apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We just got a great tip about a new DIY on Instructables. This wood scrap table was made completely of salvaged wood rescued from decaying buildings in and around Hale County, Alabama... All told, the project cost less than $100 and, with the help of a few friends, took only a couple weekends' work...

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After renovating most of my own home, there are certainly some things I'd recommend doing myself, and somethings that are better left to the pros. The renovator of a 1920's bungalow in L.A. recently gave an interview about some of the lessons learned from his own DIY experience...

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Last week we received an email about The Working Proof— an online print gallery and shop showcasing emerging artists. But here's the special part: its mission is to promote both art and social responsibility, as 15% of the sale of each print is donated to a charity of the artist's choice. And not only are these prints unique, but they're extremely affordable...

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We've blogged about sustainable Coconut Fiber doormats before but not these from Angela Adams. The newest addition to her modern line of environmentally-sensitive products are these beautiful and simple doormats, made from natural coconut fiber ...

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Sean Scherer, a painter, bought this 1840's Cape-style farmhouse on 90 acres in the Catskills in 2002. His home is now an "eclectic collection of 19th-century pieces...enhanced by clever juxtapositions with contemporary art, anatomical sculptures, botanical prints, mercury glass, old mirrors and tintypes that he started collecting when he moved to the area..."

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Guest Post from Matthew Haly

Having something upholstered or custom-made is a complex endeavor — and for most people it is a world that is unknown. Taking your sofa in to be reupholstered is similar to taking your car to the mechanic: your car needs a tune up and the mechanic tells you “this needs tightening, that needs fixing and this needs overhauling” and you stare back at him or her and blankly say “OK” because you have no idea about the inner workings of the car that you drive every single day. You probably sit on your sofa every day and do not really know what is on the inside that makes it so comfy (or not so comfy)...

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These alphabet pillows made from old suit jackets are totally hitting a sweet spot for us. We love the warmth and geek chic of tweed and herringbone, and admit to having a thing for Letter decor. (We have a "B" hanging on the wall in our living room. Would a pillow be too much? Probably.) Etsy seller hilarycosgrove makes custom letters as well...

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We've said it before: reupholstering furniture is a very green practice. Molly Worth of Chairloom is a 3rd-generation reupholsterer based out of Philadelphia. We first met her at the Brooklyn Flea last year, but only recently commissioned her to reupholster the antique fan back chair you see here. We were totally blown away by the results, and had to share her talent with you all...

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As soon as I saw this picture over on Dwell magazine's homepage, I thought, "I know that airstream." I know it, because it's our neighbor! We've been curious about Andreas Stavropoulos' airstream for awhile now, so seeing it on Dwell finally satisfied our curiosity...

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It's a busy time for Colin Beavan and his family as the No Impact Man book officially arrived in stores on Wednesday, and the documentary opens in theaters today. We took a few hours and sat down with Colin and Michelle this week to talk about the effect the year-long experiment had on their home life and habits, and we also gleaned some tips, advice, and resources from their time spent off the grid...

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This is way beyond dried flowers. For Artwork, Crafts & Collections Month, we've been thinking of creative, budget-friendly, and do-it-yourself ways to spruce up our walls. Here's one option: take an object and frame it! An empty frame can instantly transform seemingly anything — a bike, some cool shopping bags, or a set of vintage cameras — into a piece of art that will stand apart from the rest...

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We don't have a headboard at present, but we have flirted with going the DIY route — and these upcycled headboards have given us plenty of ideas to ponder. Here are some pretty nifty items you can upcycle to make a very cool and creative headboard...

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Our sink has been draining very slowly for months; but, complete laziness has kept us from doing anything about it. Last night when we were brushing our teeth, we realized that we'd let it all go too far. So, today, armed with a tea kettle, a Q-tip, a box of baking soda, and a bottle of white vinegar, we got to work...

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The Briard House in Culver City, CA was designed by architect Whitney Sander, and it's the greenest "hybrid house" (meaning part of it uses prefab elements) ever built. The total project cost was $500,000 for the 3,800-square-foot duplex, and the strategies and materials used include greywater systems, passive heating and cooling strategies, a cistern to capture rainwater for watering the landscape, recycled blue jean insulation, sunflower seed wall board, bamboo flooring, marmoleum, and structural steel frames from recycled steel...

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