apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Brian Jungen uses common, mass-produced objects to make powerful sculpture. Currently on view at The National Museum of the American Indian in DC: totem poles made of golf bags, golf balls and painted golf tees; a whale skeleton from reassembled plastic chairs, and Northwest Coast-style masks out of Nike Air Jordan basketball sneakers...

In the TV show Man Shops Globe, Anthropologie buyer Keith Johnson travels the world shopping for the store - dream job, anyone? In this week's episode he commissions a chandelier, which is later bought by President Obama for his daughters' (Sasha and Malia) White House bedroom. Can you guess its materials and country of origin? Note: the image shown here is from the same designer but not the commissioned Obama piece...

Names: Sara & Pete
Size: 5,000 square feet, including the basement apartment
Years Lived in: 10
Sara and Pete's DC rowhouse is decorated with a mix of antiques and repurposed theater props. The couple has long supported theater companies in DC — including Constellation Theatre and Woolly Mammoth — and have collected and incorporated their favorite stage props into their home.

Once a year The Studio Theatre on 14th Street in Washington, D.C. holds a Garage Sale to sell all props and costumes from the season. The annual sale has been going on for 25 years and this year we stopped by to see the goods, which included furniture, lanterns, and other items useful in the home. Do you have any former theatre props in your home? Would you use former theatre props as home decor? Take the survey and see more photos from The Studio Theatre sale...

Continuing our obsession with hoarders, we recently watched Agnes Varda's documentary film "The Gleaners and I." Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after the harvest. The film examines this long-standing rural tradition and the transformation of gleaning to urban environments. Shown here is "The Gleaners" by Jean-Francois Millet (left) - which Agnes Varda discusses in the film - and a modern interpretation of the painting made before 2001 (right). More info on "The Gleaners and I" below the jump...

We read about non-native pythons invading Florida - in the recent The New Yorker — Swamp Thing; Florida's Uninvited Predators. But we didn't think that snakes were slithering around the District — until this week. Two separate copperhead snake biting incidents were reported in Southeast DC and a venomous snake was found in the Alexandra Courthouse. Have you ever encountered a non-pet snake in the city? Do you think the snake sitings are evidence of a changing climate?

Finding parking in our U Street neighborhood is increasingly difficult, and we've been wondering more often whether it's practical to keep a car in the city. Our friends in the suburbs wouldn't dream of giving up their cars but for many DC dwellers, keeping a car is optional and depends on the availability of parking in or around their home. Do you have a car? Does your home have an assigned parking spot or garage, or do you park on the street? Do fuel costs and environmental considerations impact your decision to drive? Surveys and interesting links below the jump...

Bored with reusable bags? These new thought-provoking designs by TBWA/Vancouver certainly shake things up. The bags feature images and statements that contradict with eco-friendly practices. The idea is to get people thinking about sustainability in a funny, non-preachy way. More info below the jump...

British designer Lucy Renshaw creates colorful furniture and home accessories out of recycled fabrics and repurposed materials. In making her origin designs, Lucy Renshaw combines experimental ideas with traditional textile techniques like surface embellishment, embroidery, and screen printing. Her materials include popsicle sticks, knit fabrics, socks, and broken chair pieces...

Living in DC you can enjoy great outdoor spaces without having one of your own. Thanks to our puppy, we've been spending more time outdoors and noticing sniff-able grass and flowers everywhere. We've really grown to appreciate how DC is so beautifully lush and green. Click through to see our favorite places for enjoying nature in the city...

This stunning Arlington, Virginia house is the first Virginia home to gain LEED Platinum certification. Although it has 3,825 square feet, annual heating and cooling costs are $180 and $125 respectively. The house also has a green roof and water catchment tanks to retain rainwater...

We just got back from the fantastic Modern Embassy Walking Tour led by Dwell Magazine editor Aaron Britt. We rushed to share some photos and info with you that are hot off the [press] digital camera. The European Embassies we visited all boasted of their high environmental standards, which are tougher than the U.S. requirements. The Embassies showcase stunning "green" design and products. More photos and info below the jump...