It’s blustery and gray in Brooklyn today, so I’m trying to take a little mental vacation somewhere warm and colorful. In my online search for something visually uplifting, I came across this fantastic new restaurant that totally fits the bill. Chi Chi is an Asian bar and restaurant in the southwestern suburbs of Sydney, Australia,…
Last year I committed to making some changes that would help me find a better work/life balance. But despite my best efforts, I can be a stubborn jerk when it comes to embracing things that involve yoga, chanting and incense. I love and respect what those practices can do for other people, but I’ve really…
As a confessed textile nut, it makes me weak in the knees to think about covering an entire wall with 17,000 stitches. This incredible installation at Patria Restaurant (which was designed by Commute Home, a Toronto firm) is actually a screen, created by Laura Carwardine, which was laid over a two-story feature wall designed by…
I thought it would be great to kick off 2013 with a project that’s been inspiring me for weeks now. Lucy at The Design Files runs one of the best design blogs around, hands down. I’ve been following her writing and the way she’s developed her site with absolute devotion, and I’m consistently impressed with…
Outside of design, my biggest passion is music. I’ve always been interested in finding ways to connect design with other communities, and I’m happy to find a musician who is as into home design as I am. I connected with musician, performer, DJ and songwriter Hesta Prynn (aka Julie Potash) on Twitter and was thrilled…
I can think of no better way to wrap up the week — or this month of posting — than with a beautiful new popup shop in Oakland that has completely stolen my heart. Umami Mart is one part Japanese kitchen and barware shop and one part Scandinavian-design aesthetic heaven. Designed by Anders Arhoj from…
I love seeing how small spaces can be transformed into beautiful new homes for businesses. I was completely overwhelmed when trying to decorate our first-ever D*S office this spring, so I’m majorly jealous of the team at La Petite, an online kids’ magazine, who got to work with designer Kirsten Grove on their new space….
It’s hard to say it more simply than this: Jessica Helgerson is my favorite interior designer. Everything she touches is perfect for me, from retail to residential. And she’s a total sweetheart to boot. She and her team at JHID in Portland just finished designing the interior of a great new Mexican restaurant, Corazón. I…
Before we jump into movie style this afternoon, I had to take time out to virtually high five Gabriel Valdivieso Interior Design on this fantastic custom wallpaper used in one of their projects. Gabriel worked with a good friend, artist Jonny Macali, to create a paper that features flamingos, human bodies and flowers. I love…
When I started Design*Sponge, I used to note that I always felt like the weird girl in the room commenting on the couch in a movie rather than the plot. That feeling has stayed with me and hits me hard when I’m watching TV. The other night I was watching something on demand, so the…
Sarah Bedford (painter) and Alan Hill (graphic designer) live in this lovely Brooklyn home. Sarah and Alan tell us that their aesthetic tastes differ: Sarah tends to go for “more is more,” while Alan prefers “less is more.” But the couple blends flea-market finds with designed pieces, and the result is absolutely stunning! The combination…
We’ve been working on our new D*S office for weeks, and if we’ve learned anything so far, it’s that everything in a big space (relative to our apartments) takes forever to finish. We’re up to our ears in all types of paints, rugs and lighting, and we’ve been slowly making headway over the past few days…
I think if you took a vote from the d*s team, stripes would rank pretty high on the list of all time favorite patterns. They are so easily incorporated into every style of decor and just add the perfect little pop of color. I searched through the Sneak Peek Archives to find my favorite examples…
The chilly nights here in Martha’s Vineyard make me want to cozy up to some of the amazing fireplaces we’ve been fortunate enough to feature over the years in D*S sneak peeks. From working and non-working fireplaces to faux, painted and covered mantles, these amazing home owners have showcased it all and I hope their…
If there’s one thing I love most when it comes to publications, it’s embracing a focused format. I relish magazines, blogs and zines that obsess over one niche topic and really enjoy diving into such a specific world. Covet Garden is a Canadian online magazine that focuses each of its monthly issues on a single…
I love micro-homes. Mainly because living in NYC for almost 10 years has made me terrified to live in a “normal” sized suburban home. I don’t know what I’d do with all that space; I’m used to cramming everything into less than 1,000 square feet. But these mini-homes look like a great way to see…
I’ve got Portland on the brain today because I’m making a big announcement this afternoon about an event I’m working on there next month! So it only seemed fitting to fill today with updates from some of my favorite artists and designers in town. It’s no secret that Jessica Helgerson is my favorite interior designer,…
Lula Aldunate, who now lives in New York City, grew up in Buenos Aires, where she worked in many fields, from magazine styling to interior design. Lula decorated this amazing Buenos Aires studio with her sister and brother-in-law. The combination of antique furniture with found objects and worldly décor is quite beautiful. It’s easy to…
Myriam Balay Devidal and her family live in Nîmes, a city in Southern France where the sun shines 200 days a year. The apartment has high ceilings and lots of personality! I was originally drawn to this home when I noticed Myriam’s amazing eye for textile, pattern and color. The bathroom is my favorite —…
Interior designer Cortney Bishop lives in this Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, home with her husband, Baker, and their two children. The Bishops’ home appears incredibly comfortable and relaxing. I love the warm colors in the Scott Duce painting; it looks great paired with the classy vanity table. I’m also a huge fan of Cortney’s office….
