Newsletters
Good For the Environment and You: Glass Water Bottles
A few years ago I made a concerted effort to stop buying bottled water and instead fill my own bottles. The problem with this is that plastic and metal bottles tend to leach flavor (and who knows what else!) into the water. The solution? Glass water bottles! • Glass Water Bottles Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 15, 2013
Before & After: Subway Tile Spruces Up a Brooklyn Kitchen
Ariele had been in her rental apartment for five years, her kitchen was dingy and not properly finished, and she finally decided it was time to do something about it. So she bought white subway tiles and some paint and got to work. • Kitchen Gets Subway Tile Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 15, 2013
DIY Wooden Coasters
I just ran across this great little DIY for wood coasters that can also be used for wall decor. It is a simple and stylish way to add a little something unique to your table. Follow me to find out more. • How To: Wooden Coasters Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 14, 2013
5 Ways to Use the IKEA VITTSJÖ
For years IKEA’s EXPEDIT has been a ubiquitous storage solution for homes everywhere. But recently the Swedish furnishing giant’s VITTSJÖ has been showing up more and more on my design radar. • The VITTSJÖ 5 Ways Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 14, 2013
Space Savers: Utilize Those Corners with Corner Shelving!
We all have corners in our house (lots of them!), but they are often left empty or aren’t used in a creative way. Let’s change that! Follow me for some great ideas… • Clever Corner Shelving Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 13, 2013
Before & After: Plain Brown Headboard Gets a Playful New Look
Tori was on the hunt for a new bed for her youngest daughter — her older daughter had a cool, unique bed, and she wanted to find something just as awesome for the younger one. So she found this plain headboard on Craigslist and gave it a playful new spin.A little paint, some stenciling, and some clever upholstering gave this headboard a totally new look! Now her daughter has a great colorful new bed, customized by her own mom.Thanks, Tori!
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 13, 2013
Before & After: Metal Stools Go From Grungy to Glamorous
These Lyon steel drafting stools are straight from the architecture school where I was an undergrad over a decade ago. Rusted and layered with spray paint, they were pretty well-worn even when I was in school. • Metal Stool Makeover Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 13, 2013
What Do You Think: Socks for Chairs?
I love the Japanese retail market. If someone can find a way to make a thing more ridiculously cute, they’ll sell it. The latest thing I’ve seen? Little itty bitty chair socks. What the what? • Socks for Chairs Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 12, 2013
Before & After: Metal Bar Cart Makeover
Angela scored this Cosco bar cart for $3.99 — it was, in her words, “covered in rust, dust, and who knows what else.” Lots of elbow grease and some steel wool prepped the cart for a mid-century modern finish that’s sure to drop some jaws. • Bar Cart Makeover Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 12, 2013
Before & After: Goodbye, Laminate — Hello, Butcher Block!
When she purchased her home, Lilly liked the neutral tile and cabinets, but that strange splotchy laminate had to go. Check out how she transformed this bachelor kitchen into a cheery country space. • Countertop Upgrade Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 11, 2013
Cake Stand Table Lamp
When I first laid eyes upon this cake stand table lamp, I thought it was gorgeous. So warm and playful! Then I learned that to change the light bulb, all you had to do was to remove the dome. So logical, so easy! • Cake Stand Table Lamp Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 11, 2013
Dinner Party Games: Fun or Foul?
So what if the holidays are over? Throwing an off-season soiree can rouse your social circle from hibernation. Whether your gathering is big or small, the goal is to make your guests comfortable and happy. Enter the backup plan, AKA: the party game. • Party Games: Yea or Nay? Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 8, 2013
Before & After: A Gloomy Kitchen Gets a Bright New Start
Home renovations can definitely be hard labor, but this kitchen remodel brings a whole new meaning to the phrase. Fran was nine months pregnant during the transformation of this fixer-upper! • Gloomy Kitchen Redo Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 8, 2013
Make Your Workplace a Little More Like Home
We’re always finding new ways to make your home a lovelier and happier place. Let’s switch it up for a bit and focus on a place where you probably spend as much (maybe even more!) time than you do at home… work. • At Home in the Workplace Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 7, 2013
Rustic Pot Rack Idea: Use Driftwood!
There’s so much to love in this picture… the herbs drying on the rack, the vintage metal baskets, the copper pots and pans. It’s everything a cozy rustic kitchen should be! • Driftwood Pot Rack Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 7, 2013
Attention, Renters: YOLO!
Listen up folks, it’s 2013. I don’t know about you, but that number sounds scary high to me. So what does that mean for you? It means YOLO (you only live once), so fix up your rental already. • YOLO: For Renters Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 6, 2013
Before & After: Grandma Kitchen Gets a Modern Update
When Joellyn moved into her grandparents’ Montana farmhouse, there were some changes that needed to be made. The original 1970s kitchen was one of them. See how the updated space looks now! • Modern Kitchen Update Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 6, 2013
Apartment Shopping in the City: 5 Things to Consider
My boyfriend and I recently embarked on a search for an apartment in the now infamous rental market in San Francisco. In an attempt to maintain sanity, we came up with a strategy, a checklist of the things that are most important to us in a city dwelling. • City Apartment Shopping Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 5, 2013
Five Funny Amazon Reviews
With real opinions on just about every product imaginable, reading a review before a purchase has almost become part of the shopping experience. The internet isn’t always about utility though; sometimes it’s just about having a good laugh. • Funny Amazon Reviews Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 5, 2013
Train Travel Inspired: The Passenger Restaurant
Somewhere between the ill-fated train trip on Sex and the City and a dream excursion aboard the Orient Express lies The Passenger, a rail travel inspired restaurant in the trendy Malasaña/Triball neighborhood of Madrid. • The Passenger Restaurant Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 4, 2013
Before & After: Laundry Room Transformed into Rustic Bathroom
Charlotte and her husband didn’t have a master bath in their home. They did, however, have a large laundry room attached to their bedroom that they thought just might do the trick. • From Laundry to Rustic Bath Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 4, 2013
How to Relax and Enjoy Hosting
I enjoy hosting, but there are still usually stressors and worries involved, even when I’m hosting my dearest friends. Here are some things to keep in mind to eliminate that worry and to help make the most of it. • How to Enjoy Hosting Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 1, 2013
Seven Fresh Design Blogs Worth Bookmarking
Last week, I got the chance to join 500+ other bloggers (as well as Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan) for the Alt Design Summit, which is a chance for bloggers to network, share ideas, talk about what’s new and next, and feel inspired. • New Blogs Worth Reading Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 1, 2013
Movable Storage: Rolling Cart Roundup
The humble rolling cart is the workhorse of furniture. It can be used in just about every room — kitchen, bath, laundry, office — and, since it’s mobile, it can also travel. • Rolling Carts Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 31, 2013
Films with Memorable Interiors
There’s so much more to a film experience than just plot and dialogue; costumes, props and especially set décor are so important to the authenticity of a story. Here are ten movies from the past year with awesome interiors. • Movie Awards: Best Decor Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 31, 2013
How to Foster Happiness at Home
There’s nothing better after a hard day than coming home to a place where you can begin to wash off some of the day’s struggles. You may not live in your perfect dream home now, but there are always ways to create happiness no matter where you live. • Happiness at Home Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 30, 2013
How Do You Celebrate Birthdays as a Grown-Up?
My birthday party planning is a bit delayed this year, as two of my dearest friends have been out of town, but it’s given me time to think about why I like to have birthday parties in the first place. • Grown-Up Birthday Parties Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 30, 2013
Calm and Collected: Neat, Beautiful Bedrooms
As the January Cure taught me, bedrooms are hard to keep organized. Here are 10 pulled-together examples from our house tours. • Beautifully Organized Bedrooms Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 29, 2013
Creating a Home Journal
The number for the handyman and dry cleaner, menus for favorite delivery services and a few places in strolling distance. These are among the items that can be found in my home journal. • Creating a Home Journal Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 29, 2013
What’s Next? Trend Predictions for 2013
Decor trends come and go, and some even have real staying power. We have seen our fair share of chevron, herringbone, MCM, chalkboard paint, gray paint, decals, and birds, to name a few. • Trend Predictions Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 28, 2013
In Love With Smeg Refrigerators
I don’t know about you, but the sight of a Smeg refrigerator in a kitchen just makes me happy. I love how much personality they add to a room. They’re so streamlined, so retro, so cheerful! • Smeg Refrigerators Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 28, 2013
Before & After: From Ceiling Space to Playroom
This townhouse only had two bedrooms, and desperately needed a dedicated workspace and playspace. Angie was struck with inspiration when she thought about all the unused space in their 2-story foyer — why not build a loft? Join Us on Pinterest: Apartment Therapy She had her husband and father-in-law build this clever, creative loft and made it into a little nook for working and playing.
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 25, 2013
Design for the Dinner Table: Attractive Salt and Pepper Mills
The salt and pepper grinders in my house are disposable plastic eyesores. Not a beautiful tabletop display, to say the least; so I gathered my personal favorites for salt and pepper mills that are guaranteed to be as striking as they are functional. • Striking Salt & Pepper Mills Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 25, 2013
Clean Cupboards: Ten Tidy, Inspiring Pantries
An organized pantry is a great benefit, whether it’s shelving, a cabinet, a closet, or an entire room. It makes cooking easier, helps keep track of foods on hand, and well, it just looks nice. • Pantry Inspiration Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 25, 2013
Curbing Bad Habits: How to Save Money and Reduce Clutter
My goal is to greatly reduce the amount of new items I bring into my home and hopefully save money. I feel wasteful constantly cleaning out and sorting through stuff, much of which I never needed in the first place. • Spend Less, Reduce Clutter Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 24, 2013
Organization Inspiration: Beautiful, Functional Laundry Rooms
If you have a laundry space in your home, you know that it’s an area that gets quite a workout. Whether it’s a whole room or just a small nook, it’s important to keep it functioning in tip-top shape. • Laundry Room Inspiration Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 24, 2013
Before You Become Roommates: How Well Should You Know Each Other?
Considering moving in with a friend or significant other? What should you know about each other before making the co-habitation plunge? • Before Moving In Together Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 23, 2013
Celebrating Togetherness: Inspiring Dining Rooms from Our Tours
These dining areas from our House Tours show how important the dining room is – the focus is not on media or other distractions, but simply being with the people you care for to share a meal. • Inspiring Dining Rooms Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 23, 2013
Handmade Hosting: DIY Projects for the Dining Room
Two things that work to beat the winter blues: a project and a party. From table runners and place cards to chandeliers and art, here’s how to craft your way to the perfect party. • DIY in the Dining Room Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 22, 2013
Three Inspiring Philadelphia Kitchens
All of this organizing and cleaning of the kitchen this month has me daydreaming a little bigger. I start thinking… if I owned my place (instead of renting, like I do), how would I change it? There are so many options! • Kitchen Inspiration Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 22, 2013
Making Simple Chores a Part of Your Daily Routine
Since moving from a one-bedroom apartment to a three-bedroom house, I’ve struggled with staying on top of cleaning and household chores. One way that I’ve kept order is by making quick tasks part of my daily routine. • Making Chores Routine Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 18, 2013
Tasty Transformation: From Media Center to Play Kitchen
How many times have you seen an unremarkable entertainment center like this at a thrift store? Sara and her husband turned this lucky $5 find into a remarkable Christmas gift for their daughter Berkley. • Cabinet to Play Kitchen Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 18, 2013
Ten Essential Cleaning Tools
Sometimes even the best cleaner needs a hardworking tool to help get the job done. Here are some of the essentials that everyone should have for a clean home. • 10 Must-Have Cleaning Tools Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 17, 2013
4 Ways to Increase Happiness at Home
A new year and a new frontier stretching wide in front of us. What do you want to cultivate in your life this year? Ultimately most of us, more than anything else, want to be happy. • How to: Happiness at Home Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 17, 2013
The Ultimate New Year’s Resolution
The New Year’s resolution I made this year may be the only one I’ll ever have to make ever again. Ever. It really does rule them all. • The Ultimate Resolution Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 16, 2013
What’s the Best Wallpaper for this Kitchen?
Which pattern would YOU choose for this kitchen? Add warmth with gold? Cut the modern with a more traditional print? Pick your favorite wallpaper for the far accent wall, and let us know your selection. • What’s Your Wallpaper Pick? Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 16, 2013
A Breakfast Nook Makeover
When we first moved into our 1919 Craftsman one of the first things I had my mind set on fixing was the kitchen. I decided to begin with the outdated breakfast nook — follow me to see where it ended up. • Updated Breakfast Nook Apartment Therapy
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 15, 2013
A Simple Way to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
The “paper cone of death” fruit fly trap is one way to kill those annoying little pests. Having trouble wrestling the paper cone? Here’s an alternate solution that’s just as effective!
Sarah Dobbins
Jan 15, 2013