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…

Making an Apartment into a Home

November 10, 2006 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Think about every place you’ve ever lived; from your bunk bed at overnight camp many moons ago to your last college dorm room, there was something uniting about all your past abodes. And, even though living on your own for the first time might feel foreign, if not a bit terrifying, there are tricks to…

Crafts with Apartment #1

August 23, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

I grew up on the gorgeous, if climatologically unpredictable shores of the Great Lakes. On those summer days when it was too chilly to swim, I’d occupy myself sifting through rocks. Fun, right? Right. I hauled myself back to the car at the end of the afternoon with my pockets full of rocks. Not just…

Apartment Beautiful: Wall Decoration

August 10, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

A couple of months ago I realized that I’d never gotten around to putting anything on my walls. So I set to work: I went to the Rose Bowl flea market in search of wall art. Flea markets, by the way, can be a great place to find antique furniture, decorations, or more random things…

I love my new chair. And Craigslist.

July 30, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

Yesterday, I acquired a comfy new chair. It’s round and cushy with a straight back, shaped almost like someone got a very large barrel, cut out the front third, and upholstered it. It swivels, guaranteeing hours of revolving fun to come. It’s white leather, aged, to be sure, but nothing a little leather cleaner and…