apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

So it's a week past the election and you're still looking out the window at your lawn sign. Recycle? Save for posterity? Re-nest offered a few ideas, but now you've got one other option -- get it out of your yard and onto your bike. Find out how below the jump!

Yesterday's post about kitchen counter bars seemed a perfect jumping off point for these tips on how to create a functional and attractive center island. Some are obvious -- use a heat-resistant material if your island includes a cooktop -- but downvents and raised bars are smart considerations before jumping into such a project. See the entire list of tips below the jump!

We just returned from a 10-day trip and now we can't stop thinking about bathing. Why? Because the house where we stayed was outfitted with a clawfoot tub and a very short handheld shower. And if this weren't awkward enough, no curtain meant that sprayed water had the potential to leak through the floor right into the kitchen. It was, shall we say, an experience.

With history in the making today, we thought it was the perfect time to share this print from Chris Piascik. And if you're one who votes more out of obligation than inspiration, Piascik has a variety of non-politically influenced styles.

We can't remember the path we took to wind up at Susie MacMurray's art, but it most certainly involved the creative use of unusual materials. Can you tell what common party paraphernalia she used to create these art pieces?

After our recent post about Julie Almquist's rehabbed cottage, the requests came rolling in for more photos. Fortunately, Julie was happy to comply, sharing several "before and after" shots which show just how much her sweat equity paid off.

Just the other day, we received an invite to an Oscar party. That's in FEBRUARY, folks. Despite feeling like it's way too early for all this, we suppose it's actually right about time to purchase a 2009 calendar. This way, come January, our life isn't too far out of control. Enter Portland's Cecily Ink, with an adorable version that's about to find its way to our desk.

Part art installation, part decor, we're impressed with this birch tree, designed for a little girl's room. And it's not just nice to look at, it's interactive as well. See how below the jump!

Viewing the entries in the Fall Colors Contest got us thinking about actual fall colors and where to find them. In the Northeast, it's easy to find spectacular beauty right outside your front door, but here in the Northwest -- known for year-round greenery -- it's a little harder to find such inspiration.

One of our favorite benefits of having Bitch Magazine based out of Portland is the annual Sm{art} art auction. It's a great way to pick up the work of talented artists at reasonable prices... all for a good cause.

We may have missed the Color Pulse 2010 presentation here in Portland, but that doesn't mean you're left without a recap. Doty Horn, Director of Color and Design for Benjamin Moore, came to town to talk with interior design professionals about trends in furniture, fashion and visual art, and the palettes and textures we should be looking for in the next two years. Oh, and did we mention that Portland was her very first stop on a nationwide tour?

Most of us have reached the point where recycling is second nature. But even the most diligent might be overlooking household items that clutter up our space...toothpaste tubes, razor handles and even old cassettes. Find out where they can be recycled below the jump!

We're all about making our work computer ever so slightly more fun and representative of who we are outside of the office. Our latest find to bring personality to our PC comes from the fine folks at Deadly Squire, who've taken their patterns for housewares and accessories and applied them to wallpaper of the digital variety.