I’m a sucker for beautiful patterns, and this new Troika collection from Frida Plumm is just gorgeous. The tins of stationery would be perfect holiday gifts (or really nice stocking stuffers), and the platters are great for housewarming presents. Click here to view the full collection and shop online (note cards are $30 and platters…
I’ve blogged about photographer Kari Herer before, and I said that what I loved most about her prints were their dark, velvety textures. I now have to amend that thought and say that Kari is equally adept at bringing out the lushness in light surfaces. Her compositions are always unusual enough to avoid being overly…
It doesn’t matter how far we delve into digital devices for media and communication; I think I will always feel a little rush of excitement when the mailman comes and the hope that maybe I received a package or a note from someone unexpected. The best way to ensure that you receive that kind of…
Around this time every year, my parents would go on a mission to get the garage organized. Everything would come out, the cement floor swept and hosed off, and then it would all go back in. In a family of six, this was no small feat, and pitchers of sun tea were necessary to sustain…
I’ve always been something of a pattern nut, but I’ve gotten better about not combining them like a crazy person. Then I saw Kate’s post on custom patterns & prints for tech devices and immediately felt the desire to get at least five different prints for everything I lug around in my bag. I’ll try…
I’ve been on a serious “less is more” kick for almost a year now, and it’s managed to trickle down to every aspect of my life. From my wardrobe and home goods to my taste in cards, everything seems to feel better when it’s pared down to the basic elements. These sweet cards from Tabletop…
Father’s Day is right around the corner and if your Dad is like mine, tech gifts are an essential. My biggest problem each year is finding out how to get something cool that he hasn’t already gotten for himself. Shopping for early-adopters can be incredibly tough. But Kate is coming to my rescue this year…
Building a home office can be a tough task if you’re working in a small space. You want to create something that has enough room to be functional, but that isn’t so spread out that you encroach on your living space. So today Kate rounded up some of her favorite office organization, accessories and furniture…
Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day. As a kid, “breakfast for dinner” was my all-time favorite treat. Brunch encompasses all that’s great about breakfast, with the added benefit of being able to have a little drink. One of my favorite people planted the seed of a brunch party, and I had…
Image above: illustration by Julia Rothman I feel as if I’ve been heralding the arrival of spring for eons. If you live somewhere with a mild climate (or are enjoying an Australian summer), you’re probably sick of hearing about our long, cold winter. But then, you live somewhere with a mild climate (or are enjoying…
We’ve pretty much had moving on the brain over here at Design*Sponge. Just last week, Grace moved from the apartment that she’d lived in for the last five years to a new space in a new neighborhood. And while I completely believe in living in a space for some time before making big purchase decisions,…
One of the things that always bothered me the most about our current apartment was the fact that our living room couldn’t accommodate a standard-sized sofa. The hallway and main door were so narrow that I had to get something with detachable legs and a super-low back, and the walls in the living room were…
Getting to talk about the struggles I’ve had over the past few years with focus and motivation was incredibly helpful. I got such sweet emails from some of you out there who’ve dealt with the same issues of inspiration and I found myself feeling less alone and more like someone who’s going through something that…
Well, if the blizzard from two weeks ago wasn’t bad enough, it looks like we’re due for another one! AC is trying to get down to Florida for work so while he navigates the nightmare that is JetBlue’s hold system, I’m focusing on all things warm and toasty. We don’t have a fireplace in our…
Nothing makes me happier than giving a unique gift, or one that has taken significant personal investment. I have divided my guide into two parts. The first part are all samples of work that some of my favorite artisans make. The images you see are just representative of their work. I have worked with almost…
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but NERDS. ARE. BACK. Actually, we nerds have always been here, I’ll have you know. It just so happens that right now we are basking in the warm glow of acceptance. As someone who still has cafeteria-stress dreams, I can’t be thankful enough . . . although this news…
This might sound weird, but sometimes I think I was a rugged, carpentry-loving, plaid-wearing man in another life. I can’t find any other explanation for my obsession with, and instinctive gravitation toward, anything that reminds me of a wood shop or old-school L.L. Bean-style outdoorsy-ness. So when I saw these pieces for sale at Kaufmann…
I know that the novelty of owning items with my name on them probably should have worn off by adulthood, but I have to admit that I still love giving and receiving monogrammed gifts, and I don’t see myself tiring of it anytime soon. There are many great reasons to love personalized objects. Not only…
Today I’m wrapping up my gift guides (stay tuned for 12 more guides next week and the week after!) with a roundup that’s a bit more personal: my own wish list! It’s funny — whenever my family asks about gifts for me each year, they have a hard time telling which of the things I…
I always enjoy creating budget-themed gift guides, but there’s something extra fun about throwing caution to the wind and embracing the idea of luxurious gifts. Whether it’s a silk robe, handmade leather bag, cushy cashmere throw or a gold plate, sometimes a little splurge can be fun if you have someone special that you really…
