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10 Natural DIY Citrus CleanersCleaning
We are big fans of natural cleaners here on Apartment Therapy, and generally they are very easy (and inexpensive!) to make. I personally try to use citrus in my cleaning repertoire whenever I can because I find it to be an effect whitener and grease cutter, and it leaves the room I am cleaning pleasantly fragrant. Here are 10 of my favorite DIY citrus cleaners and cleaning techniques. Please share your favorites in the comments below! All Purpose: 1. How To Make Homemade Citrus Cleaner 2.
Kate Legere
Jul 16, 2020
The 10 Best All-Natural and Organic Mattress SourcesDesign Ideas
Buying a new mattress is a big investment, and knowing where to go to find the best options for your health and for the planet—not to mention for a sound night’s sleep— is key.
Cambria Bold
Jul 16, 2020
Before & After: Coffee Sack Upholstered ChairHome Projects
You have to love a project that not only makes over a sad old chair but also reuses old coffee sacks. This creative re-use project not only features repurposed fabric but also looks great too! Check out the fantastic results after the jump.Many of you have seen similar chairs using grain sacks selling for a pretty penny, this step by step tutorial by Doesn’t Cost the Earth shows you how you can get the look for much less using organic coffee sacks.
Allison Verdoorn
Jul 16, 2020
Does Turning Down the Heat Really Burn More Calories?Life
In response to my recent post, Trying To Cut Down On Heating Costs? Go Gradually, a commenter wrote, “If I feel a little cold, I just tell myself that I am burning more calories when I am chilly… because that’s true.
Tess Wilson
Jul 16, 2020
7 Ways To Use Doilies In A Fresh and Modern WayLife
The word “doily” just sounds old and musty, doesn’t it? In reality, they’re small little works of art that can be found all over at local thrift stores and estate sales. After we mentioned using them as wall art yesterday, we thought a proper roundup was in order to showcase their true modern beauty. Here are 7 ways to put them to use and get them out of the linen closet!
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 16, 2020
Beautiful Oversized Hanging PlantsDesign Ideas
Plants are well known as great way to add some color, texture and life to a space, and when they also happen to be beautifully oversized hanging plants, they also bring the drama. We’ve rounded up some examples from our archives and around the web. 1. An oversized Boston Fern adds texture and brings character to the room. Gregory and Jenny’s Relaxed Hippie Bungalow Tour from Apartment Therapy. 2. Following curve of a staircase these Bears-Paw Ferns have a cascading effect.
Kim Lucian
Jul 16, 2020
Famous Writers’ Small Writing Sheds and Off-the-Grid HutsDesign Ideas
When I hear the phrase “writing hut” or “backyard shed” my imagination practically squeals with delight. A small, intimate space furnished with the essentials. Low impact, high inspiration. This is probably why I love going to North Dakota and why I want to pull a Pollan and build my own little house.
Cambria Bold
Jul 15, 2020
Out of the Closet: How To Make a Rope Wrapped Hanging Clothes BarOrganizing
Tired of pulling my shirts, all wrinkled and creased, out of my over-stuffed closet, I decided to come out of the closet completely and create a hanging clothes bar in the corner of my bedroom. Say goodbye to these colorful (but useless) drawers-turned-shelves and hello to my new rope wrapped hanging clothes bar…This is actually a project I’ve had in mind for a couple of months.
Jason Loper
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: Under Stair Storage RedoOrganizing
Like many other small space dwellers, we have almost no closet or storage space in my home. The tenants before us took the first step to maximize the dead space under the stairs by removing a partition wall to open up the area, and installed a drop down hatch under the stair. Unfortunately they didn’t install a railing and instead only those awkward, sharp rectangular boxes — after several falls down the stairs it was painfully obvious something needed to change!
Rachel Wray Thompson
Jul 15, 2020
Energy Saving Task Lighting in the Kitchen: 10 LED Under Cabinet LightsDesign Ideas
I recently installed under cabinet lights in the kitchen of my rental apartment, and for a relatively small investment, they have made a big impact: They provide lighting for such kitchen tasks as dish washing and food prep, and their ambient glow is a pleasant alternative to the harsh overhead lighting I relied on previously. Fluorescent, halogen and xenonTOP ROW1. NON LED Countertop Light, $20 from IKEA2. LEDme Button Light, $54 from WAC Lighting3.
Kate Legere
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: A Budget Garden MakeoverPlants & Yard
Since moving back to our rented home we’ve been slowly rebuilding the gardens around the house. Working with what we have and focusing on the growing-not-mowing philosophy, we turned the space near our front door in to a useable garden space for less than $20.Until recently the space was only used to access the hot water system.
Sarah Starkey
Jul 15, 2020
Pallet Furniture: How to Choose and Prepare Reclaimed Wood for DIY ProjectsLife
Pallet projects, in every possible form, were early guests to the DIY party and have stayed around ever since. Using them for the reclaimed wood certainly has its risks (more on that later), but you can’t beat the price (which is usually free). Here’s a guide to everything you need to know: finding, choosing, cleaning, and breaking down one for use. Once you know the what’s what, you can decide for yourself if they are worth the effort.
Dabney Frake
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: New Uses for Old DoorsHome Projects
After moving to Saratoga Springs, NY, which is famous for its horses and horse track, Lucianna Samu became obsessed with old horse stall doors. She began collecting and refurbishing the doors for projects around the house. Below are pictures of a liquor cabinet and a kitchen pantry that Lucianna created by hanging the doors on modern sliding rails.According to Lucianna, My advice is that the lighter the door, the easier and less expensive the installation.
Kate Legere
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: Upcycled, Vintage, Budget Office MakeoverHome Projects
BEFOREDreary home office gettin’ you down? Take a cue from one of the lovely ladies of Fig & Sage who, after realizing the paint color on the walls made the office ‘depressing and lifeless’ in winter, transformed the room into… AFTER… a soothing, lavender-hued oasis with a wood door tabletop (salvaged from her basement), IKEA shelves and desk legs, two West Elm Parsons desks (scored for $15 each at an overstock warehouse), and neat, colorful organization.
Cambria Bold
Jul 15, 2020
Hot Tip: Deter Cats From Your Christmas Tree With CitrusLife
Cats and christmas trees are like salt and chocolate: they just belong together. If you have a furry feline who insists on scoping out your living room from half way up your Blue Spruce, here’s an easy way to keep them grounded for good! Try placing citrus peels like oranges and lemons under your tree skirt. In general most cats detest citrus and will keep their distance. As an added bonus, it will make your living quarters smell lovely and won’t harm anyone (albeit 2 or 4 legs).
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 15, 2020
A Collector’s Tiny 178-Square-Foot ApartmentDesign Ideas
We’ve seen our share of small spaces and teeny-tiny homes, but this one just might take the cake. This 178-square-foot apartment in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn belongs to 25-year-old Zach Motl. An avid collector since he was a child, Motl adheres to the “old decorating dictum that says the more stuff you put in a room (albeit artfully arranged stuff), the bigger it seems. More really is more.
Cambria Bold
Jul 15, 2020
8 Ways To Use a Bowl In Your HomeLife
Cambria has recently mentioned her affinity for bowls in the home and I have to wholeheartedly agree. They’re perfect for use all around your space, not just for a bowl of cereal! Here are a few suggestions on how to get more from your bowls:Now admittedly the bowls in the photo above aren’t the greenest of nature but they still convey the point we’re looking to illustrate below. See where else you can put them to use (besides your tool chest) from the tips below!1.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 15, 2020
5 Things To Do With Extra Sofa PillowsLife
The small pillows that came with my sofa upon purchase didn’t really accent anything as their name might suggest. I wanted something a little brighter and jazzier. Instead of keeping those pillows shoved in the back corner of the linen closet, try putting them to use with one of these 5 ideas:1. Remove The Covers: By removing the pillow covers, you can switch them out to be any color, pattern or style you want. It seems obvious, but is an easy one to forget.2.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 15, 2020
5 Things You Might Not Know About Watering PlantsPlants & Yard
Not many around these parts are new to the idea of gardening or the growing of plants. Even though we’ve all been around the block a time or two, we thought it was a good time to brush up on some quick tips and facts about keeping things watered properly. Do you know the best time to water your plants is? This answer and more after the jump!1.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jun 14, 2020
The Very First Thing You Should Do with a New Bottle of VinegarCleaning
By the time you grab a fresh bottle, it will probably be time to take care of an important kitchen chore you’ve been neglecting.
Ashley Abramson
May 28, 2020
How To Plant and Keep an Indoor Lemon TreePlants & Yard
When winter comes to Italy, the lemon trees potted in terra cotta get moved indoors. Every large estate has a sunny, ventilated room to store their lemons, known as a limonaia. Winter is when the trees bloom, and I’ve always imagined a room full of these as exquisite to the point of intoxicating. Worried about cold snaps, I’ve brought my Meyer lemon tree indoor and the smell of blossoms on just one tree greet me every time I walk in the house.
Guest
May 26, 2020
25 Places to Donate Your StuffLife
We’ve featured some great articles recently on the value of downsizing our belongings. Yet even with the best intentions to pare down, it can be hard to part with certain things. If you have items you’re waffling over donating (the microwave you barely use, the business suit you wore once) here’s a list of 25 organizations that will happily take your stuff and put it to great use.
Julia Brenner
May 20, 2020
How Can I Shred Fabric and Turn It Into Fiberfill?Life
Q: I am in desperate search to find a way to shred fabric. I have tons of scrap fabric I can’t do anything with along with lots of kids clothes that are beyond repair. I would love to turn this into a fiberfill of sort. It’s been challenging to me to find a way to do this, so I would love if you all could help me find a solution.Sent by KelliEditor: Suggestions for Kelli?Have a good question? Email us! Read other Good Questions here!
Cambria Bold
May 20, 2020
How To Clean a Cast Iron SkilletLife
Instructions for cast iron skillet cleaning often include a lot of don’ts: don’t use soap, don’t use steel wool, don’t put it in the dishwasher. It’s almost enough to scare one off from cast iron completely! However, with a few simple techniques, you’ll be able to keep your skillet clean, rust-free, and well-seasoned. (And, worst-case scenario, you can always re-season it.
Emily Han
May 15, 2020
Does the Tennis Balls in Dryer Trick Really Work to Soften Clothes?Cleaning
Everyone has a few home and cleaning tips they’ve been taught that, to be honest, may or may not even work—whether that’s using newspaper to clean glass, rubbing strongly-scented dryer sheets on clothes to keep bugs away, or polishing shoes with banana peels. One laundry hack that often gets tossed around is putting tennis balls in a dryer to soften your clothes and dry them faster.
Stephanie Kinnear
Apr 28, 2020
9 Alternatives to Cloth Bath MatsDesign Ideas
I love the feel of plush bath mats, but mine usually end up staying tamped down, accumulating dog hair, and generally not being nice and fluffy. Given that I recently learned I have a few household allergies, I’ve decided it’s time to forgo the cotton rug.I’m considering these options, most of which are naturally antifungal; others are aromatic. All I know is I won’t miss having to shake out and wash my cloth bath mat.1.
Kim R. McCormick
Apr 21, 2020
5 Drying Racks for Life Without a DryerDesign Ideas
For the last month my washer/dryer combo hasn’t had the dryer functionality, and I’ve had to come up with some creative solutions for drying my clothes. I thought about only wearing quick-dry athletic wear, but that’s proved to be unfashionable. So, in the end, an over-the-door drying rack is the best solution for me and my apartment.Here are five options for drying without electricity: Antonius Drying Rack for over the door from IKEA; $7.
Claire Bock
Apr 9, 2020
15 Creative Clothes Drying RacksLife
There’s no need for a dryer with these creative and space-saving drying racks! Hang them inside or outside, over the tub or over the backyard, lower them from the ceiling or mount them on the wall. There are options sure to fit any space. So without any further ado, the creative clothes racks:Not all of these racks are made from sustainable materials, but we hope they provide some inspiration for either building your own or as a simply using your dryer less.TOP ROW1.
Tiffany Finley
Apr 9, 2020
Best Indoor Drying Racks: And How To Hang Your ClothesLife
In order to curb her energy use in the winter time, Ashley English of Small Measure (who shared with us her green resolution this past December) has been making use of her indoor wooden drying rack, as she writes today in her weekly Design*Sponge column.
Cambria Bold
Apr 9, 2020
Two Easy Homemade Alternatives If You Don’t Have Glass CleanerCleaning
Picture this: Inspired by the window-cleaning marathon you completed while getting a jump start on spring cleaning, you’re cleaning all the glass in your house. You’ve done all the doors, the glass that protects every photo that’s hung on the wall or displayed on a bookshelf, and the mirrored tray on your oversized tufted ottoman. In your zeal, you’ve finished a spray bottle of glass cleaner.
Shifrah Combiths
Apr 6, 2020
Here’s a Simple and Food-Safe Way to Get Rid of Ants in Your KitchenCleaning
Ants tend to pop up in the spring and can linger through summer, foraging through your kitchen for food.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Apr 6, 2020
Best Plants for the BathroomLife
Do you have plants in the bathroom? There are actually a number of houseplants that thrive in this room’s typically tropical conditions of low light, warmth, and humidity—not to mention that they help freshen the air and your spirit! See our list, along with a few that thrive in bright and sunny bathrooms.
Cambria Bold
Apr 3, 2020
Bedding Stains: Don’t Throw it Out. Dye it Out!Design Ideas
Pillowcases, duvet covers, sheets, and bed spreads can all be ruined with a conspicuous stain. It’s unfortunate when perfectly good, intact bedding is cast away because of a spot here and there, or because of general dinginess. Rather than buying new, dye your bedding instead! It’s a great way to cover stains or update a color. Either way, it’ll prolong the life of something you already own and be cost effective to boot.
Angie Cho
Apr 2, 2020
1,001 Uses for White Distilled VinegarLife
We love white distilled vinegar. We don’t love the way it smells. But we love it. It’s pretty cheap, it’s non-toxic, environmentally-friendly, and you can use it to do (literally) like a thousand things in your home.We just stumbled on this ridiculous website VinegarTips.com—a website where you can find 1,001 things to do in your home with vinegar.They’ve got cleaning tips (vinegar makes a cheap tile and grout cleaner) and laundry tips (use it as a stain remover).
Stephanie Kinnear
Mar 19, 2020
Saturday Assignment: Remove Household Rust With These 5 Natural RemediesLife
Rust is a quiet, subtle things that sneaks up on your pans, pots, servingware and even some furniture. The weekend’s a perfect time to rid your metal of this pesky unsightly element. And guess what? There are five eco-friendly ways to remove rust, most of which came from you, our readers! Rust comes in many different forms, but the most common in households is rust from iron oxides, where metal is exposed to water or air moisture and becomes oxygenated.
Tiffany Finley
Mar 17, 2020
15 Awesome Indoor Trees for Arbor DayLife
Arbor Day is April 24th! Arbor Day is a fabulous day to go out and plant a tree, but if you don’t happen to have any land, it’s the perfect day to stay in and plant a tree. These thriving specimens from our House Tours are sure to inspire your green thumb…or make you green with envy, if you’re me.
Tess Wilson
Mar 17, 2020
Mother’s Day DIY Gift Ideas: 10 Inspiring Succulent & Cactus GardensPlants & Yard
In lieu of buying my Mama cut flowers this year, I am thinking it would be fun to make her a sweet plant arrangement. Below are 10 potted garden ideas using succulents and cacti, which I especially like because not only are they pretty, they are also low maintenance. TOP ROW 1. Cactus Garden from From Ezter With Love 2. Pretty Lace Flower Pots, DIY from A Beautiful Mess 3. Hanging Kokedama Plant, DIY from Free People 4. Vintage Planter Cacti Garden from A Beautiful Mess 5.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Want to Use Green Cleaners? Start HereLife
A new year, a great opportunity to make a commitment to a healthy home by investing in more natural cleaning products. There are plenty of options to buy, and lots of ways to DIY. If you don’t know where to start, find it here. And if you’ve been using green cleaners for awhile, now’s a good time to examine your methods and see if there’s room for improvement!
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 11, 2020
Natural & Beautiful: 5 Simple Wreath DIYsLife
‘Tis the season for pretty wreaths. Last year I did this roundup of pretty twig wreaths, and this year I went searching for some easy and natural wreath tutorials. If you’re looking for inspiration for making your own wreath, here are 5 easy projects that do not require a lot of time or supplies. 1.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Cheap, Easy DIY Decorating Idea: Craft with Painted Fall LeavesDesign Ideas
Here’s an easy DIY craft for you: grab some leaves from the backyard, whip out some craft paint or thread, and go to town. If your budget doesn’t allow for buying store-bought decorations, this is a cheap alternative that do-able and fun. TOP ROW: Alisa Burke painted a series of leaves, then strung them up as festive garland. Try painting leaves still on the branch, for a great centerpiece like Rachael’s. Or, simply tape up a collection of leaves like Elsie Marley did.
Dabney Frake
Mar 11, 2020
Easy DIY Project: Making Your Own Cloth NapkinsHome Projects
I’m not quite ready to go off the grid but I try to be eco in small ways, like turning off the faucet when washing dishes, keeping lights off in rooms I’m not using, and not using paper towels. Using cloth napkins is just one of those things that I’m hooked on. A few stats from Earth911 help put things into perspective: 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used in the U.S. every year.
Theresa Gonzalez
Mar 11, 2020
Tips & Tricks for Getting Rid of and Dealing with MosquitoesCleaning
Looking for ways to rid your indoor and outdoor spaces of mosquitoes? Here are our best posts on how to keep those little buggers away. Natural Remedy: 5 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes How To Make Your Own DIY Mosquito Repellent Device Make Your Own Citronella Candles That Really Work 5 Tips For a Mosquito-Free Summer How To Make A Wine Bottle Tiki Torch for Under $4.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Small Outdoor KitchensDesign Ideas
Small outdoor kitchens are as practical as they are fun. Cooking outdoors during the warm months of the year means we prevent heating up our homes and are smart about how we use energy. For this reason, many warm climate cultures use outdoor kitchens as their main cooking space. It’s also a whole lot of fun and doesn’t require a big budget or a ton of space to set one up.In addition, some of these inspirational outdoor kitchens have great eco-friendly features.
Angie Cho
Mar 11, 2020
The Ultimate Guide to Making Any Rental More Energy EfficientLife
Think that because you don’t own, you have no control over your home’s energy use? Not true! Here’s our ultimate guide; full of links to quick, easy and yes, even inexpensive, ways to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your bills (your landlord will thank you!). Most of these changes are likely to pay for themselves in energy savings over the duration of your rental.
Rachel Wray Thompson
Mar 11, 2020
Before &amp After: A Mid-C Modern BathroomHome Projects
Designer Gina De Pasquale renovated this Las Vegas residence that needed a little updating throughout. Her work is most impressive in the bathroom where she did a great a job of mixing high and low pieces, all while staying true to the mid-century aesthetic.
Rachel Wray Thompson
Mar 11, 2020
Homemade Home: Great DIY Projects for Bedrooms from Our ToursDesign Ideas
Searching for some new solutions for your bedroom? Take a look at these projects from our house tours. Ideas include DIY artwork, making a pallet bed and building your own closet and nightstand.1. Hang old window panes 2. Make a pallet bed 3. Create your own collages and frame them4. Build your own closet5. Hang wall planters6. Put jewelry on display7. Use pegboard behind your bed to add texture 8. Turn an old mantel into a headboard9.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Furniture Makeovers: Before & After TransformationsHome Projects
2011 was packed with wonderful before and after projects! Readers and editors both shared some amazing furniture re-do’s. From the old made modern to the broken turned fixed, here are just a few of the incredible before and after furniture posts of the year.
Rikkianne Van Kirk
Mar 11, 2020
The 10 Most Dramatic Before & After ProjectsHome Projects
Thinking about the new year might be the time for home improvement resolutions, or at least some serious list-making. From a formerly dingy little caravan, to kitchens, gardens, dining rooms and a few entire homes, we have run the entire gamut of before and after projects this year. The following selections represent the most dramatic and inspiring of 2011 to help ring in any 2012 renovation plans.
Michelle Chin
Mar 11, 2020
Bathroom Before & After Projects
We’ve had a great year of bathroom before and afters. From the controversial orange bathroom redux to the double renovation of a studio apartment bathroom, we’ve seen a lot and found inspiration even if we didn’t agree with every single choice someone made. I don’t think I would have had so much courage to tackle my own projects this year without Re-Nest and Apartment Therapy, so hopefully these will embolden someone else to do the same.
Michelle Chin
Mar 11, 2020
10 (Non-Renovation) Renovation Ideas For Renters
If you’re a renter, then you’re probably thinking about taking a mental checkout from our October theme (Green Building and Renovating). I can’t renovate. I can’t even paint! you think. Don’t worry, my friend. We have solutions for you, too! We call it the non-renovation renovation— temporary yet effective ways to dramatically change your home without sacrificing your security deposit.
Cambria Bold
Mar 11, 2020
Making the Switch To Glass Food Storage Containers
Back in March, I took the No New Plastic for a Month Challenge, and it inspired me to replace all of my plastic food storage containers with glass, and I haven’t looked back. Below the jump, you’ll find out how I transformed my refrigerator.First, I did some research to find the everyday glass food storage containers I now needed. I opted for Duralex Lys Square Bowls because they are stackable, made of tempered glass, and square in shape.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Tips for the Slow Home: Creating Functional Spaces
Making your home, or even one room, function for the purpose you’ve identified isn’t about spending tons of money to overhaul your space; it’s more about being thoughtful about how you envision your space to function. Yes, you might need to purchase a sleeper sofa if you want your office to double as a guest room, but generally you can work with what you have.
Landis Carey
Mar 11, 2020
The 25 Best Small Space Living Tips and Inspiration
We love small spaces. We love them for their lower energy and heating bills and because they force us to edit, organize, and reduce our accumulation of stuff. But most of all, we love them because there seems to be no end to what you can do with them given some creative planning! Here are 25 of the top small space living posts we wrote this year.
Cambria Bold
Mar 11, 2020
The Big List: 49 Smart, Money-Saving Creative Reuse Ideas
We get excited about stylish, functional, and innovative creative reuse ideas, from the myriad ways you can reuse a jar, to uses for chipped tea cups, antique bread bins, vintage card catalogs, bubble wrap, wallpaper scraps, even old gym floorboards. Here’s a big roundup of some of our favorites… The Many Amazing Ways to Reuse a Jar: • 10 Simple Uses for Spaghetti Jars • Crafty Uses for Baby Food Jars • Don’t Throw Out That Jar!
Cambria Bold
Mar 11, 2020
Families in Small Spaces: How To Do It And Not Go Crazy
It’s one thing to pare down your belongings and live simply and compactly in a small space of your choosing if you’re just one or two people; it’s quite another thing when you have a family to contend with. As one reader asked us, “How do you simplify? How do you figure out what you need? How do you get a spouse/child on board to simplify? How do you make a small space that has to have stuff in it feel open and inviting?
Cambria Bold
Mar 11, 2020
Best Product: Squeegee, Not Shower Spray
We just don’t feel comfortable spraying mysterious combinations of chemicals just to keep our shower clean. And, if you think about it, buying something that’s mostly water and which is intended to go directly down the drain just doesn’t make sense. Instead, we’ve adopted a slightly more labor-intensive technology that seems to work just as well: squeegee! Plus, it’s a lot more fun to say.
Jonathan B.
Mar 4, 2020
Cozy & Cool: 10 Summer Quilts
I’m one of those people who always needs to sleep with a blanket. While my husband and I cherish our down comforter for cold nights, he’s more than happy to throw it all off during warmer months. Our happy medium is the summer quilt: just enough weight to keep me comfortable, yet light enough to keep him from breaking out in a sweat.These summer quilts, also known as coverlets, are great on their own, or layered throughout the year.
Rachel Wray Thompson
Feb 27, 2020
How To Clean a Coir Doormat
Coir (coconut fiber), makes for a great eco-friendly doormat: it’s durable, made from natural materials, and can fit just about anyone’s home decor. They can also last for years if they’re taken care of properly, and it’s about this time of year that they need the most help. All it takes is a little water and a broom to keep the doormats cleans — check out This Old House’s maintenance tips, after the jump.
Rachel Wray Thompson
Feb 27, 2020
Reuse & Recycle: 10 DIY Pendant Lights
These budget friendly pendants were created from things you just might have laying around your home: terra cotta pots, cardboard, wire baskets, hanging planters, pretty paper. You can find the tutorials below. I’m adding a couple of them to my fall to–do list.TOP ROW:1. Globe Pendant Light, DIY from Apartment Therapy2. Terra Cotta Pot Pendant Lamps, DIY from Urban Gardens3. Cardboard Pendant Light, DIY from Poppytalk4. Paper Starburst Pendant Lamp, DIY from 3 Rs Blog5.
Kate Legere
Feb 27, 2020
Add a Little Green: Plants in the Bathroom
I dream of a day when I can fill my bathroom with plants. Mine is currently windowless and lacks any natural sunlight, so for now admiring other people’s sunny bathrooms will have to do. Here are some I am currently coveting, and here is a list of the best plants for the bathroom if you want to buy some of your own.TOP ROW:1. Apartment Therapy2. Brick House3. Frisson via houzz4. Design Sponge5. Elsie Marley via Apartment TherapyBOTTOM ROW:6. Fat Cat7. Nibs8. Apartment Therapy9.
Kate Legere
Feb 27, 2020
10 Ways to Save Energy in the Laundry Room
Washing and drying clothes uses a lot of energy and water in a typical house. Here are 10 ways you can reduce your consumption of water and energy while doing laundry.Move the dryer closer to an outside wall The farther exhaust air has to travel from your dryer to get outside, the more energy your dryer will use on every cycle. If you can, move the dryer as close to its exhaust port as possible. Can you reduce the number of elbow bends in the exhaust pipe?
Laurie McGinley
Feb 12, 2020
How To: Start a No-Dig Garden … Step by Step
A few weeks ago we blogged an article in the LA Times about No-Dig Gardens. They require less water than traditional gardens and they’re an easy way to start a raised bed. You can even start one right over a patch of grass you want to get rid of. Another easy gardening option is bringing the garden inside with grass you can grow indoors. Our friend and coworker, Hulda Nelson, tipped us off to the article.
Stephanie Kinnear
Feb 6, 2020
Quick Tip #41: How to Clean & Polish Stainless Steel
Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We’re sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today’s helpful hint, and links to tons more… Use OLIVE OIL! Before buff and polish, take a few minutes and clean your sinks, fixtures or furniture with whatever dish soap you have laying around.
Sarah Rae Smith
Feb 3, 2020
How To Clean Hardwood Floors with Black Tea
It’s warm and soothing for your body, but did you know you can also use black tea to clean your hardwood floors? Tannins in the tea add a light, warm “stain” and help to bring out the wood’s natural warm tones. In addition to it’s beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contain polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 3, 2020
The Best Portable Space Heaters
Here’s another way to save energy this winter: try using a portable space heater to heat just the room you’re in, and turn down the thermostat in the other rooms of your house. The New York Times recently tested 10 portable space heaters. Here are the Top 5:Shown above the jump, from left to right:Holmes Ultra Quiet Ceramic Heater ($82.99): At 15-inches high, this model from Holmes produced the hottest air and took only about 20 minutes to warm up the room by 10 degrees.
Cambria Bold
Jan 26, 2020
10 Easy-to-Find Secondhand Staples (and How To DIY These Thrift Store Finds)
Here are 10 secondhand staples you run into at thrift stores all the time, and 10 corresponding DIY projects to modernize them. Most are simple projects that are both do-able and transformative. Keep them in mind the next time you are wandering around a flea market, or in your favorite Goodwill. Mismatched Plates: These DIY tiered stands are inexpensive to make, and a great way to use old dishes.
Dabney Frake
Jan 16, 2020
Boredom Buster: DIY Ball Run
You know the old adage that kids have as much fun with the packaging as they do with the toy it contains? Here’s yet another clever example; look what you can do with one large flat box and few large cardboard tubes cut in half.If you’ve got some cardboard tubes (or paper towel tubes would work) and a large piece of cardboard, you’re in business. You’ll have the little ones busily learning about gravity for hours.Read more: A Happy Wanderer(Image: A Happy Wanderer.
Jackie Boucher
Jan 7, 2020
Pamper Yourself: 10 Luxurious Self-Care DIYs Using Things You Already Own
Frazzled. Harried. Hurried. Stressed. Flustered. Vexed. Wind-whipped. Beat. If any of these adjectives apply to you, it’s probably time to take a few moments for some self-care. Here are ten recipes that will help you recharge and unwind, most of which can be created without the hassle of an extra trip to the store. Top Row: 1.
Carolyn Purnell
Dec 30, 2019
Before & After: An Exterior Renovation in Seattle
My favorite Before & Afters are when talented people buy tired old houses and breathe new life into them. This 100-year-old house in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle shows that a thoughtful approach to design can be modern and sustainable while still fitting in with the surrounding neighborhood.Todd Smith, of Syndicate Smith, along with his wife Julie bought their 1911 fixer-upper in 2004 and have recently completed an extensive exterior renovation.
Lauren Zerbey
Dec 19, 2019
Before & After: Stevie’s Back Patio
Let me introduce you to Stevie who lives in Vancouver. Since 2004 Stevie has been transforming the back garden into something wonderful and taking readers of Garden Therapy along for the ride.Some basic background info about the garden transformation from Stevie:“While there is a wonderful mountain view from the deck, we decided to build a low, enclosed patio to gain privacy from the neighbours and some outdoor living space.
Rochelle Greayer
Dec 19, 2019
Kelly and Erik’s Urban Farm
Name: Kelly Coyne and Erik KnutzenLocation: Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park/Silver Lake area)Years lived in: 13 Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen didn’t set out to become back –and front!– yard farmers. But once this Los Angeles couple discovered the pleasures of making things by hand and living close to the natural world, one thing led to another and today their ever-evolving urban homestead (if we dare call it that) is a true inspiration in the heart of the city.
Emily Han
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make Soap
Handmade soap is an easy and effective way to add a personalized touch to your bathroom. Whether you’ve got sensitive skin and want to know exactly what ingredients are going into your soaps, or you want to give your guests that ’boutique hotel’ experience while they’re staying with you, it’s fast, fun and totally worth the investment. You can purchase soap making kits that come with everything you need, or gather your supplies individually.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019