Anna-Wili Highfield is an artist who creates graceful sculptures of animals using cotton paper. She says that her goal is to represent animal life in an immediate and authentic way that conveys the energy, movement and physical character of different creatures. Her work is elegantly displayed throughout this 19th century cottage, located in the Marrickville…
Taste in decor is so subjective. White vs color, minimalism vs opulence, glamorous vs rustic, the list goes on. You may lean toward one particular style or mix a few together – either way, everyone is sure to have their own unique interpretation. One of the easiest ways to make a statement no matter what…
Leah Goren is an illustrator and surface pattern designer who runs an online shop that sells products printed with her whimsical, nature-inspired illustrations. (Her Red Cat tank is on Amy’s wish list). She shares this Brooklyn apartment with her boyfriend, graphic designer Dylan Ousley, who runs his own branding and design shop, named Home Ec….
When asked to describe their home, married wedding photographer team Travis and Maike McNeill say they are inspired by the beautiful lines of the Mid-Century Modern era and the simplicity and warmth of Scandinavian living. They have combined with those inspirations with a mix and match of things handed down to Maike by her German…
With a shared love of historic Craftsman architecture, Chelsea and Forrest Kline knew they had found their home in the Bluff Park neighborhood of Long Beach, California seven years ago. Brimming with Craftsman details and built-ins, this charming abode won them over and they knew that no matter how they filled the space it would…
When I first saw photos of Leah Lawrence and Billy Bartels’ Seattle home, I was reminded of Leslie Williamson’s book, Handcrafted Modern. There was something about the modern, minimal styling and the use of natural materials that hinted at some of the decor found in that book. So I couldn’t help but smile when Leah…
Belinda Love Lee describes her illustration style as minimal meets quirky and whimsical. Certainly the same can be said about her home decorating style. Some of that minimalism can be attributed to the fact that she moved into this apartment, located in Cardiff, Wales, just six short months ago and didn’t bring much with her…
Nicole Sutton has called this apartment in Miracle Mile, Los Angeles home for the past ten years. During that time it’s been shared by her sister or ex-boyfriend or a combo of the two, but these days, it’s her very own bachelorette pad. Though she started out with no furniture, she recognized that the apartment…
As a documentary and portrait photographer often capturing people in their homes, David Kimelman is always looking for the angles and details within a space that highlight the occupant’s personality and passions. Over the past three years, he and his husband, Kevin Burke — the vice president of creative services for Tommy Hilfiger — have utilized…
Three and a half years ago, Chris and Julia Thomas moved into this apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Though it is a relatively small New York City apartment, they’ve made it a priority to surround themselves with beautiful works of art, even if they aren’t able to display them all. They own countless prints and…
When they bought their first home, Caroline and Olivier discovered a passion for renovating old houses in Provence. Their current home, located in St. Maurice de Cazevieille, Uzès, is their third home to date. In each home they renovate, they never adhere to a particular style; rather, the style is informed by the home itself,…
After just six short months in her home, Claire Cottrell has achieved the look she strives for, “minimal a la modern Japanese,” specifically inspired by the Japanese architecture firms SANAA and Atelier Bow-Wow. While she dreams of having an all white space, she’s incorporated soft pastel colors punctuated by rich natural hues via handmade textiles,…
Being that Valentine’s Day is this week, it’s a great opportunity to highlight the two most classic Valentine’s colors: PINK and RED. Colors of any shade can possess powerful associations, especially in the home. However, warm hues such as pink and red need not be solely associated with romance or femininity (though they can be…
Arran Russell and Jacqui Lewis live in Five Ways, Paddington in Sydney, Australia. Arran is co-partner in the clothing brand Vanishing Elephant along with Huw Bennett and Felix Chan. He also partners with his wife, Jacqui, and her agency, FOLKE, working on creative and art direction. I suspect working together professionally is great practice for their…
Five months ago, Sasha Ritter relocated from California to New York and moved in with her friend and collaborator, Kristin Morrison. Having worked together on many design projects in California, their new Brooklyn apartment became the perfect opportunity for their first New York-based collaboration. Working within a tight budget, they pooled their resources, scavenged thrift stores…
Two years ago, Monya and Jeremy Eastman set upon the ambitious task of renovating their home, located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa. Frustrated that she was unable to find the kind of furniture they were looking for, Monya started her own custom-made furniture company, Stokperd. The first project: measuring and sketching…
If there is one thing we are passionate about here at Design*Sponge, it’s the value of personalizing one’s home through countless modes of creative expression. Perhaps one of the most personal ways to decorate a home, and quite possibly the most emblematic way of expressing who we are and where we come from, is by…
Two years ago, Luke Fenech and Oliver Chapman made the proverbial move from the city to the country. In their case, the city was Central London and the country was Greenwich, London. Despite being just a few miles away, Luke says Greenwich has quite the village vibe. Both Luke and Oliver grew up with an…
Haley Ann Robinson describes her home decor as eclectic, filled with a mix of vintage and modern pieces, as well her handmade “installations.” Every piece in her home is creatively displayed and carefully considered, from her framed hats and painted canvas embroideries to her vintage jewelry collection. Her favorite thing to do is to wake…
Two years ago, Stephanie Brubaker and her family moved into this apartment in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. Since light is a premium in Seattle, Stephanie says they were determined to create a bright, open space as a way of helping her family cope with the long, dark days. Their first project was to paint the olive…
