A dining room table on checkerboard flooring with sheepskin rugs on the chairs.
Get it Right: How To Pick the Perfect Rug Size for Your Room
A new rug can be one of the most anxiety-inducing purchases you can make for your home. For one thing, even the small ones seem shockingly expensive. For another, once you understand the importance of rug size in creating a comfortable space (spoiler alert: bigger is better here) they become even more so. There’s also room use and orientation to contend with.
Sep 21, 2016
A Colorful and Cozy Family Home
Name: Brittany Location: Richmond, Virginia My husband and I chose to live in Richmond because he grew up in the area and I went to school in the city. We live in the city limits but are 2 blocks away from the James River so we get the best of both worlds. I fell in love with our house the moment I saw it because of the character. It was built in 1938 and the craftsmanship is beautiful. We are now raising our two daughters here and love it.
Sep 21, 2016
5 of Brangelina’s Houses to Ugly Cry Over Now That Love is Dead
Even if you normally manage to avoid celebrity gossip, by now you’ve heard that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are getting divorced. While I know it’s ridiculous to get attached to celebrities and especially to their relationships, this one hit me right in the feels. Even Adele was broken up about it. If, like me, you need a good cry, turn up Someone Like You and scroll through the following Brangelina abodes as we mourn the end of an era.
Sep 21, 2016
A Handy Kitchen Cleaning Guide For The Introvert In Your Life
(Image credit: Catherine & Michael Frawley) From Kitchn → The Introvert’s Guide to Cleaning the Kitchen
Sep 21, 2016
Before & After: A Modern, Scandinavian Inspired Look for a Farmhouse Dining Room
Isadora finally found the farmhouse of her dreams and set about creating a modern, Scandi inspired look in the dinning room, while sticking to a small budget. Putting their previous DIY skills to the test, Isadora and her husband created a bright and stylish space that is warmly welcoming. From Isadora: My husband and I have been dreaming of getting a farmhouse in Sonoma County. We spent a year and a half looking for the right property at the right price.
Sep 21, 2016
Real Life in a Small Space: How This Couple Makes a Tiny Studio Work
Andy, Danielle and two cats share a 325 square foot studio in Chicago. Yes, you read that correctly: 325 tiny square feet. They not only do it stylishly, as evidenced by their house tour, but considering their big smiles (and the fact that they’re still living in the apartment together), they also share it successfully! I love this couple and their home, and had to ask them more questions about how they manage in so little square feet.
Sep 21, 2016
A Cozy & Collected Sacramento Home That Mixes High & Low
Name: Amy Location: North Land Park —Sacramento, California I recently moved into a 1948 ranch style home located in North Land Park (Sacramento, CA) of approximately 906 square feet, plus an office (renting). Thankfully the bones are great and because of my busy work life, I wanted the interior decor to feel neat yet relaxed and even subdued. Out of choice and necessity, I always prefer to mix high(ish)/medium/low/DIY and heirloom pieces together.
Sep 20, 2016
Before & After: A Small & Basic Bathroom Blossoms Into a Black & White Beauty
Erin wanted to pack a lot of style into her small bathroom. With her eye on function and organization, she upgraded, replaced and customized her way to a space that really makes a statement. From Erin: The old bathroom was basic and old. Because I had a small space to work with, I wanted to make a statement in my bathroom. I removed the old cast-iron tub and opted for floor-to-ceiling oversized subway tile to draw the eye up and brighten the windowless space.
Sep 20, 2016
A Jewelry Designer’s Color-Rich Dallas Home
Homeowners: Lloyd Pierson and Laura Ginsburg Pierson Designer Name: Michelle Nussbaumer, Ceylon et Cie Location: Dallas, Texas As staunch supporters of color-soaked interiors, we can certainly get on board with a home that embraces a saturated scheme. So was the case for interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer’s lively pad for Lloyd and Laura Pierson, a young couple-turned-growing family in Dallas.
Sep 20, 2016
Real Life Advice: Buying Land and a Tiny Home to Put On It
Do you dream of one day buying a bit of land, plunking down a stylish trailer and living a slower-paced, nature-filled, “tiny home” lifestyle? Or perhaps you’re just curious how anyone goes about getting that kind of life? Either way, you’ll want to check out this advice from Kirsten Dickerson, who lives on 25 acres that includes a 1955 Spartan Mansion (350 square feet) and a 1967 Overlander Airstream (180 square feet).
Sep 20, 2016
A Light & Breezy, Mid-Century Inspired Beverly Hills Apartment
Name: Eric Location: Beverly Hills, California I’m a video-content producer based in Los Angeles. When I first toured my apartment, I was struck by the natural light. The unit has windows on three sides and faces a park across the street, so between the lighting the cross breeze, you feel like you’re outdoors. Living in the flats of Beverly Hills, I live in one of the many apartment buildings built around 1950.
Sep 19, 2016
Behold: The World’s Most Beautiful Cleaning Tools
Beautiful cleaning supplies are so underrated. Just allow me to list for you a few of the perks of splurging (and some of these are certainly a splurge) on some seriously stylish tools. One, if you have limited storage, you should buy gorgeous brooms and brushes that are chic enough to leave out in the open on hooks in the entryway or on a shelf in the kitchen — I mean, these handmade beauties are practically art.
Sep 19, 2016
Notes from a Moderate Couponer: Easy, Non-Extreme Ways to Save Money Using Coupons
Not a couponer? Is that because you refuse to dedicate your Sundays to shuffling through the newspaper, literally clipping coupons to stash away in a tiny accordion file that you flip through as you’re walking down the aisles? Well, you’re living in the past. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. When shopping online—or even in person with your phone in tow (and whose isn’t?) — it’s easier than ever to coupon and only takes a few minutes.
Sep 19, 2016
Before & After: A Galley Kitchen Gets Gorgeous
Erin’s old kitchen looked straight out of Stranger Things and she knew before she moved in that she’d be going to battle with the demigorgon of outdated design (end of reference, I promise). By knocking down the cabinets and updating the kitchen with crisp, modern design she was able to make her galley kitchen functional and beautiful. From Erin: I recently bought a dated condo with hopes to make it my own. The obvious issue in the small galley kitchen was the lack of natural light.
Sep 19, 2016
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These Sheets Are Reasonably Priced and Ridiculously Luxe
We can all agree that high-quality sheets are a solid investment. A little splurge pays off for the place where we spend a third of our lives. Key words: a little. It’s one thing to spend some cash on the right bedding, but quite another to make an appointment with a bedding loans officer. Enter Brooklinen, a Brooklyn-based upstart founded to bring people beautiful, comfortable sheet sets at a reasonable price.
Sep 19, 2016
GIF Magic: MORE Proof Architectural Details (Even Fake Ones) Are Worth It
Last week I showed off some magical GIFS that took out—and added back in—specific types of architectural detail. This week, I’ve got even more, in a similar vein, to look at. Because we’re not all living in our dream homes, seeing how certain types of architectural details add character demonstrates that it may be totally worth the time, money and energy to consider adding them to your own home.
Sep 19, 2016
Before & After: What a Difference a Coat of Paint Makes
Emma and Matt bought a home in Ipswich for its old world character and its affordability. But most of the time “character” often comes with a huge list of DIYs and needed renovations. This home had a particularly dated living area and kitchen that, despite the big windows letting light in, felt quite dark. The living area and kitchen of their home was very dated with the yellow walls, green trim, not to mention the dark wooden ceiling and kitchen cabinets.
Sep 17, 2016
A Bright and Colorful Home Full of Rental-Friendly DIY Fixes
Name: Maggie Location: Sumter, South Carolina In August of 2015 we moved across the ocean from our house in Germany to our South Carolina house. As a military family, this was our tenth move since getting married 18 years ago. Up until this point we had almost always bought homes when moving but we still own our house in Alabama so we decided to rent this time instead. Being in a rental hard for me because I love doing the big, tear down walls, use the power tools type projects.
Sep 16, 2016
The Lemon Squeezer is, in Fact, a Necessary Household Item
(Image credit: Amazon) From Kitchn → Why Everyone Needs a Lemon Squeezer
Sep 16, 2016
How To Pick a Color Palette That Will Pull Your Home Together
You know the feeling when you walk into a space and something isn’t quite right? The furniture is great and the layout works, but it feels chaotic or piecemeal? Nine times out of 10, that feeling is due to the (lack of) color scheme: homes are often designed over time, and without a color plan to work from, can wind up feeling haphazard.
Sep 15, 2016
7 Ways To Add Character to a Cookie Cutter Home
We can’t all live in a gorgeous Haussmannien building on the left bank of the Seine. In fact, some of us have to live in effective but uninspiring homes with little to no architectural detail whatsoever. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do. In fact, there’s a lot you can do, even if you live in the most boring of houses, to add a little character to your space. Check out these 7 DIY projects. Add a ceiling medallion.
Sep 15, 2016
A Sky High Brooklyn Studio
Name: Adam Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, New York My apartment is a 475 square foot studio located on the vein that is Myrtle Avenue running right through the heart of Brooklyn. Filled with tree-lined streets and long-time residents; college students from Pratt Institute and St. Joseph’s college; young professionals and aspiring every-things – it’s one of the most interesting and charming neighborhoods in New York.
Sep 15, 2016
Southern Style: Beautiful Homes in Charleston, South Carolina
Charming in Charleston: Some of the Most Beautiful Homes
Sep 15, 2016
10 Need-to-Know Shortcuts for Preparing Your Favorite Fruits
(Image credit: Kelli Foster) From Kitchn → 10 Small Yet Mighty Shortcuts for Prepping Your Favorite Fruits
Sep 14, 2016
The Things ALWAYS Worth Paying For When You Move
While moving is a great opportunity to pare down belongings and have a fresh start, it’s not on anyone’s list of Fun Things to Do. Spending money on the right things, though, can help keep your move smooth and successful. Whether it’s to stave off potential moving disasters or to make things just a bit easier on everyone involved, these are the things you should never scrimp on when moving. You’re moving on and starting over.
Sep 14, 2016
Would You (Could You?) Live in Times Square?
It’s a fact of life that Times Square is never not teeming with lights, sounds, and people; it’s a permanently buzzing hub in a city that never sleeps. While the area surely has a high concentration of hotels, you might be surprised to learn that people actually live here permanently. According to the Times Square Alliance, 5,800 residents make their homes between Avenue of the Americas and Eighth Avenue, from West 41st to 53rd Streets.
Sep 14, 2016
Before & After: Making the Most of a Victorian’s Charms
Tamsin’s charming old Victorian blessed her with a renovator’s dream come true — gorgeous hardwood floors just chilling underneath carpet, waiting to shine. After setting her floors free, she set about creating a warm and charming living room. From Tamsin: Our home here in Connecticut is a Victorian house and was built in 1900. There are beautiful features that come with a house of this age, all of which make for an interesting space to decorate.
Sep 14, 2016
It’s Time to Go Pro: Find an Expert to Sharpen Your Knives
(Image credit: Brian C. Grobleski) From Kitchn → Why You Should Pay a Pro to Sharpen Your Knives
Sep 14, 2016
A Colorful & Thrifty First Apartment
Name: Suzanne Location: San Diego, California This is my first apartment, a 500 square foot, one bedroom! I moved to San Diego for medical school, and then moved out of student housing my 2nd year. My style involves new and thrift/antique store finds. I love colors and I like mid-century modern.
Sep 13, 2016
The Best Things To Bring a Friend Who Just Had a Baby
(Image credit: Rachel Joy Barehl) From Kitchn → What You Should Really Bring Someone Who Just Had a Baby
Sep 13, 2016
Mad for Plaid: Do You Know Your Tartan from Your Tattersall?
The world of prints and patterns is wide. For instance, what you think is simply “plaid” is far more intricate. All tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans, in fact. There are madras plaids, houndstooth plaids, windowpane plaids, and many, many more. So we beg the question: Do you know one from the other? With fall—the high season of plaid—just around the bend, it might be a good time to polish up on your terminology. As always, we’re here to help!
Sep 13, 2016
Before & After: Goodbye Galley Kitchen!
Lauren’s a big fan of cooking and entertaining, but her cramped galley kitchen was getting in the way of her following her bliss. So she enlisted some professional help and totally transformed her kitchen into a stunning, open space. From Lauren: I recently completed a 3.5 month apartment renovation. The driving force behind the project was my kitchen. I enjoy cooking and entertaining and the confines of the original galley kitchen was not conducive to the way I lived and entertained.
Sep 13, 2016
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Win: $500 from Tempaper to Add Pattern and Color to a Room
Prize: $500 toward purchase at TempaperDesigns.com From: Tempaper® Value: $500 So you desperately want to update a bland room but you’re: (A) scared of commitment; (B) limited by a strict landlord; or (C) unwilling to spend an entire day prepping and painting (no judgement). Solution? Temporary wallpaper. Yes, it’s a thing — and we’re giving away $500 worth of it to one reader! Allow us to introduce you to Tempaper Self-Adhesive, Removable Wallpaper.
Sep 13, 2016
Sharing a Super Small Space: How Two People Live Well in Just 300 Square Feet
Joe and Keith’s Oakland apartment is impressive; it’s comfortable, stylish and full of cool art. But you know what is even more impressive? They make it work, day in and day out, living together in just 300 square feet. The guys generously gave us some of their tips on sharing such a small space… Yes Yes, not counting college dorms. Our good friends were living here before us and we had been over a few times for dinner.
Sep 13, 2016
A Denver Home Mixes Modern & Traditional Style With Surprising DIY Projects
Name: Austin Location: Denver, Colorado I live in Denver on the east side in an up and coming area. My house is a 1400 square foot home with a modern lofty interior. The original house was built in 1925 and was only 500 square feet! When you’re home shopping, you tend to see generic houses, one after another. It’s enough to make you crazy! When I walked into this place, it instantly felt unique. I had a strong connection, it just lacked a personality.
Sep 12, 2016
Before & After: A Living Room is Lightened & Brightened Up
Barbara was tasked with creating a living space that reflected the personality and interests of her clients, all while making sure it was baby friendly. She added pattern, texture and soothing color to create a welcoming family living room. From Barbara: The clients who just moved into this space really wanted their vibrant and eclectic personalities to shine through into their new home just outside of Boston.
Sep 12, 2016
10 Spectacular Spots for Your Magnetic Knife Rack
(Image credit: Samara Vise) From Kitchn → 10 Places to Hang a Magnetic Knife Rack
Sep 12, 2016
Two Homebodies and Their “Heavenly” Brooklyn Apartment
Name: Wesley & John Location: Carroll Gardens — Brooklyn, New York We moved into this 1890s Brooklyn townhouse last summer. We were formerly living in separate windowless dumps in North Brooklyn and when we got engaged last year we decided it was time to grow up and move south, to the land of brownstones and strollers.
Sep 11, 2016
Who’s Cleaner: Men or Women? We Finally Have Answers
Moving in with your significant other isn’t all sunshine, rainbows and picking out throw pillows. It’s a struggle to learn to live together. Think about it: You’re two different people who grew up in different houses around different people, and you’re coming together under one roof for the first time—bringing with you two totally distinct sets of home habits.
Sep 11, 2016
Before & After: A Multi-Purpose Guest Room Perfect for Sewing & Sleeping
Regine had a blank slate of a room and wanted to maximize the utility of the space while crafting a cool and beachy look. With some smart shopping, she was able to transform this space into a chill and welcoming spot! From Regine: Originally this room was a closet and storage for things that didn’t quite have a place, but it came time to make it an official guest room while also making it possible to turn this into a sewing space where I can make clothes.
Sep 10, 2016
A Bright & Pretty Minneapolis Loft
Name: Colie Location: North Loop — Minneapolis, Minnesota This is my one bedroom apartment in the North Loop of Minneapolis. I chose this space because I LOVED the bright white feel and large floor to ceiling windows since there is only lighting on one side. The white kitchen was also a winner for me. I would love to be in an older building with exposed brick, but didn’t really love any of the kitchens I saw. My style is a mix of traditional and eclectic.
Sep 9, 2016
Why Five Spatulas Might Be Better Than One
(Image credit: Meghan Splawn) From Kitchn → Our Favorite Spatulas: 5 Spatulas Are Better than 1
Sep 9, 2016
5 Reasons to Start Collecting Wooden Spoons Immediately
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom) From Kitchn → 5 Reasons to Start a Collection of Wooden Spoons
Sep 9, 2016
A Labor of Love in Southern California
Name: Matt & Amanda Location: Pasadena, California We just finished a bunch of work on our home. I did most of the work myself, including the all of the wood wainscoting, molding and arches. I didn’t do the cat though, that was just right place, right time. A little about us and our house. It’s a 1947 bungalow in west Pasadena – so far west, it’s practically Eagle Rock. We bought it in 2016 and I’ve spent the year fixing it up.
Sep 8, 2016
Partner
We Found Big Inspiration in This Tiny “Home”
We’ve been fans of the tiny home movement from day one and have loved seeing its evolution as it’s gained momentum. So when we heard about Garnet Hill’s mobile boutique — an upcycled shipping container decked out as a shoppable, livable home store, complete with kitchen, bedroom, and bath — we couldn’t wait to climb inside and check it out. It did not disappoint.
Sep 8, 2016
Quiz: What’s Your Home Decor Personality?
Are you the artful bohemian or a new traditionalist? Take this quiz to find out and don’t forget to share your results in the comments! Antsy for your results? Hang tight…they’re coming! Re-edited from a post that originally appeared 09.06.2017.
Sep 8, 2016
Ideas to Help Your Kid Pack Their Own Lunchbox
(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy) From Kitchn → 7 Lunch Box Ideas Kids Can Pack Themselves
Sep 8, 2016