apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

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 Bruce Bolander had the hot LA weather in mind when he placed the awning windows at the bottom, instead of the top, of the Bark Studio residence for improved air flow. It's also an interesting architectural detail, and possibly a great pet door if you think about it. More interior photos under the jump...

Over at ATNY today, Aaron posted about an interesting New York Times article discussing local and federal laws governing VOCs and insight about various "green" paint products. A niat serendipitous discussion, as we spent a good part of late last evening discussing eco-friendly interior paints with a friend who is moving into her first apartment, She wants to change her plain jane white walls into something more "bright" and "inviting", but without the chemicals and fumes of typical wall paints. So we put together this top ten list of best non-VOC, low-toxic interior house paints for her and you our readers...

Enter Here: Contest Page & Entries

Name: Kelly and Josh
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Size & Type: 744 sq. ft. apartment rental
Original Entry: Click Here

Who was your favorite entry and why?

John's Mission Melange. I love how his apartment respects the original craftsman details and blends it beautifully with some modern and classic pieces. The kitchen looks so warm and inviting, I would absolutely love to have a dinner party there. I am constantly pulled between my love for modern and vintage and this apartment creates a fantastic compromise.

We're really hoping Bomi Kim's Meaning of Time concept goes into production, because the simple idea is simply brilliant. The mechanical centerpiece allows for customizable clock hands of your own choice to be used, opening a world of ideas specific to your own decor (or sense of humour).

[via 2Modern Design Talk]

Wow, I thought my minimalist modern tendencies had faded away since my days in college studying to become an architect (perhaps architects prefer minimalist designs so as to eliminate drafting production work). But then every once in awhile I see a residential structure like this and I think I might be able to live in a concrete box...

We're now looking at all the large cardboard boxes in a new light after seeing these impressive DIY furniture creations made by the Parisian artist collective known as the Cartonnistes. Founder Eric Guiomar began creating cardboard furniture after looking for affordable and lightweight seating, and now offers classes in the construction technique he developed...

These beautiful decorative decals for the wall, floor, windows or wherever from designer Miss Miza for Les Invasions Ephémères have us looking all over our apartment for surfaces to decorate. The floor carpet decal is nearly 50" in diameter and easily removable; the smaller one might be nice in our kitchen/utility room. Plenty of other creative inspirations for decor decals here and under the jump...

[Photography: Rebecka Oftedal]

Enter Here: Contest Page & Entries

Name: Jordan
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Size & Type: 412 sq. ft. apartment rental
Original Entry: Click Here

Who was your favorite entry and why?

Tony and Hilary's 3-in-1 is just about as perfect as an apartment can get. It's not much larger than my own place yet it feels infinitely vaster. But for me, the real success of their decor is how designer'ish it looks without being uptight. That is to say, I feel like they'd probably be cool about it if I accidentally forgot to use a coaster.

We're just starting to prepare for our Friday morning flight to AT headquarters and ICFF, and that means dusting off the old luggage set and picking out what to take over yonder to the other side of the States. This time, we think we're going to take the advice of luggage packing guru, Doug Dyment of onebag.com, and follow his diagram that shows how to save space in a suitcase...

We can see it now: a TV advertisement spoofing the Apple MacBook Air ad. But instead of pulling out a laptop from a slim envelope, the actor will pull out one of these compact, folding barbecue grills to the tune of some grilling music while the sweet smoke of caramelizing summer fare wafts around...

Ecosystem's Tandem 1 looks like perfect seating for a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose", doesn't it? It's also notable for being a flat packaged seat and side table system made of renewable bamboo, finished with non toxic wood stains, and comes appointed with a comfy 100% natural talalay latex cushion. Oh, and best yet, the whole thing snaps together without the need of any tools! More photos under the jump...

Enter Here: Contest Page & Entries

Name: Loulou and Nico
Location: Venice, CA
Size & Type: 585 sq. ft. duplex, own
Original Entry: Click Here

Who was your favorite entry and why?

Kim's Tree Top Nest--We love the warm feeling, cohesive design, and the location...Makes us want to go there and hang out.

Enter Here: Contest Page & Entries

Name: Danielle & Lakshan
Location: Sydney, Australia
Size & Type: 803 sq. ft. house, own
Original Entry: Click Here

Who was your favorite entry and why?

I am a big fan of a couple of the Midwest finalists - Lisette's Pied a Terre because it totally drew me in and I looked at it for a long time, so many interesting things and all beautifully layered together in the tiny space. I also really loved Stephanie's Life of Pie, it's really sophisticated but not overly formal - I'd like to think that's what our house will look like when it grows up!

Takeshi Miyakawa's cube shaped storage solution is just an art project, but we bet the Fractal 23 as it is called, would do pretty well as a consumer piece. But as noted by others, the problem inherent with this design is that it needs to be placed in an area where all four sides are easily accessible and allow for the drawers to open. Otherwise, it's one heckuva conversation piece. Another couple of photos under the jump...

Enter Here: Contest Page & Entries

Name: Matthew
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Size & Type: 325 sq. ft. apartment rental
Original Entry: Click Here

Who was your favorite entry and why?

James and Emily's Vintage Modern Studio (Midwest #34). They have a Wonderfalls' wax lion, which wins my heart right there. Their layout is clean and open, they embraced the architecture, they've got lots of colors that all compliment each other and there's a bit of whimsey in the picture hangings and vintage accessories to keep things lively. It's got personality.

Here's the equivalent of home decor fried rice: Diary of a Vermont Eco Builder took all the Marmoleum leftover bits from their renovation projects, including from the bathrooms floors, bathroom counter tops and kitchen counter tops, and arranged the pieces altogether to create this beautiful patchwork kitchen floor...

We're not going to lie to you: we're suckers for nice packaging (what do you expect from a graphic designer?), and these gift box sets of soaps from skinny skinny are grade A awesome. Not only are the soaps made from 96-100% certified organic ingredients, the packaging is composed of 100% recycled, reclaimed, sustainable and biodegradable packaging...

ATLA reader Kimberly is undertaking some major renovations, inside and out of her 1920's home, and wants to reuse some of the concrete she plans to remove that currently surrounds her house:

My husband and I may be purchasing a home built in the 1920's that is a hodge-podge of styles and "up-grades." One of the first "up-grades" I would be interested in fixing is removing the plethora of concrete in various spaces around the house and restoring low-water consumption yards and gardens. I really want to try to stay green in as many ways as possible with any work we do and I am wondering if I can re-use slabs of this concrete directly, from say the driveway, for things like kitchen/bathroom counters or even a dining table...

We love updates from you, our readers! Reader submitted photos of renovation and home improvement projects are the gifts that keep on giving, in terms of advice and inspiration, and are amongst our most popular posts. Today, we're sharing an update from a Downtown LA loft we posted in January. I think you'll agree, it's looking House Tour ready....

(This is the second honorable mention choice, chosen from amongst entries that did not make the finals, but were noted to exhibit specific characteristics determined by our judges as worthy of award. Each honorable mention receives a special gift.)

Southwest Judge, Jean Aw's choice for her Honorable Mention is for one of the smaller entries this year from Los Angeles, Southwest #23: Tisha's Airy Studio:

"I'm completely mesmerized and intrigued by a combination of Tisha's aesthetics, her photography, and the eclectic collection of pieces she's carefully acquired into her tiny space. The curtains create such a calm perfectly lit space, and perhaps she's appealed to my love of tech necessities (tv, computer, etc) mixed with pieces like her gorgeous trunk (while i still hope to see some pics of the kitchen and bathroom next..."

Our warmest best wishes and thanks to all the mothers out there! The way we look at it, every day should be Mother's Day, so don't just make today a special day to recognize all the hard work and love that goes into being a mother...those other 364 days matter too.

Below is our hottest posts from the last week, including top 10 organizing tips, a discussion about designer knockoffs, 20 household tips for newspapers, a secret kitchen compartment, a DIY storage bed, and much more...

Name: Cindy and Harvey
Location: Granada Hills, CA
Size: 2500 sf
Years lived in: Own, 9 months

>> Enter Slideshow

In the northern most part of Granada Hills, in an area where time seemingly forgot, is an enclave of colourful modernist homes...a slice of Midcentury heaven filled with preserved and renovated homes all sharing the recognizable architectural details of the California-based, post-war residential real estate developer, Joseph Eichler. Cindy of OneStopModern was kind enough to invite us to step inside her renovated Eichler home on this magical block...

We've now got a growing desire to cover our stairway ceiling and walls with these paintable and textured wall coverings from Graham & Brown. We've never considered using wallpaper on the ceiling, but these vinyl sheets seem more like ceiling or wall tiles, don't they? Plenty more photos and where to get them below the jump...