FIRST APARTMENT BOOK
NASHVILLE, TN: THE COUPLE DINING ROOM
They say home is where the heart is—so what do you do when your first rental is a teensy, run-down space located in a less-than-convenient neighborhood, and your decorating budget is essentially pocket change? Whether you're a recent grad out on your own, thinking of investing in your first piece of "grown-up" furniture (a rite of passage), or a couple of novice cohabitants, The First Apartment Book, a fresh-to-shelves interiors book, aims to guide you through the process. Lifestyle expert and design wunderkind KYLE SCHUNEMAN along with writer
HEATHER SUMMERVILLE and photographer JOE SCHMELZER, traveled across the country taking on every conceivable design challenge—all while keeping budgets seriously in check. Take a tour of some of Kyle's favorite rooms (which we made shoppable, of course) as he shares his helpful tips and tricks to help you achieve the look.
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"Great architectural details are like an interior design freebie—so make sure you're taking advantage! I used the two exposed beams in the center of this loft to section off a dining room."
"When buying a rug to go under a table, pay extra attention to the width. All the legs of your chair should fit on the rug, even when pulled out from the table."
"See that light fixture? It's made from a box spring, two strands of globe lights and some hanging hardware. Get creative with your lighting. Dramatic doesn't always have to equal expensive."
"I've never met a surface that wasn't far cooler after a couple coats of chalkboard paint, and that includes this table. It wipes clean, but is so much fun at parties."
—Kyle Schuneman
