I’m cuckoo for animals (and pet products)! Having rescued my first puppy this year, I have had a blast finding out and learning about new dog products. From beds and collars to toys and home decor, I have come across some incredible animal swag. I wanted to share a few of my fave finds with…
Grace’s shopping-free gift guide really resonated with me, and I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of actually following through on making all my gifts this year. I think handmade gifts have the potential to be loved and cherished far longer than any store-bought present. This is not to say that everyone wants…
I have always thought that photography is the gift that keeps on giving. After the party is over or the moment has passed, it’s great to have a photograph to remember it by, and photo gadgets are pretty fun, too! So give the photophiles in your life a gift that keeps their passion alive. Here…
This year, I’ve been trying to avoid a few overused expressions. I have a bad habit of saying, “I’m not much of a [insert action]” as a way to shrug off laziness. But no more. I’ve started reading, walking more and eating healthier, and I’m finally seeing that it can be fun to turn over…
Since a pretty young age, I’ve been something of a stamp hoarder. When we moved at the beginning of the year, I decided to say goodbye to my secret stash and sell them off at our “yard” sale. It was pretty painful to see them go, but I was glad to have my closet back…
Post-Thanksgiving, the Design*Sponge at Home book tour is beginning to seem further away, and it’s hard to imagine that Grace and I spent nearly the entire fall (10 weeks) in airports, hotels and Starbucks (Soy Chai Tea Lattes!). The only thing that kept us going was how much fun we had at the events once…
After yesterday’s post on no-buy gift ideas, I thought it would be nice to ease into the season with a little decoration. I love holiday decorations more than gifts sometimes, so I decided to focus today’s roundup on ornaments and trimming (I’m looking for some modern Judaica today, so stay tuned for that). I got…
Casablanca is the romance to end all romances. Bergman and Bogart practically melt the screen with sadness, but for your next screening, try to focus those puppy eyes on the movie’s swoon-worthy style. Moroccan by way of the French Resistance, each scene outdoes itself in lamps, rugs, chairs, tables and arched doorways, not to mention…
Today’s Biz Ladies post comes from Karen Kobelski, general manager of BizFilings, an online incorporation provider. While we have previously covered the topic of incorporation, this post delves deeper into the details of incorporation, including the various types of incorporation you can choose from and the best location for your incorporation. Thanks, Karen, for such an…
I love it when talented designers team up to create something special. This series of tea towels and recipe cards ($38 for the set) was a joint effort from designers Leah Duncan and Sarah Wymer of Studio Slomo. Leah and Sarah chose a pattern with a southwestern feel (a nod to their roots) and a…
Sometimes I wish I could trade lives with D*S editor Anne Ditmeyer for a day. She’s one of the bravest and most talented women I know, and she’s been living in Paris long enough to fool me into thinking she’s a native Parisian. She sent over a link to photographer Sivan Askayo’s work and knew…
I’d like to consider myself pretty handy with a sewing machine, but in truth, I find the textile arts the most challenging to master. I’m slowly picking up new stitches, and when it comes to hand embroidery or crochet, I’m hopeless. However, after seeing these geometric embroidered cushions by London-based artist Sally Cram, I feel…
This is my last round of holiday gift roundups for MyLifeScoop; naturally, I saved the craziest list for last. These are the newest, fanciest, coolest tech gadgets and accessories out there. If you’ve been saving all year for yourself or someone special, you may find just the thing on this list. My favorites are the…
I spent all weekend dreading today because this morning I was supposed to finish up my first gift guide for this week. Every year I write gift guides based on price (they’re still coming tomorrow) but I started to feel less and less excited about them today because they didn’t feel like they really fit…
Naomi Stein describes her aesthetic as modern bohemian glamour. She gravitates toward an eclectic look, mixing colors, patterns and time periods. This was Naomi’s first apartment completely alone, without having to factor in a roommate or a boyfriend’s tastes, so she pushed herself to take risks with color, pattern and art. Together with her father,…
When Creative Director Rachel Been and MakeMeSustainable founder Ben Brown saw this apartment in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, they instantly fell head over heels for the loft’s exposed pipes, brick walls and 14′ high ceilings — they even loved the huge industrial-sized heater. The couple’s design choices were intended to mimic that unfinished aesthetic. They built cage…
Five years ago, garden designer Dana Frigerio, her architect husband and the family cat moved into this 1914 home located in the village of Blevio, right on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The home is opposite the famous Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, and it had special significance for Dana, as it was once her grandmother’s…
One of the things I remember most about growing up was my dad’s love of architecture. His yellow legal pads were dotted with architectural doodles that were equal parts fanciful and structural. He used to collect architectural models of all types (wood, clay, paper), and I have fond memories of home any time I see…
When I first started D*S, I felt like I had endless time to follow link after link and load websites until I fell asleep against the soft blue glow of a computer screen. This weekend I finally had a bit of time to get back on my laptop and fall into a few online rabbit…
Good morning! After a weekend full of rest and family time (and turkey), I’m ready to dive back into D*S full time. But before I get going with today’s posts, I wanted to note two quick reminders. First, this Friday I’ll be talking with book designer (and all-around D*S favorite) Coralie Bickford-Smith about books, design…
