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

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
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