Of all the home spaces that tend to get the styling shaft, closets often find themselves at the forefront of neglect. But they also have the potential to provide a sense of tranquility when given some extra attention. Plus when you know what’s in your wardrobe, you’re less likely to spend money on things you don’t need or have a meltdown when you can’t find the outfit you’ve been saving for a special occasion. How can you overhaul your closet without a fully custom build-out? Fake it till you make it. Check out these IKEA closet hacks that spark joy in the pursuit of streamlining even the most jumbled spaces. 

For a Bit of Reflection

In designer Chloé Mason Gray’s experience, three-and-a-half months was a bit too long to wait for a replacement front for a mirrored Pax wardrobe in this Mexico home. She thought it would be a breeze to have the fronts custom-made elsewhere, so she purchased the unit sans mirrors and began her search for glass. “It turned out that hardly anyone makes ones with the particular thickness needed for this closet,” says Gray. But the time it took to find a fabricator was worth the wait: When her client wakes up each morning, he’s greeted by the reflection of the unique Cerami plaster walls. 

If You’re Starting From Scratch 

Domino’s own Julia Stevens and her roommates finally found the perfect NYC apartment. The only problem? Not a closet in sight. They converted the hallway by the entryway into their affectionately termed “walk-in closet” with IKEA’s Mulig clothes bars at $7 each. Six in total for the project only set them back $36. The racks stretch from 23 to 35 inches, so they expanded the top row to fit longer dresses and the bottom row for shirts and pants. Each roommate has her own section, with the option to share.

To Add Extra Room for Activities

Instead of a dresser that would take up valuable real estate, Judith Achumba-Wöllenstein’s IKEA closet hack meant installing a wall-mounted Boaxel system in her preteen brother-in-law’s room. (Bonus: More room for TikTok dances!) The showstopping red frame was another practical choice. “Because the wardrobe doesn’t have doors, all we needed to do was screw the MDF wood frame to the ceiling and to the side of the walls,” she explains. 

For a Complete Overhaul

When you have the luxury of a walk-in closet, make sure that every square inch lives up to its reputation. Erin Kestenbaum did just that with the help of IKEA’s Pax wardrobe system, which she outfitted with recessed lighting, crown molding, blue paint, and gold hardware. Sure, it’s a big to-do, but the results will be worth it. 

To Incorporate Extra Drawers

Sometimes your closet simply doesn’t have the room for your collection of knickknacks. And when that happens, you should slide in this chest of drawers from Full Time Fiesta. This idea takes an Alex drawer unit and paints it in an ombré design for a fun finish that’ll stand out among the rest of your possessions. Use it to store scarves, jewelry, and other accessories all in one place. 

Shop More Closet Savers Here

Pax Wardrobe Frames, IKEA ($250)

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MULIG Clothes Bar, Ikea ($7)

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Alex Drawer Unit, Ikea ($89)

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Pax Hinged Doors, IKEA ($75)

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The post 5 IKEA Closet Hacks to Get That Custom Wardrobe Look appeared first on domino.

There are endless decisions that go into remodeling. So it comes as a huge relief when one of those often overthought choices turns out to be not so complicated (kind of like discovering that reliable, go-to paint color). That’s exactly how I felt when my friend designer Meta Coleman introduced me to maple ball knobs. Not only are they practical and understated, but these low-frill gems are affordable—they range in price from $1.80 to $2.10 each at mom-and-pop hardware stores like Lee Valley. 

1 3/8″ x 1 3/8″ Maple Ball Knob, Lee Valley ($2)

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Initially, I purchased a handful of the warm wood knobs for the new built-in dining room cabinets in our ’40s Bay Area bungalow. There was enough contrast in the room as it was, so I needed to simplify somewhere. You can choose from three sizes; I went with the midsize. Before long, I found myself swapping the shiny brass hardware on my bedroom closet doors for more of the same. Later, when we remodeled our office and our children’s bathroom, it wasn’t even a question. I was using them everywhere. 

Other Ball Knobs We Like

1 1/2″ Wooden Ball Knobs by Weichuan Store (15-Pack), Amazon ($10)

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45mm Solid Wood Ball Cabinet Knob by MaySpringDesignGift, Etsy

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1-3/4″ Wooden Ball Knob, Woodpeckers ($1)

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Unlike traditional hardware, wood ball knobs are easy to customize. You can leave them untreated, brush on a clear coat, stain them, or paint them. And then paint them again and again. Get the idea? Here are some of the many ways you can make them work in your space.

In the Dining Room 

As I mentioned, when we had that set of custom cabinets built for our dining room a couple of years ago, there was already quite a bit happening in the small space: Bunny toile wallpaper. Green trim. Gingham curtains flanking the original French windows. I wanted to maximize all the color, and that meant no interruptions by metal handles or pulls. So I painted the Shaker-style doors and the ball knobs in Farrow & Ball’s gray-green Treron. They add just the right touch of sculptural interest.  

In the Bathroom

For our children’s bathroom remodel, we decided to stick to the original footprint as much as possible, including keeping the vintage pedestal sink and cast-iron tub. We did, however, nix the enclosed shower in favor of drawers and cabinetry. I let my kids choose the wallpaper for the space. Once they settled on this vintage clover wallpaper from Svenskt Tenn, I knew I wanted to paint the storage and trim in Farrow & Ball’s Oval Room Blue, which we had used in our adjacent hallway. By this time, I was familiar with how durable wood ball knobs are, so I was confident they’d hold up to some kid-generated wear and tear. Again, angling for a cohesive look against a busy backdrop, I went with a uniform look that pops off against the white and green foliage. But, who knows, maybe someday I’ll update the knobs in a splashy red hue. 

In the Living Room

I wasn’t the only one falling for the knobs. Content creator Hannah Carpenter discovered them when our mutual friend, Coleman, suggested them as the pulls for an IKEA hack in her Arkansas home. “They’re great for someone who wants something somewhat special but doesn’t want to spend a million dollars,” says Carpenter. To create storage in the family’s den, she took a pair of pine Ivar sideboards and painted them white. To lend the cabinetry a touch of character, Coleman suggested bun legs from Pretty Pegs and, naturally, complimentary ball knobs. 

In the Kitchen

When it came to her kitchen, Carpenter was determined to make the same knobs work against a newly painted backdrop of light blue cabinetry. But this time, she didn’t crack open a paint can. “You can paint them a punchy accent or leave them alone and just let them sort of age and get a little darker with use,” she explains. Even with a steady stream of tweens and teens at home, she says her untreated knobs don’t get particularly dirty.  

The bargain knobs were also the antidote to expensive hardware when stylist and Domino contributing editor Merisa Libbey was refreshing her new-to-her mid-century kitchen in Los Angeles. “I knew we’d be doing some more major renovations down the line and didn’t want to invest ridiculous amounts in making these areas feel better in the meantime,” she says. She was flipping through an old issue of Domino for inspiration when she came across a kitchen featuring an oversize version of the round knobs. She ordered a couple of sizes, testing one in a clear coat and one the same color as her freshly painted cabinets. Ultimately, she went with the former to tie into the oak flooring. “They fit the bill of mixing with my 1950s cupboards while elevating them to a more modern aesthetic,” says Libbey. “I loved them so much, I ended up using them in every room with cabinets—some with paint, some with a natural stain, all supercute.”

The post The $2 Ball Knobs on Every Door and Drawer in My House appeared first on domino.

Picking out kitchen cabinet hardware as your renovation wraps up is like getting the dessert menu at the end of a meal. It’s a sweet way to end things. Still, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices before you. Latches, handles, knobs, or pulls? Matte black, antique brass, or polished nickel? Tiny and seamless or oversize? Understanding the ins and outs of each is the key to making a confident decision.

“Sizing and function are the two most important factors when considering what cabinet hardware is best,” says Kimberlee Gorsline, founder and principal designer of Kimberlee Marie Interiors. So let’s begin with the most common hardware on kitchen cupboards: knobs and pulls. Their end goal is really the same—to give you access to the stuff that’s on the other side—but the two options serve a space differently. So here’s everything to know about knobs versus pulls, upper cabinets versus lower cabinets, and getting the scale right in your space. Plus we share 16 options to shop for your own.

When should I use knobs on kitchen cabinets?

The general rule of thumb is that knobs are best for cabinet doors, though you can certainly break said rule. “We might do a single knob on a smaller drawer,” says Gorsline. It doesn’t matter what shape you go with (they come in round, square, oblong, octagonal—you name it), what’s important is location; place them 2 1/2 or 3 inches from the corner of the door. 

When should I use pulls on kitchen cabinets?

Pulls offer a bit more flexibility because you can put them on both drawers and doors. “Overall I think that pulls are easier to grasp than knobs,” adds Michelle Lisac, founder and principal designer of Michelle Lisac Interior Design. That’s especially nice if your cabinet fronts are on the larger end and you need a bit more leverage to open them. 

What size should my knobs and pulls be?

Start by accounting for the length of your cabinets. For smaller nooks, like spice pull-outs or slim doors that hide cutting boards, go with knobs that are 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Otherwise, knobs that are between 1 ¼ and 1 ⅜ inches will suffice. That said, there are benefits to supersizing your knobs. Not only does it make them easier to grab, but the visual effect (especially if they’re painted the same color as your cabinet doors) is showstopping. 

Pulls are a bit trickier to get right. “If you have a long drawer, you will need a long pull to support the weight of pulling out the drawer,” explains Gorsline. To simplify your shop, consider picking one size and using them throughout your cabinetry. A 3¾-inch distance between the screw holes looks nice on most cabinets and is large enough to grip comfortably. 

What finish should I choose?

Let your cupboard color and style guide your hardware material. Check out a few of our favorite pairings, including iron on beadboard fronts, glass against a high-gloss finish, and wood painted to match vibrant doors. But don’t forget about satin and polished nickel, chrome, matte black, and copper. “In some scenarios, hardware is best applied like jewelry, and in others, you want it to be understated,” says Caitlin Murray, founder and creative director of Black Lacquer Design, who is obsessed with the former lately (she’s into organic shapes that look sculptural, like in this Bel Air kitchen). 

“I’m currently loving an unlacquered brass, but I also like pulls with a combination of either textures or finishes, like Emtek’s knurled bars,” says Lisac. Style aside, her most important rule is to invest in quality. After all, “these are items that you are literally going to be touching every day,” she points out.

Can I mix knobs and pulls in the same kitchen?  

There are two ways to go about incorporating knobs and pulls seamlessly in one kitchen. The first route is to put knobs on all the upper cabinets and pulls on all the lower cabinets for visual balance. The second option is to put knobs on all the doors and pulls on all the drawers, prioritizing function. But who said you can’t throw out the rule book entirely? Shea McGee mixed knobs, latches, thin pulls, and cup pulls in her kitchen, above—and thanks to the fact that they’re all the same brass finish, it totally works. Open sesame.

Cabinet Knobs We Love

Newberg Knob, Schoolhouse ($12 was $14)

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Emtek Jasper 2-Inch Bar Cabinet Knob, Amazon ($10)

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Amerock 1-3/8 inch Cabinet Knob, Champagne Bronze, Amazon ($5 was $6)

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Sumner Street Home Hardware Aspen 1-1/16 inch Egg Cabinet Knob, The Home Depot ($7)

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Bill Knob, 40 mm, Pretty Pegs ($8)

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Round Knob, H&M Home ($10)

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Linear Furniture Knob, Set of 2, Buster & Punch ($40)

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Octagon Glass Cabinet Knob, Rejuvenation ($18)

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Cabinet Pulls We Love

Amerock Cabinet Cup Pull, Amazon ($8 was $12)

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Ansel 12-inch Drawer Pull, Rejuvenation ($72)

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4-Inch Matte Black Mid-Century Pull, West Elm ($14)

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4-Inch Acrylic Cabinet Pull, Ballard Designs ($23)

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Belfast Solid Brass 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Signature Hardware ($17)

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Combined Semicircle Handle, Medium, Etsy ($3 was $4)

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Wrought Iron 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Etsy ($11 was $12)

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Barrington 4-Inch Edge Pull, Rejuvenation ($28)

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The post When to Use Kitchen Cabinet Knobs vs. Pulls, and More Hardware Questions Answered appeared first on domino.

Lexi Ribar and Morgan Stewart, cofounders of Pittsburgh firm Studio Lithe, aren’t usually privy to their clients’ childhood bedrooms. But when a homeowner who had recently bought the house she’d grown up in came to the designers asking for help in bringing it up to speed, they relished the initial walk-through. “Her room had the original wallpaper border around the top—I think it had Dalmatians?” recalls Ribar. Their favorite find was a poster of an old Levi’s advertisement. “We framed it because we were like, we cannot get rid of this,” adds Stewart. The home’s most obvious blast from the past was the circa-1926 blue and white tile in the kitchen, which sparked some controversy at first. 

“Immediately, she and her husband wanted the entire thing to be new,” recalls Ribar. “Because of how bold all the other materials were in the space, it didn’t leave a lot to the imagination about where things could potentially go [with the tile].” The couple’s two main concerns were the darkness of the grout and how much work (and money) it would take to restore the sections that had been damaged over time. “They really weren’t planning to keep it,” adds Ribar.

Studio Lithe had to do some serious convincing, but after showing a few different renderings of how the old tile could fit in the new space, they got the green light. Another major selling point? Buying the same amount of tile of the same high quality would cost a small fortune—saving it saved the budget. Ahead, the designers take us behind the scenes of the reno, revealing what they kept and what they added. 

For the Past

Step one for Stewart and Ribar was coming up with a delicate demo plan with the contractor. They wanted to leave as much tile intact as possible as they removed nearly everything else. During the process, it became clear that there were big gaps in certain areas that had been previously covered up by old appliances or cupboards. The designers tracked down a woman online who was selling historical white tiles from the 1920s. “Thankfully we didn’t need to replace any of the blue ones along the archway,” says Stewart, noting that the intricacy of the curved edges would have made them nearly impossible to find (and expensive to try to replicate).

For the Present

Once the quartzite countertops went in, the crew did a detailed pass at filling any old screw holes or cracks in the tiles. The designers warned the couple, though, that the salvaged squares would never look perfect. “But it’s the imperfection that makes it even more fun and exciting; seeing the layers of history that this kitchen has existed through,” shares Ribar. To help see past the dark gray grout lines, Stewart and Ribar simply gave them a good clean, which went a long way in making the final look bright and fresh.

For Function

The area beyond the blue arch was more or less a cramped closet when the designers first stepped on the scene. Now it’s a decked-out prep pantry. “There are secretly a lot of appliances in there,” hints Stewart. It took roughly 17 passes at layouts to figure out a configuration that would fit a column freezer, column fridge, ice maker, beverage cooler drawers, and speed oven. (The dishwasher and range are the only things in the main area of the kitchen.)

For Good Looks

To highlight the metal detailing on the range and curvature of the arch, the designers tasked Drury Cabinetry with making custom cabinets with radius corners and a fluted range hood with a sneaky magnetic push-to-open door in the top-left corner. To take advantage of the large lower corner cabinet to the right of the oven, Ribar and Stewart added a carousel inside that’s on a swivel, so no one has to crouch down to get to pots and heavy countertop appliances. 

For the Kids

More important than reviving the client’s childhood was accommodating her own children. An extra-long island was essential—but first a wall had to come down and a load-bearing beam had to go in. The structure is partly composed of low drawers where the couple’s three kids can easily access their lunch boxes and seating so they can do their homework in the space while Mom and Dad cook. The La Cornue induction cooktop is also a bonus for the young family. Unlike electric versions that pass heat from surface to cookware and make the whole top hot, induction cooktops warm the cookware directly. In other words, no one has to worry about little fingers getting burned from resting their hand down in the wrong spot. Now the next generation is set.

The post Bold 1920s Tile Was Too Priceless to Give Up for This Kitchen Reno appeared first on domino.

Buying an IKEA sofa is a rite of passage—it’s practically written in the starter apartment handbook. After a few moves or a couple of wine spills, that new-sofa smell wears off and you’re left with the question: To keep or not to keep? We vote keep. Like any beloved product from the Swedish retailer (think: Besta cabinets, Pax wardrobes), you can easily customize any one of the company’s couches. The easiest IKEA sofa hack? Reupholster it. Before you reach for the sewing machine, keep in mind that there are a number of companies out there making stylish, ready-made slipcovers for IKEA couches. Then again,  you can always go the easy DIY route. Either way, these six makeovers will convince you to play dress-up.

Give It a Dye Job 

Designer Robin Heller had swapped the legs on her Söderhamn several times to give it a refresh, but when she moved into her Baltimore dream home, she had a vision of tie-dye for the nine-year-old sofa. She turned to a brand called Upstate to bring that idea to life. It made a custom cover hand-dyed in swirls of yellow, pink, red, and blue that has not only become the focal point of the room but cleverly disguises messes. Bonus points for the matching curtains. 

Create Your Own Fabric

IKEA’s Ekebol sofa was seemingly designed for tiny spaces: It has built-in shelving, removable cushions, and can squeeze into tight corners. The only catch? Its washed gray fabric isn’t quite as inspiring. Pro DIYer Lana Red gave her piece a floral flair by wrapping it in a bold print she designed herself and sent to Spoonflower for manufacturing.

Go High-Low

Swathing a basic sofa in ultra-luxe fabric is a surefire way to elevate the piece. Christene Barberich likens her re-covered Vallentuna sleeper sofa to “1960s atomic Italian modernism.” The funky printed velvet fabric in question is Princesa by Gaston y Daniela and was fitted by Brooklyn-based Y&C Upholstery.

Customize It From Top to Bottom 

When Black and Blooms blogger Sara Toufali and her boyfriend moved into their sunny Los Angeles apartment, they realized their dark gray Söderhamn sectional was dampening the mood of the bright and airy living room. Instead of scrapping the four-seater, Toufali worked with Comfort Works to create a custom cream-colored slipcover. They also switched out the metal legs for pinewood ones that picked up on the warm honey tones of the many rattan planters.

Cover It in a Flash

Self-professed “Scandiphile” Rebecca Thandi Norman, one half of the pair behind the blog Scandinavian Standard, upgraded her Söderhamn sofa with a made-to-order slipcover by Bemz in pale pink. The process, as Norman outlines, is super-straightforward: Request a few fabric samples and place your order—and it arrives at your doorstep six to eight weeks later.

Box It Up

This isn’t an upholstery trick per se, but you might want to level up your DIY skills after learning that this IKEA sofa hack saved a new San Francisco resident $5,000. Designer Erin Roberts was tasked with fitting an L-shaped sofa in a living room corner. When she couldn’t find the perfect fit and custom options clocked in way over budget, she rolled up her sleeves and made her own. All it took was two love seats connected by a matching corner table, all encased in a cherrywood frame. It looks built in, but luckily for the renters, the sofa is free-floating just inside the platform.

Get the Look

Söderhamn Sectional, IKEA ($1,249)

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Friheten/Klagshamn Sleeper Sectional w/Storage, IKEA ($999)

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Plant-Based Dye Kit in Rose, Upstate ($48)

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Söderhamn 3-Seater Sofa Cover, Bemz ($349)

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The post These Chic Custom Couches Are Really IKEA Sofas in Disguise appeared first on domino.

There’s no denying that cornices, fireplaces, and wall moldings all add charm and a sense of history to a home. But in contemporary properties lacking original features, a renovation provides an opportunity to create them from scratch. So that’s exactly what Celine Erlam, director of interior design practice Indie & Co., and her associates, Lea Berkhman and Sophie Walker, set about doing when they were asked to remodel this South London home for a couple welcoming their first child. 

Built in the 1970s in a simple, modernist style, the house hadn’t been touched for decades. Plain and uninspiring, and with an abundance of awkward storage (the cupboard in the main bedroom couldn’t be fully accessed), it was calling out for an injection of character. The owners love the mid-century aesthetic and brought several key pieces with them, such as the principal bedroom’s bedside tables and chest of drawers, “so we kept the lines very clean and streamlined, and nodded to the era throughout,” says Berkhman. Here, the trio explains how they added spirited touches to turn an unloved space into a playful family home. 

Embrace a Retro Color Theme

The warm palette of oranges, buttery yellows, and mossy greens chosen by Erlam and her team nods to the property’s construction date. Even the most neutral shade (in the hallway) is a pastel version of a classic white. “It’s 1970 reimagined for modern times,” explains Berkhman, who knew right from the start that she wanted to use Light Bronze Green by Little Greene in the kitchen. However, the clients, who were easygoing about most decisions, pushed back, as the room faces north and they wanted to ensure it remained as luminous as possible. “Instead of putting it on the walls, we used it on the top cabinets, so I still got it in there,” she says, laughing.

Have Fun With Millwork

With a little imagination, the designers and their open-minded millworker gave the no-frills stairwell a characterful boost with some MDF. Wavy handles elevate the otherwise unremarkable storage cupboard, but Erlam knows out-there decisions often come down to timing. “We’d worked with the clients for a while [at this point], so they trusted our vision and were ready to take the leap,” she says. The asymmetrical radiator cover was born out of budget: “We often do treatments on radiators when there isn’t scope to replace them,” she explains. It was Walker who came up with the wavy line to echo the new arch leading to the living room, which not only disguises it but provides a surface on which to place something decorative. 

Drop the Preconceptions of Parquet Flooring

Upon peeling back the ugly carpets, the designers and owners held their breath, hoping that swaths of original wood floors would be revealed. Disappointingly, it wasn’t the case (all they found was subflooring), but an old-school, finger-block parquet style felt like a must-have for the house, so they redid everything.

“It fits with the era perfectly while creating interest and character,” says Erlam. Deemed dated by some, the scale was just right: “The rooms aren’t big, so going for something larger would have felt odd,” she justifies. 

Create Some Drama in the Bathroom

Because the bathroom was devoid of natural light, the team decided to get playful with color and form. Moving the tub to where the toilet used to live provided the opportunity to enclose it with another arch. “It’s quite theatrical, and with the curtain, it’s like a stage. Yet when you’re showering, you feel cocooned,” says Berkhman of her idea.

The yellow tile was inspired by a picture of a hotel in Marseille, France, depicting retro mustard-striped sun loungers. But there was no question of using it everywhere. “It would have been too much, so we found something more neutral for the walls,” explains Berkhman of the peachy vertical tile that serves as a complement. 

Repeat to Cheat

It’s an all-too-familiar-sounding COVID-era story: During the renovation, the price of materials rose dramatically (the cost of the parquet increased 52 percent between the quote and installation), so the designers made a few clever cutbacks. For starters, they saved the remainder of the terrazzo slab from the kitchen worktops and used it in the bathroom. “There wasn’t much in the way of extra templating or installation costs, because the tradespeople were already coming for the kitchen,” explains Walker. The kitchen cabinets were a hack themselves: A local millworker created walnut fronts with unique notch handles to work with IKEA frames—though you’d never know from looking at them.

The post Why a “Dated” Flooring Choice Was Just What This London Home Reno Needed appeared first on domino.

Robby and Lauren Simon have a saying: “When you’re home, you’re with your family. And when you’re with your family, you’re home.” The phrase was one the couple told themselves on repeat during their two-year-long kitchen renovation. “It’s one of those made-up, Olive Garden sayings, but it’s essentially like, things don’t have to be perfect. It just has to be home,” says Robby. 

When the Simons bought their split-level home in Atlanta in February 2020, it was clear the kitchen hadn’t been touched since the 1980s. The couple focused on the things that could easily be changed with a little bit of elbow grease (the dark wood cabinets and fluorescent light box) and learned to live with the things that couldn’t, like the galley layout and travertine tiled floors. “In a dream world I would have put in Fireclay tile, but this isn’t our forever home,” notes Lauren. While she acted as project manager during the remodel, Robby took on the role of woodworker and even turned his cabinet- and furniture-making hobby into a full-fledged side hustle (by day, he works at Mailchimp; by night he runs Play.room). 

In the end, the pair estimates they spent less than $10,000 on the transformation. Ahead, they share the updates that, at the very least, made it feel like home. 

Leave Your IKEA Cabinets As Is 

The Simons measured the existing lower cabinetry to a T and then ventured to their local IKEA to put an order in for the black Kungsbacka cupboards, with no intentions to swap out the hardware or hack the door fronts. With the help of their handy friend, Mike, they cut the butcher block countertops (also IKEA) down to size. “Lauren built every one of those cabinets—she could be a TaskRabbit,” Robby says with a laugh. Even though they were a major cost saver, they’ve held up nicely considering they are constantly being opened and touched by their 6-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter. 

Make the Most Out of a Bad Vent Situation

While Robby now sells cool credenzas and consoles on his brand’s site, the first cabinet he ever made sits above the vent hood. He created the unit solely out of necessity after learning that they had to replace the old microwave–slash–range hood, which was apparently venting inside the house. Their new ductless hood needed something to attach to. “I thought, if I’m going to do it, I might as well make it look cool,” he says. The piece is made out of a combination of walnut-veneer plywood and solid walnut. 

Paint It Twice If It Doesn’t Look Nice

Lauren also shares Robby’s let’s-just-go-for-it attitude. One day, when he was out of the house, she decided to remove the doorframe and then posed the idea of turning it into an arch once he got home. “He said, you just made so much more work for me. And I was like, we have to do it now—we don’t have a door,” she says slyly. When it came to painting the walls in the space, their first instinct was green, so they went for it. “But we could tell it wasn’t right,” she says. Lauren, the designated painter at that point, shifted gears to a soft peachy pink, and later on they swapped the light box for a PH5 pendant lamp that perfectly matched the color. 

Ask the Hardware Store for Help

The dining nook bench was another first for Robby—and he didn’t even own the proper saw for it at the time. Instead he went to Home Depot and had them cut down pieces of plywood and 2-by-4s to his specifications and then screwed it together at home. “Our long-term plan is to make a cushion for it,” he says.

Type Your Wildest Dreams Into the Search Bar

When it comes to finding cool thrifted pieces, Robby says Lauren has all the luck. “She will go into a Goodwill and literally find a Mario Bellini couch,” he says with a laugh. But his turn came when he decided to type “vintage snake handles” into Google on a whim and found exactly what he was looking for on Etsy. The cobra pulls, which now adorn the pantry, are Justina Blakeney–approved. Lauren posted a photo of the cabinet on Instagram and tagged the designer in it, crediting her for the inspiration—and Blakeney shared it. “I was like, I’ve made it,” says Lauren.

Get the Appliances That Make Life Easier

Toward the end of the reno, the Simons splurged big: all new appliances. “The fridge that was there before stuck out into the hallway. It was so deep,” recalls Robby. The challenge wasn’t landing on what brand to buy (they loved LG’s streamlined look and reasonable price point) but rather getting the appliances into the house. The oven and refrigerator were at least 300 pounds and required the help of five other people. 

Once they were in the kitchen, Robby handled all the hookups (his friend told him about Plumber’s Putty, a waterproof seal that turned out to be necessary for installing the oven). “The stove is crazy…you knock on it and a light turns on,” says Robby, “and the fridge makes regular ice, crushed ice, and whiskey balls.” After a two-year reno, a chilled cocktail is a welcome reward. 

The post Pink Walls and Black IKEA Cabinets Helped This Couple Love Their Galley Kitchen appeared first on domino.

A solid oak island topped with a 78-inch-long slab of Agaria marble and tricked out with a hidden garbage bin and counter stool seating now sits at the heart of Emily Henderson’s client’s kitchen. It looks as custom as it sounds, but the catch is, it’s actually not. The piece is a brand-new offering from Crate & Barrel, which just launched its first-ever home renovation collection. The line features ready-made kitchen islands ranging from a $999 French country–inspired piece to Henderson’s $4,999 pick, but also encompasses bathroom vanities, medicine cabinets, hardware, and lighting fixtures. 

“So many people come to us saying, ‘We don’t need to demo our entire cabinetry runs, we just want to update them to make them look better,’” says Henderson, “and in many cases that goes with the island.” In her latest client’s case, there was no previously existing island—just a dining table. But with two young boys in the house, they needed their setup to work a little harder, both from a dining and storage perspective. 

Henderson focused on low-lift changes she could make in their six-week time frame, including replacing some of the upper cabinets with floating shelves, painting the cabinetry, swapping out the lighting, and covering the ceiling in paneling. Then they ordered Crate’s aforementioned Terra island. 

Terra 78-Inch Marble Top and Natural Oak Wood Kitchen Island

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Terra 78″ Marble Top and Natural Oak Wood Kitchen Island with Storage, Crate & Barrel ($4,999)

“It has the most beautiful stone on top, which we were very floored by because you think, it’s coming off a truck from a retailer,” says Henderson. “I didn’t expect it to be as big.” There was no assembly required on her part—the delivery people placed it in the space for them and scooted it around until it was exactly where they wanted it. The only items that call for hiring a professional are the bathroom vanities (a plumber will have to set up the water connection with the sink). “But other than that, it’s assembled and ready to go,” notes Crate & Barrel senior vice president and head of design Sebastian Brauer.

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Basque 56″ Light Brown Solid Wood Kitchen Island with Storage, Crate & Barrel ($999)

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Tate 60″ Black Granite Top Double Sink Vanity with Walnut Wood Doors, Crate & Barrel ($2,899)

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Edge Brass Arch Medicine Cabinet, Crate & Barrel ($379)

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Batten 84″ Natural Oak Wood Kitchen Island with Storage, Crate & Barrel ($3,999)

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The post Crate & Barrel’s Newest Line Makes No-Demo Renos Look Totally Custom appeared first on domino.

Picture this: You’re house hunting and you’ve toured so many listings that you see your real-estate agent more than your family. You’re exhausted. Feeling defeated. If the next one isn’t “the one,” you’re done. But you step inside, take a look around, and instantly know you’ve found home. Only thing is, there’s a floor-to-ceiling eyesore smack-dab in the middle of your would-be-perfect future. The worst thing about structural columns is the fact that they’re absolutely necessary, but with a dash of creativity (and a trustworthy contractor), these pillars don’t have to be a pain. Follow the lead of these renovators and learn how to embrace a little extra support. 

Create a Corner Island 

Philipp and Kit von Dalwig, the husband-and-wife team behind Von Dalwig Architecture, had two choices: Disguise the concrete post among drywall and popcorn ceilings or literally work around it. They knocked down the surrounding walls and surrounded the concrete post with a Pietra Cardosa countertop. With no sink or cooktop integrated within, it’s not your typical island, but the three sides offer plenty of space to gather, and the fourth serves up shelving for cookbooks and dishes.

Extend Your Open Shelving

Tara Mangini and Percy Bright of Jersey Ice Cream Co. knew this column was going to interfere with the kitchen of this SoHo workspace, but that didn’t deter them. “We wanted to showcase it instead of boxing it up with some drywall,” Mangini says. They used it as an opportunity to create an open shelving moment that extends past the cabinets—and right through the pole. 

Let It Shine

Renters are used to dealing with a number of issues, like the ubiquitous boob lighting and, in this case, an immovable column in a far corner. Queens-based designer Alvin Wayne made the most of the structural pillar (and solved the lighting issue) by mounting an articulating sconce halfway up. He finished the corner with a custom marble-topped table that perfectly fits around the curves.

Bring Something to the Table

The steel support in this New York City loft was essential for holding up the timber beams overhead, but its placement in the open space between the living area and kitchen was less than ideal. The team at Studio Todd Raymond came up with the idea of turning it into the off-center base of what’s now the dining table. A fluted wood wrap and mounted sconce infuse mealtime with extra warmth in the industrial space.

Make It (Almost) Disappear

When Elina Mussakulova, cofounder of Sdelaemremont.kz Interior Bureau, proposed wrapping the structural eyesore in this Kazakhstan apartment in mirrors, her client shut it down. “She didn’t want her home to look like a restaurant,” says Mussakulova. To make the column as homey as possible, the designer used long strips of rectangular reflective panels on every side. The sculptural result looks more like it belongs in an art studio than at an eatery.

The post Structural Columns Don’t Have to Get in the Way: These 5 Designs Prove It appeared first on domino.

Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum, the designer couple better known as the Brownstone Boys, usually have a heat gun and metal putty knife at the ready on the first day of a brownstone renovation. But their latest Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, remodel didn’t call for the exhaustive varnish stripping technique they’ve come to perfect over the years. This three-story space, owned by young couple Taylor and Moore, had wood bones in pretty solid condition. “We were even able to save the original floors, which is one of the coolest features,” says Bordelon, who also served as the pair’s real-estate agent at the beginning of the process.

Moore and Taylor struck gold once more when they realized they’d be able to save money by living on the ground floor while the construction took place (a perk given they were expecting their first child, Harry, at the time). So after giving the garden-level kitchen and bathroom a light touch-up, Slocum and Bordelon got to work on the top two floors. Ahead, the designers reveal the new (and sort-of-new) updates. 

Some Things New

First up: add a kitchen on the main parlor level where there previously wasn’t one. Slocum and Bordelon started with a product they swear by (Semihandmade’s paintable DIY Shaker cabinets) in their favorite neutral hue (Shaded White by Farrow & Ball). “We’ve used it several times—it’s this creamy shade of white that also has some gray tones,” explains Bordelon. The vent hood is another signature Brownstone Boys move: It’s just a simple drywall box with a 2-inch radius corner bead that’s painted the same color as the walls. They kept the silhouette going in the adjacent dining area in the form of custom open shelves built by Brooklyn Builders Collective.

“The tricky thing about designing a brownstone is that they are long and narrow,” notes Slocum. “You always need additional storage.” So the designers also snuck in hidden cabinets underneath the island that are only 15 inches deep but just big enough for holding rarely used appliances. For something totally fresh, they sourced the pendant lights hanging above from Taylor’s ceramist mother. The rust shades pair perfectly with the Paonazzo stone counters, which sport subtle flecks of brown-gray. 

When it came to the primary bathroom, the designers drew on the clients’ past experiences rather than their own. “Moore is originally from California; Taylor is from Australia; and they spent a lot of time in North Carolina together, so there’s coastal things happening in that space,” notes Slocum. While the pinkish terracotta Roman Clay backdrop behind the tub was a bespoke touch, the slatted white vanity is an off-the-shelf piece (it’s from Signature Hardware).

Some Things Borrowed

In true restorer fashion, the designers had to do some outsourcing for elements that were likely a part of the house when it was built in the 1800s but had since been removed at some point. The big missing piece? Fireplace mantels. Just when Bordelon and Slocum had proposed the idea of buying marble surrounds new, they got an Instagram DM from someone in New Jersey who was doing a remodel and had just what they were looking for. “We’ve become kind of known for always wanting marble fireplaces,” says Slocum. “It was just at the right time.”

Some Things Old

While the home’s original staircase was in good enough condition to keep, the designers gave it a glow-up by painting it Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams and covering the steps with a one-of-a-kind runner. Taylor collected a bunch of Moroccan rugs, which they eventually had sewn together to make a long stretch of carpet. 

A skylight on the top floor was another existing detail worth salvaging—with a few strategic tweaks. Previously it was a 2-by-2-foot interior shaft with windows flanking it on multiple sides (back in the day, it would have provided natural ventilation for the bathroom). Nixing those extra panes made it possible to build a shower stall there instead. “We were able to reclaim that space, and then the skylight that was at the top of the shaft just looked onto the shower,” shares Bordelon. Taking full advantage of the sun-drenched corner, they opted for a moody, two-tone look using Zia Tile’s 4-by-4-inch zellige tiles in Tidepool and Aegean—a perfect marriage.

The post How These Pro Renovators Avoided Stripping Any Wood During This Brownstone Remodel appeared first on domino.