Small bathroom with a pedestal sink, clawfoot tub, and toilet with a wooden seat under a sloped ceiling.
Before & After: A Craftsman Bathroom Gets a Clean & Classic Remodel
Chelsea’s black and white bathroom makeover incorporates classic elements into her family bathroom that keep the space feeling crisp and light. She also teaches us that one way to inspire even more tub envy is to paint said tub black. From Chelsea: This was a bathroom remodel that my husband and I completed on our small upstairs bathroom in our 1918 Craftsman bungalow located in Columbus, Ohio.
Mar 17, 2017
A Toronto Home Where Functionality & Style Go Side by Side
Name: Erin Location: Riverdale — Toronto, Ontario Erin’s Toronto home is full of clean lines and up-cycled style. She’s created a space that is both family friendly, totally functional and full of covetable finds. Her motto? “Style your home with love”! From Erin: Our home is located in a neighborhood in Riverdale, Toronto. It is a three-story, standard-looking, 100-plus-year-old historic Toronto home.
Mar 16, 2017
Before & After: An All-Star, DIY Entryway Makeover
Deirdre’s entryway makeover packs in all of our favorite things: DIY, IKEA, wallpaper, space maximization and creativity. But you know what, since it’s not all about us, the best thing about Deirdre’s new entryway is how much she loves it. From Deirdre Sullivan: My apartment didn’t have a real entryway.
Mar 16, 2017
A Calgary Home with Cozy Colors and Collected Finds
Name: Nicole Location: Red Deer — Alberta, Canada Our home is an ongoing experiment, forever changing as I bring in new pieces and try new things. I love experimenting with fresh and innovative ideas. Many of my clients squirm at the idea, but in the end, if I’m not willing to try something in my own space, how can I convince a client to do it in theirs? Built in 1973, our four-bedroom, 1,374 square foot four-level split gives me lots of different rooms to play in.
Mar 15, 2017
Before & After: A 30-Hour Total Kitchen Turnaround for Under $600
Wow! Wendy’s kitchen makeover was renovation free and budget friendly. She went from standard issue to a colorful, customized tile wonderland in 30 hours. Check it out! From Wendy: For my kitchen makeover we worked to a pretty tight budget but man I gotta tell you, I love it. You know when you go to a party and everyone winds up in the kitchen? Yeah, that’s basically me – every single night. Party for one. This is my most favouritest space.
Mar 14, 2017
Before & After: Believable “Built-ins” That Are Actually Renter-Friendly & Removable
Ariel found herself in a situation familiar to many an Apartment Therapy reader; a great idea, great taste and the limits of being in a rental. With a little millwork, paint and a weekend Ariel was able to make her living room dreams a reality. From Ariel: We live in a rental (Military Housing here in Canada) so we’re not allowed to do anything that can’t be un-done when we move out.
Mar 13, 2017
A New Yorker in Scotland: New Baby, New City, New Home
Name: Liz Location: Stockbridge — Edinburgh, Scotland I’m a New Yorker, living in Edinburgh, married to a Scotsman with a chatty baby boy. I regularly daydream about art, design, interiors, Mid-century modern furniture, wallpaper, the color yellow, and all things brand while navigating being a new mama. Why Edinburgh? My lovely Scottish husband told me “It was every Scotsman’s duty to make someone fall in love with Scotland”. It worked.
Mar 13, 2017
Before & After: A 60s Style Sideboard Gets a Spiffy Scandi Makeover
Ajda’s sideboard find had fantastic mid-century lines and solid sturdiness, but it needed a little more style. She opted to go the soothing Scandinavian inspired route, tossing in a little pattern to give it some extra pizzaz. From Ajda: My boyfriend and I got this 60’s sideboard a while ago and couldn’t figure out how to bring it to 2016.
Mar 10, 2017
Before & After: Daaaannnngggg This Dressing Room Is Everything
We featured Christina’s master bedroom makeover last week, and now we get to see what magic she’s worked in another room in the house. She switched up the purpose of her guest bedroom, revamped the whole aesthetic of the space by adding storage and serious chic finds. Without any further ado…the dressing room of your dreams!
Mar 9, 2017
Before & After: The Unbelievable But True Story of Someone Who Had TOO MANY Closets
So often we find ourselves engaged in the classic home design battle of style versus storage. Tamera found herself in such a conundrum with her hallway. Too many doors led to a guest bathroom guessing game and made the space feel cramped and cut off. Her solution was simple, inexpensive and totally changed the vibe of the hallway. From Tamera: When we first moved into our apartment, the hallway to the guest bathroom was covered in doors.
Mar 8, 2017
A Garage Apartment Designed to Let the Light In
Name: Clients of Marie Flanigan Location: River Oaks — Houston, Texas So often spaces specifically designed for guests can feel cold and unwelcoming. Not so with this warm and relaxing space! It manages to feel special and serene while still having personality and function. With a strong focus on the natural light available and smart lighting choices, the whole space feels ready for a visitor!
Mar 8, 2017
Before & After: A Night & Day (Nearly Unrecognizable!) Rental Transformation
Richard added so much personality and warmth to his rental, it’s kind of astounding. The totally fine but pretty sterile space was full of the standard rental woes; outdated overhead lighting, bland cabinets and a kitchen floor that has seen better days. With a mix of gifts, Craigslist and new purchases, Richard turned the bland apartment into a welcoming and charming home.
Mar 7, 2017
A Boldly Black Brooklyn Townhouse
Name: Nicole Location: Park Slope — Brooklyn, New York Nicole’s house hunt was not easy (when are house hunts ever easy?) but after putting in a couple of years on the search she found this beaut. Faced with an outdated exterior and not enough room in her budget for an overhaul, Nicole got creative and decided to go to the dark side. From Nicole: It took us two and a half years to find our home. We had so many aggressive buyers outbidding us every time.
Mar 7, 2017
Before & After: From Forgotten Den to Fabulous Office
Ah yes, the forgotten room aka “out-of-sight-out-of-mind room” aka the junk drawer room, we’ve all had one some of us may still have one (guilty). Molly took it upon herself to help her forgotten room find its purpose as an adorable work and lounge room, a tall order for a small space. Check it out! From Molly: Hopefully, everyone can understand the out-of-sight-out-of-mind room. The neglected, ignored, sad space that falters while other spaces get more attention.
Mar 6, 2017
Before & After: A Temporary, Modular Solution to a Crumbling French Kitchen
Who hasn’t dreamt of falling in love with an old house at the bottom of a mountain in France? Tiina is living our collective dream while tackling the very real problem of a non-functional kitchen. Her temporary solution keeps the romance while adding an affordable usability until its time for a full kitchen reno. From Tiina: We, my husband and I, fell in love with a floor of a crumbling old kitchen in a crumbling old house by the foot of the Montagne Noire in the autumn of 2016.
Mar 4, 2017
A Salt Lake City Apartment That is One Part Home, One Part Textile Studio
Name: Noelle Location: Salt Lake City, Utah I live in a vintage one-bedroom, one-studio, living/dining room, with a porch in downtown Salt Lake City after relocating from Chicago two years ago. There are so many amazing little details that make this apartment timelessly beautiful. It faces east towards the Wasatch Mountains, and in the morning and throughout the day there is so much light I rarely turn on my lights. Which is a good thing because there is only one electrical outlet per room!
Mar 3, 2017
Making it Work: Four “Rooms” Within a 250-Square-Foot Studio
Name: Anna Location: Baltimore, Maryland Anna’s studio in Baltimore is a warm and cozy, multi-functional space. She’s created designated areas giving the room a nice flow and the space is blessed with plenty of natural light, making the studio look roomier than it is. From Anna: I live in a 450 square foot studio apartment in the historic Mt. Vernon Neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mar 2, 2017
Before & After: A “What Took Me So Long!” Magnificent Master Bedroom Refresh
Christina’s master bedroom had a lot going for it, it just needed a little help to truly shine. With some smart upgrades, a very cool paint choice and a terrific plant collection, she created a dramatic new look for her space. From Christina: Out of all of my house renovations thus far, my master bedroom was a lot less intense than my other projects, but ended up being the one that looks most dramatically different from start-to-finish.
Mar 2, 2017
Before & After: A Stylish Salvage for Under $40
Who among us hasn’t spotted a piece with a ton of potential, took it home to gussy it up and then totally forgot about it? After letting this guy get a little too aquainted with his attic storage, Malcolm pulled him out and give him a timeless and stylish upgrade. From Malcolm: I spotted this sorry little fellow a few years ago, lying abandoned in the back of a reclamation yard. I could just see his little leg, as the long grass had grown up through him.
Mar 2, 2017
California Dreamin’ in a Bold and Bright Sausalito Home
Name: Jennifer Location: Sausalito, California I enjoy living by the bay in the community of Sausalito. This beautiful home was the model for the complex. The location is perfect with beautiful views of Richardson Bay, Sausalito Marina, hills of Tiburon, Belvedere and Angel Island. The amenities include wood floors, crown molding, granite counter tops, gas fireplace, two en-suite baths. One covered parking space, storage. The development offers a community pool and clubhouse.
Mar 1, 2017
Married Interior Designers Find Their Sweet Spot in a Historic Home
Name: Tracy, Jason and Lucy the Chihuahua Location: Historic Village — Zionsville, Indiana Tracy and Jason have a bright, clean and modern aesthetic that makes their 1890s historic home sing. After moving around for a bit their new home has beautiful hardwood floors, enviable amounts of natural light all in a seriously quaint small town. After a year in their space the home looks curated yet warm and is still a work in progress.
Feb 27, 2017
Before & After: A Tiny Bathroom Gets a Stylish Space-Maximizing Makeover
Shara’s old bathroom, while not totally on the cutting edge of design trends, was still pretty cute and seemingly livable. Turns out there were some structural issues with the bathroom (discovered during a kitchen remodel), so Shara jumped at the opportunity to rethink and upgrade the small space. She switched around the layout, built her own beautiful wooden vanity and added some sleek design elements that turned the bathroom into a spa-like space of serenity.
Feb 27, 2017
Relaxed Sophistication in a Madrid Apartment
Name: Virginia Location: Madrid, Spain The goals of the redesign of our duplex penthouse in the western area of Madrid were to achieve spacious rooms, and bring natural light to areas that did not have it, such as the hall. Another one of the goals was to connect the exterior with the interior through large windows in the kitchen and living room that overlook the terrace that the apartment has on the ground floor.
Feb 24, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Kitchen Goes For Cool Color Contrast
Any way you slice it, committing to a design upgrade can be hard and more than a little bit scary. After living a few years with a kitchen she did not particularly love, Havalah finally decided to pull the trigger on a kitchen makeover. After committing to doing the whole upgrade on their own, she had to settle on a look and feel for the space as well as the best way to accomplish it. The final result is clean and sophisticated while remaining kid friendly and welcoming.
Feb 24, 2017
A “Mid-Century Rainbow Bohemian Cottage” in California
Name: Rachelle Location: Berkeley, California Welcome to my mid-century rainbow bohemian cottage in the Berkeley hills! I’ve lived in the Bay Area for over fifteen years, and do a lot of hiking. When the opportunity came about to move a block away from some of my favorite trails, I was thrilled! The cottage is about 525 square feet, and sits behind the main house.
Feb 23, 2017
A “Once Cookie Cutter Home” Full of Art & Personality
Name: Elena Location: Sunset Hills — Lawrence, Kansas Elena’s “cookie cutter” home in Kansas looks anything but. Full of calming blues and grays the palate is serene and the furniture provides pops of color and the art ads some funky style. From Elena: My husband and I were on a house hunt about two years ago when we stumbled across this 1998 ranch.
Feb 22, 2017
Furniture Rescue Before & After: An Abandoned Desk Gets a Second Life
Let’s just say that Emily overlooked a lot of flaws to see the true beauty in this MCM desk. Heavy, stinky and in a pile of snow, she was nevertheless determined to salvage her find and turn it into a welcome new addition to her home. From Emily: A few weeks ago I was heading to pick up my daughter from school in -16 temperatures, when I saw this beauty sitting on the sidewalk.
Feb 22, 2017
Before & After: An Affordable Dining Room Upgrade from Just Pretty to Totally Perfect
As sometimes happens with a kitchen renovation, you look around when everything is finally finished and cleaned up and perfect and realize that the rest of your space isn’t keeping up. And as almost always happens after a kitchen renovation, you don’t have a ton of money (or patience) left over right at that moment to upgrade your other spaces. Post kitchen renovation, Ashley found that while her dining room was lovely, it wasn’t necessarily her style.
Feb 21, 2017
A Bold & Vivid Family Home
Name: Shauna Location: Fort Worth, Texas Shauna’s Texas home immediately caught our eye due to its bold colors, fun textures and that jealousy-inducing bathroom wallpaper. From Shauna: We used to live in a 1920s Spanish Tudor in the middle of the arts district. While we loved our home, we quickly outgrew the 2,700 square feet. You see, we are a blended family. My husband has two kids and I have four. A couple of them are married and have kids…so the family is big and keeps growing!
Feb 20, 2017
Before & After: White Paint Wows in a Rental Kitchen
Many renters hope to add some color to their place, but Mery’s dreams were even more modest — white paint. So before she moved in, she negotiated with her landlord and got permission to paint and update her kitchen. Playing with white paint and how it works with the textures in her kitchen, she made a huge change. From Mery: I moved in six months ago and I am a renter. The first thing I told the owner was that I would rent it only if i could paint the kitchen tiles.
Feb 18, 2017
A Light Filled and Lovingly Decorated San Francisco Apartment
Name: Claire Location: Mission District — San Francisco, California The light in our apartment is incredible; warm and abundant. When we came to look at the listing it was mid-day and I didn’t have to do more than open the front door to know that I wanted to live here. I’ve lived in San Francisco for about eight years, when my partner and I found (and then were picked to rent) this apartment it felt like a gift from the city, encouraging us to keep putting roots down here.
Feb 17, 2017
Before & After: A Bold, Black & White Bathroom Makeover
Kari was charged with upping the glam and functionality of the master bathroom for a pair of empty nesters. After re-thinking the layout she added some black and white drama with some seriously high impact wallpaper. From Kari: My company, Kari McIntosh Designs, was hired by a couple whose youngest son had just left for college. They loved their classic Victorian home, but had always dreamt of renovating it to give it a contemporary makeover.
Feb 16, 2017
A “Traditional-Glam” Passion Project in Manhattan
Name: Chelsey Location: Manhattan — New York, New York Chelsey’s Manhattan apartment is filled with a softly sophisticated style that is full on classic glam. Her passion for interior design can be seen in her careful selection of colors, accessories and layout. From Chelsey: Hi! I live in a 750 square foot apartment in Manhattan. I’m twenty four years old and have an amazing job/ career as an editor for The Dr. Oz Show. My second passion besides editing is interior decorating.
Feb 16, 2017
A Sleek Renovation in the Watergate Complex
Name: Darren Location: Washington, D.C. After we relocated from New York City to D.C., we fell in love with the Watergate. The history, the architecture and the outdoor space is truly something that tugs at your heart. When we decided to purchase this unit, our intention was to only refinish the floors, update the bathrooms, paint and maybe a few other things here and there.
Feb 15, 2017
Before & After: An Under $200 Creatively Colorful Kitchen Makeover
Avery’s 1980s kitchen was dark and dated, but all of the appliances were perfectly functional so she figured she could make some quick and inexpensive updates to transform the look of the space. After much internet research, she decided to go with her gut and chose a color and style that matched her personal tastes. From Avery: Our craftsman style parsonage is full of beautiful, original wood trim, built-ins, and doors from 1910.
Feb 15, 2017
An East Bay Home, Untouched From 1958
Name: Susan Location: East Bay, California About a year ago, we relocated from the Chicago area to the East Bay. Not willing to settle for anywhere-America with this big move, I set my mind on a Mid-century home with a beautiful lot. On a fluke, we happened upon a home that had been sold as a “teardown” with the recent sale having fallen through. We loved the vintage home with the stunning view. It was an oasis in the midst of the East Bay hustle and bustle.
Feb 14, 2017
Before & After: A Thrift Store Table Goes for Pineapple Perfection
After snatching up a thrift store console table, Claire decided to give it a shabby-chic, Pineapple focused makeover. Without going overboard, she peppered the table with Pineapple and the result is a charming and whimsical accent table. From Claire: I have a thing about Pineapples, I think they are beautiful, the king of fruits. I hate to admit it but I’m seduced by lovely packaging and as fruit goes, pineapples come in their own fantastic packaging.
Feb 14, 2017
Before & After: A Patchy Backyard Goes Gorgeously Grass-Free
When Molly moved to her new home she knew her back yard was full of potential, but would require a lot of work. After tearing things up, moving things out and putting in new roots, her backyard is a funky and welcoming oasis. From Molly: When we moved in, the backyard was all dirt and pavers and lattice, everywhere. Eveeeerywhere. We took out lattice in front of the concrete fence, around the raised beds and around the air conditioner.
Feb 13, 2017
A 20-Something Fills Her DC Apartment With Craigslist Finds
Name: Sarah Location: Georgetown — Washington, D.C. This is the third apartment I’ve lived in post-grad. I love living alone—it allows me to truly highlight my style (plus, I’m a bit of a neat freak!). I currently live in a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of Georgetown. Although I grew up in the Washington, DC, suburbs, this is my first time living in the area since high school.
Feb 13, 2017
Before & After: A Cramped Living Room Opens Up
Cate’s living room was closed off, outdated and the victim of some curious decisions made by previous owners. She set out to make the most of what she had, salvaging what historical details she could and making smart upgrades where needed. From Cate: Before our living room and kitchen were two separate rooms.
Feb 11, 2017
A Bubbly and Modern Seattle Condo
Name: Suki Location: Uptown — Seattle, Washington After living in a 1920s condo building that sported a lot of personality for many years, I started having the seven-year itch and began craving simplicity. A blank canvas, a place where I could freely express myself. Also, my biological clock was ticking, and I wanted to have a modern, grown-up kitchen and a queen size bed.
Feb 10, 2017
A Dream Home Lost and Found
Name: Jessica Location: Atlanta, Georgia We found our home well over a year ago while searching for “house number two” qualities: a big backyard and lots of character. We fell in love with it as a foreclosure, made an offer and unfortunately lost it to an investor. We were heartbroken. Nine months later when we still lived in our old house, our realtor reached out to let us know that the investor ran out of money after doing a few of the major fixes (HVAC, Plumbing, Master Bath, etc.
Feb 9, 2017
Before & After: A Totally Transformed Mudroom
You know we love good entryway style, so when Leslie sent us her mudroom makeover we had to share. With storage, color, pattern and style she transformed a blah but functional space into a warm, welcoming spot. From Leslie: When I entered my home through my garage, the space always felt unwelcoming and undefined. I wanted the mudroom entry to make me feel joyful when I walked in from a long day at work. I added color and texture to the space using removable wallpaper from Hygge & West.
Feb 9, 2017
A Couple’s First Apartment Together Full of Travel Finds & Blended Style
Name: Emily Location: Petworth — Washington, D.C. Ron and I moved in together after we’d been dating for about a year and a half. Ron had these two overstuffed brown couches and I had a small white one… His apartment looked like nobody lived there because he traveled for work all the time. My old space was perfect for a single gal about town but Ron didn’t love my style.
Feb 8, 2017
Before & After: A Dramatic Living Room Inspired by the Night Sky
Joseph took a pretty beige living room and livened it up with some beautiful paint choices, crisp new carpet and a super-special prop from a Hollywood hit. Taking inspiration from the night sky, he proves you don’t have to overhaul a space to give it a totally new feel. From Joseph: We refreshed the living room with new, lighter carpet and layered the area with colors and textures found in the night sky.
Feb 8, 2017
A Brooklyn Apartment With a Drool-Worthy Backyard
Name: Rachel & Russell Location: Boerum Hill —Brooklyn, New York We’ve lived in our amazing apartment in Brooklyn for almost 3 years now. I spent countless hours arranging a mix of purchased, made (e.g. the RIOT painting and wood/metal plant stand), and found (e.g. our vintage typewriter and metal stool) objects into the decor we live with today. Of course there are things I wish I had done differently, but overall I think I did a great job maximizing the beauty of our space.
Feb 7, 2017
Before & After: A Bright Makeover For “THE ONE”
After a bit of a vagabond lifestyle, Johanna was ready to put down her roots and settle into a home she could love. She found her house soul mate, and while it needed some improvements, she saw the home for what it could be. And as a reward she got to live out our collective dream of ripping up carpet to discover beautiful hardwood floors. From Johanna: Growing up moving every three years made it difficult for me to find a place where I felt I could settle down.
Feb 7, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Bathroom Gets a Stylish Makeover & a Door (Yes, a Door)
Jennifer’s pink tile bathroom was a little outdated aesthetically, but more urgently, it lacked function. Like, didn’t have a door, lacked function. For under $3k Jennifer and her husband were able to add style and useability to the space. From Jenn: Our 1961 ranch only has two bathrooms, one of which was this sad pink nightmare. We’d spent six years in a pink bathroom in our previous apartment and 12 with another pink bathroom in this, our first house.
Feb 6, 2017