Apartment Therapy Archive: Aug 9, 2016

I love most everything about living in New York, except for the one thing I really hate about living in New York, which is that living here is really, really heinously expensive. But there are little ways you can save money, and make your NYC dollars stretch a little further. I’m not talking about obvious stuff, like living in Bushwick with 3 roommates or never going out ever. I mean sneaky things, money-saving tips that are unique to NYC, and that you might not immediately think of.

Name: Jorie Garcia and Trevor Bennett Location: Southeast Portland, Oregon Size: 640 square feet Years lived in: Renting 4 years For those of you who have had the pleasure of laying eyes on Schoolhouse Electric’s gorgeously styled catalogs, today’s house tour will provide you with a bit of a fan girl or boy moment. If you’ve seen those perfectly imperfect gallery walls, and effortlessly fluffed pillows, then you’re familiar with Jorie Garcia’s work.

What happens when two interior designers get married and create the home of their dreams in Manhattan? Well, for one thing, a really beautiful kitchen. Come take a closer look at the kitchen of Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s Greenwich Village duplex, and maybe discover a few ideas to steal for your own renovation.

If you’ve already invested in a Nest Learning Thermostat ($249) or have read about the smart device, you likely know about some of the perks—but not all of them. Nest allows you to turn up the AC from your iPhone when you’re about to head home on summer’s hottest day, open utility bills that have dropped significantly thanks to the smart Auto-Away mode, and just generally live in a world where the temperature is perfectly regulated at all times.

The 2016 summer Olympics are in full swing, which for a select few means traveling to Brazil to see the games and experience the beauty of that gorgeous tropical country. Those of us not leaving home can always catch the big events on television, and also, through the magic of the internet, have a tiny glimpse of what it might be like to visit Brazil by taking a virtual tour of these 7 beautiful (and luxurious) homes located all over the country.

When you’re busy working, it can be easy to let your workspace fall into a rut—I mean, who has time to redecorate their desk when they’re preparing for next week’s presentation? But because your work environment affects how energized you feel, taking a few minutes right now to optimize your workspace may just make your whole week more productive. Want to try it? Read through these five ways to improve and organize your desk according to feng shui—then get to work!

Recently, matte finishes seem to be showing up on walls, furniture, fixtures, and ceramics all over the house. Often used in combination with metallics and high-gloss glazes to create a striking contrast of sheens, the new mattes are found in moody hues and pretty pastels. See how these flat finishes shine in the rooms that follow. Above: Canvas Home‘s new fall collection, Salamanca, uses matte glazes in rich gray tones.

Sara is in a fairly unique situation of having to deal not only with the standard rental woes, but she also has to work with the not-totally-her-style furniture that came with the space. From Sara: The first day I stepped in this bedroom I got instantly bored and sad. The sand color on the wall, the nightstand with that bedside lamp, the dark green and gold headboard… We lived with that for three or four months, and one day I woke up like ‘I can’t stand this anymore!

We have officially crossed the threshold into the dog days of summer (which actually has nothing to do with canines, but rather the dog star Sirius…who knew?). To commemorate the stretch of heat (and lethargy) associated with this period, we scoured Etsy and rounded up 9 super cool, modern pet houses—from cat friendly cardboard to designer edifices—for your furry friends to ride out the season.

Minimal, modern style, a stunning must-see green kitchen, beautiful patterned tile and one cute kid.

Sticking to a limited color palette isn’t the only way to design a home that looks inviting and pulled together. Caroline and Jayden are the colorful couple who live in the cozy Atwater Village home shown here an they saw absolutely no hue limitations when they designed their place.

(Image credit: Bag: Courtesy of Trader Joe’s) From Kitchn → 10 Things I Buy from Trader Joe’s for No-Cook Dinners

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg Are Teaming Up to Make All of Your Reality Show Dreams Come True