apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

NPR reporter Mark Wheat names the top ten songs of 2009 that reflect on the concept of home. Mark Wheat's song choices reflect his British roots and his adopted home of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Do you have songs that mean "home" to you?

Artist Brian Petro has long kept his art studio separate from his home. Brian works in both traditional media (paint, charcoal, wood) and found objects and ephemera like old passports, bills, and suitcases. Click through to take a mini-tour of Brian's Lower East Side art studio.

With party season in full swing, we're wondering how you feel about parties with themes. Does it make a difference if the event raises money for charities? Do you enjoy dressing up for costume parties or resent any forced dress codes? Tell us below the jump.

Last week we blogged about the White House state dinner and the reality-TV wannabe couple who crashed it! Have uninvited guests crashed one of your parties? How did you deal with the crashers? Tell us below the jump.

It seems like every weekend part of the city — or at least a major street — is shut down for a parade. The biggest parade of the year happens tomorrow. Do you attend or watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade? Is it part of your holiday tradition?

Business Week reports that tenants in green buildings have fewer sick days and better health. Several studies found that LEED-certified buildings had healthier tenants and lower vacancy rates. Is your home or office in a green building?

I'm heading down to Miami next week for Art Basel Miami Beach — the largest art fair in North America. I'm already having difficulty choosing from the many fairs and events, and so I'm asking for your advice. Have you been to Art Basel Miami Beach? What are your recommendations for must-see exhibitions and events?

The November issue of Cote Paris magazine features a beautiful loft apartment in the middle of Paris. Brightly colored accents - including tiles and furniture pieces- dot the family home. Interesting artwork is prominently displayed in each room of the house.

Time Out New York magazine features artist Este Lewis' homemade curtains. — she sewed 200 tea bags together to make a window curtain. Do you like the result?

Living in New York city, we're all too aware that people can see in to our apartment. We've developed a new appreciation for Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 movie Rear Window, in which an injured photographer learns his neighbors secrets by watching them from his Greenwich Village apartment. What's the view from your window? Can you see into your neighbor's homes? Take our survey below the jump.

We recently visited the fantastic multimedia exhibition "Bauhaus: 1919-1938: Workshops for Modernity" at The Museum of Modern Art. The Bauhaus school was only open for 14 years but has been influential in art, design, and architecture. Click through to see some of our favorite pieces from the exhibition.

Last week we showed you the repurposed vinyl record home products made by Hamburg design store Lockeneloet. Book hooks — made from old books and wall hooks — are another popular product made by Lockeneloet.