Christine Lu

Christine lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, daughter and Norwegian Elkhound. She is a purveyor of daily delights and champions the joy of doing more with less, the art of living beautifully, and sharing good stories.
Before & After: 8 Living Room Makeover Projects From Our Archives
If you are anything like me, you often look at your living room and wonder when you are going to get around to making those updates you keep talking about. If that’s the case, let this roundup of Apartment Therapy’s makeover projects inspire you to take up the cause, even if it’s a little bit at a time. 1. Ferren and her husband started with the goal of brightening their space and spent the next year gradually replacing items with pieces that were more to their taste. 2.
Oct 15, 2022
20 Clever (and Stylish!) Storage Solutions for Kids Rooms
Finding practical yet attractive storage solutions and organizational ideas for kids’ rooms can feel like an uphill battle. This is especially the case if you’re trying to avoid major installations and custom work. However, there are plenty of brilliant kids room storage ideas out there on social media — and from Apartment Therapy readers — that will help you streamline toys, clothes, shoes, books, and other clutter with ease and style.
Jun 30, 2022
Before & After: 8 Bedroom Makeover Projects From Our Archives
The bedroom should be a haven, a place that makes you feel peaceful and happy when you land there at the end of your day. If that’s not the case for you right now, check out these bedroom makeovers and let them inspire you to make your own changes! 1. %20%E2%80%9CKristen%E2%80%99s%20bedroom/a%20evolved%20over%20time,%20and%20transformed%20three%20times%20since%20she%20started%20working%20with%20interior%20designer,%20Lindye%20Galloway.
Mar 11, 2020
Can’t Paint Your Child’s Room? Add Color with a Statement Rug
If you are thinking of ways to start decorating your child’s room and are daunted by the white walls, start with a large, colorful statement rug! The rug can be the starting point of adding color to a neutral palette. Check out some of these rooms that do this very thing and pay attention to the way each room builds layers of color and texture in order to create a pulled-together look. This rug in Isabella’s room packs a colorful, geometric punch.
Mar 11, 2020
Before & After: An Old Dresser for a New Nursery
My mother-in-law’s house is filled with memories. It is the home that my husband grew up in and I love discovering bits and pieces of his past throughout the house when we visit. On one particular visit, my mother-in-law pointed out a shabby old dresser in a corner that she said she was going to throw out because she has had it since my husband was a baby. “Oh, no!” I yelped, and then regained my composure. “Do you think…I could have it? For Sloane?
May 4, 2019
Eden’s Sweet and Cozy Nursery
Name: Eden Location: Richmond, Virginia Room Size: 7′ x 9′ The moment I walked into this nursery, I wanted to plop down on the rocking chair and hang out in there all afternoon! Laura did a great job making a small space feel both cozy and bright, and attributes a lot of that coziness to the fact that most of the items in the nursery are gifted from friends and family who wanted to be a part of baby Eden’s life.
May 4, 2019
Save or Splurge: 15 Basic Tools Every Kitchen Needs
Quality should win out over quantity every time. But if you don’t have a ton of money to spend, and if you would rather save on items that don’t need the fancier version of itself, you’re in luck. You don’t need to spend money on the most expensive items to ensure a good product, and sometimes the most basic and least expensive things will do the job just as well.
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Christine’s Fabulous Finished Fridge
Remember this? I was embarrassed when I posted this photo for the progress post (still am), but I feel comforted by the fact that it doesn’t look like that anymore! It now looks like…. …this! It makes my heart feel lighter, and I’m more willing to cook. During my clean, I found that I had so much stuff in my fridge that needed to be discarded, which means I have more room in there than I thought.
May 4, 2019
8 Steps For Managing & Organizing Your Kids’ Toys
If you have kids, toys are an important and unavoidable fixture of your home. You know this, and you also know that the sheer volume can easily get out of hand if you’re not intentional about the flow of toys into your home. If you are trying to get a handle on your kids’ toys this year, here are some strategies to help you plan and manage what comes in and stays in your home: Take a moment to think about what is important to you in regards to toys in your home.
May 4, 2019
The Wedding Gifts We Still Use 5 Years Later (And The Ones We Don’t)
When I got married almost five years ago, I had a vague idea of what we might need for our home and registered accordingly. However, after several years, I have a much more realistic sense of the things we need and don’t need. Since our wedding, we moved three times and these moves (and all that packing and unpacking) has helped discern between what we really use and things that have stayed in boxes from our previous places and went straight into our closets or attic.
May 4, 2019
How To Be the Best Guest Ever: Real Life Modern Wedding Etiquette
When it comes to being a good guest at a wedding, there are a few things that you can be mindful of that will go a long way and be appreciated by the bride and groom. Their wedding day is a special day and abiding by these simple rules of etiquette will help ensure that their day goes smoothly. 1. RSVP! And do it as soon as possible. Just because the invitation lists a date to RSVP by doesn’t mean you should wait until the last possible moment.
May 4, 2019
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Anything Else for Your Home
Home accessories- anything from artwork to decorative pillows, vases, and lamps- are essential to making rooms feel cozy, personal, and stylish, but how do you go about deciding which pieces you want? Here are some starting questions to ask yourself before making that purchase. 1. Why do you like it? Take a moment to consider why you like a particular item. Is it because you gravitate towards that same style every time? Or is it because it is trendy?
May 4, 2019
Ian & Martha’s Tasteful and Sentimental Home
Name: Ian and Martha Robinson Location: Church Hill; Richmond, Virginia Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Ian and Martha Robinson have the kind of style that seems effortless. Once you get to know them, however, you realize that it’s even better than that: their style has developed over time from attention to craftsmanship, quality, and artistry. They value simplicity and beauty, and are mindful about the practicalities of living on a budget and with two children.
Jun 17, 2014
WORK Lab’s Vintage Eclectic Workspace
Location: Richmond, VA Size: Front office space is 1,600 square feet, back space is 600 square feet Years lived in: 20 years Cabell Harris, the founder and owner of WORK Labs has created an environment that is bursting with creativity and fun. WORK Labs is a creative brand agency in Richmond, VA that promises you that they are always thinking.
May 13, 2014
Dan and Elizabeth’s Americana Inspired Home
Name: Dan and Elizabeth Good Location: Church Hill; Richmond, Virginia Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 9 months; Rented There is something truly inspiring about being in a home that loves the city it is in. Dan and Elizabeth love the city of Richmond, and it shows in all the details of their cozy apartment in the Church Hill neighborhood. They live only blocks away from St.
Mar 9, 2014
10 Tips on Developing Your Own Style
I’ve always thought that the best House Tours on Apartment Therapy are the ones that clearly reflect individual styles and tastes. These looks into others’ homes definitely inspire us all to want to create spaces that show off our own personalities, but that sometimes can be easier said than done. If you are feeling stuck, here are some tips to help you be mindful and stay purposeful about developing your own style! 1. Surround yourself with inspiration.
Feb 17, 2014
Easy Party Decor Idea: Make a Photo Wall for Under $25
It doesn’t take a ton of time or money to create this memorable photo wall for your party that can serve both as a decoration and an activity for your guests. We had a small gathering of family members for my daughter’s first birthday, and I put together this photo wall as the visual focal point of the party. I printed out 75 4×6 photos documenting the past year of her life and arranged them on a wall.
Feb 3, 2014