Gallery wall with various framed artworks and a mirror, next to a window with blinds.
Before & After: A Bright & Bold Wall
When Mila grew tired of her gallery wall she opted for a big and bold change. Part accent wall, part large scale art piece and entirely fabulous, her vibrant mural is an eye catching delight. From Mila: This wall of my living room needed major help. I was bored of that gallery wall and wanted to try something new, exotic and attention grabbing. This mural was inspired by Robert Murle Marx’s textiles. Florence Lopez, a designer that lives in Paris, had a similar idea for her apartment.
Feb 5, 2017
A Beautiful Brooklyn Brownstone Apartment
Name: Drew Location: Bed-Stuy — Brooklyn, New York My partner Danny and I have been living in our 1,100 square foot one bedroom brownstone apartment in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood since February 2016. We were drawn to its 11′ ceilings, parquet floors, crown moulding, wooden blinds, and floor to ceiling windows.
Feb 3, 2017
Before & After: A Marble Coffee Table Goes Modern
If you’re a fan of Carrera marble, you’ll understand why Paris was so excited to come across an affordable pair of marble-topped tables on Craigslist. While she loved the tops, the ornate legs didn’t suit her style so she turned to a company that usually caters to IKEA customers to find new furniture legs to match her modern aesthetic.
Feb 3, 2017
A Houston Town Home Full of “Tailored Maximalism”
Name: Christian Location: Museum District — Houston, Texas I live in a rented town home in the museum district that I share with two college friends and my dog, Adelaide. The townhouse is about 2,200 square feet and the exterior is what I’d like to call pre-recession tuscan (it was built in 2007 and was probably inspired by the original Real Housewives of the OC, but on a much smaller scale).
Feb 2, 2017
A Modern and Family-Friendly Farmhouse
Name: Lauren Location: Osgood, Indiana We live in a two story modern farmhouse on about five acres of land just outside of a little town with one stoplight, Napoleon, Indiana. My husband and I were both born and raised here and went to the same school. So, we purchased the land and we have been living in our home for just a little over a year. We have three little boys Blake (8), Callen (6) and Nash (2).
Feb 1, 2017
Before and After: A Dreary Rental Bathroom Gets A Fresh Makeover for Just $60
Perhaps the next best thing to your landlord offering to fix up your rental bathroom (which rarely happens), is your landlord granting their blessing for you to fix it up yourself. Justyna was thrilled to get the green light from her landlord to make some bathroom improvements and she got straight to work. See what she accomplished on a small budget in this small rental: From Justyna: This summer I decided I couldn’t live with my rental bathroom any longer.
Feb 1, 2017
Before & After: A Lifeless Kitchen Nook Gets a Bright Update
Kacie’s kitchen lacked personality, especially this corner nook which she found drab and dingy. Armed with paint and plywood, she and her husband created a bright, cheerful spot for family dinners and game night with friends. From Kacie: My husband and I were excited about the size and footprint of the kitchen in our first home, but were less thrilled about the orange oak-y style.
Jan 31, 2017
A Funky Australian Abode
Name: Darcie Location: East Geelong — Victoria, Australia We bought our cute two bedroom, weatherboard dutch-gable house in East Geelong around seven or eight years ago as first time home buyers, and saved like mad for years to renovate. Its been over 12 months since the work was finished, but because everyone knows houses are NEVER finished, it’s still a work in progress! The yard is next..
Jan 27, 2017
Before and After: A Gussied Up Guest Room
Erin’s guest bedroom is small but makes up for it with great views. She was feeling it was a little too orange-y for her tastes and decided to paint the wainscoting grey. It made a world of difference, but wasn’t totally what she envisioned, so she dove in and gave the room an entirely new look. From Erin: Our guest room is the smallest in the house, but has amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. It always felt dark and dreary and sad.
Jan 27, 2017
A Perfectly Preserved 1950s Ranch House
Name: Andrea & Christopher Location: Coventry, Rhode Island We visited this 1958 mid-century ranch on a miserable New England winter day. We weren’t even on the market but as soon as we walked into the kitchen, I turned to the realtor and said, “We’ll take it.” A mid-century ranch in New England that was built with every mod-con available in 1958 and never updated is a rare find. We’re putting the house on the market but wanted to celebrate it before we say goodbye!
Jan 26, 2017
Before & After: An LA Bachelor Pad Grows Up
Devon and Jessica were tasked with adding personality, style and storage to their friend’s living area. Taking style cues from his favorite cult classic TV show, the duo created a funky and bright space that celebrated the occupant’s interests. From Devon & Jessica: Off in the final frontier, Los Angeles, lives a Star Trek-loving singleton who was anxious to update his one bedroom apartment.
Jan 26, 2017
An Adorable D.C. Studio Full of Personal Touches
Name: Jen Location: Adams Morgan — Washington, D.C. My name is Jen; I’m a 27 year old baker, foodie, and policy wonk originally from Boston. I live in a 685 square foot studio in the heart of Adams Morgan, D.C. I work in foreign policy at a think tank in Dupont Circle, and moved into my current apartment two years ago after three years living in Eastern Market.
Jan 25, 2017
Before & After: A $10 Desk Gets a Glam New Look
Anne-Claire was on a Craigslist hunt for the perfectly sized and perfectly priced desk for her daughter. After a few disappointments, she stumbled across this desk, which needed a little love but was otherwise exactly what she was looking for. The fixing up process took a little longer than Anne-Claire expected, but the final result was worth it. From Anne-Claire: Now that my daughter is growing up, I started to look for a small desk to replace her little child table.
Jan 25, 2017
Before & After: A Dark & Cramped Kitchen Transforms Into a “Happy Place”
Megan’s kitchen was dark, didn’t feel like her and was completely lacking storage. She decided to banish all the brown and open the space up to make it brighter and more functional. The result is a charming kitchen that was totally DIY! From Megan: Our ten year old kitchen (new to us) was dark, tiny and unattractive. Dust would settle on the eaves and required us to get on a ladder to clean them, which never happened. Our cabinets were very small and allowed for only minimal storage.
Jan 24, 2017
Before & After: A Dark & Serene Bathroom
We got a glimpse of Ruth’s home in her House Call but her bathroom reno deserves some special attention. While the old bathroom was not horribly offensive aesthetically, it wasn’t fully functional (and a little stinky). After bumping the project up on her to-do list and getting to work, Ruth found herself with a darkly dramatic space that didn’t break the bank.
Jan 23, 2017
An Eclectic and Cozy Apartment
Name: Lisa Location: Graz, Austria We’ve lived in this apartment for two we love everything about it. The house was built around 1910, so there’s a lot of history in it. We have very high walls, folding doors and wooden floors, which makes the rooms bright and spacious, yet it’s really cozy. The apartment is rented and about 74 square meters/ 796 square feet with a nice balcony.
Jan 23, 2017
Four Young Professionals Share a D.C. Row House
Name: Ricardo Location: Washington, D.C. With its Washingtonian charm, this lovely renovated row house became the perfect home to four young professionals living in one of the fastest growing and most vibrant cities in America. Like them and many millennials across the country, getting a start in the big city can sometimes be daunting, which may suggest that shared housing is the only affordable option.
Jan 20, 2017
A Philly Apartment Full of Plants, Lights and Color
Name: Breanne Location: South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I live on the first floor of a two home building in the South Philadelphia Pennsport neighborhood. The front and back rooms of my home get hit with nice light, but that disappears in the center as the ceilings drop. Because of this I’ve filled my home with bright colors and an abundance of plants to make the vibrancy flow throughout.
Jan 18, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Vacation Apartment Gets a New Look
Nina helped a family turn their vacation property kitchen from a claustrophobic and kitschy space into a fun and open gathering space. By removing the divider, adding some unexpected color along with classic elements, she breathed new life into the room. From Nina: The owners, a young family, wanted a vacation apartment (that they could also rent out), located in a town adjacent to a European ski area.
Jan 18, 2017
A Colorful Montreal Apartment with Plenty of Eye-Catching DIY Projects
Name: Diana Location: Mile End — Montreal, Quebec My partner and I rent a 900 square foot two bedroom apartment with traditional details in a 1903 heritage building in the heart of Montreal’s hip mile end. We love the juxtaposition of modern and colorful decor with traditional details like hardwood floors and wall moldings (very reminiscent of Parisian apartments). We also love the old school brass light fixtures and tall ceilings.
Jan 17, 2017
Before & After: A Master Bedroom Goes from Blazingly Bold to Calm and Serene
Marti’s master bedroom makeover was a slow and steady labor of love. Her first move was to tackle the too-bright purple paint and choose a color that was a little more serene. After that, she mixed DIY projects with budget finds for a chic and calm bedroom. From Marti: We’ve lived in our house for a little over one year now, and our bedroom has come a long way. There was certainly nowhere to go but up!
Jan 17, 2017
A Colorful and Thrifted London Victorian
Name: Ruth Location: London, United Kingdom We absolutely love our new family home, having always lived in apartments it’s so lovely to have our own front door, garden and space to fill out. Our style is pretty colorful and eclectic, maybe bohemian modern. I love finding the right vintage items that have meaning to me and mixing them with more modern design in the home.
Jan 16, 2017
Before & After: Perfecting a Pine Bathroom
Suyin’s bathroom was very, very ’70s. While the pampas/avocado fixtures, combined with the pine wood, gave the space a dated look, Suyin’s design acumen (plus some sanding and oiling) helped the pine jump into present day to help create a warm and modern space. From Suyin: When we bought our fixer-upper house in South West London, we knew that the bathroom would need to be the first room we tackled.
Jan 16, 2017
A Calm, Pacific Northwest-Inspired Seattle Home
Name: Jason Location: Fremont — Seattle, Washington I live in a three-story, 1520-square foot town home in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. I bought the house a little over two years ago after leaving Washington, DC to start a new job at Amazon. I fell in love with the house right away. Built in 2009, it was one of the first LEED Platinum developments in Seattle, complete with a rainwater recycling system and other green building elements.
Jan 13, 2017
A Wonderfully Welcoming First “Real Adult Place” in Brooklyn
Name: Gillie Location: Prospect Park South — Brooklyn, New York When I first viewed my one bedroom close to the park, it was in total shambles. Under rennovation for the first time in (I assume) years, the previously lime green walls were half painted, the wood floors were scuffed beyond recognition, and then kitchen was a vacant construction area.
Jan 12, 2017
Before & After: A Bold Fireplace Brightens Up a Living Room
Danielle added style and interest to her living room with a few simple and small touches: replacing the curtains, adding some light fixtures, and slapping on a new coat of paint. And then she made a big change, adding color and interest to the space in a major way. From Danielle: When we first moved into our family home, the living room was covered in brown and beige from floor to ceiling.
Jan 12, 2017
A Family Home Full of “Classic Modern” Design
Name: Matt Location: Belleville, Illinois Our home was designed by mid-century modernist architect Charles King in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, Illinois in 1957. It was commissioned by a family that owned several car dealerships in the area. We bought it eight years ago from their daughter and have tried our best to tastefully update it to accommodate our needs as a family but preserve the history without being too much of a time capsule.
Jan 11, 2017
Before & After: A Bright & Airy Kitchen Renovation
Lindsay and her family moved into a wonderful new space in a neighborhood they loved. But there was one snafu: the old and outdated kitchen. Lindsay has a food blog so a clunky kitchen just wouldn’t do. They gutted the entire thing and started from scratch, and the results are a fun and functional space that’s perfect for family life and blog life. From Lindsay: The biggest change we made was to the location of the sink and the removal of the existing island.
Jan 11, 2017
A Bright and Light-Filled Chicago Rental
Name: Jeffrey & Mark Location: River West — Chicago, Illinois Recently moving back to North America from Tokyo, we needed to create a space where we had enough room to live, but still kept with the Japanese feeling of efficient space. We settled on a great two bedroom in River West, with an extraordinary view of the city. What we love most about being in North America is the ease and convenience of everything.
Jan 9, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Kitchen Goes Clean and Classic
This little kitchen was in need of a lot of spiffing up and a little bit more space. Christina gave the space a fresh new look with a smart layout, some classic tile and a coat of paint in a lovely light color. From Christina: We recently finished up our project in Redondo Beach. This was a smaller house that was in serious need of a face lift. It had so many colors happening as well as some issues in the kitchen.
Jan 6, 2017
A Smart and Sunny L.A. Studio
Name: Samantha Location: Los Angeles, California At 280 square feet, my boyfriend and I have been sharing our studio apartment for the past three months. Of course studio living isn’t ideal for two people but Los Angeles is an expensive city and we don’t own a car, so we sacrificed space for windows and location. The Mid-Wilshire neighborhood sits in the middle of the city and it’s easy to get around on public transportation from where we are.
Jan 5, 2017
An Amazing A-Frame Restoration
Name: Sasha Location: Rhododendron, Oregon We acquired this dilapidated and mold-infested A-Frame with wall-to-wall carpet and kitschy mountain interior decor about a year and a half ago and spent pretty much every single weekend since then lovingly reinventing it. I redesigned the interior and my husband and I performed almost all of the buildout ourselves.
Jan 4, 2017
A Fun & Fresh California Home
Name: Amber Location: Long Beach, California My husband and I recently moved into this space, and we decide to take on a small renovation. It’s my own home, so I wanted to take some risks and I wanted it to be a little fun. As a relatively new designer I wanted to take the opportunity to design something that reflected my personal design aesthetic which is midcentury, eclectic, and can be a little glam too. The space had good bones, but it was dated.
Jan 3, 2017
Before & After: A Space That Can Do it All, and Does it in Style
Michelle stepped in to help a grad student create a stylish and functional space that she could love for all of her harried, paper writing years. She added color and fun without creating a room full of distractions. From Michelle: This grad student was moving into an apartment that she would live in for the next five years. Mina had a small budget, but a lot of style. Her space was a blank canvas, as she was starting from scratch.
Jan 3, 2017
A Vintage Chicago Home with a Personal Artistic Touch
Name: Roger Location: Chicago, Illinois Our home is considered a Vintage home. It has four bedrooms and the upstairs is a bedroom suite. There is also a basement and one car garage. We are located on the northwest side of Chicago and we live across the street from a large public school which is grades K to 12 that takes up the entire block. We choose to live here because my husband works downtown and we wanted to be closer and have the opportunity to utilize public transportation.
Jan 2, 2017
Before & After: Modernizing a Master Bath
This master bath had plenty of space but not a lot of function. Kendra set out to not only upgrade and maximize the utility of the space, but to create a calm and serene atmosphere. From Kendra: This master suite had taken on minor renovations before, but nothing that allowed it to shine and become a truly functional and relaxing oasis. This space had an outdated standing shower, no access to the walk-in-closet and overall lack of functionally.
Jan 2, 2017
Before & After: A Storage-Friendly Bathroom Makeover for Under $800
Ashley wanted a bathroom update that was stylish, full of storage and helped maximize the space of her small bathroom. By pulling in a surprising piece of furniture and painting the space a calming color, she created a bathroom that blends form and function. From Ashley: The tiny half bathroom connected to the master bedroom was original to the 1972 house and in desperate need of an update.
Dec 24, 2016
Matthew and Rick’s Fantastically Festive Home
Name: Matthew & Rick Location: Toronto, Ontario Designed by Toronto-based interior design firm Heirloom & Knot, and decked out for the holidays, this glamorous space strikes the right balance between festive geode-inspired décor & regency styled furnishings. The home of newlyweds Rick and Matthew Bettencourt has been furnished over time & curated with mementos that have a sense of personal history.
Dec 22, 2016
Before & After: An Attic Turned Functional and Fabulous Closet
IKEA Pax wardrobes can be a godsend for creating closet space out of nothing and here is an exquisite example of how they can not only provide a massive amount of storage but appear like they were built just for your space.
Dec 19, 2016
Before & After: A Striking Yet Simple Fireplace Makeover
The size and scale of this fireplace is striking which means that changing its look has a big impact on this space. The homeowners also opted for a new wall paint color. Together, these changes give off a whole new vibe. Take a look: From Christina: I am not a big DIY person so I spoke to the amazing contractor Adrian at Craftsman Construction that we worked with on this project, about how they were able to change the multi-colored stone fireplace into the clean white look that we finished with.
Dec 18, 2016
A California Ranch Home That Takes Style Inspo From Valley of the Dolls
Name: David Location: Verdugo Woodlands — Glendale, California We bought our 1962 Ranch-style house in 2012. We were only the third owners. We were immediately drawn to the privacy, and great flow of the 2,600 square foot, two bedroom, three bath house which was built for entertaining. All the entertaining spaces open to the kidney shaped swimming pool and patio. The house hadn’t been redecorated since 1975.
Dec 16, 2016
Before & After: Dining Room Mural Makeover for “Elegance on a Budget”
We’ve seen Natalie’s 19th century home before and this time she’s tackling her dining room. Not happy to just strip the floors and replace the chandelier, she put her artistic talents to good use and painted something gorgeous on the walls. From Natalie: My husband and I bought a circa 1870s house in Pittsburgh nearly three years ago. The house has a wonderful lived-in feeling and great bones, but it needed an infusion of style.
Dec 16, 2016
A Beautiful, Fixer-Upper Bungalow
Name: Brett Location: Oakland, California My home is a 1900 Craftsman that has been a true labor of love. The house was a complete fixer upper when my husband and I bought it earlier this year and we’ve spent nearly half the year completely renovating the entire thing. My husband and I had been talking about moving from San Francisco to Oakland for a few months and just so happened to stumble upon our house at the right place and the right time.
Dec 15, 2016
A Breezy Florida Home and Floral Studio
Name: Jenny Location: Lake Worth, Florida I’m a floral designer living in Lake Worth, Florida. While my friend Lauren was in town, we spent a few hours shooting a home/studio tour. I currently work out of my 1950s house, but will be opening a store front in downtown Lake Worth in 2017! Most of our furniture and design choices are influenced by mid century modern design and unique vintage pieces.
Dec 14, 2016
Before & After: A 1960s Kitchen Opens Up for Under $200
Heather’s kitchen was outdated, but not unlivable, so she and her husband opted for a few smart and thrifty updates to add some style to the space before a big kitchen remodel. From Heather: My husband and I recently purchased a 1960s home. It’s in great condition, but most everything is original to the house.
Dec 14, 2016
Before & After: A Library Goes from Pale Peach to Dark and Dreamy
Natalie’s home was originally divided into apartments, so she had the not-so-small challenge of turning it back into a cohesive space. After experimenting with new paint colors, and switching up the floor, she finally found herself with a moody library full of quirky, personal charm. From Natalie: This room has changed over time as my husband and I have lived in the house. We bought our circa 1870s Pittsburgh home nearly three years ago.
Dec 13, 2016
A Pittsburgh Home That’s Like “Vacation Every Day”
Name: Rachel & Eric Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania My husband is an architect and designed our house from the ground up. It’s new construction, located in Pittsburgh, in the north side neighborhood of Deutschtown. Deutschtown is a city neighborhood with mostly row homes and this is our own modern interpretation of a classic north side row home. We love the neighborhood and lived here for about five years before building from scratch.
Dec 12, 2016
Before & After: Redesigning a (Really, Really) Red Bathroom
When Marti set out to revamp her bathroom, she knew that a full tile update wasn’t in the cards. She didn’t let that deter her, however, and went ahead and made some really smart and stylish changes that created a less dated, more classic space. From Marti: My goal was to replace the glaring features that made the bathroom look really dated/cheap: most notably, the paint, mirror, and sink.
Dec 12, 2016