Eleanor Busing
Apartment Therapy
United Kingdom
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Past articles by Eleanor:
Property Ladder Angst: Dealing with the Urge to Buy
The UK, my adopted home for the past eight years, has what I would call a "home ownership fixation." When I first moved here, I was perplexed when getting on the property ladder came up in conversation nearly as often as, say, tea or the weather. I'd also wager a guess that there are more reality television shows geared toward buying and renovating houses here than in any other country. → Read More
Tell Us: What's the Best Compliment Your Home has Ever Received?
A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine came round for dinner on a Friday. We'd planned to open some wine, cook a meal and commiserate about our lives. When he arrived, fresh from a day of meetings and a bike ride across rush-hour London, he made some offhand comments about his less-than-stellar day, before saying something to the effect of "But it's okay, I'm home now, so it's all good." → Read More
UK Style: 5 Particularly British Design Lessons I've Learned
I've been living in London for nearly a decade now, having moved here from Canada as a bright-eyed university graduate, in search of tea and adventure. Through my friendships and work as an interior designer (not to mention my work for Apartment Therapy— I love a good House Tour snoop), I've been lucky enough to have been invited into countless English homes over the years, from Cornwall to… → Read More
The Complete Guide to Using Vintage Furniture as a Bathroom Vanity
Move over, characterless bathroom cabinets. Step aside, pedestal sinks. There's a new look in town, one that's vintage in style but fresh in feel. Repurposing older furniture as a bathroom vanity is nothing new, but lately I've been seeing it crop up everywhere. I'm not complaining; it's a look I love, and I've noticed that my clients are increasingly asking for it, too. If you're considering… → Read More
6 Ways to Show Your Home Some Love This Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is here, so you're probably a) ignoring this ridiculous Hallmark holiday with all your might, or b) planning a celebration— be it a romantic evening a deux or a good time with friends. But why should people get all the fun? This year, consider showing a bit of love to your home too. → Read More
Galentine's Day Gifts for Your Girlfriends
Of all the joy NBC's hit show Parks and Recreation has brought us over the years, the concept of Galentine's Day might just be my favorite. After all, whether you're coupled up or attached, there's no reason to limit the lovefest that is mid-February to romance alone. Got a girlfriend (or ten) you want to celebrate with a gift this year? Here are five ideas. → Read More
Before & After: Organizing the Kitchen "Sad Drawer"
Almost every kitchen's got one. They go by different names: my old flatmate and I called ours the Drawer of Doom, and with my current one, The Sad Drawer. It's that one place in a kitchen, be it drawer, pantry shelf, or simply an unfortunate corner, that attracts random debris like nobody's business. From the actually useful (tupperware, kitchen foil) to the barely-used (madeleine pan, anyone?),… → Read More
The New Look for Painted Trim? Anything But White
For a long time now, white-painted woodwork has been de rigeur in the domestic interior, so much so that it's almost a foregone conclusion. But this is slowly changing: we've seen black woodwork popping up lately, and now greys and bold hues are making their voices heard as well. If you fancy this change but aren't sure what to go for, let this trim-spiration sourced from around the web be your… → Read More
Reducing Clutter in 2015: 3 Strategies to Adopt Now
The neat, healthy and clutter-free, home: such a lovely concept, such a hard one to actually achieve. Unfortunately, people and places come with stuff, and the longer those people live in those places, the more the stuff can really start to take over. This year, to banish clutter from your home once and for all, embrace these three basic ideas. → Read More
Beautifully Organized (& Clever!) Pantries
The well-organized pantry: for some, a far-off dream to hold dear while battling against mess. (For others, it's a far-off dream to even have a pantry.) It's a new year, so whatever space you have to work with in the kitchen, get it in gear. From walk-in wonders to slim spaces, feast your eyes on these clever pantries for some organizing inspiration. → Read More
Reduce Kitchen Clutter with One Simple Step
My kitchen windowsill is a veritable breeding ground for clutter: vases, potted herbs in various stages of death, and the ever-present soap bottles, sponge and kitchen rag behind the sink. It's this latter category that does my head in, making even a neat kitchen look messy. → Read More
Beautifully Organized: Closets
As a former fashion designer and current interior designer, I just can't get enough of beautiful walk-in closets. It's where my two design loves merge, and what I wish I could have in my current flat (unfortunately, kicking the flatmate out to let my clothes take over her room isn't really an option... also I'd miss her). Luckily, there are winners of wardrobes in all sizes, as this roundup… → Read More
How To Establish a Home Filing System (& Stick To It!)
It's a new year, and around the globe people are making that age-old promise to themselves: this is the year I finally get organized. No more drowning in paperwork, no more dining table cluttered with bills and receipts—this year it all stops. Want to know something? It can be done. A simple, user-friendly filing system is something every home should have, and is easy to set up and maintain.… → Read More
5 Must-Haves for Neat & Organized Small Spaces
Living in a small space can be wonderfully rewarding: Fewer possessions to weigh you down, carefully-chosen items that you love by necessity, and learning to live within your means. It can also be a pain in the backside, to be perfectly honest. Keeping a tiny home neat and organized takes effort, but it's achievable. Read on for five clever ways to do it. → Read More
7 Ways to Get It Right: A Fresh & Cozy Look for a New Year
So, 2015 is upon us. The dawn of a new year often makes us want to re-vamp our lives— our goals, diets, careers, and especially our homes. After packing away all the holiday décor, we're after a new feeling at home, one that's fresh and uplifting. → Read More
Looking Forward: 3 Strategies for Goal Setting in 2015
Look, I know. You've got a lot on your plate right now: last-minute gift-buying, house-decorating, party-attending (and maybe throwing), not to mention all those work projects with the same perplexing end-of-the-year deadline. And now we want you to think about your goals for next year as well?! → Read More
Dining Room Design Inspiration: Super Stylish Dining Chairs
This holiday season, I've found myself spending a lot of time online, hunting for entertaining inspiration. What usually strikes me first, between the images of greenery-strewn tables and fairy light-bedecked dining rooms, is any space that features fabulous chairs. A great chair, whether in a unique shape or bold colour, can steal focus like nothing else. Check out some of our favorites below. → Read More
Relax: 3 Things Your Guests Don't Care About (And 3 That They Do!)
We all set ourselves high expectations occasionally: to be the best we can be, to put our best foot forward, to try our best, etc. But when it comes to a party, that kind of "best"-focused thinking can be counter-productive. In preparation for the holiday season, here are three things that you can Stop Worrying About Now, and three that you might want to focus your energies on. → Read More
Holiday Decorating: Festive Fairy Lights
It's holiday party season, and we're looking forward to welcoming friends and family into our homes to celebrate. One of the best ways to decorate for holiday parties is with that good old standby, white fairy lights. The soft glow immediately creates a cozy ambiance and makes any space feel more inviting. Here are a few idea on how to use fairy lights at your next gathering. → Read More
Get a Dark Fix: Black Hardware Inspiration
Move over, un-lacquered brass. Take a back seat, copper. There's a new metal shade in town. These days, I just can't get enough of matte black ironmongery. I dream about buying a home and covering every possible bit of hardware with this long-loved hue. From hinges and door handles to cabinet pulls and taps, whether through a dark bronze finish or powder-coating, black metal is having a moment. → Read More