Two iconic Scandinavian brands are teaming up to make playtime more fun. Finding the balance between YouTube and actual physical activity, IKEA and LEGO have partnered to create a comfortable space for playtime that’ll be enjoyable for kids and parents alike.
Like politics, finances, and religion, sock-sleeping is one of those topics you want to avoid at the dinner table, unless you're ready for a heated debate.
Though they’re pretty ubiquitous now, the first guy to tote a U-shaped travel pillow on a plane probably got a few sideways glances. Alas, it’s not a perfect design, and many gadgets have since hit the market to try to maximize comfort during increasingly uncomfortable flying conditions. Here are five such products, silly though they look, that might just let you get some sweet, sweet sleep.
While living tiny has its challenges, Meagan Murtagh did a beautiful job of making her small home ultra livable and lovely, despite being under 200 square feet.
Only halfway through 2019 and the first wave of 2020 color announcements have begun. This week, PPG revealed that Chinese Porcelain is the first 2020 Color of the Year, and now Behr has unleashed their 2020 Color Trends palette. (June has been feeling very colorful.) We’re not just dealing with one hue, nay, a whole array of 15 that work together to achieve a common goal: a connection to the natural world.
I’m all for pale, creamy walls, but surely every home needs at least one room painted in a color that’s deep, dramatic, and just a little bit dangerous? Here are 10 gorgeously, glamorously dark colors available from Behr. Dark blues like Behr’s Evening Hush (770F-6), above, have the lovely ability to make rich, warm materials like wood, bronze, and cowhide look even richer and warmer.
While most of us are welcoming summer, PPG Paints is looking into the future with their 2020 Color of the Year announcement. And being color addicts ourselves, we’re fully on board with this breaking news that fuels our hue-filled lives. Ready to find out what the popular shade is six months in advance? Say hello to Chinese Porcelain, a mix of cobalt and moody ink blue. Why this color, you ask?
When “Big Little Lies” premiered last year, we immediately got sucked into the intrigue, the LIES, the depictions of female friendship, and that insanely good soundtrack, but what’s stayed with us ever since are the gorgeous interiors of those drop-dead gorgeous Monterey homes that populated the HBO series.
Lionel bought this property for himself, but met Ingrid a year later. They DIYed the entire renovation themselves, from painting furniture to a full kitchen makeover.
A few months ago, we asked you to share your fave small space design tips and there were some great ideas! We loved your suggestions and enthusiasm and definitely picked up some fab tips for our own small space. After the jump, check out the compiled list and pick up a tip or two.4 Tips For Making a Small Office Feel Big 1) If you have a small space use small pieces that
fit the scale of the apartment. Your space will feel bigger.2) Keep it clean!3) Get rid of the clutter.
It is really very simple to hang curtains across a room or a doorway if you have the right ingredients. We do it constantly in order to divide rooms or create soft walls that allow light to pass through, while maintaining privacy.The pic at top is from an apartment we did for HGTV last year. You can see the one room studio is divided by long curtains that came from Anthropology.
Whether being projected onto a big wall during a cocktail party, or played quietly in the living room during game night, a background movie can act as a conversation starter, art, music, and entertainment all in one. Plus it’s easy to pop a disc in the DVD player or call up a title from Netflix. The only hard part, of course, is finding just the right background film.
You know what functional means, and you know what obsolescent means, but what does it mean for you, the home buyer and potential future seller? Here, everything you need to know.
I can attest to the challenge of refinishing a vintage stereo entertainment cabinet. They’re undoubtedly beautiful, but also big, heavy, packed with difficult to disassemble, pre-miniaturization era electronics, and usually require a great deal of stripping and refinishing to bring them back to glory.
Always on the hunt for ways to reclaim space from your small or cluttered home? Look UNDER your shelves — you can make use of that space for storing stuff, too.
If you’re going to devote a bunch of time to Cures, cleaning, clearing clutter, and reorganizing, you might as well be entertained, right? Here are a dozen ways to make time fly.
Stuck with a standard kitchen? There are six decorative ways you can make your simple kitchen stand out more and be the kind of inspiring space you want to hang out in.
We literally had nothing in this kitchen but floors, a door, and windows! With a LOT of sweat, TEARS, and lonnnnnngggg days and hours…we made it happen for just a little bit over $5,000.
Name: Jamie and Byron with Roux, Simone and Coco Location: Cow Hollow — San Francisco, California Size: 2,300 square feet Years lived in: 1 — rented We first saw Jamie and Byron’s dining room in the 2011 room for color contest. Painted shades of grey, their apartment embodies a sense of mystery and glamour. Byron describes it as the canvas for Jamie’s artworks, and they truly make a statement on these walls.
Name: Cory and Kristine HankinsLocation: Bucktown — Chicago, IllinoisSize: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom + denYears lived in: 9 months — rented In a short amount of time, newlyweds Cory and Kristine Hankins have managed to turn their one-bedroom rental into a calm, inviting space. Kristine tends to favor a classic look, where Cory’s style is more modern, but the two have come together to form a cozy, surprising mixture.
Ideally, our furniture can reveal something about how we live and what we value. But in reality, other factors like cost, space and what is available in the marketplace ends up limiting us or diverting us from our true values. We might believe that form should follow function, but own an uncomfortably lumpy hand-me-down desk chair. Or we might fantasize about a huge snuggly sofa, but only be able to haul a spindly loveseat up the stairs.
Name: Natasha Nyberg and Brad Sammut; children Lisette and Maxine; cats Matilda and Pickle; dogs Greta, Lotte, and Mr. Chips Location: Garfield Park; Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Owned Natasha and I met through Instagram. She began following my account and when I scrolled through her feed, I saw images of a very cool home: rich colors, objects with stories, and a refreshing indifference to trends.
Name: Christine and John and Gertie the dogProfessions: Christine is an art teacher and John, also an artist, is studying to be a nurse. They also run an Etsy shop, Poison IcebergLocation: Ann Arbor, MichiganSize: 960 square feet, ownedYears lived in: 2 1/2; owned While flipping through this year’s Small, Cool contest entries, I came across Christine’s Perfect Location.
Think your apartment is small? It may seem positively palatial compared to these five living spaces, all of which are smaller than 100 square feet. Read on to find out how the residents make these shoebox-sized spaces work. First up: a tour of a 90 square foot ‘microstudio’ in Manhattan.
Whether you’ve resolved to lay off the libations in January (Anyone out there giving Drynuary a try this year?), have just a few drops left in a bottle, or are stuck with bottom-shelf booze after a big bash, we’ve got some great alternatives to pouring the party down the drain—clean with it!
Its delicious on french fries, but can you clean with ketchup, too? We gathered a few pieces of tarnished silver to see if this diner staple could pull double duty and make the job of polishing silver just a bit easier. Word on the street is that the acid in the tomatoes reacts with the oxidizing of the tarnished silver in just three simple steps. We tried this with our old souvenir spoons and the results were… well, lets just say this is not our preferred method of polishing silver!
Do you roll your eyes at those staged closets in catalogs with their 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes? If you don’t have enough closets — or any — you can still create a tidy exposed closet without getting rid of your wardrobe.Matchy, matchy. When your closet is exposed for all to see, the easiest way to create a seamless look is to have matching storage solutions. Shoe boxes, hangers, shelves, etc, should match each other, if not follow one color scheme.
True confession: I’ve been keeping something – a deep dark decorating secret – from you lovely people. Last week, IKEA sent me an advance copy of the new 2018 catalog. I’ve been carrying it from my desk to my bedside table and back again each day, sneaking peeks whenever I could.
Name: Adam Pogue + Daniel Aston (their dog Otto and two cats Sissy Spacek and Motorhead) Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, CA Size: 936 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years — rent Adam and Daniel have developed the perfect mix of bohemian and craft in their downtown loft. Everything down to the hand-stitched couch is thoughtfully designed and displays example after example of their incredible DIY fortitude.
Name:Mark Bunge and Tanja Hester (and two Chihuahuas, Bella and Chelsea)Location: West LA — Los Angeles, CASize: 990 Square Feet- 2BR/2BRYears lived in: 2 — own Tanja and her husband Mark have embraced their Westside condo and given it a major facelift. First seen in the recent Small Cool Contest, their two bedroom home is warm and colorful. With a major kitchen renovation and a small patio garden both complete, this home also doubles as a home office for both of them.
If you’ve been looking through our outdoor area-maximizing guides this summer and feeling bummed because you don’t have a big area to yourself to clean or decorate, fear not! There are still plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in whatever home you’ve got. Here are some ideas. First of all, do you really not have any outdoor space? Or is it just super tiny? Because let me tell you, you can do a lot with a little. As these inspiring small spaces prove.
Name: Elizabeth Bear and her husband Location: Denver, Colorado Size: Approx 4300 square feet Years Lived In: 8 years, owned My college sweetheart and I got married in July 2009, both second marriages; previously we had agreed to sell the homes we were each living in and purchase one together.
Name: Beth Brown and family Location: Buckhead — Atlanta, Georgia Size: 4,000 square feet Years lived in: 2 years,owned Stepping into interior designer Beth Brown’s home is like walking into a luxurious boutique. Not surprising, considering she grew up visiting her mom’s chic Buckhead jewelry store, Tassells, which sells inspiring wearable objects.
As a self-described "sensory driven guy," Gil's space isn't just pretty to look at. A mix of textures and materials blend beautifully to stimulate all the senses.
Name: Susan Gregg Koger and Eric Koger, with dogs Winston and Blue Location: Noe Valley — San Francisco, California Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths Years lived in: 5.5 Susan and Eric Koger have come a long way from the cramped dorm room where they founded ModCloth in 2002. High school sweethearts turned college entrepreneurs turned retail power couple, their current home may be a bit bigger than their original digs, but the spirit behind things hasn’t changed.
Name: Sacha & JohanLocation: Pretoria, South Africa We were in the very fortunate position of being able to build our own house. We both loved the idea of a large loft space, so decided it was now or never. The journey started off a bit bumpy as it was difficult to find an architect that wasn’t corrupted by the mainstream. We eventually found our house in the mind of a young rookie. High risk, high reward.
Light fixtures tend to be the final resting place for bugs. And if it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned yours, you’ve more than likely got a bug graveyard hanging over your dining room table. Cleaning up can be quick and easy, and is a great project to add to your seasonal cleaning duties. So gather your supplies, round up some help and evict those exoskeletons. Depending on what type of fixture you are working with, you might need an extra set of hands to help out.
No matter how clean a room may be, a dirty fireplace can make it look messy and unkempt. Tidying up can take time and effort, but the end results are rewarding, and will help keep your fireplace in great working order. More than likely you’re only dealing with some soot here and ther—and if that’s the case, your cleaning adventure won’t take all that long. But if you’ve inherited a neglected fireplace like mine, prepare to put in some time and serious elbow grease!
White or natural color wools can yellow for a number of reasons, ranging from age to the environment it’s stored in. If your wool has yellowed naturally or because of a bleach stain, don’t fear! You can bring it back. I recently took in a stray rug that had a pretty significant bleach stain. The stain was intimidating but the rug was really nice, so I was determined. I figured it couldn’t get any worse than it already was!
Washing your walls is a fantastic deep cleaning chore that is best tackled in late spring and early fall when you can crack a window or open a door to assist in the drying process. However time consuming, it is a necessary task to keep your home looking (and smelling!) great and can extend the life of your paint job. Washing your walls is a fantastic deep cleaning chore that is best tackled in late spring and early fall when you can crack a window or open a door to assist in the drying process.
Over the years I’ve been guilty of occasionally buying whatever bath cleaner is on sale at the store -could be all-natural, could not. The moment I try to settle into a nice, relaxing bath I immediately start thinking about what chemicals I’m being subjected to and majorly regret my decision.
Wool blankets are one of the most coveted finds at flea markets these days. They are practical, durable, and fashionable. And we’ve found a great way to clean them that costs only your time —and maybe your comfort if you don’t have a big warm winter coat. People have been cleaning with snow for ages.
We recently stripped the old paper from our parlor walls. Though precautions were taken to keep our chandelier safe while we were working, wallpaper particles and plaster dust found its way to the fixture, leaving the prisms dusty and in need of a good clean. Knowing all too well it would probably be months before we decided on a paint color to finish the room, I figured I’d add some sparkle by showing the chandelier a little love.
It’s a task that’s too-often overlooked, but cleaning your makeup brushes regularly is so, so important: it’s an easy way to promote healthy skin by keeping bacteria and dead skin cells at bay. It takes just two minutes, and can even prolong the life of your makeup brushes. How often should you clean your makeup brushes? At least once a week for concealer and foundation brushes that get caked with build-up.
Leather furniture can last for decades if properly taken care of. Prolong the life of your piece by using this simple, all-natural leather conditioner. Vinegar Linseed oil Essential oil (optional) Jar with a lid or spray bottle Microfiber cloth Wipe down your furniture to be sure it is dust-free in preparation for the conditioning treatment. 2. Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts linseed oil in a jar with a lid. Close the lid and shake vigorously.
I recently moved into a very old home and inherited a gorgeous claw foot tub. It’s pink, gigantic, and nearly perfect in every way, except for one issue: the porcelain around the drain has been worn away, leaving a very unsightly, uninviting rusty ring in my otherwise dreamy tub. While I have plans to keep this tub around, its not currently in the budget to have it refinished.
Here’s a cleaning tip even Marilyn would appreciate: Make those diamonds sparkle and shine with a non-traditional jewelry cleanser that will also clean your toilet and flower vases! Denture cleaner tablets Warm water Small glass jar Toothbrush 1. Drop one cleansing tablet into a small dish filled 3/4 full with warm water. Add the jewelry and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Once the tablet starts to effervesce, the water will turn blue and start to foam. 2.
Fresh flowers are a treat for yourself and your home. The clean up afterwards, especially on narrow-necked vases, not so much. Our solution? Denture cleaner! The tiny tablets pack a punch and go to work on a myriad of household chores —and can be stored away with ease. Denture tablets Warm water Add very warm water to your bottle, stop an inch or two from the top to allow for possible fizzy overflow. Break apart one tablet and drop it inside.
It kind of makes sense — if toothpaste can remove plaque on your teeth then it should come as no surprise that it will also do a number on that pesky tarnish that has built up on your silver! Toothpaste (not gel!)An old scrubbing toothbrush Apply a dollop of toothpaste to your piece of silver. I used about as much as I would on my teeth, however, if you are working on a larger piece you might need to use more. Add just a bit of water to your brush and go to town!
Of all the responsibilities that come with taking care of your home, paying special attention to your wood furniture is sometimes overlooked. I recently inherited a beautiful wood rocking chair that had been stored away for a few years and was in need of some TLC. If it’s time to restore the surface of your wood furniture, this step by step guide shows you everything you need to know and how to lengthen the time before your next polish as much as possible.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the most cliché nerd predicament: a leaking or exploding ink pen (where was your pocket protector when you needed it!?). But you can put away your inhaler, because removing an ink blob is easier than you think. Just grab some milk and vinegar and get to the stain ASAP! 2 parts whole milk1 part white distilled vinegarLarge bowl 1. Place your garment in a bowl at the most shallow part, allowing it to be covered completely with the mixture. 2.
Bananas are legit. They are a proper on the go snack, packed full of nutrients and vitamins, and come in a convenient peel-and-toss wrapper to boot! But before tossing the wrapper, consider attempting this super simple method for cleaning your silver. BananasWaterBlenderRag to polish silver There are a few all natural recipes for cleaning silver but this is my preferred method for jewelry.
If you’re tight on space and don’t want a bottle of rarely-used wood polish hogging the shelf, don’t buy it! Wood polish is easy to make in small, single use batches, so you don’t have to worry about trying to jam yet another bottle away under the cupboard. Depending on the size lemon you use, the polish ends up being around about 1/2 cup of liquid.
