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Totally Tubular Floppy Disk Coasters
Whenever I come across a bunch of floppy disks or diskettes I usually just laugh, make an Oregon Trail reference and throw them away. Luckily Sara is much more creative than I. When she came across a bunch of diskettes, inspiration struck and she found a fun way to give them a second life. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 48 hours (including drying time) Project Cost: $15 From Sara: Who is in for a flashback to the past?
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Introducing Erin & Ken’s Backyard Redesign
Name: Erin & Ken Francois Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location: Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Spring has sprung and Erin and Ken are itching to fix up their gloriously large backyard for grilling season.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Let’s Get This Reno Party Started
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Paving The Way
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. The patio rock, sand, and pavers arrived on Friday, and Ken and I both took the afternoon off to begin laying the rock base layer.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Small Projects, Big Impact
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. This weekend, Ken and I checked off a series of small projects in the backyard. First up, we hung the new main door on the garage.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Make Our Garden Grow
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Almost There!
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. After a slow progress week last weekend, Ken and I were ready to hit the dirt and power tools with full force this weekend.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Erin & Ken’s Backyard: Done & Done
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. With these being the last two weeks of the project, we definitely made a big push to get the remaining projects wrapped up.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Bright and Cheery Farmhouse Kitchen Update For Under $20
Project by: Ashlea Location: Red Deer — Alberta, Canada We purchased a 1940s farmhouse complete with just about original everything. While our little home was big on charm, it was also big on orange, lacquered wood trim, doors, floors and cabinets. Our dated kitchen cabinets were cute, but the swan and fruit basket decals weren’t quite our thing.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Simple & Stylish DIY IKEA Coffee Table Upgrade
If you’re looking to spice up your Lack coffee table, but not quite at I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-IKEA hack level, Elinor’s simple and stylish upgrade might be for you!
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Build Your Own Sleek & Sophisticated Wall Sconce
This is so gorgeous it’s hard to believe it’s DIY. If you’re looking for a project that’s a bit of a challenge with a big, glamorous pay off, let Cheryl be your guide! Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: 30 minutes Project Cost: $90 From Cheryl: This is a DIY brass and black sconce that I used for my kitchen. I added swivels to it so it can move up and down as well as tilt to get the exact right angle of light I need.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Simple & Sassy Stencil Project
Do your cushions need a little extra pizzazz? Looking for a fun weekend project? Claire is back with another terrific DIY project, perfect for adding some pretty to your patio. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 30 minutes Project Cost: $20 From Claire: It is so easy to update some plain cushions into something rather fabulous with just a bit of paint and some paper doilies. I loved this craft. It was so easy to do. My favorite kind of craft; cheap, fun and little effort for great results.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Build Your Own Bullet Planter
Do you want to add more plant life to your space while scratching your DIY itch? If you’re more of a handy-man and less of a green thumb, Ashley’s project is a great way to add a personal touch to your indoor garden.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Kitchen Opens Up for Entertaining
Project by: Rebecca Chan Location: Toronto, Ontario My kitchen used to be a small extension of the main floor, cut off from the rest of the living/dining area. Opening up the wall was our main priority, which would make the whole main floor feel much larger and open concept. We had to move our electrical, main stack and water lines, which ended up taking a whole week to move. This ate up a big chunk of the budget, but it was so worth it to do.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Early Mornings, Numerous Showrooms and Last Minute Lights Lead to a Gorgeous New Bathroom
Project by: Maura Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania We recently renovated our bathroom, which took five weeks from demo to completion. In the months prior, I used a Pinterest board to collect ideas and refine what we wanted in the space. In the beginning it was all soapstone sinks, but as time passed, we evolved towards the elements that more readily fit our home and limited budget. I acted as our designer.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This Complete Studio Makeover Went From Gut to Gorgeous
Project by: Melissa Location: Upper East Side — New York, New York My girlfriend Melissa and I purchased a small studio apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in October 2015. With a reasonable renovation budget, our goal was to take this fixer-upper, maximize the space and create a home for us for the next few years. Since Melissa loves to cook, and I love to eat, we made the kitchen our main priority. Deciding to tear down the wall that separated the kitchen was a no-brainer.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Make a Splash With a DIY Wallpaper Backsplash
If you love a good backsplash and want to bring some DIY flair to your kitchen but are a little tile averse, Claire has a fun solution for you! Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: 2-3 Hours Project Cost: $150-$200 Harlequin Wallpaper – Palmetto Demoiselle about 1/3 roll Wallpaper adhesive 5.5mm thick hardwood ply cut to size of backsplash (can be done in store) 4mm toughened low iron glass which we got cut to size at the store.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Busy Basement Makeover
Project by: Jess Location: Bellevue, Washington This past June, Jess found herself working with some fabulous life changes, a new baby & a new home, along with a less fabulous life addition, mold. After a successful mold eviction, Jess and her husband Chris set about creating a cozy home for three. From Jess: June 1st, 2016 we moved from our little Seattle home that we were paying WAY too much in rent for, to my parent’s basement apartment allllll the way over in Bellevue.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
How to Spruce Up an Ugly Permanent Bookshelf?
Q: My new apartment has this weird bookshelf that is bolted into the ground in a nook in the hallway. My landlady said she can’t remove it because it is protecting piping (you can see the pipes on the left side). The bookshelf is also attached to the oblong white shelf above it. What can I do to make this look less awkward and more attractive?
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
How Do I Erase the Mistake of My Magic Eraser?
Q: I recently scored a set of six chairs in IKEA’s “as-is” section ($6 each!!). They were super grubby (previously used in the cafe area of IKEA) but I purchased them anyway thinking I could make them shine again. I did a bad, bad thing and didn’t “spot test” the chairs before cleaning the heck out of them with a Magic Eraser. They LOOK good and super clean, howevvvvvver now the feel tacky and gross.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Crafting a Serene and Relaxing Space in Moscow
Project by: Anna Location: Moscow, Russia This apartment is located in the center of Moscow – only a five minute walk from the Red Square and Kremlin. It is located in a historic building and its surface is 65 square meters/700 square feet. My clients were a young couple – they travel a lot and wanted me to recreate a mixture of French and Scandinavian looks.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
How Do We Make Space For Our Baby in Our One-Bedroom Apartment?
Q: My husband and I live in San Francisco and recently found out that we are expecting. Yay! But, also, oh no! We live in a 640 square foot apartment in the city and don’t want to move (until the baby is 6 months or so). Our bedroom is 10×12 feet and we need to figure out a way to make it work for the two of us + the baby. We have a large semi-closet that we can clean out for the adult clothing but have NO CLUE how we’re going to accommodate the little one.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Find Your Beach (Towel)
Hurry! Yes, you could totally make this next year or make it and take it on vacation, but let’s celebrate the last few weeks of summer and really dig our heels into the sand and make the most of the long days, hot weather and beach trips! Tei is here to walk you through making your own shibori beach towel in under two hours for just about $10.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
DIY Moss Wreath
This gorgeous wreath perfectly straddles summer and fall, and is super easy to make. Set aside one hour and you can have earthy and welcoming door decor! Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 hour Project Cost: $25-30 (if you already have a glue gun) From Caitlin: An inspiring DIY wreath project you can enjoy anytime of year from the photographer and stylist, Caitlin Atkinson, and author of Plant Craft: 30 Projects that Add Natural Style to your Home.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern, Black & White Miami Kitchen
Project by: Sara & Laura Location: Miami, Florida The house was built in 1948 and this was the original kitchen, complete with slanted cabinets, pink tufted leather breakfast bar and metallic butterfly wallpaper (YES, you read that right!). The glass sliding doors on the upper cabinets and the red, plaid wallpapered shelves were not doing this already dated kitchen any favors.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Help! I Called in the Professionals and They Damaged My Sofa
Q: One month ago we hired professional upholstery cleaners to clean our living room furniture, as we did not want to risk damaging our sofa and chair ourselves. We selected a national brand with a good reputation locally. The cleaner damaged the material on the first pass, turning the original color of creamy white into a dirty blotched yellow. The general manager quickly responded, sending his “top technician” to fix the problem.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Tiny is Out, Extremely Teeny Tiny is In
Oh, is that a tiny house you have there? Well we see your 200-square-foot home and raise you…some incredibly small candles. Miniatures are having a moment, they’re adorable and completely Instagram-worthy. And while we’ve showcased some incredibly well designed dollhouses before, the good folks over at The Cut are profiling the movers and shakers of the miniature world, inspiring us to take a look at some of the cutest, Borrower-sized home goods around.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Now’s Your Chance to Live in Harry Potter’s Childhood Home
If you’re a glass half-full type of Harry Potter fan, you can now own the home where Harry first bested Voldemort. If you’re a glass half-empty type of Harry Potter fan, you can now own the home where Lily and James Potter were killed. And if you’ve never read Harry Potter and would like me to just get to the point, you can now own a charming historic home that happened to appear in a movie.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This IKEA Dictionary Tells You What Each Product Name Means
In the world of IKEA tropes, “IKEA is a death trap to couples” reigns supreme. But coming in at a close second is “I (a non-Swedish speaking individual) am somewhat flummoxed by the name of this bowl.” IKEA product names have long since been a source of delight, confusion and humor for many IKEA fans. Lucky for us, a brave man has put together the ultimate IKEA dictionary.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Inspiring Quotes From Famous Women About Decorating Their Homes
Hat queen Diane Keaton recently released an interior decorating book, The House That Pinterest Built, after years of quietly flipping houses (and releasing her own wine). Keaton isn’t alone in her passion for design, and The Cut has rounded up quotes from 25 powerhouse women on their love for interior decorating. It wouldn’t be a female-centric story about design without an appearance from dream home enchantress Nancy Meyers.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Here’s the Perfect Game For The Wes Anderson Obsessed
If you’re looking to add some joie de vivre and competitive spirit to your Friendsgiving in a way that says, “I like movies,” look no further than this Wes Anderson card game. This whimsical set features the quirky characters each of the writer and director’s cult classics. The game is designed by Belly Kids, which describes itself as a group that has “fun releasing books, prints, tapes and all sorts of odd accessories.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This “Relaxation” Pod Hangs Off The Side of a Building
Who among us hasn’t wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of city life? Designer Alice Bleton had created a pod for stressed-out folks who want a little calm and quiet. The fiberglass hut is designed to hang from the side of a roof, offering up relaxation a sense of expansiveness. Inspired by living structures designed for extreme climates and bunkers, the pod is simple and sturdy.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This Huge Mattress Is Literally Twelve Feet Wide — And You Can Buy It
Are you part of a co-sleeping family, but things are getting a little too snug? There’s a mattress for that. Are you and your partner both over 6’5” and sleep in starfish position? Yep, there’s a mattress for that. Are you single and just want an endless expanse of bed all to yourself? There’s also a mattress for that. The Ace Collection has released a family sized bed that is 144 inches wide. That is 12 whole feet of bed.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Look Down: This Instagram Account Showcases the Patterned Wonder of Airport Carpet
Do you have any airport rituals? Little things that you do or things you treat yourself to in an attempt to make the stress of travel slightly more bearable? I get an Auntie Anne’s cinnamon sugar pretzel (because they’re delicious and LaGuardia has like two food options) and a Harvard Business Review (IDK either), and it helps calm my nerves a bit.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
IKEA Wants To Save Your Relationship by Teaching You to Sleep the Swedish Way
Sharing a bed with your partner can be cozy, intimate and also completely terrible. If you run at different temperatures or even sleep in wildly different positions, the nightly battle for comforter real estate can feel like a war that may never end. Luckily, IKEA (maybe you’ve heard of it?) is bringing a peacekeeping Swedish sleeping method to other countries. IKEA’s new “TOG-ether bundle” is coming to save your sleep situation.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This Hauntingly Beautiful Instagram Account Imagines the Lives Inside Houses
If you’ve ever wandered around your neighborhood wondering about the lives inside of your favorite homes, Instagram account We Live Here Now is for you. Planted at the intersection of flash fiction and real estate fantasy, the account imagines how people came to live in their homes—who they are, how they felt, the ties that strengthen when a couple shares a space. Sharlyn Anderson is the voice behind the account, giving each post its heart and soul and imagination.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
This Portlandia Sketch Celebrates The Fine Art of Canceling Plans
Take it from Fred & Carrie, cancelling plans is totally the answer.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
How to Turn Your IKEA Trofast Into a LEGO Holder
Maybe it’s the capital letters, but LEGO and IKEA seem like a match made in DIY heaven. Thanks to Stéphanie you can hack your way to an adorable and inexpensive LEGO holder.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
This DIY Nightstand Project May Have You Running to Your Nearest Thrift Store
This is an absolutely unrecognizable thrift store makeover! Lauren and Wendy took a look at a ‘blah’ table and saw two playful nightstands. Read on for a little inspiration and instruction… From Lauren: We took this old thrift store end table and transformed it into two nightstands all for less than $40! All the work was completed by myself and my partner in crime, Wendy, over the course of four days.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
An Easy & Adorable DIY Valentine’s Paper Garland
Perhaps Valentine’s Day isn’t your thing. Totally cool. Maybe Valentine’s Day chocolate (and only the chocolate) is your thing. I so hear you. But if you’re thinking of decorating your space for a romantic night in or looking for a fun activity for a Galentine’s Day party, Helena’s easy and adorable garland is a fast and fun way to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
DIY Hanging Clay Air Plant Holder
With Spring in full bloom, it’s pretty tempting to bring some of the green inside. This elegant little plant holder can help make your dreams come true in under an hour. Amy walks us through this easy and lovely little project. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 hour Project Cost: $5 Polymer Clay Clay Tools Clay rolling pin To create a marbled effect, use a small amount of four different colors. First, remove pieces from each color and start warming and kneading in your hand.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
DIY Mountain Wall Hanging
This wall hanging is too cute to pass up! Simple and charming, it’s also a great way to use up any leftover yarn you may have hanging about. Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: More than 3 hours Project Cost: $30 From Anna: Wall hangings are super trendy! This weaving project is easy and suited for beginners, so why not try it yourself? Picture Frame Wool scraps Embroidery thread Needle Scissors To make the landscape weaving, you need two tones of blue, yellow and white yarn.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
Upgrade Your Billy Bookcase With A Fun Industrial Look & Some Much Needed Teddy Bear Storage
This is such a fun IKEA hack! We’ve seen plenty of ways to dress up a Billy, but this kid & storage friendly upgrade is a nice mix of style and function.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
The Budget For Erin & Ken’s Backyard Makeover
Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
A Fast & Fun DIY Lamp Upgrade
Sometimes you just want to shake things up like right now. Fortunately Stephanie is here to walk us through a super quick and easy way to add some pattern to your life. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Project Cost: $3.00 From Stephanie: Hop on the global decor trend and give lamps a globally inspired look with paint pens! White paint pens were used to revamp lamps with a mud cloth inspired pattern. White Paint Pen Dark Lamps Clean lamp bases to remove any residue.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
A Guest Room Goes From Fine to Fab & Functional
Project by: Jolie Location: Fredericton —New Brunswick, Canada When we first moved into our house three years ago, I only had about a week to throw together a guest room for family that was coming to visit and never really thought about it again after that. I was fine with how it looked but it just wasn’t “me.” I also wanted the space to be multifunctional so I could use it when company was gone.
Nora Taylor
Apr 6, 2019
Real Estate Rom Com: History Loves Company in Savannah
In honor of love, February, and gorgeous real estate, I put together another Real Estate Rom Com featuring this stunning home on Sotheby’s International Realty. A crowd bustles down Whitaker street, weaving in and out of Forsyth Park. It’s the annual historic house walk and as a winner of the Historic Savannah Foundation Preservation Award, 611 is a must see for any historic house enthusiast.
Nora Taylor
Feb 22, 2019
Three Kids Share One Masterfully Organized Montreal Bedroom
Name: Lily, Oli, and Chloé ( 5, 4, 2) Location: Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montreal — Canada Years ago, we shared our Lily and Oli’s shared room here on Apartment Therapy. Since then, we’ve added our third child, our daughter Chloé to the room. Now that we are officially crib-free, and still happily using one bedroom for our three little ones, I thought it was time to share the many changes we’ve made.
Nora Taylor
Feb 20, 2019