Styles & Trends

I distinctly remember during our home-buying journey when our real estate agent asked if we wanted new construction, something close to it, or if we’d be open to an “older” home. When we said yes, we knew that—in our budget—we would likely be looking at a few houses built in the early-to-mid 1900s. However, if we’d had a much larger budget, we could very well have wound up walking through (and legitimately considering) houses built in the early 1800s.

I have this argument with friends every now and again: What’s “American” food? The question inspires a lively discussion, with a lot of suggestions but no real consensus. (It usually comes down to hog dogs or Southern-style barbeque.) Nailing down American food is a tough thing because there is so much of America. So many people and cultures and styles that manage to blend together and evolve over the (few) centuries the country’s been around.

We toured Hope and Pete’s home a few years ago, and it instantly became a favorite house tour of mine. The couple’s style is breezy, bohemian and effortless — the kind of adjectives I aim for in my own home’s decor. But I also loved their house tour because they live in a mid-century (dream-to-me) home built in 1956 by famed real estate developer Joseph Eichler.

Have you seen this house? It went viral this year after being uploaded to Reddit thread /r/funny back in March. User liquidthc is the one who noticed something strange about this South Carolina home—can you spot it? It initially took me awhile to notice this, despite realizing something was “off.” The comments, both on Reddit and Shareably, offer a host of possible scenarios—some of which I share below—but no definitive answers.

They’re a refreshing escape. They’re a terrifying safety hazard. They’re an eyesore. They’re a beloved part of the urban fabric. For as long as there have been fire escapes, there have been mixed opinions about fire escapes. The zigzagging metal stairs that many people associate so closely with the look of New York first started to appear in 1860, when a revision to the state code required buildings to have them.

We’ve heard some pretty delusional ways to describe architectural features over the years. There are always certain less-than-desirable elements to any home and it makes sense to soften the bad things by lying… er— circumventing the truth. So what are the most common euphemisms we’ve come across? Read on. Nice try, this means tiny. Means just old. Don’t be fooled, this means basement. Small/weird. Usually more shabby, less chic.

Not far from the Apartment Therapy offices in New York City is the five-story E.V. Haughwout building. It wouldn’t be difficult to walk to the top floor, but in 1857, you wouldn’t have had to because this is the site of the very first commercial elevator in New York City, manufactured by (who else?) Elisha Otis. Here’s how it changed everything. Mr.