Gold pineapple clock, white tulips in a glass vase, and pencils in a mug on a windowsill.
Don’t Worry About Failing at “Resolutions” This New Year (Just Set Better Goals)
I’ve never been a person who’s good at New Year’s resolutions. I’d always set my sights on a bunch of lofty aspirations and then wind up dropping off after a few months or a few weeks, never getting to exactly where I’d hoped I would by the time the next December 31st rolled around. And it always felt terrible, because I thought I was failing. In 2016, I decided to try something new.
Jan 4, 2017
A Fun & Fresh California Home
Name: Amber Location: Long Beach, California My husband and I recently moved into this space, and we decide to take on a small renovation. It’s my own home, so I wanted to take some risks and I wanted it to be a little fun. As a relatively new designer I wanted to take the opportunity to design something that reflected my personal design aesthetic which is midcentury, eclectic, and can be a little glam too. The space had good bones, but it was dated.
Jan 3, 2017
Before & After: A Space That Can Do it All, and Does it in Style
Michelle stepped in to help a grad student create a stylish and functional space that she could love for all of her harried, paper writing years. She added color and fun without creating a room full of distractions. From Michelle: This grad student was moving into an apartment that she would live in for the next five years. Mina had a small budget, but a lot of style. Her space was a blank canvas, as she was starting from scratch.
Jan 3, 2017
10 Grocery Shopping Lessons We Learned Last Year
(Image credit: Michaela Cisney) From Kitchn → 10 Important Things We Learned About Grocery Shopping This Year
Jan 3, 2017
15 Home Organizing Mini-Tasks You Can Tackle in 15 Minutes
Okay, so you’ve got a few minutes before the newest episode of your favorite show comes on—how do you spend it? You could flip through the channels to find something random to watch until it starts, or, you could work towards making your home a more beautiful, organized place (and make your life a little bit easier). Need inspiration? Try one of these quick tasks… Are your books actually organized, or do you just place them wherever you have room on a shelf?
Jan 2, 2017
A Vintage Chicago Home with a Personal Artistic Touch
Name: Roger Location: Chicago, Illinois Our home is considered a Vintage home. It has four bedrooms and the upstairs is a bedroom suite. There is also a basement and one car garage. We are located on the northwest side of Chicago and we live across the street from a large public school which is grades K to 12 that takes up the entire block. We choose to live here because my husband works downtown and we wanted to be closer and have the opportunity to utilize public transportation.
Jan 2, 2017
Before & After: Modernizing a Master Bath
This master bath had plenty of space but not a lot of function. Kendra set out to not only upgrade and maximize the utility of the space, but to create a calm and serene atmosphere. From Kendra: This master suite had taken on minor renovations before, but nothing that allowed it to shine and become a truly functional and relaxing oasis. This space had an outdated standing shower, no access to the walk-in-closet and overall lack of functionally.
Jan 2, 2017
The Questions about Sharing a Small Space You’ve Been Too Polite to Ask: Laine & Marni Tell All
Whether you’ve been contemplating moving in to a small space with a significant other, friend or roommate or are just curious about how two people can fit all of their stuff into so few square feet, you’ll want to check out Marni and Laine‘s illuminating answers to these small space sharing questions — you’ve probably been too polite to ask. Marni: I think we’re good at talking it out.
Jan 2, 2017
No Excuses: 3 DIY Projects Too Easy NOT to Make in 2017
When we moved to our Canadian home in the middle of the winter, furniture-less and looking for indoor weekend activities, we turned to Home Depot and online tutorials and decided to make some stuff. Here are three surprisingly easy and effective projects we think you should try at home in 2017 — you can see them in our recent house tour. This is by far the easiest DIY we tackled. It takes all of two steps: screwing a bracket to the wall and wrapping a pendant light around it.
Dec 31, 2016
A Chicago Couple’s “So Us” Vintage & Modern Mix
It seems like a constant challenge to find space for art supplies, music equipment, books and records, but this couple loves using their home to showcase their passions.
Dec 30, 2016
10 Classy Champagne Flutes Under $10
From Apartment Therapy → Budget Basics: 10 Beautiful Champagne Flutes Under $10
Dec 30, 2016
Eyesore No More: Our 10 Favorite Kitchen Transformations of 2016
Sure, we might all want to freshen our living room or bedroom, but no room can get dated, dingy, and even dangerous as quickly as a kitchen can. These 10 amazing makeovers, ranging from $200 DIYs to splashy professional jobs, show the power of paint, paring down, and—for crying out loud—new cabinets.
Dec 29, 2016
What’s Your Type? Fonts and their Furniture Doppelgangers
It started, as things so often do, with a Comic Sans joke. From there, our team Slack chat was abuzz with fonts and furniture (and decor) comparisons. Below are a few highly scientific, internationally renowned design (graphic): design (furniture) analogies from the creative minds of Apartment Therapy Editorial. Poor, poor Comic Sans. It just can’t catch a break! It has become the internet’s favorite whipping boy, shorthand for outdated taste and mom vibes.
Dec 29, 2016
Same Space, Whole New Look: Our Favorite Room Transformations of the Year
Warning: If winter has you stuck inside, growing increasingly sick of your same four walls (while grateful to have walls, of course), these 10 incredible redesigns might push you into a repainting, redecorating, cabin-fevered frenzy. Whether you’re considering slapping on a coat of paint or are ready to gut the place, there’s at least one project here that’s sure to inspire.
Dec 28, 2016
7 Tricks to Learn from Creative Renters
From Apartment Therapy → Seven Habits To Learn From Ridiculously Creative Renters
Dec 28, 2016
Goal (Dis)oriented: Why I’m Setting Intentions for 2017 Instead of Resolutions
I’ve been setting New Year’s goals and resolutions for like, forever. Every December 31, I sit down to craft a super long list of things I want to achieve in the New Year. Every year, I tick a few things off my list, which feels incredible, but the things I don’t accomplish make me feel like I didn’t do enough. (Sound familiar?) Instead, for 2017, I’m doing things a little differently—opting for New Year’s intentions instead.
Dec 28, 2016
Mindful Money: Habits to Encourage Abundance & Help You Hang on to More of Your Money
When it comes to making more money, we tend to focus on working hard, landing that new job or getting that promotion—often overlooking how powerful our thoughts are at manifesting our reality. When you change your relationship with money, you might find that you’re able to hang on to more of it. Here, I’m sharing four of my favorite money habits that will help keep you in an abundant state of mind. Anytime money flows into your life, feel gratitude for it.
Dec 27, 2016
Get Inspired to DIY: Our Favorite Before & After Furniture Transformations of the Year
Who among us hasn’t dragged home a $5 garage sale chair or a battered bookshelf left on the curb, convinced that we could make something out of it? Whether by painstakingly restoring it to its former glory or by giving it a major makeover, we just know something special is lurking beneath the cobwebs, scratches, or worse.
Dec 26, 2016
In Vino Veritas: The 9 Most Wine-Obsessed Moments of 2016
After much contemplation, we are still having trouble thinking of a moment in which wine wasn’t winning, and this year has been no exception. The much talked about beverage is arguably the cool kid of boozy drinks. As if they’d been stored in a cellar until optimal maturation, the multitude of wine-inspired ideas that continually gushed forth in 2016 prove that nearly everyone and everything wants to be associated with wine.
Dec 24, 2016
Before & After: A Storage-Friendly Bathroom Makeover for Under $800
Ashley wanted a bathroom update that was stylish, full of storage and helped maximize the space of her small bathroom. By pulling in a surprising piece of furniture and painting the space a calming color, she created a bathroom that blends form and function. From Ashley: The tiny half bathroom connected to the master bedroom was original to the 1972 house and in desperate need of an update.
Dec 24, 2016
The Year’s Most Impressive Bathroom Transformations: Best of Before & Afters
A dreary bathroom seems dirty no matter how clean it actually is, so giving it a fresh coat of white paint, additional lighting, and sparkling tiles can completely transform the look and feel of the room, all while making the weekly cleaning feel less Sisyphean.
Dec 24, 2016
Jazz Up That Mason Jar & Make it Feel Gift-Worthy
(Image credit: Maria Siriano) From Kitchn → 5 Ways to Make a Mason Jar Feel Gift-Worthy
Dec 23, 2016
6 Instagram Must-Follows for the Bullet Journal Obsessed
If you’ve caught the bullet journaling bug and now just can’t stop hunting for layout inspiration, follow these seven bullet journal-obsessed Instagrammers stat. Each feed is brimming with enviable bullet journal photos that will without a doubt get your creative juices flowing and help get your life totally organized. Italian bullet journalist Roberta Ranieri’s feed is filled with beautiful BuJo eye candy. Her layouts are simple, beautiful, and filled with creative doodles.
Dec 23, 2016
17 Make-Ahead Meal Ideas to Take Some Stress Off of Christmas Dinner
(Image credit: Laura Volo) From Kitchn → 17 Make-Ahead Recipes for Christmas Dinner
Dec 23, 2016
Matthew and Rick’s Fantastically Festive Home
Name: Matthew & Rick Location: Toronto, Ontario Designed by Toronto-based interior design firm Heirloom & Knot, and decked out for the holidays, this glamorous space strikes the right balance between festive geode-inspired décor & regency styled furnishings. The home of newlyweds Rick and Matthew Bettencourt has been furnished over time & curated with mementos that have a sense of personal history.
Dec 22, 2016
10 DIY Christmas Trees That Are Totally Tree-less
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 10 Ways to DIY a Christmas Tree Out of Things That Are Not Trees
Dec 22, 2016
Before & After: A Non-Profit Cafe Gets Its First Facelift in 10 Years
Right before Thanksgiving we posed a question to readers — “If you had $200 to surprise someone with a gift, what would that gift be, and to whom would you give it?” Brigid Barjaktarevic’s response — some supplies to spruce up her non-profit workplace — caught our eye. We thought we could do more than just provide paint as the gift; we wanted to go all in on an Apartment Therapy makeover.
Dec 21, 2016
How To Decorate for Christmas With Only a Trip to the Grocery Store
Sure, there’s the requisite nativity scene, the ornaments that have been passed down from your great-grandparents, and the Griswold family inspired display of twinkling lights outside. But sometimes all you need is a trip to the grocery store to deck out your house for the holidays (especially if you’ve been procrastinating putting anything up!).
Dec 21, 2016
Tips for Decorating the Perfect Christmas Tree
As we’ve seen from her two Halloween decor tours, crafter and blogger Jennifer Perkins takes decorating for the holidays very seriously. And by very seriously, I mean incredibly bold, brassy, colorful and over-the-top! It should come as no surprise that she’s a master at outfitting the crown jewel of Christmas decor: the tree. In fact, she has over 100 trees, so she definitely knows what she’s talking about. Let her decor ideas inspire your own last-minute holiday touches.
Dec 21, 2016
Win Your Office Holiday Gift Exchange: Boozy Baileys Chocolate Mug Cake Kit
Stumped on what to bring for your office secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange? Don’t just bring another coffee mug—make a mug cake kit! It’s super simple, under $10, and when you add a nip of Baileys, you’re sure to win at the holidays. A mug Cellophane bag Baileys nip Baker’s twine Ribbon Spoon Recipe card (one per page / four per page) Recipe dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt) 1.
Dec 21, 2016
A Sunny California Home for a Family of Seattle Transplants
Name: Jennifer Location: Temecula, California I just recently relocated to Southern Cali from the Seattle area. I moved here with my husband and two youngest kids (12 and 5). With three kids already out of the house, we decided to finish raising our brood in a drastically different way. From a 2,500 square foot custom farm house in the great NW, to a 1,600 square foot stucco in a neighborhood that we transformed from a cloned tract house to a mock Palm Springs Spanish Modern.
Dec 20, 2016
10 Thoughts on a Happy Home Life, Scandi-Style (As Told By a Londoner Living in Malmö)
As we head into the scary winter months, our admiration for everything Scandinavian seems to grow exponentially with each degree the temperature drops. How does Sweden rank among the happiest countries when it has such dark, cold winters? In search of some answers, we turned to Niki Brantmark, the blogger behind My Scandinavian Home, who lives in a townhouse by the sea in southern Sweden.
Dec 20, 2016
Everything You Need to Know About Not Going Broke When Using an Apartment Broker
If you’re new to the apartment hunt, the idea of using a broker might be a very confusing concept—especially so if you’re moving from a lower-demand rental market to a bustling (and crowded) one like those in NYC or San Francisco.
Dec 20, 2016
The Joy of “Usmas”: Real Couples Share Stories of a Holiday Just for Two
With all the hustle and bustle of the season, it can be hard to actually enjoy the holidays. Between traveling, seeing family, gift shopping, hosting and attending dinners and parties and more, there’s so much potential for stress to bog you down. It can be especially difficult when you’re part of a couple, because that usually means doubling everything—double the travel and family visits, double the dinners and parties to attend, and of course, more gifts to buy.
Dec 19, 2016
Before & After: An Attic Turned Functional and Fabulous Closet
IKEA Pax wardrobes can be a godsend for creating closet space out of nothing and here is an exquisite example of how they can not only provide a massive amount of storage but appear like they were built just for your space.
Dec 19, 2016
Join the January Cure for Your Best Year Yet
There is nothing like the start of a new year to get your home (and life!) in good shape – and Apartment Therapy wants to make it as painless as possible. If you are ready to make 2017 your best year yet, I have a plan. Sign up for the free group project we call the January Cure and I’ll send you do-able, one-manageable-step-at-a-time assignments throughout the rest of the month, designed to help you create a cleaner, more organized and peaceful home.
Dec 19, 2016
How to Survive Holiday Party Burnout
Floating from party to party isn't easy when you're not a social butterfly.
Dec 19, 2016
Partner
Win: A Clean Start To 2017 with a BISSELL CrossWave
Prize: One CrossWave All-In-One Multi-Surface Cleaner From: Bissell Value: $249.99 Maybe 2016 turned out to be a messy year. But hey, there’s a brand new one right around the corner! Bissell is helping to kick it off with a clean start by giving two readers a CrossWave All-In-One Multi-Surface Cleaner. It’s basically a combined vacuum and mop that lets you deep clean all your floors (and rugs) in one quick swoosh.
Dec 19, 2016
A London Bachelor Pad Gets a Warm, Modern Makeover
Project by: Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design Location: London, United Kingdom When a bachelor musician approached Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design to transform his East London home into a warm, inviting retreat, it was music to the designer’s ears. Playing off the bones of the house, she incorporated industrial nods throughout, seen in brick walls and Edison bulb light fixtures.
Dec 18, 2016
Colorful Bathroom Tiles Are Coming Back (& They’re Inspired by This Unexpected Decade)
Looking at pictures of vintage bathrooms and kitchens is one of my favorite hobbies, and lately, I’ve been noticing something very interesting: When it comes to style and over-the-top glamour, nothing beats ’20s bathrooms. Sure, the ’80s were wild, but bathrooms from 1920s are… something else. Let’s take a look at these Art Deco beauties. Above: This Art Deco style bath from 1929 is the perfect embodiment (in bathroom form) of the Roaring Twenties.
Dec 18, 2016
Before & After: A Striking Yet Simple Fireplace Makeover
The size and scale of this fireplace is striking which means that changing its look has a big impact on this space. The homeowners also opted for a new wall paint color. Together, these changes give off a whole new vibe. Take a look: From Christina: I am not a big DIY person so I spoke to the amazing contractor Adrian at Craftsman Construction that we worked with on this project, about how they were able to change the multi-colored stone fireplace into the clean white look that we finished with.
Dec 18, 2016
10 Natural Cleaning Recipes Everyone Should Know by Heart
Is your cleaning mantra “When in doubt, douse it in bleach”? While you might feel confident your house is sanitary and squeaky clean, you can’t always trust that your health isn’t suffering—the problem with many household chemical cleaners is that they’re actually toxic to your health. Instead, you might want to try borrowing a greener, cleaner recipe from your grandmother.
Dec 16, 2016
A California Ranch Home That Takes Style Inspo From Valley of the Dolls
Name: David Location: Verdugo Woodlands — Glendale, California We bought our 1962 Ranch-style house in 2012. We were only the third owners. We were immediately drawn to the privacy, and great flow of the 2,600 square foot, two bedroom, three bath house which was built for entertaining. All the entertaining spaces open to the kidney shaped swimming pool and patio. The house hadn’t been redecorated since 1975.
Dec 16, 2016
Before & After: Dining Room Mural Makeover for “Elegance on a Budget”
We’ve seen Natalie’s 19th century home before and this time she’s tackling her dining room. Not happy to just strip the floors and replace the chandelier, she put her artistic talents to good use and painted something gorgeous on the walls. From Natalie: My husband and I bought a circa 1870s house in Pittsburgh nearly three years ago. The house has a wonderful lived-in feeling and great bones, but it needed an infusion of style.
Dec 16, 2016
Partner
Heat Up the Party (Without Overheating the House)
Everyone wants to throw the hottest holiday party — just not literally. But between the oven crammed with deliciousness, the party guests filling your living room, and the heat cranked up against the snow outside, things can get toasty this time of year. Never fear: Whether you’re serving a feast for 12 or ringing in the New Year with 30 of your nearest and dearest, we’ve got one simple trick for keeping your house the perfect temp.
Dec 16, 2016
A Beautiful, Fixer-Upper Bungalow
Name: Brett Location: Oakland, California My home is a 1900 Craftsman that has been a true labor of love. The house was a complete fixer upper when my husband and I bought it earlier this year and we’ve spent nearly half the year completely renovating the entire thing. My husband and I had been talking about moving from San Francisco to Oakland for a few months and just so happened to stumble upon our house at the right place and the right time.
Dec 15, 2016
5 Adorable Ways to Package Cookies for Gift Giving
(Image credit: Heidi Murphy of White Loft Studio) From Kitchn → 5 Cute & Easy Ways to Package Cookies for Gifting
Dec 15, 2016
A Breezy Florida Home and Floral Studio
Name: Jenny Location: Lake Worth, Florida I’m a floral designer living in Lake Worth, Florida. While my friend Lauren was in town, we spent a few hours shooting a home/studio tour. I currently work out of my 1950s house, but will be opening a store front in downtown Lake Worth in 2017! Most of our furniture and design choices are influenced by mid century modern design and unique vintage pieces.
Dec 14, 2016