Wooden cabinet with glassware, dishes,
Before & After: A Laminate Cabinet Gets a Face-lift
This laminate cabinet hadn’t seen the light of day in awhile, storing odds and ends in a basement. But when Jessica and her husband moved into their new house and were looking for furniture they could make their own, they decided to try and brighten this dark piece with paint to fit the style of their new dining room. From Jessica: It is a laminate cabinet that I first lightly sanded and then used a glossy surfaced primer on to give it a good base coat.
Feb 23, 2014
Laura & Ray’s Art-Filled Austin Home
Name: Ray and Laura Uhlir plus pups Milly and Ernie Location: Cherrywood neighborhood; Austin, Texas Size: 1350 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; owned You know those couples who are insanely talented individually and together are so perfect for each other you believe in the power of love? Laura and Ray are that couple.
Feb 23, 2014
A New Headboard by Bedtime: 12 Unusual & Affordable DIY Headboard Ideas
Looking to make a bold impact with your bedroom decor? We showed you unusual items to use as nightstands last week, but the sides of your bed aren’t the only place you can make a visual statement in your bedroom. Why not show off your personality with an unusual headboard, too? We’ve got 12 fun ideas you could DIY today. Top image: Hang a shag rug!
Feb 23, 2014
Before & After: From Heavy Hutch to Modern Kitchen Island
This heavy kitchen hutch was no doubt functional — with drawers and doors it’s got plenty of storage. But its dark color, outdated look and heavy feel wouldn’t make it welcome in any kitchen, let alone a bright one. That’s why Elise made some changes, and this hutch has been converted to a handy modern kitchen island. From Elise: We re-purposed the base of this kitchen hutch to serve as an island for a kitchen.
Feb 23, 2014
Before & After: Kristi’s DIY Reclaimed Wood Fireplace
Is your home saddled with a blah fireplace mantel and surround? Unless you like flaunting your big screen TV, the fireplace can often be the living room’s main visual focal point. Why not really make it stand out? That’s what Kristi did, reclaiming wood in the process. It took nearly eight hours for this transformation, but the end result is way worth it!
Feb 22, 2014
Martijn & Melissa’s Mauritius Apartment
Name: Martijn & Melissa Location: Mauritius We live currently in a small apartment in Mauritius, after a year in living in Martijn’s home country, Netherlands. The apartment was first just a “big” room with its own bathroom, but we decided to move in and make it a cozy apartment and save money till we are done building our next home. The size of the apartment was challenging, specially after we adopted Auggie our dog.
Feb 22, 2014
How to Lock Used Furniture (If the Keys Are Long Gone)
Have you ever come across a cool thrift store furniture find — perhaps a filing cabinet, desk or credenza — that had your style, but also had a lock with keys long since gone? Or have you lost your keys to a piece of furniture in your home? It’s not impossible to restore locking function to vintage and antique furniture finds; here are a few tips on where to start from a locksmith.
Feb 22, 2014
Before & After: Chelsea’s Buffet Transformation
Chelsea loves refinishing furniture, really believing in and being lured by the beautiful process of completely transforming an unwanted furniture piece in to one coveted! Structurally sound, heavy, sturdy and interesting, this buffet spotted at her local Goodwill thrift store had all the characteristics that Chelsea looks for when hunting for a piece to transform. And the $15 price tag was a sweet bonus! From Chelsea: This piece got a complete makeover, starting with hardware.
Feb 22, 2014
IKEA Responds: Expedit Versus Kallax
In response the the uproar about their discontinuation of EXPEDIT, IKEA released photos of the KALLAX yesterday. Like many of you mentioned in the comments, the KALLAX is a slight tweak on the beloved shelving system: a more scratch-resistant surface, slightly rounded corners, and thinner outer boards, but the same internal dimensions (see the full side-by-side image after the jump).
Feb 21, 2014
Peggy’s Bohemian Beach Home
Name: Peggy North, party designer and owner of Fire and Creme Kids Location: Venice; Los Angeles, California Size: 3,200 square feet Years lived in: 11 years We fell in love with Peggy’s home because it is an inspirational example of how to combine Craftsman architecture with a beach aesthetic, while adding in in your own personal artistic and bohemian flair. Peggy moved from Paris, so of course there is also a European vibe happening as well.
Feb 21, 2014
Before & After: A Dresser Gets Dressed Up With Contrast
Scott picked up this dresser years ago, long before he realized he could, “do cool things with his hands.” Just wait until you see what he did. White + gleamy wood has to be one of our favorite combinations ever. Nice choice.
Feb 21, 2014
We Tried It: Using a Water Bottle to Separate Eggs
(Image credit: Anjali Prasertong) From The Kitchn → Can You Use an Empty Water Bottle to Easily Separate Eggs?
Feb 21, 2014
7 Stellar Kitchen Wallpaper Looks
Feb 21, 2014
Jesse & Jolijn’s Art Appreciation in Antwerp
Name: Jesse & Jolijn Location: Antwerp, Belgium My girlfriend Jolijn and I bought this lovely home in an up-and-coming neighborhood of Antwerp exactly one year ago. We immediately fell in love with the light and the openness of the structure. We decided to keep it clean by painting everything white, and adding color by filling up the walls with art. Being a photographer, I use the walls of our home to try out different types of prints, frames, and combining my work with that of artists I love.
Feb 20, 2014
A Mid-C + Modern Mix in Denver
Name: Wedding Photographer Megan Wynn Location: Capitol Hill; Denver, Colorado Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Indiana native Megan Wynn is an incredible wedding photographer, a free spirit, and one inspiring lady. She recently decided to make a life change and move to a place that had always called her name. Leaving behind her 1930s duplex and vowing to have no regrets, Megan packed up a Uhaul, her golden retriever pup, and headed west for Colorado.
Feb 20, 2014
Before & After: A Honey of a Secretary Desk Update
Heather’s master bedroom has a sitting area that was just crying out for a desk, but since she didn’t want to clutter up her sleeping space with visible papers, she began the hunt for a subtle secretary. It was her mom who came to the rescue and found this blue beauty at a second-hand shop. Heather decided to personalize with paint — a coat of white followed by a custom honeycomb stencil and a hand-painted bee motif. What a cute and kicky way to give it a big dose of fun.
Feb 20, 2014
Natural Cleaning 101: Get Your Microwave Clean With Just a Lemon
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From The Kitchn → How To Clean Your Microwave Naturally With Just a Lemon
Feb 20, 2014
Before & After: Sarah’s Stairs Go Faux (In The Best Way Possible)
After she pulled up the carpet on her stairs, Sarah tried to cover her poor quality stair treads with paint, but she wasn’t satisfied. She really wanted oak, but didn’t have room in her budget so she got really, really creative. Sarah did an amazingly realistic faux bois to mirror the look and feel of wood and she managed to do it super affordably. She chose three paint colors to match the base, midtone, and darkest tone of her floor, and spent just $2.
Feb 19, 2014
Kim’s Petite Perch in Montmartre
Name: Kim Location: Montmartre – Paris, France I moved in to my Montmartre apartment in Paris five years ago and have steadily collected vintage finds (a mid century table, a Charlotte Perriand Lamp) and contemporary pieces (Verner Pantone chair, Habitat sofa, Ferm Living and Donna WIlson soft furnishings) to create a modern eclectic decor.
Feb 18, 2014
Before & After: 70s Cane Shelving Unit Gets a Bold, Bright Update
Erin found this vintage cane shelving unit online for $10. She was decorating her home office and really needed more storage, and the interesting details on this shelving unit caught her eye. She kept the project ultra low-budget by hitting up her garage for the materials for her makeover. Erin tells us she used an undercoat so there was no need to sand, and once dry, followed it up with two layers of glossy, red enamel spray paint. We just love her big, bold color choice.
Feb 18, 2014
How to Paint Over Vinyl Floor Tiles
Feb 18, 2014
10 Tips on Developing Your Own Style
I’ve always thought that the best House Tours on Apartment Therapy are the ones that clearly reflect individual styles and tastes. These looks into others’ homes definitely inspire us all to want to create spaces that show off our own personalities, but that sometimes can be easier said than done. If you are feeling stuck, here are some tips to help you be mindful and stay purposeful about developing your own style! 1. Surround yourself with inspiration.
Feb 17, 2014
Before & After: Former Firehouse Gets a Massive Facelift
Who hasn’t dreamed of living in an old, converted firehouse? Aaron and Heather took on just such a massive building in St. Louis (complete with a fire pole in their dining room) and are slowly working on the renovation, room by room. First up is their parking bay, formerly for the trucks and gear…are you ready? Wow. The huge open space is now used for their photography business, and is the perfect blank slate for photo shoots and meeting clients.
Feb 17, 2014
Before & After: A Rustic Nautical Bedroom Makeover
Lauren and her husband both have great opinions about home decor, which at first meant it was a bit of a journey finding their shared style. But after tackling their bedroom together and combining both their ideas and tastes, it’s a fun, personal space that’s proof sometimes two styles are better than one! From Lauren: For four and a half years we’ve slept on a boxspring and mattress without a bed frame.
Feb 16, 2014
Kirstie’s Colorful English Townhouse
Name: Kirstie Challis Location: London, England When we bought the house everything was brown — floors, walls and ceilings! It had no central heating and was freezing cold. Now there is colour and warmth everywhere. We lived in Asia for nearly a decade and tried to create a modern Asian vibe in an English townhouse Thanks, Kirstie! • Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
Feb 16, 2014
Miles & Antena’s Laid Back Coastal Home
Name: Antena and Miles David Location: Newport, Rhode Island Size: 1900 square feet Years lived in: 11 years; owned When Miles and Antena bought their Newport home eleven years ago, they loved the bones of the traditional Victorian structure, but envisioned a transformation that would infuse the 1892 building – filled with drab colors, floral wallpaper and period decor – with the bright coastal charm of a seaside cottage.
Feb 16, 2014
Before & After: Plywood Trash to DIY Desk Treasure
Sarah had been knee-deep in a pile of plywood scraps while tackling a year-long kitchen renovation. There were scraps that were too big to toss, but too small and damaged to make anything of use. Except that Sarah totally came up with a creative way to use them. And a gallon of wood glue was involved!
Feb 16, 2014
Before & After: A Dining Room Designed on a Dime
Danielle fell in love with the dark wood details and trim throughout this 1927 Dutch Colonial house when she moved in last summer. Though the wood is gorgeous, Danielle felt she needed to work to brighten the space to create the warm and welcoming look she was going for. But she was on a budget! She freecycled major furniture pieces, tackled lots of how-to projects and mixed IKEA textiles with vintage pieces to create a palette of soft colors and treasured finds.
Feb 15, 2014
Emily & Kevin’s Bold, Detailed Condo
Name: Emily & Kevin Location: Reston, VA We bought this condo one year ago in March, and minutes after settling and receiving the key, we came in and began gutting the place. We bought it for one reason: it had an exposed brick wall. After a year of searching and five failed contracts on other properties, I had realized I was going to have to buy a place I was prepared to fix up. And I considering I am quite particular, I can’t imagine doing it any other way.
Feb 15, 2014
Before & After: Bianca’s Simple & Sweet Sideboard for Art Supplies
Bianca, an artist, was on the hunt for a slim and small storage piece to stash her art supplies in style. She was about to head over to IKEA to plunk down some cash on a new purchase, when at the last minute she decided to take a peek at her favorite junk shop. She was in luck! From Bianca: I was searching for a slim sideboard to fit some of my art supplies, such as large canvases and rolled prints.
Feb 15, 2014
No Nightstand, No Problem: 12 Unusual Things to Use Instead
What is a nightstand, anyway? Of course we all know what the pieces identified as nightstands at the furniture store look like: little tables, usually with a drawer or shelf. But all a nightstand really is, at its most basic, is a place to put the stuff you may want immediately before you go to bed or right after you get up, so you don’t have to lean over awkwardly and pick up your iPhone from the floor.
Feb 14, 2014
Before & After: Katherine’s Spicy New Valentine
You never forget your first, especially on Valentine’s Day. This sweet little chair was Katherine’s first ever upholstery project, but as the years went by and her design tastes changed, she fell out of love with the shape of this chair. Luckily, Katherine really knows how to spice up a stale relationship. Her eye had wandered over to a new kind of chair, Anthropologie’s Astrid, but she didn’t exactly have the funds to make it hers.
Feb 14, 2014
Before & After: A Dowdy Dresser Gets Hawaii-Ready
Kasey lives on the island of Kauai and tells us that finding non “island” furniture is hard to do. She’s always on the hunt for statement pieces to decorate her beach-style home so when she found this dresser at the local thrift store for $50, she snapped it up. We just love how Kasey completely changed the look of the piece by removing the doors and giving the interior a beautiful coat of oceany turquoise. The white exterior really highlights the scallop details.
Feb 13, 2014
5 Perfect Grey and Cream Kitchens
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Easy on the Eyes: 5 Gray & Cream Kitchens (And the Perfect Off-White Paint Color)
Feb 13, 2014
Leah & Kris’ Lovely Live/Work Home
Name: Leah & Kris Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada I’m a jewelry designer living in Vancouver, BC with my husband, Kris, who is a music composer for film and television. We were given the opportunity to buy the great space we had been renting for one year and have since made it our own. Running our own businesses from home, we have incorporated both studio workspaces and living spaces to flow dynamically throughout our home. Our space is a three-story, 1080 sq. ft.
Feb 12, 2014
Melissa & Andrew’s Paprika Perch
Name: Melissa and Andrew Location: Kalorama; Washington, DC Size: 620 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Melissa, an account supervisor at an ad agency, and her boyfriend, Andrew, a speechwriter for a member of Congress, moved into this Kalorama apartment two years ago. It appeared last week as a House Call; this week we’ve got the full tour. This is Melissa and Andrew’s first place together, and they moved in with furniture and styles that didn’t blend super well.
Feb 12, 2014
Before & After: Drippy, Blue Mess of a Desk Gets a Makeunder
When Maggie found this great mid-century desk at the thrift store it was feeling a little blue, but for only $14, she took it home anyway and got right to work. Because of the previous owner’s sloppy, drippy paint job, Maggie decided to strip off the color completely and give this piece a true makeunder. Maggie tells us that, “with new handles and a mix of stained wood and white paint, I have an amazing desk with vintage charm that looks brand new!
Feb 12, 2014
Brittany’s Big New Brunswick Bungalow
Name: Brittany Location: Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada The best way to describe our home on the East Coast of Canada is a woodsy retreat with fresh finishes. Our home is located in Quispamsis, in an area known for its outdoorsy roots with cool tree lines and beaches that surround the Saint John River. This 2,700 square foot walk-out bungalow was built by my husband’s company in June 2013.
Feb 11, 2014
How To Make Fart Hydrogen Sulphide Gas Smells Go Away
Warning. This is an awkward post. It’s deep winter and many of us are trapped indoors without the flow of fresh air from open windows. I, personally, have become quite conscious lately of daily smelly moments both at home with guests and at work (the elevator is the worst) where I’ve been trapped by someone passing gas or simply wished the bathroom at home would air out quicker. I myself will plead guilty on occasion.
Feb 10, 2014
Sean & Kristen’s Warm Rustic Style in Seattle
Name: Sean & Kristen Location: Pike Place Market area – Seattle, Washington Our home is a rented 950 square foot condo in downtown Seattle between the Elliott Bay waterfront and Pike Place Market. It’s a large open floor plan studio with exposed brick, beam, and ductwork. We are two commercial product photographers who moved to Seattle a little over a year ago because we both loved the mountains and water.
Feb 10, 2014
Before & After: A Vintage Dresser Gets Light and Bright
Julia’d had a mid-century modern dresser on her wishlist for quite a while, so when she found this beautiful but somewhat beat up piece, she knew it was a prime candidate for a makeover. In order to hide imperfections on the body, Julia used white spray paint, leaving certain wood trim exposed to add dimension. Once polished, that dirty hardware turned out to be gleamy brass, and she added bright pop by painting the inside of the drawer pulls a kicky, neon pink.
Feb 10, 2014
Before & After: From Blah to Beautiful
For anyone who’s ever had a clear idea of what sort of style they wanted their space to look like, failed miserably, and thought they’d have to live with their failures forever, this before and after is proof that even big design missteps can be remedied. The designer who stepped in to refresh this space provides an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to how they got this design back on track.
Feb 9, 2014
Katy’s Charming, Quirky Home in the Sunshine State
Name: Katy Robinson Location: Downtown Orlando, Florida We have been living in this home for a little over a year now. The first time I saw it I was taken by its 1930s bungalow style charm. The hardwood floors, the arched entryways, the original crystal doorknobs and fixtures. The two front rooms have windows running down one whole side, allowing gorgeous light in for a good part of the day.
Feb 9, 2014
Ann and Jack’s Cozy Austin Abode
Name: Designer Ann Tucker, founder of Studio A Group, and Jack Sanders, founder of Design Build Adventure. Along with their baby daughter and Daryl, the 13-year-old lab. Location: Austin, Texas Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned When you think about the dynamic design duo of Jack and Ann, you’re filled with equal parts envy and awe. Creative and energetic, they’ve both made their mark on Austin (and beyond) with their warm and modern aesthetics.
Feb 9, 2014
Before & After: Brass to Bold Bar Cart
Erin found this 1960s era bar cart on Craigslist and had an inkling it could be restored not only to its former glory, but beyond! Simple, subtle yet charming, the shape of this car reminded Erin of her grandparents’ house and all the cocktail parties they used to throw. From Erin: As most things go, this was a bigger project then originally anticipated as I had to sand and use a lot of steel wool to rid it of rust.
Feb 9, 2014
Practice Positive: 3 Things to Stop Saying to Your Home’s Visitors
I’ve had two guests come to my new apartment since moving in a couple of weeks ago, and before they had the chance to compliment the space on its many positive attributes, I apologized (because it wasn’t fully furnished yet — ridiculous, I know). It’s a bad home habit I’ve cultivated over time, and one I’d finally like to break this year.
Feb 9, 2014
Before & After: Krista’s Budget-Friendly, Modernized Kitchen Remodel
Krista and her husband bid and lost out on five homes before they finally purchased this one. With a kitchen that had “grandma wallpaper,” sad tile floor, and odd painted aluminum cabinetry, this couple kept their spirits up after purchasing by daydreaming about a remodel. But, they’d have to do it on a tight budget. The changes to this kitchen were simple, but the outcome quite a step up from the older, dated space.
Feb 8, 2014
Before & After: Ellen’s Dressed Up Table
Ellen was looking to recreate a clothing store feel in her dressing room, and already had a large kitchen pedestal table in the space. When she came across this “ugly” 80s table at a Savers thrift store for $7.50, she knew she’d be able to use it along with her existing table to create a neat cluster effect. From Ellen: I decided to paint both tables a dark gray top with a taupe/brown base as I had seen something on Pinterest and was inspired to recreate that color combination.
Feb 8, 2014