Decorating

Name: “the newborn baby sister” (that’s what her brothers call her)Age: Coming this week!Location: Oklahoma If you told us this nursery was put together by an interior designer (it wasn’t) we’d be impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a mother with three young boys underfoot (it was) we’d be really impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a pregnant mother of three boys expecting her first daughter any day now (it was!

Name: Phoebe Rose Age: due any day! Location: Ann Arbor, MI >> Like her friends, we’re amazed that mom-to-be Emily made almost everything in her daughter’s nursery: toys, quilts, cross-stitch, burp cloths, chair slip cover, bird mobile…the list goes on! Although not yet lived in, this nursery speaks volumes of love and attention, originality mixed with vintage pieces, and has “Phoebe” creatively written all over it (both literally and figuratively).

Name: Norah Age: 4 monthsLocation: Utah Norah’s mom Caroline says she smiles every time she walks by this room and we can certainly see why. The aquas, yellows, reds, oranges and pinks manage to be both vivid and soothing at the same time to create a feeling of warmth and calm.

Sure, I love a classic jute rug from time to time, but no one ever said that rugs have to be neutral-colored. Some rooms of the house just call for a little something extra, after all. Whether you’re sprucing up your living room, dining room, bedroom, or nursery, don’t be afraid to play the pattern or color card. These images are bound to inspire. This isn’t your grandma’s oriental rug.

A friend and apartment dweller recently asked us for small play kitchen suggestions for her daughter’s Christmas present. We tried talking her into some DIY ideas, but she is more the DI-Buy type. If you’re in the same boat, here you go – fifteen small play kitchens (under 31″ H) so your kids can play “dorm room” and “flop house” too. My Portable Cooker by Wonderworld ($55.

Contemporary homes are built with open floor plans, great rooms, and high ceilings — a result of current tastes, as well as programmatic and structural changes in residential architecture. Unlike homes from the mid-century and prior, the contemporary home incorporates the previously private kitchen into the public living space and capitalizes on longer span beams to create rooms that flow together.

If you live in an old building or a rental, you’ll understand where we’re coming from: our last apartment’s bathroom opened up directly into the kitchen, as did our apartment before that. In fact, we grew up in a home where the toilet room (just the toilet.. the sink and bathtub were separate) was basically in the dining room, a few feet away from the table…and our guests eating dinner. For anyone entertaining or on a date, this can be veeeerrrrry awkward.

The other day, I was talking to some friends about our dream bathrooms. A sunken tub, said one. A shower for two, was another vote. His and Hers sinks, was on a third friend’s wish list. Top of my list? A towel warmer. I got that one covered, said my sunken-tub-wishing friend. Really? I’d been to her house recently and I didn’t remember any towel warmer or even any space for one. She shared.

Buying a new sofa? Getting an old one reupholstered? In either case, which type of upholstery to choose is certainly a consideration. For many, microfiber is a popular choice due to its reputation for easy clean up and durability.

No matter where you are and what you are doing, there’s always a way to hack something in your kitchen so that you can prepare almost any dish. While a rice cooker isn’t really made to be used as a slow cooker, it can double as one if you don’t have anything else that will do the job.Recently, I had bought a gigantic pork roast that I planned on cooking. Currently I live in Asia, and our apartment doesn’t have an oven.

After a collection of heat-wave-days getting a good night’s sleep can be almost impossible. Even if it cools down in the evenings, some homes remain infected with a lingering warmth, making dream time a bit of a nightmare. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up to help me cope, but please share your own —for the summer has only just begun!Clearly, there is no A/C in my humble apartment, so scratch that from the list.

Names & Ages: Phia, 12 and Anthony, 5Location: Yonkers, NYRoom Size: Approximately 200sf Sara has a knack for organizing and zero tolerance for clutter. Both of these traits are clearly evident in Phia and Anthony’s shared bedroom. It’s no easy task to divide a room between a twelve-year-old girl and her five- year-old brother but a combination of cleverly arranged shelving units, distinctive paint colors and a few good-natured children make it all work wonderfully.

We’ve all heard of the old real-estate trick of sticking a cookie dough log in the oven and waiting for it to magically sell your house (or burn it down). But this process seems wasteful of food, or at its very best—when you stuff down your over-baked cookie deodorizer—disrespectful to the privilege and pleasure of eating. Here’s a way to freshen your home with garbage, yes, garbage.

Kids: Unknown; foster kids expected any day, one or sibling pair ages newborn – 5 yearsLocation: Nashville, TNRoom Size: 10′ x 11′ Martina and her husband Jason were in a unique position when designing the kids’ room for their house. They still don’t know how many, what gender, and what ages the children they foster will be.

It’s no surprise that the American housing market is pretty inhospitable to first-time homebuyers: Not only have available “starter homes” (the least expensive third of houses on the market) decreased by 23.2 percent in the past five years, these homes are also gaining value with incredible speed—57.3 percent over half a decade. And while you might have heard that we’re set to swing into a buyer’s market soon (we are!

Name: Tripp (6 weeks)Hometown: Dallas, TXRoom size: 19″ x 13″ Red is the color of love, vitality, fire trucks, and cherry sours, so what a perfect accent color for a nursery. Tripp’s mom, Jennifer, went all out with the red pops to create a bright, happy place for her new baby boy. We love the fire engine red crib and daybed, the vintage plumbing valve dresser knobs, and the bold, graphic alphabet wall.

There comes a time when you purchase a piece of artwork — that photograph you’ve been ogling, or that screenprint that you’ve been in love with for years — that you are faced with the very grown-up decision of how to frame. Do you go with plexiglass? Or regular glass? Here are a few facts that might help you to make a decision.I’ve worked in fine art galleries and museums for years.

It happened by accident but I am now using an old oversized armchair as my desk chair. Carpal tunnel experts and physical therapists may gasp in terror but so far I love doing work in this unconventional cocoon of comfort. I feel like I have upgraded to First Class. Meanwhile, in my old workspace (the TV room), my ergonomically correct black high-tech monster of a desk chair spins alone.

Winter has settled in, and it’s time for hot cocoa, good books and snuggling up in our favorite reading nooks. There is nothing better than finding that perfect cozy blanket to wrap yourself in as the days grow colder.Finding the perfect blanket can be difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the fundamentals of heat retaining properties of certain materials. Some fabrics are warmer than others, but knitting is also important in determining warmth.

Name: Charlie and Henry Age: Charlie: 8 Henry: 10 Location: Los Angeles, CA Room Size: 15′ x 15′ Bunk bed love! Charlie and Henry share a room, but each have their own area in the shared space. Designer Kristen Panitch designed built-in bunk beds and a bookcase/desk, which helped maximize the space and keep the room organized. The design of the room is definitely all-boy, but check back in tomorrow for their sister’s (Jane) pink bedroom.

Name: JaneAge: 8 (she’s Charlie’s twin)Location: Los Angeles, CARoom Size: 15′ x 15′ When Jane moved into her brother’s room (her brothers now share a room), she wanted to have a say about decorating her new bedroom. Interior designer, Kristin Panitch, helped her realize her dream space. The chalkboard wall was left over from when it was her brother’s room. Like many girls, she wanted light pink walls and all the artwork in her room is her own.

Name: Kenzie Francey (3.5)Location: US Rachelle is a cool hunter extraordinaire of all things stylishly kiddie. So naturally when it was time to design her own daughter Kenzie’s room, it was going to be, well, cool. The result, with so much white and a number of references to snowy mountain tops, is a stylish, colorful, quirky room epitomizing a proverbial breath of fresh Swiss Alps air.

Name: Mila (6 weeks)Location: Glendora, CaliforniaRoom Size: 9 1/2′ x 14′ Designing the perfect nursery can be a little overwhelming. Alex and Jackie decided to let interior designer Jenika Kurtz take over the process. Jenika has experience designing nurseries for friends, so they were really excited to get her help and advice on their special room.How would you define the style of the nursery design?Parents: Contemporary and super cool!

Name: Aiden (14 months)Location: Stevenson Ranch, CaliforniaRoom Size: 11′ x 11 1/2′ Interior designer, Jennifer Hsu, recently finished a project for a very special client – her son. I have heard many interior designers say that they are their toughest client. Jennifer and her husband put in the extra care to make sure everything was just perfect for their little man. I am in love with the results; so calming and so perfect!

Names: Oscar (2 years) & Boots (4 years)Location: Mar Vista – Los Angeles, CaliforniaRoom Size: 150 square feet When your dad’s an artist and your mom’s an art producer + blogger you’ll probably grow up surrounded by incredible paintings, photography and sculptures. This tiny bedroom is shared by two boys, Oscar and Boots, where they share a custom made bunk bed and are surrounded by creativity.

Names: Lauren & Miranda (18 months)Location: Edmonds, WARoom Size: 12′ x 13′ Sure, kids love animals and parents love designing kids’ rooms with animal themes. But this nursery design is a mean modern interpretation of the well used safari theme and has something very special going on. By day, it’s bright, friendly, and modern. By night, the pièce de résistance is revealed when this safari sanctuary is transported under a sea of stars.

Name: Cameron (5)Location: Sherman Oaks, CARoom Size: 16′ x 16′ Now that Cameron is five years old, he wanted a cool, big boy room. The room is definitely all boy and the graphic wallpaper and bold colors give it a more modern aesthetic. The space is pretty large for child’s room, so his parents were faced with the challenge of dividing up the room into different play areas. Designer Shirry Dolgin helped bring the design together to create a special room for Cameron.

Kids: 6 year old girl, 5 and 2.5 year old boysLocation: Madison, WIRoom Size: 10′ x 10′ Meg is the creative force behind the popular blog Elsie Marley and the creative mom behind the three siblings who live in this room. We loved it back when it was just a little nursery for one, then Meg made space for another child, and then another. Sharing a 1,000 square foot two-bedroom home in Wisconsin, this family of five has done more than simply making do with a small space.

We’re always on the lookout for new ways to display the alphabet in a child’s room. Using an old picture frame and some wood, you can construct a shadow box, stencil letters onto the glass, and fill it with tiny, found objects to represent each letter. Click through for the complete how to.

Name: “Bebe Pelanne”Location: Manhattan, NY When we found out we were pregnant the search for a larger one bedroom or upgrade to a two bedroom began. However, if anyone has opened up the NY real estate section lately you will find the rent prices have soared. We decided to stay in our one bedroom, and divide the room. The actual space is 6′ x10.5′, which was surprisingly enough space for a nice nursery.

Name: Ruby (2)Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, AustraliaRoom Size: 10′ x 12′, 120 sq ft How to make a minimalist nursery still feel fun and inviting? Add color, texture, and a dash of whimsy. That’s exactly what Ruby’s mom, Danielle, did when she designed this space. The clean and simple design lends itself to easy changes as Ruby grows, while the hand woven hemp rug, crocheted pouf, colorful accessories, and wood floors add warmth and character to the space.

Name: Olivia Ellen (3)Location: Copenhagen, DenmarkRoom Size: 107 sq ft When your mother is a professional stylist you know you’re going to end up with an amazing room. Rikke Graff Juel designed this space for her daughter, Olivia Ellen, in much the same Scandinavian style as the rest of her home – white walls, plenty of vintage wood pieces combined with fresh modern colors and accessories.

You’ve no doubt heard Auto-Tune — it’s implemented in just about every pop song to both obvious and not-so-obvious effect. You may even be familiar with the term, thanks to performers like T-Pain who’ve made a career and an app out of it. But did you know that Auto-Tune was created by a research scientist who worked in the oil industry? We look at a brief history and also show you where you can download Auto-tune software to use on your home computer.

Name (Age): Hayden (12 weeks)Location: Seal Beach, CaliforniaRoom Size: 15′ x 11′ One wouldn’t generally think a room with white walls, furniture, and bedding could ever be called colorful, but add a few pops of neon here and there and what was once a monochromatic space suddenly leaves a very colorful impression. That’s exactly what Andrea decided to do in her littlest one’s nursery.

Child: Malcolm (4)Location: Oakville, OntarioRoom size: 10′ x 12′ Canadian designer, painter, and blogger Christine Dovey is constantly on a quest for the perfect score for her nearly perfect home. Yet she keeps perfection just out of reach, because what will she do when she’s done? Oh, perhaps she will take care of her three (soon to be four!) children. There’s that, too.

Paint color is all about creating an ambience for your home. That’s why it’s important to select paint colors based on how you want a room to feel instead of mindlessly adhering to trends. To prove our point, we called on color expert extraordinaire Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of Colors For Your Every Mood, to help us break down the best paint colors for every room of your home.

Uh-oh. Has that baby of mine really worked out how to get in the refrigerator? Already? And the cabinets? Time to baby proof our rental. But how, when there is so little we can change? Here are a few of the challenges we renters face when baby-proofing, and the simple steps we can take to overcome them. If you can, start at the very beginning. When looking at a property, speak to the landlord about any safety concerns you have about the space.

In a perfect world, you’d have a home worthy of a shelter magazine spread. Each room would have floor-to-ceiling windows (hello, natural sunlight!); there’d be a waterfall shower in the master bath (yes, you’d have more than one bathroom); and your kitchen would be decked out in top-grade, stainless steel appliances.The only thing standing in your way from your dream digs? Your bank account.

You have a new tile floor, and it’s gleaming and gorgeous. Or maybe you have a 70-year-old checkerboard floor that could use some TLC. Either way, this list of tips can help you maintain your floor for years to come.  This may be common sense, but dirt can easily scratch tile surfaces so it’s important to keep your floor clean by regularly sweeping or vacuuming it. A little preventative manintenance goes a long way. Mop once a week.

Name: Baby GLocation: United States When I began planning our baby’s nursery, I knew I wanted a clean, elegant look. My husband and I decided not to find out the gender of our baby before he was born, so we tried to keep everything gender-neutral. The theme of this nursery was inspired by the handmade linen cloud mobile I discovered from an Etsy shop. I wanted a cloud themed nursery, but not to the extent of painting them on the walls.

Name: Pippi Location: NSW Australia Room Size: 172 sq. feet When I came across the space that Emily had created for her daughter, Pippi, I was instantly smitten by the playful patterns and vibrant colors. Her goal was to create a fun and flamboyant space for her toddler, and I’d say she hit the nail on the head. The room exudes the playfulness and joy of childhood. Read on to learn more about this whimsical wonderland: How would you describe the look and feel of this room?

No doubt you’ve heard of white noise, the sounds that can help you block loud or distracting noises in order to sleep or concentrate. Well, it turns out that, depending on the type of noise you’re trying to avoid, you may want to try some colored noise instead.  We’re not talking ocean waves or thunderstorms, although those can also be quite soothing.

Floor cushions are hot items right now. They make great alternative seating to accommodate extra dinner party guests and they’re perfect for back patio garden parties during the summer. Every shop from West Elm to Serena & Lily offers plenty of options, but depending on your budget they can be a little on the pricey side.

Name: BenicioLocation: Silver Lake- Los Angeles, CARoom Size: 125 Square Feet When you’re the child of a very talented interior designer such as Rosa Beltran, founder of Rosa Beltran Design in Los Angeles, you’re guaranteed to have a pretty awesome nursery. 15-month-old Benicio has an incredible room chock full of fun and inspiration that he’ll get to explore as he grows.

Some people have a true eye for colors and an instinct for combining them. And some people need a little help. Inspiration can come from anywhere, sometimes unexpected places…like children’s books. Is there a book whose illustrations you love? Try breaking down the colors and perhaps unlocking a new, unexpected color palette for a room in your home. I used Sherwin-Williams Chip It! tool to create these color palettes.

Is your calendar looking as packed as mine with holiday functions to celebrate with friends and family? Party Planning 101 states it’s good habit to prepare invitations with the “who”, “where”, “when”, “what”, and “how” for any planned gathering during Thanksgiving, New Years, or for your winter holiday party.

Name: Tyler (2 years) & Lucas (8 months)Location: Los Angeles, CARoom Size: About 10×12 ft Joy Dolan was just starting her interior design business when she and her husband Mike decided to add adoptive children to their family of 4 biological children. When they fell in love with a sibling pair from the Los Angeles foster care system, they fostered them and completed their adoption in about one year.

Name: Cooper, 4 1/2 years Location: Pacific Palisades, CA Room Size: 350 sq ft When Morgan Simonds and her husband needed to decorate their kids’ rooms, they turned to fantastic L.A. interior design firm Jackson Paige. Kristine Paige Kamenstein, one of the co-founders of the company, took on the project and helped the Simonds turn their kids’ rooms into livable, beautiful spaces.

Name: Charlie Location: Echo Park – Los Angeles, California Room Size: 120 square feet Charlie was just a baby when she made her first Apartment Therapy debut in her family’s house tour. Her itty-bitty room barely fit a crib and a small play area and I was very curious how her room would transform as she grew older.

Here’s a great idea for a DIY art project you can make, inspired by the art of Mark Hearld. Hearld is a British artist whose gorgeous prints, illustrations, and ceramics depict British fauna and flora dancing with color and movement. His installation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a huge flock of painted wood birds suspended over visitors— something I dreamed of hanging in my house. Alas, I’ll have to (happily) make do with this DIY bird mobile I concocted instead.

Name: Elke Location: NSW AustraliaRoom Size: 10×10 square feet After sharing her older daughter Pippi’s space a few months ago, I waited with baited breath to see what amazing space Emily of The Beetleshack was going to come up with for her new baby, and she didn’t disappoint. Inspired by Rebekka Seale’s stamped bumblebee walls, Emily set about getting a similar look with removable wall stickers, and it made the space.

Name: Martina & Lola Location: Madrid, Spain Room Size: 49 square feet When Bea first saw her home, she fell in love with this room – the biggest in the house – and decided to give it to her daughters Martina and Lola. She had always dreamt of a big and bright room for them, and set about filling it with the things they loved – festive garlands on the ceiling, a little seating area for reading bedtime stories, and a lovely light-filled art corner.

Name: Sienna Location: Los Angeles, CA Room Size: 13’x12′ The first time I laid eyes on Sienna’s nursery, I was blown away. Jen Campbell, editor of Green Wedding Shoes, wanted a girly nursery that was still modern and fresh. To achieve the look she paired bold, graphic designs with a soft color palette and added a dash of sparkle. The result is a stunning space for her new baby girl. How would you describe the look and feel of this room?

You can render room features invisible or make them stand out with strategic painting choices. These projects — in varying degrees — all match either architectural features or decor to the wall color around them. Ask yourself as you look at them: what does your eye float across, and where does it stop and linger? TOP ROW: 1. Painting trim and other architectural details is a classic way to unify a room, and makes it less jarring to walk into.

Name: Reed Location: Boston, MA Room Size: 10′ x 12′ When I found out that my friend Dina was pregnant with her second baby, I knew it was going to be a showstopper of a nursery. You see, Dina is a DIY maven with an amazing eye. Although the nursery looks like a million bucks, she managed to put her DIY touch on nearly everything – from the curtains to the artwork to the showstopper ceiling.

Along with looking super cool and casual, leaning art — instead of hanging it on a wall — also makes for a flexible home. You don’t have to whip out the hammer and nails every time you want to rearrange the look of your place. Folks whose art collections are growing out of control will appreciate having alternate ways to display, too. We’ve got ideas so it doesn’t just look like you’ve been too lazy to hang your art.

Name: Ruby Marlowe Location: Highland Park/Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California Room Size: 12’ x 11’ So often you see a space and can instantly give it a label – modern, Mid-Century, Scandinavian, vintage, glam – you get the picture. But the minute I saw little Ruby’s room, I thought, now that’s something different.

Name: Vivi & Brigette Location: South Georgia Room Size: 12′ x 13′ Lay Baby Lay is a wonderful place to find nursery and kids’ inspiration, so I was beyond excited to hear that the website’s editor Joni was designing a shared space for her girls at her family’s farmhouse. Joni is a master at mixing styles to create a cohesive look. This space is a mix of vintage, modern, and classic pieces, while the accessories and wall panels give it a whimsical, campy feel.

Name: Lula Location: Mission District in San Francisco, California Room Size: 9′ x 11′ When your mother is a French illustrator and paper artist, you know you’re going to have a truly special room! Mom Chloé Fleury has created a modern space for her daughter Lula that is equally warm and whimsical.

All a little reader really needs is a book, but a soft place to curl up, a light and maybe even a bit of privacy doesn’t hurt. I love the trend of repurposing kids closets as reading nooks. You can keep the door to make a secret reading hideaway or take the doors off to make small rooms seem bigger. Here are ten examples to inspire you: TOP ROW: 1. Miss G’s Closet Book Nook by Mama.Papa.Buba 2. Closet Nook for a Brother & Sister by Life with Daugs 3.

Name: Finn Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado When we moved cross-country for the third time, we knew that Finn HAD to have some serious attention paid to his own space. The poor guy has watched us remodel bathrooms, a kitchen and his sister’s room; but he was never the star of the show. My husband wanted to theme the dickens out of Finn’s room, but I was pretty stringent on sticking with something that could easily grow and evolve with the little guy.

Name: Emerson Location: Renton, WA Room Size: About 8′ x 10′ My first introduction to this beautiful nursery was the colorful chevron pouf. Once I saw that, I knew there had to be more fabulousness to come. And I wasn’t wrong! Megan Kane designed this nursery for her little girl, Emerson, and the hand crafted details make every inch of this room special. Megan is a DIY kind of gal, and it shows in the decor of this room.

Sleep is a key building block of health and happiness, yet it’s often hard to get and stay there for one night, let alone a string of several nights at a time. Here are five common reasons your bedroom isn’t working, and eight small changes to help you fall asleep, keep snoozing throughout the night, and ultimately function better the next day. PROBLEM #1: ALLERGIES Is your stuffy nose keeping you from getting shut eye?

Name: Olive Sydney Location: Florence, Alabama Room Size: 12′ x15′ I’m often conflicted when it comes to children’s spaces in that I love the clean, bright aesthetic of a white space, but I’m also partial to bold color. So when I came across this room from parents Tera and Wes of Armosa Studios, I was thrilled to find the best of both worlds. How would you describe the look and feel of this room? The look of the room is bright and happy.

Over the holidays, I finally started on the spare bedroom in my Mom’s house. It has not seen any decorating love since the 80’s, and it was time to strip the wallpaper and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. I was a little apprehensive because I had never removed wallpaper before, but I soon realized it was more tedious than difficult. I also learned that it was a job that could be made easier with our favorite friend: white vinegar.

I have a confession to make and it’s a doozy: I’m an editor of a site about design (this one) and I don’t know the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator. In fact, I’ve been using those two terms interchangibly for years. Bad editor! So I decided to educate myself (and you!). Turns out, it’s pretty straightforward but there are some major distinctions.

It’s no news that green hues soothe and relax, particularly when used as wall paint, surrounding a room, its furnishings and its inhabitants in a calming color. But how do you keep from choosing the wrong green and making your space look lame? Easy: Choose greens that are a little bold and different, but still relaxing. Here are six successful paint color picks from house tours.

Name: Eden, 6 months Location: Denton, TX Room Size: 12′ x 12′ We first saw Anna Tovar’s design skills when she shared her son Axel’s nursery with us. Now, we’re delighted to see what she’s put together for her new daughter, Eden. The design made the very most of a tight budget with thrifted and repurposed pieces and a keen eye for detail.

Homemade laundry detergent isn’t just about saving you money (although it’s definitely a budget friendly move). In this day and age, when most of us are so far removed from the process of how our necessities are made, there’s something thrilling about making something that you need. If you’d like to try your hand at it, here’s how I made mine.

Name: Cruz Stanton Barros Location: Murrieta, California Room Size: 13′ x 10′ When I learned that Priscila Barros, editor-in-chief of Babiekins Magazine was pregnant, I knew that an amazing nursery was in the works. By combining modern geometric patterns with warm colors and textures, she and decorator Amy Fjeldsted created a cozy vibe for her son Cruz that is perfectly on trend.

Name: Aidan Location: Northern Germany in Hannover Room Size: 4.7 x 3.2 meters (15 x 10 feet) I’m a long-time fan of the work of Holly Becker of Decor8, so I was thrilled to find out she was pregnant and working on a nursery. By choosing the main focal points first, like the stunning Kite wallpaper by Ferm Living and the gorgeous crib by Oeuf, Holly was able to work from there to create a dreamy and cohesive gender-neutral space for baby Aidan.