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

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?

DIY Dance Floors for Home Weddings

Regina Yunghans — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

When you're having a wedding at home, making room for a dance floor can be a challenge. At my own home wedding, both my husband and I were such scaredy cats when it came to dancing that we skipped it altogether. And do you know what? That is the one detail I wish I could change: provide a dance floor for my guests to get down even if I wasn't planning on it myself. So, if you're throwing a wedding at home and want to dance (or want everyone else to be able to!), here are some ideas. More

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.

Pools For The Pool-less: Inflatable Fun For The Family

Alison Gerber — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Perhaps it snows for half of the year where you are. Maybe the thought of cleaning a pool, week in and week out, makes your skin crawl. Could be that you rent. Or you just can't afford one. There are so many reasons for not having a pool, but so few that really mean your kids (or you!) need to miss out on the fun of splashing around in the backyard all summer. Bring on the inflatable pools!

The MacGyver Mindset: Outdoor Tips, Tricks & DIYs

Dabney Frake — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Whether you're just in your backyard or off somewhere in the woods camping overnight, these DIYs will help you enjoy your time spent outdoors. Some are pretty simple, while others are more complex builds, but all are clever and worthy. Soon you'll be repairing river rafts with bubble gum and weaving your own tents from leaves.

8 Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding

Kim R. McCormick — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

On a humid Saturday around this time last year, I married my husband on an 330-acre organic farm in eastern Pennsylvania. (That's us above.) It poured for part of that day, but thanks to careful planning — and, you know, being really excited — I barely noticed.

8 Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding

Kim R. McCormick — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Front Door Suggestions for 1920's Home? — Good Questions

Regina Yunghans — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Q: I live in a 1926 brick home dubbed a "Mediterranean Eclectic" by the Tulsa Historical Preservation Commission. At some point a completely non period-appropriate Mid-Century Modern door was used to replace the original front door. We are getting ready to replace this door and could use some help.

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.

Luxury Living: Drive-in Boathouses — HomeLife

Kimber Watson — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

I'm not going to lie. As a modest boat owner that makes the arduous trek from home to marina — laden with gear, odds and ends, and a dog to boot — this drive-in boat slip is a lavish idea I could get behind.

It's the Season: Garden Walks & Tours — The Gardenist

Rochelle Greayer — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Need a little garden inspiration? Look no further than local garden tours. They're a great way to get ideas for what grows in your area, get a chance to meet a neighbor, and nose around some pretty amazing places. This weekend there are lots of events sponsored by the Garden Conservancy, but it is worth keeping an eye out locally for other events as well.

Rustic Aged Terra Cotta Without the Wait — Ruffled

Linda Ly — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

With just a few brushstrokes, you can transform a basic potted herb into something with a little more French Country flair for your windowsill... find out how after the jump!

DIY Ideas: 10 Party Lighting Projects

Kate Legere — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Planning an evening get-together some time this summer? Here are some fun party lights you can make yourself. No matter your theme or budget, there's something here for you. More

Best of the Best: 10 Gardens to Visit Across the United States

Kimber Watson — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

One of my favorite things to do when I travel to a new destination is to find a garden or conservatory to visit. It may be an acclaimed one that I pinned to my "Gardens I Must Visit Before I Die" Pinterest board, or I might have just stumbled across it while out exploring. Regardless, in my book garden visits trump museums any day. Here are some of my favorite gardens that I've visited across the US, as well as gardens that I plan to see in the future.

True Story: How My Feathered Foes Became a Backyard Family

AnnaMaria Stephens — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMT

I'd planned to spend my weekend in the sun, potting flowers and sprucing things up outdoors. But that was before the Pair of Crows, as my husband and I began to call them in a menacing tone. Out of nowhere, the avian interlopers had set up base camp in our backyard. And talk about angry birds. These two were ready to bust out beaks and claws.
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5 Tips for Getting the Garden Party Ready — The Gardenist

Rochelle Greayer — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:30:00 GMT

I'm hosting a major garden party this weekend (for my own birthday) and I have been busy for weeks preparing the 'grounds' for the event. My garden is particularly large and it takes a while to get it in shape, but I have, in my preparations, come up with a few time savers and problem solvers that might help you get your garden ready for visitors.

Summer Entertaining Essential: Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting

Regina Yunghans — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

If you're planning an outdoor wedding or other celebration this season, chances are that you're scouting ideas for outdoor lighting. Whether you're adding sparkle to your celebration with strings of twinkle lights, pendants hanging from tree branches, or intimate table lamps on your guests' tables, we've rounded up the best and brightest here (without an electrical outlet in sight).

Backyard Entertaining: DIY Teepee — Gardenista

Linda Ly — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

What do I love most about this teepee? One, it requires only a few materials from your local Home Depot. And two, it's big enough that even the parents can hang out in it with their kids! (If they're allowed, of course.)

Are All Polypropylene Rugs Suitable For Outdoors? — Good Questions

Regina Yunghans — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Q: I'm looking for an outdoor rug for our back yard. I've noticed that many outdoor rugs are made of polypropylene, but I'm wondering if *all* polypropylene rugs are suitable for outdoor use? In specific, IKEA makes a number of affordable polypropylene rugs (like the LAPPLJUNG RUTA and the PS 2012 collection) that would be perfect.

Natural Scent Portable Tabletop Mosquito Repeller — Daily Tech Find

Gregory Han — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Tabletop Mosquito Repeller
• $29.95
• Hammacher Schlemmer

At first I thought this soda can sized device was an ultrasonic sound mosquito repellent, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the battery powered accessory utilizes plant-derived essential oils to naturally repel annoying warm weather bugs. Instead of a loud bug zapper, the tabletop repeller uses the cocktail of floral scents of geranium, peppermint and lemongrass to lightly perfume the air while creating a safe insect-free perimeter mosquitos, gnats, and midges find as annoying as you find their buzz in your ear and bites on your rear.

Friday Flowers: Aerial Views of Flower Farms

Jennifer Hunter — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Want to know what's missing in your life? Flowers! If you joined the January Cure at the start of the year, perhaps you remember what fun it was to buy your weekly flowers. I'll admit I haven't kept it up, but when I came across these aerial shots of flower farms, it inspired me to get back in the habit of Friday flowers.

DIY Reclaimed Wood Picnic Table — Instructables

Linda Ly — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

This reclaimed picnic table comes courtesy of the Instructables Green Design contest. Katie Jackson and Lilah Crews-Pless submitted a tutorial for a table and bench set made entirely of scrap wood (minus the table legs, which were purchased new). Besides the simple and sustainable design, the best feature of this table is what's inside it...

Gardening Tip: Use Old Terracotta Pots For Plant Drainage

Kate Legere — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I was recently repotting some plants with my mom, and she passed along a useful tip: save your old broken or chipped terracotta pots. You can break them into smaller pieces and use them for drainage at the bottom of a new pot. You'll be diverting broken pots from a landfill, and terracotta is relatively light, so it will not add much weight.

DIY Leaf Art Prints You Can Make with the Kids — designskool

Linda Ly — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

All it takes are some leaves (and perhaps even weeds) from your yard to create these beautiful and simple prints as an homage to spring. Find out how after the jump!

The New Sunset Western Garden Book Goes Digital

Gregory Han — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

I bet many of you out there grew up with a few Sunset home and garden books around the house. They've been longtime staples of gardeners and DIYers throughout the years, presenting daydream-inducing photos with informative guidance for beginner and expert gardeners alike. This new digital edition takes everything I loved about Sunset publications and migrates it over to the iPad, integrating 30 how-to videos, interactive links, and more than a 100 slideshows of high res photos to swipe through before, during, and after planting...