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

Behind the Candelabra: Homes, Rooms and Decor Liberace Would Love

Dabney Frake — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Stephen Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra debuts on HBO this weekend and I, for one, can't wait to see Matt Damon in a bejeweled mankini. Whether you call Liberace's hallmark style 70s Baroque, or Maximalist Princess, more is more and no surface is too shiny. If Liberace were alive today, I feel confident he'd approve of the following interiors. So why don't we just step out and slip into something more spectacular?

Behind the Candelabra: Homes, Decor and Interiors Liberace Would Love

Dabney Frake — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:45:00 GMT

Vote: New Entries for Friday 5.24.13 — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Who has the smallest coolest home? It's up to you to decide. Click through to check out today's entries and then vote for your favorites.

International: Ziv's Colorful Yet Calm
Tiny: Raquel's Converted Hotel
Little: Billy's Light Flooded Home
Little: Lindsey & Hrishikesh's Period Spirit
Small: Kylie's Compact Family Home
Small: Adam's Comfort & Warmth
Tiny: Justin's Contemporary Contrast
Little: Ashley's Ridiculous Things
International: Poppy's Big View of London
Tiny: Carlos & April's Quirky-Cozy
Small: Evan's Garden Apartment
Little: Kirstin & Jeff's Casita Del Rio

Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up — House Tour

Carolyn Purnell — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Name: Danielle Moss (and Buddy)
Location: Lincoln Park; Chicago, Illinois
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: almost 1 year; rented

Danielle Moss leads a hectic life. As a co-founder of The Everygirl, a popular website dedicated to career-driven women, the owner of her own graphic design and photography business, and the writer behind the blog Breakfast at Toast, it's a wonder that she has time to think about interior design at all. But in just a little under a year she has managed to convert a humdrum beige apartment into an inspirational, light, and glamorous haven.

Kirstin & Jeff's Casita Del Rio — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Kirstin & Jeff
Location:: Los Angeles, CA
Square Feet:: 713
Division:: Little
What I Love About My Small Home:: Our little home is a Casita Del Rio—it’s right at an entrance to the LA River in Atwater Village, and we’ve become full on river people. We are so lucky to have all these exotic birds, peaceful water, and stunning natural landscape steps from our house. And in the midst of LA freeways, it’s the weirdest thing. The location lifts the spirits with our house filled with reminders of places, people, and experiences that make us happy, and that inspires us to make our stuff! Having a lot of space means nothing if it doesn’t energize you to make your stuff, and there’s always projects happening here. But mostly we love our home because Mr. Furley (the coolest little doggie in the world) lives here.

Evan's Garden Apartment — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Evan
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 900
Division:: Small
What I Love About My Small Home:: The fact that we only have 1 bedroom is made up for with the original details throughout. All of the wood was kept in pristine condition and though we live in a garden apartment, we get decent light and have relatively high ceilings. Though we fantasize about houses, it is nice to be able to simultaneously use the "dining room" and "living room" when entertaining, especially because we were able to fit a normal size dining table. There is also a half room which we've turned into a walk-in closet which can feel quite luxurious. I also love that little by little, we're becoming surrounded by DIY projects that we just adore living with!

Carlos & April's Quirky-Cozy — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Carlos & April
Location:: Alhambra, CA
Square Feet:: 480
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: When we first considered downsizing, we never dreamed such a budget friendly rental property existed in our L.A. suburb. Tacked onto the back of a 1910 California Bungalow and on half an acre of virtually un-lanscaped forest, we set up house in our quirky-cozy, tiny apartment in the trees. We love the history of the home (Norman Rockwell is rumored to have painted in the studio above while on retreat) and the large casement windows that drench us in morning light and bring the outdoors in. The clever floorplan gives the illusion of space and the farm sink and clawfoot tub add such charm!

100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend

Janel Laban — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

It's the start of the first three day weekend of the summer, so in keeping with (and expanding upon!) recent Apartment Therapy tradition, we put together a big list of DIY projects to consider for the days ahead. From crafting to cleaning, renovating to relaxing, there is an idea here for everyone - 100 to be exact!

Summer Style: Beachy White Done Right

Jennifer Hunter — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

All-white sometimes gets a bad rap as being stark and harsh, but these rooms are anything but. Here, popsicles are not just tolerated, they're encouraged. These are the easy, warm whites of summer.

Poppy's Big View of London — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Poppy
Location:: London United Kingdom
Square Feet:: 500
Division:: International
What I Love About My Small Home:: 1. It has a big view of London life.
2. It is full of furniture I inherited from my grandparents.
3. It has a working fireplace.
4. I made the kitchen cabinets myself out of old floorboards I got from a reclaim yard.
5. I wallpapered two of the bathroom walls with my father's scripts from when he was at drama school in the 1970s.
6. I have a little urban terrace-garden.

Plan a Popsicle Party! — Décor + Dinner from Apartment Therapy & The Kitchn

Tara Bellucci — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

It's Memorial Day weekend: the unofficial start of summer and an excuse to hang out outdoors. Instead of the typical barbecue, freeze up some adult treats, toss together some picnic-friendly sandwiches and salads, and invite your friends over for a fun popsicle party!

Best Budget Buys: The Top 3 Types of Memorial Day Sales for the Home

Jason Loper — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Just about every shop is touting a Memorial Day Sale this weekend but they're not all created equal. There are three areas of the home that see deeper discounts than others over this holiday weekend. Check out the best kinds of sales to hit after the jump...

Ashley's Ridiculous Things — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Ashley
Location:: Charleston, SC
Square Feet:: 632
Division:: Little
What I Love About My Small Home:: Lots of stuff. My house was built in the 1940's, so my midcentury-inspired furniture fits in quite well. Most of it was found at thrift stores or on Craigslist, or lovingly built by my super awesome dad. My apartment is on the second floor surrounded by lawns so the view out of any window is lovely. Also, because my house is basically a square split into 4 smaller squares, from any room I can see into 2 other rooms. Which means if something super exciting was going on in 3 rooms at once I would get to partake in all of it!

Gretchen Jones' Bohemian Style — Refinery29

Nancy Mitchell — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Some of you may know Gretchen Jones as the winner of season 8 of Project Runway, but I discovered her because her lovely, layered Brooklyn apartment caught my eye. She's turned her small space into an oasis in the city, a relaxing place that reminds her of her roots and reflects her bohemian style.

Maker Tour: Jana Kinsman of Bike a Bee

Cambria Bold — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Jana is an illustrator, beekeeper and graphic designer in Chicago. Her latest project, Bike a Bee, is a reflection of her generosity and aims to contribute local honey to the city’s farmers markets, while also creating community collaboration.

• Maker Tour: Bike a Bee
The Kitchn

Justin's Contemporary Contrast — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Justin
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 590
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: Our apartment is 99 years old and has managed to retain nearly all its original detail, including Arts and Crafts style plaster moulding, a gas fireplace, and large windows with leaded-glass transoms. It's basically really warm and inviting, providing an interesting contrast to some of our contemporary art and furnishings.

We're Hiring: Web Graphic Designer — Job Listing

Janel Laban — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:25:00 GMT

We’re looking for a full-time, NYC-based web/graphic designer to become a core contributor to our in-house creative team.

As our designer, you'll wear two hats: you should have experience both with designing for the web and with commercial advertising projects. Basic web skills (html, css) are key, as is deft creativity with your preferred design software.

→ Check out the full listing for more info and to apply

The Future: Talking to Your Tech

Chris Perez — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

The highly anticipated Xbox One was announced this week and with it arrived Microsoft's big push to commandeer your living room as the hub of all your home entertainment needs well beyond just video games. The keynote notably highlighted the console's ability to understand voice commands such as, "Xbox, Watch TV," "Watch HBO," "Xbox, Go Home", switching between options almost instantaneously. But the question that arises is, does anybody really want to be talking to their devices?

The Weekend Guide: National Sales & Events Calendar — May 24, 2013

Jason Loper — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Since Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer, this edition of the Weekend Guide is great for two things. First, there are plenty of sales to help you finish up your home decorating projects while saving some money. Second, it's your guide to the outdoor events that are starting to pop up across the country.Check it all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

DIY Decor Trend: Copper

Dabney Frake — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

There must be something in the water this days, and that something is copper. Clever folks everywhere are coming up with great ways to use pipe, tape, paint, and sheet metal to create modern, beautiful projects for the home. Get thee to the hardware store if you want to try them out yourself...

Vacation Inspiration: Sleeping Seaside

Bethany Seawright — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

I'm pretty enchanted by Katwijk aan Zee's little cottage on the beach in the Netherlands. When I was growing up in California, we often camped at the beach. Usually it was a small hike to the shore, but once we actually stayed on the sand, and it was fantastic...

Adam's Comfort & Warmth — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Adam
Location:: Los Angeles, CA
Square Feet:: 936
Division:: Small
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love that my place isn't defined by a specific time. it can kind of be whatever I want it to be. It's a personal space where nothing is too precious, which (I believe) allows a level of comfort and warmth.

Plan for New Living Room Lighting? — Good Questions

Regina Yunghans — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Q: We are first time home owners and first time remodelers. The electrician needs to know what I want to do in the existing living room. We are doing a full rewiring, removing the old K&T wires. Currently, the living room is set up for all sconces, but I think it makes it very difficult to decorate the walls, especially the main wall where the couch is going to go:

Budding Spring: Small Flower Vases

Jason Loper — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:45:00 GMT

You know the old saying - April showers bring May flowers. Bring some of those budding beauties indoors and display them in small vases. It's a quick and easy way to add some springtime fun to your home.

Kylie's Compact Family Home — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Kylie
Location:: Kansas City, MO
Square Feet:: 824
Division:: Small
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love that I moved into this condo as a single, college student and have over the last 6 years added first a dog, then a husband, a daughter and now another baby on the way. Our home has completely adapted to each new stage and forced me to press into new ways of thinking about design. Every room started out with builder's beige paint on the walls and zero personality. Now, every room reflects who we are as a family. We've added wood beams, crown molding, tiled walls, a new bathroom vanity, swapped every light fixture...the list goes on and on. Everything we can change, we have. I love that a small home restricts you to tweaking and perfecting the few rooms you do have to work with. With all of our energy being poured into such a concentrated area, we ended up with spaces we love.