Decor & Accessories

It’s that time of year when a lot of people are graduating, and striking out on their own, and moving into their first real ‘adult’ home or apartment. It’s an exciting, and maybe also a little intimidating, time, full of possibilities and pitfalls. Here are a few of the things that I wish I had known when I was a fledgling decorator, all those years ago. 1. Don’t buy everything all at once.

Name: Kerry Maloney Location: French Quarter — New Orleans, Louisiana Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; Rented Six rows of neatly displayed wigs decorate a brick wall in Kerry Maloney’s French Quarter apartment. They’ve been collected from Mardi Gras costumes throughout the years. They’re decked out with stars and plumes, birds and elaborate handmade crowns. There’s the French aristocrat, the drum major, the conehead, and the wizard.

Now we know you all hate it when we say you SHOULD follow this or that rule, so call this post the Guideline of Threes in your mind if you must. Because there’s a good reason that sitcom wasn’t called Four’s Company, or there weren’t six blind mice. And that same reason can help you create an interesting home that’s not just functional, but also has visual depth and satisfaction.

Name: Mark, Levi, + Theo Location: Upper East Side; New York City Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented Mark and Levi both share a love for beautiful things. With Mark working for Artsy, an online destination for the art world, and Levi for the luxury American jewelry brand David Webb, they both spend their days surrounded by beauty. Stepping into their Upper East Side home, their creative perspective is evident as is the harmony with which they decorate their space.

Name: Candace Soriano and Jason Rein Location: Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 7 months; Rented Candace is an interior designer by trade and when you walk into her home in the heart of Los Angeles, it exudes a beautiful, relaxed, grown up feel. She lives here with her boyfriend, Jason, and they chose this part of town because of its historical charm.

Name: Lisa Price Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Size: 936 square feet Years lived in: 10 years; owned Imagine a house where the best of the best vintage and thrift store finds are arranged by color. Imagine really cool vintage furniture in really good condition. Imagine that almost every accessory and piece of furniture comes with a story (from a family member, a stranger at a flea market or a previous owner at a yard sale).

There are a few things that are transformative—things that go beyond decorating and get to the very core of what makes you happy at home.

Name: Chris Tuttle Location: Boystown; Chicago, Illinois Size: Studio Years lived in: 1 year; rented From the moment I walked into Chris Tuttle’s space, I felt like I had escaped city life. Dark walls and rich décor set the warm mood. The snug studio is peppered with charming and colorful vintage finds. And when I say snug I mean snug – you can practically see the entire thing from the front door.

It’s always interesting when homeowners make an unexpected choice in their spaces. In these nine rooms, one might expect to see a rug, yet these decorators have chosen to forgo one. It’s a slightly more subtle, sparse look that really lets the rest of the room shine. Take a look. So, tell us. What do you think about this look? Would you (do you) sport a bare floor?

Today, we continue our collaborative series curated by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of Aphrochic for Apartment Therapy. They handpick homes from around the world to share that capture the culture and style that they celebrate in their book, Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul.

I’ve been living in London for nearly a decade now, having moved here from Canada as a bright-eyed university graduate, in search of tea and adventure. Through my friendships and work as an interior designer (not to mention my work for Apartment Therapy— I love a good House Tour snoop), I’ve been lucky enough to have been invited into countless English homes over the years, from Cornwall to Yorkshire and nearly every county in between.

Name: Jennifer Laskey + Hunter Hall (and Kitty Capone + Niblet) Jennifer is the Creator/ Owner of RedLight Special Events, Weddings by Jennifer Laskey & Salvage Beauty Design Co. and Hunter is the Creator/Managing Partner of Archetype Hospitality & Development, LLC. Location: Los Feliz; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 6.

I never fail to be impressed by the ingenuity of city dwellers living in itty bitty teeny tiny spaces. Especially now that I’m shopping for apartments in New York, and all I can think is… where do you put the furniture? Here are five apartments belonging to real New Yorkers who have solved that problem in creative ways, and managed to squeeze a lot of living out of a little space. I really like what Linsey’s done with a fairly typical New York studio layout.

Of the many things you might be on the lookout for when searching for your next apartment to live in — hardwood floors, big windows, a lot of space — don’t neglect the odd but useful items on this list. They might save you a lot of future pain and make sure you enjoy your next home! We spotted these ideas from a thread on Reddit asking for what to look out for and what to asking when looking for an apartment.

Name: Alana Biagioli & Taylor Gulbins Location: Hoboken, New Jersey Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: 6 months; Rented You may recall Taylor’s house call post a couple months ago, and the apartment in Hoboken that lured him and his girlfriend, Alana, out of Manhattan. The square footage and daylight in their home definitely seems worth the move. They have created a fresh and modern space that has plenty of character and craft. Decorating this apartment was clearly a labor of love.

When you live in the close quarters of an apartment or condo, a little bit of consideration can go a long way towards happy neighbors. Sharing a wall can get awkward, so think about these tips before problems arise. If you can prevent or nip little squabbles in the bud, you can potentially save yourself massive amounts of misery and stress for years to come. Consider these keep-the-peace ideas: Think about your shared wall when planning the layout of your room.

When the budget is tight and you don’t have tons of time to spend shopping, sometimes purchasing a lot of your home’s design elements from the same few places is just the easy thing to do. So then what can you do to make sure your living room doesn’t look like a catalog spread and that your home feels like “you?” Find the answer in a few simple steps.

It’s funny how sometimes a phrase can change its meaning as you change your mindset. That is, its definition and significance remain the same and suddenly you realize that you’re the one who has come to better understand it. Such was the case recently when I was reminded of a French term I learned and thought I understood long ago: jolie laide.

Today’s tour is the newest in a collaborative series curated by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of Aphrochic for Apartment Therapy. They handpicked homes from around the world to share that capture the culture and style that they celebrate in their book, Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul.

Name: Stephanie A. Meyer Location: Lowry Hill; Minneapolis, Minnesota Size: 1800 square feet Years lived in: Just over a year; Rented As a food writer/blogger, photographer, and newly-minted cookbook author (coming this fall!), cooking and sharing food is at the heart of Stephanie A. Meyer’s home.

Name: Brice & Ilene Bloom-Ellis Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; owned Brice and Ilene are two social workers from St. Louis, where they have a home filled with memories of raising a family, many of their favorite objects, and plenty of space. But, finding themselves in Chicago hotels way too often (Brice travels to Chicago regularly for work), these mid-century lovers began exploring real estate on a small scale.

Name: Justin Bauer Location: Boyle Heights; Los Angeles, California Size: 3,500 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented Artist and Creative Director Justin Bauer‘s industrial live/work space is located on the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles and is an open-concept lover’s dream.

Location: Brooklyn, New York Size: Approximately 750 square feet Years lived in: 5.5 years; Rented Upon entering my pre-war Brooklyn apartment, the first things you see are the dreamy period archways and the three large black and white photographs of my daughter as a newborn, framed against grey walls. My love of photographing interiors has influenced the style of my home just as my love of decorating influences my photography of beautiful spaces.

What differentiates a truly stunning, minimally designed interior from one that’s just not full of a lot of stuff? From a room that’s sophisticated and rich rather than plain and boring? Creating simple spaces isn’t hard, but it does require a particular balance of key design ingredients to make the right minimal mix. 1.

Name: Eva Katz and Philip Sugerman Location: Jamaica Plain; Boston, Massachusetts Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 8 years; Owned No wonder passersby stop to snap photos: Situated on a charming street near Jamaica Pond in Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the exterior of Eva and Philip’s pretty Painted Lady is a total jewel. Inspired by art, food, and worldy travels, the inside shimmers just as brightly.

Name: Ian and Martha Robinson Location: Church Hill; Richmond, Virginia Size: 1,800 square feet Years lived in: 4 years; Owned Ian and Martha Robinson have the kind of style that seems effortless. Once you get to know them, however, you realize that it’s even better than that: their style has developed over time from attention to craftsmanship, quality, and artistry. They value simplicity and beauty, and are mindful about the practicalities of living on a budget and with two children.

Spontaneous as they might look, there are guidelines for putting together a well-styled gallery wall. Arranging frames around an invisible horizontal line guarantees a great layout. And, to get a punchy kick of style, trying working in a unusual frame (or three) with an eye-catching shape, color or texture. In the midst of your simple and chic thin black or white frames, find a way to work in a bold or unique frame like these below.

Name: Allison Pierce, Musician. (Shared w/ her roommate, Lizzy Sanford) Location: Silver Lake; Los Angeles, California Size: 2 Bedroom + 1 Bath Years lived in: 2 years; Rented When a few snapshots of Allison’s apartment landed in my inbox, I knew it was an incredible space. Overlooking Silver Lake, this two bedroom home has a wonderful, dreamy quality, and ample space to living comfortably.

Name: Austin and Jenny Flack (+ Emmy Lou) Location: Lincoln Heights; Los Angeles, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; Rented We had the pleasure of ending a two day road trip at the home of Austin and Jenny Flack, in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles. In a home nestled in a a group of industrial-style lofts, newlyweds Austin and Jenny have created an open, airy space full of upcycled elements, combined with a modern, streamlined feel.

Name: Coppy Holzman Location: New York, New York Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths Years lived in: 3 year; owned Coppy Holzman surrounds himself with an extensive collection of books and eclectic art, making his Manhattan loft a true reflection of his creative passions. The moment you walk into his home you are greeted by his loving dog, Biggie, and then a large contemplative image of the Queen of England.

Looking to make an impact on your home this weekend that you can afford? How about free? It’ll cost a little energy, time (and muscle strength) but if you’re looking for some ways to improve your small (or any size) space, try these five free ideas. 1. Improve your home’s traffic flow How you and guests move through your space has a big effect on how spacious your home is perceived.

Name: Dan and Elizabeth Good Location: Church Hill; Richmond, Virginia Size: 850 square feet Years lived in: 9 months; Rented There is something truly inspiring about being in a home that loves the city it is in. Dan and Elizabeth love the city of Richmond, and it shows in all the details of their cozy apartment in the Church Hill neighborhood. They live only blocks away from St.

Something feeling “off” about one of your rooms? It could be the space is a little too heavy on the low-end. You might need a visual weight adjustment. Relocating certain design details high-up in a space can create a more sophisticated, balanced room. There are ideas you can try that will take only a little time to tackle, and there are some that might take the afternoon. You decide what your room might need and how much time you have this weekend!