Kitchen

Before and After: This Remodeled Scandi-Style IKEA Kitchen Is *Chef’s Kiss*
This kitchen had a lovely window, but thanks to dark, abundant cabinetry and a peekaboo wall, not much daylight flowed through the space. After living with the less-than-ideal arrangement, its owner was finally able to renovate—and the results are sunny and fun. The kitchen is now so nice and open, awash in natural light reflected off the white, yellow, green, and silvery finishes.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Remodeled Farmhouse Kitchen Has a Huge 16-Foot Island
Welcome to one of the most mysterious kitchens in Before & After history: A kitchen trapped in an octagonal pen, with a built-in fryer and an oppressively low ceiling that spits in the face of the home’s gloriously high ceilings. After a major investment of time, money, and effort, this kitchen is less… unique, but still full of personality. This full-length shot reveals how incredibly high the ceiling is and showcases the odd, church-like feel of this kitchen nook.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
5 Brilliant Ideas to Steal from Julia Child’s World Famous Kitchen
In 1976 Julia Child wrote an essay for Architectural Digest about her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In it she called her kitchen “the beating heart and social center of the household … both practical and beautiful, a working laboratory as well as a living and dining room.” Sounds so lovely, right? We—as her humble servants, now and forever—can’t get enough of her kitchen either.
Cambria Bold
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Newly Reconfigured IKEA Kitchen Has a Bit of a Twist
An interior designer helped update this San Diego kitchen for her parents, who requested “a fresh, modern yet classic style” with a generally black-and-white palette. To keep the budget under control, the family turned to inexpensive IKEA cabinets, then gave them a boost with Semihandmade doors. Beth of 1111 Light Lane did a fantastic job giving the kitchen an update that definitely feels fresh and classic. The Shaker cabinetry is a great balance between modern and traditional.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This New Kitchen Has a Very Unique Tile Backsplash
This kitchen had a ton of pros—stainless steel appliances, wood flooring, tasteful paint colors, granite countertops, a window—but its cons were difficult to work with. The owner called it, “poorly lit, claustrophobic, and tight.” With the help of some professionals and the removal of a wall, the kitchen is now light, bright, and feels much more roomy. Jenn Hair of Jenn Hair Photography is the proud owner of this jewel of a kitchen.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: $800 Went a Very Long Way in This Newly Redone Kitchen
Take this warm-toned kitchen, add one or two gallons of paint and some well-priced accessories then subtract one wall and the textured vinyl floor, and suddenly there’s a brand-new kitchen, full of life, light, and color. And all for only $800. Kelsey Sigars—@kelseylenesigars on Instagram—made smart, thrifty choices that have transformed this kitchen.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Has a Budget Solution For Dated Cabinet Doors
This kitchen had tons of storage space, a generously proportioned island with a breakfast bar, plenty of lighting, and a nice-sized window. But as its owner explained, “It’s actually a great space and it could be way worse but it’s definitely not my style.” Time for a budget-friendly upgrade! Bre Bertolini—@brepurposed on Instagram—transformed this kitchen, mostly thanks to paint.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Formerly Dated Kitchen Now Belongs in the Current Decade
While this floral fabric is definitely fabulous, the table has tons of rustic charm, and the kitchen as a whole has enviable amounts of both storage and daylight, it was ready for a change. Enter honeycomb tiles, a tulip table, and a whole new look. Tiffany Kalloor—@tiff_kalloor on Instagram—breathed life into this kitchen by going back to the classics: a black-and-white palette, subway and honeycomb tiles, a tulip table and shell chairs, and a simplified ceiling and cabinetry.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Gutted Kitchen Is Now Both Hard-Working and Serene
The Philadelphia row house hadn’t been upgraded much in sixty years, so Kristy knew it would be a fixer upper when she bought it. Kristy loves to cook and wanted to create the perfect workspace, so she put a lot of attention into the kitchen. Because of the nature of the renovation loan Kristy took out, she had to hire approved contractors to do most of the work. But that doesn’t mean it was easy.
Emily Shwake
May 3, 2019
Before & After: This Kitchen’s $7,500 Facelift Was a Smart Use of Money
When Heather Knight moved into her new home, she had to focus on more urgent repairs and wasn’t able to put as much money into the kitchen as she would’ve liked. While the space was in good shape, it was dark and a little too dated for her tastes. With some pretty clever spending, she pulled off a pretty impactful renovation project.
Emily Shwake
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Flips the Script on Beige and Boring
Ida recently stumbled across images she took the day she closed on her condo. Apart from the fantastic light, which is one of the reasons she and her husband were sold on the place, the kitchen was pretty basic and humdrum. It’s come a very long way in the three years since this photo was taken. What was a beige and boring room now feels warm and welcoming. Ida did a wonderful job reviving this kitchen into something totally new, without changing the layout or moving things around.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Curvy Kitchen Islands Are Trending, and I’m All In
Kitchen design has kind of been the same for a few years now—subway tile backsplash, splashy pendant lights, as big of an island as possible, and maybe some open shelving for good measure. Cabinet color has started to shift a little bit from all white to a little more bold in some instances, but it hasn’t fully taken off yet.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
13 Classic Kitchen Staples We’re Buying at IKEA for Under $10
The only thing better than a stylish kitchen utensil is one that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily, IKEA is brimming with inexpensive, Scandi-style kitchen essentials that probably cost less than your fancy morning coffee. From wine racks to colanders, here are 13 go-to kitchen wares at IKEA for under 10 bucks.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Goes from Dark and Cramped to Light and Bright
This kitchen was small and it didn’t help that it had a tiny, barely usable breakfast nook just off to the left. Honestly, I don’t think a bagel, let alone a human, could fit in that space, so it just didn’t make sense to keep it. On top of that, the small kitchen was dark and uninviting.
Anita Shriver
May 3, 2019
Your Knife Block Is Full of Mold—Here’s How to Clean It
Here’s the thing about knife blocks: We don’t really recommend them. They can dull the blades of your knives as you drag them in and out of their holders, they’re often sold as an expensive set with knives that you really don’t need, and they can harbor some serious mold (and maybe even bacteria) in those dark, hard-to-reach slots.
geraldinemcampbell
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Home’s Remodeled Floor Plan Shows How to Maximize Space Wisely
This 925-square-foot apartment was renovated in about 3.5 months.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Before & After: A Brown, Dated Kitchen Gets a $40K Remodel
Name: Claire Armstrong, boyfriend Andy, and two cats, Toki and Aspen Location: Glassell Park — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, owned This house was built in Mar Vista in 1939 and moved to the current lot in Glassell Park in 1956 along with a detached garage from South LA. It has only had one owner who tended a beautiful garden and had interesting taste in wallpaper and DIY improvements.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
DIY Wood Planked Ceiling
I have to admit, I’ve never really thought of the ceiling as something you can DIY. Christina proves that you not only can, you can do it beautifully. And while this project may not be for the DIY-faint of heart, it can definitely provide some inspiration. Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: Weekend Cost: $100 2x4s Tongue and groove wood planks Wood stain Crown molding Saw Build a frame on the wall out of 2x4s. Stain the wood planks ahead of time.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
Phil and Bowha’s Open and Airy Family Kitchen
Project by: Phil and Bowha Location: Bakersfield, California This beautiful home is located in the Southern California community of Rosedale, which was historically a country town that was founded as a colony of English farmers back in 1891.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Wonderfully Easy & Quick Kitchen Cabinet Pull DIY
An easy way to dress up any kitchen is to switch out the dated drawer and cabinet pulls. With so many options out there it can be hard to narrow down the search (and it can be easy to spend much more than initially planned). But have you ever thought of making them yourself? Sarah did just that! After painting her rental’s super basic kitchen cabinets a dark moody color (Behr’s Submarine Grey) she installed her DIY leather pulls and took her bland stock kitchen to a whole new level.
Emma Fiala
Apr 30, 2019
Wishing for a Colorful Smeg Fridge? Here’s How To Paint a Vintage Refrigerator Instead
Everyone loves the look of a vintage refrigerator — especially a colorful model. If you’re really lucky, you bring home a brand new Smeg, or Big Chill for your kitchen. But if you’re a purist, or on a slimmer budget, you make your dream of a colorful vintage refrigerator come true for much, much less by rolling up your sleeves and doin’ it yourself.
Ashley Poskin
Apr 30, 2019
A Kitchen Opens Up for Entertaining
Project by: Rebecca Chan Location: Toronto, Ontario My kitchen used to be a small extension of the main floor, cut off from the rest of the living/dining area. Opening up the wall was our main priority, which would make the whole main floor feel much larger and open concept. We had to move our electrical, main stack and water lines, which ended up taking a whole week to move. This ate up a big chunk of the budget, but it was so worth it to do.
Nora Taylor
Apr 30, 2019
A Lovingly Made “Take Your Time” Kitchen Makeover
Project by: Émilie Location: Quebec City, Canada We bought our 1970s bungalow almost six years ago and we’ve been renovating it ever since, from the roof to the basement. Our biggest and most challenging project was definitely the kitchen. My husband, who is quite handy but no professional carpenter, decided to make all the hardwood cabinets by hand.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Dangerous & Dated Kitchen Gets a Much Needed Makeover
Project by: Nadya Location: Brisbane, Australia Our small home was built in 1959, and when my husband and I bought it, I really thought I could deal with the “charming” old galley kitchen.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Beach Condo Kitchen Leaves the Sea of Beige Behind
Wendy is doing Florida her way. After snatching up a beach condo with a view, she set about giving the outdated kitchen some much needed pizzaz. Treating her new digs as a blank slate, she added color and mid-century flair, giving the kitchen updated style. From Wendy: Move over snowbirds, soon the sounds of The Rolling Stones, The Cars and even a little Pink Floyd may be drifting through your condo corridors as your new Baby Boomer neighbors move in.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Modern Copper Kitchen Hanging Rack You Can DIY
Melissa and James are just renting this cozy Cape Town apartment, but as avid entertainers (and Melissa a soy candle maker), updating the kitchen was a necessity. Old, dark wood cabinetry was given a crisp coat of white paint. And an eye-catching cut vinyl piece above the stove adds pattern and drama to the room. But while the whole kitchen features lovely elements, there’s one item that stood out the most to me: the hanging copper pipe rack.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 30, 2019
This Is How Much It Costs to Cover Your Rental Cabinets in Washi Tape
There are two house tours in which the renters decided their apartments’ plain, boring kitchen cabinets weren’t cutting it. Renovating wasn’t an option, but these clever renters found a way to add color and pattern anyway: with washi tape! Both examples are vibrant and unique, but how much does it cost to cover your kitchen cabinets in tape? And how long does it take to do it? We got the lowdown.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 30, 2019
Before & After: A Cookie Cutter Suburban Home-Turned-Vintage Surf Hideaway
Name: Rachel and Nick Kuchar Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii Size: 2,040 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned We turned our cookie cutter suburban home into the vintage surf hideaway we had dreamed of. We were given a 1950s Gordon & Smith longboard from a relative and that began our love affair with the era. I asked my husband, a graphic designer, to make some art for the house since I couldn’t find anything that was just right.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
A Renovated 1950s House Is Full of Colorful Tile Inspiration
Name: Stacy and Ben Location: San Diego, California Size: 2,930 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned It was the enviable views of the ocean and quirky mid-century details that appealed to Ben and Stacy when they bought this house, which hadn’t been renovated since it was built in 1958. Located in a bohemian beachside community in San Diego, the couple was expanding their family and looking for a place to settle where growing kids would feel comfortable for many years to come.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 30, 2019
3 Reasons You Should Label Everything at Home
Here's why labeling is key to a well-maintaned organizational system
Shifrah Combiths
Apr 28, 2019
Before and After: Pops of Pastel Bring Spring Cheer to This $10K White Kitchen
It was blessed with good bones, but also cursed with a purple laminate counter—and swinging saloon doors.
Jamie Wiebe
Apr 25, 2019
Do You Really Need Both Dish Soap and Hand Soap in the Kitchen?
In the age of trendy multitaskers like concentrated cleaners, staying eco-friendly and saving money are, understandably, top priorities. If you can have one product that does a lot of things well, why spend your whole paycheck only to waste plastic and take up hard-fought storage space? Which begs the question: Do we really need both dish soap and hand soap in the kitchen if just one could do the trick?
Ashley Abramson
Apr 17, 2019
Before & After: 15 Creative Kitchen Renovations
There’s a big misconception in the renovating and real estate world that kitchen remodeling needs to be flashy and expensive to be good. That’s simply not true! We’ve found that with a little creativity, some reuse, a new coat of paint — and sometimes not even that much work, kitchen renovations can be not only eco-friendly, but also inexpensive. Here are our 15 best before and after kitchen posts of the year!
Rachel Wray Thompson
Apr 7, 2019
Before & After: A Tudor Kitchen Catches Up To The Times
Erin and her husband Ken purchased their 1934 Tudor-style home in July 2015 and spent that summer and fall renovating much of the house. They were working with a very tight renovation budget, which made tackling the kitchen a particular challenge. It had bug-infested cabinets, a crusty radiator, and a tin backsplash held on with double-stick tape. Since Erin is a DIY blogger and Ken is a commercial construction manager, who better to handle the project?
Dabney Frake
Apr 6, 2019
6 Common Things That Make Your Kitchen Look Messier than It Is
Whether you’re sprucing up for company or just trying to maintain a tidy home on the reg, there are several things that can hinder your efforts. Kitchens are a notoriously tough room; no matter how often you scrub, sweep, and organize, if you do any of these six things, it will still look messy. This one may be obvious, but too much stuff on your countertops is a total no-no.
Alyssa Longobucco
Mar 26, 2019
8 Mistakes You’re Making When It Comes to Organizing Your Freezer
Your freezer is a magical place. It’s a place for pints of ice cream (to devour while binge-watching whatever is new on Netflix); for giant ice cubes (to make adult cocktails); and, most importantly, for nourishing meals (to sustain you when you think your only option is takeout). Obviously, you don’t have to be a wizard in order to take care of this magical place. But you—and your freezer!—will be better off if you know to avoid these common organizing mistakes.
geraldinemcampbell
Mar 20, 2019
10 Brilliant Ways to Make Your Tiny Kitchen Look and Feel Much Larger
Try these tips on for size.
Lauren Masur
Mar 19, 2019
5 Kitchen-Organizing Ideas to Steal from Savvy Dollar Store Shoppers
It's easy to think you need to spend a lot of money to get a well-organized pantry—but you'd be wrong.
geraldinemcampbell
Mar 17, 2019
Tips for Keeping a Clutter-Free Kitchen
With the rise in open space floorplans, having a neat and tidy kitchen has become increasingly important. If not kept in check, kitchen clutter can soon take over the entire space. And a cluttered kitchen is a sure fire path to frequent take-out ordering. Here are tips for keeping your kitchen clutter-free and ready for meal prep.• Keep the countertops clear – Coffee maker, toaster, mixer, blender … so many little appliances, so little space.
Jason Loper
Mar 12, 2019
Before and After: A Super Low ($150!) Budget Kitchen Spruce-Up
And it only took four hours.
Emily Shwake
Mar 1, 2019
How You Can Use Chopsticks to Seemingly Double Your Fridge Space
This quick trick instantly delivers more space—just by raiding your utensil drawer.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Feb 27, 2019
Why You Should Put “Clean the Fridge” at the Top of Your Grocery List
I hate to toss around tired old adages, but the truth of the matter is that taking care of a problem when it’s small is far easier than addressing a bigger problem once it’s grown. “Stitching in time” is particularly relevant when it comes to home-keeping—where procrastination, like not sweeping dirt from hardwood floors, can lead to major tasks like eventually refinishing your scratched-up floor.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 25, 2019
Before and After: We Did Not See This Kitchen Paint Job Coming
But we're so glad it happened.
Tess Wilson
Feb 22, 2019
3 Big Kitchen Trends You’ll See All Over The Place This Year, According to Etsy
When it comes to kitchen decor, some things never really go out of style. (We don’t see the modern farmhouse look going anywhere anytime soon, for example.) Other things, however, have a slightly shorter shelf life. (We’re talking about you, cacti, pineapples, and flamingos!) To find out what’s hot for 2019, we reached out to Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Feb 19, 2019
Before and After: IKEA Brings Some Drama to This Newly Remodeled Kitchen
A Michigan couple took this kitchen down to the studs, rearranging plumbing, moving electricity, installing drywall, painting, tiling, and so much more. With the help of professionals to install countertops and cabinets, they now have a bright black-and-white kitchen that’s meant to be lived in. Clare Conklin—@conklinhouse on Instagram—and husband completely transformed this room, creating a bright new space that looks like a joy to cook, feast, and chat in.
Tess Wilson
Feb 12, 2019
19 Low-Stress, Low-Commitment Ways to Upgrade Your Kitchen This Year
Do you love 2019 already? It’s okay, we’re still on the fence about it, too. What about your kitchen? If you’re not totally enamored of the space, we’ve got some ideas to help you heart it some more this upcoming year. Each idea is seriously easy and inexpensive (especially compared to a renovation) to pull off. And you don’t have to do all 19, either—pick and choose from this list and your kitchen will be more lovable and up-to-date in no time.
Lisa Freedman
Feb 11, 2019
Before and After: $500 Later, It’s Really Hard to Believe This Is the Same Kitchen
Three cheers for lenient landlords.
Tess Wilson
Feb 7, 2019
Before and After: A Neglected, Smelly Florida House Gets a Striking Renovation
Name: Erika Hinn, husband Sam, daughter Christa, and two dogs, Molson and Maple, and two cats Location: Longwood, Florida Size: 1,650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Our house was built in 1978 and had suffered some years of neglect when we first saw it. It was in the process of being purchased by an investor as a flip, but we saw it and even in its terrible, smelly condition I loved it and saw what it could be.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Feb 5, 2019
The Only Two Things That Motivate Me to Keep My Kitchen Counters Clean
Kitchen counters are clutter magnets—plain and simple. As I look at my own countertops, I see seven-ish different piles in the works (kids’ art, unopened mail, recyclables on their way to the bin, etc.). It’s never-ending. And despite being a fairly organized, clean-surface kind of girl myself, and literally interviewing dozens of experts on the subject, there are only two times my countertops ever get clean. Oh, is it midnight the night before an article is due?
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Jan 30, 2019
One Small Push You Can Make Towards a Less Cluttered Kitchen
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. It doesn’t matter if you cook every day or once in a blue moon. You might have a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kitchen, or one with more cabinets than you know what to do with.
Taryn Williford
Jan 28, 2019
This Inside/Out Plan Makes Cleaning the Kitchen a Breeze
The January Cure is all about refreshing and organizing your home for 2019. We tackle one assignment each weekday throughout the entire month. It’s not too late to sign up, and you can visit the Cure page to catch up with the assignments so far. We’re at the end of week two of the Cure! How are you doing? We say it all the time, but I’ll go ahead and say it again: This whole Cure thing is about progress, not perfection.
Taryn Williford
Jan 11, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Got a Huge Return On a $600 Investment
This 100-year-old kitchen had a lot of charm and a ton of beautiful natural light, but it had some major issues—and a century’s worth of random features and finishes. In a poorly scheduled bout of renovation bravado, this kitchen was made over in the few days before Thanksgiving for just $600.
Tess Wilson
Dec 24, 2018
3 Smart Tips That’ll Make Unloading the Dishwasher Way Easier
In my experience, there are two kinds of dishwasher users: people who have figured out the right way to load the dishwasher, and people who really don’t care. Also in my experience, those two camps of people tend to marry each other and spend the rest of their lives complaining about the other’s method of loading or critiquing the other’s loading technique (sorry, husband of mine).
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 23, 2018
The $10 Buy That Makes the Cabinet Under My Sink Less Gross
Fun fact: You don’t have to cringe every time you reach for the dishwasher detergent and get a glimpse of what’s going on under your kitchen sink. Just because that’s what happens for most people doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be for everyone. It’s not how it is for me. I’ve actually got one simple little trick to keep things nice under there. Here’s my secret to keeping the least sexy part of the kitchen looking spiffy.
Sharon Franke
Dec 9, 2018
The $60 Kitchen Rack (from Amazon!) That the Internet’s Obsessed With
Spend enough time looking at kitchen designs, and things start to look familiar. You start to see the same trends and products—KitchenAid stand mixers, pot rails from IKEA, and bright-pink rugs, for example—over and again. Sometimes things become popular because of a dedicated marketing team with a lot of ad dollars, but sometimes it happens on its own because a product is just that useful.
Elizabeth Licata
Dec 2, 2018
3 Smart, Unexpected Things You Can Do With a Dishwasher
Besides, you know, cleaning your dishes, your dishwasher can do a few other fun things.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Nov 24, 2018
How to Fix Your Bottle Clutter Problem with Just $15
Keeping your home free of clutter is a worthy, if lofty goal. As much as we vow to keep the one-in-one-out policy and only keep what makes us happy or is the best version of itself, there are a few things that we do need to hoard in multiples—and sometimes there’s no way around the fact that they’re just plain clutter-y. That’s where smart organization solutions come into play.
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 21, 2018
This Stylish Amazon Kitchen Organizer Instantly Creates Extra Storage Space
Every once in a while I come across an organizer that seriously makes my heart skip a beat. It’s rare, so when it happens I have to take a minute to tell you guys about it. Earlier this year, I waxed poetic about this $10 flatware organizer for narrow drawers, which I’ll still talk about to anyone who will listen. And just a few weeks ago I came across this wire under-shelf basket … in copper! Yes, I’ve seen under-shelf baskets before.
Lisa Freedman
Nov 19, 2018
5 Common Kitchen Cleaning Habits You Need to Break ASAP
You know how to clean a kitchen. So do I. But there are things we learned from our parents, shortcuts we developed ourselves, and just straight-up habits that may make our cleaning, well, less than optimal. Heck, half the time I research a story, I learn I’ve been doing something wrong my whole adult life!
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Nov 19, 2018
5 Reasons I’ll Never Put a Command Center in My Kitchen
The kitchen is the de facto command center in most homes. This is where families gather for breakfast and dinner—and homework and work work, too— every day, and it’s the spot to catch your kids or your spouse if there’s something you need to communicate about your day. So no wonder companies and bloggers make a big deal about putting a command center in the kitchen. It sounds so good: a designated spot, bulletin board and all, for controlling your household.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Nov 15, 2018
10 Unbelievably Bold and Unique Tile Ideas to Try
Available in a dizzying array of colors, materials, patterns, sizes, and shapes, tiles are the incredibly versatile and durable decor tool that’s been adorning interiors for thousands of years. Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration or overwhelmed by all the choices available, these 10 one-of-kind rooms narrow in on unbelievably bold and unique looks you can achieve with tile. In Daniel and Diego’s small Buenos Aires, Argentina home, they went BOLD in the bathroom.
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 8, 2018
9 Little Ways to Upgrade Your Kitchen Without Renovating
You're not stuck with what you've got.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Nov 7, 2018
Before and After: This Kitchen Remodel Is a ‘Crazy Magic’ Blend of Industrial and Victorian Styles
This “industrial condo” needed to be transformed into a home to please someone who also loved Victorian homes and an elegant, full-of-antiques style. Somehow they managed to combine those two aesthetics seamlessly. How does this have so much vintage charm yet feel so fresh? That, I suppose, is the magic of Shannon Tate Interiors, who renovated this kitchen for a client.
Tess Wilson
Nov 7, 2018
6 Things You Didn’t Realize About IKEA Kitchen Cabinets
Here's everything you need to know.
Jessica Dodell-Feder
Nov 6, 2018
Kitchen Flooring That Won’t Drain Your Remodeling Budget
When you’re redoing a kitchen, flooring has a huge impact on the way the room looks. The orangey faux terra cotta we inherited in our Victorian kitchen drove me nuts and I couldn’t wait to replace it. New floors aren’t cheap though. If you’re considering an overhaul of your kitchen up to and including the floor, it’s easy to drop way more than you intend to. The good news is you don’t have to.
Dana McMahan
Nov 4, 2018
Before and After: A Very Satisfying $30 Kitchen Cabinet Upgrade
This tiny kitchen was making its owner feel claustrophobic. All it took was $30 and a couple of hours to add breathing room—and beauty—without losing any storage space. Here’s what inspired this ultra-approachable upgrade: Unfortunately, I have a tiny kitchen… as in “two’s a crowd” kind of tiny. Cabinets on top, limited counter space and cabinets on the bottom. Pretty standard and does the job, usually.
Tess Wilson
Oct 31, 2018
The 5 Biggest Design Mistakes People Make in Their Kitchens, According to Designers
When taking on a home improvement project as major, time-consuming, and expensive (!!!) as designing a new kitchen, the last thing that you want to do is make a few choices now that you end up regretting later—especially if that ends up meaning you wasted money. To help identify the biggest money-wasting no-nos to avoid, we consulted a few kitchen design experts. Having been around plenty of renovations, they had some good live-and-learn lessons and what-not-to-dos to share.
Lauren Masur
Oct 29, 2018
Before and After: An ’80s Bachelor Pad Gets a New Minimal, Modern Kitchen
This ’80s kitchen had ample cabinet space, a dishwashing sink, and wonderfully high ceilings—but the rest of it needed some major work. One excellent interior designer to the rescue… Before we admire the kitchen today, let’s take a step back and learn more about what it look liked before—and its owner: Drew is a bachelor living in Santa Monica. We were introduced by a mutual friend whose home I also helped design.
Tess Wilson
Oct 24, 2018
The Frightening Reason You Shouldn’t Use Contact Paper in Your Kitchen Cabinets
An $8 roll of contact paper can do wonders for your home. You can use it to upgrade old furniture, modernize shelves, elevate countertops, or even forge a backsplash. For the budget-conscious, it’s almost too good to be true. And, as it turns out, some people say it just might be. Why? Apparently cockroaches love contact paper. “Cockroaches will eat almost anything, far beyond what we think of as food sources,” says Howard Bright, the owner of Anti-Pesto Bug Killers.
Brigitt Earley
Oct 18, 2018
Before and After: This $350 Kitchen Redo Is Filled with Smart Rental Tricks
You know the drill: Any improvements made to this rental kitchen needed to be affordable and reversible, so that the renter could get the security deposit back. With just $500 in upgrades and some very clever re-styling, this kitchen now looks like a million bucks. I was all ready to gush over this ridiculously adorable wallpaper, when I realized that it’s not wallpaper: It’s renter-friendly removable decals.
Tess Wilson
Oct 18, 2018
Here’s What That Drawer Under Your Oven Is Actually For
I’ve been cooking for most of my adult life, and I’ve never actually been completely sure just what that drawer under the oven is for. It seems like a good enough place to store baking pans, but that also feels like wasted space, or that it should actually be for something besides storage. I’ve never really used that drawer for anything.
Elizabeth Licata
Oct 17, 2018
These Amazon Dining Room Buys Are Great for First Apartments–And Beyond
When it comes to buying furniture, some pieces stay with you for a year or two, and some for a lifetime. But when it comes to buying furniture on a budget, more can fall into the former camp. And while some inexpensive options might be required to get started while you save up for more investment pieces, it’s also nice when those inexpensive pieces can grow with you.
Marshall Bright
Sep 29, 2018