apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Incorporating a flat screen TV into this built in floor-to-ceiling bookcase was a challenge for us on a recent project - the client wanted the TV to stay on that wall, but we weren't thrilled by the way it had been jammed in there originally. Click below the jump to see what we did.

We're not big into pumpkins or cornucopias this time of year, but political decorating? That's something we can get behind. And even though this year's election is over, we'll be leaving up this reminder of one of our favorite activities for a little while longer.

Every time we entertain we're reminded how much we love a good trivet. Whether a simple felt circle or something fancier, trivets can often be the perfect blend of form and function - because who says a trivet can't be pretty while protecting your table from a hot dish?

Do you save loose change? Not the most original idea, but one that works well for us, we use our vintage demijohn (which we found at the Melrose Trading Post during a trip to LA last year) as a sort of retro savings account - collecting all of our loose change and sometimes a bill or two, all while being pretty enough that it fits nicely into our decor.

We have a soft spot for anything related to the Northern California shore, so it's no surprise these barnacle tiles made our hearts go pitter patter.

Pretty dishes are one of our favorite household accessories - we use them to hold keys, jewelery, makeup, pretty much anything small that needs to be corralled. The pieces in H for Hannah's Jewellery Collection are perfect for uses like this, as they're definitely too nice to put away in a cupboard.

We have a soft spot for luxurious bedding, and these Libeco Vence Bed Linens are making our heart beat a little faster this morning. Their eco-friendly manufacturing along with their 150-year old Royal Belgian heritage mean that these aren't just another set of sheets.

"It doesn't necessarily follow that if everything in the room is beautiful you end up with a beautiful room. I think the best rooms are those that have a mix of things and an ugly lamp with a crooked shade, or an inherited table or the rug from your childhood bedroom. These are the things that add texture and life to a room."
-Rita Konig

OK, so maybe this is a little gimmicky, but these days we're big fans of home accessories that make us smile. Anything that reminds us of middle school science fairs definitely fits into that category.