Before and After: A Living Room Stuck in the ’90s Gets a Gorgeously Dark & Modern Makeover
We showed off Timothy’s remodel of his inherited childhood home in a tour recently — it’s beautiful, modern and it perfectly illustrates what can be done with a limited budget. Timothy was kind enough to contribute family photos from the early ’90s showing the front room — or parlor — in its original state, complete with drab carpet and lackluster furniture.
Oct 30, 2017
IKEA Kitchens Are On Sale Now! 5 Shopping Secrets You Need to Know
IKEA kitchen sales are legendary. 3-4 times a year, for about a month, the store has a department-wide sale for up to 20% off — a huge savings off big ticket purchases for a renovation. IKEA’s current sale goes until Sunday, April 8, so we hit them up for all their juiciest bits of insider intel, all to help you get the most out of the opportunity. Read on, then head to your local IKEA, or plan ahead and get all your ducks in a row for the next one.
Oct 29, 2017
IKEA Came Up With Yet Another Clever Use For Their Magnetic Knife Holders
From the brilliant and clever minds at IKEA.
Oct 28, 2017
Before & After: This “Tuscan Cottage” Kitchen Is No More
This kitchen has a few issues that my own kitchen has—mismatched countertops, cottage-style details, cabinets stained a color I don’t care for—so I was so curious to see how it was improved. Perhaps there would be a few ideas I could steal! Alas, the makeover is so total, so incredible, that it’s a level of transformation to which I can’t currently aspire. But perhaps you can? Read on for a gorgeous transformation!
Oct 24, 2017
Before and After: From Perfectly Fine Bath to Spa-Like Space
I’ll confess: I got a bit confused when I first saw this bathroom photo. Marble(ish) tiles, white wainscoting, seaglass green walls, elegant sink/vanity, and cute little Jacuzzi? That’s the “after”, right? Nope! Of course, once I got to the real after photos, everything became clear. It’s a totally new look! One of the biggest changes in See & Savor’s bathroom is how all of the elements are arranged.
Oct 22, 2017
Before & After: A Bay Area Kitchen Gets a Boost on a $5K Budget
Musician and producer Tim Ouyang knows that just living in the Bay area is a financial feat, let alone owning a home there. When he moved into his new place, Tim was determined not to overspend on a renovation, despite his kitchen’s need for some TLC. He made some smart, safe decisions that completely overhauled the space, without blowing his budget. The biggest visual improvement is the painted cabinets and new hardware.
Oct 20, 2017
This HVAC Worker Found a Creepy Secret Room Hidden in His Job Site’s Attic
People spend a ton of money on Halloween decorations and haunted houses every year, but there’s nothing creepier than the real world in which we live. Join the bravest HVAC worker in the world on a tour that has freaked this writer the hell out. Spoiler alert: there’s a secret room!!! This video is just over four minutes, and as someone who usually doesn’t like to watch anything longer than a GIF, I can say that it’s totally worth the watch. Join me!
Oct 12, 2017
Before & After: A Family Home Gets Two New Bathrooms
Melanie’s rowhome had a surplus of bedrooms and a deficit of bathrooms so the math was easy to do. The actual renovation, however, was not so easy. After an extended timeline and a few plumbing snafus, they now have one newly remodeled bath and one entirely new one.
Oct 11, 2017
Before & After: A Charming Bungalow Kitchen Reno, Courtesy of Big Box Stores
The kitchen in Carrie’s 1950s Chicago bungalow was in desperate need of some updates. By going back to basics and doing most of the shopping at big box stores, she was able to keep the budget to around $15k and save herself the hassle of hiring a contractor. From Carrie: The dark kitchen in our new little home had not been touched in probably 30-40 years. It was horribly outdated, there were soffits galore, and there were a few poorly placed appliances throughout.
Oct 3, 2017
This DIY Headboard Is a ’70s Style, Modern (Affordable) Mashup
Did you catch a peek at Jes and Caleb’s vintage-inspired home that featured this dreamy DIY headboard and wood wall combo in the guest room? The couple says they’ve always been inspired by the ’70s, so they opted for adding wood paneling to create an over-sized headboard. It pays homage to the mid-century decor element, yet looks modern at the same time.
Sep 27, 2017
Before & After: A Bland Bathroom Gets a Farmhouse Makeover for $400
Chelsea’s master bath was in need of a little love, but funds for a full renovation just weren’t in the cards. Rather than wallow in the depths of an ugly bathroom, Chelsea and her husband decided to make some smart, inexpensive upgrades to give the bathroom a new look without breaking the bank. From Chelsea: When we moved into our fixer upper, I knew we would someday need to tackle master bathroom. It was small, awkward and really hideous.
Sep 20, 2017
Before & After: A Tiny, Crumbling New York Kitchen Goes Classic
When Emily went looking for an apartment in New York, she wanted a place with vintage charm, like the beautifully detailed old buildings she had seen while living and studying in Normandy. Instead, she found the next best thing, a fixer-upper apartment in a 1940s building, whose tiny kitchen and bathroom were badly in need of updating (and a little classic character). The kitchen, only six feet wide, suffered years of neglect during the time the apartment served as a rental.
Sep 18, 2017
Small Details To Make You Really Love Your Rental Bathroom
It’s surprising what a difference a nice bathroom makes. Unfortunately, many renters (like myself), have to work with whatever setup our leased homes offer. Usually this is a very standard, neutral, easy-to-clean but very boring space, with minimal function — certainly nothing special. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to make a bathroom slightly more useful for your needs, and even slightly more stylish.
Sep 16, 2017
Before & After: A Love of Cooking and a Lack of Counter Space Lead to a Kitchen Reno
Carleen’s kitchen didn’t offer much in the way of counter space but it did provide her with lots of poorly laid green tile, which, shockingly enough, wasn’t much consolation. She decided that she’d had enough and set about renovating her kitchen. A mix of professional help, a handy husband and some smart IKEA finds help her put together a chic new kitchen with plenty more counter space to boot.
Sep 15, 2017
Before & After: A Homeowner Happily Tackles a Gut-It-All Kitchen Renovation
Christopher took one look at this beige, laminate loving kitchen and thought to himself, “it’s perfect!” His enthusiasm was rewarded as after basically overhauling the entire kitchen, he found himself with crisp white cabinets and counters and a gorgeous wood island that warms up the space with rustic style. From Christopher: We knew that navigating the Denver market would be a tough one. But once we walked into this kitchen we knew this was it.
Sep 13, 2017
The Stylish Bathroom Design Direction That’s Perfect for a Tight Budget
Did you catch the gorgeous, renovated bathroom in this Philadelphia house? On a tight budget for the whole home, Melissa and John’s bathroom is filled with affordable materials used in fresh ways. And the room’s success is due in large part to the fact that the couple stuck to two strong, simple and complementary design styles: modern and rustic. Below, four elements that make this bathroom so beautiful and affordable to emulate.
Sep 13, 2017
Before & After: A New Neutral Look for a ’70s Bathroom & Kitchen
Project by: Jessica Nicolls of Bungalow 56 Interiors Location: Coronado, California There’s something so calming about well done neutral spaces isn’t there? Rather than boring or bland, they’re rooms that relax you just by looking at them. Jessica was able to turn her client’s outdated brown kitchen and bathroom into neutral yet visually pleasing rooms.
Sep 8, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Kitchen Bids Goodbye to Blue
Bridgett’s old kitchen sure was something. Which makes her 100% DIY transformation of the space even more mind boggling. Updating the space not just for looks, she added an office nook to the kitchen to maximize the usability of the space. The kitchen is modern and clean, miles away from the blue and beige kitchen they started with. From Bridgett: Our house is old (1963) and the blue stained wood paneling that was floor to ceiling throughout the house totally dated it.
Sep 7, 2017
Before & After: A Bland Kitchen Makes a Total Turnaround
We spotted Stacey and Adam’s kitchen on Instagram and just had to know more about it. While everything was ok functionality wise, it was kind of bland and not particularly toddler proof. They decided that by adding some darker colors and new flooring, they could solve both of those problems, creating an eye-catchingly stylish (and smudge friendly) space. From Stacey and Adam: When we moved into our house the kitchen was completely magnolia.
Sep 6, 2017
Before & After: A Crumbling Apartment Bathroom Gets a New Lease on Life
As a connoisseur of all things vintage, I am certainly not immune to the appeal of an old-school peach-tiled bathroom, but this one had seen better days. The tiles were cracked and patched in mismatched colors, the toilet was one of those tankless numbers where you always feel like you’re going to fall over backwards, and the flooring (almost definitely not original) was more gas station bathroom than mid-century dream.
Sep 4, 2017
Before & After: A “Go With Your Gut” Kitchen Remodel
Spenser saw this mid century property and new that even though it needed some updates, it would be well worth the time, money and effort. Working on a tight timeline, they laid out their vision for a versatile yet stylish kitchen that honored the homes roots and got to work creating an open and breezy space out of a cramped ’80s kitchen. From Spenser: We bought a 1964 mid-century modern home in foreclosure. It was pretty rough, but that didn’t scare me.
Sep 4, 2017
Before & After: A Cost-Effective and Stylish Kitchen Reno
After making some smaller, manageable repairs and updates upon first moving in, Allie and her husband decided to tackle as full of a kitchen reno as their budget would allow. By mixing in DIY projects along with hiring out a contractor and prioritizing major functional and cosmetic fixes over new appliances, they were able to keep to their budget and walk away with a bright new kitchen.
Aug 31, 2017
Space to Sleep Four in a Studio Apartment? Believe It.
Last week, we looked at the transformation of a teeny-tiny kitchen in a New York City apartment. But the kitchen wasn’t the only change made to this Gramercy Park-area studio. Sleeping four people in a studio apartment might seem like an impossible task — but homeowners Frans and Dalal, who wanted a little privacy for their sleeping space, as well as a little room for overnight guests, made it happen. Previously, the studio was a single space, with a wall of windows on one side.
Aug 28, 2017
Before & After: A Tiny Manhattan Kitchen Expands & Lightens Up
When Frans and Dalal purchased their studio apartment in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, they knew it would need a little work. The studio, while spacious and bright, had a few downsides, one of them being the tiny, cramped kitchen. Tucked into a little alcove and separated from the unit’s main living space, the kitchen was drab and dark.
Aug 27, 2017
Toilet Paper Holders That Are Actually Quite Beautiful
I don’t think anyone would use the words ‘glamorous’ or ‘exciting’ to describe toilet paper. Toilet paper is deeply utilitarian, and its intended use is never far from anyone’s mind. But the toilet paper holder — well, that’s a different story.
Aug 26, 2017
Before & After: This Living Room Goes From Chintzy ’70s Dreamland to Dark, Cozy and Contemporary
We’ve seen Malcolm work his dark magic on a room before, and his living room transformation is just as impressive. After adding in enviable features like a new fireplace and (IKEA hack) built-ins on a budget, Malcolm mixed in some stylish splurges, creating a high/low space that just oozes sophistication. From Malcolm: When I first viewed the house (a Victorian mid-terrace, in Aberdeen, Scotland) the living room was, to be polite, very dated.
Aug 25, 2017
Before & After: An ’80s Kitchen is Finally Market-Ready
Rosanna was about to put her condo on the market and knew she would have a much better go of it if she updated her kitchen. After a few contractor related stops and starts, she now has a kitchen that is modern, sleek and much more open. From Rosanna: This was the original kitchen for this condo built in the 1980s. It felt small, dark and cramped. It came with yellowed cabinets, linoleum floors, and tiled counters.
Aug 22, 2017
Ever Wonder Why Today’s Kitchens Look the Way They Do?
The 1900s through the 1920s was a time of tremendous change in the kitchen, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that the kitchen began to take on its modern shape. The kitchen configuration that we all know now, has its roots, like a lot of modern design, in the German school known as the Bauhaus. As I mentioned in my last post, on the design of the kitchen from 1900 through the 1920s, before the 1930s many kitchens had very little by way of built-in storage or workspace at all.
Aug 16, 2017
Before & After: Adding Classic Character to an ’80s Kitchen
Last week we looked at the overhaul of Claudia’s bathroom, which got a beautiful, classic update in keeping with the character of her 1929 apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East side. Today, we’re diving into the renovation of her kitchen, which was similarly transformed.
Aug 15, 2017
Think You Have it Bad? Here’s What Kitchens Were Like A Century Ago
Imagine you’re suddenly transported back in time by 100 years, to your great-great-grandmother’s house. Most of the rooms are quite familiar: the styles are less modern, sure, but the basic setup is the same. The kitchen, however, is different. All the major players are in place — the sink, the stove, some rudimentary form of refrigeration — but they haven’t quite evolved into their modern forms.
Aug 15, 2017
Before & After: An Unbelievable DIY IKEA Kitchen Renovation for $20k
Cameron and Chantel’s post-renovation kitchen is basically unrecognizable. Aside from sharing the common elements of a kitchen (you can cook in it! there’s a refrigerator!) the two spaces are completely different. Their new kitchen is softly colorful, light, breezy and spacious where the old kitchen was, well, very, very beige. From Cameron and Chantel: Our kitchen is straight from the 80s!
Aug 15, 2017
How To Get a High End Kitchen Look on a Budget: Tips for Using Affordable Building Materials Wisely
Flirting with the idea of using affordable building materials for a kitchen remodel? Smart move for your budget. But, that doesn’t mean you want your home to look like you built it out of materials from the bargain bin. So, take notes from this minimal and modern kitchen in this Spanish hand-built home. We’ve got a breakdown of why this space doesn’t look like it was done on the cheap, despite being primarily made up of very affordable materials.
Aug 15, 2017
Before & After: An ’80s Bathroom Gets a Classic Update
Before finally deciding to renovate, Claudia had been living in her Upper East Side co-op since 2001 — so she had a pretty clear vision of what she wanted for her bathroom. The space, while still functional, hadn’t been updated in 30 years, and the mid-’80s fixtures were a poor fit for the building’s character.
Aug 13, 2017
Before & After: Letting the Light Into an Outdated Kitchen
Stephanie decided to open up her kitchen for both design and keep-an-eye-on-the-kiddos reasons. Wanting to add functionality, style and maximize the natural light, the reno was a mix of big projects (like knocking down walls) and quick last minute fixes that resulted in a gorgeous, classic kitchen. From Stephanie: The kitchen in our home was closed off, isolated and a mix of semi-updated and original features.
Aug 12, 2017
Keeping Colors Calm: A Beautifully Neutral Bathroom Makeover
Project by: Paula Guzman of Paula E Guzman Studio Location: Midtown, Manhattan—New York Paula’s project is an excellent lesson in both balance and working with what you got. Working with and not around her bathroom’s shortcomings, she created a serene space without a major overhaul. From Paula: This is the decoration of a small, prewar bathroom in my last apartment. It was your typical boring bath with plain white subway tile and very standard fixtures.
Aug 9, 2017
Before & After: A Kitchen Goes from Ugh to Unrecognizable
Andrea is a stylish fashion blogger who founded the blog Blonde Bedhead. And though her expertise is in personal style, it’s clear she’s also a master at interior design, too. In fact, she’s recently been able to flex her interior design muscles thanks to her newly purchased first home. Though the house didn’t quite fit her own style when she first saw it in person, she could see the potential. Andrea says upgrading the kitchen was the most expensive project in the house.
Aug 7, 2017
Before & After: A Small, Cramped Apartment Kitchen Opens Up
Upon closing on their first home, Maria and Eric found themselves in a situation that will probably seem quite familiar to anyone who’s ever looked at real estate in New York: they were the proud owners of a really great apartment with a not-so-great kitchen. The 850-square-foot two-bedroom in Queens was nice and roomy, but the kitchen was small, cramped, and dark, with discolored floor tiles and old, warped cabinets that required a little effort to shut completely.
Jul 30, 2017
Tesla’s Solar Roof Is Actually Cheaper Than a Normal Roof
Just under six months after announcing its Solar Roof, Tesla has finally put a price tag on those eco-friendly solar tiles that look like the real thing — and they’re actually really affordable. Orders are now being taken for the Tesla Solar Roof at a price of $21.85 per square foot, which is nearly 20 percent less than the cost of a normal roof — even without factoring in the energy savings.
Jul 29, 2017
A Small Space Squeezes in a Bathroom & Laundry Room Beautifully
Project by: Clara Jung of Banner Day Consulting Location: Oakland, California Clara’s clients had a weird little nook in their home that sat unused, just begging for something to do. They decided not to let limits on space limit their dreams, so they decided to put both a bathroom and a laundry into the same space, divided by a pocket door, and we’re screaming for joy. Not only does the remodel add functionality, it’s easy on the eyes as well.
Jul 27, 2017
Before & After: A Dark and Dated Kitchen Gets Open and Airy
Claire’s kitchen was dark and dated, with an office-style ceiling and a tiny little rodent problem. Claire set about repurposing the kitchen and rebuilding an extension to create a kitchen and living area, perfect for hosting. Now the kitchen is bright and dance party-ready. From Claire: We bought our house in 2012 after falling in love with its large Edwardian proportions and central location.
Jul 23, 2017
Before & After: A Terribly Cute Vintage Trailer Makeover
How cute is that little guy? My goodness! Adorable on the outside, but leaky and damaged on the inside, this trailer needed some upgrades to make it safer. While making some of the less sexy fixes (apologies to all those window sealing fans out there) Meredith took the opportunity to give the space a style boost as well. From Meredith: My husband and I decided to buy a vintage trailer and after a brief search, we purchased a 1976 Boler trailer.
Jul 19, 2017
Before & After: A Brooklyn Kitchen Opens Up
Dating in New York is notoriously brutal, and so is buying real estate, which lends itself to a robust market for fixer-uppers. After living for six years in a rented apartment in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood, Jill and Aaron were ready to buy — but everything they could find in their desired neighborhoods, within their price range, was less than appealing.
Jul 16, 2017
Before & After: Smart Choices for a Small Kitchen
One of the biggest challenges of living in a tiny apartment is the tiny kitchen. After purchasing her studio apartment in Brooklyn, Kelly was determined to create her dream kitchen from what was originally a less than dreamy space. Although square footage was limited, lots of smart choices resulted in a kitchen that’s colorful, beautiful, and has the functionality of a kitchen many times its size.
Jul 15, 2017
Upgrade Your Shower Style: Dress Up Your Bath with Valances, Cornices & Pelmets
Unless you’re talking about a new fabric, there usually isn’t much to talk about when it comes to shower curtains. (Though we could go on about the pros and cons of curved vs. traditional curtain rods.) However, there’s one decor element that can upgrade any shower curtain into a focal point: A valance, cornice or pelmet.
Jul 12, 2017
Before & After: A DIY Kitchen Remodel on a 6K Budget
Sharlene’s ’70s kitchen was vivid green and laced with hard-to-clean linoleum. Instead of living with it or hiring an expensive contractor, this husband and wife team utilized their vacation days, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. From Sharlene: We had an original 1974 kitchen without the perks of the vintage appeal. The laminate cabinets were spray painted white and the laminate countertops were coming apart. No matter how much you cleaned, it always appeared dirty and worn.
Jul 8, 2017
Before & After: Three Days, $800 and One New Half Bath
Half baths can be so easy to forget — home to b-team hand towels and re-gifted decorative soaps, relegated to occasional guest usage and always in the shadow of the bathrooms with things like tubs and showers. Christina decided it was time to give her half bath a little time in the spotlight, and buckled down to give it an eye-catching upgrade. From Christina: The bathroom before was dark and dreary. It looked like any other bathroom and felt like a dark hole in the hallway.
Jul 6, 2017
Before & After: A Budapest Flat Gets Its First Facelift in 70 Years
Szilvia’s stunner in Budapest has all of the classic charms of a turn of the last century European apartment. With drool-worthy high ceilings and large windows, Szilvia knew she could create a sleek, light-filled space to design to her heart’s content. From Szilvia: The flat is situated in a classical building of the early 1900s in Budapest, Hungary. It was in a very bad condition when we bought it, everything including the electrical and plumbing system had to be changed.
Jul 3, 2017
Before & After: A Brand New Look for a Beige Bath
Tara’s bathroom had the sort of tan look that was popular during the heyday of Friends. Deciding enough was enough, she set out to create a bathroom with more storage, more space and more style. From Tara: We knew we needed to re-do this bathroom from the moment we bought this house. This is the main bathroom in our three bedroom, to bathroom, 1950s ranch. I have been dreaming of the day this project would be finished.
Jun 30, 2017
Before & After: A Small Brooklyn Apartment Gets a Sweet Makeover
Designer Linda Cava’s Brooklyn home is one of those weird studio/not quite studio apartments that can throw even a seasoned decorator for a loop. The apartment has three main spaces — an open foyer, a large room that needed to be her living room, bedroom and office rolled into one and a tiny kitchen she wanted to modernize. Let’s see how she tackled each of these spaces to suit her needs and her style.
Jun 28, 2017
Before & After Blowout: The Big Bathroom Makeover Gallery
We will never, ever, ever get enough of bathroom remodels. And if you’re in the mood for just a quick hit of some serious makeover magic, scroll through the gallery to see some of our fave tile transformations, bath boosts and sink sensations. Revisit some old favorites and a few new ones, and who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to tackle your own bathroom project!
Jun 26, 2017
Before & After: What it Lacked in Drawers, it Made Up for in Rodents
Stacy and her husband found themselves with a very trying kitchen on their hands. After two years of living with not enough storage, poor ventilation and dreaded pests they decided to take the plunge and create a kitchen that was clean, functional and easy on the eyes. From Stacy: Our kitchen had a hard life. We bought our home back in 2011, a recent flip after the previous owners had foreclosed.
Jun 25, 2017
Before and After: An ’80s Bathroom Gets a Classic Update
Tasha’s twins were using a dark and outdated bathroom, complete with carpet (why was that ever considered a good idea?) and some very ’80s materials. Calling in the professionals for the major plumbing and drywall work, but doing the rest herself, Tasha created a space that can grow with her girls and remain visually appealing for years to come. From Tasha: Our second full bathroom, which is mostly used by our twin girls, was horribly outdated — circa 1980.
Jun 23, 2017
Before & After: A Dated Bathroom Gets a Modern Renovation (& More Storage)
Jill and Aaron hunted for six months for their dream home in Brooklyn — during which time they realized their dream home was probably a bit out of reach. After being outbid on two different apartments, they finally landed a contract on a promising one-bedroom that was in need of just a little work. One problem spot? The apartment’s bathroom, which dated back to 1960 and had fifty years of wear to show for it. Another issue?
Jun 22, 2017
Before & After: A Bathroom Suffering from “Green Fever” Gets a Makeover
That sure is some green, isn’t it? Anna, of Interiors by Popov, wanted to bring her client’s very verdant powder room into modern times with a sleek and sophisticated upgrade. She upgraded the room from top to bottom, without a hint of green. From Anna: The powder room we were called to tackle had a severe case of “green fever”. Emerald green floor, neon green walls and an outdated oak framed vanity were the original finishes from 1984.
Jun 20, 2017
Before & After: We Survived Our First (Mostly) DIY Kitchen Reno
Michelle and her husband bought their house with the anticipation of putting in some serious work on the kitchen. What they didn’t expect was a handful of undisclosed damages and, as first time renovators, just how much time a kitchen reno can take. But they survived! Smarter, saavier and with a much better kitchen. From Michelle: We spent almost a year looking at houses before we came across our current home.
Jun 19, 2017
Before & After: A Sister Steps in From Across the Country to Give This Kitchen a New Look
Jillian is not only a talented designer, she’s also an insanely generous sibling. She helped her sister and her fiancé tackle their kitchen renovation long distance. That’s love. From Jillian: My sister and her fiancé purchased their first home in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore late last year — a traditional brick rowhome.
Jun 18, 2017
Before & After: Doubling the Storage Space in a NYC Kitchen
When Jessica and her husband, David, moved from Westchester to New York City for work, they were lucky to find a spacious apartment in Hudson Heights with a breathtaking view of the Hudson river and the George Washington Bridge. One thing about the apartment that wasn’t so great: the kitchen. It was in decent shape, but its layout — a single row of cabinets and appliances, arranged along a single wall — left a lot to be desired when it came to counter space and storage.
Jun 18, 2017
Before & After: The Power of a New Color Palette
Older homes deserve to be celebrated. They usually have a bit more character, were often made with better materials and they just have that sense of history that makes you feel a part of something bigger. These qualities were especially true for The Cardinal House, a home that was renovated by Lanie and Brent, the very talented husband-and-wife team behind the Kansas City-based RootedKC.
Jun 15, 2017
Instant Architecture: The Best Ceiling Medallions to Dress Up Your Space
There’s no denying that appeal that architectural moldings can add to a space. And one of the easiest ways to get the look — with hardly any work at all — is with a ceiling medallion. Modern ceiling medallions, made of plastic or resin, are quite lightweight and can be attached with just adhesive (and maybe a few screws). If you’re looking to transform the look of your home, look no further than this list of 15 stylish options.
Jun 14, 2017
Before & After: New Life for a Grim Brooklyn Bathroom
Some renovations are a long time in coming. In 2005, Felix got the opportunity to buy an apartment in the Williamsburg building where she’d been living for the past three years. She jumped on the chance, choosing an apartment with the exact same layout as the one she’d been living in on the fifth floor, just two floors down. The third-floor apartment came with a location that was much more convenient, and a bathroom that, while spacious, was also, in Felix’s words, a bit grim.
Jun 13, 2017
Before & After: A DIY Home Upgrade Under a Time Crunch
Tyler and his family were about to make the move into a house built in the 1950s when they realized that it would need some upgrades in order to be suitable for their young daughter. Two weeks of intense DIY fixes later, they’re home was not only livable, but totally adorable! From Tyler: Our boss’s father recently passed away.
Jun 13, 2017
Before & After: From an Outdated Hot Tub Shed to Chic Bedroom Escape
Tricia and Jason banded together to turn a bare bones, former loan office turned hot tub shed into an exceedingly cute guest house. They went slightly over budget, but they managed to turn this entire thing around in five weeks without any outside help! From Tricia and Jason: Our once-dilapidated, unused garden shed sits awkwardly off the side of the house close to our front porch.
Jun 12, 2017
Before & After: An Old Shed is Totally Transformed Into a Chic Blogging Studio
When Charlotte first bought her home it came with a shed that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with. After landing on turning it into a workspace rather than a catch-all, she set about giving the space a major facelift while making sure it could serve as a workable space year-round. From Charlotte: Our historic home in Southport, Connecticut was built in the mid 1800s and has two exterior buildings. One is a large old barn and then this second space was a bit more of a head scratcher.
Jun 11, 2017
Trendspotting: Medallion Tiles
Though white subway tile still reigns supreme in kitchens and baths, but on the floor, it’s another story. If you can’t help but notice that your Pinterest and Instagram feeds have a lot of medallion-style floor tiles lately, we’re here to tell you that you’re not alone. Studio McGee‘s take on the trend (above) is the focal point of a seriously impressive kitchen makeover (the counters were originally black and very glossy).
Jun 11, 2017
Before & After: A Narrow NYC Kitchen Lightens Up
For years, Jenna and her husband had been wanting to lighten and modernize the narrow kitchen in their Chelsea apartment. Finally, after living there for six years, the impending birth of their daughter gave them the hard deadline they needed to finally take the remodeling plunge. The old kitchen was full of dark, heavy finishes, which sucked all the light out of a very narrow space.
Jun 8, 2017
Before & After: A Drab & Dark Kitchen Turned Mint Green Dream
Diana Marsh spent 11 years living in Brooklyn before returning to her home state of Michigan. After purchasing this Ann Arbor house, she set to renovating it. It had “good bones” but was a bit on the small side and a lot on the dark side. As the owner of a brick and mortar store called Thistle and Bess, Diana’s has a keen eye for crafting creative spaces. Her year-long remodel of this house was no different!
Jun 6, 2017
Before & After: A Garden Shed Turned Cozy Guest Cottage
Project by: Katie Greenhalf of KG Lifestyle & Interiors Ltd Location: London, United Kingdom Normally, sleeping in a shed sounds like some sort of Dickensian punishment, but in this particularl case, it’s a total dream. Katie created the coziest, snuggliest guest room and it totally has us packing our bags for a quick visit! From Katie: The brief was to transform a humble garden shed into a warm and inviting living space.
Jun 3, 2017
Before & After: Combining Two Apartments into One Luxe Pad
Look, we know you’re not even reading this paragraph right now. We get it! Why would you when there is floor-to-ceiling yellow tile to stare at right above this? This bathroom, by way of a ’70s Scorsese film, was not the only part of the two (yes, two) apartments Nataliya was renovating that needed an update, but it was certainly the most dramatically outdated.
Jun 1, 2017
Before & After: A Rental Bathroom Upgrade with a Vintage Portrait Gallery
Megan’s rental bath makeover is low key awe inducing. Without making any major upgrades, it’s like she helped her bathroom leap forward into modern styling, while also time traveling back to the time of glam powder rooms. From Megan: The walls of our bathroom were decked in a puzzling color scheme with one brown wall and the rest purple. It was flat paint so it felt pretty dingy and not very practical in a bathroom.
May 31, 2017
Before & After: A Bright Blue “Neat Bohemian” Bathroom
Mel was hired by her clients to breathe some style into this workable, but very dark, slightly cramped bathroom. Using a single piece from the client’s old house as a jumping off point, she identified their style and found solutions for their pain points while giving them the look they wanted. Beautiful blue tile, a subtle yet stylish light fixture and funky accents create a bright bathroom oasis.
May 30, 2017
A Minimal, Modern Custom Kitchen That Looks More Expensive Than It Actually Was
There is lots to love about Aine and Eloise’s East London home. The way the floor-to-ceiling doors open up fully, connecting the home to the outdoors. The soothing neutral color palette punctuated with colorful accessories and word art. But of all the elements to drool over in their house, the kitchen deserves the biggest spotlight.
May 29, 2017
Before & After: A Colorful Update for a Cluttered Kitchen
Prior to the renovation, Cybele described the kitchen in her Park Slope apartment as “Functional, but…a little worn”. It was still getting the job done, but the kitchen had seen better days. There were giant holes in the walls behind the cabinets, the electrical was outdated, and a dark countertop and backsplash sucked the light out of the room. The mosaic tile floor, with its miles and miles of grout, was a nightmare to clean.
May 29, 2017