This 2,500-square-foot NYC home is filled with playful wallpaper and serene colors {issue 62}

Plus, two things realtors say you should never do in a kid's room.

December 9, 2021 No. 62 The season of giving is in full swing, but we can't forget to treat ourselves too. This could mean a long bath with zero interruptions, a brisk walk with a friend, or some little luxuries in your stocking. Whichever mode of self care you choose, find some tenderness for yourself this season. — Thao     This 2,500-Square-Foot NYC Home Is Filled with Playful Wallpaper and Serene Colors After some two years of renovations on their 2,500-square-foot home on the Upper West Side of New York City, Neha Ruch, her husband Dan, and their two children, Bode, now 5, and Lyla, now 3, were just settling in as a state of emergency was shutting the city down.   Fortunately, during the design process, the couple had been incredibly deliberate about creating an airy, circular flow about their new home. The strategy paid off: A kitchen at the center balanced by a quiet wing of bedrooms on one side and communal rooms chock-full of family-friendly furniture, materials, and designated play areas on the other. read more > ask a pediatrician Dr. Hoshino suggests the best ways to combat kids' anxiety and phobias in her latest column.     live     These Christmas-Decorated Hotels Are Utterly Magical — Here's How to Get the Look in Your Own Home We rounded up the most festive and glam hotels to steal some decoration inspo for you. read more >     Two Things These Realtors Say You Should Never Do in a Kids Room These two mistakes can make or break a home sale. read more > eat     I Tried Love & Lemons' Creamy Tomato Soup and the Secret Ingredient Is a Total Winner It's so rich and comforting — and the unexpected ingredient adds a creamy, protein-packed punch. read more >     Homemade Nut Butter Is So Quick and Easy — And It's Endlessly Customizable Too! Save tons of money with this wholesome staple. (Try the chocolate version for an extra-special lunchtime treat!) read more > play     The Cool, Personalized Christmas Stocking You Can Make from Recycled Jeans This is also a super-fun holiday activity with kids. read more >     Our Kids Reveal the Best Gift They Have Ever Received From the coolest Nintendo Switch accessory to a rideable unicorn on wheels, these littles give you the inside scoop on their favorite gifts. read more > cubby finds: smile time magazine file spatulas bath mat storage tower ask maxwell My Father's House — 1966 When my parents split up, my father got to keep the big, old country house on Dunemere Lane in East Hampton. It had really always been his because it was his dream house and Bill Hearst had convinced him to buy it the week I was born. It was a warm April week in 1966 when they brought me home from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital where my dad also worked.  read more > Maxwell Ryan is a father and was an elementary school teacher in NYC before founding Apartment Therapy. He'd love to answer your question: askmaxwell@cubbyathome.com ( trust us ) Dream job Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences  View this email in your browser  Apartment Therapy is full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home. If we've inspired you, we may receive a share of purchases made through this email. Apartment Therapy Media 270 Lafayette Street, Suite 1300 New York, NY 10013 ABOUT | CONTACT US | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE