apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

During our free time or even when we are supposed to be doing more important things, we can get wrapped up in perusing online furniture sites. We aren't even looking for anything in particular, just seeing what is out there. You can imagine how excited we were when we stumbled upon this gem.

Thanksgiving is over. The family has left, the dishes (most of them) are done and now it is time to rest and recuperate before we do it all over again in one month. This weekend, take some time for yourself and wind down with a nice long bath.

We recently posted a unique sideboard found on one of our favorite online furniture sites. Whether we are looking for that special piece to add life to the living room or just hunting for inspiration, Bonluxat is like that special friend who you can always count on. Since the gift giving holidays are right around the corner, we decided to add some of these goodies to our wish list. We have a feeling our loved ones won't be spending thousands on us, but it can't hurt to show them what we are swooning over.

Name: Heather, Denis and new pup, Addie
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: About 3000 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months

After living and renting in Portland for 3.5 years and being newly wed to one another, Denis and Heather decided it was time to purchase their very first home together. They proceeded to find an agent who took them all over the city looking for something, but in the end came up with nothing. They decided to take a house-hunting hiatus but soon after came the news that their two friends were packing up and moving back to Denmark.

We are always talking about how versatile sideboards are. You can use them as a minibar, a dresser, a tv stand...the list goes on. These days, finding a sideboard is pretty easy but finding one that makes a statement can be a bit more difficult.

Whenever a friend is visiting Portland, we love to recommend all our favorite restaurants, shops and hotels. We often praise the popular Ace Hotel for it's funky, one-of-a-kind vibe but recently, we found ourselves showing some out-of-towners another option.

While dining in Venice Beach this past weekend, we noticed this amazing chandelier adorned with a variety of different bulbs. It left us feeling giddy with desire to have it hanging in our own home. Unfortunately, our dining room would never accommodate such an immense fixture.

Every now and then, we like to bake a grand cake with multiple layers and fancy frosting but we never have a special way to display our masterpiece. Fortunately, cake stands are making a big comeback. Everywhere we look, we see colorful cake displays reminding us to be prepared for holiday entertaining. Whether you are an accomplished culinarian or a baking rookie, your cakes will dazzle guests when served on these stands.

We've heard a lot about dumpster pools lately but what dumpster gardens?
For the urban dweller, this is a great alternative to the rooftop garden. Plus, it's a perfect way to reuse and recycle an abandon container.

Looking to add a creative touch to your office space but are tired of the stick-on decals? A one-of-a-kind mural can make your space stand out from the rest. We love the look of this innocent painting displayed on a large scale. If you are a Portland, Oregon native, you are well aware of what this mural depicts....

It is such a nice surprise when walking into a friend's house for the first time to be greeted with a burst of bold color. Many of us have always toyed with the idea but when it comes down to actually doing it, we usually chicken out. The bathroom is a good place to start if you want to ease in gently but be careful, color is contagious and you will likely want more and more...

We've always loved Nanimarquina rugs but how do we feel about these beanbag-like chairs?

As the fall creeps up on us, we are left reminiscing of our summertime fun. All of those beach outings, boat rides and fishing off the pier have been put on hold until next year. Fortunately, these "Home and High Water" linocut prints can keep your nautical dreams alive all year round.

We have been looking for exciting ways to add more color to our dining area. At first, we tried a bright tablecloth but that didn't show off our fabulous white lacquered tabletop. Then, we splurged on a fancy centerpiece, which was quickly removed once the food arrived. But chairs! That would do the trick...