Our TeamSarah Everett

Sarah Everett

I cover Before & Afters, DIYs, home projects, and design trends.Brooklyn, NYKeep up with me on Apartment Therapy

About Me

I’m from Columbia, Missouri, a journalism town (okay, technically a college town with a big journalism school). It’s also home to one of my favorite things: True/False Film Fest, an international documentary festival. So I’ve been inspired by journalism/journalists/nonfiction storytelling for, I think, forever?

I have an MA and BA in journalism from the University of Missouri and Belmont University, respectively. While in school, I worked for city magazines (and also started working part-time for AT!). I learned to love clever, voicey content that’s helpful, whether it’s recommending something to watch or read, helping you get involved in your community, or helping you decorate your home.

As Home Projects Editor, I cover DIY and design, and I organize the Before & After series. (If you’ve done a cool project, please send it to me!) Outside of work, I love doing the crossword, chatting with friends, drinking iced lattes, and going on little walks and sometimes longer runs. If there were a job that combined those things, I would do that. But for now, I'll do the next-best thing, where I pretty much do chat with friends, read, drink lattes, and go on little walks — with lots of writing, editing, and looking at cool homes mixed in.

My pronouns

she/her/hers

My education

Belmont University (BA in Journalism), University of Missouri (MA in Journalism)


Latest Stories

Renter-Friendly DIYs Transformed This NYC Balcony into a Lush Oasis
“Wiping away literal years of city dust and grime was an immediate improvement,” the renter says.
2 days ago
A Blank Stairwell Became the Most Magical Room in the House
Home Projects
"This is my happy place!" the DIYer says of the "after."
3 days ago
This Boring Backyard Corner Became a Gardener’s Dream
The potting table and raised garden beds create the perfect setup.
Jul 20, 2026
Before and After: This Renter-Friendly Privacy Hack Completely Changed Her Porch
See how layering textures and patterns — plus adding plants — transformed this porch in a renter-friendly way.
Jul 17, 2026
3 Retro Landscaping Trends That Are Making a Comeback Today
They make your home's curb appeal soar.
Jul 16, 2026
Before and After: IKEA Tiles and a Bright Blue Paint Made This Balcony Unrecognizable
Renters and owners with small balconies: This one's for you! "I feel like I am escaping the city and have a relaxing space away from the hustle down below," this DIYer says of her redo.
Jul 15, 2026
I Didn’t Think Wallpaper Could Change a Room This Much
There’s not a lot paint and wallpaper can’t fix, according to this DIYer.
Jul 13, 2026
Everyone Notices the Paint Color in This Living Room First
Plus, the “after” is filled with secondhand finds.
Jul 12, 2026
For $15, She Turned Basic Living Room Shelves into a Striped Focal Point
The project only took a couple of hours to complete.
Jul 10, 2026
A Full Renovation Solved the Layout Problem and Created a Dream Kitchen
The “after” is streamlined and clutter-free.
Jul 8, 2026
One Paint Swap Took This 100-Year-Old Bungalow Living Room from Bare to Cozy
“The goal was to create a warmer, more layered space,” the homeowner says.
Jul 8, 2026
A Dingy Bathroom Gets a Bright, Farmhouse Redo in 5 Days for Only $800
The whole family helped with this renovation!
Jul 6, 2026
A Kitchen Got a Smarter and Brighter Layout Thanks to a Catchall Mudroom
This redo sacrifices a less-than-functional mudroom, with gorgeous results.
Apr 28, 2021
26 Brilliant Ways to Create Custom Desks with IKEA Finds
Including PAX, HEMNES and other IKEA superstars.
Jul 4, 2026
She Kept the Original Wood Paneling, and the Living Room Feels Cozy
There's no paint on the cabinets — but there is paint in another unexpected space.
Jul 1, 2026
She Created the Ultimate IKEA Toy Storage — Her Basement Is Clutter-Free
"There are still a few stray big toy items that cannot fit in the drawers or cabinets, but overall it has the perfect mix of functionality, open space, and design I was craving," the homeowner says of the "After."
Jun 30, 2026
A 2010 Basement Bathroom Got a Calm and Modern Shower Redo
HOME PROJECTS
The new tile shower is a total game-changer.
Jun 28, 2026
Their Stained Galley Kitchen Got a Black and White Budget-Friendly Redo
"You can do big things with a small budget!" this homeowner says of her 100% DIYed new kitchen.
Jun 26, 2026
Their DIY Wall Mural Saved This Yellow and Stained Guest Bathroom
Fresh paint, new brass hardware, and a geometric wall mural give this main-level bathroom a new lease on life — and all at an affordable price.
Jun 24, 2026
An IKEA HEMNES Shoe Cabinet Got a Shaker-Style DIY Redo for $130
"People can’t believe it’s IKEA," this DIYer says of her expensive-looking "after."
Jun 22, 2026
This Living Room’s Fireplace Now Has a Dream Built-In Thanks to an IKEA BILLY Hack
HOME PROJECTS
The new scalloped shelving is a must-see!
Jun 19, 2026
An Unexpected Paint Color Took this Artist’s Living Room from Gloomy to Cozy
The new color combos in the "after" are bold and unexpected but well-reasoned and well-executed.
Jun 18, 2026
A Dark and Awkward Kitchen Got a Colorful Vintage-Inspired Redo
HOME PROJECTS
The new terracotta-and-blue color scheme is like instant sunshine.
Jun 17, 2026
A Pepto Bismol Pink Kid’s Bedroom Got a Fun, Modern Redo
HOME PROJECTS
An aunt created a brand-new, totally cute and chic bedroom for her niece that can change as her style and interests change.
Jun 16, 2026
A Beige, Water-Damaged Bathroom Is Now Modern and Functional Thanks to Easy DIYs
HOME PROJECTS
New tile (and paint that looks like tile) completely transform this once-dated space.
Jun 15, 2026
Thrift Finds Starting at $1 Completely Transformed this ’80s Kitchen
Goodbye, blue laminate countertops from the '80s.
Jun 14, 2026
A Windowless Bathroom Got an “Open and Airy” Redo That’s Actually Functional
This redo's full of room-brightening tips worth stealing.
Jun 14, 2026
An “Unusable and Overgrown” Yard Got a Dreamy Patio Redo with DIY Furniture
HOME PROJECTS
"I love how it truly feels like an outdoor extension of our home," the homeowner says.
Jun 13, 2026
Her Paint DIY Completely Redid the Unfunctional Bathroom — It Looks Like Wallpaper
This bathroom has the ultimate DIY solutions for concealing ugly tile.
Jun 13, 2026
4 IKEA Finds and 1 Paint Color Completely Transformed This Living Room
HOME PROJECTS
The homeowners kept their budget under $2,300 by selling their old furniture, sourcing budget-friendly new finds, and doing some of the work themselves.
Jun 12, 2026
A 100-Year-Old Fireplace Becomes a Star In this Living Room Redo
The original Craftsman details sold this DIYer on her home, but they needed some major restoration work.
Jun 11, 2026
A Family’s Sentimental 1970s Camper Got a Second Life After a Bright Revamp
This DIYer was inspired by fond memories of the passed-down camper from when she was a child.
Jun 10, 2026
This Kitchen Felt Too Dark for Years — The Fix Was Simpler Than Expected
This kitchen may be mostly white, but it's still packed with personality.
Jun 8, 2026
A Surprising Pop of Color Brightened a Dark, Dull Dining Room
"My three goals were to make the room fancy, fun, and functional, and I believe that I achieved all three," this DIYer says — the perfect trio for a formal-meets-family-friendly dining room.
Jun 7, 2026
A “Jaw-Dropping” Kitchen Redo Only Used Paint and Peel-and-Stick Paper
"I knew I wanted to give it a comfortable and practical look: modern-meets-retro," this renter says of her fun revamped kitchen.
Jun 6, 2026
A "Dated" Kitchen Got a Huge DIY Layout Overhaul
Despite knocking down a wall that changes everything about the space, this kitchen reno preserves its existing paneling and windows.
Jun 4, 2026