Framed black-and-white portraits on tree-patterned wallpaper, wooden shelf with candles and a plant.
DIY Room Makeovers You Won’t Believe Are Actually Basements
Do you have a basement? Is it being enjoyed? Does it look blah? (Are you perhaps afraid to go down there?) Whether you own or rent, you’ll find inspiration in the end results of these two basements designed by creative couples (one in a rental home, one in an owned home). Each couple approached design in different ways, but the outcomes are the same: A previously unused basement ends up a beautiful bonus space for the home.
May 3, 2019
Trending: Dark & Stormy Jewel Tone Paint Colors
In a recent Apartment Therapy ‘Favorite Rooms’ post, someone described their bedroom as “Dark and Stormy.” Perusing through the photos, I agreed with the adjectives; the wall paint color was reminiscent of the greenish blue color of a stormy sea. I realized I had seen several wall paint colors recently that also fit the dark and stormy style. I spot a trend – one that could lead to dramatic and bold spaces.
May 3, 2019
Half-Painted Walls That Are All-the-Way Gorgeous
It’s a wall painting trend that comes and goes: The half-painted wall. (Or, like the famous “Is the glass half full or half empty?” question, you could also consider these half unpainted walls). Whichever way you look at it, only painting half of a wall isn’t putting in half the design effort; it’s creating bold style with well-placed color. These rooms showcase just how beautiful and sophisticated this painting idea can be.
May 3, 2019
Use This Easy-to-Do Painted Pattern Trend to Beautify or Conceal
The power of painted-on pattern is well known. You can conceal damage on thrifted furniture pieces, you can update dated kitchen and bathroom cabinets—you can use paint patterns to upgrade just about anything you can put paint on. But not everyone has the DIY skills (or energy or time) to paint elaborate patterns. Thankfully, there’s a paint pattern trending—and it’s easy to do, can be done in any color and helps both beautify and conceal.
May 3, 2019
What’s the Right Height for Hanging a Light Fixture Above a Table?
When it comes to any job that involves drilling holes, you want to get it right the first time. Just as you do when hanging art, you have to figure out the sweet spot when hanging light fixtures. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: What’s the right height for hanging a light above a table? For fixtures hanging over a kitchen island or a dining room table: Hang it low enough so that it brings light to the surface (but not so low that it obscures eyelines).
May 3, 2019
We’ve Reached Peak Fiddle Leaf: Is This the New “It” Plant?
A recent New York Times article highlighted the current “it” plant of the home design world: the fiddle-leaf fig plant. Dark green leaves and height create a bold statement in any home. But have we arrived at “peak fiddle-leaf”? I’ve observed another plant taking center stage in interiors recently. A beautiful, dramatic plant addition to any home—but without the price tag (or sometimes-fickleness) of fiddle-leaf plants.
May 3, 2019
This Fashion Accessory Might Be Just the Thing to Dress Up Your Windows
What costs nothing, takes seconds to complete and is a small detail that can have a surprisingly charming impact on your window? I spotted this tiny but clever detail on some drapes in this recent real-life home…it might be a way for you use a fashion accessory you may have been neglecting as well as jazz up your window coverings. It’s one of those “duh, of course!” ideas that you may have never considered before.
May 3, 2019
Kitchen Inspiration: Bold & Beautiful Patterned Floors in Real Homes
The floor usually isn’t the design element that first grabs your attention in a kitchen, but these rooms are the exception. Bold, busy patterned floors mix with a variety of decor styles in these examples. What they all have in common? They totally steal the show! Shown above: Bold blue and white floors grab your attention the moment you walk into the kitchen of Anne & Steve’s Relaxed, Eclectic & Casual Home in Cape Town.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in Charlotte
Katie and her boyfriend Patrick worked wonders on their Charlotte, North Carolina home that was once a foreclosure. They opened up the kitchen, replaced flooring and added their serene style to the space, creating a beautiful, calming home. Katie manages annual giving at a local private school and, on the side, operates Maiden Flower Crowns with her business partner and friend Allison Purmort. Today, she shares some favorite local businesses in the Charlotte neighborhood she lives in.
May 3, 2019
6 Kitchens That Will Persuade You to Pick Waterfall Edge
Once considered an ultra-modern decor choice, waterfall counters are popping up in a variety of kitchen styles these days. They add a sleek, minimal look to any kitchen design while helping to hide appliances and protect wood cabinets. They’re often easier to clean. And’ if you really love your counter material, you can you can show it off more of it when you pick waterfall style.
May 3, 2019
Book Nook Makeover: There’s Hope for That Unused Corner in Your Home, Too
Above: A bland, unused corner of a living room. Below: A colorful, dreamy reading nook you could get cozy in for hours reading your favorite novel. Yes —this mini-makeover of a living room’s unused corner turned reading nook is totally intended for kids. But that’s not stopping me from getting inspiration for my own dreamy book nook.
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Tiny Kitchen in a Pre-War Apartment Gets a Modern Update
Nathan Rittgarn doesn’t list the square footage in his professional project submission of this kitchen, located in a pre-war Brooklyn Heights one-bedroom apartment. But you can see from the before photos above, it’s not particularly expansive. Coupled with the fact that the apartment’s “entryway” dumps you right in front of this small space, and it’s clear this room needed an update not just for aesthetics, but for function, too.
May 3, 2019
Get the Look: Vintage Charm in an Industrial Loft
A lot of things in Kristen Ley’s home are vintage. She is the founder of Thimblepress, a letterpress and stationery company based in Mississippi. Kristen also has an eye for affordable new buys that she masterfully mixes with her one-of-kind second-hand and travel finds. Her apartment, located on the top floor of a building in the historic downtown Jackson area, is a beautiful blend of styles that create a cheery and personal home.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in Fes, Morocco
Textile designer, sourcing consultant and founder of Artisan Project, Nina M. Alami lives in a patterned, colorful riad in the Old Medina of Fes with her husband, Mohamed and their kids. The mother of four, she’s also an “artist producing textiles with a community of cooperatives, and a lineage of craftsman; simultaneously sourcing, consulting, and overseeing production in Fes, the Middle Atlas and the Rif regions of Morocco.
May 3, 2019
Get the Look: Resources for “Polished Bohemian” Style
Amanda Holstein, the blogger behind Advice from a 20 Something lives in a charming San Francisco studio apartment. She calls her style “Polished Bohemian,” and it’s sophisticated and cozy. Below, get this look with shopping links to the exact items Amanda bought for her home (or items that look very similar!). 1. Chair — Similar: The Sungar Arm Chair from Wayfair 2. White Metal Cart — World Market 3. Gold Lamp — Urban Outfitters 4.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in Downtown Los Angeles
Occupied by a creative couple, this Downtown Los Angeles loft is a vibrant and textured home. Nina Hans is Creative Director of Weekday Studio, a design studio that helps brands visually express themselves. She lives in DTLA with her husband and Weekday Studio co-Founder Jon Hans. They’ve lived in Downtown Los Angeles for ten years, and today, Nina shares some of her favorite well-designed places to visit.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in Williamsburg
Sarah Ashley Schiear is the founder of Salt House Market, a curated e-commerce site for kitchen and home goods. Sarah began her career as a chef and caterer for high-end dinner parties after appearing on ABC’s The Taste. She founded Salt House with a goal of creating a modern brand to revolutionize the way we think about homemaking. She’s lived in Brooklyn for three years (and NYC four years). Today, she shares some of her favorite (and yummiest!) spots in Williamsburg.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in Tucson, Arizona
Theresa Delaney is from the East Coast, but she’s fallen completely in love with Tucson, where she shares a cute apartment with her Tucson-native boyfriend James (and two rowdy pups). She writes: “We love being a quick ten-minute drive from downtown or the University of Arizona, and minutes from our favorite spots in the foothills. The large yard, quiet neighborhood and desert scenery don’t hurt, either!” Today, she shares some of her favorite spots in Tucson.
May 3, 2019
Smart & Stylish Design Tips from an Extremely Tiny Bedroom
Extremely tiny bedrooms—like, not much bigger than the bed small—can be a challenge to decorate and arrange when you want to have a room that functions well and looks good. But Lisa Tilse of the blog We Are Scout made some smart and stylish decisions in her teenage daughter Roxy’s tiny bedroom. From Lisa of We Are Scout: The room is TINY! It measures 6.5 x 8.75 feet—which is just enough space for a double bed to fit across.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in San Antonio
Since moving to San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood in 2015, Hannah Lynn has made it her mission to show what an incredibly colorful, rich place the Alamo City is. She writes: “My personal blog shares my 365 day staycation experience in San Antonio and all the places that make it a great place to love. That was a typo, but love is more accurate than live.
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Historic Home Goes From Icky Green to Light & Clean
When you’re lucky enough to live in a home with beautiful historic architectural features, you probably want to highlight those features with your decor. Paint can work, sure, but maybe not in this icky green color? That’s what Danny and Lyndsay faced when they moved into this Portland, Maine rental. So they used the power of paint to cover up the unpleasant green, refresh the space, brighten the home and turn the focus on one charming architectural feature in particular.
May 3, 2019
A Well-Designed Day in LA’s Highland Park Neighborhood
Marni Epstein-Mervis has been an Angeleno for 11 years now. She and her husband moved to LA’s Highland Park Neighborhood nine months ago after a number of years in neighboring Echo Park. Marni’s an architecture journalist and owner and Principal of STRUKTR Studios, “where we create content and communications for companies in architecture, design, and real estate.
May 3, 2019
Daring Color Palettes Inspired by New Orleans’ Vibrant Architecture
If you’ve ever seen photos of the houses in New Orleans, you know a wide-ranging, daring mix of colors adorns this city’s architecture. Any time I stroll the streets, I’m inspired to get bold in my own home. Even those these color combinations are on the outside of these homes, consider these pre-made palettes direction for the inside of yours.
May 3, 2019
Dev’s Retro-Inspired IKEA-Free NYC Walk-Up
Name: Dev Shah Location: Lower East Side/Chinatown area Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting There’s one thing that you won’t find in the apartment of Master of None’s main character Dev: any furniture pieces from IKEA. “It’s just not Dev’s style and I could never image him assembling any furniture,” reveals Amy Williams, the production designer for Netflix’s hit show, which recently came back with ten new episodes for its second season.
May 3, 2019
4 Super Powerful (But Easy!) Ways to Upgrade Your Art
Color can change the look of a frame — and the feel of a room. (Here is proof!) But paint isn’t the only way you can alter art, frame-wise, to make a big visual impact. In this post, see how adding, switching, enlarging and more can make your art a bigger statement than it already is.
May 3, 2019
Proof that IKEA’s TOBIAS Chair Works With Any Style
Half the fun of flipping through the glossy pages of a furniture catalog is fantasizing about the bed, sofa or chair living in your own home. But it can be tough to envision the design in your space when your home’s style doesn’t quite match the impeccably styled look on the page. So abandon the catalog and check out these gorgeous real-life homes. This contemporary dining chair is sleek, shapely, easy-to-clean and most importantly…versatile!
May 3, 2019
How To Make a TV-Hiding Sliding Art Accent Wall
Many of us love watching television but hate seeing that giant black rectangle become the visual centerpiece of a room. Creative couple Nicole and Dave put a lot of thought and effort into their beautiful, industrial live/work loft in South Baltimore, so naturally they didn’t want a big, ugly TV getting in the way of their style. So they came up with a pretty fantastic, artful solution for hiding their TV, and they’ve shared with us how they did it!
May 3, 2019
The 4 Biggest Ways You Get in the Way of Looking Your Best
Laurel Kinney’s personal styling business is much more than just the superficial. With a background in social work, she believes “fashion should support you, be an enjoyable creative outlet that makes you feel confident, and the process of shopping for a wardrobe you love shouldn’t be a rule-filled pain, but a fun and easy endeavor with positive results.
May 3, 2019
Questions to Ask Yourself Now So Your 2018 Closet Doesn’t End Up Full of Clothes You Never Wear
Laurel Kinney is a personal stylist, and we toured her beautiful Austin home a few years ago. She has five questions you should ask yourself before the year is up so you don’t end up filling your 2018 closet full of clothes you’ll never wear. Laurel writes: Have you ever peered into your closet and had the frustrating feeling that none of your clothes feel right anymore?
May 3, 2019
How To Create a Bedroom Closet Out of Thin Air
Though it would seem like life without a closet in your bedroom is an impossible way to live, it’s more than just possible — it can even look stylish. All these beautiful homes below have something in common: The master bedroom either doesn’t have a built-in closet or doesn’t have nearly sufficient closet space. But, these home dwellers were able to come up with an elegant storage solution anyway.
May 3, 2019
The Surprisingly Versatile Treasure You Should Snag Next Time You’re Thrifting
Emily Waldman, an expert vintage decor hunter and owner of a treasure-filled Austin abode, knows how to pick out old-fashioned gems when thrifting—and how to fold them beautifully into a modern, eclectic home that exudes youthful energy. She’s a big fan of a certain item with a reputation for being outdated—but her success in incorporating it into her house may persuade you to start looking for one the next time you thrift. Sound, solid thrift shopping advice.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Craftsman Reinvigorated by a Thoughtful Remodel
Interior designer and stylist Brett and her husband Brandon bought a 1900s Craftsman house in Oakland, California in March of last year, but they couldn’t move in right away. The architectural charm was immediately obvious, but it also needed a lot of work. A renovation was definitely in the cards.
May 3, 2019
Goodbye TV: Projector Buying Tips & Advice from People Who Made the Switch
I’ve been thinking about getting a projector. The thought of curling up on my couch and recreating the movie theater experience in my own home is very appealing. But I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what to buy. And I sure as heck don’t know how to get the most bang for my buck. Thankfully, three real people in real homes were more than happy to share why they’re #teamprojector for life—and it just might inspire you to make the switch.
May 3, 2019
How to DIY When You Live in an Apartment (Without a Garage or Workshop)
Being a DIY weekend warrior is a bit easier when you have fresh ventilation, room to spread out, and a place to put all that sawdust. But if you don’t have a garage, workshop, backyard, or driveway at home, don’t say goodbye to DIY. It’s possible to get crafty, even if you’re a renter living in a multi-unit building. Need proof? Jess Goodwin filled her stylish small apartment in the middle of Chicago with hand-made projects — no garage, no problem.
May 3, 2019
Real Couples On: The Biggest Purchase They’d Make Without Consulting Their Partner
How much money would you feel comfortable spending on something for your home…without consulting your partner first? After all, when you live together, you work together to decorate the space and manage the finances. We asked a handful of real couples to share any money limits they have when it comes to splurging on decor. See how you and your mate’s spending style stacks up, or get advice on how to set limits in your own partnership.
May 3, 2019
Doing This One Small Task Today Will Make Your Bathroom Feel More Organized
No matter how often I “clean” my bathroom, it always feels like there’s a mess hiding in the shadows. An undercurrent of disorganization. A collection of clutter just out of sight. It probably feels that way because although I try to keep my cabinets and drawers tidy…I haven’t really expended that much effort, just kind of tossing my stuff into random drawers. Who has time for anything more? Thankfully you don’t actually have to have more time than that.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Almost Unrecognizable Modern Transformation of a Beige Suburban House
Dream of living in an open, airy, minimal home but find yourself in a beige-hued, standard suburban house? After you pick your jaw up off the floor upon viewing these before and afters of a renovated Cleveland home, you’ll likely be inspired and motivated to try your hand at modernizing your own space!
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Kitchen “Held Together with Tape” Gets an Overdue DIY Remodel
Every square inch of this kitchen was ripped out and lovingly put back together — this time in a much more functional and stylish way — by the homeowners themselves. As designer Michelle Gage writes on her blog: “The floors were dirty and sticky. The appliances appeared to be original to the house. The counter tops were held together with tape.” It took two years to save enough money to finally tackle this outdated kitchen’s remodel.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Itty-Bitty Bathroom Goes From Sad to Rad
A small bathroom is bad enough to live with. But when your small bathroom is windowless and boring? Well that’s just sad. Designer Mary Lee wasn’t going to stand for a tiny, depressing bathroom. So she worked her DIY remodel magic on this part of her Seattle studio apartment, and the result is inspiring! I just loved Mary’s advice for decorating that she shared in her house tour: “More isn’t always better when it comes to stuff and space.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: From a Gutted Airstream To a Perfect Tiny Home
Brandon and Gabi aren’t just living a dream life — traveling around and enjoying the beauty of our country — they’re doing it while living in this dreamy Airstream trailer. As we showed in their house tour, tons of thought went into the DIY details of their tiny mobile home, from storage to lighting and more. And while the end result is certainly beautiful, it took A LOT of work to get it there.
May 3, 2019
How a Chef and Baker Share the World’s Smallest Kitchen
It’s impressive when a couple shares a tiny home together. But even more extraordinary is what Devon Loftus and her chef husband Brian Loftus have managed to pull off in their super small, 320-square-foot tiny house: cook, bake and entertain, despite having a kitchen that’s only 18 square feet! How do they do it? The couple generously shared their small but successful kitchen dwelling secrets.
May 3, 2019
The Most Effective Space-Maximizing Ideas Real Renters ACTUALLY Use
Advice from design writers is great and all, but what’s useful is learning about what people who are actually dealing with real rental issues are doing to overcome design dilemmas. Since the worlds of rental issues and small space problems can often overlap, why not look to folks with stylish spaces for ideas on how to make the most of the rental space you have?
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A London Studio Apartment’s Total Transformation
There are remodels…and then there are total transformations. Julia and Kurt bought a run-down studio apartment nine years ago. The layout was weird and it was on the teeny side. But instead of just improving the look of the current home’s foot print, they thought outside of the box! They decided to take over the home’s huge rooftop terrace to convert their studio apartment into a two-level, two-bedroom modern home. Originally all the living spaces were on one level.
May 3, 2019
4 Simple Steps for Ruthlessly Clearing the Clutter in 2019
Emily Ley is a mama of three, a designer, author, and the creator of the wildly popular Simplified Planner. She lives in a perfectly imperfect new-build house in Florida with her husband and kiddos…and she knows a thing or two about simplifying life. Below, her four simple steps for ruthlessly clearing the clutter in the New Year. Here’s Emily: The beginning of a new year feels so fresh, doesn’t it? The giant, light-up holiday decor has been put away.
May 3, 2019
Before & After: New Bedrooms for the Whole Family in a Brooklyn Brownstone
Considering the amazing renovation work done on the living room, dining room and kitchen of Nicole and Dan Lucey’s Brooklyn brownstone, it’s not exactly a surprise that they also showed the same care, intention and design savvy with the family’s upstairs bedrooms. What is surprising are the bold design choices in two of the rooms, and the serene space the master bedroom turned out to be. Nicole and Dan’s sophisticated son originally wanted ALL black walls.
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Dark, Dated Kitchen Gets an Unbelievably Beautiful Update
The kitchen in this Brooklyn brownstone — before its reinvigorating renovation and revival — was dismal. Dark, dated. Grimy and greasy. Peeling paint, cracked walls and a floor you wouldn’t want to walk barefoot on. The whole home needed a lot of work, but the kitchen perhaps most so. After all, for many families the kitchen is the heart of the home. The hub of action. The hangout space of party guests.
May 3, 2019
Two Savvy Solutions for Ugly Rental Kitchen Lights
Considering the amount of spectacularly hideous light fixtures in rental kitchens around the country, it’s almost as if installing the ugliest, most unflattering light fixture was at one time the law. That’s of course not true, but for anyone who’s ever walked into their rental kitchen, looked up at their light fixture and wondered “why that?,” this post’s for you.
May 3, 2019