Interior Affairs: Therapy session
Q&A | A chat with Janel Laban of the home decor blog Apartment Therapy
What used to be considered an irrelevant hobby has become a network of media powerhouses in recent years. Bloggers are writing about everything from Barack Obama to the best place to get a hot dog -- and people are paying attention more than ever before.
When it comes to home dΓ©cor, there is no shortage of "design experts" claiming to have the best blog on the block, and sometimes it's difficult to sort through the muck. But one site has been on top of its game since 2004: Apartment Therapy.
Janel Laban helped launch the blog Apartment Therapy: Chicago 2006. This space has been featured on the site.
Other interior design-based blogs worth a click or two:
Swissmiss: http://swissmiss.typepad.com. "Thoughts and finds from a Swiss designer gone NYC."
Bloesem: www.bloesem.blogs.com, Irene Hoofs writes about things that make her "happy, smile, and enjoy life."
Happy Mundane: http://happymundane.blogspot.com, Apartment Therapy: Los Angeles writer Jon says, "There's beauty in your dishsoap."
Apartment Therapy is dedicated to making the lives of renters more beautiful. The site has chapters in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, giving readers everything from cleaning tips to photo tours of hip apartments in their region.
Janel Laban, a co-editor of the Chicago site, helped launch Apartment Therapy: Chicago in 2006, and consistently updates the site with fresh decorating ideas, cheap furniture finds and swoon-worthy house tours.
We had a chat with Janel via e-mail while she is busy prepping for the grand finale of Apartment Therapy's fourth annual "Small Cool" contest (details at www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago).
Q. Have you always been interested in interior decorating?
A. Yes, but what really resonates with me about Apartment Therapy is the focus on balanced living, making your home beautiful, but also organized and healthy. My family lives in a small space in the city. We ride bikes (or the El) instead of owning a car and try to shop locally, so the urban, eco-friendly slant to the blog also really appeals to me.
Q. What is your favorite thing about working for AT: Chicago?
A. Sharing the amazing homes of regular Chicagoans with the world through our House Tour posts. The House Tour section of the site is very popular because, through our slide shows, we are able to show how people really live and decorate; from small apartments to big lofts, from budget to luxe, it is all there and all very inspiring. The feature has become so popular that Chronicle recently published a book of our tours called Apartment Therapy Presents..., which includes 40 homes of real people from across the country, many of them from Chicago.
Q. What sets Chicago apart from other cities design-wise?
A. I think Chicago is the perfect mix of things. We have all the benefits of big city life -- the architecture, events, access to good design (great shops and showrooms) and culture (fantastic museums and galleries) -- mixed with an ever-growing focus on green living, a real Midwestern friendliness and a respect for DIY culture, the work ethic and sticking to a budget.
Q. What are some of your favorite Chicago stores or designers?
A. Some great Chicago resources: Jayson Home & Garden, Sprout Home, Luminaire and Art Effect for new items. Wright Auction House, Patina, Pegboard Modern, Scout and Pavilion for vintage. I also am a fan of the weekend Antique Market on Randolph from May through October.
Q. Apartment Therapy seems to be getting more popular in terms of readers and advertisers. What do you think sets it apart from other design blogs?
A. I think our readers know that we aim to create a community of people who love their homes and care about design. We are not just about the "stuff," we also present ideas, resources and inspiration. Anytime you visit the site, we'll be blogging good ideas for the home. Our goal is to be inspiring, helpful, practical and entertaining every day.
Hang out with Apartment Therapy readers and workers at their "Small Cool" grand finale party, Thursday at Room and Board, 55 E. Ohio. For RSVP info: www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago. Judges will select a winner from the contest and give out $10,000 in prizes to those with the sassiest small space.
