Design*Sponge » interior design

best of: stripes

Amy Azzarito — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:00:33 +0000

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 of stripes in homes! Let’s just say it was a little hard narrowing down the field. -Amy A

(pssst! Don’t miss the other best ofs! Best of Entryways, Best of Chandeliers, Best of Bedrooms, Best of Clawfoot Tubs, Best of Cats and Best of Dogs!)

Image above: Lara Collins’ Fredericksburg, Texas house is also home to two beagles, several milk goats and a cow fromsneak peek: lara collins

Image above: Stripes in Annette Joseph’s summer home in the Cinque Terre from sneak peek: annette joseph

Image above: Bright yellow in the Angela Hardison’s Arizona bedroom from sneak peek: angela hardison

CLICK HERE for more stripes!

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sneak peek best of: fireplaces

Grace Bonney — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:17 +0000

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 fireplaces (35 of our faves) will inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me. xo, grace

Image above: The fireplace from Lucy Allen Gillis’ home.

Image above: Emma Cassi’s bedroom fireplace.

Image above: A cool, blue fireplace belonging to Cathy and Robin of Heath Ceramics.

Image above: Toni Brogan‘s rustic upstate fireplace.

Image above: Jessica Lynch’s amazing fireplace. See the “before” story here!

CLICK HERE for 30 more fabulous fireplaces after the jump!

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covet garden: bookhou issue

Grace Bonney — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:58 +0000

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 home in Toronto and the family behind it. Fed up with not getting to know more about the real people behind beautiful homes, the team at Covet Garden decided to dedicate each page of the issue to the people inside- from their personal style to their backgrounds. I really love this hyper-focused look at the people behind a great home and was excited to see that this month’s issue was all about John and Arounna from Bookhou. They’re a fantastically talented couple and their home (and storefront) reflect the couple’s organic-but-modern personal style. Click here to check out the latest issue and learn all about the home and people behind Bookhou. xo, grace

More images after the jump…

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glen grassi’s micro-home

Grace Bonney — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:51 +0000

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 the country without leaving all the comforts of home behind. This sweet mini-home built by Glen Grassi is insulated on all four walls, the ceiling and the floor to withstand a blizzard. So if you wanted to pack this bad boy up and travel to Alaska, you’d be set (even the shingles are rated to withstand hurricane winds). The interior has a chimney and a stove and a portable solar panel that helps you stay off the grid as much as possible. I love the idea of packing into this guy and hitting the road. If you’re interested in taking the plunge, click here to read more about Glen’s homes. You can even take it home with you if you’ve got $16K burning a hole in your pocket. Thanks to Amanda Kavanagh for the tip (via Skinflint Design)! xo, grace

jessica helgerson: white brick mediterranean

Grace Bonney — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:00:20 +0000

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, and I’m always thrilled to see her new work. She recently finished a project that involved a kitchen remodel and new furnishings for a 1920s Mediterranean-style home in Portland. Jessica used a mix of vintage furniture (reupholstered in brightly colored felt and antique rugs) and custom-designed tables to redecorate the space. I love the coffee table made of walnut “bricks” that’s meant to echo the original brick architecture. What I love so much about Jessica’s work is the way she brings nature into every project. In this particular home, the owner said he’d always imagined a tree on the living room wall, so Jessica designed a sculptural, abstracted tree made from recycled wood lath stained with colorful aniline dyes (image after the jump). All the details are beautiful, but you can read more about the finished project here. One day when I win the lottery, I’m going to buy a home in the hills of Portland and have Jessica work her magic on it. Until then, I’ll continue to live vicariously through all these beautiful projects. Thank you to Jessica for sending this over and to Lincoln Barbour for the photography. xo, grace

More images from Jessica’s project after the jump . . .

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make it yours: lula aldunate

Lauren — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:00:49 +0000

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 see that Lula is all about color: In the main area, the blend of rustic orange, mustard and teal create a stunning fall palette. The patchwork wall was made with paper — what a creative way to add color, pattern and texture to a room. The rest of the original Sneak Peek is equally inspiring (I need that foosball table!), so be sure to check it out here. — Lauren

Palette 1 (Living Room)
A. Putting Green (Valspar), PMS 368; B. Anthracite (Pratt & Lambert), PMS 440; C. High Noon Sun (Pratt & Lambert), PMS 7406; D. Orange Berry (Pratt & Lambert), PMS 167; E. Empress Teal (Behr), PMS 313

Roundup 1 (Living Room)
1. Christina Porcelain Table Lamp, $585; 2. Melon Ninnay Suzani, prices vary; 3. Chalkboard, $62; 4. Vintage Oushak Rug, $1195; 5. Ava Tufted Sleeper Sofa, $699; 6. Painted Folkloric Hutch, $2532

Palette 2 (Patchwork Wall)
A. Paradise Green (Pratt & Lambert), PMS 583; B. Fresh Nasturtium (Pratt & Lambert), PMS 144; C. Hint of Cherry (Valspar), PMS 1915; D. Berries Galore (Valspar), PMS 2583; E. Blue Burst (Valspar), PMS 2995

The second roundup continues after the jump . . .

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