Apartment Therapy | Saving the world, one room at a time

Apartment Therapy's Sofa Shopping Guide

Claire Bock — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:30:00 GMT

One of my friends recently described shopping for a sofa with her husband as one of the most depressing things one could do on a weekend. It is one of those furniture purchases where people are terrified of making a mistake, since the general thought is that a sofa will be in your home for at least the next ten years. Here is a simple guide to help you navigate the overwhelming sofa market.

Try This Idea for Hanging Art: Keep It Low

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:45:00 GMT

Apartment Therapy commenters can be an opinionated bunch, not hesitant to call homeowners out on perceived infractions. One of the worst offenses? Being a 'high hanger' — that is, mounting all your art so high on the wall that a person of normal height would have to crane their neck to look at it. But what about being a low hanger? Lately I've spotted quite a few rooms with art displayed just a few feet off the floor.

Benefits of Renting an Apartment On A Trip — The Kitchn

Carrie McBride — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:45:00 GMT

From The Kitchn → Why I Rent Apartments When I Travel

Nikki’s Sweet and Cheery Print Studio — Creative Studio Tour

Lizzie Ford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Name: Nikki McWilliams
Location: WASPS Meadow Mill Studios; Dundee, Scotland
Size: 200 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; rented

Nikki McWilliams, famed for her fabulous biscuit-themed soft furnishings, is as sweet as the treats that inspire her work. After graduating in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2008, she started her own design business in 2009, with a thirst to make functional objects that have a place outside of a gallery setting and take up residence in people’s homes. Indeed, each of her pieces is a little work of art – a sculpture, a talking point, a cheeky statement full of personality. It surely takes a sort of (excellent) soul to have a large Tunnocks Teacake sitting proudly on their sofa.

Shop the Room: Stylish Catalog Basics

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Pacific Helm's Happy Modern Office is built on catalog basics. For a stylish blank canvas, here are the finds that make a clean-lined backdrop for pops of color, playful accessories, and thriving plants (and employees!).

Are Books Obsolete? Thoughts on the Printed Word

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMT

I was browsing Etsy one day, and I noticed someone selling a book that I loved as a child. It was ‘Half Magic,’ by Edward Eager, but the title of the book wasn’t anywhere in the listing. The book was being sold as a prop. ‘Vintage décor,’ the listing said. Which made me sad, but also got me thinking. Are books becoming obsolete?

Super Easy DIY: Make Your Own Kimono Fabric Table Runners

Elizabeth Licata — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:30:00 GMT

In a transparent attempt to use my wedding budget to enrich my fabric stash while simultaneously injecting a bit of color into the affair, I decided to decorate the tables with runners made from vintage kimono fabric. And it turned out to be the easiest DIY project I’ve ever tackled.

DIY Wedding Tips from the Pros: How To Create a Signature Reception Cocktail — Apartment Therapy Tutorials

Kathryn Bacalis — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Recently engaged and hoping to plan a wedding that's both creative and unique without breaking the bank? Well, you're in luck! Because this month, we are planning on revealing some of the best (top secret) wedding planning tips — all sourced from the pros! We'll be starting with a small yet impactful way to keep your reception chic yet budget friendly.

Collectible or Complete Room: Grissini Bench = Dramatic Modern Bedroom

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I fell hard for the Grissini bench while researching a recent Shop the Room post. Since DWR's prices aren't always within reach, I used the sleek chrome and leather collectible as a jumping-off point for a Dramatic Modern boudoir, complete with a similar bench and chic accessories. What do you think?

Truman's Triangle Nursery — My Room

Lauren Hufnagl — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Truman
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Rather than pick a theme for Truman's nursery we chose to go colorful and eclectic for a style that will adapt as he gets older.

5 Online Services to Save Yourself a Trip to IKEA

Joelle Alcaidinho — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

While IKEA remains a favorite destination for affordably accessorizing or furnishing the home quickly on a budget, making the trip out to the crowded aisles on a weekend can be a challenge, especially for anyone without a car. But what if you could skip the crowds and lines altogether (and the temptations of Swedish candies awaiting at the checkout lines)? Here's how...

Christine and Pierre's Kitchen: Goodbye, Pantry — Renovation Diary

Guest — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Removing cinder blocks is not a cakewalk. Or quiet.

Name: Christine & Pierre
Type of Project: Kitchen remodel
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Type of building: Ground floor apartment of a triplex, 1,100 square feet

The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.

We started our renovation with the most dramatic and (hopefully) most traumatic part of the whole process – the removal of the load-bearing pantry and the installation of three beams in its place.

Emi & Nathan's Natural History — House Tour

Bridget Pizzo — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Eminé Avanessian & Nathan Cabrera of Pygmy Hippo
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 1550 square feet
Years Lived In: 4.5; Rented

Emi and Nathan’s unique apartment is not for the faint of heart. You might mistake it for a natural history museum, as taxidermied critters stare back at you from every corner. It’s not surprising - the couple met at Emi’s past job working at a museum. One might assume that they are hunters, but actually they are nothing of the sort. Rather, they are curators, collectors, self-taught artists, DIY enthusiasts, and the owners of the delightfully itty-bitty Mid-City West gift shop, Pygmy Hippo.

Lesli's Bright & Beautiful Farmhouse — House Call

Janel Laban — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Name: Lesli
Location: Greenwood, Virginia

We are only the second family to live in an old farmhouse, built in 1880, and an integral part in the development if the town of Greenwood, Va. The house was intact, but in sad, neglected shape when we moved in, as a rental nine years ago.

Add Texture with 3-D Wall Treatments

Carrie McBride — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

There's a lot you can do with walls - paint color, murals, decals and graphics, but one idea we've been seeing more and more of is adding texture with decorative 3-D objects. The most popular are inspired by nature - birds, butterflies and flowers - and they can be made very cheaply with simple materials.

Before & After: Jérémy's Painted Vintage Fan

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Today's Before & After comes from Jérémy, a very talented 16 year old designer from Canada. Here he transforms an old vintage fan from boring to bold with just a paint job.

L'ArcoBaleno, A Magazine-Style Design Shopping Site, Launches Today — Design News 06.19.13

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Italian for "The Rainbow," L'ArcoBaleno is a new magazine-style retail site that launches today. Exploring "extraordinary" design pieces from across the globe as well as the creative minds behind them, the site combines content with e-commerce for unique pieces that won't be found anywhere else.

In other news, micro apartments in Los Angeles explore how small is too small, and check out an extreme treehouse. See the headlines after the jump.

Televisions in Small Spaces

Gregory Han — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

With a small space comes great responsibility...the responsibility of finding where to fit everything. Some decide to forgo owning a television completely, but even those living in the smallest spaces usually want a television for the occasional movie night, especially now that HDTV displays come in extremely flat form factors that allow installation in spaces where once no tube set dared to tread...

Yarn Bombing with Magda Sayeg — Design Milk

Alysha Findley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

A ways back I posted about Yarn Bombing: The Knit Graffiti Movement and discussed the international stealth subculture of wrapping yarn around urban structures. This time, I'm diving a little deeper with one of the founders of the movement, Magda Sayeg. Follow me...

Fun Florals: Victoria Sofa, Lampshade & Quilt — The Wednesday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:45:00 GMT

Retro, old-school and modern day nosegays.

New York, NY: Victorian Sofa - $577
Chicago, IL: Vintage Drapes - $160
Long Beach, CA: Floral Lampshade - $12
Brooklyn, NY: Anthropologie Quilt - $275
Manhattan Beach, CA: Framed Prints - $85

Celebration Inspiration: Lacy Laser Cut Decorations

Dabney Frake — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Laser cut paper easily passes for lace, making it perfect for wedding details. Depending on the design, it can read romantic, modern, vintage, elegant, or handcrafted. Any color is possible, of course, but white is pretty striking.

5 Tips for Successful Transitions with Kids

Roni Shapira Ben-Yoseph — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This morning I was one among many parents who waved goodbye as my oldest boarded a day camp-bound bus for the first time. I got less than five hours of sleep last night because I had a crazy case of the butterflies, but my son got on the bus with a confident smile. Whether it's a new camp, a move, a trip, or an event, I have worked really hard to ease transitions for our family and stolen good ideas wherever I find them. Here are a few of our strategies:

Before & After: Old Chair, New Material

Dabney Frake — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Here's kind of a cool thing. This steel-framed chair had seen better days. Enter Janusz, who has an abiding love for the world's most humble material — cardboard — and for bringing old furniture back to life. Click here to see what he did next.

10 Things To Pack for Cooking on Vacation — The Kitchn

Carrie McBride — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:45:00 GMT

From The Kitchn → 10 Things To Pack for Cooking on Vacation