Our TeamLJ Smelker

LJ Smelker

Associate Editor, Home Projects

I cover Before & Afters, DIYs, and anything home projectBrooklyn, NY

About Me

I'm originally from a small beach town in West Michigan, but I moved to NYC for college where I got my BS in Fashion Media from LIM College. Brooklyn is now my permanent home, where I love exploring celiac-friendly 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

They Drenched a Dining Room in Deep Blue — Now It’s Moody and Vintage
For an interior designer, there’s nothing like having a blank slate to design and a client who puts their full faith in your process. Sandy Baisley and Natasia Smith, co-owners and principal designers of Re-Find, had found that exact dream scenario with Julie. “Our client was moving into this home with no previous items for a fresh start,” Sandy shares.
LJ Smelker
3 days ago
They Turned Their Beige 1900s Parlor into a Bold, Green “Analog Room”
Older homes have unique charm because the layout includes special details that, typically, aren’t seen in modern builds today. Historic homeowners Alexander Rigby and Bobby Naugle, who live in a Pittsburgh townhouse built in 1900, have a gorgeous parlor room. The front room has a fireplace with an original wood mantel and green tiles, plus large stained glass above the front window.
LJ Smelker
Sep 24, 2026
Her Sister Painted Flowers on Her Hallway Walls — Now It’s a Colorful Escape
Blank white spaces, given their expansiveness and endless potential, can be tricky to decorate — especially if it’s a long hallway. But luckily for plant enthusiast Paige Tailyn, she knew she wanted to create an experience for her hallway that would make guests “feel suddenly engulfed by their surroundings,” she says.
LJ Smelker
Sep 22, 2026
A Tiny Bathroom Went from Grimy to Cozy After a "Gothic-Aquatic" Redo
“That feeling of scrubbing a bathroom until your arms ache, only for it to still look kind of grimy, is the ultimate motivator,” DIYer Joe Bergantino says. Joe is one half of the DIY duo @HomosWithHammers, an account he shares with his husband, Ricky Gonzalez. They’ve slowly been restoring their 1800s Chicago home, and that grimy feeling was the couple’s inspiration to make the tiny powder room “pack a giant punch.
LJ Smelker
Sep 19, 2026
A Victorian Home's Entire Kitchen Was Demolished — Except For the Dishwasher
Historic homes often come with complicated maintenance and renovation challenges — like uneven foundations, tricky electrical or plumbing, and even health concerns with lead paint and asbestos. And sometimes the problems are significant enough that there’s little left to salvage. For Christine Urbanek, her 1890s Victorian was one of those instances where it was better to reconfigure the interior layout completely.
LJ Smelker
Sep 17, 2026
A Plain Attic Bedroom Is Now a “Little Jewel Box” After a Colorful Redo
Guest rooms are traditionally used to host out-of-town visitors, but because friends and family typically stay for only short periods, it can feel like a waste of space when no one is there. Project Lead for Mira Jean Designs, Jessica Viator, had clients who wanted to make the most of their extra bedroom. “They were craving a space they enjoyed walking into and one that reflected their personalities and flowed better with the rest of the home,” Jessica explains.
LJ Smelker
Sep 15, 2026
A Dark Kitchen Got a Bright, Neutral Makeover — It’s Anything but Boring!
Even rooms with tall ceilings and large windows can feel dark if the color palette isn’t lending itself to an airy vibe. Pamela Stewart’s kitchen looked “dated, dark, and dreary” — despite the 9-foot ceilings and amazing views of the Arizona landscape. While the walls were white, the floors, cabinets, and countertops were all shades of brown, which made the space feel darker than it actually was.
LJ Smelker
Sep 12, 2026
Her Neighbor Helped Make This Bathroom Feel Like Hers Again
There’s something so special about a neighbor-to-neighbor bond. Neighbors are like a nearby safety net — watering each other’s plants, checking in when the power goes out, or shoveling each other’s walkways in winter. Or, for Holly Saulie-Rohman, giving her neighbor Jackie a ride whenever she needs one. “We support each other in all the neighborly ways,” Holly shares. But the neighbors’ bond goes beyond helping with admin tasks.
LJ Smelker
Sep 10, 2026
A Wall of Cabinets Did More Than Add Storage to This Living Room
In today’s world of technology, it’s not uncommon to find your next living situation on social media. As a New York transplant, I’ve heard stories from friends who have found apartments on TikTok or who have stumbled upon a group needing another roommate on Instagram.
LJ Smelker
Sep 8, 2026
A Tiny Corner of an NYC Bedroom Became the Most Inspiring Office
If you work from home, you might want to create a workspace that inspires and motivates you — even if that means getting a little unconventional. For Sean Matthew Robinson, it made the most sense to turn what used to be the apartment’s living room into his bedroom… and a corner office.
LJ Smelker
Sep 5, 2026
A Nursery Redo Focused on Preservation After It Got “No Love for Decades”
“The space seemed to have received no love for decades,” Taylor Graves says of what would become her daughter’s nursery. Before Taylor and her husband moved in, it had been a college student’s guest room and was simply used for function — “and it looked like it,” Taylor notes. Multiple layers of paint covered multiple layers of wallpaper, but the room was filled with details that just needed proper attention.
LJ Smelker
Sep 3, 2026
A Closet Lacked Purpose — Until It Became a French-Inspired Wine Room
While traveling, I always fall in love with the architecture and design style of the places I’m visiting — it’s impossible for me not to become inspired and take a part of it home with me. Lots of homeowners feel the same — like this family home in London, England, that got a major makeover inspired by their trip to Miami, or this Netherlands home inspired by the family’s time in Malaysia.
LJ Smelker
Sep 1, 2026
I Used to Wake Up Throughout the Night Until Sleep Number’s Latest Mattress
When you share a bed with someone, it’s possible that you’ll have different mattress preferences. At least, that’s the case for me and my fiancé, Jeremy. He’s a side and back sleeper, so he likes a firmer mattress, while I’m a stomach sleeper and like something softer that I can sink into. Our differing opinions became very apparent when I was testing mattress toppers for our Best List of mattress toppers, and Jeremy was naturally testing them with me.
LJ Smelker
Aug 31, 2026
They Ditched a Tub in Their Cramped Bathroom — It Was the Best Decision
When it comes to bathing habits, there are usually two camps: bath enthusiasts or strictly shower people. Luiza Frediani Oxley and her partner, Chris, fall into the latter group. So in the bathroom of their small London flat, the tub took up unnecessary space. “It felt cramped, lacked proper storage, and had a few underlying issues like worn finishes and general wear that made it feel tired rather than functional,” Luiza explains.
LJ Smelker
Aug 29, 2026
A 100-Year-Old Kitchen Had Carpet — Now It Honors the Home’s History
When Jessica Archibald and her husband Stephen bought their 1909 home, it was “like walking into a ’60s time capsule,” Jessica says. There was an intercom system, built-in radio, Formica countertops, and carpet.“Sixty-year-old carpet on the kitchen floor,” Jessica says. “It doesn’t get more disgusting than that.
LJ Smelker
Aug 27, 2026
I’m a Hot Sleeper, and I Tested 15 Mattress Toppers to Find the Best One
When my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I moved in together, we sold my mattress and decided to keep his. While it was very comfortable, I still wanted to get a mattress topper to add some extra oomph. And because we’re both hot sleepers, I prioritized finding one that was cooling. Then there was the added challenge of finding a topper that was comfortable for all sleep positions, as he sleeps on his back and side and I sleep on my stomach.
LJ Smelker
Aug 26, 2026
They Built a Wall and Added So Much Kitchen Storage
Open-concept living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens have dominated home construction since the ’90s. But when DIYer Molly Miller moved into her new build in 2018, her family actually wanted more separation between the home’s main living areas. Everything was “lumped together in one large space,” and it made it difficult to have a functional kitchen with the limited storage.
LJ Smelker
Aug 25, 2026
A Renter-Friendly Wall and IKEA BILLY Created a Moody Office
”The office didn’t exist before,” Alana Resnick says. When she and her boyfriend, Miles Ronbeck, found their Upper East Side apartment, it had a very long living space. And while they originally were looking for an apartment with two bedrooms (to convert one into a dedicated office), they fell in love with the natural light and the ample square footage.
LJ Smelker
Aug 22, 2026
You’d Never Expect to See Ombré Walls in a Laundry Room — But It Works
Multipurpose rooms, because of the nature of what they are (essentially combining two separate spaces, with their own goals and needs, into one), can easily become overwhelming and a headache. For June Cruz, that room was her dual laundry room and mudroom. It had no storage or organization, which made it a dysfunctional area. “It was essentially a drop zone for our coats, shoes, and bags, as well as our weekly laundry,” June describes.
LJ Smelker
Aug 20, 2026
The Painted Island Is the Star of This Cottage-Inspired Kitchen Redo
Searching for and purchasing a home isn’t a small task. Not only is this process a major life milestone, but it can also be a hefty financial commitment. Knowing this, it’s totally fair to want to find a space that checks all the boxes. But in some situations, sacrifices might be necessary. Like when Lauren Alexander bought her condominium in 2021. “The home had good bones — beautiful crown molding and a stunning view with lots of natural light,” Lauren shares.
LJ Smelker
Aug 18, 2026
They Removed the Living Room’s Brick Fireplace — And They Don’t Regret It
“Every great design process starts with a conversation, and for this project, that conversation began with discussing their life,” founder of Rise Up Home and interior designer Kendra Joseph explains.Kendra asked her clients questions like “What does a Tuesday morning look like with two young kids?” and “Where does the chaos land, and where does the calm need to be?
LJ Smelker
Aug 15, 2026
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
Aug 13, 2026
Meet Your Favorite Home Reno Creators and Experts at DIY CON This November
From the Property Brothers to Mr. Kate!
LJ Smelker
Aug 17, 2026
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