Swankify your New Apartment — Starting with a Fresh Coat of Paint

October 8, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re on a budget, there’s a fair chance that apartment architecture isn’t tops on your list of necessities — having a window or two probably dominates. If you’re looking in New York, the city lacking alleys in favor of more buildings, there’s a high chance some of your rooms won’t got ’em. Beyond that,…

More ways to use your walls!

July 30, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I’m really into walls these days — and all their crazy potential. So, this is a two-parter from earlier this week where I wrote about temporary walls (ie. the best invention since sliced bread). Walls. Sure, you can hang pictures on them, but there has to be more, well, to do with them. Like, you…

Furnishing La Casa on a Budget

June 6, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Whether you’re moving to your new place from your parents’ place, moving on up from the college dorm, or are ‘just’ moving cities, the more planning you do in terms of furnishing your place, the better. Plus, even a little bit planning will save you money you’ll need to get settled in your place. I’ve…

Decorating and furnishing when you and your roommate have different styles

November 14, 2007 | By Shelby AuthorMy First Apartment

So you love sleek, modern design and your roommate adores the lacy, floral, Victorian look. Now what? If you don’t talk about your conflict before you furnish your apartment, you’ll end up with a goofy hodgepodge look that you’ll both hate. There are two basic solutions to a design conflict like this. One, you could…

Kelly M’s tip for making small spaces livable

November 1, 2007 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Living in a closet at some point is basically a rite of passage in New York City—whether you’re speaking hyperbolically or whether you are, like one of my friends is at this point, literally sleeping in someone’s closet. But if realizing that you’re in good company doesn’t lessen the claustrophobia, here are a few ideas…

My Top 10 Places to Shop for the Home

June 10, 2007 | By Amanda AuthorMy First Apartment

We all have our favorite things to shop for. Some girls like to buy shoes, while others like to buy handbags. Some guys like to buy expensive toys, while others like to buy gifts for their girlfriends. (Okay, maybe wishful thinking.) Personally, I love shopping for home products. Living in New York City with some…

The FATEFUL conclusion to the Couch Cover CATASTROPHE!

April 4, 2007 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Don’t ya kinda feel like you’re in a 1940’s movie theater? Watching– as the young heroine battles tragedy and turmoil until finally at last, a shimmer of light descends and she discovers that the young soldier respected her all along? Well, friends, in my story, that shimmer of light was my self-respect and the young…

Need Judge Judy in the battle of the sofa slip cover

March 23, 2007 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Readers, I’m in a dilly of a pickle with my roommates. So, instead of me advising you this week, I’m crossing my fingers that you can help me by playing Judge Judy. Here’s the sitch: My living room is set up so that there is a darling red velvet couch in the center. Behind the…

Home sweet home

March 17, 2007 | By jen t. AuthorMy First Apartment

We’re in! Actually, we’ve been in for two weeks, and our place still looks like a tornado came though here. But we’re working on that. Moving day, for the most part, went smoothly, but only after a rocky start. We got up early, around 7:30 a.m., to pack up the last of our stuff before…

Redecorating to make old new again

January 12, 2007 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

While it’s true that some folks choose the wintry months to move into a new place, most of us prefer to haul sofas upstairs sans snow boots. There’s just something unappetizing about carrying boxes of delicate dishes along icy sidewalks. As such, for the most of us, we’ve been staring at the same apartment for…