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

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.

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.

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...

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.

Before & After: Lindsay's Filthy to Fabulous Record Cabinet

Tara Bellucci — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:45:00 GMT

Lindsay fell in love with the shape of this vintage record player console from Craigslist, but when she picked it up, it was beyond dirty. A lot of elbow grease and a little paint later, check out the results:

DIY Mini Hanging Macrame Garden — Crafttuts+

Linda Ly — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:00 GMT

How adorable is this mini hanging macrame garden? Look closely and you'll realize the pots are actually repurposed eggshells!

How To Build a Hanging Daybed — The Apron

Linda Ly — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMT

With summer just days away (officially, anyway), all I can think about are long, warm, relaxing naps on my imaginary sleeping porch. If you're lucky enough to have a porch, why not try your hand at building your own hanging daybed?

Ideas & Instructions: 9 Woody DIY Headboards

Theresa Gonzalez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I once had to make a headboard for a photo shoot and found it surprisingly easy. I just ordered the wood from the local hardware store in the width and height that I needed (standard widths: twin: 38 inches; full: 54; queen: 60; king: 76). I then purchased some batting and fabric to cover the board and staple-gunned away like I was wrapping a gift.

Organic Modern DIY: Instructions to Make Your Own Macrame Wall Hanging — Free People

Dabney Frake — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

What's up with me and all the macramé? I can't answer that, but I can share this tutorial from Free People. If you've always been intrigued by knots, and want to make some textured wall decor, keep on reading...

Art + Charity: Will Draw for Animals 2013

Carrie McBride — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Prints are great, but one-of-a-kind originals are...more great. The folks at Brooklyn-based Orange You Glad design studio are about to host their second "Will Draw For" event. It's a two-day gathering of artists and illustrators who will draw an animal of your choosing in exchange for a donation to a local animal shelter. It's a nice way to get a piece of original art for yourself or your kid and help a furry friend. More

Then & Now: Loomed Coasters & Potholders

Dabney Frake — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:45:00 GMT

We all made these as kids, right? With a motley crew of colors, and charmingly lumpy fabrics, these potholders were certainly a staple of my childhood. And I'm willing to bet many a mother has received these as gifts over the years.

Before & After: Jenna's Revamped Planter Stand

Tara Bellucci — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Jenna found this planter at a junk store for just $2. Though it was in rough shape, she saw its potential. See how she transformed it into a totally cute vessel for indoor planting.

Folk Fibers — Store Profile

Kate Legere — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Maura Grace Ambrose founded Folk Fibers with the goal to "share the craft and folklore that prevails around natural dyes and quilting." Each of her quilts is hand quilted in Austin, Texas and is made using 100% natural fibers. More

Chic Canopy Beds for DIY Inspiration

Kathleen Luttschyn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

These canopy beds all look rather dreamy to sleep in. They're pretty, unfussy, and just plain cool. They've also been rigged as DIY projects, rather than purchased in stores.

Before & After: Josh's Thrift to Mid-Century Style Dresser

Tara Bellucci — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Josh found this dresser, solid and in good condition, but not quite his style, at a Dallas thrift shop. With a few basic updates, he turned lots of laminate into a mid-century style showpiece:

Off the Shelf vs. Do It Yourself: Painterly Tablecloth — Oh Happy Day

Dabney Frake — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Today's DIY project takes on this gorgeous watercolor tablecloth, found at Anthropologie for $288 (and not available in pink anymore). While it's beautiful, not everyone can afford linens that cost more than some months' groceries. Oh Happy Day readers agreed, and begged Jordan to try her own version and then show them how. See how it turned out, after the jump. Spoiler alert: It's a dead ringer.

DIY Decor Trend: Concrete

Dabney Frake — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Concrete as a medium has taken hold of DIY bloggers and become a favorite go-to this past year, with good reason; it's inexpensive and pretty easy to work with. Why not pick one of these projects and give it a whirl yourself? Just run if anybody mentions something about concrete shoes.

Before & After: DIY Dishwasher Facelift — Saving 4 Six

Gregory Han — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Refrigerators have regularly been the subject of impressive DIY makeovers, whether it be with corkboard, chalkboard paint, or wallpaper. But what about the other major appliance sitting in your kitchen, the oft ignored and short statured dishwasher? Here's how one couple spruced up their worn down 18 year old kitchen appliance with an affordable cosmetic facelift...

Transform Your Home with Color! — Apartment Therapy Video Roundup

Nancy Mitchell — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that here at Apartment Therapy, we love color. But comitting to colors, especially bright colors, in your decor can be a little intimidating. These four short videos, from Apartment Therapy's Color Cure, are an introduction to a whole new way of thinking about color. Armed with Maxwell's sage advice about using color in the home, you can go forth and decorate boldly.

The DIY Bungee Wire & Headphone Rack — Brit + Co.

Taryn Fiol — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Sometimes all you need is a new perspective. You may have gotten used to an ugly clump of tangled cords in a desk drawer, but usually the last thing anybody wants to do is put them out on display. This project by Brit Morin goes to show sometimes putting your gear out for easy access can actually look good.

Before & After: Erin's Chair Refresh on a Budget

Tara Bellucci — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Bargain shopper Erin haggled this chair from an estate sale down to $10. It sat in her home, patiently waiting for a refresh, until she found the perfect fabric. See how she made over this chair for under $50 total:

How To Make Your Own DIY Vintage Plate Tiered Dessert Stand — Apartment Therapy Tutorial

Dabney Frake — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Here's a quick and easy project for parties of all types; whether for kids or adults, casual or formal. These tiered stands are inexpensive to make, and a great way to use old dishes destined for donation. They also look just fancy enough and add great height to a dessert table — all good things.

How To Spray Paint Metal Furniture — Apartment Therapy Tutorials

Andie Powers — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I recently came across this adorable little vintage milking stool at a pop-up shop, and couldn't wait to get it home. I've been looking for a small step stool to live in my kitchen and this one is sturdy and balanced enough (it's stronger than it looks) for me to use as a quick "leg up." When, I got it, the stool's paint was cracking and peeling, so I couldn't wait to get it home to put this glossy, new orange coat on it.

Against the Grain: Alternatives to Throwing Rice at Weddings

Dabney Frake — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Have you ever heard that it's bad for birds to throw rice after a wedding ceremony? That the rice expands in their stomachs and they die a painful death? According to Truth or Fiction, it's a big ol' wedding legend, started in the 60s at the suggestion of advice maven Ann Landers. In reality throwing rice has been done for years — all over the world — as a symbol of fertility and good luck. The real hazard is the groom being blinded, or your great uncle slipping and falling on the errant bits of rice littering the walkway.

Is This Don't Actually a Do? Skipping the Painter's Tape

Kate Legere — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

As I mentioned last week, I moved back home into my childhood room for the summer. I've spent the first couple of weeks cleaning and purging, and this past weekend I finally got to painting.