Our TeamCourtney Balestier

Courtney Balestier

Senior Writer, Creative Studio

About Me

Courtney Balestier is the Apartment Therapy Creative Studio Senior Writer. She holds a master's degree in magazine journalism from NYU and lives in Pittsburgh, where you'll find her doing DIY projects in her new house with her dog and cat (who are not being very helpful).


Latest Stories

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The Clever Way to Turn Your Home into a Curated Art Gallery
Swapping wall art is a great way to refresh a space with your style, but it doesn’t have to involve hammering more holes into the wall, moving pieces around, or shopping for something new. In fact, it can be as easy as changing the channel.LG Gallery+ is a new visual curation service for LG TVs — and a brilliant way to make your home more unique and personalized.
Feb 13, 2026
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What Is a Waterborne Finish, and Is It Right for Your Hardwood Floors?
Few design features take our breath away like beautiful hardwood floors. They play nicely with just about every aesthetic, add warmth and character, and — with proper care — can last a lifetime.If you’re moving into a new home or just discovered wood floors under carpeting (jackpot!), or if your existing floors are looking rough, refinishing could be the TLC they need to come back to life. But not all refinishing options are created equal.
Feb 5, 2026
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21 Cozy Finds to Make Your Home Feel Like a Warm Hug
Hibernation season has arrived — and you won’t hear us complaining. A foolproof way to enjoy winter is to make your home into the comfiest version of itself. With the right mix of creature comforts and nurturing extras, even the coldest day feels warm and snuggly. From cozy reading marathons to piping hot beverages, QVC has everything you need to lean into nesting mode.
Jan 29, 2026
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This Cottagecore-Loving Content Creator Spends Her Sundays with Matcha, Yoga, and a Trip to the Greenhouse
Kaitlin Jokinen (@kaitlinathome) has the kind of home you want to get comfy in: Her 1930s apartment in Denver is an ode to all things cozy, whimsical, and sweetly nostalgic. Kaitlin decorates with an eye for patterns and a penchant for crafty DIYs, like re-covering a secondhand bench for her kitchenette or painting butter-yellow stripes on a plain white dresser. Add touches like lit candles and lush houseplants, and you have a cottagecore retreat with homey, lived-in texture.
Jan 16, 2026
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21 Affordable Home Upgrades to Elevate Your Space
It doesn’t take much to make your space feel fresher and more functional. Sometimes a new storage solution or updated kitchen gadget is just the thing to breathe new life into your home. And now is a great time to find those little moments of reset.Whether you want to make your kitchen more efficient or organize your closet, QVC can help. The trusted shopping destination has a little bit of everything, from bar carts to bath towels (and bath towel warmers).
Jan 12, 2026
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The Couple Behind Highboy LA Start Their Mornings with Cortados, Plant Care, and Pup Snuggles
From artfully curated gallery walls to warm and cozy color palettes, design-loving couple Katie and Cody know how to have fun with decor. The couple behind Highboy LA is known for the earthy and playful aesthetic of their Los Angeles apartment, and now they’re translating that vibe to their new 1886 Victorian in Illinois. That includes pop-art touches, sleek mid-century furniture, and houseplants in just about every sunny corner.
Jan 5, 2026
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How a Busy Content Creator Adds Joy to Her Everyday Routine
Content creator Celeste Polanco‘s New York apartment is a celebration of loft living: high ceilings, a wide-open layout, and abundant natural light that her houseplants love. This airy, intentionally decorated space is also a lesson in finding joy in the everyday. Whether it’s a restorative cleaning ritual or an extra-soft throw blanket on the sofa, Celeste knows that all the details add up to a larger feeling of peace, calm, and balance. data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.
Dec 17, 2025
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Find Your Holiday Personality — and Get the Decor to Match It
The holidays are a time for joyful gatherings with family and friends. They’re also a time for movie marathons on the couch under as many blankets as possible. Whichever you’re in the mood for, some extra festive home decor will help you enjoy it even more.These mood boards have something for everyone, and everything is available at QVC!
Dec 1, 2025
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Katharine McPhee Foster’s Dining Room Embodies Easy Elegance — Right Down to Its Fragrance
Right down to its fragrance.
Nov 5, 2025
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This Holiday Wreath Trend Is Proof That Bows Make Everything Better
It’s so glamorous and understated at the same time.
Nov 4, 2025
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The Swag Wreath Is the “It” Holiday Decoration of the Season
Make it as simple or ornate as you like.
Nov 4, 2025
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This Scandinavian-Inspired DIY Adds Big Holiday Sparkle to a Small Space
Deck the halls and the walls — literally — and add some extra cheer.
Nov 4, 2025
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This Simple Holiday Garland DIY Adds Instant Drama to a Small Space
“It reminds me of something I’ve seen in a fancy hotel lobby.”
Nov 4, 2025
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A Dinner Party Expert Swears By This Surprising Retailer for Her Holiday Needs (See Her Haul!)
When you’re known for throwing dinner parties, like content creator and author Cristina Viseu, you gotta keep things interesting. Cristina has no shortage of fun hosting ideas, from French butter parties to pretty picnics. And when it’s time to style them, there’s one store that never lets her down: Macy’s Backstage.Tucked inside select Macy’s department stores, Macy’s Backstage has something new every day — literally.
Oct 30, 2025
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We Gave Our Social Media Manager $100 — Here’s What She Bought at Macy’s Backstage
Season’s greetings — hosting season, that is. If you love to entertain, this time of year is extra exciting: There are so many opportunities for bringing folks together.Apartment Therapy Social Media Manager Sam O’Brochta likes to stay ready for those impromptu gatherings with a stash of servingware and decor that reflects her whimsical, colorful style. And she stocks up at a special store that shares her fun and spontaneous spirit: Macy’s Backstage.
Oct 28, 2025
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Katharine McPhee Foster Shares Her “Signature Welcome” for Fall
Her thoughtful touches make guests feel instantly welcomed.
Oct 24, 2025
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This Piece of Conversation-Starting Decor Helps Me Enjoy My Outdoor Space Well into Fall
Most days, I’m just waiting until I can go hang out in my back garden. Whether I’m puttering amongst my perennials, reading a book on the patio, or sharing a bottle of wine with friends, my garden is like a second living room. So I’m not ready to give it up just because the weather is beginning to shift.The transition to autumnal outdoor hangs does call for some seasonal tweaks, though.
Oct 20, 2025
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3 On-Trend Ways to Upgrade Your Home Decor for Fall and Winter
This time of year, our homes deserve a little extra spirit and sparkle. With cozy dinner parties and joyful holiday gatherings ahead, we’re getting inspired to make our spaces feel warmer, festive, and more inviting. These three style trends each deliver a distinctive look, and they’re all available at QVC! The legendary shopping destination has high-quality furnishings for all your design whims, at prices that make it easy to swap as the season shifts.
Oct 16, 2025
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Enter for a Chance to Win $4,500 in Online Credit at Ashley for a Game-Day Room Makeover!
When you’re a football fan, game-day viewing parties are non-negotiable. And whatever team you root for, the real win is having a comfortable, stylish space for watching the action — especially if it’s been outfitted for free.We recently partnered with Ashley to transform one football fan’s living room into a stylish family retreat that becomes a comfy, spacious game-day hangout when her team is playing.
Oct 7, 2025
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The “Apartment Therapists” Helped This Spacious Living Room Get Ready for Game-Day Entertaining with Ashley
For Koko — a content creator and devoted University of Texas Austin alumna known for her easy entertaining ideas — game-day gatherings are a given. So when she and her husband built their new home, she couldn’t wait to host family and friends for food, fun, and football.Koko’s living room is already gorgeous, with high ceilings, full-length windows, and ample space for entertaining.
Oct 7, 2025
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7 Renter-Friendly Upgrades You Should Consider When You Move to a New Home​
Moving is all about hitting reset. We cull our belongings as we pack, and then, as we unpack, we rethink how our furniture and decor will work best in a new space. So those first days of settling into your space are a great opportunity to make some upgrades that will make your new home work, look, and feel a little better.That includes your internet connection. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers plans for every budget, with prices that won’t change for five years — guaranteed.
Sep 9, 2025
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5 Things You Need for a Movie Night Celebration in Your New Home​
Settling into your new space can feel like an endless process, with always another box to unpack and decision to make. Our advice? Take a break. A movie night is an easy and enjoyable reprieve from unpacking — plus, queuing up a family favorite and ordering some takeout will help your new digs start to feel like home. It’s also easier to feel settled when you’re connected right from the start.
Sep 5, 2025
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3 On-Trend, Editor-Approved Ways to Upgrade Your Home Decor for Fall
This time of year always inspires us to shake up our decor — after all, fall is a season of change! As the temps dip and the air cools, we start looking around our homes for new style opportunities.These are three trends our editors are loving this year — and you can shop them all at QVC! The iconic shopping destination has high-quality, stylish options for every home aesthetic, including decor to create the season’s latest looks.
Sep 2, 2025
I Used an IKEA BILLY Hack to Create Craftsman-Style Living Room Built-Ins
The gist of this project is straightforward: Assemble a BILLY, then surround it with trim.
Aug 31, 2025
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Do These 5 Things to Make Your New Place Feel Like Home Right Away​
Making a new house feel homey is a process: A space’s “lived-in” feel comes from, well, living in it. But there are little ways you can start creating cozier vibes ASAP. Individually, they might not sound like much, but together, they’ll help you fall in love with your new home faster.T-Mobile 5G Home Internet can help too, with a simple 15-minute installation that keeps you seamlessly connected from day one.
Aug 21, 2025
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What to Pack in Your “Open First” Box to Make the First Night in Your New Home More Comfortable
Spending your first night in a new home is a little like camping: a really fun adventure, but also a bit disorienting and maybe not as comfortable as you’d hoped. But successful moves come down to good planning, and a well-planned “open me first” box will make the first night (and next morning) feel homier.Another smart plan for your first night? Reliable internet. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet makes it easy to get set up as soon as you walk in the door.
Aug 15, 2025
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3 Ways We Gave This Grandmother’s Walk-In Closet More Space and Organization
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Having plenty of storage can be a mixed blessing. It’s great to have so much space…but we also have a tendency to fill it.That was the case for Irene, a grandmother in Utah who we visited on our newest episode of Apartment Therapy: Your Space, Your Story.
Aug 14, 2025
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When a Makeover Is an Act of Gratitude: A New Bedroom for a Loving Grandmother
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Creating your home isn’t only about color palettes and fabric swatches: Making a space that feels special to you is an act of love. Shalese and her family felt that love when her grandmother Irene opened her doors to them. And now, Shalese wanted to express her gratitude by giving Irene the peaceful bedroom she deserves.
Aug 14, 2025
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3 Projects That Made This Couple’s First House a Welcoming Retreat
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.When you first move into a home, the possibilities are endless. An easy way to narrow them down? Think about how you want your new space to feel.Newly engaged couple Miya and Edgar wanted their first home together to feel warm and relaxing: an oasis after a long day of work and a comfortable gathering spot for family and friends.
Aug 7, 2025
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How This Couple Totally Transformed Their Home’s Dated Living Room Features
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Buying a home often involves inheriting someone else’s choices. Part of the fun is seeing past those quirks and imagining the possibilities that speak to you. For Miya and her fiancé, Edgar — who just bought their first home, in Clinton, UT — those quirks included textured walls and a lot of teal paint.
Aug 7, 2025
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3 Projects That Helped Transform This Open Space Into a Comfy Family Retreat
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Large rooms are a puzzle: How do you make the most of all that square footage in a way that feels cohesive, yet still open? When you want to create a space like that, start by not thinking of it as a single space at all. Distinct areas designed for a specific use or mood — aka micromoments — are our favorite way to approach styling a large space.
Jul 31, 2025
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How Creating “Micromoments” Made This Open Space Work So Much Better
While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.When you see your dream home, you know it — even if the place needs a little love. That’s what happened when Jesse and Erin laid eyes on their historic home in Salt Lake City. The couple has made a career flipping houses, but they immediately knew they had to hang onto this one.
Jul 31, 2025
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The Tineco Floor Washer Uses Advanced Tech to Clean Smarter and Faster. Here’s What That Means
Cleaning the floor is one of the most basic home maintenance chores we all have to do, but vacuuming and mopping can be annoying at best and an aerobic workout at worst — especially if you’re dealing with pet hair or kid messes. But it doesn’t have to be so hard.The new Tineco FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Steam turns three chores into one streamlined routine: vacuuming, mopping, and steam-sanitizing floors quickly and efficiently. Here’s a closer look at how it works.
Jul 17, 2025
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This Easy Closet Fix Will Add So Much Storage to a Packed Dorm Closet (Without Using a Single Tool!)
If you have a small closet — aka a dorm room closet — you know that keeping all your clothes, shoes, and accessories organized is a constant challenge. Add in a few hurried mornings and some quick outfit changes between class and dinner with friends, and your closet can feel like an obstacle course of yoga leggings and going-out tops.
Jul 14, 2025
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No More Playing It Safe: A Fashion Pro’s Living Room Finally Matches Her Impeccable Style
Sometimes we look around our space and realize it doesn’t look like us at all. That was the case for fashion professional and content creator Nasteha Yusuf. Her Jersey City apartment is her second home base, where she spends two weeks a month working. But even though she films content there, the living room felt boring — a word you’d never use to describe Nasteha’s bold personal style.
Jul 10, 2025
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This Elegant Living Room Makeover Blends Grown-Up Style with Kid-Friendly Function
When you live with little ones, your decor style can morph into “toy store” before you know it. Fashion professional and content creator Nuni Yusuf has a keen design eye, but in her New Jersey living room, the dominant focal point was usually her daughters’ toys. She wanted the room to be a place her kids could enjoy, but she also wanted it to look polished — especially for entertaining.
Jul 10, 2025