about a 10-year lifespan, and we’ve chronicled the nostalgic bullet points for each period.
Oct 23, 2016
6 Easy & Clever Ways to Organize Your Hair Styling Tools
You wouldn’t trade your favorite curling iron for anything, and yet, you probably don’t even have a designated storage space for it. Keeping your heat styling tools clean and organized is important for more than just aesthetic reasons—having a safe place to store them will help them last longer, since easy organization means no more destroyed cords and damaging falls from the countertop.
Oct 22, 2016
One-Day Warriors: Tips for Cleaning Your Whole Home in a Day
Even if you happen to be a Monica Gellar type—someone who spends their free time dusting and sweeping—spending an entire afternoon indoors cleaning is still way less fun than, well, just about anything. It’s really no wonder that so many people make a habit of putting off cleaning until it’s absolutely necessary, i.e. until you’re suffering from either out-of-town visitors or out-of-control allergies.
Oct 22, 2016
A Downtown LA Loft That’s “Like IKEA on Steroids”
Name: CC Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, California My apartment is a 725 square foot loft located in the heart of downtown LA. I love the feeling of downtown because it reminds me of NYC (where I lived for 10 wonderful years prior to coming to the West Coast). I’d say my style is organized crazy. Like IKEA on steroids. I may have a slight hoarding problem but I keep my stuff clean and in order haha.
Oct 21, 2016
How to Trick Yourself Into Spending Less Money at the Grocery Store
This month we’ll be sharing solutions that are so simple and easy—and at times, automated—that they feel like magic. Hocus Pocus celebrates all the small ways you can trick yourself into living a better life. There are a lot of ways to spend less money at the grocery stores. Couponing or buying cheaper food are two that come to mind, though neither are always ideal for our sanity or our health.
Oct 21, 2016
Real Couples on the Best Things About Sharing a Small Space
We all know that living in a small space has its benefits — cheaper rent, better locations and more — but sharing that small space with another person…well that can get a little tricky. Sure, there are downsides, but let’s choose to focus on the positive! These five real couples revealed what they think the best thing about sharing a small space with someone else is.
Oct 21, 2016
Partner
The 10 Principles of a Purposeful Home
For a century that’s still so young, the speed of life has changed rapidly. Now more than ever, we’re seeking ways to streamline and curate our busy lives. Nearly 100 years ago, the Bauhaus design movement began as a similar reaction. Its reigning principles, such as the unity of form and function, are still a pillar of modern, purposeful design.
Oct 21, 2016
An Austin Home That’s Not Afraid of Color
Name: Katie Location: Austin, Texas I love my home because it’s filled with things that make me happy! I consider my style to be “collected eclectic,” and my home is a perfect collection of my vintage finds, DIYs, bargain buys, and even a couple of splurges. I’m by no means a minimalist, and I’m certainly not afraid of a little color!
Oct 20, 2016
Watch this Coffee Table Convert to a Dining Table in One Move
Convertible tables have been a small space staple for decades, but what they offer in functionality, they often lack in style. Paris-based Boulon Blanc wants to change that with their new transformable table. While traditional convertible tables use an X-shaped mechanism that’s reminiscent of an ironing board, Boulon Blanc has a patented rotating hinge instead. The result is an organic-inspired, transformative shape whether it’s used as a coffee table or a dining table.
Oct 20, 2016
How To: Remove the Coffee Stains from Your Favorite Mug
(Image credit: Anjali Prasertong) From Kitchn → The Best Way to Remove Old Coffee Stains from Mugs & Carafes
Oct 20, 2016
7 Ways to Prevent Product Clutter When Your Bathroom Is Tiny…or Teeny-Tiny
When my husband and I were on the hunt for a home last year, one of my must-haves was a spacious master bathroom. You know, the whole nine yards – a huge soaking tub, plenty of storage, dual vanities. So if you knocked on the door of our sweet beach-town bungalow today and asked for a tour, you’d likely be surprised to find a master bathroom so slight that my husband and I can barely fit in it together. (In its defense, it does have a massive tub.
Oct 20, 2016
Try Before You Buy: Say Goodbye to Color Uncertainty With These 6 Paint Color Apps
The world of paint can feel endless. So many blues, grays, whites…how do you settle on one for your wall? I’m a firm believer that nothing will ever replace buying samples and testing a paint color out before diving into gallons of a certain shade, but to get a rough idea of a paint color family or hue without having to head to the hardware store, give one of these six apps a try!
Oct 20, 2016
Before & After: A Livably Luxurious Living Room
Brady was blessed with a beauty of a blank canvas, and he did not fail to make it special. By mixing a variety of styles, from Boho to classic Hollywood glam, he was able to create a space unique to his personal style and needs. From Brady: I spent months and months looking for the “perfect place” and saw over 20 apartments before I finally landed on this one.
Oct 20, 2016
The New Shabby Chic: A Little Less Shabby, A Lot More Chic
Do you remember shabby chic? I do. I don’t think I ever got fully into the craze, but there was definitely a time when tousled lacy curtains, distressed painted wood and tiny floral prints were positively everywhere.
Oct 20, 2016
3 Small Effort/Big Impact DIY Ideas to Steal from this Small Providence Condo
Sometimes it’s not the wall knocked down or the whole room painted that’s the visual impact your room needs — a small detail can pack a decor punch, too! The proof is in Erin and Tobin’s cute Providence condo: I spotted three small but mighty mini DIY projects in Erin and Tobin’s home — the kind of ideas you can do without a lot of time, tools or money. See if they’re small DIY details that could add personality to one of your rooms.
Oct 20, 2016
How One Couple Copes With 3 “P’s” of Studio Life
Newlyweds Franke and Jason, and their dog and cat, share a studio apartment in a Chicago high-rise. They love the location — and the views are killer — but as anyone who’s ever shared a small space knows, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. In fact, there are three challenges that can be a bummer for small space dwellers in particular: Pets, Parties and Possessions.
Oct 20, 2016
What it Costs to Rent a 900-Square-Foot Apartment in 5 Different U.S. Cities
There’s a bit of difference between what’s considered a small living space across the country. In Manhattan, 900 square feet can feel like a palace, while some Southern coastal cities would consider anything under 1,000 square feet to be on the small side. It shows, too, in what rent the same size apartment can fetch across the country.
Oct 20, 2016
Built-ins on a Budget: DIY Ways To Get the Look Without a High Pricetag
Find out how to hack or recreate these covet-worthy architectural details.
Oct 19, 2016
Before and After: A Wonderful White Kitchen Makeover
Kate (from Centsational Girl) recently saw her friend’s kitchen remodel for the first time. Although this family originally had grand visions for a new kitchen, they ultimately pulled back, skipped the architect, and decided to save money instead. They kept the current layout and put their time and budget towards making their kitchen reflect their own tastes and lifestyle. From Kate: Over the weekend I popped in to visit some good friends, Dino and Heidi.
Oct 19, 2016
Partner
Your Dressed-Up DIY Halloween Photo Booth
It’s time to start planning your best-ever Halloween party! Your friends will freak when they see your custom-made photo booth and its Insta-awesomeness. Even the ones who didn’t wear costumes will have fun dressing up in boas and Groucho glasses. The best part? It only takes a trip to the craft store and an hour or two to pull this project together, and thanks to Command™ Party products, it takes even less time to pull it down on November 1.
Oct 19, 2016
A Couple Shares a “Cozy Cottage” in Seattle
Name: Alexandra & Andrew Location: Capitol Hill —Seattle, Washington My boyfriend, Andrew, and I were in a long-distance relationship for two years before we decided to make Seattle our home. This apartment isn’t just my first without roommates (after moving from NYC and living with two), but this our first time living in the same zip code, let alone the same apartment.
Oct 18, 2016
The World’s Tiniest Decor: It’s All Just Too Damn Adorable
I had a dollhouse as a kid and have been a “miniac” every since. Thankfully it’s my job to share this stuff, because I could look at these all day and not get a damn thing done. Prepare to enjoy tiny versions of all the home stuff you love in real life. If you like high-end furniture and shopping accessories, check out Phillip Nuveen’s collection of Herman Miller (as shown above), Chanel & Louis Vuitton creations. Above, a miniature fish tank from Kristi on Etsy.
Oct 18, 2016
A ’20s Charmer on an Old Military Base
Name: Sarah Location: Fort Thomas, Kentucky We moved into our 1920s home about five years ago, located in Fort Thomas, Kentucky about 10 minutes from Downtown Cincinnati. It used to be an old military base back in the day and we have found everything from old cigarette ads in an old pie safe to coins for a “gentleman’s hotel” to old fruit crates which we kept to use as art and a towel rack in the bathroom. It is an 1100 square foot traditional home from 1920.
Oct 17, 2016
Before & After: A Surprising & Superb Splurge
Looking at this photo, this space could become a lot of things. A retro inspired kitchen? A dreamy den? A nursery? The homeowner went an unexpected route and turned the space into a warm, relaxing and wholly unique space. From E: This project has been a long, long time in the planning and execution, but we’ve finally got the payoff of being able to use our beautiful wooden soaking tub.
Oct 17, 2016
Ground Control: 10 Area Rugs Under $100
I recently faced the dilemma of finding a pretty rug for my living room that didn’t cost a fortune. As I scoured the web, I found many had way too many shades of brown to count or resembled something thrown over a fence at a roadside sale. But I persevered and have handpicked a selection of pretty and affordable area rugs (all around 5′ x 8′) that won’t break the bank.
Oct 17, 2016
The Suprising & Citrusy Way To Clean Your Microwave Naturally
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → How To Clean Your Microwave Naturally with Just a Lemon
Oct 17, 2016
What It’s Like to Live in a Eichler “California Modern” Dream House
We toured Hope and Pete’s home a few years ago, and it instantly became a favorite house tour of mine. The couple’s style is breezy, bohemian and effortless — the kind of adjectives I aim for in my own home’s decor. But I also loved their house tour because they live in a mid-century (dream-to-me) home built in 1956 by famed real estate developer Joseph Eichler.
Oct 17, 2016
9 Signs Your Home is Cleaner than You Think it Is
Keeping your home clean and put-together is hard work. Throw a full-time job, kids, and/or pets into the mix and it’s dang near impossible. Yet somehow you manage to pull it off. Whether it’s because of daily wipe downs, weekly chores, or even monthly cleanouts, you’re making it happen—even if it doesn’t always feel that way. Chances are your place is a lot less cluttered than your headspace, and most importantly, it works for you.
Oct 16, 2016
Before & After: An Amazing Attic Bedroom Transformation
This attic bedroom was super dark and dated. Catherine and Brian wanted to create a warm & welcoming master bedroom in the space, and boy did they have their work cut out for them. From Catherine & Bryan: We designed this space as a master bedroom. Aside from making it feel less dated, we wanted it to feel cozy, open, and full of character. We had talked about adding built-ins and cubbies, taking out the walls and widening the room, adding reading nooks – you name it, we thought of it.
Oct 16, 2016
Before & After: A Speedy & Inexpensive Guest Room Makeover
A dreamy bedroom on a budget
Oct 15, 2016
Turn Your Rental Bathroom into a Spa—No Remodeling Required
When describing your rental bathroom, “spa-like” and “personal sanctuary” are likely not the first words that come to mind. The bathroom of your dreams may be a full remodel away, but by taking cues from spas and saunas, you can decorate your way to a more relaxing space. Grab a Turkish towel and some eucalyptus—it’s time to teach your bathroom how to chill out.
Oct 14, 2016
10 Tips to Help Your Dishwasher Help You
(Image credit: l i g h t p o e t) shutterstock From Kitchn → 10 Tips to Help the Dishwasher Run Better
Oct 14, 2016
Drop the Paint Brush: Wood Paneling is Officially Cool Again
Growing up, the walls of my parents’ living room den were narrow, dark wood panels. No matter the time of day, the place felt like a cave. But though I finally persuaded them to paint them to match the rest of the house a few years ago (and it really did brighten the place up), after seeing these stylish spaces, I’m starting to rethink the wood paneling look. It’s definitely distinctive. It adds texture to a space and it certainly ups the warmth factor.
Oct 14, 2016
A Definitive Ranking of The 25 Most Popular Halloween Candies
I don’t know about all of you, but the highlight of my Halloween was always the moment we got back from trick-or-treating: My friends and I would dump our pillowcases out on my living room floor and start to wheel and deal with our candies. Trading just like we were on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange. You see, not all treats are created equal.
Oct 13, 2016
A Light Filled LA Loft
Name: Ashley Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, California Welcome to our sunny and spacious downtown home located in the in the heart of Downtown LA’s Historic Core. Inside you’ll find a 1,300 square foot bi-level ground unit with loft (only three of its kind!) that offers an unparalleled, refined industrial, modern aesthetic. There’s lots of natural light, which we love! We have an expansive living room, charming dining room, a chalkboard wall, and a breakfast bar.
Oct 13, 2016
Get a Jump on These Holiday Food Gifts
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → Food Gifts to Start Preparing Now for the Holidays
Oct 13, 2016
A House of Many Colors
Name: Eva Location: Irving Park — Chicago, Illinois This home is the upper unit of a 120 year old two-flat in Chicago. What makes it special is that it feels like a private home, almost a farm in the city. It’s a wonderful blend of modern and classic, urban chic and country. There are lots of little nooks in the house: a reading chaise in a kitchen corner, and a library with built-in floor to ceiling bookshelves. The farm feel is enhanced by the yard which has no grass!
Oct 12, 2016
You Can Use a Money Jar to Reach Your Goals (and Save While You Are At It)
Collecting your coins and spare bills is a great way to save money, because over time, all that change adds up. But emptying your pockets into a jar or a piggy bank when you walk in the door? Not exactly the most fun or inspired way to do things. If you need a little extra motivation to save—whether it’s to pay for something special, or to curb your bad money habits—try one of these takes on the traditional coin jar or piggy bank.
Oct 12, 2016
Love Boston? Here’s What $1500 in Rent Will Get You There
While not as expensive as San Francisco and New York, Boston does claim the number three spot for highest median one bedroom rents in the nation ($2,800). Nearly 700,000 people live in the city proper—many of them students—and they have to live somewhere, for something a bit more reasonable. We took a look at Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline to see what $1500 can rent you, right now.
Oct 12, 2016
How to Leave a Friendship (Gracefully, and Without Hurt Feelings)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been dumped and heard the words “just friends.” We’ve all been there—and we’ve probably all used the same lame excuse to break up with someone, too. “Just friends” is such a common way to let someone down gently, but when you really think about it, it doesn’t make much sense.
Oct 12, 2016