Our TeamLJ Smelker

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

She Refused to Demo Her 120-Year-Old Bathroom — Here’s What She Did Instead
“When [my husband and I] bought our first home, the bathroom was at the top of my list to transform,” Samantha Kivell, a DIYer and bespoke upholsterer, says. But DIY projects can sometimes be put on the back burner when schedules fill up, or other projects become top priority. However, once Samantha’s schedule cleared up, she finally had time to tackle the DIY transformation she had been eager to do.
LJ Smelker
1 day ago
Meet Your Favorite Home Reno Creators and Experts at DIY CON This November
From the Property Brothers to Mr. Kate!
LJ Smelker
2 days ago
A Couple Turned a Pass-Through Space Into the Most Functional Dressing Room
When Sophie Simmons moved into her 331-square-foot New York apartment, she was living alone and planned on using the railroad apartment’s awkward middle room as her closet and living space for her “single girl setup.”“The room started as a small shoebox with a closet spanning one entire wall, and a bench seat on the other,” Sophie explains. The whole room revolved around her French Louis XVI-style John Richard coffee table that she had bought secondhand for $50.
LJ Smelker
Aug 11, 2026
Everyone Wants to Be in This 1950s Kitchen After a Dreamy Custom Makeover
Three years ago, when Morgan and Faye Hurley moved into their family home just an hour outside of Boston, they were charmed by the vintage details — especially in the kitchen. Faye describes the original room as “so retro and fun,” but the smaller space (which included a connected laundry nook) wasn’t big enough to accommodate their family of five plus three cats.
LJ Smelker
Aug 10, 2026
This Nursery’s Floral Bed Nook Is What Cozy, Whimsical Dreams Are Made Of
When your life is already changing exponentially, and you’re taking on a brand new adventure, why not add one more task to your already very full plate?At least, that was Elisabeth Edelman’s thinking when she purchased her 1950s Cape Cod home. “I had just sold my PR firm, had a baby on my own, and was setting out to write a novel and get published,” Elisabeth shares.
LJ Smelker
Aug 8, 2026
A Film Enthusiast Gave Her Brooklyn Bathroom a Theater-Inspired Redo
When moving into a new space, it’s normal to discover unique (or even strange!) things abandoned by the previous occupants. Whether that’s items left behind during the move, or unusual design choices that you now have to figure out what to do with — it’s always an interesting adventure people face.
LJ Smelker
Aug 6, 2026
A Pair of Underwear Inspired This Bedroom’s Color-Drenched Redo
Inspiration can strike from almost anywhere — and that includes your undergarments drawer. In the case of Vickiann Vachula’s primary bedroom redo, a pair of soft-colored underwear was a close shade to what she had envisioned and helped inspire the room’s eventual color palette. Vickiann is the creator of My Crappy House, a blog that documents gradual renovations and DIY projects of her home.
LJ Smelker
Aug 4, 2026
She Turned Her Builder-Grade Bathroom into a Serene, Parisian Escape
With a soak tub!
LJ Smelker
Jul 14, 2026
She Swapped Her Apartment’s Living Room and Bedroom, and It Paid Off
Now she has a cozy, luxe movie room!
LJ Smelker
Jul 11, 2026
This 1910 Bungalow Kitchen Finally Has Historic Charm After a Bad ’90s Reno
The “cheap and failing” kitchen reno is long forgotten after a modern update made it a “hosting haven.”
LJ Smelker
Jul 9, 2026
An Interior Designer’s Art Nouveau Home Office Has So Much Clever Storage
An interior designer gave her home office the perfect balance of calm for working and bold for client meetings (plus, it has such a smart hidden storage hack).
LJ Smelker
Jul 7, 2026
A Basically All-Wood Paneled '70s Bathroom Got an Americana Folk Makeover
This bathroom was straight out of the '70s, but after two architects completely DIYed the space, it’s now accessible with custom Americana-style tile flooring.
LJ Smelker
Jul 4, 2026
A Murphy Bed Turned a Dining Room Into a Moody Multi-Functional Space
Her 100-year-old condo had a traditional dining room that wasn’t being used to its full potential. A custom, dramatic Murphy bed changed everything.
LJ Smelker
Jul 2, 2026
A Color Consultant Turned a Bedroom Into a Bold Bathroom
This dream bathroom was once an unused bedroom, and now it has a bold color palette and original fireplace feature.
LJ Smelker
Jun 30, 2026
Picture Rail Molding Made Their 140-Square-Foot Bedroom Feel Taller
Inspired by her client’s project and her dark green IKEA curtains, photographer Meghan Beierle-O’Brien decided to finally make her and her husband’s primary bedroom a place she wanted to be.
LJ Smelker
Jun 27, 2026
A $50 Cast Iron Sink and a Hoosier Cabinet Combined to Create a Kitchen Focal Point
This 1921 cottage had a tiny, 75-square-foot kitchen that needed a little TLC. After finding a charming cast iron sink, Alison O’Reilly knew exactly what to DIY — a beautiful sink combination with her antique Hoosier cabinet.
LJ Smelker
Jun 25, 2026
She Added Vintage Wicker Baskets to Her Family Bathroom — So Much Storage!
Mary Zenker, founder of Shaker Home Studio, put off renovating her family bathroom for as long as possible. But plumbing issues forced the family to say goodbye to the butter yellow tiles and hello to a calming retreat.
LJ Smelker
Jun 23, 2026
A Bold Blue Fireplace Is the Striking Focal Point of This Home Office
A color consultant discovered a bright cobalt blue Victorian fireplace boarded up in her 1890s home office — and it pulled the whole room together.
LJ Smelker
Jun 20, 2026
This Bold Bathroom Makeover Felt Like a Huge Mistake at First
When this couple moved in, they redid the guest bathroom with a geometric accent wall. Years later, they’ve learned a thing or two and decided to redo the space with bold, colorful details — completely DIYed.
LJ Smelker
Jun 18, 2026
"This Kitchen Sucked the Life Out," but Now It's a Functional Space
Working with her landlord’s permission, she made five simple swaps that changed everything about her kitchen.
LJ Smelker
Jun 16, 2026
An IKEA PAX DIY and a Dreamy Mural Transformed this Tiny Bedroom
Artist Maggie Beckett already had her dream NYC apartment. But when her husband moved in, the space needed an update to reflect both of their personalities. Their tiny bedroom with no closet space was the perfect place to experiment with an IKEA PAX DIY nook and landscape mural.
LJ Smelker
Jun 13, 2026
A Living Room Had No Privacy, But Now It's Sun-Lit and Miami-Inspired
An all-gray living room had no privacy, but the interior designer, Rainbow Shaker, created a colorful, sun-lit space with privacy for a London-based family.
LJ Smelker
Jun 11, 2026
This DIY Fire Pit Turned an Empty Backyard Into Everyone’s Favorite Spot
After getting a quote for $15,000, Bre Okoren decided to DIY the patio to fit her $2,000 budget. She loved hosting friends and family, and wanted to recreate a space that offered warmth and connection.
LJ Smelker
Jun 9, 2026
A 150-Year-Old Home Got a Bold, Color-Drenched Dining Room Redo
First-time homeowners transformed their 1800s Italianate home and color-drenched the dining room after extensive research to find a historically accurate color. They used a bold Roman Clay shade that they later found out was original to the house’s dining room, too — making it meant to be.
LJ Smelker
Jun 6, 2026
One Cozy Paint Swap Made This Tiny Bathroom Feel Anything But Small
As a New York City renter, Sarah Ingle had to pick her battles when renovating her tiny bathroom. She left the frosted glass shower but added warm textures, colors, and unique wall decor.
LJ Smelker
Jun 4, 2026
My Mom Turned My Childhood Bedroom into an Art Studio She Totally Deserves
As a college graduate, I had officially moved out — it was time to say goodbye and let my parents have the home they always wanted post-kids.
LJ Smelker
Jun 2, 2026
A DIY Spice Cabinet Is the Focal Point of This Kitchen — It’s So Whimsical
DIYer Amanda Oleri and carpenter Jason Staebler wanted to add unique charm to their 1980s kitchen, while including a fun spice-storage solution. The couple’s DIY spice cabinet went viral for the smart storage solution.
LJ Smelker
May 30, 2026
A “Dark and Unusable” 115-Year-Old Bathroom Got a Stunning Historic Redo
TJ’s Dwellings & Designs took a “dark and unusable” Jack and Jill bathroom and turned it into a stylishly elevated space for the homeowners to unwind in — while still honoring the 1910 bungalow’s character and era.
LJ Smelker
May 28, 2026
A Family of 5’s Laundry Room Wasn’t Working — Until It Got a Storage-Filled Makeover
For this family of five, the laundry room was the most used space in the house — but it wasn’t working for them when they first moved in. Now, it’s filled with even more storage, organization, and joy.
LJ Smelker
May 26, 2026
This Bathroom Went from Plain to Pink with a Bold Color-Drenched Redo
Jill Arden Lukeman, a Connecticut-based interior designer and owner of The Mariner and the Muse, transformed her 1920s cottage and turned the downstairs bathroom into a fun, “feminine” moment.
LJ Smelker
May 23, 2026
Soft White Paint Turned a “Beige” Bedroom Into a Cozy, Minimal Retreat
A Wisconsin 1928 bungalow needed some TLC and elbow grease, and when it came to Maudie Francek and Ronnie’s bedroom, they combined their love of the outdoors with mid-century modern style to create a “cozy minimal” space that restored the home’s character.
LJ Smelker
May 21, 2026
This Tiny Loveseat Fits 2 People and a Dog — And It Looks Absolutely Gorgeous
The Gaia Collection is customizable for every lifestyle — from pet-friendly washable slipcovers to small-space sofas with opportunities for added seats.
LJ Smelker
May 21, 2026
This IKEA IVAR Cabinet Got a Funky $250 DIY
Only took 6 hours, $250, and some elbow grease.
LJ Smelker
May 19, 2026
This Loft Cubby Became a Dreamy Bedroom Nook with One Bold Paint Move
An interior curator put his bed in his loft’s cubby and color-drenched the space. By adding an IKEA PAX wardrobe, Kiron Thomas maximized his creative space and gave himself a separate, relaxing area to wind down each night.
LJ Smelker
May 16, 2026
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
May 14, 2026
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