Aaron Able

Twilight Sleep Sofa from DWR
image:92905848d60c62061c759da18c6da38840b32dc0 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" The Twilight Sleep Sofa from Design Within Reach shows up fairly regularly in our Scavenger posts and is a popular solution for Apartment Therapy readers furnishing a modern space. Designed for occasional use as a sleeper, Twilight has a bare-bones design — a minimal platform, 2 stacked cushions and a large adjustable bolster.
Apr 5, 2022
Before & After: Penny’s Personal Paradise
Name: PennyLocation: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York One of the reasons we chose this condo when we moved from Manhattan, was the potential of the garden. We promised a garden to our dog Sasha and we delivered.We inherited it as a pit of tenacious weeds, specifically Japanese Knotweed, that had to be dug out and removed by hand before any planting or sod laying.
Dec 19, 2019
Quick Tip #35: How to Make Shower Curtains Glide Over Rods
Rub wax paper on your shower’s curtain rod to make rings run smoothly (and quietly) over the metal. The same concept works with metal hangers and closet rod. A single sheet of wax paper is usually enough, but if your curtain is especially screechy, it might take two. The paper will get gritty as it picks up the fine metallic dust.
May 10, 2019
Stacey’s 40s-Inspired Bedroom by Patrick J. Hamilton
Name: StaceyLocation: Union Square, NYC Designer Patrick J. Hamilton sent in Before & After images of his client’s bedroom — and included one of the most thorough list of resources (and links!
May 8, 2019
Riihitie 20: The Aalto Family Home, Studio & Laboratory
Name: Alvar Aalto & family Location: Munkkiniemi neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland Size: approximately 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 40 years Alvar Aalto’s first building built in Helsinki was his own home and architecture studio.
Apr 18, 2019
Steve & Rhea’s Renovated Fisherman’s Cottage
Name: Steve Schappacher & Rhea White of SchappacherWhiteLocation: Shelter Island, New York We bought this 1904 fisherman’s cottage 5 years ago. Originally planning to use the home as a weekend retreat from NYC, we now spend most of our time in the 1,100 square foot house, a block from Cockles Harbor.
Feb 4, 2019
Budget Basics: Simple White Dinnerware
I love my Aspen Dinnerware from Crate & Barrel — it’s slim, crisp white, easy to add on or replace and it’s CHEAP. While inexpensive basics are Crate & Barrel’s specialty, there are lots of options out there for budget white dinnerware. I’ve compiled 10 classics from a range of retailers: all sets and prices are service for 4 but range from 3-5 pieces per place setting:1.
Oct 15, 2012
Lisbeth Salander’s IKEA Shopping List
In The Girl Who Played with Fire — the second book of best-selling Millennium Triology by Stieg Larsson — the character Lisbeth Salander moves into a new apartment and goes shopping at IKEA — a rather mundane activity that IKEA fans will enjoy as they recognize specific product names and remember some of the discontinued products that are missed.
Dec 16, 2011
Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation
This project was completed by some regular readers from Seattle: “In March 2010, I came upon the ever-popular Penny Tile floor post on your site. At the time, we were in the process of renovating our 1950s rambler and I was unsuccessful in finding a contractor to complete a concrete overlay (thin-set concrete) design on our master bathroom floor.
Aug 24, 2011
Round Beds, Round Mattresses & Round Sleeper Sofas
Round beds first appeared on the residential market in 1968 with Luigi Massoni’s rotating Lullaby bed for Poltrona Frau (the updated version is shown above). Today, there are more round beds on the market than one would suspect — and even a handful of online sources for elusive round bedding! The selection varies widely: from super high end rotating beds to custom platform beds and mattresses.
Mar 15, 2011
Ryan & Katie’s Collections in Columbus
Name: Ryan Brinkerhoff & Katie TyneLocation: Victorian Village / Short North — Columbus, Ohio I am owner and head designer of Bandito Design Co.. I live in a 450 square feet one bedroom apartment that I share with my girlfriend. It serves as both a living space as well as a studio space where I work as a graphic designer.The space is small, but that has led us to be creative with the boundaries (or lack thereof) of design area and living area.
Mar 14, 2011
Nelly & Samuel’s Australian Beach Home
Name: Nelly Reffet & Samuel DesmarisLocation: Watermans Bay, Western Australia (a mere hundred metres from Indian Ocean beaches) We were desperately looking for a cute beach house to rent at an affordable price. So when we stumble upon a very neglected shack that was screaming potential, we jumped onto it!
Feb 2, 2011
Rosie & Matt’s Renovation
Name: Rosie & MattLocation: Highlands neighborhood — Louisville, Kentucky In January of 2008 we began the process of converting our new house, a very dark, cramped 1950s house with a bad 90s remodel into the space you see in the photos. I am a graphic artist, and my husband, Matt Frederick, is a furniture designer. We did all the design of the interior spaces ourselves, as well as most of the work.The big idea for the public spaces in the house was to make them as gallery-like as possible.
Jan 21, 2011
Suki’s Small Studio in Seattle
Name: SukiLocation: Capitol Hill — Seattle, Washington It has taken me two years and four months to get my 470 square foot condo finally ready for a House Call. It proves that my style is patience! It takes me forever to find any object that I truly love. Every shopping experience is like searching for a soul mate. I am mostly drawn to old, used objects that make you wonder their life story. Therefore, used goods stores, craigslist, and garage sales are my muse and inpiration.
Jan 14, 2011
Budget Basics: Cheap Closet Systems
image:85d565f3f04669ec0d0d5dd6257d12d4642427cd w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" With the popularity of high-end California Closets and mid-range Elfa systems, the more basic underdogs are often overlooked — here are 5 sources for CHEAP closet and shelving systems to get you started organizing on a budget.
Jan 14, 2011
Mimi’s Bronx Renovation
Name: Mimi FongLocation: Bronx, New York My husband and I purchased a 3-story house four years ago. Although charming and quaint, the apartment’s 1960’s renovation was showing its age and use throughout. After living there for nearly two years and contemplating what we would like to change, we decided to take the plunge. Naturally, being an interior designer, I took on the responsibility of designing and running this project, and my husband as the client.
Jan 3, 2011
Kat’s Salvage Style
Name: KatLocation: Reno, Nevada When we moved to Reno, Nevada from Oakland, California, I was hoping to purchase an old ramshackle barn and restore it into a rad loft, in the style we were accustomed to living. However, due to our great desire to take advantage of Mr. Obama’s phat tax credit for first time home buyers, our selections were limited by time constraints (the tax credit expired at the end of April).
Nov 17, 2010
Hunter & Casie’s “Redneck Modern” Eichler Home
Name: Hunter Wimmer (Design Educator) & Casie Permenter (Civil Engineer) and Marty the Cranky CatLocation: Concord, CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square feet + 200 square feet atriumYears lived in: 3 — owned On a blazingly hot 4th of July holiday, my wife and I moved from West Oakland to the suburbs of Concord to tackle a labor of love: a 1963 Eichler-built home in pretty rough, but somewhat original shape.
Nov 16, 2010
Sacha & Johan’s High Risk / High Reward Home
Name: Sacha & JohanLocation: Pretoria, South Africa We were in the very fortunate position of being able to build our own house. We both loved the idea of a large loft space, so decided it was now or never. The journey started off a bit bumpy as it was difficult to find an architect that wasn’t corrupted by the mainstream. We eventually found our house in the mind of a young rookie. High risk, high reward.
Nov 12, 2010
125 Square Feet! Kristen’s Minimalist Studio in Seattle
Name: Kristen EllisLocation: Pike Place Market — Seattle, Washington My apartment is located in the heart of the world famous Pike Place Market. The apartment is a studio and is approximately 125 square feet. The building in which it is located was originally built in 1907 and offered housing to the fisherman who needed a temporary place to stay while on shore. The building has a roof top balcony that not only overlooks the Market but the Puget Sound, Mt. Rainer and the Olympic Mountains.
Nov 8, 2010
Before & After: Crazy Quilt Dining Chairs
Ashley sent in the results of her just-completed upholstery project &mdash and it’s crazy! This afternoon I re-covered a set of four dining room chairs that my husband and I received from his GREAT grandmother, all the way across the Atlantic from Bermuda. It’s a lovely set — but the fabric in which they arrived was dirtied and dingy and was in desperate need of a change.
Nov 2, 2010
DIY Table Lamp: Noguchi-Inspired IKEA Hack
With a few tweaks, Chris of ManMade hacked IKEA’s $10 VÄTE table lamp to more closely resemble one of Isamu Noguchi’s Akari lamps.
Oct 8, 2010
Alexandria’s Old Soul Apartment
Name: Alexandria CarterLocation: Nolita — New York, New York My apartment is the perfect eclectic mix of old and new. When I first moved to NYC two years ago, I immediately furnished my apartment with practical IKEA furniture. As I started walking around the city, I discovered a lot of beauty in antiques and used objects. They seemed to have an air of wealth that came from a history and a past life.
Oct 5, 2010
Showtime House 2010
What: Showtime House 2010Location: Midtown — New York, New YorkSize: 3 Penthouse apartments in Cassa Hotel & Residences, Benefiting: Harlem Children’s Zone Showhouses are a bizarre animal — and the third Showtime House is no exception. Pulling inspiration from 7 Showtime original series, the designers mix high-concept and high-design into themed rooms for the public to tour.
Sep 13, 2010
Benjamen’s DIY Pop Art
Name: Benjamen PurvisLocation: Ballard — Seattle, Washington My style mixes colorful Pop Art with warm, earthy traditionals. Most of the artwork I have on display is my own — the “Hard Day’s Night”-era Beatles made out of Legos; the Lichtenstein-esque Superman painting; the Warhol-esque Coke can painting and soup can labels, plus others that aren’t in these shots.
Sep 13, 2010
Gene & Heidi’s Colorful Art-filled Home
Name: Gene, Heidi and Baby WyethLocation: Downtown — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,285 square feetYears Lived In: 2½ years Gene recently shared his home through a House Call Gene’s Graphics & Color: Geometric Art Collection — and I couldn’t wait to share more! A perfect kick-off to our Art, Craft & Collection month, this Brooklyn family’s loft is oozing with exciting art and Gene shared one of the most extensive resource lists (including all the art!
Sep 3, 2010
Before & After: Chi’s Childhood Room
Designer: Jen ChuClient: ChiLocation: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, New York My friend, Chi, grew up in this room. She moved out for college, and when she came back, the room seemed to need a face lift more than ever. The dingy paint with the poor lighting made the room unbearably drab. The lack of storage made it impossible to maintain a tidy space. Fortunately, her room had great bones with plenty of wall space and nice hardwood floors.
Sep 3, 2010
Before & After: Carolyn’s Space Age Tubs!
Name: CarolynLocation: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Before getting married last spring, my husband and I lived in separate spaces. I owned a west-coast modern/ranch hybrid of 4,600 square feet, and he lived in a 1,200 square foot condo. After having talked about moving in together for many months, it came as a surprise to both of us that we chose to sell both and start fresh. The idea of amalgamating and downsizing was daunting but exciting as well.
Aug 30, 2010
Kevin Sharkey’s High Over the Hudson
Name: Kevin Sharkey, decorating editorial director of Martha Stewart LivingLocation: Far West Village — New York, New YorkSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: 2 After 18 months of renovations, Kevin Sharkey was so pleased to have his apartment complete for the September issue of Martha Stewart Living that he invited Apartment Therapy editors for a private tour! The contemporary space is high over the Hudson in one of the Richard Meier towers on the West Side Highway.
Aug 26, 2010
Sarika’s Studio Apartment
Name: SarikaLocation: Lower East Side — New York, New York My studio apartment is smack dab in the middle of New York City’s Lower East Side — a neighborhood that recently topped a list of best places to live for the “young, single and cash-strapped.” Fitting the bill on all three of those things, and zeroing in on the last item (working on a reporter’s budget here!
Aug 6, 2010
TV Shame: New Ways to Hide the Television
I’ve never understood the need to hide a television — but I also know that there are tons of folks with TV shame who will go to great lengths to hide, disguise and camouflage their boobtubes. Here are some new products for those of you with TV shame!• 1 Art Lift from Media Decor uses your own original art to hide your TV and then expose it with the aid of a remote control. Three levels of precision and silence available — at three different price points.
Aug 2, 2010
Before & After: Michael’s Missoni Bench!
Michael found a vintage Steelcase bench from the 60s and decided to replace the ripped vinyl upholsery — with Missoni! Michael chose a thoughtful mix of Missoni Kew and Missoni Claremont to totally transform and update the steel bench.Missoni upholstery-weight fabric is not cheap — but it elevated the bench to great heights!After purchasing the Missoni textiles from Amara, Michael hired a local upholsterer to do the magic.
Jul 21, 2010
Wendy’s Shoebox Studio
Name: WendyLocation: Hell’s Kitchen — NYC My apartment is a 350 square feet studio apartment located in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan. I recently moved in back in February of 2010, so I’ve been living here about 4 months. I think it would make an great Apartment Therapy House tour because of the limited space as a studio.
Jun 14, 2010
Randal’s ‘Miniature English Country House’
Name: Randal DawkinsLocation: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC This is my small apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I am an antiques buyer for a Manhattan firm and an interior designer. My aesthetic is a layered look — filled with antiques and art of many periods and styles. I like to consider my apartment my miniature English country house.Thanks Randal!• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy?
May 24, 2010
Erin & Ben’s Toothpaste Factory Loft
Name: Erin & Ben Location: Downtown — Laurel, Mississippi Our loft apartment was built around 1903 and was a toothpaste factory after World War I. Now it’s our home and the studio of Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence. After years of being a law office, my family bought this flatiron building and we got to work on renovations.
Apr 8, 2010
Katherine’s Red Bathroom
Name: Katherine HammondLocation: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn I would like to share my bathroom! It is a 5′ x 6′ shower room which is used by our two kids (6 & 8 years old) my husband and me. I designed a shower room , popular in Europe, to meet our long term and immediate needs. I used red subway for the walls and pennys for the floor, tiliing high on the walls to create the feeling of more space…Summer before last we bought a 4 story limestone building in Prospect Heights.
Mar 26, 2010