Life

Q: I have a rabbit that I normally keep caged but I’d like to be able to let him run around my room. Unfortunately, he loves small crawl spaces and likes to hide under my bed, out of reach, for hours. Is there an attractive, easy-to-assemble way to close off that space under the bed while still being able to access my underbed storage boxes?Sent by LindaEditor: Leave your suggestions for Linda in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) What are the essential tools every cook needs in the kitchen? Our new guide to the most important cooking tools takes you to the next step. • Essential Cooking Tools The Kitchn

Dear Beaten-Up, Broken-Down, Ugly Old Plaid Couch: Thank you. As long as I’ve had a couch, you have been my couch. Your ugly, unmatchable plaid-ness has been my curse and my great joy. Now that the time has finally come to replace you, I find I can barely bring myself to do it. What will my living room be without you? What will I be without you? We’ve been through so much together. When my proud parents brought me home from the hospital, you were there.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I live in a small apartment and thus have a one in, one out policy for cookbooks. Here are five cookbooks that continue to make the cut… • Emily’s Essential Cookbooks The Kitchn

When it comes to absolutely waking up for an important date, taking a chance on missing your alarm clock is not an option. But by setting up multiple alarms and customizing the alarms themselves, you can wake up in stages and make it to that appointment that just can’t be missed.1.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I spent this past weekend cooking for a large party, which meant 8-hour stretches on my feet on a hard kitchen floor. Yet at the end, I had very little back and leg pain thanks to my trusty Dansko clogs. • Dansko Clogs – TheKitchn

Budgeting is one my least favorite subjects. One, because I am one of those right brained people who avoids math and numbers at all costs and two, because I was never taught how to make a proper and realistic budget. But, whether or not it’s in our comfort zone, we inevitably hunker down and try to crunch numbers and make a plan.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Christopher Alexander’s book, A Pattern Language, has been used for decades by architects, designers, and homeowners to help create a home life that is comfortable, delightful, and functional. While I’ve referred to the book often in my practice as an architect, I’ve never set out specifically in search of how the

Q: Hello! I was searching around in the Home Hacks and I found great suggestions for adding moisture to the air in a home without a humidifier, but I was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas for dehumidifying the air without a dehumidifier? Dehumidifiers are loud, not very attractive, and an energy drain. Are there any non-electric (and even better–beautiful) solutions for a humid basement or closet? Thanks!

Out of all of the options available for mounting your flat-screen television, you’ve decided to save space and go for above-the-fireplace placement. Good move! Or is it? (dun-dun-dunnnnnn…) Is the heat from your fireplace doing damage to your TV? Could your mounting decision end up voiding your warranty?Sorry for the eleven-o’-clock news-y intro, but this is critical info for anyone who cares about their gear. Want to know if fireplace placement is safe for your gear?

Around February 2011 I picked up an Apple 27″ LED Cinema Display for my home office, as a way to help upsize the screen real estate on my 2008-era MacBook Pro. I loved it, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it when the Thunderbolt Display came out, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then I bought a 13″ MacBook Air, and next thing I know, I’m putting the original 27-incher on Craigslist…But why would I do that?

This is coming a day late, but we’ll be filing this away for next year: When we prepped our stoop for trick-or-treaters last night, we swept the stairs, turned on the lights, then went to light a candle in the jack-o-lantern. That’s when we noticed his face had been gnawed away – eyes, nose, and mouth – into one gigantic hole:Squirrels are relentless at this time of year as they prepare for the long, cold, and fruitless winter.

Q: I recently bought my first home and the kitchen came with blue tile flooring. I considered redoing them with wood flooring but the blue has now grown on me. I have no idea what paint colors would go to make the kitchen look bigger? I’m also considering painting the cabinets white to make it brighter, any ideas?Sent by NidiaEditor: Leave your color selections for Nidia in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

When my husband and I are choosing a vacation destination we are seeking a way to have fun, relax, see new things, and have a memorable experience. What if your hotel alone could give you all that and more?This list of unique hotels go above and beyond the normal boutique or bed and breakfast experience. The whole concept of these unusual accommodations is to give their guests an experience that they couldn’t get anywhere else.

Q: I’m trying to find replacement cushions for our IKEA Ektorp sofa. The back cushions especially have completely lost their support in the 3 years we’ve owned it. IKEA doesn’t sell replacement cushions and I don’t believe they are covered by the 10 year warranty.Sent by ErinEditor: Leave your suggestions for Erin in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

There is something so satisfying about growing and eating your own food. If you think you don’t have the space, think again! This vertical salad garden by Anne Phillips at Go Green Gardeners is less than a meter wide and 1.5 meters tall. Here’s what’s involved: • Read the full post at Re-Nest

I’ve griped about my tiny under-counter fridge in the past, so I’ll spare you my litany of complaints today. Suffice it to say; while a regular old Frigidaire would set my heart to palpitating with desire, these dreamboats have me positively swooning! • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy

Last night we were confronted with a predicament we never could have imagined possible: we went to use our desktop computer and our mouse was gone! Immediately we remembered that we had brought the mouse to school for a presentation but left it there overnight. But what were we to do? Our laptop was also at school which left us only with our iPhone. It was quite a paralyzing experience to be sure! But not for long.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Mother’s Day weekend seems a particularly good time to to revisit a popular question from our readers: My friend just had a baby — what kind of meal should I take? A friend of mine just had her very first child last night, and so this question is on my mind

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) I’m not what you’d call a celebrity-obsessed person, so when I heard that Gwyneth Paltrow was releasing a cookbook, I admit I rolled my eyes a little. Who needs to be told how to cook by someone who probably has an army of assistants cooking for her? But then I actually

Q: Has anyone found any great alternate storage bins/baskets that work in Billy bookcases? I don’t love any of IKEA’s options, and it is proving a difficult thing to find the right dimensions. Does anyone have something that they’ve found that fits and looks fabulous?Sent by NatalieEditor: Leave your suggestions for Natalie in the comments – thanks!• Got a question?

Although parties in general don’t appear to cost a great deal on the surface, you can quickly $5 yourself to death. Try saving a few pennies with these options for table covers that you very well might already have in your own home!1. Sheets/Blankets: Sheets and blankets are the easiest place to start looking for inexpensive table coverings. Most homes have a set for every bed in the house and swiping something colorful, or even just white is an easy fix that doesn’t cost a cent.2.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) A quick dinner is often very dependent on how you stock your pantry. What do you stash away in your pantry for quick, easy meals? Here’s a peek inside my own pantry and freezer with ten good staples for quick weeknight meals. Read the full post at: The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Everyone around me seems to be revving up their fitness routine to get ready for spring. Friends order salads when we eat out, and family members are working out twice in one day. Me? I’m eating cake for breakfast. Read the full post at: The Kitchn

We’re only in the first week of Small Cool 2011 and things are already hot, hot, hot! These mover and shaker entries have caught the eyes of our readers thanks to their savvy solutions and smart style. How many of these have you clicked the “favorite” button on already? Click through for the hot list,

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) After I made this crazy hot pink Valentine’s confection, one of the comments on the strawberry milk required for the cake was, “Why not make your own?” Now that was a great idea! Creamy, smooth and straight from the diner of my dreams, a glass of chilled, pink, and homemade strawberry

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Freezing food is a great way to conserve and plan for easy dinners, however, it doesn’t make for a spontaneous cooking experience. Read on for a few tips that take defrosting beyond waiting hours and nuking it in the microwave. Read the full post at: The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) A friend informed us recently that cupcakes in a jar are the hot thing right now. They’ve been seen on The Today Show and in O Magazine. Really, we said. We haven’t even seen these things. What are they? Cupcakes in a jar, it turns out, are like the illicit love

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) David Lebovitz’s eponymous blog is one of the wittiest, insightful, delicious food blogs around. Join us in digging into a simple, yet extraordinary, way of eating toast. Warning: This breakfast might become your favorite any-time-of-day-I’m-feeling-slightly-peckish snack. Read the full post at: The Kitchn

It all begins with the soil. Worms are the great transformers of landscape through eating and digesting. They can consume a patch of stones and over time turn it into a fertile field. Worms continually pass soil through their intestinal canals, keep anything they can use for food, and then “cast” the rest. With indoor

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Let’s hope not by sitting them on the counter. But seriously, what is the best way to keep little ones occupied while you dice, sauté, and open oven doors? We’re talking kids who are too young to help out in the kitchen or sit quietly in front of a DVD in

We have such respect for Purekitchen, a Williamsburg company that has done local green kitchens since 2004. They operate with a strong focus on the safety of the natural environment, the people who fabricate their products, and the customers who are the ultimate end-users, all while creating the most functional and aesthetically-pleasing kitchens we’ve seen

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) During a recent visit with my old pal Teja and her darling ten-month-old, I was amazed and delighted at the foods she prepared for her little one. I just so happened to taste a little bit of baby’s breakfast: persimmon, pear, rice and cardamom puree, and I had to pause, narrow

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) A departure from our regular food programming for one moment to indulge our childhood adoration of LEGOs. LEGO is reaching out to grown-up food-lovers right now with some seriously fun food-related sets. How about your own holiday bakery? Or a French-style city block complete with green grocer? Oh the fun we

If you’re traveling during the holidays (or any time of the year), you may be thinking about how best to transport food for your infant. These eco-friendly glass containers from Wean Green are perfect for homemade foods now or snack and finger foods when they’re older. Plus it doesn’t hurt that they’re oh so pretty!

There’s nothing worse than being at someone’s home and not being able to find an extra roll of toilet paper when it’s needed. Check out our list of things to do before company comes for 10 ideas that will help make your guests’ stay memorable for all the right reasons. Over the years there are little things we’ve noticed while attending parties (and hosting our own) that make guests feel more comfortable while they’re in your space.

I don’t have children, but they weave their way into my life in many ways and are always welcome in my home, especially when we entertain. But how do we retain our sanity? Do we baby proof the space? Is there a box of goldfish crackers stashed in the back of our pantry for just such an occasion?

I was raised to believe in the old-fashioned, inherent thoughtfulness of the hand-written note. In fact, “Santa” still leaves thank-you notes in my stocking every Christmas so that I have no excuse not to write them. I am 30. However, when it comes to party invitations, I have to admit I always go online. With features like guest tracking, easy one-click RSVPs, and pot-luck sign ups, it’s easy for both my guests and me to plan for the event!

The spookiest thing to happen in our house this past Halloween weekend was a toaster oven that mysteriously turned itself on. Was it a visit from a long deceased Bagel-Bites-loving ancestor? Probably not. It turns out that it’s part of a sporadic phenomenon that popularly plagues small appliances like toasters, microwaves and coffee makers. Has it ever happened to you?

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) How can you sneak vegetables past a picky eater? Is it healthy to have a vegetarian baby? What are some tips for surviving grocery shopping with kids? These are a few of the most popular questions and topics on Parent Earth, a new website devoted to “Videos about Food for Families.”

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Shelby and Joe started a family in Portland, Oregon. They transformed an old Victorian house into a modern living space to accommodate kids and family fun. Where do they hang out the most? In their dreamy, spacious kitchen. Read the full post at: The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Q: Hi — I think I have one of the weirder “Good Questions” for The Kitchn that you’re ever going to get. To wit: how can I re-purpose baby food for adult cooking? Read feedback (and leave your own) on: The Kitchn

Ah, the internet. Where else would we find answers to all of our random questions? Our latest internet research: Whether or not your cell phone can help you identify leaks in your microwave. The legend says that if you place your phone in a microwave and close the door, it will only be able to receive an incoming call if there’s a leak. But is that true?Paranoid about cell phone radiation? You’re not the only one.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) CBS Sunday Morning profiled school lunches at two public schools in France this past Sunday, and the results are somewhat mouth-watering. Lunches include five courses and such sophisticated fare as bouillabaisse and a daily cheese selection. Jealous? Read the full post at: The Kitchn

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Olive oil — designed specially for kids. That’s the idea behind PequeOliva. When I was at the Fancy Food Show in New York last spring, I met a representative from the Spanish company producing PequeOliva, an olive oil formulated specially for children. So of course I asked him why — why

With the days remaining hot, the time for BBQs and camping trips is far from over. This nifty little project takes something that we love — the humble Altoids tin — and upcycles it. • Read the full post at Unplggd

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Mallomars. The name alone is almost enough to trigger a blissful sugar coma. This confection of graham cracker and marshmallow, dipped in chocolate, is a seasonal item from Nabisco and only available in the colder chocolate-friendly winter months. Which means that those of us who need a mid-year fix are forced

From Gmail to Microsoft Word, here are our favorite computer software. We use these programs daily and have generally try to keep them updated as much as possible. While it can get costly for some of them, they are definitely worth keeping.1. Microsoft OfficeNo matter what people say, I’ve gotten to used to using MS Office, especially MS Word. Even though some people dislike it, I find that it works well, no matter what I plan on writing.

Seeing as bottled water isn’t doing much to help the environment these days, we set out to find the best water filter solutions to help curb our carbon footprint. Here’s our list of the top 5 water filtration products on the market today. • Read the full post at Unplggd

One of the best ways to protect your home while you’re away is to appear you never left. Leaving a light on in the front window doesn’t cut it any longer and sometimes you need a little extra believability to help others think you’re still home (though anti-social) while away on vacation.Here’s a few of our favorite choices for making your home a little brighter when you’re away. Do you have a favorite that didn’t make the list?

So apparently we have piñata fever around these parts. We just can’t help it. They’re perfect for a party, a backyard get together, or could even be a fun way to pick summer chores (who says they can’t come pouring out amongst other things?) for little ones, but sometimes we’re not into all that sugar. Here are a few non-food ideas instead!1. Bubbles: You can find small packages of bubbles (check with wedding supplies) that won’t weigh things down too much!2.

If you’re looking an entertaining idea for this summer there is nothing more amusing than a little friendly competition between friends – especially when it involves food! Hosting a cook-off is a great excuse to encourage friends to go head to head with their best recipes and serves as an instant icebreaker among the guests. With a bit of planning, hosting a cook-off can be stress-free.Here’s the breakdown of planning your own food-centric competition.

Have you seen today’s entries in The Kitchn’s Small Cool Kitchens Contest? Take a peek, and if you like what you see, give them a thumb’s up! • Andrea’s Fresh and Modern New York Kitchen• Catherine’s Modern Entertaining Kitchen in Seattle• Julia’s Efficient Brooklyn Studio Kitchen• Helen’s Eclectic Yet Calming Philadelphia Kitchen

Have you seen today’s entries in The Kitchn’s Small Cool Kitchens Contest? Take a peek, and if you like what you see, give them a thumb’s up! • Carin’s Light, Bright Vermont Kitchen• Brittany’s New Bright White Portland Kitchen• Shannon’s Labour of Love Kitchen in Ottawa• Kevin and Kelly’s Overhauled Victorian Kitchen in Virginia

Have you seen today’s entries in The Kitchn’s Small Cool Kitchens Contest? Take a peek, and if you like what you see, give them a thumb’s up! • Robert’s Delightfully Designed New York Kitchen• Inés’ Opened-Up Barcelona Kitchen• Matt’s New Beginning Kitchen in Boston

Imagine getting ready to curl up inside your humble and comfy little abode. You’ve popped in a DVD and made your way to the kitchen to gather up some delicious treats and crack open a frosty brew. But when you sit down with your grub, you find yourself sitting through what seems like endless and unskippable movie previews and piracy warnings—what a buzzkill. If only you knew the remote-control trick that works on nearly every DVD Player (Hint: It’s not the menu button.

Q: I have a full size IKEA Malm Bed. I love the look of low bedframes, but have trouble storing anything under the bed since it only has a 5″ clearance underneath. It seems like I can only find 6″ ones. Are there any underbed storage containers that are less than 5″? Sent by Stephanie Editor: Please share your suggestions, sources and ideas with Stephanie in the comments below – thanks! • Got a question?

In the ongoing history of technology, there will always be bigger and better digital formats coming along to try and dethrone the top dog. VHS won over BetaMax, and Blu-ray beat out HD DVDs—but who will beat out Blu-ray? Well if it’s up to Sony, Blu-ray XL will. That’s right, Sony’s seemingly begun eating its own tail and releasing new Blu-ray XL discs that aren’t compatible with current Blu-ray players (including the PS3!).

For your morning inspiration- we’ve rounded up a few beautiful kitchens. Even if you’re not in the position to overhaul your whole kitchen, there are plenty of family-friendly ideas here that you can easily integrate. Think colorful bunting, chalkboard walls, or open shelving. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh

It all begins with the soil. Worms are the great transformers of landscape through eating and digesting. They can consume a patch of stones and over time turn it into a fertile field. With indoor worm composters, these creatures can take your coffee grinds, lettuce scraps and apple cores and turn them into fertilizer castings

Aside from convenience, there’s not much to love about disposable products. We all know that they create a lot of waste and zap resources… but is there anything to take from their design? Some seem to think so, as iconic shapes like the plastic red cup, paper plate, water bottle and more are popping up

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Yes, that’s right; you heard us. Creamy, soft-serve style ice cream with just one ingredient. No ice cream maker needed, either! What is this one magic ingredient that can be whipped into perfectly rich and silky ice cream, with no additional dairy, sweeteners, or ingredients needed whatsoever? • Read the full

Even if you buy organic, it’s a good idea to wash your produce before you consume it to rid it of germs or residue. While water works, a wash can help you use less water; they’re also effective at forcing out any bugs. Here are two fruit and vegetable washes that you can make at

Q: I recently purchased a set of end tables (see pic) from Craigslist. I want to use them as bed tables, but need to add about 5″ of height. I tried to remove the legs, but they don’t screw off. I would have to saw them off to remove. Any suggestions on adding height to these tables w/o completely demolishing original piece? Thanks! Sent by Michelle(Include a pic of your query and your question gets posted first!

Summer’s the prime time for visiting friends and for them to visit you. But, as my grandmother used to say when my family would visit her, she was happy to see us come and she was happy to see us go. It wasn’t that she was inhospitable; she loved having us over. It was that she understood the rule of visiting. There’s a rule about how long guests should stay that she often quoted…Fish and guests, she liked to stay, smell after three days.

My balcony is an extension of my kitchen and home. I have experimented with all kinds of furniture arrangement, surfaces and growing over the past two seasons, and this season I am finally satisfied with the layout and look. Chelsea and I (and Porkchop) enjoy our balcony in the warm months by cooking and relaxing

We’ve been using a PUR gravity fed pitcher water filter system in our household for several years now, a decision that has weaned us off a bottled water addiction. Yet, there’s always been this sneaking suspicion that the pitcher’s filter system was only doing a halfway decent job of filtering the water, especially compared to the expensive reverse osmosis systems we’ve occasionally pondered investing in.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) In Week Three of the Kitchen Cure, part of your assignment was to do something beautiful for your kitchen. Here’s a shot of our dining table over the weekend—not exactly the kitchen, but close. And it uses those recycled soda bottles we’ve been talking about… • Click here to read the

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Time to expand your green knowledge. We must admit that we had actually never seen an episode of Sundance’s Green Porno until recently, and now we’re totally fascinated! Leave it to Isabella Rossellini to make the sex life of insects (season one) and marine animals (season two) feel like a walk

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Your Kitchen Cure assignment this week is to clean up the kitchen and finish restocking, reorganizing, and doing whatever your kitchen needs to be ready to get cooking next week. Cleaning isn’t the sexiest topic, but we still love to talk about it. A clean kitchen is a healthy kitchen, so