I just doubled my storage, and no, I didn’t move apartments. I got a new bed frame. 

Upgrading my classic IKEA Malm bed to the lift-up storage model gave my towels, bedding, books, winter coats, and tote bags a proper home. While I’ve always kept those items under my bed (usually crammed inside a random suitcase), to get to anything in the center, I’d have to manually lift my mattress and balance it on my back while crouching over and pulling up the wood slats. It wasn’t a pretty picture, and may or may not have led to some chronic back pain. 

The classic and storage Malm beds are almost identical, but while the classic comes in four colorways and four sizes, the storage version comes in just two colorways and two sizes. Luckily, the size and color I wanted, full and white, came in both. The prices also differ quite a bit; for the full size, the upgrade takes you from $329 up to $659. My favorite difference: Rather than open-air sides, the storage version is completely closed. That one seemingly simple difference is what ultimately inspired me to make the swap. I knew this tiny upgrade would make my entire apartment feel so much cleaner—all of my stuff would be out of sight and, more important, it wouldn’t be such a pain (literally) to access stuff. 

Malm Storage Bed, IKEA ($659)

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The Assembly

The bed was delivered the next day (yes, you read that right) for $39. Delivery didn’t include assembly, so I hired a TaskRabbit. After watching the skilled professional with a 5-star rating take a full two hours to build the bed, I knew I had made the right choice. Paying him $150 saved me what would have been an entire weekend of frustration.

Now I simply pull a strap at the foot of the bed and—voilà!—my mattress opens to a 45-degree angle. 

The Organization

I have what I like to think of as a brand-new closet (it’s just one that lays flat on the floor!). Rather than reverting to my old ways and keeping my belongings in old suitcases, I went back to IKEA and tricked it out with interior storage compartments. Because there are so many options, I asked the interior design leader for IKEA U.S., Abbey Stark, for some pointers. She recommended a combination of Skubb and Parkla, both of which are soft zippered containers, as well as Kugis, a lidded plastic box. Full closure keeps dust at bay, and handles make them easy to pull out.

Before I put my order in, I got out a ruler and graph paper and drew the bed and containers to scale so I could play around with different orientations. After landing on the below layout, there were no surprises once my order arrived.

So what goes where? I started intuitively, putting anything that was soft and flexible (table linens, bedding, pillow inserts) in the fabric containers, and any hard objects, like books and extra taper holders, in the structured Parkla boxes. Because the Skubb boxes are the largest (they’re 36.5-by-21.75-by-7.5 inches), I saved them for bigger items like towels, and relegated smaller collections like tote bags to the Parkla containers. The nice thing about the soft containers is that they’re both sheer, so I don’t need to waste brain space remembering what is where. 

Skubb, IKEA ($7)

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Parkla, IKEA ($2)

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Kuggis, IKEA ($30)

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The post I Treat the IKEA Malm Storage Bed Like the Linen Closet I Never Had appeared first on domino.

When Jonny, a music producer, and Krystal, a floral designer, took a trip to Inness, a hotel in upstate New York, they took note of the ladder-back chairs surrounding the long communal dining table and the larder pantry painted a rich coat of ochre. This was the vibe they wanted to create in the 1860s cottage they recently purchased in nearby Rhinecliff. They tracked down Post Company, the design agency behind Innes, and asked if they would take on their historic property: It’s one of the oldest preserved houses in the area and measures a mere 1,250 square feet. Post Company accepted the challenge. 

“[Innes] has a lot of restraint and a minimalist sensibility, but through a lens of warmth and intimacy. I think that’s what resonated with them,” says Leigh Salem, one of the partners at the design firm. The couple’s home was the definition of small but mighty. The expansive windows automatically made the interior feel bigger than it is, and there were nooks and crannies aplenty (read: storage opportunities). Krystal and Jonny never expressed interest in tacking on an addition, not even when it came to their primary bedroom in the attic. The bones of the house were perfect as is. It simply needed a luxury resort–inspired twist.

Build a Tempo With Color

There is a rhythm that pulls you through the house the moment you walk through the mudroom door and it goes: dark, light, dark, light. “There’s often an inclination with smaller houses that a lighter palette will be perceived as larger, but we were more interested in creating a language of thresholds between light and dark,” explains Salem.  

The tricky part wasn’t choosing what paint colors to use, it was the fact that Jonny and Krystal were living in London while the renovation was going on. “Committing to an exterior house color without seeing it in person was daunting,” says Jonny. Fortunately, they had friends in the area who kindly visited at various times of the day and in different weather conditions to take pictures and videos.

The mudroom, now lined with closet doors that hide everything from overflow cookware to the washer and dryer, made the couple a little nervous the first time they saw photos of it. “It appeared more orange than anticipated, almost pumpkin orange,” recalls Jonny.

Post Company urged them to stick with the rusty red color (Benjamin Moore’s Tawny Rose), at least until they saw it in person. They agreed and eventually found the photos really didn’t do it justice. “Now it’s everyone’s favorite room because it provides a wonderful contrast,” adds Jonny. As you reach the end of the 4-foot-long hallway, you are introduced to the kitchen, swathed in Soapstone by Portola Paints. When you round the corner up the narrow staircase to the main bedroom, you’re greeted by a moody gray surprise.

Stress Awkward Spaces

Rather than try to open up the low ceilings in the attic bedroom, Post Company decided to call attention to them by covering every surface of the cavernous space in Portola’s textured Dry Ground limewash. “We’re not trying to fool anyone,” says Salem. The only visual trickery is the cabinets tucked within the pitch of the dormer: It’s the couple’s primary closet.

While Jonny traveled back to New York a few times toward the end of the reno, Krystal went six months without seeing the house. Their first night in the home was a bit of a blur (mostly due to jet lag, they admit), but they do remember one thing: lying in bed watching the snow falling outside. “It felt truly magical,” says Jonny. 

Reach Peak Bathroom Goals

Previously, when Jonny and Krystal entered their bathroom, they’d find two small freestanding sinks to the right and left of the door and a tub-shower tucked in the corner. To achieve a more comfortable bathing experience, Post Company shifted the shower placement to the center of the room where the ceiling height is the tallest. Then they clad the whole thing in dramatic slabs of Calacatta Rosa marble, mimicking the same level of saturation in the mudroom downstairs.

The central shower placement also lets whoever is in there enjoy the views out of the bedroom window. “When you’re in a more private space, you don’t necessarily have to  close your bathroom door,” Salem points out. Going with two small doors over one large swing one allows for some flexibility without totally blocking the path to the bed.

Not pictured? The bathroom’s moody lighting. There are two matching sconces over the new vanities on either side of the door, as well as a canned bulb that throws light down the center of the shower. 

Push the Kitchen to the Walls

The main design challenge in the kitchen was making way for a proper dining table. Post Company swiftly nixed the peninsula that was bisecting the room and brought in a vintage Belgian table that can double as an island when there aren’t chairs around it.

They continued to elongate the space by adding a stretch of lower cabinets across the windows, which now fall in line with the new bleached white oak floorboards. They won back storage by cladding the wall that leads to the mudroom in floor-to-ceiling cupboards that disguise the pantry, refrigerator, and microwave. 

Pick Overhead Lighting Wisely

Knowing that the petite cottage gets loads of natural light from the large windows (which Post Company simply replaced with efficient versions from Marvin, keeping the openings the same size), the need for overhead lighting was fairly minimal. “We don’t love using recessed lighting, especially in a compact house like this where materials are super-important,” says Salem. For any area that needed an overhead fixture (over the coffee table, above the kitchen sink), they brought in brass and oxidized brass spotlights from Long Made Co. and Roll & Hill that contribute to the home’s newfound patina.

The post Narnia Who? This Cottage’s Attic Doors Reveal a Dramatic Marble Shower appeared first on domino.

“I don’t know if you know this, but apartments in New York are tiny,” jokes Ryan Dziadul, vice president of PR and business development at Jonathan Adler. So when he and his husband (and their new dog, GoGo) moved into a new roomier apartment in Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood, they were thrilled to see it came with a terrace, which they planned to use as another room.

The only problem? The outdoor space is only about 4 feet wide, and even though they wanted it to be where they’d sip their morning coffee, eat dinner, and unwind at the end of the day, a traditional round outdoor umbrella just wouldn’t fit. Enter the half-round outdoor umbrella, which Dziadul’s husband found on Amazon and for only $60. “I did not know there was such a thing,” he admits. “But we’ve had it for two weeks and it’s already a game changer.”

Now the pair can dine alfresco even when it’s drizzling, and when the sun hits the terrace during the day, they can lounge in the shade. With the twist of a knob, Dziadul can easily put the umbrella up or down (though he says on his particular one, the directions are backward), and it’s sturdy enough to withstand New York’s windy winter and prespring showers. 

You don’t need a tiny terrace to use one in your own space. The half-round shape is ideal next to fences and walls or in cramped outdoor spaces. Dziadul’s favorite feature? The sunny orange color, though it’s available in five other shades, too. “I like to think it’s a treat for the neighbors across the street,” he says. “It’s not only a gift for us, but a gift for them.”

Tangkula 9-Foot Half-Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella

Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Orange, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Turquoise, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Tan, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Wine, Amazon ($60)

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Tangkula 9 ft Half Round Outdoor Patio Umbrella in Blue, Amazon ($60)

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The post This $60 Half (!) Umbrella Makes Finding Shade in Your Itsy-Bitsy Outdoor Space So Easy appeared first on domino.

Even though our closets hold some of our most important possessions, we inevitably end up neglecting them. So we’re asking clever homeowners and renters to share their time-tested organizing methods that really (really!) work in our new series, Reclaim Your Closet.

In New York City, there’s no such thing as the perfect apartment. Maybe you’re in your dream neighborhood, but the floors are so slanted that your table wobbles. Or perhaps you have a terrace with enough space for a vegetable garden, but the nearest train is a 15-minute walk. Or maybe you’re like me, and the location and space were everything you’ve ever hoped for—plus a 6-foot-tall window in the shower—but there’s wasn’t a single closet to be found. 

When my two roommates and I first toured our former Williamsburg, Brooklyn, apartment, it was love at first sight. The bright morning light flooding through, the sky-high ceilings; it seemed to have it all. We were already picturing our lives there before realizing there weren’t any closets. You may be wondering: Is that even legal? And the answer is: I’m not sure. Just when we thought we had discovered at least a utility closet, we opened the door to find nothing more than the water heater. 

The thing about the three of us is that we love clothes. Both of my apartment-mates have worked in fashion, and we could open a store with our shared shoe collection alone. We knew that the only way this space would work was if we built something out. And like most 20-somethings, we wanted to keep it cheap. 

So we transformed the hallway adjacent to the entry area into what we affectionately called our “walk-in closet.” After drawing out some plans and juggling our options—we bounced around the idea of three Pax wardrobes, inspired by Jordan Ferney—we went with IKEA’s Mulig clothes bars. They were $5.99 each, and we only needed six (two for each roommate), meaning the whole project cost us $36. 

The best part about the Mulig racks is that they expand from 23 inches to 35 inches. We made the top racks a few inches longer than the bottom racks, which created a space for long dresses and winter coats to hang to the floor. To keep the racks secure in the wall, we used toggle anchors. We each had our own section, but sharing was allowed, too. 

To add even more storage, we later installed wood shelving above the racks, using the same system as our bookshelves, to hold extra shoes. Our T-shirts, loungewear, and other foldable pieces lived in our respective dressers, leaving this area for blouses, dresses, coats, and—on some days—epic impromptu fashion shows. Which really did make it the perfect apartment.

MULIG Clothes Bar, Ikea ($7)

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BRANÄS Basket, Ikea ($25)

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BUMERANG Hangers, IKEA ($4.99/8-pack)

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The post For $36 Total, My Roommates and I Built a Custom IKEA Closet in Our Hallway appeared first on domino.

The uncontested hero of any living room setup is the coffee table. Beyond serving as a spot for your favorite design books or morning cappuccino, this workhorse staple can completely change how a room functions—especially when you’re short on square footage and need a surface designed to work overtime. There are a few key questions to ask yourself when looking for the best coffee tables for small spaces: Can it be easily moved out of the way when guests arrive? Will there still be room for all my living room lounging essentials? How well does it disguise clutter? To help you on this shopping journey, we scoured the Internet for streamlined styles that do just that (and more).

Take a look at our favorites, below. (If you need help pairing it with some size-conscious seating, check out our guide to the best sofas for small spaces.)

Our Favorite Coffee Tables for Small Spaces

• Best with built-in shelving: West Elm Terrace Coffee Table
• Best ottoman: McGee & Co. Brynlee Woven Ottoman
• Best glass: Kartell Panier Coffee Table
• Best with secret storage: Blu Dot Hoard Low Side Table
• Best nesting: Maiden Home The Morro Tables
• Best narrow: Henn & Hart 45-Inch-Wide Rectangular Coffee Table

Coffee Tables With Built-In Shelving

Tiered coffee tables are a great option for those who need additional space. The bottom shelf acts as a catchall for everything from magazines to mail to remotes, while the top can display all the cute stuff—like a sculptural vase or an artful candle. 

Terrace Coffee Table (48″), West Elm ($429 was $479)

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Clairemont Round Ebonized 36″ Coffee Table with Shelf, Crate & Barrel ($599)

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Palma Coffee Table, Anthropologie ($1,598)

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Wood & Cane Coffee Table by Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, Target ($180)

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Ottoman Coffee Tables

If you truly lack the space for a weightier furniture buy, try investing in a midsize ottoman that can function as everything from an easily movable footrest to extra seating for a table—all while adding an extra layer of textural character, whether that be by cozy upholstery or posh details. The only accessory you’ll need to complete its coffee-table transformation is an extra-large book or tray to top it with for added surface stability.

Brynlee Woven Ottoman, McGee & Co. ($553 was $760)

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Skirted Storage Ottoman, The Inside ($399)

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Scarlett Ottoman by Heather Taylor Home, West Elm ($399)

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Purple and Orange Couture Geometric Bicolor Pouf, 1stDibs ($3,265)

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Glass Coffee Tables

When your space is cramped, visual clutter is just as noticeable as a mess. Enter glass and acrylic. An ideal alternative to heavy wood, the transparent material promises clear sight lines. Even a large table will belie its bulk thanks to a frame with vanishing lines. 

Panier Coffee Table, Kartell ($460)

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Salim 12mm Tempered Glass Coffee Table, Christopher Knight Home ($227 was $238)

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Zipcode Design Doynton Coffee Table, Wayfair ($117 was $134)

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Lebanto Aka Smokey Glass Coffee Table, Artemest ($780)

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Soda Blown Murano Glass Low Coffee Table in Amber by Yiannis Ghikas, 1stDibs ($2,699)

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Fresco Glass Coffee Table, ABC Carpet & Home ($1,695)

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Coffee Tables With Secret Storage

If a coffee table with built-in shelving is no match for your hoard of living room stuff, we suggest trying a secret-storage style to conceal your not-so-pretty essentials within its depths.

Hoard Low Side Table with Storage, Blu Dot ($276 was $425)

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Naya Pop-Up Coffee Table, Urban Outfitters ($549 was $699)

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Margot Coffee Table, Lulu and Georgia ($1,049)

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Turning Table by Teresa Arns, Menu ($670)

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Nesting Coffee Tables

The best nesting tables are all about versatility: Keep them together for movie night or spread them out when friends come over for cocktails—or a candlelit dinner for two.

The Morro Tables, Maiden Home ($735)

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Sintra Coffee Tables, West Elm ($748)

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Fermob Oulala Nesting Tables (Set of 3), 2Modern ($650)

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Sassolino Burl Wood Nesting Tables by Athena Calderone, Crate & Barrel ($2,298)

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3-Piece Peekaboo Acrylic Nesting Table Set, CB2 ($249)

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Hearth & Hand x Magnolia Wooden Round Nested Coffee Tables, Target ($300)

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Narrow Coffee Tables

While the best coffee tables for small spaces aren’t necessarily a size play, certain square-footage limitations call for the straight and narrow. If you live in a shoebox, we culled together a few strategically streamlined styles to suit. (Two of these long boys even boast tiered storage bonus.)

45″ Wide Rectangular Coffee Table in Blackened Bronze, Henn & Hart ($128)

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St. Germain Glass Coffee Table, Serena & Lily ($1,998)

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Nera Coffee Table, Lulu and Georgia ($1,398)

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Theo Coffee Table, Reclaimed Pine, Sixpenny ($1,999)

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The post 28 Clever Coffee Tables for When You Don’t Have Room for Much Else appeared first on domino.

If there was one thing on your mind in January, it wasn’t workout gear or N/A spirits. You were all about tricking out the kitchen with cozy entertaining essentials. When we looked back to see what Domino readers bought after the holidays, the list includes a handy microwave popcorn popper that doesn’t require you to buy kernels in a bag; a space-conscious Drew Barrymore–designed coffee maker that also grinds your beans; and a handsome editor-reviewed beverage fridge that can stand in for a bar cart. We saw fancy candles and incense drop into your bags, as well as lived-in linen bed covers, affordable cotton sheets, and the rental lighting hack that just keeps on giving. Read on for the top 10 bestsellers in January. 

Collapsible Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper Bowl

Collapsible Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper Bowl, Amazon ($9)

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This $9 microwave anti-gadget means you’ll waste less (no bags, all kernels), avoid oil via air-popping, and break it down after use. Plus it’s editor-tested and -approved.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Perfect Grind Single Serve Coffee Maker

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Perfect Grind Single Serve Coffee Maker, Walmart ($99)

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Barrymore’s latest product launch got us excited to leap out of bed in the morning, and you followed suit. Her $99 Beautiful Perfect Grind single-serving coffee maker brews from either whole beans or ground, can prepare hot or iced coffee—and in six different sizes and three different strengths (say that three times fast!). Better yet, it’s just 5 inches wide, so it still leaves plenty of countertop available for prep and other permanent fixtures.

Rocco Super Smart Fridge

Super Smart Fridge, Rocco ($1,295 was $1,500)

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This party-in-an-appliance made a beverage fridge convert out of our deputy editor, Julie Vadnal, and you too, apparently. The very cute Rocco Super Smart fridge comes with app-controlled temperature, lighting, and a camera, as well as reversible racks and modular shelves to fit any kind of drink you desire. The top doubles as a storage caddy, removable tray and all, relieving you of the need for an additional bar cart. With a 10-year warranty and pricing that puts it squarely in the middle of the pack, what’s not to love? 

Safiyya Gray Peel-and-Stick Removable Wallpaper and Contact Paper

Safiyya 393-by-17.7-inch Gray Peel and Stick Removable Wallpaper and Contact Paper , Amazon ($26)

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Many of you were looking to give your countertops or cabinets a facelift, and contact paper fit the bill. Our list of failproof DIY products included this Amazon-sourced Safiyya product, which comes in 14 different hues and several sizes. Renter and New York–based creative Madeline Scalzi chose the light blue, but you went for the gray.

Tulip Gem Shade

The Gem Shade, Tulip ($145)

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The Tulip shade has become a go-to for those with unappealing light fixtures. A best-selling product from 2023, six iterations were developed by the founder, who had a bright idea when she threw a pair of (clean) boxers over a dorm room light. Whether you’re a renter with boob lights or someone who just needs a quick solution, consider the Gem, which rose to the top this month.

H&M Home Ceramic Vase

Ceramic Vase, H&M Home ($5 was $27)

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We think this one speaks for itself: An 82% off ceramic vase—bringing it to a mere $5!—from H&M Home. It comes highly rated, and reviewers call it “versatile,” “supercute,” and “well made.” Psst: Many shoppers pair it with the larger version.

Astier de Villatte Tucson Incense

Astier de Villatte Tucson Incense, Nickey Kehoe ($52)

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When an L.A. art director dropped the hint that the Nickey Kehoe store inspired him to start burning Astier de Villatte Tucson incense at home, you stocked up on the scent. The smoky, sweet notes include wild grasses, parched wood, immortelle flowers, and red earth—a precursor to having friends ask you: “Your house smells really good. What is that?”

Goshi Exfoliating Shower Towel

Goshi Exfoliating Shower Towel, Amazon ($17)

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Finding good gifts under $25 is a challenge we heartily accept, but when we ferret out excellent gifts under $20? Even better. You seem to agree, because this specialty Japanese towel we recommended for Valentine’s Day was picked up in droves.

Parachute Vintage Linen Bed Cover

Vintage Linen Bed Cover, Full/Queen, Parachute ($279)

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When you spotted the Parachute bed cover in content creator Rocky Barnes’s bedroom in our end-of-year favorites review, you beelined to pick up your own. Tuck the soft, light layer in to make a minimalist bed or take a page out of Barnes’s book and loosely drape it over your top sheet for laid-back vibes.

Mayfair Linen 800-Thread-Count Egyptian Quality Cotton Sheets

Mayfair Linen 800-Thread-Count Egyptian Quality Cotton Sheets, Amazon ($70)

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Speaking of creating a hotel-esque bedroom, these $70 cotton sheets promise to take you on vacation every night—and you obliged last month. With more than 20,000 positive reviews, the sateen-weave sheets are luxurious at an extremely accessible price point and available in a variety of colors and prints. Each set includes a flat sheet, two pillowcases, and a deep fitted sheet.

The post A $99 Drew Barrymore–Designed Coffee Maker Tops Your January Bestseller List appeared first on domino.

A hard truth about small-space decorating strategies is that they often involve sacrificing your wildest design dreams (RIP, sectional with an extra-deep chaise). But there are some pieces I’d keep small even if I had all the square footage in the world, such as very tiny table lamps. The mini table lamp trend is about more than the cute factor of a pint-size home piece; it can be particularly handy for creating mood-boosting lighting during the darker winter months. While larger lamps require valuable real estate and electrical outlets, minis are often portable and can be scattered around on mantels, bookshelves, windowsills, coffee tables, bar carts, or even your kitchen counter (they won’t hog your prep space). And with multiple light sources at different heights, you’re well on your way to creating effortless layers of that coveted ambient glow.

While perhaps I already have far too many lamps, I say there’s always room to squeeze in another (tiny) one. I’ve been a proud owner of Thomas O’Brien’s Tiny Terri lamp for a year—as far as I’m concerned, it’s straight out of the designer’s home. It sits atop my armoire, fitting right in with my indoor garden. 

Tiny Terri Lamp by Thomas O’Brien, Visual Comfort ($419)

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There’s no shortage of petite table lamps on the Internet; all of the picks, below, are well under a foot tall. With rechargeable options that allow you to skip the cord and mushroom-shaped nuggets for less than $18, it really is hard to resist buying at least one.

Shade Your Glow

Mini Ceramic Globe Table Lamp by Simple Designs, Walmart ($10 was $18)

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Bibelot Wavy Black Metal Mini Table Lamp with Rattan Shade by Athena Calderone, Crate + Barrel ($129)

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Korean Pleated Table Lamp, Amazon ($35)

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Portable Torso Table Lamp, Audo Copenhagen ($99 was $249)

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Restaurant Style

Modern LED Cordless Table Lamp, Amazon ($33)

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Rechargeable Wick Lantern, Graypants ($149)

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Soft Spot Table Lamp (24.5 cm), Rosendahl ($189)

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Larkspur Petite Table Lamp, Serena & Lily ($298)

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Mushroom Mode

Setago Portable Table Lamp, &Tradition ($225)

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Panthella Portable Lamp, Louis Poulsen ($394)

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Bellhop Yellow Portable Rechargeable Wireless Table Lamp by FLOS, 1st Dibs ($295)

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Metal Desk Lamp, Wayfair ($69 was $126)

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TOKABO Table Lamp, Ikea ($18)

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Little Glass Table Lamp, Urban Outfitters ($49)

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Lantern Life

Muse Outdoor Portable Lantern, Tala Lighting ($325)

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Portable LED Lantern, Schoolhouse ($269)

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Kero Table Lamp by Noun Studio, Gantri ($198)

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Rechargeable Forest Camping Lantern, Barebones Living ($70)

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Globe-trotter

Cantilever Table Light by Louis Filosa, Gantri ($128)

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Bilia Mini Table Lamp by Gio Ponti, Finnish Design Shop ($260 was $325)

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Turn On Table Lamp, HAY ($88 was $175)

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Alumina Table Lamp with Sphere IV, GOODEE, Goodee ($175)

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Misewell Q Table Lamp, West Elm ($199)

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Ion Lamp, Schoolhouse ($299)

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The post Mini Table Lamps Are the Ticket to a Cozy Glow appeared first on domino.

When Lisa Viergutz moved to Michigan during the height of the lockdown, she hadn’t planned on returning to New York City. But, of course, life had other plans. “After many months away, I just had this feeling it was time to get back,” recounts Viergutz, a primary therapist. Discovering a 30th-floor studio on the Upper West Side in a co-op building adjacent to Lincoln Center and overlooking the Hudson River felt like a sign from the universe. “The view was a game changer and helped make the decision to buy a lot easier,” she adds. Viergutz was confident that with a little help, she could easily bring the apartment back to life.

When she enlisted New York City–based interior designer Hugh Long of Quality Control Studio, to whom she was introduced by a mutual friend, she had already dreamed up what she wanted, which, as she recalls, was “something bright, colorful, feminine, and happy.” As someone who works from home and loves to entertain, it was important to her to have a space that could transition from coffee breaks to cocktail hour. But given the apartment’s tiny footprint (it’s all of 500 square feet), it made sense for form to follow function. 

Because Viergutz’s vision was big and the budget was not, Long had to find a way to section off the space without making any structural changes. And so he did, with color. First, he gave the walls, ceiling, and trim a coat of After the Rain by Benjamin Moore, a soft lavender that lets the colors in the foreground shine. Then he brightened each area in a different hue, elevating the lounge with a yellow sofa, refreshing the dining chairs in a soothing shade of mint, and enveloping the bed in a raspberry pink linen surround (Viergutz’s favorite feature of all). The cozy corner was a particular labor of love. To make it look seamless but also easy to set up, Long designed it in three parts, with one large central panel and two small side panels. “Lisa loves pink, but we didn’t want the space to feel too juvenile. The berry tone felt fun but still mature,” Long says. 

To maximize the amount of usable seating, he placed the sofa along the window wall, creating enough room for a lounge chair to the side and stools at the foot of the bed, which move around to suit the occasion. Need an ottoman to rest your feet on? You have it. Need an extra seat around the coffee table? Done. To blend the living and sleeping zones together, he used an oversize custom Beni Ourain rug from Morocco, but it also had another effect: It made the room feel larger (he believes multiple rugs can shrink a room). “Zoning the space for peak functionality and still making it look chic was a bit of a puzzle, but we achieved everything we set out to,” says Long.

The intent was for the decor to be colorful, yes, but also sophisticated, a little bit like Viergutz herself. “Lisa has a casual, relaxed air about her, but she also has great personal style. We had many reference points, but one of the main sources of inspiration was Milanese design from the 1930s,” notes Long, who paired furniture, lighting, and accessories—all vintage—with contemporary pieces by designers such as Jake Syzmanski and Lichen.

The project was also steeped in nostalgia. One vintage novelty, in particular, evoked an elusive memory in Viergutz—one she couldn’t quite place until the renovation was almost complete. “Lisa kept telling me the pink Swedish pendant light in the dining area felt familiar, and I assumed she had just seen a similar type of fixture in the past,” recalls Long. It wasn’t until they installed the light that she realized that her grandparents had had one just like it in their house when she was growing up. “It’s funny how certain pieces find their way into a project and to a person. It was total kismet,” he shares. 

The Goods

After the Rain, Benjamin Moore

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Barry Linen Fabric, Gray Lines Linen ($15 per yard)

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Jessa Modern Vase, CB2 ($35)

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Beni Ourain Rug, Etsy ($481)

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The post This Berry-Colored Bed Nook Is So Cozy, You Almost Forget You’re in a Studio Apartment appeared first on domino.

When Robin Heller and her husband, Noni, discovered that they were expecting their third child, Harry (now 1), they knew their four-bedroom home wouldn’t be able to fit them; their two other sons, Liam (9) and Lev (7); and any guests who came to visit. Having recently moved from Los Angeles to Baltimore, hosting friends and family from the West Coast was inevitable. Plus their house is also Heller’s HQ: She recently launched a design studio aptly dubbed Surrounded by Color with business partner Jen Levy. Heller was determined to make everything fit: her family, faraway guests, and further proof of her talent. 

“The two older boys didn’t want to share a room, so we came up with this idea to build out the basement,” she says so matter-of-factly that it’s clear bunk beds were never a potential alternative. “When we were brainstorming about what to do, it just seemed like the perfect way to go.”

Give Guests a Good View

Heller laughs as she describes the existing basement as “disgusting and scary,” where cobwebs commanded corners between utilities. “We could only access it from a narrow stairwell outside, through a single door covered in bugs,” she says. She partnered with architects at PI.KL Studio and contractors at Robbins Custom Builders on the project, and everyone was on hand to lend creative solutions.

They toyed with the idea of connecting this basement with another in a separate area of the home and making it one large space, but that ended up not being possible. Then a landscape architect from From Garden Design proposed excavating a 10-by-20-foot patio off the side of the house, ensuring that a guest suite below would have plenty of light. “We live on three acres that are mostly set on the back of the house, so visitors would be able to take that in every morning,” says Heller. 

There were no issues with the construction once it got under way, except for a small snafu in the beginning. “My husband accidentally dropped his wedding ring in the grass the day before the excavation, so we had to quickly go out and get metal detectors to find it,” she says. 

Put Your Best Mood Board Ideas to the Test

The design Heller came up with includes an open living area with a corner office set into one nook, plus a concealed refrigerator for when anyone is feeling a little too lazy to go upstairs to grab a soda. The bedroom and bathroom are tucked away on the far end of the suite. And while it took some time to finalize the layout, there was one detail Heller knew she wanted to include from the very beginning: plywood. “Years before I ever became a designer, I would create Pinterest boards that were full of plywood interiors,” she says. “All I knew was that I wanted a polished concrete floor with plywood millwork.”

The sealed plywood has a pronounced grain, and it runs on the lower half of the living room’s main wall and across to the custom kitchenette. The oversize unfinished knobs are a smooth contrast to this surface, while complementing the overall “vibrant utilitarian” vibe of the project. 

Let the Rainbow Take Over

The polished concrete and unpainted plywood might lean industrial, but the other details are all about having a cozy good time. “My style is playful and unusual,” says Heller. “I like the juxtaposition of having the cold concrete meet the many soft materials surrounding it. Plus we have a basket of slippers, so everyone is sure to keep their feet warm!”

For the countertops, she ordered the brightest colors Formica has to offer. The purple surface along the media wall in the living space coordinates with the striped blue and red rug underfoot, while the blue in the kitchen brings out the aqua shades in the Concrete Cat mirror above the sink. “I originally bought that mirror for a wall upstairs, but no one would hang it because it’s so heavy,” Heller notes. “So we framed the kitchen to make sure it could support it.” 

Even the neon yellow on the bathroom vanity fits in, thanks to other retro details in the space, like the small-scale square shower tile and the splatter-painted toilet Heller had shipped from the U.K.  Because the concrete and plywood act as neutral anchors, every whimsical flourish seems to work. “I picked a palette that would make people happy, because that’s how I wanted people to feel when they went down there,” Heller says. “Transforming a space that was so dark and dreary with color proves that it really can change everything.”

The post Tales From a Basement Reno: “All I Knew Was I Wanted a Concrete Floor With Plywood Millwork” appeared first on domino.

As your family grows, your space has to grow with it, but when you can’t yet afford a gut renovation or full-on move, you have to get creative. For these homeowners living in Sarasota, Florida, that meant utilizing the detached garage. “This wasn’t your typical garage conversion,” designer Rushika Gill of Hólos Design notes. “The budget simply did not allow for any structural reconfiguration, so we had to work with the existing shell.”

Gill managed to nestle a moody restaurant-like kitchen (“I’ve always wanted to do one,” she notes), living room, bathroom, and even a washing machine into the space once dedicated to storing a car—and she did it all for $14,000, too. The caveat? The family still needed room to park their car. Gill installed clever storage solutions and modular furniture to make it work, but that doesn’t mean it lacked personality. “I wanted to create something that felt fresh, minimal, yet fun,” Gill says. Playful tiling, vintage cabinetry, and pebblelike counters create the illusion that you’re still inside the house. Here, Gill shares how she turned the clunky garage into a do-it-all dwelling, even when they were in a pinch for money and space.

Use Your Peripheral Vision

Gill’s clients were adamant about having the ability to park one car if needed. So she situated all the built-in elements—like the kitchenette, vanity sink, and storage—along the periphery. Meanwhile, she made all the pieces in the center mobile, opting for lightweight furniture and an island on casters. 

The result is almost like a life-size dollhouse, where the family can move (or roll) around the furniture at a whim for any activity—whether they’re hosting overnight guests, entertaining, or working out. In other words? It’s a “true flex space that can be morphed with their changing needs,” Gill explains.

Optimize Your Island

Gill wanted a beautiful island that could add storage and double as a dining or work surface. Constructing one from scratch was the best way to tick all the boxes. The bottom half is outfitted in wire shelves made from old storage racks that had previously gone unused in the garage. The shelves sit atop recycled wood beams that sandwich the stainless steel legs with bolts on each end, allowing them to be adjusted for when they need to place bulky baskets and pots underneath the countertop.

The old but sturdy stainless steel legs were capped with casters for extra height and mobility. Plus a vast acacia butcher block, a durable material that can handle all the meals, laptops, and chopping that comes its way, sits pretty on top.

Reuse and Recycle

Reusing materials was a must to keep within the tight budget parameters. “I was very conscious of reducing waste directed to the landfill,” Gill explains. For instance, she sourced an L-shaped granite countertop from Facebook Marketplace that she eventually sliced open, joining the two pieces in a straight line to accommodate the existing sink opening.

Gill also repurposed a vintage Crane utility sink to act as the new bathroom vanity. “All it needed was some paint and a little creativity!” Gill says. A similar treatment was applied to the existing garage door, doused in a fresh coat of paint and an abstract mural, transforming it from eyesore to art piece.

Dig Through the Archives (Er, Attic)

Gill stumbled across a box of leftover tile in the family’s attic as she began renovating. It was filled with beautiful cream and sage squares that were in great condition, but there were only enough to cover 15 square feet. That didn’t stop Gill, though. “I took what came my way for this project,” she emphasizes. 

She designed a vanity wall, styling the tiles in a slim checkerboard pattern to create a wainscot-inspired look. The vanity was completed with a large custom mirror, off-center wall sconces, IKEA table, and the Crane sink. The result? An elegant vignette you would never know cost next to nothing.

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