apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Across the Jewish diaspora, stoves are heating up in preparation for the Festival of Lights, otherwise known as the Festival of Fried Foods. For eight wondrous nights, we'll indulge in latkes, doughnuts, and other fabulous fritters. Here is some inspiration for serving your holiday feast in high style.

Some of you may already be familiar with Boston blogger India Shannon (aka Design Girl), whose budget-conscious finds and makeovers have been featured on her blog, Apartment 528, for the past few years.

This image of French philosopher Jacques Derrida's study reminded me how much I love the look of a lived-in library. To me, books are more than just accessories. They're part of a home's character, and they reflect — more than any other objects — an owner's unique personality.

Inspired by her travels in Peru, Colorado designer Nicole Linton of è bella created a sophisticated collection of hand-knotted rugs that blend modern designs with ancient artisanal skills.

When we came across this spectacular Amsterdam loft over at LoftLife, we were immediately struck by how cozy and intimate it feels despite its size. Untouched for nearly 250 years, the loft retains its original open-plan layout and wood interior, but the owners did an amazing job infusing the space with a sense of comfort and luxury through a series of dramatic curtain walls.

It's one of those wet, cold New England days when all you want to do is curl up by the fire with a cup of tea and a good book. There's just one glitch: no fireplace. If you love the look of a real fire, but lack the space or cash to install one, consider a portable fireplace.

Let's face it. For some of us, Thanksgiving dinner is less like a Norman Rockwell painting than a tableau vivant of domestic dysfunction. Wouldn't it be great if we could avoid all that awkwardness? Honesty stamps may be just the answer.

We're always excited to discover young, talented designers with an eye toward creative reuse. Polish design group Kompott transform humble, elementary objects such as wooden crates and ladders into functional furniture and modular storage solutions.

Monochromatic table settings are easy on the eyes and let the food you've worked so hard to prepare take center stage. The key is to layer on the textures, incorporate different tones of the same hue, or mix patterns and sheens from the same color family. Here is some inspiration for creating tonal tables that are anything but one note.

Of all the trends to emerge in the past few months, patchwork is probably among my least favorite. This week, I challenged myself to find some pieces even the most patchwork-phobic decorator could adore.

Consider the olive. Bold, fruity, elegant, and sophisticated. An emblem of peace and a symbol of health. It's one of those versatile colors that can accommodate a range of styles depending on how it's used and what it's paired with. From fresh and funky to dark and dramatic, here is some inspiration to get you thinking about olive green in a whole new way.

We've been fans of Maya Romanoff's distinctive wallcoverings for a while, but the Blanket design by David Rockwell for Maya Romanoff sparked a lively discussion around the dinner table last night. Would you get shocked after touching it? Would balloons stick to it? Would you have nightmares of Tim Gunn chasing after you with a hand steamer?

Remember Paul Villinski's Beer Can Butterflies? Some of you were over the whole butterfly trend, but this wood veneer version might make you reconsider.

Some packages are just too pretty to part with. That's how we felt when we saw Integrity Spirits' Lovejoy Vodka bottles. If the name alone doesn't put you in a festive mood, the chic graphic label will. With five different designs, you can even choose the color and pattern that fits your decor.