LJ Smelker

Brooklyn, NY

About Me

I recently graduated with a Bachelor's in Fashion Media and a double minor in Styling and English. I grew up in a small town on Lake Michigan, and I always try to soak up as much sun as possible when visiting home. I moved to NYC for college and have made Brooklyn my permanent home. Since I have celiac disease, I love exploring local gluten-free cafes or bakeries, and I’m constantly reading and bringing my latest book wherever I go.

I was Dorm Therapy's Editorial Intern in the spring of 2025 and immediately knew that Apartment Therapy Media was meant to be home in my post-grad career. I'm passionate about telling people's stories and helping readers be inspired by the world and homes others create. I write Before & After pieces that show transformations and how anything is attainable when you have a little inspiration and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Latest Stories

This “Forgettable” Entryway Feels Like Stepping into a Rainbow

This "forgettable" and "emotionally flat" entryway turned into a fun, joyful welcome that set the tone for the rest of the house.

LJ Smelker

2 days ago

4 All-White Bathrooms Got Bold Makeovers with 2 Easy Swaps

Four builder-grade bathrooms become magical and personality-filled after an interior designer made two easy swaps that matched the client’s business goals for Maeve House.

LJ Smelker

May 12, 2026

This Potting Shed Has Checkerboard Floors and Antique Art

A couple’s cottage in Door County, Wisconsin, didn’t have a garage for storage, so they created a potting shed for their tools. Now, it’s a “beautiful” space they enjoy beyond gardening.

LJ Smelker

May 9, 2026

A “Useless” Dining Room Got Color-Drenched and Now Is the Coziest Family Room

This dining room was only used once a year — now it’s used daily as a family room because the owners recognized what their home needed.

LJ Smelker

May 7, 2026

A 1920s House’s “Dingy” Bathroom Gets a Spa-Like Upgrade

A couple bought a 1920s Foursquare home fixer-upper and doubled the size of the bathroom, adding a soaking tub and walk-in shower.

LJ Smelker

May 5, 2026

A $400 Secondhand DIY Made a Patio Feel Like a Mediterranean Escape

Sarahli Wilcox, a DIY influencer, used secondhand tiles to create a mosaic-style flooring. It saved her gazebo’s concrete flooring and only cost $400.

LJ Smelker

Apr 30, 2026

An “Outdated and Cramped” Bathroom Gets a Colorful Pink Update

TJ’s Dwellings & Designs needed to take an “outdated” bathroom and turn it into a personality-filled space that could work as both the primary and guest bathroom.

LJ Smelker

Apr 28, 2026

A Tiny, “Neglected” Backyard Became the Coziest European-Style Patio

A small rental backyard had several hiccups during renovation, but after being nearly doubled in size, it's the coziest garden escape. With trellises, an IKEA loveseat, and renter-friendly hacks.

LJ Smelker

Apr 23, 2026

This Tiny Kitchen is So Spacious Without a Layout Change

With colorful interior cabinets, fun tile flooring, and new appliances, it feels like a whole new kitchen.

LJ Smelker

Apr 21, 2026

This Cabin Fully Restored the Bathroom’s Redwood Paneling

A designer renovated his 1980s cabin’s bathroom — blending mid-century modern tiles with fully restored redwood paneling.

LJ Smelker

Apr 16, 2026

A Very '70s Dark Wood-Paneled Hallway Got a Butter Yellow Revamp

It was a forgotten two-foot space, but now it's a breath of fresh air this spring.

LJ Smelker

Apr 14, 2026

This Once-Plain Kid’s Bedroom Got a Bold Color-Drenched Makeover

Kara Hobbs used a few existing items from the room and added bold colors to create an engaging space to rest, read, and play.

LJ Smelker

Apr 9, 2026

This Yard Is an Ojai Oasis That’s Perfect for Relaxing and Entertaining

“We transformed a yard with a chain-link fence and no privacy into an oasis,” says Rebecca Taylor, a food stylist, photographer, and content creator living in Ojai, California, with her partner, Max. Over the past four years, they’d been slowly remodeling their 1960s ranch-style home, but their overgrown yard became neglected while they focused on making the inside of the house a place where the three of them (including their dog, Oli) could start a life together.

LJ Smelker

Apr 8, 2026

An Interior Designer Hand-Painted Her DIY “Wallpaper” for $100

The Michigan-based interior designer hand-painted a floral design on her bedroom walls — adding a stunning detail to her creative, lived-in family home.

LJ Smelker

Apr 2, 2026

5 Dining Room "Rules" Designers Secretly Want You to Break

It’s OK to get a little weird — even in an eating space.

LJ Smelker

Aug 17, 2025

I Think This App Is the *Best* Way to Make Phone Wallpapers

I can't even choose my favorite!

LJ Smelker

Apr 14, 2025

The ONE Thing You Should Do Before Making a College Decision

May 1 is National College Decision Day!