Whether you’re living in a small space by choice or not, cramped habitats usually come with a very specific set of problems. Not only does the area have to serve multiple functions (hello, dining table–slash–work desk), but tiny apartments can often be awkwardly shaped. A tight space paired with an equally tight budget means that you might not be able to live out your dream home aspirations just yet, but don’t let a lack of square footage prevent you from trying. Form and function are not mutually exclusive in small spaces, and we’ve got the products to prove it. 

Between solutions for shared bathrooms and fixes for an overflowing kitchen pantry problem, these pieces will help you make the most of any space. Even if you’re not living in a truly tiny home, we’re sure you’ll find something to make your life a little easier. 

A Rolling Cart

Tower Slim Rolling Bathroom Cabinet, Yamazaki ($145)

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Yamazaki’s ultra-slim rolling cart is our go-to for awkward bathroom and kitchen corners because it’s not even 6 inches wide—it can absolutely squeeze next to your toilet and hold spare rolls and cleaning supplies. 

A Wall-Mounted Nightstand

Sidekick Shelf, Blu Dot ($125)

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When you have little walking clearance around your bed, it’s best to skip a traditional nightstand and screw a chic shelf near your pillow. The smaller the surface, the fewer water glasses will accumulate there, making you an automatically tidier person. 

A Ceiling Pot Rack

Chrome Ceiling Pot and Pan Rack, Etsy ($216)

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It’s hard to justify dedicating multiple cabinets or drawers to pots and pans when you have very few to spare in the first place, which is what makes this restaurant-worthy solution so genius. 

A Mirror That’s Also a Shelf and a Coatrack

Quinn All-In-One Entryway Wall Storage, West Elm ($179)

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This entryway piece is a key drop, coat hook, mail catchall, and mirror all in, meaning you don’t have to awkwardly scoot around bulky furniture as you’re trying to make it out the front door. 

An Island on Wheels

Förhöja Kitchen Cart, IKEA ($150)

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Park this birch-wood trolley against an empty wall in your kitchen or in the center of the room as if it were an island. You can also use it as a bar cart (each shelf can hold nine wine bottles). 

A Chic Love Seat

Spruce Street Love Seat, Serena & Lily ($3,698)

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For a sofa under 60 inches wide, look no further than this slipcovered style that’s available in a range of patterns and materials, from 100 percent linen to stain-resistant performance fabric. It also touts a sturdy kiln-dried hardwood frame and soy-based foam cushions.

A Lift-Up Storage Bed

Malm Storage Bed, IKEA ($520)

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By upgrading her classic IKEA Malm bed to this storage model, our style editor, Julia Stevens, gave her towels, bedding, books, winter coats, and totes a proper home in her teeny studio. 

A Desk With Shelving

Pier Office by Hay, DWR ($645)

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For everyone still working full-time from their living room, peep this modular storage system that stars a desktop at the base. 

An Ottoman With a Lid

Skirted Storage Ottoman, The Inside ($399)

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This midsize ottoman can function as a footrest, extra seating, or a coffee table, all while holding spare blankets or board games inside its core.

A Wall Bed–Slash–Sofa

Tango Sofa, Resource Furniture (price upon request)

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We’ve seen Resource Furniture’s wall beds (this one hides a queen-size mattress!) work wonders in multi-use spaces, like a San Francisco basement that can go from kids’ hangout to guest bedroom in a matter of seconds.

A Ceiling Drying Rack

Hanging Drying Rack, George and Willy ($360)

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Want a minimalist laundry room? Air-dry clothes up near the ceiling with George and Willy’s beloved hanging rack, which operates on a pulley system. Because warm air rises, this arrangement actually helps speed up the process.  

An Expandable Dining Table

Linwood Expandable Dining Table (40″–90″), West Elm ($1,499)

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Domino’s chief creative officer, Kate Berry, recently made over her mother’s assisted-living studio, sourcing this streamlined oak table that comes with two leaves that can expand it on special occasions.  

An Entry Bench for Tucking Away Shoes

Metal and Wood Bench, Zara Home ($289)

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For many small-space dwellers, shoes come off and go on only by the front door. This industrial find is 14 inches deep, which makes it handy for stashing boots, but what we love most about it is that it isn’t just a pure rack. The wood bench top and mesh siding help disguise things a bit more than your typical shoe rack. 

A Basket You Can Hang Up

Jonote Wall Storage Basket, Minna Goods ($175)

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This delicate basket might not be able to support the weight of, say, a toolbox, but it sure is great for miscellaneous scarves, mail, notebooks, and dish towels. 

A Flip-Down Dining Table

Wally Table, Resource Furniture (price upon request)

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Resource might be known for its wall beds, but the company also carries a number of other clever items, like this dining table that releases from its upright position with a light touch and reveals integrated storage and internal USB ports and outlets. 

A Secret Vanity Within a Nightstand

Knepp Vanity, Wayfair ($1,780)

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Still sharing a bathroom with roommates? This two-in-one piece lets you comfortably do your makeup next to your bed: A mirror pops up, a bench slides out, and there’s still a large bottom drawer for nighttime reads. 

A Coffee Table With Camouflaged Cabinets

Fortra Coffee Table, Article ($799)

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Most storage coffee tables make you take everything off the top in order to access what’s inside, but not this Article gem. You can get what you need by flicking open the fluted doors on both ends without disturbing your precious arrangement of trays and taper candles.

The post Outsmart Your Tiny Apartment With These 17 Clever Products appeared first on domino.

We’re told over and over again that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but how are those of us with small spaces supposed to interpret this maxim? Where are we meant to throw our get-togethers over cheese platters when countertop space is nonexistent? We’ll admit it’s not always easy to see the plus side of living in a tiny house or apartment (if for no other reason than the lack of storage), but the 10 cozy kitchens ahead reveal more than one silver lining. Between their mood-boosting bright colors and smart organizational solutions, these spaces defy their size.

The One That Squeezes in a Banquette

Rather than go the typical bistro table route, Jess Bunge, the editorial director at Emily Henderson, built a space-savvy banquette out of red oak stair treads, DIY velvet cushions, and a brass rod secured with a french cleat. (Psst: The benches are freestanding, aka landlord approved.) The wall-mounted backrest leaves just enough clearance to slide into the nook. 

The One With Good Appliance-to-Cabinet Ratio

Homeowners Megan Ananian and Andrew Ginn came to an important realization during their Park Slope, Brooklyn, renovation: They didn’t actually need a standard 24-inch-wide dishwasher. “I have always had an 18-inch dishwasher in all my apartments in the city and I think it’s totally fine,” says Ginn. So in getting rid of their too-big appliance, they freed up more space for drawers, including a narrow one to the left of the oven for a pullout spice rack. 

The One With Smart Flatware Storage

Over their sink, jewelry designer Sarah Burns and photographer Adam Caillier built a separate, deeper shelf for cutlery that they call their “flatware trough.” Not only does the addition free up precious drawer space in their railroad-style apartment, it allows Adam to show off his collection of prized silverware. Other clever ideas in this kitchen? They crafted two freestanding cabinets to house dry good and pots, swagged light fixtures to bring warmth to whatever countertop they’re working at, opted for two chairs and a stool combo in the dining area, and mounted knives and spatulas with a combination of magnetic strips and nails. 

The One With Faux Marble Counters

Instead of tearing out the ugly countertops in her 400-something-square-foot NYC apartment, Madelynn Furlong resurfaced them using a $200 paint kit she scored on Amazon that’s supposed to look similar to black stone. “It’s pretty convincing,” she says, noting that it sort of looks like an ’80s resin marble. To get the look of veining, she applied the Funfetti-like white paint that comes in the kit by holding the spray bottle at a 45-degree angle. 

The Leanne Ford–Designed One

The kitchen in Leanne Ford’s guesthouse is unsurprisingly full of scrappy ideas. The oven is wrapped in a terracotta-colored custom vinyl, the wood used for the open shelving is from the ceiling rafters she removed upstairs, and she hid the fridge behind old confessional doors she found at one of her favorite thrifting spots.

The One With a Modern Dining Setup

What Erin Starkweather’s L.A. kitchen lacks in storage it makes up for in pedigree. The apartment was designed by famed mid-century architect Craig Ellwood, and so there was no way she was touching the cabinets. Instead she admits it “forces me to not hold onto things that I don’t like or need.” Underneath the two bonus upper cabinets that hang from the ceiling, Starkweather leaned into the mod vibes with a set of bent birch plywood chairs, originally designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1935, and his Table 81b design.

The One With Zero Empty Corners

When you see a smaller space, your immediate instinct might be to keep it as bare as possible—but there are other ways. Layering in potted plants and bowls brimming with fruit adds character (and will inspire you to get your five-a-day in), made possible by the homeowner incorporating storage elsewhere. A paper towel holder spans the window, and knives hang on a metal wall strip. 

The One That’s Neutral But Not Boring

With butcher block counters and a retro stove, this all-white kitchen is anything but one-dimensional. We love that the homeowner made use of the dead space above the cupboards, housing storage baskets for some extra function. 

The One That Doubles Up on Open Shelving

You might think floating shelves equal more dust, and to that we say you’re right. But when they look this good, they’re worth it. Keep bulky utilitarian cooking equipment tucked away behind closed doors, and use the open space to display your favorite tools (and that artisanal pepper grinder you got for Christmas). 

The One With Multipurpose Everything

See that little table? The sides fold out for dinner and up to become an extra meal-prep space. Plus it looks like it was sourced from a vintage shop, so it was likely an inexpensive addition. Similarly, a cutting board on top of the stove turns the surface into the perfect area for chopping veggies. 

The post Sprawling Kitchens Are Overrated, and These 10 Tiny Spaces Prove It appeared first on domino.

Whether you’re a studio dweller or have an open-floor plan that’s suddenly feeling a little too open, carving out more privacy in your home doesn’t always have to mean building a wall. Sometimes it’s as easy as getting creative with the next best thing—a room divider.

Some solutions, like folding screens, barely take any effort to set up, while others, such as built-in bookcases and nonstructural walls, require a little more planning. All that to say, breaking up your space can be as involved as you want it to be. Try any of these shape-shifting hacks and you’ll be living large no matter what your layout looks like.

The Headboard-Slash-Closet Room Divider

Leanne Kilroy designed her London bedroom to have circular circulation. In other words, she can walk all the way around her freestanding wardrobe that doubles as a headboard. Not only does Kilroy find that dead ends often lead to gloomy corners, but the openness makes her life as a mom of three easier. “I’m always lugging around armfuls of things that need tidying or cleaning, and I’m constantly forgetting things here and there. Having shortcuts is a small but constant joy,” she says.

Pax Wardrobe Frame, IKEA ($170)

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The Multi-Room Dividers

Grace Lee-Lim did the seemingly impossible in this L.A. living room: She turned it into three distinct spaces without actually putting up any drywall. To start, she carved out a formal seating arrangement, complete with swivel chairs, to take in the outdoor view. She sectioned this area off from the fireplace lounge with a cane screen. Then she squeezed in an office that feels totally private thanks to two object-filled shelving units. 

4 Panels Room Dividers, Amazon ($170)

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Stetson Wide Bookcase, AllModern ($1,160)

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The Bedroom Curtain Divider 

Set on a curved track that’s hidden within the ceiling, the sheer linen curtains in this space, designed by Megan Grehl, can be drawn so they completely hide the sleeping area. File this moment under easy ways to turn a studio into an airy one-bedroom.

Textured Luxe Linen Curtain, West Elm ($149)

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The Tented Room Divider

To make this English treehouse even more whimsical, Sophie Rowell of interior design practice Côte de Folk came up with the idea to enter the primary bedroom through colorful patchwork drapes. Rowell says the tentlike shape required a little math and a patient seamstress, but the drama leading up to the room is totally worth it. 

Chloe Patchwork Gauze Curtain Panel, Urban Outfitters ($49)

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The Glass Room Divider

In what looks like an artist’s loft, lawyer Jessica Wright’s Parisian-inspired space is separated by a 14-foot wall of glass and steel. The see-through partition splits the living and sleeping areas but still keeps everything feeling airy, while semisheer curtains offer just enough privacy when needed. 

4 Panels Shaker Bypass Sliding Closet Door, Houzz ($2,230)

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The Built-in-Bed Room Divider

Deciding where to put a bed in a small studio is always tricky, but like most New Yorkers, Brett James found a way to make the most of his 442-square-foot space. A built-in headboard helped carve out the perfect hiding place for his bed, but a stand-alone option could also work for those who don’t play well with power tools. 

Mid-Century Headboard Storage Platform Bed, West Elm ($1,599 was $1,699)

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The Fringe Curtain Room Divider

In this Kansas City, Missouri, rental, designer Spencer Sight picked a ceiling-mounted bamboo hanging that looks like a more elevated version of the early-2000s beaded variety we all had in our bedrooms. It divvies up the dining area and kitchen without compromising the openness of the floor plan—truly the best of both worlds. 

Big Dot Bamboo Beaded Curtain, Urban Outfitters ($69)

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The Lengthy Sofa Room Divider

When your bedroom is also your living room, you have to use furniture to your advantage. That’s what Jen Levy did in her sunny 600-square-foot studio: A large cream-colored couch draws a clear line between the two. 

Arya Modular Sofa with Open End, Rove Concepts ($2,865)

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The “Frigloo” Room Divider

Photographer Thayer Gowdy knew she wanted her refrigerator to have prime real estate in her open-concept Ojai, California, home. At the same time, she realized it wasn’t ideal to force guests to stare at the appliance’s back every time they lounged on the sofa. Her solution? An arched structure (dubbed the “frigloo”) that not only houses electrical and plumbing but offers a place for her extensive record collection to shine on the other side, expertly breaking up the space. If you’re not up to the DIY task, consider placing an arched cabinet on the other side of your large appliances to ensure all eyesores are properly hidden.

Darcie Wide Cabinet, McGee & Co. ($3,500)

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The Perforated Screen Room Divider

When it comes to small spaces, natural light is key. That’s why Sara and Adam Gilmer wanted to protect the stream of sunlight emanating from their stairwell’s window while still sectioning off the neighboring breakfast nook for cozy family meals. They turned to a perforated metal screen that not only filters the rays but separates stair traffic from dinnertime.

Stagger Stainless Perforated Sheet, Online Metals

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The Breeze Blocks Room Divider

In an effort to differentiate her living room from her kitchen, Mariah Burton used an abundance of breeze blocks, a see-through type of cinder block made popular in the ’50s and ’60s. She simply stacked them on top of one another, added a coat of sealant, and—voilà!—a room divider that casts gorgeous geometric shadows on the floors and walls when the light hits just right.

Vista Breezeblock, Concrete Collaborative

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The Step Bookcase Room Divider

Graphic designer Timothy Goodman’s bookshelf checks off two boxes at once: It disguises part of the bed and offers a ton of storage. High-to-low pieces like this are key because they maintain an open and airy feel.

Cube Organizer Shelf, Target ($45)

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The TV Stand Room Divider

Because there was only one wall available for artwork in this 600-square-foot apartment, designer Charlotte Sylvain of Studio Fauve came up with an ingenious invention: a banquette–meets–media console with a remote-controlled lift that conceals (or reveals!) a flat-screen at the touch of a button. When left up, the TV separates the living and dining areas.

Rosanna Ceravolo Media Console, West Elm ($1,279 was $1,599)

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The Large Leafy Plants Room Divider

Designer Jess Blumberg delineates her sleeping space with decor, specifically a butterfly chair and a grouping of tall greenery, including a snake plant and palm tree. There’s always room for a mini jungle no matter how tight your quarters.

Large Majesty Palm, The Sill ($228)

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The Built-In Shelves Room Divider

DIY blogger Kirsten Diane didn’t craft this room divider for a studio apartment, but that doesn’t mean her minimalist bookshelf idea can’t be applied to one. If you see yourself in your place for a long while, consider investing in a more permanent partition that stretches from floor to ceiling.

Index Bookcase, Burrow ($679 was $799)

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The Café Curtains Room Divider

While we appreciate that pass-throughs encourage connection when we’re cooking for friends, we don’t always want the lingering smells following us. An immediate fix: Hang some curtains cut to size (ombré optional). See you on the flip side.

Twill Striped Cafe Curtains, Target ($23)

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Ask Domino

What are Domino editors’ favorite room dividers?

“I’m all about using a bookshelf as a room divider,” says Domino’s style editor, Julia Stevens. “If you fill it up partially, you are still able to see the rest of the space and don’t run the risk of breaking your room up entirely as you might with a folding screen or wall. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with a lengthy sofa. Want to add more height to your division? Place a slim console against the backside of the couch and style it with plants, books, and a cordless lamp.”

Can you DIY a room divider?

Whether you’re separating the living and sleeping spaces in a studio apartment or merely adding more privacy to an open-concept living-slash-dining room, you can make your own partition in a pinch. Laurence Leenaert, the artist and founder behind Moroccan brand LRNCE, mounted her handcrafted textiles to the ceiling with metal hooks, which, in the right space, would make for the perfect hanging room divider. But if you’re looking for something a bit sturdier, why not dream big and create a movable wall, like Anthony D’Argenzio did in his This Old Hudson rental residence. All you need is a ceiling track, iron hangers, vintage doors, and a bit of patience.

The post 16 Room Divider Ideas, Because We All Need Our Personal Space appeared first on domino.

Those initial weeks of moving into your first apartment is a period of trial and error. It’s not until you realize that your nightstand lamp doesn’t reach the closest outlet or that slicing through pizza with a regular knife is painfully slow that you learn you kind of need a lot of stuff to live on your own. Usually we have to figure it out the hard way, but luckily IKEA is here to spare us from those last-minute trips to the store.

Today, the Swedish retailer released what it’s calling Starter Boxes, or kits that encompass every aspect of dorm life and first-apartment living. There are five package options in total, and while IKEA is marketing them as the perfect gift for students heading off to college in August, we think a few of them are pretty perfect for new grads, too. Here’s a look at what’s inside three of our favorites. 

For When You Need to Shower ASAP on Move-In Day

Bed and Bath Starter Box, IKEA ($50)

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For $50, the Bed and Bath Starter Box gets you going with some hardworking staples, most notably a matte white over-the-door hanger, a set of washcloths with convenient hanging loops, and a fleece bedspread with scalloped edges.  

For Getting in the Groove of Your New Life

Utility Starter Box, IKEA ($60)

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Once you’re ready to get in the routine of chores, consider scooping up the Utility Starter Box ($60). The pack features the kinds of products you’re bound to forget on your first shopping haul, including a lint roller, toilet brush, and power strip, among other hard-working essentials. For good design measure, IKEA also threw in a cute striped laundry basket and a basic floor lamp. 

For Finding Your Inner Cook and Host

Cooking and Eating Starter Box, IKEA ($70)

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Of course, the real intro to adult life is learning to cook for yourself most nights. The Cooking and Eating Starter Box is arguably the best value. You get a five-piece cookware set, frying pan, utensil set, cutting board, colander, pizza cutter, bowls, plates, flatware, and a few more kitchen staples all for $70.

The final two starter boxes are a 22-piece kit geared toward dorm life (it includes extra goodies not mentioned above like a Frakta shopping bag, dustpan and brush, and shower caddy). And if all you care about is stocking the pantry with chips, gummies, and cookies, we suggest shamelessly snagging the Study Snack Starter Box. 

The post IKEA’s Latest Launch Makes Moving Into Your Starter Apartment a Breeze appeared first on domino.

On Memorial Day weekend 2021, Arden Wray was driving to a brewery in the Catskills when she spotted a handwritten “For Sale” sign attached to someone’s mailbox. She turned to her husband, Matt, and asked: “I wonder if they mean the house?” She called the phone number on the posting and learned that it was in fact the entire property—not just the mailbox—they were looking to off-load. The place was only 900 square feet, but for the couple, it was a major upgrade from their current living conditions.

For almost a year, they had been shacking up in a windowless one-bedroom staff apartment at Foxfire Mountain House, a boutique hotel that Arden’s family owns and where Matt had recently taken a job as manager. Before that, the couple had been living in a similarly sized apartment in Toronto—they were used to cramped quarters. “Nine hundred square feet was plenty enough for us, and now us and the baby,” says Arden; the couple welcomed their first child, Lila, this January.

Arden had a fantasy of living in a quintessential Catskills cottage with mullioned windows, weathered ceiling beams, and paneled walls. “But we had absolutely none of that here,” she says. Instead she was met with vinyl floors, acoustic ceiling tiles, and a TV in every single room (including the bathroom). But the design challenge was a welcome one for Arden—she runs the design practice Byrd Studio alongside her mom, Eliza Clark. It became a “if we can’t find it, we’ll have to build it” type of renovation. Ahead, Arden reveals how she created charm out of nothing. 

Swap Your Doors and Windows for Something Salvaged

The Woodstock area has long attracted artists, woodworkers, and other creatives, so it’s not unusual to see whimsical details like round windows around town. Arden went on a hunt for one for the front entrance and was surprised to find a $250 option on Houzz. “I had no idea if it would be legit, but it was and it worked perfectly with the trim,” she says. “My contractor just popped it in.”

Almost all of the other windows and doors in the house have a similar story. The large industrial windows in the living room were salvaged finds that also ran her a mere $250. The frames required some sprucing up, but no one dared to touch the double-pane glass: There’s no drafty air getting through those things. “We installed them along the whole front of the house, and I think it got us a lot closer to that look that I love,” says Arden. She even tracked down antique doors (one now leads to the nursery, another to the primary bedroom) at a market in Hudson.

Maintain Defined Zones  

“I am a big believer in rooms,” says Arden. While most homeowners would be tempted to take down the walls inside the small house to create one big open layout, Arden says that having multiple rooms makes the home actually feel bigger when you’re in it. Still, some tweaks were necessary, like moving the primary bedroom door from the foyer to the living room to create a proper entryway. “Even though there’s hardly room for anything, having a tiny table and a closet gives a better impression versus walking right into a kitchen or living room,” she says. She made the foyer feel even more special by cladding the floors in salvaged thin brick tiles, finished with a hefty layer of white grout to give it an older look. 

Another important layout update was splitting up the home’s only bathroom into two. The previous setup consisted of a corner shower, pedestal sink, laundry, and a lot of wasted empty space in the middle. In the process of carving out the new primary bathroom, Arden installed a 24-inch-wide vintage door. The only problem was it was a hair too short, so she had her contractor extend it by tacking on a piece of wood and covering it in a sheet of brass so it looks like a toe-kick you might see in a kitchen. The new tub-shower combo features another hack of sorts: The stone bench at the end is actually a premade marble slab from Floor & Decor that’s sold as an insert for a shower shelf. “It filled that extra width and gave me a place where I can put a glass of wine or a book,” she says. 

Warm the Walls Up With Color and Texture

You won’t find many simple sheets of drywall in Arden’s home. Most of the walls are either covered in shiplap, beadboard, Roman Clay, or wallpaper. “I think that adds a lot of depth and warmth to the space,” she says. The floral wallpaper in the couple’s bedroom is from the John Derian x Pierre Frey collaboration; the closet door in the nursery is swathed in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue; and even the ceiling in the kitchen is covered in beadboard.

Why no backsplash tile, though? Because “at that point, painting with satin paint, it’s very easily wipeable,” she explains. She also thought tile would feel too cold in the cozy galley space.  

Bring in Some Shimmer

When Arden bought IKEA’s affordable butcher block countertop, she didn’t realize at first that the material is actually a combination of veneer, laminate, and particleboard. So when her contractor cut out an opening for the farmhouse sink and she saw the raw board inside, she thought of a fix fast: brass carpet edging from Etsy. “It was the exact right dimension,” she says. Plus she likes to think of the touches of brass (including the marine lights on the ceiling) as jewelry for the space. 

Have Fun With the Scale of Your Lighting

Arden’s inspiration for her newborn’s room is just what you’d imagine for a nursery in a Catskills cottage: She wanted it to be a little bit whimsical but mostly very calm. Bringing in the oversize flush mount light from Crate & Barrel’s Athena Calderone collaboration set the scene. The piece is 40 inches wide and made out of breezy rattan. 

Look to Your Favorite Hotels for Ideas

To figure out how to fit a toilet, shower, and sink in the other roughly 6-by-6-foot bathroom, Arden turned to the Marlton Hotel in New York City, which has “the cutest bathroom I’ve ever seen,” she says. During a stay there, she whipped out her measuring tape and wrote down every single dimension so she could replicate a similar arrangement at home. The floating sink pad is clad in leftover tile from another Byrd Studio design project and topped with a sink from an Etsy vendor in Morocco. The shower saves space with a fixed panel of glass, and she was even able to squeeze a stacked washer and dryer in a closet opposite the toilet. Blowing out walls isn’t the only way to reno.

The post This Designer Reno’d Her Upstate Home to Keep 7 Defined Rooms, Even With Only 900 Square Feet appeared first on domino.

Joy Strom loves a galley kitchen. Hear her out: “Depending on the space, it can be incredibly functional for actually cooking,” says the Baltimore–based designer. Her key to designing a galley kitchen that doesn’t feel dungeonlike is striking a balance between doing enough and not doing too much. Exhibit A: This townhouse renovation. 

When a newly engaged couple came to Strom wanting their 100-square-foot builder-basic kitchen to feel cheerful and fitting with the rest of the 1915 architecture, the designer went funky on the floor, old school with the cabinets, simple with the counters, and practical with the appliances. “You could strip all the uppers away and put amazing artwork on the wall, but at the end of the day you need to maximize storage,” says Strom. Working alongside construction firm Montgomery Property Solutions, here’s how she transformed the narrow space. 

Clear the Way for a Seamless Prep Space

If you thought there’s no way to make a galley layout feel bigger without blowing out walls, think again. Simply rearranging the appliances can change the entire flow of a room. In this case, Strom saw an opportunity to flip the sink and the range, that way the basin would be situated within the long stretch of countertop, making meal prep a breeze. Not to mention, relegating the cooktop and vent hood to the other side of the room would make her plan for seamless millwork possible. “I wanted to have an uninterrupted line of cabinets above the sink as our main focal point,” says the designer. 

Let Your Vent Hood Shine

Fun fact: Strom hasn’t installed a gas range in a project in over two years. Everything’s moving toward induction and electric. “Honestly, the technology has gotten so sophisticated, my clients all end up loving their induction cooktops and ranges,” says Strom. While plenty of designers would have covered the vent hood with a drywall box, she let it be, as it allows more light to stream in from the window. Plus her clients simply don’t mind looking at the metal box. “They were like, we want the fridge to be the fridge and the range can be the range,” Strom adds.

Ask Your Backsplash to Work Hard, Too

Whenever the designer can find an opportunity to clear countertops of clutter, she takes it. That’s why she tacked on a small ledge to the Caesarstone backsplash—it’s a convenient spot to plop olive oil bottles and salt and pepper shakers. On the prep side of the kitchen, Strom opted for simple white square tile that reminded her of a utilitarian 1950s kitchen. “Not everything needs to have a voice,” she notes. 

Tie Bold Colors Together With Butter Yellow

In the adjacent dining area, the designer used the couple’s existing PH5 pendant light as a jumping-off point for the room’s palette. Previously the walls were a light white-gray, which made the bright orange piece look out of place. “I think a lot of people, when they are overwhelmed with picking colors, will automatically pick a bright white and build color around it. But in that space, it felt stark, and I wanted it to feel glowy and warm,” says the designer. She tied it all together by dousing the walls in Mood Lighting by Backdrop. 

Find Flooring That’s Fun and Historical 

The heavy, dark granite tile that was in the kitchen before was the furthest thing from the rest of the home’s original wood inlay floors. Strom wanted to create a more natural transition. She landed on a mix of tiles by Original Style Tile, laid out in a Victorian-inspired design. “I like blending vintage elements and making them new again, so that you can’t really tell which era things have come from,” says Strom. 

Have a Furniture Designer Weigh In on Your Cabinetry

To ensure the cabinets were full of personality, Strom went custom. “I think it’s one of the best investments you can consider for your kitchen and is especially key with tricky (smaller or awkward) spaces,” she shares. Crafted by Willard Kauffman, the slab doors were painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pointing, a creamy hue that is reminiscent of laminate from the ’60s and ’70s, and wrapped in oak siding. Not pictured: clever two-tier cutlery inserts, a cutting board–slash–cookie sheet pullout, spice drawer inserts, and trash and recycling pullouts.

When it came to adding the hardware, Strom switched up her craftspeople and called on furniture design/fine woodworking company Petr Studio to make elongated wood handles. “They were an important piece of that kitchen; they gave those cabinets so much personality,” says the designer. “Once they went on, it felt like the space really came together.”

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Sacha and Troy Strebe own a lot more jeans than the average couple, and understandably so. He’s a denim designer, and long before she became the editorial director of EyeSwoon, she was a fashion editor. “We have a lot of clothing,” Sacha stresses, “and we are both collectors of vintage denim.” So why then would they move into a house with essentially zero built-in storage? As longtime renters in Los Angeles who were looking to buy their first house, the allure of owning property on a quiet street in Altadena at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains outweighed the fact that their closets were minuscule. 

To paint a picture in measurements: The closet in the couple’s primary bedroom was a mere 5-by-4 feet. Even though you could technically walk inside of it, there was no way both of them were squeezing stacks of pants and bulky leather jackets in there. Luckily, it was only the closet that was teeny. Their bedroom is unusually long and narrow (21-by-10 feet). Troy came up with the genius idea to section off the end of the space with a wall and an archway, creating a true dressing room that could house their combined wardrobe. The new closet is still small by most walk-in standards, but at around 163 square feet “it feels big for us,” says Sacha. 

Carve Out Your Corner

Before the couple and their son moved into their new house, Troy drew a rough line on the floor where he envisioned a curved closet wall could go. They then reached out to a local contractor, who built the wood framing for the divider, added drywall, and skim-coated the whole structure with plaster.

He even installed a second ceiling inside the closet and added a new switch to the right of the arched entry, and the whole thing only took seven days. Once the major construction had wrapped, Sacha painted the space with Morning Ritual by Backdrop (that is, after first dousing the green stripe on the wall with six coats of primer). 

Mark a Clear (But Narrow) Pathway

Because the curved wall effectively makes that side of the closet unusable for cabinets, Sacha knew they’d need professional help maximizing the areas where they could incorporate built-ins. They collaborated with Sabina Loos at California Closets to create a custom arrangement for their space. “We made sure to use every single square inch for storing clothing with a little left over for room to move when trying on outfits,” says Sacha. The cabinets are laid out in a U-shape in the longest part of the closet, and there are also two more cupboards with closed doors right across from the archway. There might only be 25 or so inches of walking clearance in the back of the space, but it’s wide enough for one person to move around comfortably. 

Morning Ritual, Backdrop ($49)

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MODO 5/8 Inch Diameter Cabinet Knob , Schaub and Company ($11)

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Peep Your Jeans From the Belt Loops to the Bottoms

While Sacha tends to fold most of her jeans and store them on the highest shelves, Troy prefers to see which pants he’s plucking before getting dressed. To help him out, Loos dedicated a hanging rod for his pants. “The hangers for his jeans are actually patternmaker’s hooks, which he designed at a former denim company in Australia,” says Sacha, noting you can buy similar packs of hooks on Amazon.

Lonikstep Pattern Hooks 24 Pcs, Amazon ($18)

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Guard Your Garb From the Sun

While the beautiful sunlight streaming in from the window inside the closet is great for when the Strebes are getting dressed, it’s not so ideal for keeping black clothes in pristine condition over time. “Sunlight is a closet’s worst nightmare,” says Sacha. To help prevent their prized garments from fading, they had the Shade Store install UV 1% roller shades (in the color Tan) with wool flannel flat roman shades (in the color Fog). The layered combo allows them to let the light in when they need it and shut it out when they don’t. “I just leave a little crack open at the bottom because I love the warm afternoon light,” she adds. 

Host That Garage Sale

The couple technically began preparing for their closet reno before they even moved into their house last summer. “We purged a ton with a pretty epic garage sale at our former Silver Lake apartment, and Goodwill also received several bags,” says Sacha. Then, after their 30-day escrow came to an end, she decided to get rid of even more rarely worn items to help minimize and streamline their space. 

These days, Sacha is extra cognizant of anything new she brings home. “I make sure I don’t have something similar first or buy it vintage,” says Sacha. “I’m a huge fan of resale sites, thrift stores, eBay, and the Rose Bowl, which is now just around the corner from us.”

Play Dress-Up

Objects in the Strebe household are in perpetual motion. “I am constantly styling and restyling my home, so why should my closet be any different?” says Sacha. She dedicated a nook near the window where she can lean her EQ3 mirror, display a mixed-media work by Aliyah Sadaf, light a candle on the tall iron holder, and plop a purse or her Casa Catinella basket on an Olive Ateliers pedestal.

As someone who appreciates the art of getting dressed, this serene corner only motivates her to get more creative with her outfits. “This new space has already inspired me to dive into my archive and wear pieces I haven’t worn in a very long time,” she says. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Spy Floor Mirror, EQ3 ($450)

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Echasse Vase by Theresa Rand for Audo Copenhagen (medium), Lumens ($485)

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The post How an Editor and a Denim Designer Built a Closet That Just Perfectly Holds All Their Stuff appeared first on domino.

Alexandra Gater knows a thing or two about transformations. As the host of a YouTube channel dedicated to renovating rentals in the Toronto area, she has captured nearly 720,000 subscribers as she DIYs room dividers in teeny studios, removable tile backsplashes in kitchens, and built-in storage anywhere it will fit. Naturally, Gater also frequently shares the process of personalizing the 19th-century home she shares with her partner, Noah. Her latest project on this front has been to turn their tiny entryway into a happy and tidy space. 

“It was so disorganized,” she says. “Our winter accessories were in baskets on a shelf that were out of reach, shoes were strewn at the door, and jackets were being piled on top of each other on coat hooks.” If that wasn’t bad enough, Gater also didn’t like that her love of all things pink and squiggly was nowhere to be found. “It lacked any sort of decoration,” she says. Gater aimed to streamline her entryway with solutions that felt personal yet totally relatable. Here’s how she pulled it off in just 34 square feet.

Lean on Tried-and-True Favorites 

Gater’s entryway is essentially a nook between her front door and a flight of stairs. As she considered her options, she realized that it being removed from the rest of the apartment isn’t such a bad thing. “I really wanted the entryway to be a statement,” she says. “Because it’s separate from the rest of our home, I knew there was potential to paint it a bold color and have fun. It didn’t have to match an adjoining room.” 

Initially, Gater went far outside her comfort zone and chose Periwinkle Bud by Behr, thinking that it would be refreshing to pick a color that wasn’t present in the rest of her mostly pink and green home. But when she applied the first coat to the walls, she knew it didn’t work. “I was really picturing an energetic and bright entryway,” she says. “But I realized that blue wasn’t the answer because it was feeling too cold.” Gater abandoned the plan and embraced a shade she was sure about: Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball. “I ultimately ended up using one of my comfort colors, and it makes this space feel so cozy and warm rather than just utilitarian,” she says.

Upgrade a Simple Shelf With a Scallop

Graham Hayes, the resident handyman on Gater’s team, knew that this entryway required new shelving near the door, both above and below the hanging rod. But traditional straight-edge planks wouldn’t do. Hayes wanted them to stand out among the busy rack of coats. So his solution was to incorporate Gater’s favorite undulating shape. “I love for a room to be sophisticated with touches of whimsy,” Gater says.

They painted the three shelves the same color as the walls to give the installation a bespoke feel and stocked them with baskets that share the shelves’ playful design. As one last tie-in, Gater replaced the existing overhead light with a Mitzi pendant lamp that seamlessly goes with the flow and can turn on with a switch with a scalloped plate. The results are decidedly cohesive, with a wink. 

Refresh What Works With More Function

This was by no means a gut reno. Gater wasn’t going to touch the tile flooring or stained-glass window—two details that beautifully anchored the entryway—nor did she want to nix the IKEA Hemnes shoe-slash-console cabinet that she’s owned since she lived in her last apartment and had previously been storing upstairs in this place. By adding clever accessories to the storage piece, its small refresh fits right into the rest of the renovation. “It’s hands down one of my most favorite IKEA pieces because it is so functional,” she says. Gater refreshed it with a re-stained custom wood top, new knobs, and coats of Bone by Farrow & Ball. But it was still missing something.

Look closely on one side of the cabinet and you’ll spot another one of Hayes’s creations: A pair of semicircular shelves that happen to be the ideal spot for sunglasses. When there is a hook or a ledge for everything—keys, mail, umbrellas—it’s hard to lose track of stuff. And it makes a styled space feel even more intentional. 

“This space feels like a completely decorated room rather than just a place to drop our shoes,” says Gater. “One tip I have, now that this update is over, is for people to go through their entire routines to leave their homes. When you come back, note each step. What do you need to ensure your entryway functions better for you?” Even in her own home, Gater is still a generous design host. 

Get the Look

HEMNES Shoe cabinet, IKEA ($179)

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Painted Outlet Cover Plates, Alexandra Gater ($15)

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Sodsai Pendant, Mitzi ($259)

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Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball

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The post Even Sunglasses Got Their Own Shelf in This Tiny Entryway Revamp appeared first on domino.

The scent of Thai basil, mint, and citrus perfume the air of Kim Nguyen’s petite Southern California patio, her slice of respite after a grueling year of recovery. If you didn’t know, you might not guess that the inviting, greenery-filled space below is attached to a cozy studio in an assisted living community, all decorated by her daughter Kate Berry (yes, our Kate Berry).

In Kate’s eyes, an outdoor oasis was essential to her mom’s healing. Kim, a Vietnamese refugee who fled the country with her family in 1975, has been an avid gardener all her life—not to mention a self-made businesswoman, accomplished knitter, skilled cook, mother of four, and grandmother of five. When a stroke left her without the use of the left side of her body last July, her family had to mobilize quickly to usher her through a series of facilities and treatments. Once they settled on a long-term care home, Kate became determined to turn an otherwise cold apartment into a calming, comfortable place to live.

“There’s no right way; there’s no perfect process,” Kate says of feeling your way through caring for a parent after a medical emergency. “There’s no way to anticipate what somebody will need coming out of a situation like that.” What she and her family found out almost immediately was that her mom needed an entirely new suite of furnishings that would work for her condition, was compact enough to suit her new place, and that they could actually afford. Their search led them to West Elm, which has a substantial selection of ADA-compliant furniture. After some trial and error (more on that later), Kate designed a practical yet inviting layout and look with the brand’s help, and it works for her mom and makes everyone who walks in a little more relaxed. 

“It’s not groundbreaking, but it just looks so much better than it was,” she reflects, acknowledging that it’s really the first place her mother’s needs and comfort were put first. “All the nurses say, ‘Your mom’s room is the nicest room!’” Below, Kate breaks down all their furniture and decor decisions in her own words.

A Regular Bed, Made More Supportive

There’s no way around it: Hospital beds are ugly. All of them. We were renting this fancier hospital bed and mattress (uncomfortable, still ugly) that reclines and, come to find out, my mom doesn’t ever use the recliner part except to take her pills at night. She really just needs the bar so she can transfer from her wheelchair to the bed. So instead, I looked at the dimensions of West Elm’s ADA-compliant furniture and sourced pieces from across its collection that fit into that size range and that could be delivered quickly. We got the Leesa mattress and the full-size Romi kids’ bed. Then we picked up an assist rail from Amazon to attach to it. Once we made the switch, she told us she slept until 7 a.m.; it was much more comfortable. It’s upholstered, which really makes a difference. Looking back, my mom could have made do with a twin bed. She’s small, and the stroke left her paralyzed on her left side, so she’s not moving around as much as I anticipated. But it’s nice that the grandchildren and I can lie next to her on the full size.

My brother-in-law also found a remote control set at a hardware store that controls the lights. We’ve connected them to all the floor lamps, plus the bedside and dining table lights so she can easily switch them on and off from her bed.

The shallow media console between the bed and the wall is such a nice narrow option with great storage. It’s where my mom keeps her bedding and other things that she needs, and it holds her TV. She doesn’t need to get in between there because she’s not mobile on that side—she always has to get into bed on the side where her right arm can grab the bar. Once I found out that I could add these simple touches—that the whole space didn’t have to be hospital-grade—that really shifted my perception of what an assisted-living room could be.

A Wheelchair-Friendly Rug Trick

The floors are carpeted, but I wanted to introduce a rug to brighten things up. We picked up a handwoven, Persian-style design that is reversible and not very thick, which in theory makes it easy to wheel over and is great for disguising spills and dirt. My mom initially complained about it because it bunched up under her wheelchair, so we took it out. But the room felt drab without it, so we brought it back and carpet-taped the entire rug. That extra step solved the bunching problem, and the rug added the decorative layer I knew was missing.

The Chair-and-a-Half That Has a Secret

This cute chair-and-a-half is actually a sleeper sofa—it’s been a game changer for us. When we visit, my daughter Quinn and I, or my sister and I, can fit on it and it’s comfortable for us. I can just rotate it if I want to pull the mattress out. Before we added the sofa, my mom would just sit on the bed or in her wheelchair all day, even to watch TV. That’s just not comfortable. Now I can prop her up on the chair to relax and recline. She can watch a show from across the room; her sight is actually still really good despite only being able to see out of one eye.

A Faucet Fix for Easier On-and-Offs

My mom has always been an amazing cook with great knife skills. While she can’t cook in the same way she used to, we’re trying to figure out what she can do. So far, she has a microwave, a rice cooker, and a kettle. We’ve made everything from rice to sweet potatoes in the cooker for when she wants something simple rather than the food that is served in the care facility’s restaurant. My sister added this attachment onto the faucet so my mom could reach it from her wheelchair, too. There are just some things that are more functional than aesthetic, and I had to let go of it not being pretty.

Well-Positioned Shelves

We put up these shelves as a spot for pictures, keys, mail, and other accessories under my mom’s calendar. We installed the one near the door low enough so she could wheel up to it and use it as a mini counter. She can also look up at her schedule and see what she’s doing that week, whether that’s different therapy appointments or activities.

Tables She Can Roll Up To

The dining table is a really simple square oak table with clean lines. It actually comes with two leaves, but for now we don’t need them. We placed it against the wall to give my mom more space and so she can look out onto the patio plants while she has her tea. The legs are wide enough for her wheelchair to fit right in.

The side table next to the upholstered chair is another accessible surface and storage spot. Other than gardening, my mom’s favorite hobby is knitting. She’s really a master of it and has created countless sweaters, hats, scarves, and pants. One of the things that has been really hard on her, and us, is the fact that she can’t knit like she used to. She’s been discouraged this past year, but I’m determined to help her get back to doing it again. To start, I made her needles and yarn easily reachable by putting them in a basket that she can pull from the side table’s shelf while still in her wheelchair. Then I simply tied a thick rubber band to the left armrest of her wheelchair where she can secure a needle. That way, she can knit with one hand. It’s not a perfect system, but we’ll get there.

An Outdoor Space That Smells Like Home

My mom took so much pleasure and joy in her garden in sunny Orange County. She cultivated everything that she had grown up with in Vietnam: passion fruit, citrus, lemongrass, longans. That was her solace, her place to escape and be happy. When she was recovering, my brother brought a humidifier with essential oils into the rehab center so it always smelled like lemongrass and lavender. So even though she couldn’t be in her garden, it would smell familiar. Everyone would come into her room and say, “It’s like a spa in here.” 

In her new living arrangement, we really wanted to create an outdoor space with plants that she could watch flourish, citrus that would bear fruit, and fresh herbs to pluck from a “garden.” When she moved in, my siblings and I outfitted a little sitting area for her and her friends. We installed teak snap tiles over the cement floor, which instantly warm the space up and don’t interfere with the nurses transferring her to a seat. We added a taller rectangle planter that creates a divider wall from the neighboring patio for privacy. With a couple of lounge chairs, a teak and wicker table, and a bunch of plants, it has a whole new vibe.

Personal Touches to Make It Feel Extra-Cozy

There are a number of little things that we did to make her studio feel like home. For one, I took a panel from the Nordic Knot sand-colored shades I use at home and put it up over her sliding patio doors. It provides shade when it’s closed but still filters sunshine into her room; her eyes are sensitive to too much brightness these days. It also adds a layer of softness to the beige walls.

The little glass jar on her nightstand was meant for my niece from a White Elephant we did last Christmas with the grandchildren, but she ended up with it and thought it was so cute. It’s for all her bingo quarters from her winnings (which isn’t much, but that’s not the point!).

My friend Paul Ferney painted a portrait of Quinn that hangs in one sunny corner. The ceramic box on the shelf near her bed was made by my sister when she was a child and my mom has kept it all these years. We put pictures of her and the grandchildren up everywhere; they’re the number-one thing that makes her happy. She loves the pictures of her and the kids in Mexico, the last family vacation we took together before the stroke. My mom left everything behind when we had to get out of Vietnam at the end of the war. As a refugee not having anything when you leave your country, you hold onto a ceramic that reminds you of the time your daughter was younger and photos that transport you to happy times.

This process has been really hard for all of us, but especially Mom; we’re learning to adapt to a new normal. A friend whose father had a stroke a few years ago said to me: “There will be good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, and good months and bad months.” That has given me patience and perspective when dealing with difficult moments. 

The above portrait of her, where she’s smiling, really makes me happy, but not because she looks happy. It’s because the way we knew how to get her to smile was to remind her of a moment she had a couple of months after her stroke. She had to be taken to the ER in an ambulance because of a complication and, after that, she could not stop talking about the handsome paramedic who looked like Kyle Chandler (yes, the coach from Friday Night Lights). She told us how he flirted with her, referring to my sister (her daughter) as her sister. Now all we have to say is “Kyle Chandler” for her to crack a smile. And just like that, a new funny memory.

The post When My Mom Had a Stroke, My Goal Was to Make Her Assisted Living Apartment Calm and Cozy appeared first on domino.

Shopping for curtains isn’t a design task I look forward to. While they’re one of those finishing touches that makes a room look truly done, I don’t relish feeling my way through the maze of materials, sizing, and hardware. That much is clear from the fact that my husband and I didn’t put anything special up in our Brooklyn two-bedroom for four years (don’t judge). Admittedly, there are a few other reasons for the reluctance: We only have four windows total; a building across the way blocks the afternoon sun; and most of the year we have tree coverage that obscures the view in from the street. Ultimately, curtains is the category where I want someone else to do most of the heavy lifting for me. Enter Everhem.

I’ve written and edited my fair share of house tours, and while many use custom curtain and shade services, one window treatment brand has popped up again and again over the past few years: L.A.-based Everhem, founded by interior designer Haley Weidenbaum and her husband, Adam. Sarah Sherman Samuel uses its drapes in her projects; Heather Taylor Home has done a cobranded line; and Gwyneth Paltrow hung its shades in Goop’s New York office. Alyssa Coscarelli swears by the blackout curtains, and Madelynn Furlong turned to the company for her Manhattan apartment. I’ve spotted the window treatments in a photographer’s cozy home, a jewelry designer’s greenhouse, one Connecticut nursery, and this serene primary bathroom. I was intrigued, to say the least: What was it about these curtains that had everyone snapping them up, especially given their higher price point (standard sizing starts at $400)? 

Everhem Café Curtains

In November 2023, our panel of judges handed Everhem a Good Design Award for its cotton-linen blend Café Curtains. Turns out, that was the style I’d been looking for and didn’t even know it. 

Velvet was too heavy for us; paper shades too light to feel long-term. Plus I’m one of those people who actually prefers the sun to filter in in the morning; I don’t like sleeping in pitch black. Offering privacy without blocking the whole window and more romantic in style than top-down/bottom-up shades, sheer café curtains can channel a cottage kitchen or Paris bistro (I’m a big fan of the look at New York’s Corner Bar). In our space, I knew they’d lend the same timelessness that we embrace in all of our furnishings, decor, and paint colors. But, as an editor, I like to test as many products as I can to get a better sense of quality and material. I decided to get in touch with the brand to see if I could try out the curtains at home.

A Little Hand-Holding for Measurements

The measuring process on our initial call—yes, you can choose to talk to a real, live person—couldn’t have been simpler. Ahead of my scheduled chat with Kasandra, one of the customer support managers, she sent me a brief prep guide on products, tools, and more to have on hand. Together over the phone, we measured each oddly sized window in our circa-1800s carriage house, taking note of the width and length of the frames as well as where the hardware would go (we chose to inner mount). There was none of the trial and error inherent in buying curtains off the shelf, not to mention the wasteful nature of lots of packaging and returns—one of the selling points that makes the splurge worth considering in my eyes. 

Customize Like an Interior Designer

Everhem’s café curtains come with more than a dozen customization options, including fabric, pleat style, lining, and hardware. A few days after the call, three neutral swatches (primarily a linen-cotton blend with a small percentage of polyester) arrived, and Kasandra sent several images via email of the different pleat options. After holding up each piece in various lighting throughout the day, I decided on the Bone hue with classic box pleats and matte black hardware to blend in with the window frames. Lastly, I loved the look of two curtains instead of a single panel, so we went that direction. 

Ordering With a Few Clicks

Order quotes are inputted and updated on Everhem’s website so that you can double-check that everything is correct before adding yours to your cart. The brand is clear and up front about the timeline for drapery, shades, or hardware: up to six to eight weeks. That’s because each window treatment is hand-sewn and custom-made in the U.S. While some components like cords might be sourced globally, manufacturing—including cutting, sewing, hardware forging, and powder coating—is done solely by small American businesses. All of that comes with a higher price, of course, so I think Everhem is a better bet for a longer-term rental or a home you own.

The Fine Print

A few things to note before you dive in. All products are final sale; there are no returns unless something is incorrect, damaged, or defective. Your fabric color and pattern selections are limited to six options, but I expect that to grow over time as the brand does. (If you’re in the market for more color and a slightly lower price, try Loom & Decor or Ballard Designs, but you won’t be able to customize to specific measurements or pleat style.) 

A DIY-Friendly Installation

When they arrived, I could see that the hype was real. The products come well packaged in hard cardboard but not overflowing with unnecessary padding, and installation was straightforward. For something more involved, like a floor-to-ceiling look, I could see the process taking longer or the need for hiring a Taskrabbit, but café curtains are very DIY-friendly; it probably took all of 30 minutes to put up the four rods and curtains. The slightly textured panels bring warmth without feeling fussy; the pleats are sharp but not straight as a dart; and they add a little privacy without being lined. Everything about them, even the hardware, is soft and delicate. They do, indeed, finish the room, and without the usual shopping anxiety.

The post I Tried This Gwyneth Paltrow–Approved Curtain Brand to See What All the Fuss Was About appeared first on domino.