Design*Sponge

Your home for all things Design. Home Tours, DIY Project, City Guides, Shopping Guides, Before & Afters and much more

July, 2011

Thursday July 7th, 2011

before and after by Kate Pruitt 46

before & after: a new backyard

We don’t get to see the actual process behind renovations very often, so this video version of a before & after in the making is a special treat. LA-based author and editor Jaime Morrison Curtis decided to decorate her porch for entertaining, lounging and making the most of summer. The already enviable porch space is…

Read More »

before and after by Kate Pruitt 38

before & after: painted dresser

There’s painted furniture, and then there’s painted furniture — pieces covered in handmade patterns that totally transform the original. This Ikat buffet by Kim Frazier is a great example of what handmade designs can add. I love the imperfections and the rich color palette Kim chose. Great job, Kim! — Kate Have a Before & After…

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 2

enamel plates

I started getting interested in enamelware last year when vintage pieces seemed to pop up in all my friends’ homes. I’d never paid much attention to enamel serving pieces before because I hadn’t seen any in person that felt fresh and clean. But these new enamel plates at Terrain are right up my alley. The…

Read More »

product by Grace Bonney 5

tabletop made

I’ve been on a serious “less is more” kick for almost a year now, and it’s managed to trickle down to every aspect of my life. From my wardrobe and home goods to my taste in cards, everything seems to feel better when it’s pared down to the basic elements. These sweet cards from Tabletop…

Read More »

Wednesday July 6th, 2011

diy, diy projects by AshleyAnn 23

diy project: woven rope pendant lamp

Not that long ago, I replaced a standard light fixture in my home with a custom pendant. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized how significantly great light fixtures can change a room. The initial intimidation of working with electricity is starting to lessen with some great pointers from my dad, and now I…

Read More »

diy, diy projects by Brenna 15

diy project: paper-bead tassels

For this project, a mix of ethnic patterns and bold colors inspired me. John Robshaw comes to mind when I think of the perfect pattern mix; his block-printed linens and patterned textiles display a fantastic combination of intricate and bold shapes and forms. My abundance of saved magazines constantly call me to reuse them for…

Read More »

music, products by Grace Bonney 5

exposed: concrete speakers

I’ll be the first to admit that I know way more about the music coming out of speakers than the speakers themselves. But maybe if I had speakers this gorgeous, I’d pay a little more attention. These concrete speakers are designed by Shmuel Linski as part of his graduation project from Shenkar College in Israel….

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 9

janet williams pottery

Over the holiday weekend, I got to spend a little time with my grandmother, who I lovingly associate with mid-century pottery. Growing up, she always had an apartment filled with beautiful pottery, including a painted Picasso bird dish (a lot like this one) that made me smile. Whenever I see pieces like the ones above…

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 5

top 30 gadgets of summer

Normally when summer rolls around, I try to stay as far away from technology as possible. The only cords and wires I want to be near in July are the ones holding up a hammock or hanging from my ears as they deliver beachy music from my headphones. But since that isn’t always an option, my…

Read More »

artwork, products by Grace Bonney 9

summer in love

For those of you looking to celebrate a new summer love (does my newfound love of short ribs count?), these recently released posters from Blacklist Studio might do the trick. Whether you’re sending a little XOXO or a heartfelt confession, the new collection has got a love note for everyone. Click here to check out…

Read More »

Tuesday July 5th, 2011

interior design, sneak peeks by anne 38

sneak peek: kelli anderson + daniel dunnam

Independent graphic designer Kelli Anderson and her user-experience/user-interface designer partner, Daniel Dunnam, both work from home, so their space is under constant scrutiny. The one-room loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was a knitting factory in a past life before being converted to apartments in the 1990s, and it provides them with great light and open space. At…

Read More »

amy merrick, living in by amym 81

living in: troop beverly hills

Last week, I was on a first date, and when the subject of favorite movies came up, I blurted out that Troop Beverly Hills was my number one. I mean, it’s not technically true, but I was nervous and must have had it on the brain thanks to this post. Take my advice — the whole…

Read More »

biz ladies by Stephanie 17

biz ladies: web design tricks to improve your brand

biz ladies: web design tricks to improve your brand

Today’s Biz Ladies post comes from Zoe Rooney, the designer behind A Quick Study, which offers design-focused brainstorming, site reviews, action plans, graphic design and WordPress-based web design. She is currently working on a set of DIY courses and tutorials that will help creative business owners develop websites that are easy to use, functional, brand-aligned…

Read More »

guides by Stephanie 27

taipei city guide

Image via Veer.com Today’s Taipei City Guide is brought to us by Catherine Shu, a California native who moved to Taipei to study Mandarin and learn more about her heritage. She had such a great time exploring the city’s alleyways and sampling the endless variations on bubble milk tea that she decided to stay. Catherine…

Read More »

color, make it yours, paint by Lauren 8

make it yours: judy kaufmann

I’m thrilled to share this week’s Make It Yours because today we’re looking into the home of Chilean illustrator Judy Kaufmann. Judy and her partner, Marc (a French sculptor), live in a modernist-architecture neighborhood in Barcelona. They love classic wood and craft-style objects, most of which they find on the street. Judy and Marc’s home…

Read More »

accessories by Grace Bonney 3

ORF > LGA

Morning guys! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend. I’m about to hop on a flight back home to Brooklyn but regular posts will resume at 9am…see you in a bit! xo, grace

Read More »

Saturday July 2nd, 2011

alissa and ryan, behind the bar, drinks, entertaining, recipes by Ryan and Alissa Walker 14

behind the bar: brian malarkey’s sage sucker

BTB_July_101

What an honor it is today to be featuring this irresistibly delectable drink by famed Top Chef Brian Malarkey.  For those of you not already familiar with Chef Malarkey’s accomplishments and numerous accolades, make sure to check out the bio below and a little information about his new restaurant, Searsucker [thanks Kristina!]. I don’t know…

Read More »

Friday July 1st, 2011

diy, weekly wrap up by Stephanie 8

weekly wrap up + july 4th diy idea

Today I’m wrapping things up early and hopping on a plane home to Virginia for the July 4th holiday. I’ll be back with regular content on Tuesday and another peek inside Design*Sponge at Home but until then I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and enjoy the celebration! Before we head off…

Read More »