Before and After: Discovering Your Decor Style After a Breakup
Jenna Schreck is a holistic nutrition consultant and the blogger behind NO WHEY LADY. She currently lives in this bright San Francisco loft with her dog.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 29, 2019
This Charming Old Copenhagen Home Is Classic Nordic Style
Name: Majken Thrane, husband Andreas, and Hans (4 years old) and Soren (1½ years old) Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Size: 1,658 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Welcome to Scandi Week—Apartment Therapy’s seven-day focus on all-things Scandinavia (often defined as the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway).
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 10, 2019
Before & After: A Courtyard Gets a Low-Maintenance Makeover
For a less intrepid DIY-er the assortment pictured above would be one intimidating pile of rocks. Not so for April. She transformed her courtyard into a relaxing spot, perfect for entertaining. Best of all, it’s super low maintenance so she can spend more time planning parties and less time watering grass! From April: I am in love with the new look of my courtyard area, which was almost all do-it-yourself projects.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2019
Before & After: Replacing a Rotting Deck With a Budget-Friendly Alternative
Jennifer’s backyard was overgrown and her deck had seen better days. After clearing away a good portion of the growth, she knew her backyard had major potential but she wasn’t entirely sure what to do about the deck. Enter gravel! Friend to both budget and mother nature, this alternative choice helped Jennifer build a gorgeous outdoor space. From Jennifer: Before I purchased my house in late 2007, it had lived a maintenance-free life. The yard was completely overgrown.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2019
Before & After: A Budget- and Renter-Friendly Patio Makeover
It was love at first sight for Elizabeth and her patio. And like any good relationship, they’ve inspired each other, supported each other and brought a little color into each others’ lives. From Elizabeth: When we took the tour of our apartment I didn’t even need to step through the front door before I realized that we we’re going to take it. Simply based on the patio.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2019
A Portuguese Rental Home Is Effortlessly Elegant
This bright white rental apartment in Lisbon has textiles, art, and objects that bring in color.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2019
This Is What an Off-Grid Passive House Looks Like
Name: Jennie Hoekstra, Luke Hoekstra, Jude (9), Neve (7), Wilder (4), Marmalade (the cat), Miki and Mandu (Australian Zebra Finches), and a flock of semi-retired hens. Location: Kemble — Ontario, Canada Size: 1,665 square feet Years Lived In: 6 months, owned In the spring of 2017 a lovely four-acre lot came up for sale in the rural village where we live. We knew the property well and loved it, but understood that it was on an unmaintained road with no hydro, so building would be tricky.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2019
A Songwriter’s Cute Nashville Rental Apartment Is All About Creating Tunes and Optimizing Views
Songwriter Jessica Sirls lives in this cute Nashville rental apartment she decorated herself.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 11, 2019
College Sweethearts Create a Light, Bright, “Less Is More” Denver Home
Name: Elizabeth Bear and her husband Location: Denver, Colorado Size: Approx 4300 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned My college sweetheart and I got married in July 2009, both second marriages; previously we had agreed to sell the homes we were each living in and purchase one together.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 5, 2019
This Arizona Home Is Filled With Utterly Fantastic Hand-Painted Florals
Name: Bari and Kevin Ackerman (grown daughters Anna and Emily live here only part time). Pets include Kevin’s saltwater aquarium fish. Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Size: 3,400 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned We moved to Arizona in December 2011 with our two daughters who were in 8th grade and sophomore year of high school at the time. Because we hadn’t sold our house in California yet, we stayed with my parents for a bit. When the house sold in January, we began hunting.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 10, 2019
Before & After: Kim’s Bright and White Kitchen Update
Kim, a lifestyle blogger who loves spending time in her kitchen trying out recipes with her two young daughters, always wanted to redo this space to be more open, bright and inspiring. Without a huge budget, the family decided to tackle the project themselves — a scary thought for folks who had never tried anything like it before!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Hostess With the Mostess Builds Her Dream Kitchen
When Maxine of We Love Home moved into her home she inherited a less than ideal kitchen. Not only was it pretty blah aesthetics wise, it was basically falling apart. Not one to be deterred, she saw this as a golden opportunity to design her dream kitchen. From Maxine: In my old flat, I inherited an almost-new kitchen so could never justify changing it. I hated it though. As it is had been designed by for someone else, by someone else – it never suited my needs.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Basement Beauty
Wood paneling and tile and fluorescent lights, oh my! Heather’s basement was lacking a cozy charm and full of standard issue basement problems (we’re talking about you, mold) so she flexed some serious DIY muscle and turned the space into a warm, family friendly hang out. From Heather: This basement remodel was a heavy lift. We started out with a linoleum and wood paneled jungle, complete with mold, mice, mildew, and hardly a beam of natural light as far as the eye could see.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
A Bold, Bright and Super Unique New York Apartment
Project by: Buro Koray Duman Location: New York, New York The clients of Buro Koray Duman are living the New York dream. After renovating one space they were able to purchase the apartment next door and expand. The unexpected lime green accents give the space a bright and modern feel, while the exposed brick and copious light keep it feeling warm and welcoming. From Koray: Büro renovated a 750-square-foot apartment three years ago which won the 2013 Best of the Year Award.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
After & Before: A Donald Trump Meets Jumanji Living Room Makeunder
Sometimes the “before” photo is more jaw-dropping than the finished project, and this is one of those times. Round of applause for Lotta, who was able to see the clean, modern potential in this living room —especially given what she had to work with. From Lotta: This beautiful modern home, designed and built in 1987 by architect Jon Condoret, needed to be brought back to modern again.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: From Dated 1990s to Classic & Cool
Chokers, Tommy Hilfiger, Wynona Rider. The ’90s may be back but Kirsten really wanted them to get out – and stay out – of her kitchen. With a little help from her husband, she was able to create a classically cool galley kitchen that won’t be going out of style anytime soon. From Kirsten: When we first looked at this home to buy, I remember thinking that the biggest transformation needed to be the kitchen. It was dark, too enclosed and feeling very 1990s.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Smart “Tide Me Over” Budget Kitchen Upgrade for My Mom
First of all, shout out to Tanya’s mom for choosing kitchen elements way back in the ’80s that wouldn’t look totally insane to our modern eyes. As smart as her choices were, time waits for no man and since the kitchen was showing its age, Tanya figured she would jump in and help her mom update her space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A DIY Spa-Style Bathroom
April’s guest bathroom wasn’t making a great impression, so she started again from down-to-the-studs scratch. With some seriously impressive DIY skills the final product is a serene and welcoming space. From April: Our hall bath is the bathroom in the house that all of our guests use, whether they be overnight or just dinner guests. The room needed a major upgrade. We completely gutted the space to start with – down to the studs and slab.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Baby Makes Three: A Shared Master Bedroom & Nursery with Global Style
Name: Marra (Newborn) Location: Fort Meyers, Florida The nursery was designed to flow with the existing decor in our master bedroom since we are sharing a space with our little girl. We live in a two-bedroom townhouse and often have guests so we wanted to keep our guest room for hosting. We needed to find a way to create a kid friendly space that still had a sophistication to work in an adult space as well. We also wanted to forgo a crib and follow a Montessori nursery style with a floor bed.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: From Burgundy to Bunnies, Custom Wallpaper Transforms a Feature Wall
When Danielle and her family moved into their home, they knew which room they wanted for their daughters nursery but felt it needed some major restyling. After switching up the color scheme with paint and wallpaper, replacing the chandelier with something a little more kid friendly and adding all of the cute touches that make a nursery, they have an adorable space for their daughter that is a fry cry from the original room.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
This Portland Home is a DIY Dreamland
Name: Maria & Family Location: Portland, Oregon The basics: Owned for 1 year | 2,574 square feet We love Maria’s fun and funky design. Her home is full of rich color and whimsical DIY projects that fill it with life and character. And the style doesn’t stop when it comes to the kids’ rooms as she’s created spaces that are charming and functional.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A First Time Homeowner Kicks Up the Curb Appeal
First things first: congrats to Amanda on purchasing her first home! Taking the plunge can be nerve-wracking, exciting and is always a very big deal. (We’ve got some tips on making it less scary if you need them.) After settling in to her new abode, the next step was to tackle the exterior, which Amanda felt needed a little boost. With the help of a few family members, a super smart paint job and flower power, the home has a fresh look and a whole lot of curb appeal.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Chic Makeover for a DC Kitchen With a Presidential Connection
Shaila’s kitchen came with both a fun connection to DC history and a pretty funky layout. Aesthetics aside, it was time for a reno; the kitchen had begun to fall apart. Taking a cue from the age of the building and her personal love of art-deco, Shaila gave her new-to-her old kitchen a stylish updated vintage-inspired look. Take it away, Shaila… After serving as a diplomat around the world, it was time for me to come back to Washington.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Carving Out a Playroom in a Corner of a Living Room
Project by: Louise Bradberry of Cait’s Room Interiors Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Transformations aren’t always about knocking down walls or elaborate IKEA hacks. Sometimes they’re about looking at your space with new eyes and giving it a new purpose. Louise did just that for her clients. Wanting to supplement limited outdoor play space for their child, they tasked Louise with creating a play nook for their daughter in a corner of their living room.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Kids Room Goes from DIY Mess to DIY Success
Meera knew she was going to have to get extremely crafty with her son’s new room. The previous owners had made some questionable (and potentially dangerous) choices that needed to be fixed immediately, and Meera was able to do so with some very cool DIYs and brilliant money-saving fixes. From Meera: The walls and ceilings were covered in poorly-hung textured wallpaper and the room was a DIY mess.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Setting Up a Nursery is a Family Affair
Allison stepped in to help her sister-in-law set up her baby nursery after the passing of her mother. Her act of love and kindness led to one adorable space for the new baby, with a beautifully bittersweet story. From Allison: After my mother-in-law passed away, I decided to step in to help my sister-in-law with her nursery for her baby girl on the way.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Building a Baby-Friendly Space, Basically From Scratch
Life comes at you fast. Lisa had been considering this room for a makeover when she found out she was pregnant and suddenly on a whole new unexpected timeline. After gutting the room they got to work adding classic elements to the structure of the room so it was more in line with the rest of the house as well as, you know, getting it ready for a baby.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: This Exterior Makeover Will Make You Turn (Sea-Foam) Green With Envy
Ashley’s adorable home needed a bit of a boost in the exterior paint department. After giving herself permission to just friggin go for it, she decided that they would not only be painting their home sea-foam green, they’d be doing it themselves. Sweat was sweated, paint was painted and a few labor heavy weekends later, a bold and bright house emerged.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: An $80 Sofa Gets an Affordable and Easy Refresh
Amy fell in love with this sofa’s good bones and excellent cushions, even though the fabric was a little drab. After inspecting the piece to make sure it wasn’t too good to be true, she took it home and got to work and giving it a super easy and affordable refresh. From Amy: This is one of those sofas built with an incredibly sound construction, it’s something that is hard to find these days for an affordable price.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
A Teacher-Turned-Designer Furnishes a Playroom for Her Kids
Project by: Alana Chernecki of Brillante Location: East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada Alana, a school teacher turned designer, blended both of her realms of knowledge in creating a playroom for her daughters. A mix of style and pedagogy, the space is designed to foster creativity and imaginative play, while still looking sleek and age-appropriate.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Memphis & Facts of Life-Inspired Nursery
When Jessica and her husband moved into their home they knew that they would need to do some serious updating. They took off the Beetlejuice wallpaper in their guest room and when it came time to turn it into a nursery they decided to go full fun. A little bit of Memphis, a sprinkling of Facts of Life, a dash of FAO Schwartz and you have a super cute, very unique nursery.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Committing to Color to Transform a Kids Room
Project by: Jessica Davis of Nest Studio Location: South Orange, New Jersey Jessica wanted to give her daughter’s room a new look, something age-appropriate but not overly precious or childish. A large room with good light, the possibilities were endless, but she settled on a rich color for the walls and timeless furniture that her daughter can grow with.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Saying So Long to a Stucco Exterior
The exterior of Erin’s home was not only weathered and not particularly stylish, it appeared to be falling apart. They decided to tackle a major exterior overhaul while living in the house, and lived to tell the tell. Five weeks later they had a gorgeous new exterior that pays homage to the historic character of her neighborhood. From Erin: Our two bedroom, one bath, ~1,000 square foot row house previously had a stucco front which had been placed over the original brick exterior.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Newlyweds Nest in an Easygoing ’70s Ranch House
Name: Chelsea Daffinson, my husband Brion, two dogs Harley and Stella and a whole lot of plant babies. Location: Marietta, Georgia Size: 1800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned We were previously renting in Historic Marietta when we had the realization that we were paying rent equal to a monthly mortgage payment. This 1,800-square-foot, 1973 home caught our eye and, while we were hoping to buy a starter home, we found that this was going to be our forever home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
4 Cats Graciously Let 2 Humans Share Their Stylish Home
Name: Anne Hodder, husband, 4 cats, and a ton of plants! Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting Our home is a sanctuary hidden behind a tall wooden gate and invisible from the street. Even though it’s a duplex, the only shared wall is behind our fridge so we NEVER hear our neighbor. It feels like a separate little house. What is your favorite room and why?
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
A 400-Square-Foot San Francisco Home Was Furnished in Only 3 Months
Name: Prathima Nalluri Location: Nopa (North of Panhandle) — San Francisco, California Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting I moved into my apartment about nine months ago with not much furniture except my bed and a console table. I know they say take your time to furnish your place but I did it in less than three months (and I don’t regret a single purchase!). I love spending time at home and I wanted to create a space which is airy and cozy at the same time.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
A First-Time-Living-Solo San Franciscan Found the Perfect Small, Soothing Home
Name: Carra Manahan Location: San Francisco, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting A couple years ago, I decided to get my own apartment in San Francisco. I’d lived in the Marina since moving to the city and couldn’t part with it. The neighborhood’s beautiful and charming; there’s truly something special about being able to see the Golden Gate Bridge from it.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Brown, Dated Kitchen Gets a $40K Remodel
Name: Claire Armstrong, boyfriend Andy, and two cats, Toki and Aspen Location: Glassell Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, owned This house was built in Mar Vista in 1939 and moved to the current lot in Glassell Park in 1956 along with a detached garage from South LA. It has only had one owner who tended a beautiful garden and had interesting taste in wallpaper and DIY improvements.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Best Curtains for a Sliding Door?
Q: My husband and I recently moved into a new apartment, and we are trying to figure out window treatments for our living room. We have a sliding door out to our balcony and a window next to it. The sliding door is not centered to the wall which drives me a little crazy. We currently have white wood blinds in the small window, but what should we do about the sliding door?
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Lovingly Made “Take Your Time” Kitchen Makeover
Project by: Émilie Location: Quebec City, Canada We bought our 1970s bungalow almost six years ago and we’ve been renovating it ever since, from the roof to the basement. Our biggest and most challenging project was definitely the kitchen. My husband, who is quite handy but no professional carpenter, decided to make all the hardwood cabinets by hand.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: Moving In and Making a Space Baby-Friendly
Project by: Meena Location: Ashbury Heights — San Francisco, California This converted bedroom project comes from first-time parents who recently bought a house in San Francisco. After spending nearly 10 years on the East Coast, they returned back home to the Bay Area in January to raise their daughter. The family moved in the home when the baby was just two weeks old, so needless to say it was an exhausting and whirlwind experience.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Truck Bed Goes From Garage To Guest Room
Project by: Dona Location: Shelter Island, New York My husband’s hoarding habit paid off. Once I learned that the bed of a truck is the same size as a queen mattress we took his rusting 1965 Chevrolet truck and turned it into a guest bed! We worked on this project together, it required sawing the cab (now it’s the headboard) in half; sawing the tailgate off the truck body; wire brushing the rust off , etc. We carried the pieces into the house where we put the truck together again.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A London Bedroom Gets a Dark Dramatic Floral Makeover
Name: Nadia Location: London, United Kingdom A few weeks ago I decided to participate in a six week makeover challenge. I chose to do my bedroom and closet, but the funny thing is that I had no idea what I would do when I started. No real plan, I was just obsessed with a gorgeous dark floral wallpaper so I wanted create something dark and moody. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to buy that beautiful and pricey wallpaper.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Dangerous & Dated Kitchen Gets a Much Needed Makeover
Project by: Nadya Location: Brisbane, Australia Our small home was built in 1959, and when my husband and I bought it, I really thought I could deal with the “charming” old galley kitchen.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
Help! How Do I Make My Creaky Hardwood Floors Less Noisy?
Q: I need your help. I live in a 50s ranch house, which overall I love. However, the creaky floors are driving me crazy, especially because I have a toddler who is a light sleeper who on occasion WAKES UP because I happened to walk by his bedroom. We don’t want to have to rip up the floors and put in new flooring because the hardwood itself is in good condition. Is there a way to fix this or make the creaking less noisy without such a drastic overhaul?
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
Total Turnaround: A Dark and Damp Apartment Does a 180
Name: Nadine Location: Sliema, Malta The apartment is on the first floor, very compact and enjoys a limited amount of light. Our main aim was to maximize usage of space and brighten it up, ideally with natural light. The apartment was in a very run-down state, had moldy walls and plumbing problems. The style inspiration was Scandinavian with vintage elements.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Portland Victorian (aka Miss Vicky) Gets an Update, Inside & Out
Project by: Angela Location: Portland, Oregon I’m a professional apparel / product designer who loves the idea of dabbling with spaces that could use a little TLC. I enjoy bringing new life to pre-loved spaces and things. In 2015, I purchased a small (semi fixer upper), 1906 Victorian, in Portland, OR. My neighborhood is a neighborhood that prides itself on not selling out to the modern condo developers that are changing the landscape of the city.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
What Can I Do About the Noisy Water Pipes in My Bedroom Wall?
Q: I live on the sixth floor of an eight floor apartment building. My bedroom is sandwiched between two pipe locations – on one wall, the bathroom pipes for the two units directly above mine. On the other wall, the pipes for the neighboring unit, and their two upstairs neighbors. The way the room is set up with doors, windows and a radiator, the only places for my bed are on those pipe walls – and the best place is by the neighbor-wall.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019