The owners of the impressive and inviting converted Sprinter van we featured recently made a conscious decision not to install a bathroom. But, the owners of this van decided a bathroom was a must, and somehow manages to squeeze in a toilet and a shower. Rob and Emily of The Road is our Home—@theroadisourhome on Instagram—transformed an LWB Mercedes Sprinter into a rolling home.
Brooklyn Decker is a woman of many talents: she’s a regular on the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie,” the co-founder of digital wardrobe system Finery, and, as her North Carolina home proves, she has a great eye for design. Their main residence is in Austin, but Brooklyn and husband Andy Roddick also have a second home in the little town of Cashiers, North Carolina, an hour and a half southwest of Asheville in the Nantahala National Forest.
For everyone who has ever mourned the loss of a colorful retro toilet or sink in a bathroom renovation, this project is for you. The cream and white fixtures were replaced with far more charming versions, leading the installation team to clarify, “So you want to put this IN?” Minty vintage perfection! Marley of Bug & Bean—@bugandbeanstitching on Instagram—took this standard and heavily beige bathroom back in time to create a room full of color and retro delights.
Before and After transformations just never get old, especially when the results are utterly unrecognizable. Case in point: Back in 2013, we posted a project about an empty stairwell space that was transformed into something unexpectedly wonderful. Cut to five years later and it’s been viewed almost four million times. We recently went back to see just what made the project resonate so much with our readers.
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be completely dedicated to love, however, sometimes the sky-high expectations often lead to jitters, anxiety, and ultimately disappointment, when it’s supposed to be a relaxing day spent with your nearest and dearest. Well, interior design wizard Bobby Berk is here to save the day.
Take this warm-toned kitchen, add one or two gallons of paint and some well-priced accessories then subtract one wall and the textured vinyl floor, and suddenly there’s a brand-new kitchen, full of life, light, and color. And all for only $800. Kelsey Sigars—@kelseylenesigars on Instagram—made smart, thrifty choices that have transformed this kitchen.
A child’s relationship to books is one of the biggest predictors of their success down the road, and exposure to all types of print has a lot to do with early reading ability. So hang on to your well-worn “Calvin & Hobbes”treasuries, go ahead and subscribe to Highlights, and definitely send a book-loving message by keeping a fairly robust library, if that’s your thing.
Parenting is hard. It’s also a lot of other things, but a truer three-word sentence has never been uttered. We’re all learning as we go—reading parenting books as we encounter the challenges that make us realize why we need parenting books, and spending every evening after the kids are (mercifully) in bed wondering if we’re doing it all wrong.
The one place I’ve been seeing a lot of color lately is in bedrooms, and things are getting dark. Navy and midnight blues, charcoal grays, deep teals, and even black, which is the trickiest to pull off if you don’t get a lot of natural light in your space. But it’s doable. The word on the street is that this trend might actually be beneficial for sleep—either it helps you drift off easily and/or stay asleep longer.
There’s a lot of talk about renovations and the best way to handle them. Unfortunately for homeowners, much of the advice out there often contradicts itself. Talk to one contractor, and he might tell you to always expect a reno to cost 10 percent more than you expected; talk to another, and he’ll insist you should never pay a penny more than the initial bid.
Move over cup holders: plant holders are this year’s newest table accessory. No longer do plants need to placed on the floor or tucked away on a window sill, but front and center on their own specially designed space. Created by the uber-talented Toronto design studio WOOYOO, the Pokopoko table makes it easy to give your favorite plant babies a seat at the table, according to Contemporist. The designers wanted to create a table that took advantage of the empty flat space.
With all the corny gift guide clichés and tacky holiday-themed products available this time of year, picking the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your partner can be tricky. That’s why it pays to put a bit of thought into figuring out what constitutes a good gift ahead of time. To help, we called on two of our favorite New York City-based relationship experts: psychotherapist Lisa Brateman, and Dr. Jane Greer, author of “What About Me?
Whether it’s “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” or “The Seven Year Itch,” the combination of lighthearted romance and witty banter between potential soulmates is intoxicating. Though while it’s a popular and fun form of escapism, romantic comedies stray far from the truth. Relationships rarely start with a meet-cute, and thanks to heightened airport security measures, it is really hard to reconcile at the gate.
Have you looked on Amazon for decor items recently? And I mean really looked. Since launching their private label home goods last year, Amazon’s offerings have really come a long way. Obviously, you can get other brands on the site too. But if you’re looking for something budget friendly that’s a little more under-the-radar, start with the site’s exclusives.
It’s one thing to go down the line of your classic romantic comedies and pick your favorite couples, but what about the great debate over who had the best digs? Here to settle the score is the definitive ranking of romantic comedy heroine’s apartments. From Bridget Jones to Vivian Ward, here’s who decorated it best.
Let’s all be honest: The best place to spend Valentine’s Day is on your couch. Whether that means snuggled up with someone special, snuggled up with a half gallon of ice cream, or there by yourself because you are perfectly happy being single, it doesn’t matter. Plop down on that comfy couch turn on some holiday appropriate television and voilà—the perfect Valentine’s Day. Need some options as far as what to watch?
There’s a moment in the upcoming Warner Bros. romantic comedy, “Isn’t It Romantic,” when Rebel Wilson walks into a fancy New York apartment she doesn’t believe belongs to her. “Someone’s broken into my apartment and they’ve taken everything and replaced it with much nicer stuff,” Wilson explains to a 911 operator as she discovers pints of Talenti gelato in the freezer and rows of heels in the walk-in closet.
It seems that everyone is obsessed with “Russian Doll,” Netflix’s newest dark comedy. It’s a visual feast highlighting the dark corners of New York and society in general. And in between think pieces about the various timelines and how they collide, I’d love to deep dive into the bathroom that Nadia keeps reappearing into each time her life resets.
This kitchen had tons of storage space, a generously proportioned island with a breakfast bar, plenty of lighting, and a nice-sized window. But as its owner explained, “It’s actually a great space and it could be way worse but it’s definitely not my style.” Time for a budget-friendly upgrade! Bre Bertolini—@brepurposed on Instagram—transformed this kitchen, mostly thanks to paint.
It makes sense to assume that because home improvements are, by nature, improving your home, they must increase its overall value, too, right? Sadly, that’s not always the case. While some updates (new windows, minor kitchen remodels, and somewhat surprisingly, a new garage door) nearly pay for themselves, the projects below don’t earn quite the return on investment (ROI) you may think they should.
For the second time in the past several months, the internet is abuzz with an awful lot of *feelings* regarding the possibility of “Friends” leaving Netflix.
There are so many things to love about Trader Joe’s, and their affordable flowers are a big one. So if you’re looking to save a few bucks on this floral-heavy holiday, we’ve asked our editors—and even the grocer’s plants and flowers team—their secrets to getting the most gorgeous bouquets for a bargain. We chatted with the people who brought us the perfect combination of wine and succulents to get the insider scoop.
While this floral fabric is definitely fabulous, the table has tons of rustic charm, and the kitchen as a whole has enviable amounts of both storage and daylight, it was ready for a change. Enter honeycomb tiles, a tulip table, and a whole new look. Tiffany Kalloor—@tiff_kalloor on Instagram—breathed life into this kitchen by going back to the classics: a black-and-white palette, subway and honeycomb tiles, a tulip table and shell chairs, and a simplified ceiling and cabinetry.
IKEA isn’t exactly the first place you think of when looking for wedding decor, but I’d argue that that’s actually a good thing for two reasons. First, the price is right, and there’s no “wedding upcharge” there—which is a real phenomenon and exists for everything from cake to candles and beyond with many vendors. Second, much of what IKEA sells doesn’t feel totally specific to a wedding, so you can actually use things again and again.
There’s no denying it. We all watch romantic comedies for one reason and one reason alone—escapism. Sure, maybe you and your S.O. actually did have a meet-cute, or perhaps you really do have a best friend whose only purpose in life seems to be helping you find yourself.
Styling a coffee table is an opportunity to show your personality to anyone who walks through your doors, either by displaying your prized photos and objects, your favorite books and magazines, or even some fresh flowers and plants. And, of course, you’re going to want a place for things like your TV and speaker remotes here too. Oh, and maybe some space for refreshments? So, it’s easy to go overboard with stuff on this surface. But it’s not inevitable.
Yes, we know: Everyone says you have to read “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” before its adaptation arrives in theaters this August. But in case you’re looking for others, here are a few more to get through before they hit big (and small) screens near you. West’s hilarious and intelligent essay-collection-slash-memoir is being turned into a Hulu series starring SNL’s Aidy Bryant, coming out on March 15.
As if a plywood stairway weren’t enough, this San Francisco house boasted plywood ceilings, peeling floors, and plastic bathroom walls—all in all, a “really terrible looking” 720 square feet. After a major renovation, the home now looks bright and modern, no plywood required. Reader Stephanie Perry—@stoop_sf on Instagram—shares the love story behind this house—as well the challenges it posed: It was SO SMALL.
After a tiresome year of home searching, Wes—an Alabama native and graphic designer who relocated to Detroit—and his fiancé Ben weren’t very optimistic about seeing this house. It wasn’t the one-and-a-half-story colonial style that they were interested in… and the exterior struck them as being more formal than they liked. Additionally, while it had been maintained by out-of-town family, it had been unoccupied for nearly a decade.
Decorating isn’t cheap, especially when it comes to shopping for furnishings and finishes that are stylish, durable, and comfortable. Finding all of those qualities in a single piece for a sensible price is a little bit like finding a diamond in the rough, but it’s doable. And if anyone knows how to stretch a dollar, it’s a designer. I mean, no clients are ever mad when their project comes in under budget, right?
Practically perfect in every way, “Mary Poppins Returns” was nominated for an Academy Award for Production Design. We wrote about the updates John Myhre made from the original 17 Cherry Tree Lane, and it made me want to recreate the kids’ super sweet British bathroom pronto. You thought it was the dolphin being pulled out of the tub that made it whimsical, but you’re wrong. It’s the clawfoot tub.
On a day off, just for fun, the owner of this house transformed its plain white facade with a very colorful paint job. This is utterly delightful—playful and vibrant with a dreamy palette that must make passersby wish they could be invited in. Roxanne of @daintylibrarian frequently creates fun, colorful DIYs that are whimsical and unpredictable. This particular shade of pink is perfection: sophisticated and modern without a hint of saccharine.
It’s about that time for your Netflix queue to come in like a lion and out like a lamb. This is what’s new on the streaming service for March, and what’s getting dropped. Catch Bradley Cooper in his most perfect role (outside of Jackson Maine), alongside other faves like Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, et. al. in this classic camp movie. Can you believe??
If you’re a loyal fan of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ve probably gotten into a duel or two over which novel is best in the series. While each individual has their opinion, we got an inside look at the most Googled Harry Potter book by state—and the results might make you Moody, pun intended. Furniture brand Joybird released a study that showed the highest searched Harry Potter title in each state throughout the U.S.
There’s so much to consider when taking on a big renovation—especially one as crucial as a bathroom or a kitchen. In fact, if someone could figure out a way to ensure a project of that magnitude could be completed on time, on budget, and with no errors, they’d probably win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was onto something when he famously said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” Your personal style is so much more than haphazardly throwing on a T-shirt and pair of jeans; it’s a reflection of who you are. It’s as much a part of your identity as your job or Instagram feed. So why should your home be any different?
We have strong feelings about a lot of things, but until recently, towel quantity wasn’t one of them. In a hilariously earnest social media post, writer Yashar Ali tweeted about bath towels, specifically the number of towels adults should ideally own. Fortunately, Yashar doesn’t have quite as many towel categories as Monica Geller, but he did start what became a wildly popular towel meme based on his suggested that there should be 50 towels per adult couple.
The Philadelphia row house hadn’t been upgraded much in sixty years, so Kristy knew it would be a fixer upper when she bought it. Kristy loves to cook and wanted to create the perfect workspace, so she put a lot of attention into the kitchen. Because of the nature of the renovation loan Kristy took out, she had to hire approved contractors to do most of the work. But that doesn’t mean it was easy.
Monica Gellar’s apartment is iconic, mainly because over the course of “Friends'” 10 seasons, aside from inhabitants, it didn’t change very much. (Okay, so it looked very different with Chandler and Joey’s Lay-Z-Boys in there.) But just because the show never imagined the apartment differently, doesn’t mean we can’t.
If your kind of a vacation involves a whole lot of HGTV inspiration, then do we have the dream retreat for you. Frequent fans of Waco’s wonder duo, Chip and Joanna Gaines, are probably familiar with the couple’s collaborator, Jimmy Don Holmes. Holmes often participated in “Fixer Upper” renovations, putting his special touch on the projects with his intricate metalwork.
When Heather Knight moved into her new home, she had to focus on more urgent repairs and wasn’t able to put as much money into the kitchen as she would’ve liked. While the space was in good shape, it was dark and a little too dated for her tastes. With some pretty clever spending, she pulled off a pretty impactful renovation project.
Ida recently stumbled across images she took the day she closed on her condo. Apart from the fantastic light, which is one of the reasons she and her husband were sold on the place, the kitchen was pretty basic and humdrum. It’s come a very long way in the three years since this photo was taken. What was a beige and boring room now feels warm and welcoming. Ida did a wonderful job reviving this kitchen into something totally new, without changing the layout or moving things around.
If you like design, there’s a good chance you also like books—especially ones about interiors and art, which tend to be big. No matter the subject, books bring so much joy to a home—whether it’s by providing entertainment, education, or escape. And on a more superficial level, they add color and texture to a space to make it more visually rich and interesting too.
If there’s one thing we can all hope for from the Marie Kondo “Tidying Up” craze, it’s finally saying goodbye to the concept of retail therapy—a notion coined by the Chicago Tribune in the late 1980s with the idea that we had started “measuring out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills.” In her show and book, Kondo has us thank and then get rid of the clutter that is no longer serving us.
We all have been swooning hard for a while now on cacti. Not only have we been loving the image of the iconic desert plant on interior wall murals and bedspread prints, but we love the cactus itself, too. Robust and relatively easy to care for, these wonderful additions to the home bring a lovely southwestern vibe into any space. Luckily for all of us, most cactus dealers—online and off—are responsible. They grow their plants from seeds and wouldn’t dream of poaching.
Some bathrooms are modern and sleek, others are luxurious and spa-worthy. And then there are those adorable ones that you just want to squeeze. This is one of those bathrooms. If the diminutive size wasn’t enough, it also helps that this bathroom is now blush pink, which ups the cuteness factor by 100 times. (For the color curious, the shade is Sherwin-Williams Intimate White). The shade looks great with the brass accents and black hardware and fixtures.
Kitchen design has kind of been the same for a few years now—subway tile backsplash, splashy pendant lights, as big of an island as possible, and maybe some open shelving for good measure. Cabinet color has started to shift a little bit from all white to a little more bold in some instances, but it hasn’t fully taken off yet.
There’s always that friend. You know, the one with 76 unheard voicemails, 150 unread texts, and—gulp—15,964 unread emails in her inbox. (Or maybe that “friend” is you.) Either way, keeping your inbox uncluttered or even reaching Inbox Zero can feel like impossible feats of #adulting. But digitally cleaning house doesn’t have to be your least favorite chore.
On the spectrum of Harry Potter fandom, I’m somewhere in the middle. Thanks to Pottermore, I know my houses (Hufflepuff and Horned Serpent at Ilvermorny, the American equivalent of Hogwarts), my Patronus (fox), and my wand (redwood, phoenix feather core, 12 and a quarter inches, pliant). I’ve read the original books and seen the movies, but I won’t win any trivia competitions, and I’m in no rush to sit through the five-plus hours of “Cursed Child.
Name: Carra Manahan Location: San Francisco, California Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting A couple years ago, I decided to get my own apartment in San Francisco. I’d lived in the Marina since moving to the city and couldn’t part with it. The neighborhood’s beautiful and charming; there’s truly something special about being able to see the Golden Gate Bridge from it.
If you’re like me, you subscribe to a bunch of streaming services. While they’re not particularly expensive, those monthly fees can add up. But there’s some good news for the multi-streamers among us: Spotify Premium members can get Hulu for free. Yep, totally free. If you’re already paying the $9.99 to listen to Spotify ad-free, there’s a new perk. The Verge reports that you can bundle the basic Hulu plan into your account for no extra monthly charge.
“The Simpsons” is in its 30th season—and now holds the title of the longest-running primetime scripted series. Over three decades, we’ve seen hundreds of versions of the opening theme, ending with the family together on the couch, in a home most Americans would probably recognize. That said, Springfield (and its surrounding areas) has some other pretty awesome places to live. So here’s a selection of the coolest pads in “The Simpsons” universe.
Hulu’s new series, “Shrill,” isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics. In fact—spoiler alert—Aidy Bryant’s character Annie gets an abortion in the first episode. It’s an experience that feminist author Lindy West recalled in detail in her hit 2016 memoir of the same name.
Decorating can be hard, especially when you move into your first apartment. The cards are kind of stacked against you—it’s small, you likely don’t have much furniture of your own, you might have a roommate (or several!), and you’re probably not making bank yet, meaning the budget is tight. So you’re bound to make a mistake or two in setting up your space. We have all been there, and the good news is most of these decorating issues can be solved pretty easily.
Move over, Tide Pod challenge, there’s a new laundry-related caution in town—but this time, it has to do with storage. Displaying laundry packets in jars may look pretty, but according to the American Cleaning Institute, decanting the pods can be dangerous with small children or elderly people in the home. In time for both spring cleaning and National Poison Prevention Week (March 17-24, 2019), the ACI launched its sixth annual Packets Up!
As of today, March 15, our internet BFFs are back for season 3 of “Queer Eye” and they are bringing the heat to Kansas City. And by heat, I mean structured neutrals used in bold ways, with pops of color in the plant life, and a heavy dose of mixed metals. Bobby Berk himself designed the Fab Five’s Midwest home base, and the best part is you can recreate it quite easily.
Two is always better than one, and the same rule applies to coffee tables. Over the last year, there has been a spike in styled living rooms that have taken the usual formula of one big coffee table and broken it up into two separate pieces. Nesting coffee tables don’t just apply to big living rooms that have the extra square footage for additional tables.
When reader Chantel Breault decided to give her living room a makeover, her chief incentive was to give it some life. The space before didn’t evoke much at all in terms of feelings or aesthetic. It was “Neutral, lacking personality, not even cozy,” and Chantel wanted to make the space feel more cohesive and classic. With solid bones, there fortunately wasn’t a huge amount to tackle with this project.
If your weekend plans include bingeing all of season 3 of “Queer Eye”—now streaming on Netflix as of today—you’re not alone. The Fab Five quickly became our internet BFFs when the reboot dropped last year, and now the boys are back—this time in Kansas City—to help some more deserving folks. Luckily for us, the hardest working designer on TV, Bobby Berk, gave us the exclusive tea on one particularly special makeover from this season.
Reroute your owls to deliver The Daily Prophet to your new address because you’ll never want to leave this Harry Potter rental. Located in Salem, MA, this private room can fit two guests, and ideally those who can revel in the extra attention to detail. Just one mile from the train station, this room was crafted by a host with experience in the toy and games industry.
Elise’s bathroom was tiny and a hodgepodge of somewhat new, but super generic, finishes and fixtures, and a mismatched paint job. She wanted to both enlarge and update the space for her planned family, and do it on a very tight budget. The bathroom is now an incredibly relaxing, earthy space that Elise loves to be in. The stone countertops, combined with reclaimed wood vanity and black fixtures is a great combination that feels rustic and comfortable.
If it feels like you’ve been seeing life through rose-colored glasses lately, it may be because life is great. But, it also may be because there are more shades of pink used in interiors than ever before. In the past 100 years, the connotation and representation of the color pink has changed.
I’ve heard designers say this, in one way or another, what feels like a million times: Shop your home to change up your decor for free. And you know what—it’s a good idea, in theory. You can’t beat free, right? But, it’s also a little soundbite-y. And by that, I mean, how does one actually go about doing this? I’ve never pressed a designer for actionable tips—that is, until now.
The only thing better than a stylish kitchen utensil is one that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily, IKEA is brimming with inexpensive, Scandi-style kitchen essentials that probably cost less than your fancy morning coffee. From wine racks to colanders, here are 13 go-to kitchen wares at IKEA for under 10 bucks.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Having a tiny house doesn’t mean you have to abandon all signs of style and personality in your place. Nay—you can be what I’d like to call a mini-maximalist, and as long as you do this strategically, you can pull it off with flying colors. Don’t believe me? That’s okay. Because I’m ready to state my case with some house tour proof.
This kitchen was small and it didn’t help that it had a tiny, barely usable breakfast nook just off to the left. Honestly, I don’t think a bagel, let alone a human, could fit in that space, so it just didn’t make sense to keep it. On top of that, the small kitchen was dark and uninviting.
These days, it’s hard to come across a person who doesn’t already have a side hustle, whether it’s running an Etsy store, driving for Uber or Lyft or renting out a spot on Airbnb. But most of those take a lot of work. A far more flexible way to earn some pocket change would be something like Indeed’s Job Spotter app. Instead of uploading selfies to Instagram, Job Spotter gives you more than just likes and follows.
Here’s the thing about knife blocks: We don’t really recommend them. They can dull the blades of your knives as you drag them in and out of their holders, they’re often sold as an expensive set with knives that you really don’t need, and they can harbor some serious mold (and maybe even bacteria) in those dark, hard-to-reach slots.
They say that a dog is man’s best friend, but having a pet can wreak some serious havoc on your interior design game. From hopping on your pristine couch to chewing on the leg of your dinner table, even the most house-trained pets don’t know how to care properly for your home. Nobody wants to live in a space that’s half-chewed up or covered in dirt, but what’s the alternative? Getting rid of precious Fido? Absolutely not!
With the release on Team Coco of 25 years of show clips, we took a look back into some of our favorite bits from Conan O’Brien’s past. One of our favorites is this one, where Conan goes alongside show writer Andy Blitz (you may remember him as one-third of the Slipnutz, the group of guys that slipped on nuts). It’s a funny look at how apartment hunting in cities is generally a painful experience…and how much prices have changed in New York.
