Before & After: Kyle’s Kitchen Renovation
Kyle loved to entertain but her San Francisco apartment was less than ideal for parties. See how she opened up the room and made it a welcoming space that’s beautiful and practical. • Before & After: Kyle’s Kitchen Renovation Apartment Therapy
Mar 5, 2013
Faith’s Renovation: Assembling, Installing a IKEA Kitchen
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Ready for the next step in my kitchen renovation? Here’s where things get a little wild and fast, and where my photo library gets a little, um, thinner than I would like… • Faith’s Kitchen Renovation The Kitchn
Mar 5, 2013
Indoor Gardens: Bringing Nature In
If you’ve always wanted to grow some herbs, now’s the perfect time to think about getting them started. Here are a range of small-scale planters, all just right for the kitchen. • Indoor Gardens: Bringing Nature In Apartment Therapy
Mar 4, 2013
From School Bully Target to Teen Blogger
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Joshua Weissman isn’t your typical 17-year-old boy. A few years ago, overweight and bullied in school, he finally decided to take his health seriously, but packaged diet meals and quick fixes didn’t help. Instead, he started cooking — and in the process changed his life. • Meet Joshua Weissman of Slim
Mar 4, 2013
Before & After: Jenna’s Living Room Makeover
Jenna’s living room was filled with furniture that she loved, but that wasn’t working in her new home. Here’s how she transformed the space by letting go and bringing in some new color and pieces: From Jenna: Over the past 3 years since moving into my home, this space has been forever in transition. Much of the room was filled with furniture that was meaningful to us, but just didn’t fit.
Mar 4, 2013
Before & After: Istanbul Hotel Bathroom Freshens Up
The Portus House in Istanbul was used to getting high praise from guests, except for the bathrooms. Check out the how they transformed these beige boxes into rain shower retreats:From Portus House: We own a small hotel with a total of ten rooms in Istanbul and often are inspired by projects on this site. Last year, when yet another guest praised every little detail of our venue except the bathrooms, we finally decided to empty our pockets with brand new bathrooms.
Mar 4, 2013
Reader Intelligence: Great Gifts for New Moms?
We asked a bunch of mothers what gifts they’d love to receive from friends, right after giving birth. Can you guess the #1 item on the list? Just a hint: it wasn’t onesies or breast pumps. • Reader Intelligence: Great Gifts for New Moms? Apartment Therapy
Mar 4, 2013
Before & After: Sophisticated and Dramatic Wainscoting
I came across this project from a comment left in my recent post Brags! What DIY Project Are You Most Proud Of? It came from Julia from the blog Chris Loves Julia. They were looking to change up their living room for a more sophisticated yet casual look and Julia fell in love with some dramatic wainscoting images and got the bug to re-create it at home.It took them just a few hours over two days to put it up and then one day to paint it.
Mar 1, 2013
Before & After: Staffan & Rebecca’s Garden Kitchen
Where some people might just see land and gravel, this Swedish couple envisioned amazing walled terraces, vegetable garden, and orchards. Then they topped it all off with an outdoor kitchen. • Before After: Staffan Rebecca’s Garden Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Mar 1, 2013
My Uncool Kitchen Tool: Dental Floss
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) At cheese shops, cheesemongers will use cheese wires or fancy cheese harps to cut soft and crumbly cheeses neatly. But when at home, use dental floss on delicate cheeses! • My Uncool Kitchen Tool The Kitchn
Mar 1, 2013
Got (Too Much) Milk? Freeze It For Later
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) We rarely use milk at our house, and whenever we do buy it for a recipe, half the bottle inevitably goes to waste. That is, until we realized we could freeze it for later! Here are some tips for freezing it. • Freeze Milk for Later The Kitchn
Feb 28, 2013
Sam & Anne’s Cozy Modern Blend
Name: Sam, Anne, new baby Tesla and Pup Indiana Location: South Austin, Texas Size: 2200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 8 months Sam and Anne never intended to make this house in South Austin their home. They had been living in a gorgeous modern home we featured on Apartment Therapy last year, and purchased this 1927 bungalow with the intention of flipping it.
Feb 28, 2013
Before & After: Kim’s Closet to Craft Room
The closet in my guest bedroom never hosted much clothing, and I decided it’d be a perfect tucked away spot for sewing and crafting.My workspace in my last apartment was a craft cabinet, so a closet was a step up. I painted the bottom portion of the wall with leftover paint and built a desk with wood and metal braces from Home Depot. I hung acrylic shelves on the left wall and added a custom corkboard, task lamp, filing cabinet, and calendar.
Feb 28, 2013
Before & After: Staffan and Rebecca’s Garden Kitchen
Rebecca and Staffan have been hard at work building an extraordinary terraced garden in Sweden since 2007. In such a short time they have carved out six terraces and built an unimaginable series of walls to hold it all in place. And then there is this one (comparatively) small piece — an outdoor kitchen with an extraordinary view.And then the glorious after – if I had this kitchen I think I would want to brave the Swedish winters to cook out all year long.
Feb 28, 2013
4 Tips for Low-Sodium Cooking
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Think cooking with less salt has to be bland? Think again! Yesterday we took a peek at Sodium Girl’s Limitless Low-Sodium Cookbook, and today we are sharing her most tried-and-true tips for taking low-sodium meals to the next level. • Low-Sodium Cooking The Kitchn
Feb 27, 2013
Mark’s Methods for Confidently Choosing Paint Colors
Mark’s home is fantastic with his (very) successful use of color. He very generously offered to take a trip to the paint store to share his knowledge and give some tips on how to choose colors that are right for you. • How to Choose Paint Colors Apartment Therapy
Feb 27, 2013
Before & After: Creative Uses for Horse Stall Doors
Lucianna collects and refurbishes unique stall doors for projects around the house. Below are pictures of a liquor cabinet and a kitchen pantry that she created by hanging the doors on modern sliding rails. • Creative Uses for Old Doors Apartment Therapy
Feb 27, 2013
Tile Inspiration: 15 Beautifully Tiled Spaces
When used well, tile has the ability to warm up a space like no other material. Here are just a few inspiring ways tile can be used to create dramatic, engaging and delightful spaces: • Beautiful Tile Gallery Apartment Therapy
Feb 26, 2013
How to Make Easy Homemade Lemon Curd
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Lemon curd is one of those things that I always like to have in my refrigerator. It has saved me more than once when I’ve had to rustle up a last minute dessert or had an unexpected guest stop by at tea time. • How To Make Lemon Curd The
Feb 26, 2013
Before & After: An Organized Mudroom
I love before and after projects that involve a good afternoon of organization — no paintbrush, no tools… just some motivation, a vision, and some hard work.I recently came across this mudroom makeover and thought it was a great example of how a before and after doesn’t have to be a super-expensive or super-involved affair. It’s encouraging to see how little changes can have a big impact!
Feb 26, 2013
Before & After: Michelle’s Industrial Jewelry Chest
When Michelle found these old tool chests at a fairground in Norman, Oklahoma, she immediately envisioned a way to restore them to their former glory and put them to good use. With a great deal of work and some serious elbow grease, they became what she calls her “keeper of treasures.”For some interiors the rustic industrial look might have worked, but the edges were sharp, the piece was covered in grime, and rust had overtaken the original finish.
Feb 26, 2013
Before & After: Rusty Flea Market Stool Makeover
You might walk by this unassuming stool at a thrift shop, but Charlotte saw potential. See how she gave this flea market find a fresh facelift. • Rusty Stool Redo Apartment Therapy
Feb 26, 2013
Renovation Guide: 10 Quality Tile Sources
In kitchen renovations, you can use tile to bring a lot of style to a little space. So where should you get started when looking for tile for your own project? Start with our list of 10 quality tile resources! • 10 Quality Tile Sources Apartment Therapy
Feb 25, 2013
Before & After: Charlotte’s Flea Market Find Makeover
You might walk by this unassuming stool at a thrift shop, but Charlotte saw potential. See how she gave this flea market find a fresh facelift. From Charlotte: Back when birds were chirping and grass wasn’t buried by 24″ of snow, I grabbed this wheelie stool at the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT. The seller clearly thought he was getting the good end of the deal charging me $10. But a simple coat of spray paint later, and it has a new lease on life.
Feb 25, 2013
Before & After: Closet Under the Stairs Gets a Dramatic Makeover
Harry Potter isn’t the only one with a cramped cupboard under the stairs. KariAnne Wood had a similarly awkward closet off the living room in her farmhouse. Previously it was just wasted, forgotten storage for random things, so she decided to make it a more useful and special spot in the house. See more of this project on KariAnne’s blog, Thistlewood Farms Thanks for sharing KariAnne!
Feb 25, 2013
Renter-Friendly Solution: Install a Removable Tile Backsplash
Kitchens are one of the spaces that could use the most help when renting. While changing out the faucet and fixtures is the usual fix, imagine if you could add a tiled backsplash with just a few screw holes! • Removable Backsplash DIY Apartment Therapy
Feb 25, 2013
Before & After: An Ocean View in the East Village
I was a teenager once, and I’m sure my mother would have been beside herself with joy if my room were ever as neat as this before photo. But while uncluttered, this teen bedroom lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. A teen’s room is the one place where they can express a style that is truly their own, and this room wasn’t cutting it.
Feb 25, 2013
The One Kitchen Item Worth Splurging On
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Last week we asked you, our readers, to share the one kitchen item you’d recommend splurging on. If you’ve ever wondered what’s worth the money in the kitchen, read on… • The One Kitchen Item Worth Splurging On The Kitchn
Feb 25, 2013
8 Small Cooking Habits To Pick Up
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Being a good cook is also about the small habits you practice daily, the ones that transform cooking into a more effortless and joyful part of your day. These 8 simple habits are easy to pick up, yet make a major difference in your cooking. • Small Cooking Habits The
Feb 22, 2013
Before & After: A Blank Wall Gets Shelved
Joy and Corey loved their downtown Los Angeles loft, but its small footprint made finding storage space pretty challenging. So they figured out a way to take advantage of their 13′ ceilings by going vertical.From Joy: The whole project was inspired by the need to get stuff up and off the floor; with limited square footage, every inch counts. Also, I really wanted a way to consolidate all our media elements.
Feb 22, 2013
Katharine & James’ Glamorous Family Home in London
Name: Katharine & James Howard (and daughter Amelie, 1 year) Location: South London, United Kingdom Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: Owned; 2 years Before I ever set foot in Katharine and James’ south London home, I knew that it would be beautifully designed to the last detail.
Feb 22, 2013
Smart & Simple Housekeeping: 5 Ways to Use Old Candles
The simplest helpful household tips are the ones that I value the most. I love finding new uses for humble objects, and it’s exciting to share these tips and learn some in exchange. • Put Old Candles to Work Apartment Therapy
Feb 22, 2013
Faith’s Renovation: Buying an IKEA Kitchen
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) The bones of a kitchen are the cabinets and their layout, and we knew from the get-go that we wanted to use IKEA’s cabinet system. Here are some things we learned along the way. • On Buying an IKEA Kitchen The Kitchn
Feb 22, 2013
Before & After: From Discarded Spool to Amazing Dining Room Table
When Cheltz’s husband, Woo, found this discarded industrial spool, he imagined a new dining room table… for free. Check out how the transformation went! • Spool to Table Transformation Apartment Therapy
Feb 22, 2013
Before & After: A Beautiful Vintage Dresser Gets a New Look
It’s not often that we see a before that looks so much like, well, an after. Natty admits that the dresser was in great shape when she got it, but she was looking for something more modern and personalized. After all, a dark stained wood isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and sometimes even beautiful pieces can stand to be a new kind of beautiful.
Feb 22, 2013
Quick Guide: Spices for Common Dishes
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) While there is really no “One Right Way” to season or spice your favorite foods, here’s a quick guide to some of the most common — and dependably tasty! — ways to do it. • Common Spices for Common Dishes The Kitchn
Feb 21, 2013
Make It: An Easy, No-Sew Window Seat Cushion
If you read the January Cure diaries, you probably saw my window seats, both bare and then with cushions. If you’re interested, here’s how I made the cushions in about an hour. • How to Make a Cushion Apartment Therapy
Feb 21, 2013
Before & After: Samna Transforms a Studio in 5 Days
Samna flew out to New York from her home in Seattle to help her sister set up her studio apartment. With only five days and $500, here’s how she transformed the rental into a chic hangout.From Samna: Here’s what I had to work with: My sister’s apartment in a post-war building, 248 square feet of bedroom/living area and kitchen, $500 budget and five days to get it all done. This project is for all of the people who claim “I don’t have time.
Feb 21, 2013
Before & After: Laura’s Family Room Finds a New Purpose
Laura spent seven years using this room, with its high ceilings and statement fireplace, as a family room. But considering its pass-through and access to the kitchen, she found a new purpose for the space that felt more natural. The process of transforming a living space into a dining space may not have been without challenges, but the results are stunning!
Feb 21, 2013
Before & After: Gallery Wall of Kids’ Art in the Dining Room
Lauren Liess had clients with a bland dining room looking for a stylish and personal upgrade. The family had a bold, cheerful style (and some budding Picassos!), so she came up with the perfect solution: a kids’ art wall! • Kids’ Art in the Dining Room Apartment Therapy
Feb 21, 2013
Lola’s Homemade Orange Kitchen
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Lola Milholland is an avid home cook with an amazing range of culinary abilities. She cooks with tenacity and confidence! Join us for a tour of this giant, personality-filled kitchen. • Lola’s Homemade Orange Kitchen The Kitchn
Feb 21, 2013
Caroline & Jose’s Remarkable Austin Nest
Name: Caroline and Jose Vasquez-Corbalan of Paloma’s Nest Location: Austin Texas Size: 1,000 square feet plus 600 square feet of studio/office space in the back. Years lived in: 10 years Caroline and Jose embody the true spirit of creativity. They spent their first date drawing furniture design ideas on the back of their dinner napkins — after realizing they both shared the same dream of wanting to make things for a living.
Feb 20, 2013
Kathryn & Perry’s “Have Less Do More” Apartment
Name: Kathryn and Perry Bacalis — Wedding and portrait photography team in Denver. Location: Capitol Hill, Denver, Colorado Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 4 months; rent Kathryn and Perry are the kind of people that make friends with just about everyone they meet. They are warm and welcoming, creative and stylish, just like their home. They recently left behind 1300 square feet of loft living and moved into a 650 square foot apartment in the heart of Denver’s Capitol Hill.
Feb 20, 2013
Three (Free!) Things You Need for Your Home Office
Working from home and being productive can be both rewarding and a challenge at the same time. Here are 3 free tools so easy to integrate into your workflow that you’ll be wondering what you did without them. • 3 Things for Your Home Office Apartment Therapy
Feb 20, 2013
Before & After: Vintage Dollhouse Gets a Colorful Facelift
For Christmas one year, the very stylish Suki gave her daughter a renovated vintage dollhouse. First off, the dollhouse itself is amazing, with what looks like real plaster walls and a brick chimney. Suki tore out some of the old materials, repainted, wallpapered and re-filled the house with tiny furniture and fixtures.The after is so charming, colorful and full of fun details. I would move in tomorrow if I could.  So amazing Suki!
Feb 20, 2013
Before & After: Colorful Kids’ Art in the Dining Room
Interior designer Lauren Liess had clients with a brand-new dining room looking for a stylish and personal upgrade. The family had a bold, cheerful style (and some budding Picassos!), so she came up with the perfect solution: a kids’ art wall!She added some new curtains, a new overhead fixture, and some sconces in the middle of the gallery wall — but the focus is the kids’ art, which adds a lot of color and fun to the room!
Feb 20, 2013
Before & After: Boring IKEA Billy Bookshelf to Rad Reading Bench
The great thing about Ikea’s Billy bookshelf is that it’s an inexpensive, versatile storage unit for any age — the downside is when you’d like it to be a bookshelf for kids but the height and reach is too much for little arms.Leave it to Lisa Campbell to fix that! She just turned it on its side, so that it not only holds books safely, it doubles as a bench! She added some decorative trim, secured the shelves, and sewed a cushion for the top.
Feb 20, 2013
Battling Throwawayism: A Low-Carb Furniture Diet
You are what you sit on. At Apartment Therapy we are always working hard developing our philosophy and working out the talking points that underpin the healthy, beautiful, organized home. • A Low-Carb Furniture Diet Apartment Therapy
Feb 20, 2013