After reading Amy’s post on how to make a new house a home, I’ve been majorly inspired to refresh my own apartment. I love to switch things around on a regular basis, and one of the easiest ways to create a huge impact is with wall decor. I’ve rounded up some of our favorite wall…
I’ve always had a love of fonts. I have a collection of magazine pages torn out for their interesting fonts. I have books about fonts, bookmarks on my computer for font-dedicated websites, not to mention the hundreds of fonts I’ve downloaded. I want to be surrounded by gorgeously shaped letters. What better reason to make…
The days are getting longer, and the sun is shining more; I can’t think of a better time to get my hands into soil and play around with some fun plant experiments for spring! I’ve seen kokedama — Japanese moss balls — looking great hanging in homes, but I never realized how easy they are…
Though my thumb is far from green, I look forward to planting my garden each spring. In the early stages of a garden, most of us need a reminder of what is planted where. I’ve never seen markers in my grandpa’s garden, but I am far from that point in my own gardening skills. This…
I have three vintage suitcases gathering dust in the back of my closet, so I could not be happier to see a luggage DIY project from the talented Ashley Poskin. We featured her burlap chair in our Before & After column last August, and her signature salvage style is back again in this lovely coffee…
Bead-and-pin baskets became a popular craft in the 50s and 60s. The baskets are made entirely out of safety pins, cheap craft-store beads and wire. You can find vintage versions at flea markets, eBay or Etsy for $10 to $25. I decorate my mantel every spring season with my collection of these beaded treasures and…
Last night while I was clicking around on Twitter I followed a fantastic link from Metal and Mud to what might be one of my favorite DIY ideas I’ve seen in a while. Rather than getting bogged down in a big woodworking project, Sara decided to cut the shape of a curved headboard out of…
The second installment of Treasure Hunting tackles something a bit larger than keys, but as someone with an incredible weakness for chairs, I couldn’t resist. Whenever I visit thrift stores or yard sales, I inevitably come across a chair that captures my attention. There are various design details to lose yourself in when looking at…
I’ve been doing a fair amount of home cleaning lately, and I think when it’s all over, I’d like to reward myself with one of these beautiful woven leather stools. Matt, the immensely talented craftsman behind Wood and Faulk, created this versatile little stool with simple tools and a few raw materials. I love the luxurious,…
Vintage lampshades have loads of character; you can’t find shades like them in stores today. The sizes, shapes and fittings are the perfect fit for vintage lamps. However, they are often in dire need of an update. In an effort to recycle every last piece of a lamp pair instead of buying new, I started…
It’s a whopping 70 degrees in Brooklyn right now, so I’m going to get out from under the pile of packing boxes in our house and get some fresh air. Before I head out, I wanted to share this beautiful (and totally genius) DIY light project that graphic designer Gabrielle Guy created for a friend….
Lighting has to be one of our all-time favorite topics — we’ve recently held crafting events in honor of lighting, picked out our favorite chandeliers in homes and even delved into the history of chandeliers. You might call it a little obsessive. But if you’re a renter, updating lighting — whether an overhead fixture or ambient…
When I came across these old stove-burner tops at the salvage yard, I was immediately struck by their variations in pattern and how interesting they looked out of context. I never knew burner tops came in so many different shapes! After some heavy scrubbing, I found I liked them even more. They are nice, mid-sized…
I’ve seen a few lamps of this kind available in stores lately, but they are all a bit pricey; it’s clearly a great design that is begging for a DIY version. So I’m thrilled to see someone tackle this very feat and with such great results! Sarah Goodwin, designer and founder of the creative firm…
I’m one of those “easily overwhelmed shoppers.” I prefer small boutiques to big stores just because the sheer number of choices in a store larger than my apartment is enough to send me over the edge. So while I love gadgets as much as the next girl, I need someone to narrow the field. Which…
With spring coming near, it is time to freshen up my pots and planters. I found a mix of wildflower seeds and thought that it is the perfect thing for spring. With my planter full of seeds and a half of a bag left, I figured I would share the wealth and pass some seeds…
I’m getting a little tired of the winter weather and will take just about any opportunity to daydream about the sunny warm days ahead. These Moroccan-inspired lanterns by Ohdeedoh contributor and DIY expert Katie Steuernagle are the perfect antidote to the winter blues; I love the glow of the rich jewel tones and the intricate…
Kitchen counter space is in short supply in my apartment (I have about 10” total!) so I’ve been taking every opportunity to maximize wall space for storage. On the design*sponge team’s recent trip to Boston, I found an old wall mounted letter holder to store my kitchen utensils. While I loved the shape (and the…
today i’m finishing up the final sequencing for all 400+ pages of the design*sponge book so tomorrow i’m going to be taking a very, very needed day off. so today i’ll be posting diy projects that would normally go up tomorrow. up first- a great upcycling project from amy merrick. amy turned her collection of…
Truth be told, I have a little book lending phobia. I’m happy to give books away to friends, but the lending part is hard. I once got badly burned by a beloved old copy of A Catcher in the Rye which, sob, never made it’s way home to me. Fool me once, shame on you….
