Finding a simple, modular piece of furniture that is reasonably priced but also well made can be hard sometimes. IKEA provides some decent options, but sometimes you just want something made out of beautiful, sturdy, solid wood. Thankfully, designer Silvia Song has created a great tutorial for a simple wood side table with a sliding…
Lately, I’ve been feeling similar to Grace, in that I wish I had some technical training or more extensive knowledge in the world of metals. I’m so attracted to designs that incorporate metal in interesting ways, especially ones that seem to bring a new capability to the material, such as these malleable metal bowls in…
I’ve always had a thing for crests, plaques and shields, and these 2012 calendars from The Paper Thieves really appeal to that medieval-loving side of my personality. It’s sad to see beautiful calendars go at the end of each year, so I love that these can be easily repurposed to become a permanent piece of…
If there’s a single thing that keeps me working in design, it’s that moment when you look at something for the first time and it simply takes your breath away. That’s exactly what happened when I saw these beautiful Wind Paintings from artist Bob Verschueren. Verschueren worked in the 1970s and 80s using wind to…
Amy and I are hopping on an early plane to Charleston this morning (thanks to everyone who came out to our event in Asheville last night!), but before we do, I wanted to post this pretty new chair from Hable Construction and Hickory. While I love Hable’s fun, colorful patterns, it’s good to have a…
Thanks to the Dallas Observer for this story on our Design*Sponge at Home book party in Dallas.
Practical Magic scratches the Halloween itch you might be feeling in an unexpected way. I’ll level with you, the movie is straight up 1990s rom com cheese, so light some candles and lock your man in another room. A pair of gorgeous witch sisters live in the most unbelievable rambling Victorian, casting spells and mixing…
Today’s Biz Ladies comes from the wonderful ladies at Smart Cookies, the financial expert team. In this post, Katie Dunsworth, a co-founder of Smart Cookies and owner of Spark PR, shares her personal story (and tips) of making the leap from employee to self-employed. She offers some valuable suggestions for taking your business idea to the…
Today’s Litchfield, CT, City Guide is from Jacque Schiller, a writer of kid, humor, food and travel pieces. She’s currently co-kickstarting an events and experiences venture, larks and japes, while continuing to expand her triggerhappy line of jewelry. This spring, Jacque will be making the transition from weekender to full-time resident in the Litchfield Hills with…
One of the things I’m most interested in but have the least experience with is silversmithing. I’ve long admired artisans like Miranda Meilleur who work with silver and put such a contemporary spin on such a time-honored tradition. These new pieces above and below are by David Taylor, a designer working with mixed materials —including…
Sometimes, when I find a new designer or design source, it feels like falling into a rabbit hole. First I’m digging for any information I can find, and the next thing I know, I’m tumbling deeper and deeper into Google searches and blog links that can bring me any tiny shred of information on the…
I’ve been talking a lot about Kickstarter lately because almost every week there’s a great new designer debuting a new product or line that needs a little help getting started. Yesterday, designer Shannon Guirl of Caravan Pacific debuted her new handmade lighting series, and I’m excited to donate what I can to see this series…
I sold my CD collection a little over a year ago, and since then, I’ve been at a loss for how to organize my music consumption. I’ve found some streaming sites I love, and I’ve downloaded albums here and there, but I’ve decided to make it my personal mission to find the perfect music setup…
With a creative background in art and design and years of experience working as a therapist, Jill Danyelle combined her desire to work with people with her creative passions and now does personal style and interior design, with plans to make her art and photography available online. Jill has called this small NYC apartment home…
Native New Yorker and textile designer Shelley Goldberg started working in fashion houses before moving into the realm of home design. While she often considers her work “art for the floor,” today’s peek into her Clinton Hill, Brooklyn home demonstrates how the space becomes a palette for larger design experiments. Overall, Shelley considers her aesthetic…
I must admit, I was a little surprised when I realized this home was in the hip Los Angeles neighborhood of Silverlake. It feels so old South to me, or maybe just my fantasy of an old Southern home. Jared Frank and Sam Jacober of Topsy Design are stylists, interior designers and art directors. Together,…
Artists Kirra Jamison and Dane Lovett reside in this small converted industrial warehouse in Melbourne. This is my favorite Sneak Peek to date! I love the white walls, open space and European/industrial-style décor. Pops of color are everywhere, and the abundance of sunlight and fresh plants create a lively and inspiring atmosphere. Click here to view…
I’ve been a fan of Alissia Melka-Teichroew’s work since day one, but I’ve really enjoyed her latest jewelry series, Jointed Jewels. Jewelry has always been a passion of mine, but I rarely lean toward contemporary styles. However, these pieces have taken my breath away. I love that Alissia works with traditional shapes and styles and…
Sometimes the simplest ideas can have the most powerful impact. I drove by this beautiful installation outside Cooper Union this past Friday and haven’t been able to forget it since. I’m a sucker for neons, but these pretty plastic ties (they looked like plastic from the moving car — does anyone know if they’re metal?)…
This weekend, I experienced a series of aha moments, one being that I’ve turned into a type of person that used to bug me. And that type of person is someone who uses the word “maker”. When I interviewed Mike Perry for Design by the Book in 2008, he referred to himself as a “maker.”…
