Renovating & Remodeling Skills & How Tos

Wooden kitchen cabinets with gray countertops, white dishwasher, and tiled floor.
Before & After: ’80s Kitchen Gets a Breath of Fresh Air
Paige’s ’80s kitchen needed to time travel a few decades forward. Now, hardly any wisp of the past remains; say goodbye to the cabinets, appliances, floors, counters, and even a wall. This kitchen transformation is truly stunning! From Paige: Last August we set out to destroy our ’80s nightmare of a kitchen and replace it with something fresh and unique.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: $100 Guerrilla-Style Kitchen Makeover
Shelby’s new cute Craftsman style home had a lot of old charm….except for the bland builder-grade kitchen.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A NYC Galley Kitchen Opens Up
Heather’s Upper West Side apartment had a problem common to a lot of New York apartments, big and small — an outdated floorplan with small, chopped-up rooms. In particular, the galley kitchen was cut off from the rest of the apartment, not a great fit for the way people live now.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Dated Powder Room Gets Some DIY Pow
Sabrina had a typical powder room: beige walls, basic tile, pedestal sink—functional but nothing to write home about. With a moody hue and some DIY magic, this forgettable space is now fantastic: That ceiling is a stunner! Sabrina used a paintable textured wallpaper and coated it with a beautiful blue that’s echoed in her towels. On its own it might be too much, so she continued the faux molding with MDF painted the same color as the walls.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Separated Bathroom Comes Together
Cori’s apartment had a peach tub and separate tiny shower stall. Since the bathroom already had a small footprint, her contractor combined the shower and created much needed storage space: From Cori: He re-tiled the floor and around the tub. He converted the tub to a tub/shower and installed high glass doors on two sides. He converted the original shower stall into a closet. He made a custom medicine cabinet so we could have a larger mirror.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Smart Kitchen Transformation in Hell’s Kitchen
Dan and Mike made a great purchase that they’ve since gone on to make even greater: a one-bedroom condo in an old converted piano factory, in one of Manhattan’s most coveted neighborhoods. Although their apartment had a lot of things going for it, one thing that they didn’t love was the kitchen, hidden away from the rest of the apartment by a wall with an awkward passthrough.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
7 Steps to a Fantastic Front Porch (Inspired by Real-Life Makeovers)
Why are front porches so often sad and droopy? They’re the first impression your home puts out, yet so many are woefully neglected. (No judgement here, believe me. I just take notes on what I see.) Case in point: this lovely farmhouse, which is absolutely lovely, but could use a boost. Click to see what it looks like now, and what you can learn from this, and a bunch of other makeovers. The Curbly porch makeover involved tossing a bunch of stuff that just lingered on the porch forever.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Do a Double Take at This Decaying Porch Now
Sarah and her husband Charles bought a 1902 American foursquare a couple of years ago. Since the house originally belong to his grandmother, its restoration became a labor of love for the couple, even though it was in terrible condition. As Sarah says “Our back porch was literally falling off of the house when we bought it. Soffits were completely rotted and railings had been long forgotten. Oh, and the stairs to the basement?
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Tiffany Gives A New Orleans Shotgun New Life
When Tiffany Napper bought this New Orleans shotgun in 2010, she had major work cut out for her. The house – previously owned by a 93-year-old woman who had been born in the house and lived there until she died – had drop ceilings, faux wood paneling, and dirty wall-to-wall carpeting. The narrow 1400-square-foot structure had a small dark kitchen, one tiny bathroom, and four small bedrooms sandwiched together without a hallway.
Jacqueline Marque
May 4, 2019
Before & After: An Upper East Side Bathroom Transformation
When Megan and Ryan moved into their new place on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, they decided that renovating the bathroom had to be their first priority. Although, at a glance, their bathroom might not seem so bad, up close it was a bit of a disaster: a crumbling vanity cabinet, discolored and mismatched tile that had been painted (yes, painted) over, and a bathroom window that had been painted and tiled shut.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Real Life Tips for Keeping Cool (and On Budget) During Your Home Renovation
Small or large, one room or ten, a home renovation is a big undertaking that often involves a few unavoidable hiccups along the way. When I visited Dustin & Maya’s Eclectic Silver Lake Home, I was surprised to learn that they had completely renovated and designed their spacious house in just six short months. I picked up a few tips for you renovating readers when I visited the busy hands-on couple.
Jessica Isaac
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A 1950s Facade Gets an Update
This home was owned by the same family since it was built in the 1950s, so when Kelly and Dave purchased it a few years ago, there were lots of updates to be made. One such project was bringing the exterior of the home up to date. Removing the shutters was “a big deal”: a decision that came after much consideration by the new homeowners. We think they did the right thing- look how much lighter the new facade looks!
Regina Yunghans
May 4, 2019
Before & After: From Choppy Layout to Open Plan Living
When Kelly and Dave purchased their home, its layout was in its original, chopped-up form, but what the young family needed was an open plan that would allow views through the living spaces. So when they embarked on extensive renovations, their first plan of action was to get rid of that wall you see in the Before photo above… With the wall gone and two columns in its place, one can see from living room to dining room and kitchen.
Regina Yunghans
May 4, 2019
7 Money-Saving Lessons I’ve Learned from Renovating Homes
Saving money on a remodel is easier said than done. There’s a delicate balance between time, money, and quality, and you rarely get all three. But over the years, my husband and I have developed a few tried and true methods for reducing the budget while not sacrificing on quality. Here are seven money-saving strategies to implement on your next remodel. 1. Update existing materials instead of replacing them.
Cathy Poshusta
May 4, 2019
Before & After: From Leaky Window to Lovely Bathroom
Kate’s 1950s home had great bones, but the bathroom needed some help. The shower had a full-sized window that leaked, which meant this wasn’t going to just be a little redecorating. But with some help from her dad and YouTube, she did it herself: From Kate: I ripped off the moldy trim and knocked the window (frame and all) out of the wall into the backyard flowerbed.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Bathroom Goes From Rustic to Classic
The guest bathroom in Melissa’s mid-century modern home was out of place with its rustic touches. She and her husband renovated it to have a more classic style, which fit with the rest of their home. From Melissa: All the work was done by us in a timely manner — we worked on it around our work and family schedules.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Closed-Off Condo Opens Up
This condo hadn’t been renovated in 20-plus years. The owners called in Jessica Nicolls of Bungalow 56 to give it a fresh and open feel, worthy of its San Diego Bay views. From Jessica: We took down the obtrusive walls that enclosed the kitchen, updated the flooring and created custom built ins to maximize storage. Now this condo takes your breath away as you enter! See more after photos at Bungalow 56. Thank you Jessica!
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Kitchen Gets a Key Update
Lisa’s kitchen was in need of an update. Realizing the faux terracotta tile wasn’t working, but not wanting to commit to a full retiling of the whole space just yet, she came up with this graphic Greek solution. From Lisa: We changed out the damaged bullnose laminate bench tops for Caesarstone Frosty Carinna with square edge, and changed the overhang of the breakfast bar so that it was no longer in a walk way and can seat four now.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Custom Outdoor Kitchen Without the Custom Pricetag
This area of Leslie’s backyard where her grill lived was lacking. But not wanting to pay exorbitant custom kitchen cost, she found functional and stylish workarounds to create that custom look— with a lower price tag. From Leslie: I didn’t want to invest in a new grill, nor invest in a custom outdoor kitchen, so I endeavored to create an affordable, usable outdoor space.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Fresh New Look For Cedrick & Sunny’s Bathroom
Cedrick and Sunny are both from an apparel design background, and they have always been fascinated by modern architecture and industrial design. They really wanted to give the bathroom in their 1938 bungalow their 1938 bungalow “a vintage, industrial feel while still keeping it looking modern.” From Cedrick and Sunny : We pulled out and replaced the old harvest gold toilet, and the cracked floor tiles were replaced with a graphic, black and white hexagon mosaic tiles.
Marie-Lyne Quirion
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Third Time’s a Charm Kitchen Reno
When interior designer Melissa Miranda moved into the bachelor pad of her now-husband, builder-by-trade Ulises Serret, she wasted no time adding her own signature touch to the space. The open layout kitchen was the first project she undertook, and while the original renovation that Ulises completed prior to Melissa living in the space functioned, it wasn’t the right fit aesthetically for the couple, and so the kitchen underwent a third facelift.
Emily Billings
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Cottage Kitchen Goes from College to Classic
This cottage kitchen had a lot to overcome: a less-than-functional layout, old cabinets, dated floors, and popcorn ceilings. Sarah from The Estate of Things gave it a whole new look (and usefulness, too): From Sarah: As is customary for this historic renovation and interior design blog, readers of The Estate of Things joined along in the design process throughout. The designer gathered input on a banquette build, readers weighed in on lighting choices, paint colors and appliances.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Kitchen Goes Light and Bright, One Project at a Time
Erin and her husband were taking steps to lighten up their Colorado home. Their kitchen had good bones, so smaller projects done over time helped transform it from lovely and not their style, to the light and bright space they now love. From Erin: The kitchen was a place that we did small projects over a few years to bring a lighter feel to the space.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Lumberjack Kitchen Gets Farmhouse Makeover
Ashley describes her lake house’s kitchen as a “Knotty Pine Convention” fit only for lumberjacks. The ’70s yellow counters weren’t helping the cause. What she really wanted was an open farmhouse vibe, without replacing the existing cabinets entirely. Here’s what it looks like now: The upper cabinets and island came out, and the walls got the beadboard treatment, customized open shelving, and a few coats of Behr Snow Fall to brighten it up.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Mobile Home Goes Mod
Kim’s double wide mobile home was from 1991 and showing its age. Deciding to do a full renovation was a big decision (especially starting during the holidays!), but the results are spectacular. Wow! We especially love the more budget-friendly choices Kim made, like cork flooring throughout, and the IKEA kitchen.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Big Changes for a Brooklyn Apartment
This is the story of how one Clinton Hill co-op got a complete, top-to-bottom refresh. The apartment had a problem common to lots of older homes: a small, cramped kitchen, cut off from the rest of the living areas. The homeowners, who love to entertain, envisioned a new, modern kitchen, and an open, uninterrupted living area that would take full advantage of the apartment’s incredible light and views.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: These Little Kitchen Changes Made a Big Difference
A lot of the kitchen Before & Afters we share here on Apartment Therapy feature dramatic changes: new cabinets, new countertops, new appliances, walls torn down. But in this Fort Greene kitchen, the changes are much more subtle. They’re so subtle, in fact, that flipping back and forth between the before and after photos is a little bit like one of those puzzles where you try to spot the differences between the two pictures. Can you spot the changes?
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Brooklyn Bathroom Turns Around
The second bathroom in Michelle and Brad’s condo was in a strange state of flux. The home’s previous owners had removed the bathtub with the hope of installing a washer and dryer, but since the addition of the washer and dryer was rejected by the co-op board, the bathtub was instead replaced with a couple of awkwardly placed IKEA cabinets.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Bright & Beautiful Nashville Kitchen Renovation
When Brian and Greg purchased a 1,500 sq. ft., 1960’s-era ranch house that had been on the market for over 500 days, they knew they could turn it into something special. A first priority was turning an 11 x 12 kitchen that comfortably fit one person into a bright, open space that met their needs as a growing family and frequent hosts. I would say they achieved their goal…a thousand times over.
Julia Brenner
May 4, 2019
10 Clever Hidden Storage Solutions You’ll Wish You Had at Home
Run–don’t walk–to your nearest contractor, cabinet maker or handy family member and ask–nay, beg–to have one of these seriously smart solutions built into the storage around your home.
Taryn Williford
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Williamsburg Kitchen Turns Around
Shopping for real estate in New York can be a bit heartbreaking. Corey found this out the hard way when he and his partner put in an offer on their dream apartment, only to be completely outbid. They wound up instead with a perfectly decent Williamsburg two-bedroom, with lots of space and beautiful views. But the good-enough apartment lacked character, and they couldn’t stop thinking about the one that got away.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A 100-Year-Old Houston Home Gets Opened and Brightened Up
Marina and her husband Sebastiano bought a 100-year-old home in Houston about a year ago. The overall condition of the house was near-perfect, but Marina wanted to transform the traditional home into a more modern, open space. After knocking down the walls between the living room, dining room, and kitchen, Marina and Sebastiano now have a full view of the major rooms of their home from the front door. The openness and the new white paint work together to create a bright, open space.
Katy Cartland
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Boring Beige Bathroom Gets a New Lease on Life
You may remember Ellen and Ben, the first-time Brooklyn homeowners who, instead of remodeling their kitchen, decided to tackle their master bath as their very first renovating project. Feeling more than satisfied with the results of that remodel, they decided to go with the same contractor for their second bathroom, although they elected to take the design in a slightly different direction.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Christeleny’s Stunning Pre-War Rehab
Name: Christeleny Location: Upper East Side — New York, New York I bought my 1000 square feet, two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in 2010. The previous owner had lived there for decades and it was quite literally falling apart. It’s in a great pre-war building with an interesting history so I was sure I could make it into something wonderful! Because I had to bring everything up to code the entire apartment had to be gutted. Between the co-op board, the NYC board of buildings etc.
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Kickass Alternatives to Traditional Upper Kitchen Cabinets
You do you.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Silicon Valley Kitchen Gets a Contemporary Makeover
We purchased our townhouse about 4 years ago. We wanted to purchase a home that needed a kitchen remodel because we didn’t like what we saw when we toured houses with remodeled kitchens. Also, we wanted to get used to our place before we embarked on a remodel so we knew what we wanted as far as layout, finishes, and appliances. We were glad we waited because we made many decisions that were different from our initial thoughts on what we wanted.
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Barrin’s (18 Years in the Making) Updated Kitchen
Some people like to live in their homes a little while before renovating them, to get a feel for the space and figure out what they want. Before embarking on his kitchen renovation, Barrin took plenty of time; he’s lived in his Carroll Gardens condo for 18 years. The appliances had been slowly replaced over the years, but the almost 30-year-old cabinets had definitely seen better days.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: New Life for a Sad Brooklyn Kitchen
Here’s a kitchen transformation where I think we can confidently say that no one will like the ‘before’ better. When Robyn and Alejandro bought their two-bedroom condo in Brooklyn’s Columbia Waterfront District, the kitchen was in distinctly sad shape (and had, apparently, a basketball in place of a refrigerator). I’m sure it was tough to imagine this space as anything near livable, but Robyn and Alejandro had a vision for what their apartment could be.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Robyn & Alejandro’s Eek to Sleek Bathroom
Remember Robyn and Alejandro, whose sad sad kitchen was transformed into a bright, super-modern space? Well, their condo also had a bathroom which, although not in quite as dire a state as the kitchen, was still in need of a little TLC. It’s kind of hard to believe it’s the same space, isn’t it? The defining feature of the new bathroom is the three kinds of tile that Robyn chose.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Bright New Look for a Dated Bathroom
You may remember Lee, whose Midtown East kitchen got a serious upgrade, transforming from a dark, cramped, dated space into a bright and minimal galley kitchen. At the same time Lee undertook his kitchen remodel, he also chose to renovate his utterly unremarkable late-70s bathroom, which had definitely seen better days. Thanks to smart choices in fixtures and finishes, the new bathroom feels much cleaner, bigger, and brighter than the old one — hardly like the same space at all.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Cramped 1970s Kitchen Turns Sleek and Minimal
When Lee Hoffman, the CEO and founder of photo-sharing app Memoir, bought his co-op in Midtown East last year, he immediately knew that the kitchen had to go. The small, cramped space was cut off by a wall from the rest of the apartment, and to make things worse, the apartment’s previous tenant was a smoker, which meant that everything in the kitchen was covered in a thin layer of smoky residue. After months of research, Lee was finally ready to embark on the project.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A “Cookie Cutter” House Gets A Bold, Brilliant Makeover
Kind of hard to believe this is the same house, right? When Kezia and Jonathan bought their home, they were seemingly stuck with a material they hated that couldn’t be removed. Instead of throwing up their hands in despair and settling, they got creative and gave the facade of their home some major curb appeal. From Kezia: We bought a cookie cutter house and redid the kitchen and facade ourselves – we call it the Kimono Project (because our house is on Kimono Ridge Drive).
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Before & After: “Silo Vibes” No Longer
Greg and I are in our third plus year of bringing back the charm of a Dutch colonial foreclosure. It’s taken so long because it’s mostly been just the two of us. I obsessively plotted and planned while Greg, the perfectionist, made it all happen. After the second year or so, if our friends and family asked when we’d be moving in, I would always answer, “never” — but we did!
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Battered Brooklyn Bathroom Goes Back to its Roots
Park Slope homeowners Elinor and Joel were charmed with the details of their 1920s bathroom, like the original tub and tile. Less than charming were the 90-year-old fixtures: the towel bars that fell out of the wall, the showerhead that sprayed water all over the place, the toilet that threatened a flood with every flush. After six years in their co-op they decided it was time for a renovation, not to change the look of their bathroom but to restore it to its former glory.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Modern Makeover for a Manhattan Bathroom
Lest you think that Megha’s ‘before’ bathroom was merely ugly, you should know what the pictures don’t show, which is that up close, finishes were peeling and the whole thing was starting to fall apart. After living with this space for nine years, Megha knew that it was time for a change. The overhauled space feels much bigger and brighter, thanks to a few smart design decisions.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: An NYC Kitchen Opens Up
The kitchen in Megha’s Midtown West condo had a problem common to lots of older kitchens: it was tiny, and awkwardly walled off from the rest of the living spaces in her apartment. After living with a less than ideal floorplan (and a falling-apartment bathroom) for nine years, Megha decided it was time for a change — and embarked on a renovation that would dramatically change the look and feel of her apartment.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Modern Cottage Kitchen
I can not get enough of this transformation! Popcorn ceilings, Miami Vice blue walls, Julie certainly had her work cut out for her. almost So, inspired by the challenge of small space design and well-resourced by Apartment Therapy and Houzz , I rolled up my sleeves and called my contractor. And, while he saw uninsulated 2×4 stick framing, funky wiring, and a complete absence of something called “square” — I saw modern cottage. Thank you, Julie!
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Before & After: From College Kid Rental to Cool, Modern Condo
I purchased this Condo on August 31, 2015. At the time it was renter occupied, which happened to be three (maybe four) college kids. I saw potential in the unit and wanted to make it my own. I fully designed the new space and worked with two contractors to get it fully to my design. In six weeks time, it went from dumpy to modern! It also has a porch and an amazing view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Thank you, Matt! Re-edited from a post originally published 12.11.
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
You CAN Do It Yourself: Easier-Than-You-Realize Repairs to Try this Year
You should always call someone for help with a repair that feels too dangerous for your set of tools and knowledge. However, there are a lot of repairs that can be done around the home that don’t need a professional. This year, resolve to try one of these easier-than-you-realize repairs around the house. You might surprise yourself!
Adrienne Breaux
May 4, 2019
Clever Built-ins to Make the Most of Small Bedrooms
A tiny bedroom can be a big challenge. There are a lot of things you need to fit into this little room, but you still want it to be a calm and restful space. If you’re lucky enough to have the freedom to make significant changes to your place, built ins can be a real lifesaver in a small bedroom, perfect for adding extra storage and functionality with a streamlined look. Here are 11 ideas.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Collector’s Manhattan Apartment is Transformed into Storage Nirvana
Upper West Side homeowner Christine had a unique problem: her two-bedroom co-op was lovely, but the limited storage options there were no match for her extensive collection of art and books (including a full-size terra cotta warrior!). After living there for seven years, she decided it was time for a change: a renovation that, besides updating the apartment, would provide all of her treasures with a proper place.
Nancy Mitchell
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Midwestern Bathroom Opens Up
A job opportunity brought us to Milwaukee from San Francisco and we fell in love with the older homes along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Our 1927 Tudor has a wonderful layout and beautiful details, but was in need of updating for modern living. The master bedroom gets lots of natural light from the original lead pane windows and the size was exceptionally large (especially compared with our prior homes in San Francisco and Manhattan).
Nora Taylor
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Serious Overhaul for a ‘Destroyed’ East Village Kitchen
When Henry purchased his one-bedroom co-op in a former tenement building in Manhattan’s East Village, it was in bad shape. Really, really, really bad shape. The entire apartment was falling apart, and the kitchen was, in a word, ‘destroyed’. Never had a space been more ripe for a makeover. Luckily, Sweeten was there to help Henry revitalize his space, and he didn’t just stop at the kitchen.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Simple Solutions for a Seriously Small (& Sort Of Scary) Bathroom
This ‘before’ bathroom might be the ugliest befores I’ve ever seen — and it’s certainly one of the strangest. Years ago, the person responsible for retrofitting a bathroom into this one-bedroom apartment in a former tenement building made a very unusual choice: in order to fit a bathtub into a very narrow space, they shoehorned it in lengthwise, so that you had to climb in from the short end. It was awkward, to say the least.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Remodeling an Unsalvageable Bathroom
We recently purchased our first home, a 1950s ranch in Clifton, New Jersey, that needed updating to the main bath and kitchen. The existing bathroom was, quite frankly, hideous and couldn’t be salvaged. We used a contractor for all of the work and I based my design off an inspiration photo I had seen on the Internet. The black tiles (made by Lungaro) were purchased at Standard Tile in Totowa, NJ (who are fantastic to deal with!
Nora Taylor
May 3, 2019
Retro Bathroom Refresh: Why Older Bathroom Suites are Still Sweet
Common wisdom says that when it comes to bathroom suites, newer, more streamlined, and whiter is better. The bathroom is often the first room homeowners want to gut, but this isn’t the only option. If you’re lucky enough to have a suite of retro bathware in good nick, whether it be pink, mint green, or even avocado, maybe think twice about ripping it out. Read on for some swoon-worthy retro bathrooms.
Eleanor Büsing
May 3, 2019
DIY Room Makeovers You Won’t Believe Are Actually Basements
Do you have a basement? Is it being enjoyed? Does it look blah? (Are you perhaps afraid to go down there?) Whether you own or rent, you’ll find inspiration in the end results of these two basements designed by creative couples (one in a rental home, one in an owned home). Each couple approached design in different ways, but the outcomes are the same: A previously unused basement ends up a beautiful bonus space for the home.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
7 Places to Shop for Modern, Minimal Cabinet Hardware
Cabinet hardware is a little detail that can have a big impact on the look of your kitchen or bathroom. The good news is that these days there are quite a few retailers offering modern, minimally styled pieces in a variety of budgets. Here are seven of our favorites. Superfront makes a line of pulls and knobs designed for IKEA cabinets, but they would be equally nice on other cabinets as well. (Blogger Maiju Saw used them in her kitchen.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Clinton Hill Kitchen Turns Timeless
This is an ugly kitchen. But its ugliness might seem a bit innocuous to you, if you didn’t know the extent of the fire damage hiding behind its walls. The unit’s owners, Colin and Orli, originally intended a fairly simple renovation, before they realized the extent of the unseen damage their kitchen was hiding. Their renovation was more involved than they originally planned.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Make It Work: Unique Ways to Make Tile Kitchen Countertops Look Totally Tasty
We tend to think of tiled countertops as a cheap and imperfect solution, when marble or quartz just isn’t in your remodeling budget. Instead of approaching the update with mixed feelings, look to these surfaces as reassurance that your kitchen or bath will still fresh and clean — they just won’t break the bank. Using longer rectangular shapes automatically makes this surface seem more special and unlike most square tile countertops.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
7 Different Ways to Design a Simple Garden Walkway
You can give your yard a little love with a simple DIY garden path.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Smart Space Solutions to Steal from Tiny Campers & Trailers
If you want to know about glitter and fitness, ask Richard Simmons. For answers about small spaces and storage, go straight to the owners of trailers, RVs, and campers. They wrote — and regularly revise — the book on compact living, and we reap the benefits of their knowledge, ideas and inspiration. Take a look at these, and learn… Like the idea of this post?
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Big Changes for a Little Bathroom
In their Clinton Hill co-op, Mario and Joe were struggling with a problem common to many apartment dwellers — a cramped, tiny bathroom with hardly any storage space. So they decided it was time for a renovation and, working completely within the room’s existing footprint, made a few changes that completely transformed this cramped space. The biggest change: converting the old tub into a walk-in shower with a frameless glass door, which opens up the room considerably.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Let’s Settle This: Where’s the Best Place for the Microwave?
What’s the perfect place for microwaves in the kitchen? They are must-have appliances for many, but they sure do have large, ugly footprints. So, do you prioritize saving space over aesthetics? Put them where you can easily reach? Or, is there that one sweet spot that let’s you have it all? Installing the microwave above your cooktop is a classic space saver, freeing up your countertops to use as workspace — especially when microwave and hood-fan combos do double duty.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Chelsea Kitchen Fit for a Pro
When Cara and Jared moved into their Chelsea apartment, they weren’t too excited about the kitchen’s inefficient layout and dated finishes. But the last straw was when the mosaic tiles (the result of a former homeowner’s DIY project) started falling off the wall.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
How To Finish Off Your Bathroom in Style With Baseboards
All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! Baseboards are a fantastic way to spruce up a room, and put the finishing touch on a newly remodeled one. Multiple layers of decorative molding brings great visual drama, or you can use a simple wood plank for a straightforward, modern look. Baseboards are relatively easy to install.
Ashley Poskin
May 3, 2019
How to Hang a Bathroom Mirror on Ceramic Tile
All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! The process of drilling through ceramic tile is easy as pie — as long as you use the right tools. The hardest part? Taking the plunge wondering whether you’ve marked the right spot where you’ll soon drill into your pristine new tile. Glass & Ceramic tile bitDrillSpray bottle + waterAnchorRubber mallet 1.
Ashley Poskin
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Builder-Basic Bathroom Gets a Little Character
When Celeste first moved into her Park Slope condo in 2008, she wasn’t super excited about the bathroom’s generic, builder-basic look. But she didn’t consider remodeling until several years later, when dark spots on the floor’s limestone tiles alerted her to the fact that the floor had never been properly sealed. Limestone is extremely porous, and despite her best efforts at cleaning the tiles just got more and more discolored.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Functional Fix for a Dying Kitchen
When Lisa moved into her Upper East Side one-bedroom, she loved everything about it but the kitchen. Besides not being very pretty, Lisa’s kitchen had a lot of problems. The upper cabinets were too shallow for dishes, and the lower cabinets were too narrow for pretty much anything, meaning Lisa had to store her pots and pans in the coat closet. The whole kitchen had only one outlet, and there was a large and suspicious stain on the laminate countertop.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
5 Fresh Ways to Shake Up the Look of a Bathtub/Shower Combo
Ah, the tubber combo. It’s ubiquitous in bathrooms all over the world. And because it’s so common, it can very easily fall into the boring side of washroom architecture. If you have one and you hate it, you don’t have to demo the whole thing and start anew. You can just make some smart, sleek modifications and enjoy a fresh-feeling, semi-renovated spa-like space.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Before & After: The World’s Narrowest Kitchen Opens Up
I can’t even look at a picture of this kitchen without feeling claustrophobic, so I can’t imagine how Anne lived with it (and cooked in it, even) for almost a decade. I think it goes without saying that after cooking for ten years in a kitchen that measured only 27 square feet (no, really) she was ready for a change. The biggest change, by far, was the removal of the wall separating the (previously teeny tiny) kitchen from the living room.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
How to Choose The Right Bathroom Lighting
All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! Lighting is one of the best things about a bathroom renovation. Since the bathroom is where we get ready for the day ahead, the lighting can make or break our look. Here’s how you can marry beauty and function when choosing what you need for your newly renovated bathroom.
Audrey Bauer
May 3, 2019