I’m really digging exposed raw materials lately, as evidenced by my love of this and this. I would be thrilled at the prospect of starting over with the lighting in my apartment, and if I could, I would definitely snag one of these gorgeous terracotta lamps for the kitchen. These are the first products available…
I learned my lesson the last time I wanted to buy a calendar from The Wild Unknown — you have to act quickly! They sold out almost immediately, and I was, needless to say, bummed out :( I love Kim Krans’ style of illustration, and it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love her work….
How kind of you to join me again for Upholstery Basics as we wrap up this sweet little chair! As you’ve seen from Parts One and Two, coil springs are quite a labor of love but are responsible for seats worthy of lingering. When I finished this chair, I decided it had to come home with…
This ground floor renovation of a client’s home by architect Marianne Amodio is one of my favorite large-scale Before & After projects of recent months. It reminded me that sometimes taking away some of the layers that have been added to an old home can be the best way to help an interior realize its…
This kitchen renovation from Lauren Zerbey of Chezerbey proves a very valuable design lesson in my mind: “All-white” does not always necessarily mean “all-light.” The decision to vault these ceilings and add a sky light must have been a huge commitment, even for a couple of architects, but it completely opened up and lightened this…
I like to consider myself a big-picture thinker, and if I had the chance to makeover a room, I’d like to think I would consider all possibilities and think creatively about the space. But I can honestly say that I usually just assume the ceilings are non-negotiable. Whoops. Projects like this living room redesign by…
Sometimes I wonder if my inner child will ever grow up. I’m always drawn to things meant for children and sometimes have to remind myself that I’m 30 and probably shouldn’t be buying clothing or art for kids. But every now and then a design comes along that has the “childlike” feel that I love…
Good morning guys! Amy and I are about to hop on a plane to Dallas but I wanted to share some fun news really quickly. The first update is that we’re going to be on The Nate Berkus Show today! Nate was kind enough to have me back on the show to talk about Design*Sponge…
I’ve been a bit of an Etsy fiend lately, but just to browse. Must keep the impulse purchases to a minimum! If there were one item to break my savings streak, however, it’s this gorgeous painted plate by London-based artist Natasha Newton of The Blackbird Sings. The grain of the sycamore wood sets off the…
We grew up in a family of readers, and our mother saves every book she’s ever read. She has bookshelves everywhere, books stacked on the floor and a constant towering pile next to her bed. We got inspired to start organizing our own book collections, and came up with this idea when we found old…
We are so excited to head back to the West Coast for another event in California! I’ve never been to San Diego, so I’m excited to fly out for a craft event and book party at West Elm. If you’re in the area and want to join us for some craftyness and lots of book…
It’s been rainy in Oakland of late; I forgot how cool and crisp it can get here during the fall and winter rainy season. I’ve been breaking out the extra layers and lighting candles the past few days, and I’ve been wanting to find a fun and cozy project I could work on indoors while…
I didn’t used to pay much attention to lighting, but now it’s one of my favorite fields of design. Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward strange lights, the kind that feel like art installations or bizarre antiques; it’s probably why I like these lights from Luke Lamp Co. so much. Luke works full-time during the day,…
Image above: Crafting at the Cleaners in Portland on September 25. A big thank you to Alexandra Hedin driving all the way from Seattle with a 7-week-old baby to provide us all with delicious snacks ! Grace and I have been traveling across the country for the past few weeks and wanted to share a…
Tonight I’m so excited to add an extra special surprise to our book signing and craft demo at Anderson’s Books in Naperville, IL (outside of Chicago). Shelly Leer of Mod Home Ec, who shared her sewing expertise with us in Design*Sponge at Home, was kind enough to make a custom ombre-dyed ottoman that we’ll be…
Speaking of plaid, there is a fantastic documentary about Kathleen Hanna being funded over at Kickstarter. I will never forget the first time I heard Bikini Kill. I was at an all-girls summer camp in West Virginia, and a friend made me a mix tape full of great Riot Grrrl music. After repeat listens, my…
I think Minneapolis and Chicago are starting to rub off on me. We may not get snow like this part of the country, but this cozy wool plaid bookbag seems like a good way to lug things to and from the coffee shop this winter. Just looking at plaid makes me feel warmer. You can…
I am so thrilled that our book tour includes a stop in Colorado! I have never been and am so excited to check out a part of the country I’ve never been lucky enough to spend much time in. Our book tour stop in Denver will include a craft event and book party/signing at West…
That Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a stylish movie is probably the worst kept secret in the world. Just wander the streets on Halloween, and you’re likely to bump into several Holly Golightlys along the way. But beyond the cigarette holder and pearl necklace are some pretty amazing elements that are equally deserving of iconic status….
Image above: Vintage postcard Munchen Blick vom Maximilianeum ~ Munich, Germany Today’s Munich City Guide comes from Eleanor Mayrhofer, a designer who moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Munich over 12 years ago, and Emily Wachelka, a Pennsylvania native who has lived in Munich for over six years. Eleanor lives in Munich with her husband, runs…
