It’s still early, so I hope you’ll indulge me in this momentary pen craziness. How fantastic is this transparent neon orange pen? If I had to pick a single color that I have (and will) always love, it would be bright orange. I like it in jewelry, on paper, as accents on my shoes and…
I may not know as much about wine as I would like. In fact, I usually prefer to pass the wine list to someone else. (I’ve been trying to rectify my wine-list phobia with Drink This: Wine Made Simple.) But there’s one thing I know for sure: When at home, always decant the red wine….
Growing up in a beach town meant that water-related sports and their accoutrements would always be a part of my life. But after a tiny fish (or crab, though I was convinced it was a killer shark) bit me while I was boogie boarding, I pretty much bailed on the actual water. Too dark to see…
Much like one of my favorite TV characters, Sheldon Cooper, I have always had a deep and abiding love for trains. There’s something about the gentle rocking of the train on the tracks and getting to see so many beautiful seaport towns (on the East Coast) rush by that always makes me want to stay…
It may seem premature to be writing about bike bags, but here on the East Coast, when the thermometer hits 35 degrees Fahrenheit, it feels like a warm-up. Just last weekend, on a super cold New York Sunday, I bought a new bike (Surly Cross-Check) from Bicycle Habitat. I had been visiting this particular bike…
I’m a sucker for a functional table mat. While my heart always leans toward linen runners and placemats, I know they’re not as practical as something that I can immediately throw in the sink and hose down. Thankfully, functional mats can be chic and sophisticated, and these new Kyoto mats from Chilewich are a great…
This is a little embarrassing to admit, but around this time every year, I start checking the times for the sunrise and sunset. (OK, I’ll be honest — I pretty much start checking right after the Winter Solstice.) When the dark days get me down, there’s something comforting about watching it get lighter for one…
Just about this time last year, we featured a Sneak Peek with Erin Abbott, and then she wrote our D*S guide to Oxford, Mississippi. This tiny southern town has a lot going for it, including Erin’s store, Amelia. But after the Design*Sponge at Home 30-city book tour, it’s going to be a while before I get…
I love when designers who work with paper find a way to use recycled paper or their own paper leftovers. These new kits from Polli are made from 100% recycled card and come with 19 feet of red twine so you can create your own bunting or a series of gift tags. I think they’re…
It’s hard to believe that just six short months ago, we met here for the first time and headed to the workshop to begin our upholstery journey together. We’ve tackled dining seats, coil springs and even bookshelves, so my gift to you this holiday season is the picture back. Because the outside back fabric only…
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…
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,…
One of the most frequent questions we get while traveling is “Are you tired?” Initially, we tried to put on a brave front, but these days — 27 cities into a 30-city book tour —there’s no energy for faking it. And while we’re certainly tired of airports, hotels and food-on-the-run, we absolutely love these events….
This fall, Grace and I have been lucky enough to hold several events for Design*Sponge at Home in Anthropologie stores around the country. We never cease to be amazed by the local talent at each and every store. So today, it’s an extra treat to peek inside the home of Anthropologie senior stylist, Kate S. Jordan,…
Chris and Stephen Harris-Smith live in this lovely California home designed by Joseph Eichler, well known for his open and spacious modern home designs built between 1950 and 1974 in Northern California. Chris and Stephen need only slide open their glass front door to enter the beautiful open atrium (my dream home has one of…
Another week has passed, which means it’s time to talk furniture! Today’s Before & After Basics is all about using tape to create custom designs on furniture. I am super excited about how this piece turned out, and even though I used a very simple technique, there are many ways that you can add to…
I’m not usually anxious for fall weather, but the extreme heat this year has me ready to snuggle under a blanket with hot chocolate. When fall approaches, I like to get out my growing collection of vintage thermoses. The plaid designs feel very academic and seem to celebrate the start of another school year. Typically,…
Our final event and RSVP today is for one of the cities I’m most excited to visit: Vancouver! Some of my favorite designers and musicians are from this beautiful city, and I can’t wait to dive in headfirst. We’ll be holding a crafting event and book signing/celebration here, so I hope you’ll come join us….
After a week of rain, wind and general storm-craziness, Amy and I are excited to pack our bags for sunny Los Angeles next month. We can’t wait to meet up with those of you in the LA area to celebrate the book release and get our crafting on. I hope you’ll come join us (details…
