Name: Debbie and Olivier
Location: Venice, CA
Size: 1500sq/ft
Years lived in: 2 years, own
When Debbie and Olivier bought their Venice property 3 years ago, they could have torn down the existing house and filled the property with a new McMansion. Instead they chose to keep the existing home, convert it into a studio for their architecture firm and build a second house with as small a footprint as possible. The idea was to maximize the space they had for living by using every corner. The result is a great example of simple, small space living.
One part lamp, one part landing strip, the 
Last Fall we blogged about 
We were researching energy efficient lighting when we took a bit of a detour and found these attractive hanging lamps made with parchment or wood veneer shades at Eco-Lights.com. We're not sure that these are eco in any substantial way (they do recommend using these with CFL bulbs), but we're smitten with the look of these overhead lamps, alongside the other styles we've included under the jump....
We don't know about you, but we would love to find something like this to put in our kitchen! These glass drawers were in an old apartment in Stockholm, and we're already imagining how handy it must be to clear off some counter space without sacrificing organization or easy access. Does anyone know where to find a similar solution?
We’ve been meaning to blog these for a while but we wanted to try them out for ourselves first and see if they worked and our Trader Joe’s (apparently the most popular TJ’s in LA) has been out of them. We finally hit an alternative Trader Joe’s and grabbed a pack. Although they don’t have the fabric softening properties of dryer sheets, we definitely like them to add an extra dimension of luxury to our laundry.
This Saturday, May 17th, 2008, more than 40 galleries will be participating in the newly organized Miracle Mile Art Walk. All will be accessible via a free, continuous trolley service. Several restaurants will also be participating offereing discounts...
Another one of our favorite Spring Cleaning posts is all about how to keep the toilet spic and span without using a ton of harsh chemicals: a lot safer for the environment and for the pet that likes to sneak a drink (gross, we know, but true to life). Our favorite non-toxic cleansers 
We admit, water consumption isn't something we normally worry about so much. But we should. Today I bathed, washed my car (but all within 5 minutes at a DIY car wash) and did a couple loads of laundry, not to mention the smaller amounts of H20 used to brush my teeth or flush the toilet. There's no way getting around it...LA is going to be dry-mouthed soon with growing water demands because of daily uses as those listed above multiplied by millions. And so it looks like we're gonna be seeing some residential water restrictions again...
Wow! Check out this "Wooden Mirror" by Daniel Rozen. It consists of a bunch of wooden panels that are connected to a camera and a computer. The panels flip from light to dark to represent what the camera is seeing. Check out the video of it in action after the jump...
At the risk of sounding incredibly dumb, I discovered last night that my kitchen has one of those sink front trays (they're located directly below the sink, and they flip out so you can store sponges). Yes, it took me a year to find it. A year! And during the past 365 days, I've been slinging the sponge in a suction-cup wire holder attached to the side of the sink to minimize clutter in that area. How do you store your sponges in the kitchen and bathrooms? 
We posted this tip in February when really only LA was getting lots of sun. It's one of our favorite ways to kick off spring cleaning on a sunny day. If you've got good weather this weekend, take the time to spruce up your pillows. Jump below for the full scoop: 
Along with some of our colleagues, we're off to NY for the ICFF. We always looking for tips to making our trip easier so we've rounded up 11 posts from AT, from packing to pets to cleaning before you go, to help you out as vacation season approaches.
Balconies are often under utilized spaces. Unfortunately, they're also usually pretty small and it's often hard to fit standard patio furniture. Designer Sandy Lam has come up with a concept we hope makes it into actual production. It's called "Spaceless" and is essentially a balcony decking system that has furniture built in!...
When we first spotted this photo of this Pasadena 1910 Craftsman bungalow in Architectural Digest, we thought it looked a wee bit old fashioned. But after taking a closer look, we're starting to like the yellow-tinted green trim paired with crisp white walls. Furnishings aside, this color combo seems to fit the vibe of this vintage home. Side note: we covet that stained glass in the windows.
We got a tip from AT reader KM who has a mint condition 
LA, hot enough for you today? Looks like tomorrow is going to even be hotter (just our luck, we're leaving prime beach weather and heading into forecasts of rain in NYC). We think Malibu architect 
Last week, Gregory blogged a 
We've posted a lot about cleaning hardwood floors and have always been surprised how many different products and methods everyone uses. Below find some of our favorite tips as submitted by readers like you:
White carpet plus dog equals...trouble. Or so we thought the other night when our friend's dog very gently tossed his cookies (and whatever else he'd gotten into while rummaging through the garbage and the garden) on the white shag carpet. Luckily for us, our hostess had a bottle of Get Serious around. 
Over at ATNY today, Aaron 
Looking at this photo, we'd never guess it was actually a kitchen corner (although the hanging teacups might be an obvious hint). But what we love about this corner by Moline is that it's pulling triple duty: storing a teacup collection, displaying kids' art, and storing art supplies in the drawers that are low enough for the kids to reach. And it manages to look neat and serene...
We love baskets. Their woven texture and light airy look says summer to us. And with their many colours, weaves and sizes, they're versatile. Here are some ways we use them around the house. 
