Newsletters

Kathleen Luttschyn

Kathleen is a freelance editor who lives in Chicago. She loves eclectic rooms, traveling with her family, and feeding anyone who steps foot in her house. She theoretically hates clutter, but can’t stop buying books and craft supplies.
    Test Run: Does Tibet Almond Stick Work on Dark Wood?
    We’ve raved about Tibet Almond Stick before — in fact, I first bought one after Maxwell posted about them in 2006. Until now though, I’ve always used mine on lighter wood, like oak. Yesterday, annoyed at all the scratches that have appeared on my dark finish coffee table, I decided to see if, as promised, the renowned stick could get them out, too . . .The Almond Stick is actually a cotton roll soaked in a “secret family formula.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Oct 11, 2022
    How to Polish & Repair Scratched Glass
    There are few more timeless pieces of furniture than a glass table, whether it’s in your dining room or holding down the fort next to your couch. But the beauty of glass is also its downfall—it can get and show scratches way more easily than anyone would like.Luckily, there’s a super easy way to remedy those unsightly marks using items you almost definitely already have at home. While this won’t work for deep gouges, it’s the perfect trick for minor scratches.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Dec 6, 2020
    5 (More) Ways to Make Cut Flowers Last
    If you’ve been reading Apartment Therapy for a while, you know we’re big advocates of keeping fresh flowers in your home. Here are a few more tips for making them last, whether they’re freshly picked or a favorite flower that you buy all the time.  Put freshly picked flowers in water immediately and leave them for at least 5 hours before arranging them, a process calling conditioning.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    May 5, 2019
    Homekeeping Hints: How To Clean, Fix & Maintain Tile Floors
    You have a new tile floor, and it’s gleaming and gorgeous. Or maybe you have a 70-year-old checkerboard floor that could use some TLC. Either way, this list of tips can help you maintain your floor for years to come.  This may be common sense, but dirt can easily scratch tile surfaces so it’s important to keep your floor clean by regularly sweeping or vacuuming it. A little preventative manintenance goes a long way. Mop once a week.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    May 5, 2019
    Smart & Simple Homekeeping: Tips for Keeping Carpets Clean
    That pristine wool carpet you just installed looks great. Keep it looking that way for years with these straightforward, easy tips. Vacuum regularly. Loop carpets like Berbers are more delicate and should be vacuumed only with suction. Pile carpets, like Saxony pile and textured pile, can withstand heavier cleaning and should be cleaned with a beater bar. Natural wool has a wax coating that keeps dirt on the surface, making it easy to keep clean by vacuuming. Stain treat immediately.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    May 5, 2019
    5 Tiny Tweaks to Keep Your Bedroom Closet Organized
    A newly reorganized closet is a sight to behold. You’ve cleared the clutter, your belongings look great, and you can check another chore off the list. If you’re like me, however, this feeling lasts a shockingly short time before the clutter creeps back. I just re-cleaned a closet I organized only a few months ago, and I’m determined to keep it nice with this list of easy tips.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Sep 10, 2012
    The Bare Minimum: 10 Absolute Essentials for Every Home
    No two households are the same — it’s part of what make House Tours endlessly entertaining. Still, there are some universal truths to life at home. So whether you’re an avid cook living in an apartment, a raw vegan living in a rural tiny house, or a DIY aficionado living in a bungalow, your home will benefit from having these 10 essentials.Most of the items on this list are practical, but a few lean toward comfort and aethestics. Why not?
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Aug 7, 2012
    Before & After: Family-Friendly Deck
    It started with a splinter. We’d long neglected the worn, ugly deck off our master bedroom. It contained two chaise lounges, a plant, and a sand table for our toddler, but was still bare and underutilized. Then I got a nasty splinter from it — my third in as many days — and I realized we couldn’t ignore it any longer.It wasn’t a rash decision, so much as an acknowledgment that the deck needed repair.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Jul 31, 2012
    A Gallery of Case Study Beds
    The elegant lines of George Nelson’s Case Study bed have ensured its place as a modern classic, with many clean-lined successors also on the market. One big plus of these beds is their versatility — they look sculptural when adorned only with minimal bedding, but are also a good canvas for artsy, bright bedding. As these bedrooms show, as long as you don’t cover up their shape, Case Study beds look good in almost any bedroom.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Mar 31, 2011
    John’s Artful Wicker Park Duplex
    Name: John WorsekLocation: Wicker Park — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1500 square feetYears lived in: 10 — Owned I photographed John’s house a few days after the blizzard, when side streets were still impassable and beat-up chairs sat in what few parking spaces were available. Five seconds after walking in his Wicker Park duplex, I’d completely forgotten about the weather.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Feb 17, 2011
    Before & After: Multi-purpose Loft Space
    We moved into our home four years ago in a flurry of MA thesis writing and job changes. When we had time, we worked on decorating the bedrooms, living room, and dining area — but we pretty much ignored the loft space at the top of the stairs. We eventually bought a rug and our friend Karen kindly built us pine shelves while staying as a houseguest. Sadly, that was about it until last year, when our home office moved there to make way for a nursery.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Feb 8, 2011
    Lauren’s Collection of Stories
    Name: Lauren YoungLocation: Lakeview — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1,500 square feetYears lived in: 10 — Owned When guests enter Lauren’s home, they always pause briefly in her gorgeous, richly-hued foyer. Not only to take off coats and say hello, but because the room — the only one in the apartment that’s not neutral — demands it of you.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Jan 18, 2011
    Mary and Tom’s Hip & Historic Haven
    Name: Mary Visconti and Tom CaldwellLocation: the Loop — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 4 — Owned As a lifelong Chicagoan, I’ve often been curious about the Manhattan Building, the 1891 landmark that’s the city’s oldest surviving steel frame building. Designed by William Le Baron Jenney, the 16-story historic skyscraper features gorgeous bay windows and a prime view of the Harold Washington Library.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Nov 11, 2010
    Jaime’s Global Glamour
    Name: JaimeLocation: Wicker Park — Chicago, ILSize: 1400 square feetYears lived in: 3.5 — Owned Jaime, an esthetician at the much-lauded Maxine Salon, is the enviable type of person who’s innately stylish and who seems to get along with just about everyone. Her casually glamorous, jewel-hued Wicker Park home reflects both these aspects of her personality.
    Kathleen Luttschyn
    Oct 19, 2010