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Project by: Tyler Karu of Landing Design Location: Portland, Maine Tyler was able to create a 70s-inspired space that hits all the design high notes of the decade without veering into parody or camp. With some smartly shopped pieces and warm colors, this home is as eye-catching as it is welcoming. From Tyler: When my clients brought me on board, immediately after purchasing the property, they informed me that their inspiration was “seventies conversation pit.” I was elated.

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The phrase has a contented history, but the expression boils down to this: lemons are harsh and sour – kind of like the dated rental kitchen you can’t stand to cook in – and lemonade is sweet – like these 3 real rooms that made the best of a bad situation.

It’s halfway through 2016 and I’ve already spotted stand-out design trends in beautiful homes. But I’m not just referring to common colors, patterns and materials. This year, I’m spotting elements that infuse playfulness into interiors. Add some playfulness into your rooms today with these fresh and fun decor trends. Neon isn’t a new idea for interiors, but the ways that I’ve been spotting them in interiors recently is fresh.

There’s one particular feature of Girolamo & Alex’s San Francisco house tour that demands your attention and piques your curiosity: The black bookcase that stretches all the way from the floor to the loft’s enviably tall ceiling. Look a little closer, and you’ll see that this grand bookcase is actually three $149 KALLAX shelving units stacked together (if they look familiar, the KALLAX is IKEA’s latest model to replace the popular EXPEDIT shelves).

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the tornado of craft supplies that has taken over a room (or perhaps your whole home), you might need to employ smarter storage tools to keep your supplies in check. This craft room features several clever ideas that could be used in your home—no matter if you have an entire room or just a small area.

In a small home, every inch counts. If you’re looking for ways to find more space in your home, peruse this list of furniture switcheroo suggestions. They are smart and suitable substitutes for bulkier furniture, and making these switches could give you more space. A small wooden shelf, a repurposed desk drawer or a cube shelf (like above) can drastically reduce the space a nightstand might take up without eliminating a handy bedside surface.

It’s hard out here for a renter. Something that’s really simple for homeowners–like running your TV cords down behind the wall–is physically impossible for renters, lest we think it’s worth sacrificing our security deposits. Good news: All hope is not lost if you’re stuck with cords that droop and dangle across your beautiful vignettes. The solution? A stack of books.

Sarah of Salt House somehow manages to live and work and host cooking classes, workshops, and other food-centered events in her modestly-sized apartment—and do it all with enviable style. Want to make her fabulous and flexible dining room your own? Here’s (approximately!) how much it would cost… Extendable dining table: Z Gallerie via Salt House $1,500 Chairs: Overstock.com via Salt House $143 x 10 = $1,430 Custom neon sign: Lite Brite Neon $?

Design writer Cate St. Hill lives in a London flat that boasts a beautiful aesthetic she describes as “a light and relaxed style that’s one part Scandi and one part French, with a blend of old and new.” Let’s explore how much (approximately!) it would cost to recreate her lovely living room in our very own homes. Stool: Alvar Aalto Stool 60 from artek $285.00 Vintage armchair: eBay $? Linen curtains: IKEA Aina $59.99 Light: Eileen Gray Tube Light from Aram $588.

Name: Isabelle E. Location: West Hollywood; Los Angeles, CA Size: 375 square feet Years lived in: 10 months; Rented Until late 2014, Isabelle and her roommate had lived two buildings up from me for years. While I was disappointed to learn that they planned to move into their own places, that sentiment didn’t last long—Isabelle soon found an apartment only a block further up our street.

Name: Brandon Kleinman Location: West Hollywood; Los Angeles, CA Years lived in: 4 years; Rented Bachelors may have a reputation for maintaining less-than-desirable living quarters, but as the founder and CMO of online interior design firm Laurel & Wolf, Brandon Kleinman refused to fall victim to such stereotypes.

Name: Heather Lipner / Clashist Location: Downtown Fashion District; Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: Less than a year; Rented Clashist is a fun fashion line that emblazons everyday wear with sentimental pop culture throwbacks. Their t-shirts, leggings, and accessories honor icons like Joan Rivers, Beavis & Butt-head, Bill Murray and so on. Welcome to their new digs in Downtown LA!

Name: Kirsten Thoft and Ted Nadeau Location: Princeton, NJ Size: 3200 square feet (including lower level apartment / family room) Years lived in: 2 years; owned So many words are needed to describe Kirsten and Ted’s multi-faceted home: beautiful, sustainable, functional, light, airy, warm, homey, and even industrial! Kirsten, an architect, purchased the site and originally planned to build a spec home.

Name: National Forest // Co-Founded by Seven Harrington and Justin Krietemeyer Location: Atwater Village; Los Angeles, California Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: We’ve been in this building for seven years. We were down the road before that and a home-loft in the very beginning. National Forest is a design firm and creative consultancy located in Atwater Village.