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

Alana's Gut Renovation — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Alana
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 550
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: Everything has its place. It's like living on a boat or a submarine. It forces us to be very particular about our belongings. If we want to bring home something new, we have to really love it because it means we have to get rid of something old to make room! With time, you end up with a very well-curated space containing only things you love.

The Weekend Guide: National Sales & Events Calendar — May 17, 2013

Jason Loper — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Wherever you are in the country, there's a sale or shopping event to get you out of the house this weekend. From the Modernica Factory Sale in LA to the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin to a host of Design Week events in New York, there are plenty of reasons to get out and freshen up your home. Check it all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

Jason's Luxe Factor — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Jason
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 475
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I like to think our home has the most stuff in the smallest package. 18' ceilings, wood burning fireplace, loft space, Juliette balcony, and original mahogany millwork are what make it so special. As a designer these are the charms that are hard to recreate so it was a pleasure to make them shine.

My DWR Annex Adventure: How I Crossed State Lines for Discounted Furniture

Jennifer Hunter — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

They say you don’t really know someone until you’ve taken a trip together. I say the true test of the patience and kindness in a relationship occurs while holding up a heavy shelving unit and trying to affix it to a seemingly stud-less wall. I know, because it's happened to me. That day, I needed both an actual and an emotional anchor.

Before & After: A Boerum Hill Loft Gets Un-Podded — The Sweeten

Nancy Mitchell — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Back in 2008, when Ainsley Ryan and Chris Showalter bought a fixer-upper loft in a former Ex-Lax factory in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood, they commissioned an architect to design something a little unusual — an OSB-clad 'pod' containing a master bedroom, a bathroom, and a little nook for their infant daughter.

Friday Favorites: Chrome Table, Handmade Chandelier & Danish Chairs — The Friday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

It's the end of the week, which means my list of favorites from our Classifieds. Have a wonderful weekend, and happy scavenging!

Brooklyn, NY: Chrome Side Table - $150
Brooklyn, NY: Danish Chairs - $200
New York, NY: Handmade Chandelier - $2400
New York, NY: Brass Side Table - $125
San Francisco, CA: Pair of End Tables - $199

Alex’s Cozy Garden Apartment in Brooklyn — House Tour

Andrea Sparacio — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Name: Alex Flathmann
Location: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 620 square feet
Years lived in: 7 years; rented

New York apartment dwellers know all too well what a challenge it can be living the dream on a budget. Sometimes all you can afford is the lower level railroad apartment without direct sunlight. For Alex, the plus side to this is having backyard access to plant a garden and express his love of horticulture. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to catch Alex’s garden in full bloom because he is moving soon (but staying in Bed Stuy), so he submitted some outdoor photos that friends have taken in summers past. This house tour is a little farewell to Alex’s garden floor apartment on Putnam Street.

Kerry's Minimized & Mindful — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:45:00 GMT

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Name:: Kerry
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 287
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love that this is the first apartment that I don’t have to share and is truly my own. For that reason, I was thrilled to have a blank canvas and loved having the chance to make my studio a reflection of my style and personality for the first time. When I first moved in, I had to pare down my possessions to only the essentials since at 287 square feet, there just wasn't room for anything else. Every item in my apartment is something that I chose carefully or that has personal meaning. Downsizing to such a tiny space has taught me to minimize waste and forced me to be more mindful in general about all of my purchases. When decorating, I tried to incorporate accents and pieces that create a relaxing, cozy and curated space, without over-decorating or creating an overwhelming space. I love that when I come home at the end of the day, my apartment is a place where I can unwind, relax and be surrounded by things that make me happy.

Joy's Less is Definitely More — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

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Name:: Joy
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 375
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I think the flow of my space lends itself to feeling like a whole home. It has everything a girl could need from a kitchen table to an office area. It may be 375 sq. ft. but I still have a queen size bed and a fairly decent sitting area, none of which feels cramped. Even my dad's 60 year old desk fits when I added storage underneath. Less is definitely more in the main room as it can feel really cluttered quickly. I kept mostly only the things that I love, so while there is a lot of stuff, it is all happy stuff. I love the calming pale grey shade on my walls. I added mouldings and thicker baseboards when I moved in, which makes it feel more finished. I changed all doorknobs and hardware to glass so that it reflects the natural light from the three windows that make my apartment so bright. My walk-through closet is great because it holds all the things that I need to keep, but do not necessarily want to display.

Molly and John's Light-Filled Home for Five — House Tour

Jill Slater — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Name: Molly and John
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; Owned

When Molly and John moved into this apartment five years ago, they were the first buyers in the building. The property had a few issues at the time, but Molly and John took the leap and were glad they did. The building has since filled up with young families, who have created a very tight-knit community.

Stephanie's Best Year Yet — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Stephanie
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 330
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: What I love about my small home is that it's grown up with me. The first year I rented my apartment, I was traveling a lot for work and it was mostly just a place to hold my stuff between trips. The second year, I made a conscious effort to explore my neighborhood and to decorate. This is when I discovered that my apartment overlooks the smallest park in Manhattan (it's only 1500 square feet!) and finally treated myself to the 'For Like Ever' poster I had been coveting since 2006 (RIP Domino mag). The third year was when my apartment became a home. I hosted dumpling making parties, planted a mini-garden, and carved out space for painting. As I enter my fourth year here, I'm sure it will be the best yet.

Marimekko — Store Profile

Liana Walker — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Known for its original colorful graphic textiles since 1951, when Marimekko first showed their cheerful prints in Helsinski, the company was an instant hit. For years only available in capsule collections or in Europe and Scandinavia, New York City finally has its own flagship store that is a welcome dose of color therapy.

Cool, Clean White: Artifort Chair, Lytegem Pouf & Tulip Table — The Wednesday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

As the days get warmer, seek ways to stay cool.

New York, NY: 1967 Artifort 300 Series Chair - $450
New York, NY: Lightolier Lytegem - $45
Chicago, IL: Faux Leather Pouf - $40
Washington, DC: Tulip Dining Table - $300
Chicago, IL: Jonathan Adler Vase - $25

Nightwood — Store Profile

Kate Legere — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Nightwood is a Brooklyn based furniture, textiles and interiors outfit that was founded in 2011 by Ry Scruggs and Nadia Yaron. All of their furniture and textiles are hand crafted one-of-a-kind works of functional art. Inspired by "old things, primitive practices, creative reuse and natural materials", they incorporate both salvaged and scrap wood into their wood furniture, and they use organic, sustainable fabrics, as well as woven scraps, in their textile-based products. More

10 Travel Apps for Visiting New York City — Smartphone Travel App Showcase

Jason Rodway — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

What can I say about New York that hasn't been said before? New York is the city that needs no introduction and definitely warrants a visit at least once in a lifetime. Whether you're sightseeing, museum hopping, shopping in luxury, catching a Broadway show, or just taking in the energy of a city always alive, the options are seemingly unlimited. It was difficult to narrow it down to 10 apps, but here are my favorites for navigating the city that never sleeps.

Adam's Streamlined Simplicity — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Adam
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 425
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: The simplicity of owning only what is necessary.

Shiny Style: Pierre Cardin Table, Lacquer Console & Chrome Stools — The Tuesday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Can you imagine seeing brass, chrome, or lacquer furniture for the very first time, instead of just wood? Mind blowing.

Tarrytown, NY: Black Lacquered Console - $695
New York, NY: Pierre Cardin Coffee Table - $970
Denver, CO: Chrome Bar Stools - $275
Chicago, IL: Brass Duck Bookends - $28
New York, NY: Cylinder Side Tables - $400

Vertical Living: Lane Cabinet, Flat Files & Rosewood Desk — The Monday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:45:00 GMT

Each of these makes use of precious wall space - essential for small lofts and apartments.

Lancaster, PA: Lane Cabinet - $750

Alexandria, VA: Mid Century Shelving - $1250

Brooklyn, NY: Flat File Storage - $300

Norwood, NJ: Rosewood Desk - $2500

Moonachie, NJ: Distressed Cabinet - $359

John's Sunlit Studio — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

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Name:: John
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 260
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: The layout. When Tim and I were looking for studios to rent, every space we looked at seemed so hard to spatially visualize. The "L" shape of our studio really lends itself to creating public and private areas. Even though this is a studio apartment, it defintely has a bedroom area and a living area. Also, each space has its own window allowing light to pour into the space! I also love the character present throughout; the brick chimney wall and the kitchen cabinets are both fun original details.

The Weekend Guide: National Sales & Events Calendar — May 10, 2013

Jason Loper — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Mother's Day is this Sunday. If you've procrastinated on picking up a gift, there are still a number of Mother's Day sales in the Weekend Guide. If mom's taken care of, then treat yourself to a weekend of fun and shopping. Check out all the sales and events in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

Richard's Constantly Changing Home — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Richard
Location:: Jackson Heights, NY
Square Feet:: 876
Division:: Small
What I Love About My Small Home:: We get inspired by so many things and our home is constantly changing, never static. Because it is small, it's really easy to make a major change by just moving something a few feet away. We always have home projects going on, or something new we want to try.

New York State of Mind: Finding Neighborhood Equivalents Across the Map — The Morning News

Bethany Seawright — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

New York City — if you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere. But what if you made it there, and now you have to move?? Will you ever find a neighborhood in your new city that suits you as well as your NYC one did?

Rae's Closet-Filled Compact Home — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Rae
Location:: Brooklyn, NY
Square Feet:: 454
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love that I can display homemade items, like my embroidery in my bedroom and the artwork in my living room that my family and I painted. And my old apartment had no closets, and now I have four. I love that it makes storage easier, and I can now fill my living space with only the things I love most.

Friday Favorites: Burl Table, Finnish Enamelware & Mid Century Credenza — The Friday Scavenger

Dabney Frake — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

It's the end of the week, which means my list of favorites from our Classifieds. Have a wonderful weekend, and happy scavenging!

Catonsville, MD: Brass Side Tables - $150
Croton-on-Hudson, NY: Mod Burl Table - $450
New York, NY: Finnish Enamelware - $72
Wolverhampton, England: Mid Century Credenza - £1450
River Falls, WI: Herman Miller Armchair - $245

Mallory's Icing on the Cake — Small Cool Contest

Gregory Han — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:15:00 GMT

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Name:: Mallory
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 600
Division:: Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: My terrace! I fell in love with the apartment for many reasons, but this was the icing on the cake. It's rare to have an outdoor space in the city, and this space is almost as big as the studio itself! When I first viewed the apartment, the outdoor space was just a sloping rooftop. My landlord added the deck before I moved in as a surprise. He's the best! How many people in New York can say that they love their landlord?