apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

... And fact is, you probably don't need any of them, but half the fun of a project is all the neat tools you get to use, right? While not absolutely necessary these products can help cut down on time (and sanity) spent on your latest project.

If you are being very good it's possible you've already done most of your holiday shopping (oh, how we envy you!), but if you're like us, you've still got a long way to go. Knock a few more names off your list with these customized trays and paperweights...

Sandi's entry for our Fall Colors Contest was one of our favorites, so we were really happy when we discovered more photos of her home today...

We're loving the black trend that's been emerging in home decor lately, as evidence by numerous posts, like here and here. But if you can't paint your walls or want to introduce the trend in moderation, we like the style of these wall ornaments from Eden and Eden...

Be Sweet is one of those companies you feel good about supporting. And with products as lovely as this cushion, it's not hard to find a reason to do so...

Starting November 10th, Design Within Reach will be featuring a different item up for purchase or auction every day. Sometimes they'll be antiques, sometimes new, but they'll all be in limited quantities and only available to those who sign up...

Maybe you're doing the cure and have a big pile of unwanted stuff in your outbox, with no one who'd like to take it off your hands. If you'd rather not toss it, we're all about this chandelier/installation seen recently at the Woonbeurs, a lifestyle and interior design fair held in Amsterdam.

The election is officially over, and while we don't want to spark a heated political debate, we would like to know if there will be any lasting effects of the campaign in your home. No matter which way you slice it, it has been a history-making event, and the amount of politically inspired art and ephemera seems (to us, at least) to be much greater this year than in elections past. So, what (if anything) to keep?

We have to thank Shelterrific for cluing us in to Rae Dunn. You've probably seen her work before and been impressed (as we have) - it's been featured in all sorts of magazines and is stocked at stores all over the country. But little did we know that Dunn lives and works in the Bay Area, and has a beautiful kitchen that's got a style which blends seamlessly with her work...

We know it's important to periodically purge your junk drawers, closets, or (gulp) rooms. But even after a good reorganizing there's bound to be a pile that, while not junk, isn't something you actually want to look at, just the same. It's this extraneous stuff that plastic tubs were made for, but if you want to go a more decorative route, we recommend these bins...

It would appear that we've officially entered the icky season here in San Francisco - the rain has been coming down on and off for the past few days and doesn't seem to want to stop any time soon. We'll have to stick to our umbrella outside for now, but we can still try and incorporate a beautiful parasol inside.

Seattle based artist Kate Endle began her career in art as an illustrator, and it wasn't until about five years ago that she began experimenting in collage. Now what once was a hobby has branched out to include an etsy shop and an incorporation of the new medium with her illustrative roots...

We've seen several posts in the last few weeks on decorating for Halloween, and though it might be too late for your front door pumpkin, we had to add one more. What can we say? We're feeling festive, and these are too pretty not to post.

What we wouldn't give for a Graham and Green store stateside. In all honesty, we probably couldn't afford much, but we'd love to go check out the fabulous furniture they offer in person. With stores only in the U.K., we'll just have to draw inspiration from their vintage-inspired pieces and look for similar styles at antique and flea markets (hello, Alameda!). Here are a few things we adore...