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

Best Kids Parties: Milk & Cookies — My Party

Dabney Frake — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Name: Peighton, 1
Location: San Diego, CA

For my daughter's first birthday I wanted a simple party that didn't require a lot of food preparation so I could focus on the decorations. I decided on a Milk & Cookies party as a result.

Layla Kate's Raspberry Linen Room — My Room

Carrie McBride — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Layla Kate (2 months)
Location: Kansas City

My daughter asked me to design a room for her new daughter using raspberry and linen. Layla’s room is a mix of repurposed vintage furniture, bold fabrics and hand-made details.

My Small Home: Skipping the Baby Bathtub

Carrie McBride — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

My bathroom is ridiculously tiny. A very pregnant visitor once asked if she could use the bathroom. "You can try." We do have a full bath, but no room to house a baby bathtub. When my son was born 5 years ago and now with my daughter, we made do with other products suited to small homes. Here they are...

"My Five Year Stretch" Growth Chart — Family Find

Carrie McBride — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

"My Five Year Stretch"

• $31
• Nippaz with Attitude

Giraffe growth charts too tame for you? This Johnny Cash style one adds some edge and humor to a kid's room with space to record height, finger prints, a yearly mugshot and developmental milestones.

Pleygo: Netflix for Lego

Beth Callaghan — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Yes, you read that right. Netflix for LEGO. I swear, we must have at least 10,000 Lego in our house. Wait, maybe 20,000. The desire for new sets never ends, but of course, the old sets are still around. Enter Pleygo, where you can rent Lego sets and then return them for new ones. Would you consider it?

Best Kids Parties: Princess — My Party

Dabney Frake — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Name: Chole, 4
Location: Toronto, CN

Chloe loves all things princess so we dreamed up a royal celebration for her and ten of her friends.

Movie Nights: Foreign Movies for Children

Séverine Baron — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

We have a weekly Movie Night at our house. It's sacred, and it's the time when we make it a point to discover a new film we haven't seen yet, preferably something that's not mainstream.

Something For Everyone in Parker, Monty & Elliot's Room — My Room

Carrie McBride — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Name: Parker (8), Monty (5) & Elliot (3)
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin

My boys have recently moved in together in preparation of their sister's arrival! We gave this room a makeover to make it extra special for them, putting some fresh paint on the walls and buying new beds with matching duvets.

Getting Away: Tips For Renting a Vacation House with Kids

Carrie McBride — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Sometimes vacations are about traveling to new places and exploring new cultures. And sometimes they're about relaxing, kicking back and spending time together as a family. One of the best ways to do this, especially for families with kids, is to rent a house in a lovely location. My family has been lucky enough to tag along on a few of these vacations with extended family over the past few years and this year we took the plunge and rented a place ourselves. Here are some tips for what to look for in a kid-friendly rental.

Using Luxury Rooms to Keep Teens Home — The Wall Street Journal

Carrie McBride — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Candace Jackson just wrote an interesting piece for the Wall Street Journal about luxury, over-the-top spaces for kids. It's tempting to focus on the money being spent on these elaborate bedrooms and "teen lounges," but what I find much more interesting is the reason many parents cite for creating these teen havens at home and how it may affect kids and the family dynamic.

Lu's Big Day: Picking a Theme — Party Planning Diary

Dabney Frake — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Okay, so I signed up to do this party-gig-bash for a bunch of three-year-olds in June, and now I have to deliver on the goods. Because who wants to anger a gaggle of toddlers in the heat of summer? Not me, that's who.

Alphabet Wooden Wall Hanging — Family Find

Carrie McBride — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Alphabet Wall Hanging

• $50
• Graphic Spaces

Alphabet posters are great, but perhaps you'd like something three dimensional. This handsome version appeals to your inner typographer or wood nut.

Twinkle Lights in Kids Rooms

Beth Callaghan — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Of course, we've seen lots of uses for twinkle lights during the holidays, and even some great ideas for using them year round in your house. But we also love twinkle lights for kids' rooms, where you can use them to make the room a little more special, created a themed room, or even create a custom night light.

Best Kids Parties: Wild Wonders — My Party

Dabney Frake — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Name: Noah, 7
Location: Springville, UT

My son Noah just turned 7 and he had such a fun party. I heard a couple of months ago about a company called Wild Wonders here in Utah that you can hire to bring animals to your party. Noah loves animals and was beyond thrilled.

DIY Cardboard Ships to Sail the Seas — Ikat Bag

Mari Richards — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Everyone knows cardboard DIY projects are at the top of the stylish crafter's list of favorite projects. I have quite a collection gathered on Pinterest, just waiting for the right moment and the right box. These cardboard ships are a perfect rainy afternoon activity!

Google Glass Shows Us the World From a 2-Year-Old's Perspective

Gregory Han — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Categorize this video as "pretty darn cute". Tech blogger, Chris Angelini, was readying a Tom's Hardware post about his thoughts about Google Glass when his inquisitive 2-year-old son wanted to know what all the hubbub was all about (alongside a request for some juice). Father equips son with Google's life's moment capturing device, giving us a short glimpse of what it's like to be 2 years old all over again...

Maxwell & Ursula's Light Rental Reno: The Cabinets — Renovation Diary

Maxwell Ryan — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Maxwell & Ursula
Type of Project: Light renovation of a rental apt
Location: Soho, NYC
Type of building: Two bedroom apartment

I had a big unsolved issue for this project, which was how to get a compact bed into Ursula's room along with all the storage she and I needed in both of our rooms for clothing, etc. Then I ran into George Evageliou again after posting about his company back in 2007. He was literally in our offices dropping off his new cards, when I asked if he'd come take a look at this apartment. Within thirty minutes he'd convinced me to rip out all the old, funky closets and work with him to install cabinets in both rooms, one of which would carry Ursula's bed. That's when the fun began.

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.

Captain Kangaroo Auction: Own a Piece of Children's TV History

Jason Loper — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

If you spent any time watching children's programming between the late 1950's and the early 1980's, you're probably quite familiar with Captain Kangaroo. When the show's creator and star, Bob Keeshan, died in 2004, some items from the show were donated to The Smithsonian. Now more than 500 pieces of memorabilia are being auctioned off, giving us all a chance to revel in nostalgia firsthand.

Alternatives to Big Toy Space-Suckers

Alison Gerber — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

When space is limited, toys need to be too. Wait...is this really true? No, not if you're space savvy: big toys can be replaced with small toys that are just as fun and do the exact same job. Here are a few small space alternatives to popular big toy items:

On the Wall: Name Displays for Children's Rooms

Elisabeth Wilborn — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

As are many of you, I'll wager, I am passionate for names. I have been slowly collecting my favorite children's name displays from Apartment Therapy Family and across the web. Parents with a knack for picking great monikers also tend to get creative with their kids' rooms. Click through for inspiration beyond the traditional cookie-cutter mold.

5 Tips for Living Without a Washer/Dryer

Alison Gerber — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

There's a debate that is always going on among the Moms of my building: if you could choose just one upgrade for your apartment, would you get a washer/dryer or a dishwasher? For me, the dishwasher wins every time. Life goes on just fine without a washer/dryer. Here is how we do it:

Landscape Dinner Set — Family Find

Carrie McBride — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Landscape Dinner Set

• $42
• My Sweet Muffin

This set makes me think of summer camp dining halls with a designer twist. Playful and smile-inducing. Designed by Barcelona-based DOIY.

Jack, Finn & Rowan's "Undone" Room — My Room

Carrie McBride — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:45:00 GMT

Name: Jack (7), Finn (4) & Rowan (2)
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

My hope was to make the little fellas a whimsical childish "undone" room that they could grow in and share memories in. I love listening to them giggle and talk at night from outside their door.

New Parenthood: Learning Along The Way — Adventures of a New Parent

Alysha Findley — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Are you a new parent or on the way to becoming one? Are you thinking about starting a family down the road? or are you already an experienced parent with a thriving family of your own?

The Week's Top Family Posts — May 13-17, 2013

Carrie McBride — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT