apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We firmly believe that there is no wrong way (and therefore no "right" way) to dress a table. The days of having to pull out an etiquette book to set the table for lunch with friends are long gone. That said, we do think there is a MODERN way to put together a table and you can get the look in 5 easy steps...

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The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, and most people want that heart to feel warm and welcoming. For the rooms where you cook and eat, we've rounded up a few small (and not-so-small) ways to add a little cheer through color...

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The great thing about loft living is that the space is totally customizable. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how creative you are, or how crafty you are with a hammer and saw. Click through the jump to see some tricky storage items and how (for now) we plan on tackling the problem of keeping them out of the way with little effort.

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Seen on the web today: An unusual decanter design, Pattern Tales wallpaper, a mighty poster and old Martha mags recycled into bows...jump below for all the links:

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Claire sent us an email: I have a question that begs for the creativity of Apartment Therapy readers: The bottom floor of our apartment is garden level, and while there's a decent amount of hegdging and plants outside, we'd like to put something in the window to obscure the view into our living room. However, the wide window ledge is a favorite for our cats and they love to sit and watch the world go by.

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We browse through photos of beautiful spaces every day on Apartment Therapy, but when we came across this picture from an Italian fixture and fitting company, we were riveted. This is our dream room. We've always lived in apartments where we have to lug our dirty clothes to a laundromat or dark, scary basement. Having our very own bright, organized laundry room is a persistent fantasy. We're wondering...

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Entertaining friends, cooking large meals that require preparation and thought is a joy of many. But to some it can be their worst nightmare. Would you rather meet up with friends outside your home to avoid the pressures? Click through the jump to let us know!

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A great way to mix and match in the dining room: scour eBay and add some vintage seating charm.

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Chadhaus is the design and fabrication workshop of Chad Robertson. We pulled together a couple of his dining room pieces to show you here. Above is a sideboard from the Farmhouse Modern series. We love the ultra-crisp look of wood and steel in this collection, which is made to order. See Chadhaus' other collection after the jump...

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Although the photos from Italian bathroom retailer IDEA Group are unruffled catalog images, we found a lot of smart solutions for storage. Their clean-lined configurations for wall-mounted and under-sink storage offer some fresh approaches, whether you're designing an IKEA bathroom or a super swanky space...

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You can feel the pride in the air. It started, cautiously, before election day. It built to an amazing crescendo in Grant Park on election night - an experience we'll never forget- as hundreds of thousands of happy people flooded out of the park and through the nighttime streets of the Loop. Each person seemed to carry a little bit of new found pride and camaraderie and the world is noticing...

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Item: Snow Joe Plus Electric Snow Thrower
Brand: Snow Joe
Value: $99.99

Those of us here in Chicago haven't seen much snow yet this winter, but you know it's on the way! If you are in charge of shoveling duties for your household, this might be the giveaway for you. The Snow Joe Plus is designed to be compact, is lightweight (12.5 lb.) and shovel-like with an adjustable handle (to accommodate different sized users) and takes the strain out of shoveling sidewalks, porches and decks....

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Yesterday, Penelope Green's article in the New York Times summed up a phenomenon we've been feeling for a while now. The frustrating battle between cost-cutting and overspending seems to escalate in times of stress. We see it most clearly in the Costco effect: people go into bunker mentality and overstuff their homes with "budget" items that end up costing more because of the bulk...

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Cold nights are perfect for taking on some at-home projects. If you're in the market for some fabrics and sewing supplies, J. Caroline Creative is a great source (it's also the place you'll find the Modern Flora line of fabrics from Chicago designer Jessica Jones). New favorites on the site include designs by Amy Butler and Patty Young:

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