A Pro Skateboarder's "Scandinavian With a Twist" Barcelona Apartment — House Tour

Name: Björn Holmenäs
Location: El Poble-sec — Barcelona, Spain
Size: 506 square feet (plus a 430 square foot terrace)
Years lived in: 6 years, owned

Björn's apartment is located in the Barcelona neighborhood of El Poble-sec, a neighborhood with a history that can be traced back to ancient Rome. The streets in the neighborhood are small and narrow, yet filled with creativity and inspiration. So when Björn came across this apartment with a terrace overlooking the neighborhood and nearby mountains, he knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and snatched it up without even viewing it in person.

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Before & After: A Wood Feature Wall Warms Up a Seattle Home — Professional Project

Project by: Sarah and Nick Karakaian of Nestrs LLC
Location: Seattle, Washington

Sarah's sister found herself with a lovely, slightly imperfect home in Seattle. She called in the pros, aka Sarah and Nick, to help give her house some simple sophistication. A lucky find in the form of a brick wall, a few smart paint choices and a mix of DIY and shopped furniture pieces helped to create a warm and modern home.

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This Couple Built a Tiny A-Frame in Montana for Just $700

Along with our love affair with everything mid-century right now, A-frame cabins have resurged in popularity — and one couple in Missoula figured out how to get the look for a lot less by building a tiny home in the iconic style. It's giving us cabin fever, in the best possible way.

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Would You Rent Your Furniture? New Startups Are Betting On It

Two new companies are betting on modern efficiency and our collective premium on the value of our time by breathing new life into an old decorating concept: renting, or renting to buy, our furniture.

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Renovation Ideas to Steal from Updated Ranch House Exteriors

In today's real estate market, affordable ranch homes are proving their potential. When they aren't dismissed, torn down, and then replaced by larger McMansion-style homes, they get snapped up by eager buyers happy for the large lots, large windows and friendly layouts. These exterior renovations show you don't have to compromise your style, and that there are so many ways to customize and modernize an 'outdated' home's appearance.

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You Can Visit Laura Palmer's House From Twin Peaks — If You Can Be Cool

A starring turn on television, much like it does for actors, can also make a house famous — or infamous as the case may be. That was what happened to this picturesque Everett, Washington colonial home. The house took center stage on TV's cult hit Twin Peaks, during its original two-season run from 1990-1991, as the home of the fictional murdered teen Laura Palmer. Over two decades later, the home returned to stardom again this year on Showtime's reboot of the beloved series, "Twin Peaks: The Return."

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The Best Ergonomic Stools No Matter Your Budget — Maxwell's Fantastic Find

I recently made the switch to an adjustable standing desk in my office, and it has made a world of difference. That said, I soon realized that my regular desk chair just wasn't going to cut it anymore. With a more active desk I needed a more active seating option — and it turns out that the medical community agrees. Active seating — specifically ergonomic stools — helps to strengthen core and back muscles, while allowing the spine to achieve its natural curve. The result is a healthier body and a mind that stays alert and awake at work. Today I'm testing out three ergonomic stools from all ends of the price spectrum: they are sure to keep you healthy without being an eyesore in your office.

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Basic to Bougie: 10 Things Design-Obsessed Dog Lovers Need in Their Home

(Image credit: Neiman Marcus)

You love design, you love your dog, it's only natural that you'd want great looking, modern pet pieces at home, right? Well, lucky for you (and Fido), the Internet delivers with a plethora of stylish dog beds, bowls and beyond. From basic dog treat jars to totally bougie acrylic and brass feeders (thanks Jonathan Adler!), here are 10 fabulous things for your home and fur baby.

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11 Online Sources Perfect for The Art Lover on a Budget

I wish I had the kind of disposable income that allowed me to walk into my favorite galleries and buy the work that I love right off the walls, but let's get real, that's just not gonna happen anytime soon. So instead I will rely on the next best (read: affordable) thing: the Internet.

Related Video: Here's a great way to display all of your art!

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A "Desert Minimalist" Adobe Home in Tuscon — House Tour

Name: Krysta Jabczenski and Joel Leshefka
Location: Barrio Libre — Tucson, AZ
Years lived in: 3 years, owned

Tucked away in the historic Barrio Libre neighborhood of Tucson is a little strip of lovingly restored adobes. The airy structures are full of desert charm, and they owe their new lives to a couple that split their time between arid Tucson and soggy Seattle. You may remember Krysta, Joel and their crisp and bright modern adobe, filled with pops of color, mid-century inspired furniture, and lofty ceilings. This is another one of their updated adobes, with this space garnering inspiration from the Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.

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This Asterisk-Shaped Shipping Container Home Is Heading for the Desert

By now there's plenty of evidence that shipping containers can make for some absolutely beautiful residences, but in case you're not hip to how cool it can actually be to live inside of the bulky structures, have a look-see at this concept shipping container home in Joshua Tree, California and try not to marvel at the modern, sleek renderings.

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We've Accepted that Hat Galleries are a Thing. Here's How to Make One

I own so many sun hats—well, three—and wear them so often that when my toddler niece wants to do an impression of me, she simply plonks a wide-brimmed hat on her head. My hats are currently in a teetering pile in the closet, but perhaps one of these tutorials will finally inspire me to display them properly.

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A Tiny House with a Unique (& Clever!) Bedroom Solution — Ana White

There's a problem frequently encountered by designers of very small houses, which is that beds are very nice to have while sleeping, but, even when you're not sleeping, they take up a lot of space. Our caveman ancestors, presumably, solved this problem by having beds that rolled up when not in use: more recently, designers of so-called "tiny houses" have gotten around this by lofting beds up high, with living space below. Which, unless you love the idea of fumbling for a ladder when you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, isn't an ideal solution. So I was very excited to see this tiny house design by Ana White, which comes up with a new—and particularly innovative—solution to the problem.

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True Crime Fans, Netflix's New Mockumentary Will Crack You Up

An unexpected sleeper hit in the form of a true crime parody came out on Netflix earlier this month, poking fun at huge hits like The Jinx, The Staircase, and even the streaming giant's own Making A Murderer. American Vandal is a mere eight episodes long and centers around a group of high school students, teachers, and administrators.

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Before & After: This Office Stepped Back in Time (In a Very Stylish Way)

(Image credit: Princeton Creative Services )

Darren and Catherine's client wanted their new office space to be welcoming, interesting and a reflection of their interests. Going from bland basic office white to a bold orange gave the space an immediate jolt of personality, and then the team layered on vintage and flea market finds, colorful industrial furniture and funky patterns.

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What House Guests REALLY Notice When They Visit

It's not about whether or not your baseboards are clean, or if fresh flowers adorn every table surface. There's really only a short list of things that really truly make a difference to your guests. Nail these things down and you guarantee a good visit every time.

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Katy Perry Lists Her Runyon Canyon Home for $9.5 Million

California Gurl Katy Perry is on the move. The pop star and recent VMAs host has listed her Hollywood Hills home atop the city's popular hiking spot, Runyon Canyon.

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This Stunning Portuguese House Has Pools on Pools — Literally

Summer is officially done for the year, but that still doesn't do much to diminish our visions of sitting poolside. That fantasy actually doesn't have an off-season, which is why we are still imagining how it must feel to go for a dip in this elevated outdoor swimming pool with a glass bottom—that's suspended over another pool.

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Real Life in London: 7 Things You'll Need to Be OK With To Love Living Here

(Image credit: Eleanor Büsing)

Years ago, I wrote a post about surviving and thriving in London, and it's one of my favorite pieces I've written for Apartment Therapy. I occasionally get emails from readers who've read it and are considering moving to London, want to meet up when they're in town visiting, or just want to chat about the city. As an expat who'll take any opportunity to talk up her adopted home, I love this.

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Here Are The Most Dog Friendly Cities in the US

It's no secret that modern Americans love our doggos — to the tune of 89 million dog-owning households — and that we sometimes (always?) base decisions around whether or not the dog can tag along. But where, exactly, is the most dog-obsessed city in the country?

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This Weekend: Easily Eliminate Years of Buildup in Your Bathroom

When I think of bathroom buildup, I think of grout first, and all the ick that accumulates in between the tiles. Tackling those lines is a major chore, requiring a ton of elbow grease and most likely a stiff brush. Turns out there's a second spot that also gets gross, but, in this case, couldn't be easier to clean. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how painless this particular weekend project will be — there's no scrubbing required!

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Inventive Ways to Use IKEA's IVAR All Over the House

(Image credit: Hello Lidy)

The IVAR system is, by design, modular and customizable — which makes it particularly fun to see all the ways it gets wrangled and reshaped by its buyers. It turns out there's a use for it in pretty much every room in the house, so of course we're on board!

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5 Fresh Podcasts Worth Listening To This Fall

While obviously listening to amazing podcasts is a year-round activity, now that fall is here, there are five in particular that I've been loving while walking to work. Grab a cute knitted hat and some earbuds and give these shows a listen.

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A Blend of Two Worlds in a Scholarly & Creative Chicago Loft — House Tour

Name: Olivia Mae Romano and her cats Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Sonia Sotomayor
Location: Pilsen — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, rented

Inspired by her mother's eye for design and skill at finding home decor gems in back alleys, Olivia has made her Pilsen loft an inspiring space. As a little girl, Olivia remembers being driven to school by her mother who would constantly pull off the road to pick up furniture she spotted. Olivia was so embarrassed when she would show up late to school because of her mother's thriftiness. She now says she is the exact same way.

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MBS RECAP: Strong Start, Weak Finish on Fed Musical Chairs and Month End

Posted To: MBS Commentary

The music is currently playing for the role of Fed Chair next year. When the music stops, Yellen may or may not still have a seat. News came out this morning that Trump was meeting with former Fed governor Kevin Warsh about filling the role. Warsh is also the son-in-law of one of Trump's long-time friends, and is considered to be a "hawk" on the spectrum of dovish vs hawkish policymakers. Hawks favor higher rates, relative to doves, and less accommodation. As such, rates spiked this morning when the news hit, but never broke above yesterday's domestic-session highs. Prior to that news, Core year-over-year PCE (one of the Fed's favorite inflation metrics) fell to 1.3% from 1.4% last month. The Fed would prefer to see this at 2.0%, so the 1.3% result is rate-friendly. Indeed...(read more)

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MBS RECAP: Strong Start, Weak Finish on Fed Musical Chairs and Month End

Posted To: MBS Commentary

The music is currently playing for the role of Fed Chair next year. When the music stops, Yellen may or may not still have a seat. News came out this morning that Trump was meeting with former Fed governor Kevin Warsh about filling the role. Warsh is also the son-in-law of one of Trump's long-time friends, and is considered to be a "hawk" on the spectrum of dovish vs hawkish policymakers. Hawks favor higher rates, relative to doves, and less accommodation. As such, rates spiked this morning when the news hit, but never broke above yesterday's domestic-session highs. Prior to that news, Core year-over-year PCE (one of the Fed's favorite inflation metrics) fell to 1.3% from 1.4% last month. The Fed would prefer to see this at 2.0%, so the 1.3% result is rate-friendly. Indeed...(read more)

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Before & After: A Basic IKEA Desk Gets Some Personality

After spotting this bright pink, approachably Boho IKEA hack on the internet superhighway, we knew we had to share it with you. After hitting up the IKEA 'as is'/clearance section, Becky and Kelsey (aka The Sorry Girls) knew they could make something out of this compact, but slightly boring desk situation. They snatched it up, took it home and worked their DIY magic!

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A Balanced Blend of Decades and Styles in a Sophisticated Home — Professional Project

Project by: Sophia Shibles of SCS Design
Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Sophia's clients had an enviable inheritance of mid-century modern furniture and art that they wanted blended into their older home. With incredibly rich colors and varied textures the space is sumptuous yet playful, striking an impressive balance of artistic nonchalance with classic glamour.

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Espresso Your Love For Coffee With These 11 Javariffic Products

September 29 (today!) is National Coffee Day, and while we don't celebrate a ton of food holidays around here, we couldn't miss the chance to salute everyone's favorite energy boosting bean juice. We rounded up some items for those that are coffee obsessed amongst us, so you can go forth and caffeinate in style.

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We Have Proof: All You Need for a Clean Home is 10 Minutes a Day

We're all busy, but we can probably all spare 10 minutes or so, right? Just a few minutes a day is all you need to keep your home clean and in order—and if you don't believe it, we've got proof.

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Mortgage Rates Back Down From 2-Month Highs

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

Mortgage rates moved lower today, even though underlying bond markets (which ultimately drive rates) suggested a move higher. This happens from time to time and it's usually a factor of timing. Today is no different. Bond markets were improving throughout the day yesterday, but started out at much weaker levels. Bond market weakness is associated with higher rates. As such, yesterday's rates were the highest we'd seen in roughly 2 months. As bonds improved throughout the day, many lenders abstained when it arguably became time to release friendlier rate sheets. When that happens, lenders become more likely to pass along the market gains the following morning--assuming the market gains make it through the night. That was the case today, and it allowed lenders to put rates back in line with the...(read more)

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Mortgage Rates Back Down From 2-Month Highs

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

Mortgage rates moved lower today, even though underlying bond markets (which ultimately drive rates) suggested a move higher. This happens from time to time and it's usually a factor of timing. Today is no different. Bond markets were improving throughout the day yesterday, but started out at much weaker levels. Bond market weakness is associated with higher rates. As such, yesterday's rates were the highest we'd seen in roughly 2 months. As bonds improved throughout the day, many lenders abstained when it arguably became time to release friendlier rate sheets. When that happens, lenders become more likely to pass along the market gains the following morning--assuming the market gains make it through the night. That was the case today, and it allowed lenders to put rates back in line with the...(read more)

Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

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12 IKEA Products Every Renter Should Know About

(Image credit: IKEA)

Two monumental things happened to me in June 2008: my son was born and an IKEA opened a mile from my apartment. Any New Yorker who's stood in line in the bowels of Port Authority to take the shuttle bus back and forth to the Elizabeth, NJ IKEA will understand that these events were nearly on par with each other. I'm a lifelong renter and IKEA products have come to the rescue for many of my rental conundrums over the years. Here are, in my opinion, the most renter-friendly IKEA products out there to know about.

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Before & After: A Condo in a Former Church Gets a Modern Update — Professional Project

Project by: Barbara of Galyean Vail
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Barbara's clients' condo in a former church was naturally architecturally interesting, but needed a cohesive style that could highlight the more enviable aspects of the home. She worked with them to bring in color, play up the natural lights and sprinkle in sophisticated accessories to create a cohesively stylish home.

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This Kitchen Was The Worst Part Of The House, Now It's The Best

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

When Kia Designs renovated a house in London that had been previously used as a house share, they knew they had a lot of work ahead of them—especially in the kitchen, which was easily the worst part of the house. They hoped it would come to be the heart of the home, a place that people would love to gather in and hate to leave.

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The Horror Inside: Looking Back at the Interiors of American Horror Story

(Image credit: FX via The Design Daredevil)

Oh, American Horror Story. You have such campy, spooky promise, and when you deliver, you really deliver. The scenery was always a draw: even when the plot flailed, the sets gave your eyeballs a treat. Now that AHS is gradually leaving Netflix, queue up your television and relive the architectural highlights, before the episodes disappear like so many bodies.

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