Two women sitting on a wooden bench with a guitar, wearing casual outfits, and a red hat hanging on the wall.
Incredible Little Things You Can Do To Show Friends You Love Them
It’s always amazing when a pal goes out of her way to show you that she’s thinking of you, so here are some ideas on how to spread those fuzzy feels yourself. If you have a Thelma to your Louise, text her just as you’re turning off your alarm clock, or live for those happy hours you have after work, then show her just how much you care!
Jan 12, 2017
Before & After: A Bold Fireplace Brightens Up a Living Room
Danielle added style and interest to her living room with a few simple and small touches: replacing the curtains, adding some light fixtures, and slapping on a new coat of paint. And then she made a big change, adding color and interest to the space in a major way. From Danielle: When we first moved into our family home, the living room was covered in brown and beige from floor to ceiling.
Jan 12, 2017
What It’s Like Having a Mom Who’s an Interior Decorator
Colie and her husband immensely enjoy their 781 square foot Minneapolis apartment, thanks in no small part to the well-designed, cohesive and comfortable space Colie has crafted. The decorating skill just might be genetic because Colie’s mother, Nancy Sieve, is an interior decorator. After we published the tour, I asked Colie a few questions about what it was like growing up with a mom with a knack for design.
Jan 12, 2017
Why You Should (Always) Have a Separate Savings Account for Your Down Payment
Saving up money for a down payment is no easy feat—but a separate savings account can help.
Jan 11, 2017
A Family Home Full of “Classic Modern” Design
Name: Matt Location: Belleville, Illinois Our home was designed by mid-century modernist architect Charles King in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, Illinois in 1957. It was commissioned by a family that owned several car dealerships in the area. We bought it eight years ago from their daughter and have tried our best to tastefully update it to accommodate our needs as a family but preserve the history without being too much of a time capsule.
Jan 11, 2017
#4: FLEKKE Daybed
IKEA says: The FLEKKE daybed is four functions in one: seating, single bed, bed for two, and two big drawers for storage. The backrest mounts on the right or the left side of the daybed. Real wood veneer will make this bed age gracefully. What We Predict: Buyers will find countless ways to make this daybed more custom, not to mention comfortable. DIYers will capitalize on the built-in storage and make it even more functional for small spaces.
Jan 11, 2017
Before & After: A Bright & Airy Kitchen Renovation
Lindsay and her family moved into a wonderful new space in a neighborhood they loved. But there was one snafu: the old and outdated kitchen. Lindsay has a food blog so a clunky kitchen just wouldn’t do. They gutted the entire thing and started from scratch, and the results are a fun and functional space that’s perfect for family life and blog life. From Lindsay: The biggest change we made was to the location of the sink and the removal of the existing island.
Jan 11, 2017
Partner
4 Strategies to Perfect Your Rug Game
Whether you’re working with a huge living room or the nook of a studio, choosing the right way to situate your rug and your furniture can be tricky: too close and everything looks cramped; too spread out and the whole rhythm of the room is off. There are several strategies you can use to create a happy relationship between rug and sofa. Find the one that makes the most sense for your space and collection for a comfortable rug-to-sofa ratio.
Jan 11, 2017
Before & After: An Unbelievably Bold Blue Kitchen Gets a Modern Makeover
It’s hard to describe the color of the kitchen in this historic Craftsman in Oakland, pre-renovation. Turquoise blue? Sea-foam green? Whatever the exact hue, it wasn’t quite the right shade for homeowners Brett and her husband Brandon when they purchased this house in March of 2016.
Jan 10, 2017
Great Debate: Is Coffee Good or Bad for You?
(Image credit: Erin Wengrovius) From Kitchn → Is Coffee Actually Good for You?
Jan 10, 2017
Selling Your Home: The 11 Most Important Spots to Declutter Before the Open House
Make no mistake about it: when you’re selling your house, potential buyers want to see everything. That means no area of your home (not even your utility closet) is safe from the gaze of a serious house hunter. That’s why it’s crucial to maximize every square inch of your place—backyard shed included—by minimizing your overall clutter.
Jan 9, 2017
First Time Homebuyers On: How To Know If You’re Really Ready to Buy
I admit it. Since moving to New Orleans, I’ve been fantasizing about finally buying a house. It’s the fun stuff that gets my blood pumping—I’d love to knock down some walls or paint a ceiling green—all the things you can’t do when you rent.
Jan 9, 2017
A Bright and Light-Filled Chicago Rental
Name: Jeffrey & Mark Location: River West — Chicago, Illinois Recently moving back to North America from Tokyo, we needed to create a space where we had enough room to live, but still kept with the Japanese feeling of efficient space. We settled on a great two bedroom in River West, with an extraordinary view of the city. What we love most about being in North America is the ease and convenience of everything.
Jan 9, 2017
A Simple DIY Way to Personalize A Coffee Mug
(Image credit: Caylin Harris) From Kitchn → How To Etch a Personalized Mug
Jan 9, 2017
5 Ways You Can Organize with Toilet Paper Rolls (Really!)
Stop right there! Before you throw away your next empty toilet paper roll, consider this: with a little effort, you can probably get so much more use out of it (and keep it out of a landfill). From keeping unruly cords at bay to organizing your favorite makeup tools and jewelry, those cardboard tubes can come in incredibly handy. So, sure, you could toss it in the trash, or, you could use it to make your home a more beautiful, organized place with these projects—you decide.
Jan 7, 2017
When is it Worth Splurging on Good Champagne?
(Image credit: Geraldine Campbell) From Kitchn → When (and Why) You Should Spring for the Good Champagne
Jan 6, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Kitchen Goes Clean and Classic
This little kitchen was in need of a lot of spiffing up and a little bit more space. Christina gave the space a fresh new look with a smart layout, some classic tile and a coat of paint in a lovely light color. From Christina: We recently finished up our project in Redondo Beach. This was a smaller house that was in serious need of a face lift. It had so many colors happening as well as some issues in the kitchen.
Jan 6, 2017
A Sneaky Way to Create a (Really Big) Closet in Your Small Space
Living in a tiny apartment? Short on closet space? Here’s a clever way to make a walk-in (yes, walk-in!) closet in your small apartment, and create a cozy spot for sleeping at the same time. You’ve probably guessed from the photo above that the solution is lofting your bed. If your ceilings are tall enough, you’ll wind up with plenty of space below for a closet and plenty of space for sleeping above.
Jan 5, 2017
From the Credit Check to Getting the Keys: Answers for the Big First-Time Homebuying Questions
New to the home-buying process? If you’re ready to start looking for your dream home—or if you’re just looking to learn more about how buying a home works for the future—there’s a lot you’ll need to know. The process is long and can be as stressful and confusing as it is exciting.
Jan 5, 2017
A Smart and Sunny L.A. Studio
Name: Samantha Location: Los Angeles, California At 280 square feet, my boyfriend and I have been sharing our studio apartment for the past three months. Of course studio living isn’t ideal for two people but Los Angeles is an expensive city and we don’t own a car, so we sacrificed space for windows and location. The Mid-Wilshire neighborhood sits in the middle of the city and it’s easy to get around on public transportation from where we are.
Jan 5, 2017
10 Things to Do Post-Party, Pre-Bed
(Image credit: Africa Studio) shutterstock From Kitchn → 10 Things to Do After Any Party
Jan 5, 2017
The Teeny-Tiny Paris Apartment of Your Wildest Dreams
I love tiny apartments and Paris apartments, so a tiny Paris apartment is the best of both worlds. Designer Marianne Evennou has a history of bringing a moody, stylish look to even the smallest of spaces, and this little pied-à-terre in Le Marais is no exception. Lofting the bed is a time-honored trick for saving valuable square footage in small spaces, but Marianne takes it one step further by turning the access stair for the loft into a design feature.
Jan 5, 2017
15 Ways to Practice Kitchen Kindness
(Image credit: Everett Collection) shutterstock From Kitchn → 15 Ways to Practice Kindness in (and out) of the Kitchen
Jan 5, 2017
An Amazing A-Frame Restoration
Name: Sasha Location: Rhododendron, Oregon We acquired this dilapidated and mold-infested A-Frame with wall-to-wall carpet and kitschy mountain interior decor about a year and a half ago and spent pretty much every single weekend since then lovingly reinventing it. I redesigned the interior and my husband and I performed almost all of the buildout ourselves.
Jan 4, 2017
Don’t Worry About Failing at “Resolutions” This New Year (Just Set Better Goals)
I’ve never been a person who’s good at New Year’s resolutions. I’d always set my sights on a bunch of lofty aspirations and then wind up dropping off after a few months or a few weeks, never getting to exactly where I’d hoped I would by the time the next December 31st rolled around. And it always felt terrible, because I thought I was failing. In 2016, I decided to try something new.
Jan 4, 2017
A Fun & Fresh California Home
Name: Amber Location: Long Beach, California My husband and I recently moved into this space, and we decide to take on a small renovation. It’s my own home, so I wanted to take some risks and I wanted it to be a little fun. As a relatively new designer I wanted to take the opportunity to design something that reflected my personal design aesthetic which is midcentury, eclectic, and can be a little glam too. The space had good bones, but it was dated.
Jan 3, 2017
Before & After: A Space That Can Do it All, and Does it in Style
Michelle stepped in to help a grad student create a stylish and functional space that she could love for all of her harried, paper writing years. She added color and fun without creating a room full of distractions. From Michelle: This grad student was moving into an apartment that she would live in for the next five years. Mina had a small budget, but a lot of style. Her space was a blank canvas, as she was starting from scratch.
Jan 3, 2017
10 Grocery Shopping Lessons We Learned Last Year
(Image credit: Michaela Cisney) From Kitchn → 10 Important Things We Learned About Grocery Shopping This Year
Jan 3, 2017
15 Home Organizing Mini-Tasks You Can Tackle in 15 Minutes
Okay, so you’ve got a few minutes before the newest episode of your favorite show comes on—how do you spend it? You could flip through the channels to find something random to watch until it starts, or, you could work towards making your home a more beautiful, organized place (and make your life a little bit easier). Need inspiration? Try one of these quick tasks… Are your books actually organized, or do you just place them wherever you have room on a shelf?
Jan 2, 2017
A Vintage Chicago Home with a Personal Artistic Touch
Name: Roger Location: Chicago, Illinois Our home is considered a Vintage home. It has four bedrooms and the upstairs is a bedroom suite. There is also a basement and one car garage. We are located on the northwest side of Chicago and we live across the street from a large public school which is grades K to 12 that takes up the entire block. We choose to live here because my husband works downtown and we wanted to be closer and have the opportunity to utilize public transportation.
Jan 2, 2017
Before & After: Modernizing a Master Bath
This master bath had plenty of space but not a lot of function. Kendra set out to not only upgrade and maximize the utility of the space, but to create a calm and serene atmosphere. From Kendra: This master suite had taken on minor renovations before, but nothing that allowed it to shine and become a truly functional and relaxing oasis. This space had an outdated standing shower, no access to the walk-in-closet and overall lack of functionally.
Jan 2, 2017
The Questions about Sharing a Small Space You’ve Been Too Polite to Ask: Laine & Marni Tell All
Whether you’ve been contemplating moving in to a small space with a significant other, friend or roommate or are just curious about how two people can fit all of their stuff into so few square feet, you’ll want to check out Marni and Laine‘s illuminating answers to these small space sharing questions — you’ve probably been too polite to ask. Marni: I think we’re good at talking it out.
Jan 2, 2017
No Excuses: 3 DIY Projects Too Easy NOT to Make in 2017
When we moved to our Canadian home in the middle of the winter, furniture-less and looking for indoor weekend activities, we turned to Home Depot and online tutorials and decided to make some stuff. Here are three surprisingly easy and effective projects we think you should try at home in 2017 — you can see them in our recent house tour. This is by far the easiest DIY we tackled. It takes all of two steps: screwing a bracket to the wall and wrapping a pendant light around it.
Dec 31, 2016
A Chicago Couple’s “So Us” Vintage & Modern Mix
It seems like a constant challenge to find space for art supplies, music equipment, books and records, but this couple loves using their home to showcase their passions.
Dec 30, 2016
10 Classy Champagne Flutes Under $10
From Apartment Therapy → Budget Basics: 10 Beautiful Champagne Flutes Under $10
Dec 30, 2016
Eyesore No More: Our 10 Favorite Kitchen Transformations of 2016
Sure, we might all want to freshen our living room or bedroom, but no room can get dated, dingy, and even dangerous as quickly as a kitchen can. These 10 amazing makeovers, ranging from $200 DIYs to splashy professional jobs, show the power of paint, paring down, and—for crying out loud—new cabinets.
Dec 29, 2016
What’s Your Type? Fonts and their Furniture Doppelgangers
It started, as things so often do, with a Comic Sans joke. From there, our team Slack chat was abuzz with fonts and furniture (and decor) comparisons. Below are a few highly scientific, internationally renowned design (graphic): design (furniture) analogies from the creative minds of Apartment Therapy Editorial. Poor, poor Comic Sans. It just can’t catch a break! It has become the internet’s favorite whipping boy, shorthand for outdated taste and mom vibes.
Dec 29, 2016
Same Space, Whole New Look: Our Favorite Room Transformations of the Year
Warning: If winter has you stuck inside, growing increasingly sick of your same four walls (while grateful to have walls, of course), these 10 incredible redesigns might push you into a repainting, redecorating, cabin-fevered frenzy. Whether you’re considering slapping on a coat of paint or are ready to gut the place, there’s at least one project here that’s sure to inspire.
Dec 28, 2016
7 Tricks to Learn from Creative Renters
From Apartment Therapy → Seven Habits To Learn From Ridiculously Creative Renters
Dec 28, 2016
Goal (Dis)oriented: Why I’m Setting Intentions for 2017 Instead of Resolutions
I’ve been setting New Year’s goals and resolutions for like, forever. Every December 31, I sit down to craft a super long list of things I want to achieve in the New Year. Every year, I tick a few things off my list, which feels incredible, but the things I don’t accomplish make me feel like I didn’t do enough. (Sound familiar?) Instead, for 2017, I’m doing things a little differently—opting for New Year’s intentions instead.
Dec 28, 2016
Mindful Money: Habits to Encourage Abundance & Help You Hang on to More of Your Money
When it comes to making more money, we tend to focus on working hard, landing that new job or getting that promotion—often overlooking how powerful our thoughts are at manifesting our reality. When you change your relationship with money, you might find that you’re able to hang on to more of it. Here, I’m sharing four of my favorite money habits that will help keep you in an abundant state of mind. Anytime money flows into your life, feel gratitude for it.
Dec 27, 2016
Get Inspired to DIY: Our Favorite Before & After Furniture Transformations of the Year
Who among us hasn’t dragged home a $5 garage sale chair or a battered bookshelf left on the curb, convinced that we could make something out of it? Whether by painstakingly restoring it to its former glory or by giving it a major makeover, we just know something special is lurking beneath the cobwebs, scratches, or worse.
Dec 26, 2016
In Vino Veritas: The 9 Most Wine-Obsessed Moments of 2016
After much contemplation, we are still having trouble thinking of a moment in which wine wasn’t winning, and this year has been no exception. The much talked about beverage is arguably the cool kid of boozy drinks. As if they’d been stored in a cellar until optimal maturation, the multitude of wine-inspired ideas that continually gushed forth in 2016 prove that nearly everyone and everything wants to be associated with wine.
Dec 24, 2016
Before & After: A Storage-Friendly Bathroom Makeover for Under $800
Ashley wanted a bathroom update that was stylish, full of storage and helped maximize the space of her small bathroom. By pulling in a surprising piece of furniture and painting the space a calming color, she created a bathroom that blends form and function. From Ashley: The tiny half bathroom connected to the master bedroom was original to the 1972 house and in desperate need of an update.
Dec 24, 2016
The Year’s Most Impressive Bathroom Transformations: Best of Before & Afters
A dreary bathroom seems dirty no matter how clean it actually is, so giving it a fresh coat of white paint, additional lighting, and sparkling tiles can completely transform the look and feel of the room, all while making the weekly cleaning feel less Sisyphean.
Dec 24, 2016
Jazz Up That Mason Jar & Make it Feel Gift-Worthy
(Image credit: Maria Siriano) From Kitchn → 5 Ways to Make a Mason Jar Feel Gift-Worthy
Dec 23, 2016