Unfinished wooden tabletop on a workbench with tools nearby, labeled "before."
Before & After: Showroom Quality Handmade 3 Display Desk
DIY desks are becoming a more common sight these days, but desks like rrim’s beautifully executed bi-level birch and pine desk designed for three displays and a water-cooled PC is far from the norm. Hours upon hours of “sanding and staining and clear-coating” resulted in a space efficient and cable-hiding piece worth showcasing… rrim’s Spec’s List: CPU: Intel i7 980x @ 4.
Sep 11, 2012
10 Options for Indoor Bike Storage
Autumn is breathing down our necks. The approach of colder weather might mean it’s time to park the bicycle indoors for the season. If you’re short on space but still want to bring your wheels indoors, perhaps one of these storage solutions will be the right fit. • Indoor Bike Storage Apartment Therapy
Sep 11, 2012
Melyssa & Ted’s Colorful Carriage House
Name: Melyssa & TedLocation: Arlington, Massachusetts Size: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 3 years; Rented Entering Melyssa and Ted’s home, I expected to walk out back and see the ocean. Not quite a reality for this 19th century carriage house north of Boston, but that vacation vibe mixed with bright colors and quirky touches creates a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere that’s not afraid of a little sand.
Sep 11, 2012
Swapping Broken iPhone Stories
You did something dumb and you’ve broken your iPhone. Now you’ve got yourself a cracked screen or perhaps one that’s been waterlogged. It happens. It’s not that fun. But after a while, we can look back and laugh. • Broken iPhone Stories Apartment Therapy
Sep 11, 2012
10 Attractive Storage Jars with Lids
Flour, sugar, coffee and more go great in a set of colorful storage jars lined up perfectly (or haphazardly) on a counter top. Here are ten colorful storage jars with lids we think really like. • 10 Storage Jars with Lids Apartment Therapy
Sep 10, 2012
Andrew & Rebecca’s Modern Vintage Country Home
Name: Rebecca Proctor, Andrew Wightman and baby WrenLocation: Bude, Cornwall, UKSize: 780 square feetYears lived in: 4 years; Owned Moving to the Cornish countryside from London four years ago, Andrew and Rebecca embraced a major design challenge. “We knew that we wanted to create a home that would feel cosy but not cluttered. Moving to the countryside was all about living a simple life and we wanted the house to reflect that.
Sep 10, 2012
A Closer Look at the Tulip Table
Eero Saarinen contributed much to our design lexicon, though he is best remembered for one item in particular: the Tulip table. An undeniable classic, this table looks as good today as it did in 1956. • The Tulip Table Apartment Therapy
Sep 10, 2012
5 Ways to Make Your Home Your Refuge
We often talk about ways to make your house feel like a home. This post is about how to make your home feel like a refuge; it doesn’t have a single thing to do with your decor and it’s all totally, 100% free. • Your Home as a Refuge Apartment Therapy
Sep 7, 2012
Is Refrigerating Eggs Necessary?
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Any world traveler has probably noticed that in most countries outside of the US and Canada, eggs aren’t stored under refrigeration. Why is that? • Is Refrigerating Eggs Necessary? The Kitchn
Sep 7, 2012
A Closer Look at Nelson Bubble Lamps
If there was a list of the most recognizable modern design pieces, George Nelson’s space-ship like, self-webbing plastic Bubble Lamps would be on it… • Nelson Bubble Lamps Apartment Therapy
Sep 7, 2012
How To Soft-Boil an Egg
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) The perfect soft-boiled egg should have firm, custard-like whites and a warm runny yolk. This is a slightly trickier endeavor than simply hard-boiling eggs, but nothing that can’t be mastered in the space of a Saturday morning! • Soft-Boiled Eggs The Kitchn
Sep 6, 2012
A Closer Look at the Componibili
Most classics of modern design are attention-grabbers, but the humble Componibili blends into the background wherever it is, quietly serving its purpose even the tightest of spaces. • A Look at the Componibili Apartment Therapy
Sep 6, 2012
Before & After: 1960’s Stereo Cabinet Turned Into 50,000 Song “Porta-Party”
What started off as a worn down circa 1960’s stereo cabinet was converted into an impressive yesterday-meets-tomorrow media PC capable of storing their 50,000 song library.
Sep 6, 2012
How To Save Money & Cut Your Own Photo Mat
Invest in a simple mat cutter and the world of framing is at your fingertips. Cutting mats is easy, inexpensive, and takes your artwork to a new level. It looks custom, even if you buy a readymade frame from a store. • How To Cut a Photo Mat Apartment Therapy
Sep 6, 2012
A Closer Look at Nelson Bubble Lamps
If there was a top ten list of the most recognizable modern design pieces ever, there’s no doubt George Nelson’s Bubble Lamps would be on it. Though they come in quite the variety of sizes and shapes, their core design — a space-ship like, self-webbing plastic lamp — is the look that many folks gravitate
Sep 6, 2012
IKEA’s Interesting Roots in Scandinavian Progressivism
Although IKEA has become an international brand and a consummate capitalist success story, its roots in Scandinavian progressivism — both aesthetic and social — remind us that there’s more to the company than meets the eye. • IKEA’s roots Apartment Therapy
Sep 5, 2012
Quick History: The Bauhaus & Its Influence
We’ve all seen Marcel Breuer’s famous Wassily chair — the first to use tubular steel for a domestic setting — supposedly inspired by a bicycle frame (image 1). Would you believe this chair, maybe the most famous design to emerge from the Bauhaus, is a grandfatherly 87-years-old? Yes, the Bauhaus turned 93 this past spring, a shocking fact given that Bauhaus design still feels incredibly fresh and current.
Sep 5, 2012
How To Bake Eggs en Cocotte
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I don’t like to play favorites, but baking eggs in individual ramekins until the whites are barely set and the yolks reach that creamy, pudding-like consistency may, perhaps, be my egg de resistance. Here’s how to do it. • Eggs en Cocotte The Kitchn
Sep 5, 2012
Ways to Welcome Fall
Every fall I am mystified by all the magazines that say things like “Now that the leisure of summer is over..” – do they not work year-round? So I’ve put together a little list of things to make back-to-school season feel special… • Ways to Welcome Fall Apartment Therapy
Sep 5, 2012
107 Inspirations for a Healthy, Organized Home
While the months ahead are sure to be busy, you can keep things at home on a relaxed, summery even keel by staying ahead of the chores, getting things in order and staying focused on the positive. • Healthy, Organized Home Apartment Therapy
Sep 4, 2012
Joe & Brad’s Small Space with Big Style
Name: Brad and Joe, plus Lilly (dog) and Olivia (cat) Location: East Lakeview — Chicago, Illinois Size: 420 square feet Years lived in: 3 years; Owned Brad and Joe’s Lakeview apartment is a wonderful lesson in making the most of a small space. This 420 square foot apartment is home to two men, one sizable dog and a cat — and yet it actually feels spacious, clutter-free and comfortable. Joe and Brad have made great use of every inch of space in their small apartment.
Sep 4, 2012
Before & After: Salvaging a DIY Dresser Gone Wrong
This dresser is a telling reminder that DIY efforts to improve older furniture are nothing new — though viewing this wallpaper application as an improvement may be a stretch! Despite the poor finish, the waterfall dresser itself is a solid piece, one Sarah knew deserved a makeover.Sarah stripped off the green patterned wallpaper only to discover thick layers of paint underneath.
Sep 4, 2012
Must-Haves for a Dedicated Cook’s Kitchen
Earlier, we wrote about essentials for a first kitchen and here’s a follow-up for ten must-have items for a dedicated cook’s kitchen… • Kitchen Must Haves Apartment Therapy
Sep 4, 2012
How To Make a Chalkboard Menu Board
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Inspired by a pin or two of chalkboard walls in kitchens, I thought it fitting to have a chalkboard menu prominently on display in the dining room. So I DIY’ed a chalkboard-painted piece of plywood on the wall. Easy, not-permanent, moveable, perfect. • DIY Chalkboard Menu Board The Kitchn
Aug 31, 2012
Tips for Downsizing To a Smaller Kitchen
Sometimes you have to downsize, for one reason or another, to a kitchen with less storage and space. Here are some of the most important elements needs to keep organized and functional. • Downsized Kitchens Apartment Therapy
Aug 31, 2012
Cutting Cable? A Review of the Roku 2 XS
Angela recently made the decision to free herself from cable and was worried all she’d be watching was P90X infomercials. She agreed to share her experience transitioning over to the Roku 2 XS… •
Aug 31, 2012
One Easy Trick for Instantly Pulling Together a Room
Recently I helped a friend get her home ready for an AirBnB photo session, We had, literally, 5 minutes while the photographer unpacked so I pulled out my favorite trick and went to work. • Trick to Pull a Room Together Apartment Therapy
Aug 30, 2012
A Guide To Storing Fruits and Vegetables
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) With so much produce at our fingertips this season, it’s time for a refresher on the proper way to store various fruits and vegetables. Here are the best ways to store apples, tomatoes, fresh basil, and many, many more varieties of fresh produce. • Fruit + Vegetable Storage The Kitchn
Aug 30, 2012
4 Couches Over 16 Years: What Went Wrong
Couch shopping is inevitably a stressful situation for me I somehow always end up with the wrong couch. Follow me after the jump to see what I have learned from my past couch failures. • 4 Couches in 16 Years Apartment Therapy
Aug 30, 2012
5 Tips for Planning Out a Downsized Living Room
You’ve made the decision to downsize. What do you do when your carefully-selected assortment of furniture doesn’t fit into your teeny-tiny new living room? Well, edit. • Downsized Living Room Apartment Therapy
Aug 29, 2012
Kitchen Tour: Alina’s Exotic Cooking Lair
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Alina takes the best of what a country’s cooking and design tradition has to offer and brings it into her home. All the materials are natural and all the colors are warm. It seems that, aside from the food, everything about this kitchen will last forever. • Alina’s Exotic Cooking Lair
Aug 29, 2012
Natalie and Kevin’s Perfect Parkdale Perch
Name: Natalie and KevinLocation: Parkdale, Toronto, CanadaSize: Approx. 1500 square feetYears lived in: 9 months; Rented When searching for a new place to call home, Natalie and Kevin never dreamed they could find such a spacious, bright, and charming place within their budget in the city. Nine months after moving in, Natalie is still pinching herself.
Aug 29, 2012
Before & After: Restoring a Discarded Dresser
Titia was out running errands when she decided to swing by one of her favorite junk stores. While wending her way through back streets, she came upon a treasure trove of furniture just being discarded, and hopped out to look. Her luck held when she found two pieces she knew she could work with — and when a passerby offered to help her load them into her car!Even before she began stripping off that terrible brown paint, Titia was certain she had found a very special piece.
Aug 29, 2012
A Natural Way to Clean Your Wood Cutting Board
I inherited this pull-out wooden cutting board with our condo but use it rarely due to its damage. Since I’ve started a new bread-baking habit, it was time to at least get to cleaning and caring for it. • Clean Your Cutting Board Apartment Therapy
Aug 29, 2012
Craig’s Tiki Hut
Name: Craig ShimalaLocation: River West, Chicago, IllinoisSize: 990 square feetYears lived in: 3 years; Owned Most people tend to shy away from labeling themselves as hoarders, but Craig has made the fact that he “doesn’t throw anything out” a central part of his aesthetic. Showcasing an impressive collection of vintage nautical-themed knick-knacks, Craig’s cozy Chicago apartment manages to embrace the collector within, while managing to remain uncluttered without.
Aug 28, 2012
How To Make Authentic Italian “Caffe”
Sicilian-born artist and actor Vincenzo Amato shows us how to make perfect Italian “caffe”. This is the first in a series of coffee rituals that connect people to their space. • How To Make Italian Caffe Apartment Therapy
Aug 28, 2012
DIY Nut Milks: 5 Easy Recipes
Once you make homemade nut milks at home, you’ll likely stop buying them at the store. They really are so simple, and it’s nice knowing exactly what’s in them and being able to completely control the amount of sweetness on your own. • DIY Nut Milks The Kitchn
Aug 27, 2012
The Best Trick Ever For Separating Eggs
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We’ve shared a few tips before on how to best separate eggs, but this trick made us stop in our tracks. We can’t understand a word of the video, but the visuals are so compelling that we don’t need to. Prepare to be amazed: • Egg Separating Trick The Kitchn
Aug 27, 2012
A Guide to Refinishing Wood Floors Yourself
Do you have wood floors that have seen a bit of abuse or been hiding under carpet for years? You can refinish them yourself for just a couple hundred dollars. • Refinishing Wood Floors Apartment Therapy
Aug 27, 2012
Before & After: Rescuing a Dumpster Dive Dresser
It is obvious that Karen must a dedicated DIYer with an artist’s eye if she could find the beauty in this dilapidated dresser. Her father-in-law rescued this dresser from the dumpster knowing that Karen would be able bring this piece back to life.After waiting for inspiration to strike, Karen got to work scraping and stripping and sanding to remove the layers of peeling paint. She then painted the dresser in a slate grey and created a pattern to help celebrate her 19th wedding anniversary.
Aug 24, 2012
Carve Your Own Wooden Spoons
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I have a beautiful wooden spoon, one of my favorite things in my kitchen. It was carved by hand and because of that, it was expensive. So when I stumbled on an old article from Mother Earth News on how to carve your own wooden spoon, I was intrigued. • DIY
Aug 24, 2012
The Best Way to Cut Up a Watermelon
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Cold from the fridge, a cup of watermelon is my favorite August treat. Here’s the best way I’ve found to quickly and easily cut a watermelon into neat, even cubes for snacks and salads. • Cutting a Watermelon The Kitchn
Aug 23, 2012
Apartment Therapy’s Guide to Best Bar & Counter Stools
With the rise of open floor plans, stools have taken a more prominent position in the home. Here’s our look at the best bar and counter stools on the market today. • Best Bar & Counter Stools Apartment Therapy
Aug 23, 2012
5 Non-Traditional Wedding Registries
Wedding registries can be tricky, but if you’re setting up a new home, check out these unique ones you may want to consider. • Non-Traditional Registries Apartment Therapy
Aug 23, 2012
15 Homemade Snacks for the Lunchbox
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I cannot believe school is starting already! It’s time for the lunchbox to emerge from the dark cupboard you stashed it in all summer, and it’s time to stock it with some good snacks for fall. Here are 15 favorites — all homemade and yummy. • 15 Homemade Snacks The
Aug 22, 2012
10 Stylish Family Dining Rooms
Just because your kids have temporarily hijacked adult dinnertime rituals doesn’t mean that having kids has to mean eating in a dining room void of style. • Stylish Family Dining Rooms Apartment Therapy
Aug 22, 2012
5 African Spice Blends To Make Yourself
It isn’t always easy to find premade versions of common African spice blends like Ras el Hanout at the local supermarket, but the truth is, if you have a well-stocked spice rack, you likely have almost all the components to make these mixtures on your own. • 5 African Spice Blends The Kitchn
Aug 22, 2012
Budget & Bargain Sources for Furniture, Rugs, & More
Whether you are looking to dress your floors, stock up for an end of summer cocktail party or create a fresh bed for the fall season, here are roundups of places to do so, on the cheap… • Budget & Bargain Sources Apartment Therapy
Aug 21, 2012