Sarah Everett

Assistant Editor of Home Projects at Apartment Therapy

Brooklyn, NY

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 Assistant Editor of Home Projects, 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.
Before & After: the “3-4-5” Decorating Rule That Transforms This Dark Kitchen
It's perfect for maximalists!
Sep 18, 2024
Before & After: Dark Green Cabinets Make All the Difference in This Dramatic Kitchen Makeover
“I love the green and pink color palette,” the homeowner says on Instagram. “In fact, I’d it picked out loooong before we ever got the keys to this house.”
Sep 18, 2024
B&A: Gorgeous Wallpaper Instantly Brightens a “Dull, Boring" Breakfast Nook
The upgrade adds color and drama but still feels bright and cheery.
Sep 15, 2024
Before and After: An Early 2000s Kitchen Gets a New Look for $1,000
This refresh happened without any demo!
Aug 22, 2023
The Under-$200 Makeover That Transformed My Tiny Kitchen (the Oak Cabinets Look So Much Better!)
It’s possible to make rental brown cabinets look chic.
Aug 28, 2024
Before and After: A Dark and Dated Kitchen Gets a Fresh New Look for $2500
"I’m most proud that we did this all ourselves and saved so much money!" says homeowner Astin Hancock.
May 5, 2024
This Stunning Under-$100 Kitchen Makeover Was Done in Just 5 Days
The project brings the outdoors in.
Aug 18, 2024
A “Dated” Kitchen’s $2,400 Makeover Helps the Cabinets Look Brand-New
See this space go dark (in the best way).
Aug 17, 2024
B&A: Gorgeous Wallpaper Instantly Brightens a “Dull, Boring" Breakfast Nook
The upgrade adds color and drama but still feels bright and cheery.
Jul 28, 2024
Before & After: This “Grimy” Balcony Makeover Transforms into the Most Gorgeous Summer Oasis (for Only $2,000!)
“Wiping away literal years of city dust and grime was an immediate improvement,” the renter says.
Jun 30, 2024
This $450 Rental Kitchen Transformation Has "Main Character" Energy
This transformation brought a cold kitchen to life.
Jun 1, 2024
This Maximalist Kitchen Makeover Features a Clever $8 Cabinet Hack
“I hope this project is a great demonstration of what can be achieved with paint and pattern,” the homeowner says.
May 28, 2024
B&A: $800 DIY Built-ins Give Purpose to This Empty Dining Room Corner
The cabinets may be new, but they’re designed to fit in with the architectural details of this 1926 home.
May 1, 2024
See an Awkward Dining Nook Transformed with Rich Brown Paint (and More!)
“This sun-soaked nook has lived MANY lives,” the homeowner says.
Apr 15, 2024
A Kitchen’s Major Transformation Is a Functional “Dream Come True”
Every design element factors in day-to-day use.
Apr 12, 2024
A “Modern Meets Vintage” Kitchen Makeover Saves Big on Luxe Cabinetry
The “after” makes 300 square feet feel massive, thanks to smart cabinetry, color choices, and more.
Mar 22, 2024
Before & After: Chocolate Brown ’90s Cabinets Get a Gorgeous Update in This Budget Kitchen Redo
Find two ways to fake the look of expensive marble herein.
Mar 21, 2024
Black Paint Transforms Dated '90s Cabinets in a Daring Kitchen Redo
Black cabinets are still neutral — but seriously high-impact.
Mar 18, 2024
A Red-Carpeted Kitchen Looks Unrecognizable After a DIY Makeover
“There were decades' worth of stains in the carpet,” the DIYer says.
Mar 9, 2024
A Loft Kitchen’s Refresh Adds Storage — And a Warmer Style
The after is industrial, but not too industrial.
Oct 5, 2023
A Dated ‘90s Kitchen Gets a Low-Cost Redo with “Parisian Cafe Vibes”
The “after” feels fresh and lively.
Oct 5, 2023
Before & After: A 2001 Kitchen Gets an Impressive Makeover (Without Removing the Cabinets!)
Proof that a coat of paint can transform a space.
Sep 23, 2023
Before & After: A Coat of Paint Was All These Kitchen Cabinets Needed to Look New Again
The process was straightforward, but time-consuming.
Sep 22, 2023
Before and After: IKEA Cabinets Transform This ’90s Kitchen into a Sleek, Modern Space
Complete with an appliance garage!
Sep 20, 2023
Before and After: A Dark and Dated Kitchen Gets a Fresh New Look for $2500
"I’m most proud that we did this all ourselves and saved so much money!" says homeowner Astin Hancock.
Aug 19, 2023
Before and After: A Small NYC Kitchen’s $3,600 Redo Has Smart Takeaways for Renters
Small-space tips and renter-friendly advice incoming!
Jun 29, 2023
Before and After: This 20-Year-Old Kitchen Gets a Wonderful Redo with a Surprising Paint Color
This $7,000 kitchen redo makes a 20-year-old kitchen modern and colorful.
May 22, 2023
Before and After: A 1930s Kitchen Gets a Budget-Friendly “In-the-Meantime” Refresh for $200
“The budget for this kitchen refresh was really to spend as little as possible,” this DIYer says.
May 20, 2023
Before and After: These 5 Redos Transform Dated Wood Kitchens — Without Refinishing the Cabinets
This one’s for all the renters and early 2000s homeowners with oak cabinets out there. You won’t find any paint here!
May 18, 2023
Before and After: This DIY Banquette Totally Transformed an Unused Nook
And it all came together with $300.
Apr 14, 2023
Before and After: This $550 Closet DIY Swapped Out Wire Shelves for a Stylish Alternative
"I love that I am now able to display those items that I may not use every day, but are still pretty enough to leave out."
Apr 13, 2023
Before and After: This $3,600 Kitchen Redo Offers Smart Takeaways for Renters
"Everyone who comes over comments on how they feel so calm and zen-like in the space, and it's truly become an oasis and escape from the city."
Feb 22, 2023
Before and After: A $5,000 Redo Gives This Kitchen More Storage, Light, and Charm
The space is visually more impactful, has more storage, and functions better for her family.
Feb 14, 2023
Before and After: Creative, Budget-Savvy Renters Pulled off This Dramatic Kitchen Redo
"We got the OK to make improvements, as long as they were on our own dime, and we decided to go for it rather than signing on for higher rent in a different place."
Feb 13, 2023