With so many apps popping up these days, it’s nice to see people injecting the field with a little creativity. Bang!Bang! Studio in Moscow collaborated with Russia’s largest IT company, Yandex, to create an illustrated weather app that uses illustrations from young artists across their country. Over 70 images of basic weather statuses (from rain…
From the files of things I’ll always covet and never afford: ABC Carpet officially launched their Aquasilk line last Friday. These insanely gorgeous overdyed rugs come in a range of styles and, sadly, carry a pretty hefty price tag. But if you’re like me and enjoy indulging in a little virtual window shopping every now…
Sometimes a product comes along that makes you slap your head and say, “Finally!” I’ve been waiting forever for someone to make a transparent whiteboard paint, and I’m so glad someone finally has. Sadly, the name of this paint/company (WhiteyBoard) kind of makes me slap my head a little, too. I can’t say it out…
We’ve had lovely fall weather lately, and I’m excited to get some errands done around the city and prepare a few projects before next week’s holiday, including scouting gift ideas. Nikko Moy of Ashes & Milk will be introducing some new pieces to the collection shortly, and she sent us a little preview. I’m in…
I live in Italy. I love pizza. I don’t know if one has anything to do with the other, but both are true! I’ve been thinking about a pizza recipe for the column ever since mud australia explained how they actually bake their pizzas on mud dinner plates. However, this week’s guest beat me to…
Welcome back, flower fans and alphabet zealots! We have arrived at our final installment of Flowers A–Z, which can only mean that “z” is for zantedeschia (more commonly known as the calla lily). Although there are a few other worthy “z” flowers (zinnia comes to mind), the calla is both in season and the most…
Leave it to the awesome Flora Grubb Gardens to invent a clever new tool for DIY vertical gardens. Tillandsias (air plants, as they are more commonly known) are probably the only plant I can keep alive in my cold, sun-starved apartment. I’m so excited about this nifty little gadget that Flora has just invented: It…
Oakland has a vibrant, tight-knit cycling community, and I’ve seen first-hand how passionately people can feel about their bikes. Sadly, I’m still too much of a novice to feel the same. These illustrations and images are part of new project by Stan Engelbrecht & Nic Grobler titled Bicycle Portraits. It’s a study of South African…
To be honest, I tend to strip out all color from my life in winter; dark neutrals dominate my home, my wardrobe and my accessories. It only takes one awesomely bright and bold object to make me realize how much more bearable the season would be if I jazzed up my bleak palette with some…
It makes me giddy to think about a blank slate space where anything is possible — within a budget, of course. This collaborative studio renovation from Kristen of Five Dot Design and a group of fellow creative professionals in Newport, Kentucky, is a great example of how far creativity and hard work can take you….
We’ve featured a couple of Sibylle Roessler’s Before & After projects before; her dining room was a huge hit back in August, and her airy, curated bedroom makeover was equally popular. For these rooms, Sibylle has employed a pretty simple but highly effective method of creating big change while keeping costs to a minimum. She…
I haven’t spent time in an official dining room since I was a kid, so I’ve become fairly accustomed to living without it. However, I would love to have a dining table, and ideally, I could tuck it into a little nook for gathering and entertaining when friends come over. I love how Kelly has…
I might be angering some die-hard upholstery experts out there when I say this, but I’m a firm believer in thinking outside the box when it comes to choosing fabrics. Clothing, rugs, industrial materials and even recycled non-textiles can be used to make an amazingly awesome upholstered chair. I love this chair from Katie Steuernagle…
If you’re a designer who’s ever wondered about doing 3D printing or laser cutting, Ponoko is a great service that takes care of the cutting for you. I’ve been watching indie designers successfully use their services for a while, and I was happy to hear about some of Ponoko’s clients/customers who are creating really lovely work through…
The Design*Sponge at Home book tour is coming to a close, and I am so excited to announce our final US event!** We started with Philadelphia on our first leg of the tour, and we’re bringing it back home for one final event at a very special place: the Anthropologie Home Office. If you’ve ever read…
I have no idea how it can be Thanksgiving already, but apparently it almost is, so it’s time to think about pretty tables (and big, delicious dinners!). Here’s a quick and easy runner project that’s perfect for adding a little handmade flair to your table (or to bring along as a hostess gift). It’s easy…
I’ve been obsessed with spherical shapes lately, and I can’t stop buying them in all forms. Wood, metal, glass . . . I even bought a pair of cement “pearl” earrings that I’m very excited about. With spheres on the brain, it’s no wonder I couldn’t resist sharing this super-easy tutorial for a hanging glass…
I love it when larger companies team up with independent designers to spread their work to a larger audience. The designs above and below are the result of Umbra’s Atelier Made partnership, Umbra’s collaboration with smaller European designers to create new pieces that are then distributed by Umbra throughout boutiques and design shops. I really love…
I have to fight off my inner collar geek on a regular basis. I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in an incredibly preppy environment or because I like how polished a collar makes me feel, but I have a real soft spot for cute collars. I picked up a vintage seed pearl…
I get excited for every new issue of Sweet Paul Magazine because it’s always chock-full of great entertaining and decorating ideas. I love Paul’s personal style and the Scandinavian spin the magazine puts on traditional holiday projects and ideas. The new issue launched yesterday morning and includes 172 pages of great ideas — from recipes…
