A Charming Maryland Home (With an Enviable Chair Collection)
Name: Annie & Rush Location: Riverdale Park, Maryland I’m in public relations and Rush is an artist. We live in Riverdale Park, Maryland in a 1904 rambler with our cat, Osmond. Our neighborhood is in Prince George’s County, an inner-Beltway suburb of D.C. where we were both born and raised, so when we decided to buy a house it naturally felt like home. We bought our house in 2015 after months of hunting for an affordable apartment. Rents in the D.C.
Jul 7, 2016
Before & After: Annikki’s Living Room Brightener
I know Annikki personally, so I was particularly excited when I found out that she and her husband were not only expecting a baby, they were also figuring out ways to get their new home ready despite their old furniture. Of big concern was the living room, where their “gloomy” seal brown leather wanted an upgrade. With one stroke, they needed to transform this room.
Jul 7, 2016
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A Dog’s Eye View of Aspen’s Comfy, Sunny Brooklyn Abode
Name: Aspen, Huskie/Collie Roommates: Ariel and Andrew Pietrobono Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Size: 600 square feet Years lived together: 2 years Aspen has lived with siblings Ariel and Andrew ever since Andrew fell in love with the pup at a shelter. The three roommates’ Park Slope apartment is cheerful and warm, with plenty of features that Aspen loves — including a long fetch court/hallway — and some touches to keep his humans happy, too. (Hello, natural light!
Jul 7, 2016
Before & After: A Dark Brooklyn Kitchen Gets a Lighter Touch
After living with the dark, dated kitchen in his Ditmas Park apartment for a while (and spending countless hours watching HGTV), Blane decided it was time for a change. On his wish list: lighter cabinets, to brighten up the space, and an island with a worktop, to turn the kitchen’s less-than-ideal L shape into something more user-friendly.
Jul 7, 2016
A Crisp & Classic Canadian Apartment
Name: Ana Maria Location: Ottawa — Ontario, Canada I own an 800 square foot condo in the heart of downtown Ottawa. I have lived in the unit for exactly three years as of today. I purchased the unit for its open concept style and spacious rooms which makes it feel larger than it actually is. I was also attracted to the condo’s classic and high quality finishes that don’t go out of style. My decor style is classic rather than trendy.
Jul 6, 2016
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Morty the Bulldog’s Remarkable Riverside Retreat
Name: Mortimer (Morty), Australian Bulldog Roommate: Danielle Berger Location: Upper West Side, New York, by way of Sydney, Australia Size: 640 square feet Years lived together: Since he was a tiny chubby puppy. Now he’s a rotund 8-year-old! Morty might be Australian by birth, but he’s a New Yorker at heart. His subtly chic Upper West Side digs are the perfect match to his personality: clean, comfortable, and just a bit quirky.
Jul 6, 2016
A Baltimore Loft Full of Art & Light
Name: Nicole & Dave Location: Baltimore, Maryland Nicole and Dave are an artist and designer couple who discovered this hidden 900 square foot gem nestled in South Baltimore. Previously a box factory, the industrial-chic apartment boasts one bedroom, one bathroom and a studio with high ceilings and plenty of natural light. The space was furnished with modern pieces and a growing art collection that play off of the bold window lines and brick work.
Jul 5, 2016
8 Ways to Clear the Clutter and Create Counter Space in a Tiny Kitchen
(Image credit: Lauren Kolyn) From The Kitchn → 8 Ways to Create Extra Counter Space in a Tiny Kitchen
Jul 5, 2016
No Guest Room? 5 Tricks to Make Visitors Feel at Home
The summer is prime hosting season, but the reality is, many of us don’t have the luxury of owning a guest room to offer to friends and family when they pass through town. Yet even in a small space, there are simple ways to make overnight guests feel more comfortable and welcome in your home—even if they’re just crashing on the couch.
Jul 5, 2016
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Pimm the Pup’s Quirky Upper East Side Duplex
Name: Pimm, Mutt and “Ladypup” Roommates: Stacie and Sean Location: Upper East Side, New York Apartment size: 500 square feet Years lived together: Just over a year It’s easy to see why Pimm loves her eclectic Yorkville duplex shared with her humans, Stacie and Sean, so much. With an open circular layout and no doors, she has the freedom to run around as she pleases. And she does. A lot.
Jul 5, 2016
Everyday Savings: Simple Tips to Extend the Life of Your Kitchen Sponge
Nobody likes to throw away money. Even though kitchen sponges are, like, 50¢ a piece, there are still some small, simple habits you can do to squeeze more mileage out of your most hardworking kitchen tool. Ta da! Instantly, your tools last twice as long. Chances are, a smaller sponge can still tackle all your normal use with finesse. In fact, it might make it easier to get into tight nooks. Get yourself a sponge holder that will keep your sponge upright and let air flow all around.
Jul 5, 2016
“Thrift-Find Maximalism” In a London Flat
Name: Anmarie Location: Wimbeldon — London, UK My husband John and I have been renting our south London flat for one year. It’s a two bedroom, one bath, ground floor flat in a purpose-built block of 32 similar flats. In our eight years of marriage we’ve lived in five rental flats and it seems creative decorating has occasionally left us high and not-so dry.
Jul 4, 2016
Go Ahead…Chill Your Red Wine
(Image credit: Sergey Ksen) shutterstock From The Kitchn → A Guide to Chilling Your Red Wine
Jul 4, 2016
How To Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like Another Room In Your Home (for Less than $100)
As soon as summer hits, you may feel the urge to move everything you own outside so you can live under the sun and stars. Utilizing whatever outdoor area you have is especially important when you call a small space home, because it can give you the dining room, living room, or reading nook your place typically lacks. Whether you have a balcony, a rooftop, or an entire backyard to work with, these $100-or-less details will make it feel like an extension of your home. Give your space a glow up.
Jul 4, 2016
Made in America: 9 Brands That You’ll Be Surprised Are Still Manufacturing in the USA
Not everything is imported nowadays. There are plenty of companies out there – even some really, really massive ones – who are still making their products domestically, right here in the U. S. of A. In fact, these nine American-made brands might surprise you. But first, a caveat. There’s a difference between something that’s made and manufactured in the USA, and something that’s made in the USA with foreign parts.
Jul 4, 2016
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What’s Your Furniture Personality Type?
What if furniture could be categorized by personality type? You know, so you could just swipe right when you came across a sexy leather chaise that matched your temperament. We looked at a few of our favorite pieces from American Signature Furniture to decide what their personality types would be — and whom they’re most compatible with. The Mentor Mentors are natural-born leaders and organizers who bring people together, value sociability, and champion education.
Jul 4, 2016
A Bright and Homey Portland Apartment
Name: Ashley Location: Portland, Maine When my fiancé and I moved back to Portland almost two years ago, a lot had changed. Portland had become not just the place to visit, but the place to live. It has many of the same features as bigger cities like New York, but with the easy of a small city. While we knew we wanted to find a place we could make into a home to live in for a while, we didn’t know how hard it would be to find. Real estate had changed.
Jul 3, 2016
Rooms That Get It Right: For Laid-Back, Laissez-Faire Book Lovers Only
The perfectly-coiffed home library look isn’t for everybody. But capturing that “I just threw this here” look is harder than it seems. So for those of us who prefer our book storage to be a little less librarian and a lot more bohemian, here are seven rooms that get it right. A few piles tucked near the end of a desk, with a disco ball centerpiece to make it look more deliberate. Here, a spine shelf offers the backbone to what looks like just a tall stack of books.
Jul 1, 2016
Before & After: This Guy Converted an Old Cargo Van into a Tiny Mobile Apartment
Zach is an all-around creative sort of guy —photographer, filmmaker, art director. Wanting to travel in search of stories to tell, he brought his considerable talent to bear on an old cargo van, making it into a super stylish mobile apartment and studio. He’s now driving around the country, doing freelance work and following his dreams. Zach stripped the van and built it back up with solar panels, working electric, and even a fridge.
Jul 1, 2016
A Virginia Home Full of Pretty Patterns, Plenty of Plants and Travel Treasures
Name: Audra Location: Parkfairfax — Alexandria, Virginia Our 900 square foot condo is located in Parkfairfax, one of the greenest residential areas in the DC metropolitan area. Built in the 1940s, it has plenty of little quirks that you can expect to find in an older home, but we love how it’s built with solid materials like sturdily laid brick and solid woods.
Jul 1, 2016
5 Salad Recipes to Make Ahead and Eat All Week
(Image credit: Christine Han) From The Kitchn → Sunday Night Salads: 5 Recipes to Make Ahead and Eat All Week
Jul 1, 2016
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What’s the Right Furniture for Your Personality?
Value City FurnitureThe MentorThe DreamerThe EntertainerLIVES Get inspired! Visit Value City Furniture for inspiration, more tips and furniture options. This post is sponsored by Value City Furniture. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Apartment Therapy possible.
Jul 1, 2016
A Designer Talks Disguising Ugly Rental Countertops
(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → The Designer Trick for Disguising Ugly Rental Kitchen Countertops
Jul 1, 2016
Real Solutions from Real Homes: Brilliant Ways to Make Room for Your Trickiest to Store Items
Outdoorsy types have their own unique organizing struggles. You see, bikes and surfboards and other sporting equipment are big. And they’re really hard to store neatly at home–especially without a garage or a mudroom or even more than a few hundred square feet to work with. These house tours, though, managed to make it work, finding tight and tidy spaces where they could store some big equipment at home.
Jun 30, 2016
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10 House Hacks for Hosting
Hosting guests on Airbnb is a fun way to get more out of the home you’ve worked so hard on. If you’re ready to get started, bookmark this checklist of simple things you can do to make visitors feel more at home while they’re on the road. Each is simple, but put together they’ll make a big impact. Try them for your next Airbnb crew, and watch your reviews glow. 1.
Jun 30, 2016
5 Contemporary Designs that Completely Redefine the Chair
One of my favorite things about home design is the wonderful variety of ways in which clever designers have re-invented the chair. When you picture a chair you probably think of one of the traditional forms of the chair, with a back and a seat and legs.
Jun 29, 2016
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Best in Show: Presenting Our 10 Favorite House Tour Pets
Over the years, our House Tours have shown how people live comfortably when they truly love their homes. Many of these houses may have a human’s name on the lease or deed, but it’s the four-legged residents who call the shots. Taking our inspiration from realtor.com’s “Pets at Home” video — where we see real pets in real homes they love — we’ve looked back through House Tours history and awarded our pet superlatives!
Jun 29, 2016
7 DIY Sea Salt Cleaners & Scrubs
Jun 29, 2016
A “Mix of Modern and Historical” in Moscow
Name: Maria Location: Moscow, Russia Located in the old district of Arbat in Moscow, Russia, our three bed city center penthouse has lots of charm with its mix of modern and historical. Black marble retro fireplace, a mix of updated granite and original hardwood flooring, tall ceilings with crown molding and bright rooms. It’s a modest 128 square meters (1,378 square feet) but its layout makes our space feel bigger. Originally from the United States, we moved to Moscow as expats.
Jun 28, 2016
What You Need To Know About Removing Temporary Wallpaper, Before You Hang It
Removable wallpaper seems like one of those “too good to be true” design elements. You get the charm and elegance of wallpaper, without having to painstakingly remove it with steamers, hot soapy water, and 22 different types of wall scrapers. Once you tire of it, all you do is just grab a corner and pull it down. A while back, we installed some for a makeover project and then returned after a couple of months to take it down.
Jun 28, 2016
Bikes & Skis & Surfboards, Oh My: Ingenious Ways to Store Gear in a Small Space
Fitting big hobbies—the type that require a board, a helmet, and maybe even a wetsuit—into a teeny-tiny home can be a tall order. Your best bets for storing this space-hogging gear are to work them into your decor plan or place them in often-overlooked spots (aka hide them in plain sight). Here are nine ways to stash sports gear, without cramping your style. This bike rack from CB2 doubles as a shelf, with a small platform to place your water bottle or helmet on.
Jun 27, 2016
Battle of the Sofa Arrangements: Can You Guess Which Saves Space?
A. Two sofas facing each other OR B. A sofa and love seat arranged in the traditional L-shaped arrangement?
Jun 27, 2016
More is More: How to Display Your Most Treasured Collections
For those collecting maximalists among us—who can’t have just one globe, camera, or milk glass goblet, but seem to amass them by the dozen—here are some creative ways to organize and live with the things you love. All of these ideas keep your most cherished items in sight, incorporating them seamlessly into your decor. This is probably going to become your new favorite spot in your home.
Jun 27, 2016
The Best Ways to Save Your Basil Surplus
(Image credit: Jayme Henderson) From The Kitchn → The Best Ways to Preserve Basil
Jun 27, 2016
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How to Put Your Home to Work This Summer
Have you ever let your cousin crash at your place for a weekend? Housed a friend for a couple days after a breakup? Given your parents a place to stay for the holidays so they feel more at home? If so, you’re ready to be an Airbnb host. And when you become an Airbnb host, the benefits go beyond the cash. Learning to market your home and welcome travelers will get you some unexpected gains. (And yes, some expected extra cash.
Jun 27, 2016
A Small, Solar-Powered House in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Name: Jody Location: Round Hill, Virginia We lived in a 3,500 square-foot house, and owned five other traditional American homes. One day, when looking over finances, we realized we were both working to support our home. The house owned us. At the same time, we’d been questioning our carbon footprint. I “blame” that on the Solar Decathlon.
Jun 25, 2016
A Well-Designed Chicago Loft
Name: Mollie Location: West Loop —Chicago, Illinois My husband, Dave, and I have lived in this space for a little over a year. Prior to moving in we did an entire gut rehab of the space. The condo was originally a factory that was later converted to residential condos (imagine maple cabinets and dark granite counter tops).
Jun 24, 2016
Art Power GIFS: See How Art Upgrades These Rooms
Many of us understand that adding art to a room can drastically alter its appearance. But there are so many ways you can use art to make a visual impact; making the decision on where to hang can be overwhelming. These room gifs represent common art-hanging questions—I’ve removed the artwork from the walls to show you just how powerful art can be when its used in the right place and at the optimum scale. Seeing is believing!
Jun 24, 2016
Honey, I Tore Down The House!
Name: Maxwell & Ursula Type of Home: Single-family home built in 1967 Square Footage: 1,800 (Before) Years Lived In: 18 You see that cute house up there? The one I’ve repaired, maintained, painted and decorated for nearly twenty years? I just ripped it down. Want to see? Keep reading… Starting with this post, I’m going to lead you through a year long odyssey that I’ve never been on before: the building of a new house.
Jun 24, 2016
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Milestone Makeovers: Daniela’s Happily Messy Kitchen
Repainting cabinets can be a tricky, tedious task. You have to sand them and strip them. Then when you go to paint them, the application has to be consistent across the corners and ledges of their molding. Add to that the inevitable conclusion of two young kids with a bowl of spaghetti and the cleanup they imply. These were concerns for Daniela, a new mom in a new house. But then this was precisely why she wanted to refresh her kitchen: to create these new memories.
Jun 24, 2016
Meal Minimalism: Eating The Same Thing For Lunch Everyday
(Image credit: Samantha Bolton) From The Kitchn → Why I Eat the Same Thing for Lunch Every Day: Minimalist
Jun 24, 2016
A “Tranquil and Simplified” Minnesota Home
Name: Victoria of Prospect Refuge Studio Location: Fulton Neighborhood —Minneapolis, Minnesota It’s been said that the house is “built like a ship” with a use for every space and nothing extra. This simple 1920s foursquare on the south end of Lake Harriet was ripe for a refresh when Minneapolis designer, and co-owner of Prospect Refuge Studio, bought it in 2014.
Jun 23, 2016
5 Soggy-Proof Salad Bases
(Image credit: Christine Han) From The Kitchn → SUNDAY NIGHT SALADS 5 Salad Bases That Last All Week in the Refrigerator
Jun 23, 2016
The “Must Clean” Daily Routine: 5 Quick To-Dos to Keep Your Home Consistently Spic & Span
There’s no big secret to keeping an impeccable home. It just requires diligence. So we put together a five-part plan that targets the areas of your home most likely to collect dirt, grime and clutter. If this list is all you get to do in the day, consider it a major win, and know that you’re making the best of your homekeeping time. Nothing will take over your home faster. Nothing. First, go through today’s mail and shred or toss unneeded mail into trash or recyling bins.
Jun 23, 2016
A Tiny Stockholm Apartment Makes the Most of 400 Square Feet
400 square feet may not seem like a lot — but that’s reckoning without the ingenuity of Swedish design. Thanks to a simple but very smart floor plan, this diminutive Swedish apartment makes living small look positively luxurious. It’s located in Stockholm, and was once available for sale (but sadly is no longer) from brokerage firm Husman Hagberg.
Jun 23, 2016
Before & After: Carriage Seat Dreams
For anyone who is waiting on an elusive piece of dream furniture, let Robin’s carriage seat offer you some hope. She was able to turn her not-totally-perfect-but-close find into a gorgeous manifestation of her entryway bench dreams. From Robin: I have wanted a carriage seat as a house bench forever. Seriously. The one I scored at an auction was not the one I wished for, but it was close enough.
Jun 23, 2016
Growing Your Own Basil 101
(Image credit: Jayme Henderson) From The Kitchn → Everything You Need to Know About Growing Basil
Jun 22, 2016
Sharing Is Caring in This Bold Nursery
Name: Max & Mia (2 years and 3 months) Location: Austin, Texas My son Maxwell’s black and white nursery was actually featured on Apartment Therapy when he was born in 2014. When I found out I was expecting another baby just 14 months later, I was excited to update the nursery to welcome our baby girl. We absolutely needed another bed or crib and a larger dresser to make room for two kiddos.
Jun 21, 2016