Design*Sponge

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

September, 2011

Thursday September 22nd, 2011

before and after by Kate Pruitt 41

before & after: three chair makeovers

We had a bevy of chair projects in our inbox, so I thought, why not share another trio of cool chair makeovers? The first one comes from Chyanne, who spotted this chair with an unusual back (and yucky upholstery) at a garage sale. After a heavy dose of sanding, staining and reupholstery, she wound up…

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 20

willow ship

One of the weird things about running a design blog is that I actually buy very few design products, mostly because, for some reason, writing about something feels pretty close to living with something. I spend time looking at a product, editing images of it, thinking about what I’ll write and what I’d do with…

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 20

the flower and the wall

Wall murals have never been my go-to for decorating, but they’re slowly starting to grow on me. If I’m lucky enough to have children in my home one day, I plan on hiring Jen Corace to create a full ceiling-to-floor mural of woodland animals and children. To me, her work has always been the perfect…

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 11

bonbi forest by lee may foster

Apparently, my reputation as a serious cat lady precedes me. One of the funniest things that kept happening at last week’s book tour events was people coming up to me to show me pictures of their cats. One very kind crafter in Boston even made me a stuffed animal that looked just like Turk. I’m…

Read More »

Wednesday September 21st, 2011

diy, diy projects, sewing 101 by Brett 25

sewing 101: electronics sleeve

opener option A

It’s really starting to feel like fall, and whether or not that means back to school for you, fall always seems to mean new supplies. Don’t forget your electronics this season, so you can whip up a cozy little wool sleeve for your laptop or tablet! In this project, you’ll learn how to install a…

Read More »

artwork, products by Grace Bonney 12

lucy engelman

We’re heading back to Portland this weekend to start the West Coast leg of the book tour, and these drawings remind me of my summer there. I love the way Lucy Engelman’s watercolor illustrations feel like the last remnants of summer walks through the forest. Each one is like a tiny world trapped in glass….

Read More »

products by Grace Bonney 12

christine wisnieski

There are few things cuter than a petite paper skillet. Okay, maybe petite paper eggs and bacon (or chocolate chip pancakes — yum) to go on it? Sold. These greetings were designed by Christine Wisnieski, a Cleveland-based graphic designer. Christine created them as a “just for fun” gift for her husband’s birthday. I love sweet…

Read More »

Tuesday September 20th, 2011

amy merrick, living in by amym 22

living in: manhattan

Nothing in the whole world of art, music, literature, film, tv or whatever else you can think of to add to this list will make your heart swell for New York City like the first 3 minutes of Woody Allen’s Manhattan. Okay so maybe the Jay Z song did it for the first listen, then…

Read More »

biz ladies by Stephanie 29

biz ladies: bookkeeping 101

Today’s Biz Ladies post comes to us from Design*Sponge’s very own bookkeeper, Mandy Miller. With more than 10 years of financial experience, Mandy has assisted businesses in establishing budgets and maintaining financial accounts. Today, she offers some of her extensive knowledge on the subject with a comprehensive guide to managing your business finances. Thank you,…

Read More »

city, guides by Stephanie 35

perth, australia guide

Today’s Perth City Guide is from Perth locals Jelena Maticevic and Claire Trolio. Jelena works in the medical field by day but appreciates a good coffee and loves exploring the local bars and eateries by night. Claire owns her own boutique clothing and gift store, Ruck Rover General Store, along with her sister, Isabelle. The…

Read More »

furniture, products by Grace Bonney 5

beacon collection by bark furniture

Speaking of London Design Week, bark furniture is launching a new collection called Beacon at Tent London. While I’ve been moving away from furniture with a mid-century feel in form and color palette for a while now, the chipper, friendly quality of these pieces is hard to deny. This may sound odd, but they feel…

Read More »

products, textiles by Grace Bonney 14

textile field by the bouroullec brothers

You know that game (which I’ll abbreviate here) FMK? If I was asked to play that game and the Bouroullec Brothers were involved, I would marry them every. single. time. These two brothers are hands down my favorite designers around. They have literally never designed something that I didn’t immediately love and want to either…

Read More »

Monday September 19th, 2011