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trend roundup: typographic home decor

Kate Pruitt — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:00:29 +0000

After seeing all the great font content coming up today, I was inspired to add a few typographic touches to my own home. The best thing about type in print is that it is incredibly versatile — be it small or large scale, blocks of text, single words or single letters, it all looks great in the right context. The same goes for type design in home decor, which explains why there are almost as many great font-related design objects as there are typefaces. With that mind, I rounded up some of my favorite pieces of furniture and home accessories that incorporate type in some way. Since every typeface has a different personality, it follows that not all typographic home decor would have the same feel. So I separated the items into three different styles. Enjoy! — Kate

Image above: 1. Lucky Number Knob, $8; 2. Garvey Chair, $998; 3. Oak Alphabet Drawers, $4,305; 4. Ordinal Dresser, $998; 5. Numbered Edition Placemats, $55; 6. John Derian Ampersand Plate, $44; 7. French Laundry Letter Pillows, $28–$32

1. Jonathan Adler Letter Pillow, $98; 2. Felt Coasters, $28; 3. Conversation Piece Pillows, $60; 4. Marquee Alphabet Light, $178; 5. Alphabet Coasters, $28 each; 6. Letters Fabric by Gunnar Anderson, $112/yard.

1. Letter Garland, $12.95; 2. Wary Meyers Le French Dresser, no price listed; 3. Alphabet Ceramic Plates, $33.50; 4. Artwork by Tauba Auerbach, no price listed; 5. John Derian for Target Tray, $12.99; 6. Jessica Hische Letterpress Print, $40; 7. Initial Pillows, $58

fall roundup: inspired by apple picking

Grace Bonney — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:00:27 +0000

I’ve been reading about so many fall apple-picking trips that I decided I’d take my own (virtual) apple picking trip today: to pick out 40 of my favorite apple-themed home designs under $100. From prints and stationery to pots and cutting boards, there are so many ways to celebrate my favorite fruit this season. I love apple designs that look a little weathered, so I tried to mix in a variety of apple styles — from bright greens to soft yellows and reds. If you’re like me and can’t escape to pick apples in person, I hope this roundup will take care of your fall apple urges! xo, grace

*P.S.: If you love the apple notepad below as much as I do, check out this great DIY tutorial to make a similar sculpture from paper!

Image above: 1. Oh My Cavalier Apple Branch print, $30; 2. Apple enamel pot, $99.99; 3. Apple print sewing box, $30; 4. Mod Pomme pot, $48; 5. Apple bottle opener, $26; 6. Glass apple decoupage dome, $60; 7. Apple necklace, $97.32; 8. Apple paper clips, $6.99

Image above: 1. Apple box, $30; 2. Crocheted apple boxes, $7 each; 3. Apple a Day teatowel, $15; 4. Paper apple napkins, $6.20; 5. Bad apple rings, $12 each; 6. Apples and Pears mug, $16; 7. Lavender scented stuffed apples, $45

Image above: 1. Apple chromolithograph, $21.50; 2. Apple tags, $2 for 10; 3. Apple wall hook, $1; 4. Apple lamp, $49.99; 5. Apple glass, $2.95; 6. John Derian apple salad plates, $19.99 for 8; 7. Apple plate (comes with mug), $55; 8. Apple earrings, $39

Image above: 1. Apple fabric, $4 per yard; 2. Fruit slices memo notepad, $4.95; 3. Apple mugs, $13.50; 4. Apple tray, $31; 5. Apple chopping board, $38.50; 6. Apple rubber stamp, $4.95; 7. Apple teakettle, $29.99

CLICK HERE for the rest of the roundup after the jump!

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trendspotting: circus maximus

Grace Bonney — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:00:53 +0000

Photographs above by Laspata DeCaro, via Fashiontography

Summer’s over and trend roundup numero dos finds me wanting to run off and join the circus. Not exactly the Ringling Brothers or those human tortellinis at Cirque du Soleil, mind you. More like the harem of secret circus smugglers lead by Maud Adams in the early ’80s James Bond masterpiece Octopussy (ahem). The look channels gypsies, tramps and thieves with a candy-coated polish, not necessarily a water-squirting flower pin.

From a decorating perspective, perhaps my old ringmaster Mugatu says it best in the current House Beautiful: “Tents make people feel festive.” I go to sleep every night next to striped fabric walls; too bad I ran out of yardage for the ceiling. And I fully support the rebranding of clowns as harlequins! A black-and-white (or gray-and-white for the more reserved) diamond motif looks great painted on dingy wood floors or the walls of a powder room.

Top it off with a gyroscopic ring mobile overhead, some juggling balls in a glass bowl and an oversized rosette throw pillow on an otherwise staid sofa. Whimsical touches are popping up all over the accessories market — why else would Anthro’s designers trot out a papier-mâché elephant head? For more inspiration check out D*S editor Halligan Norris’ AMAZING circus-themed wedding. Send in the clowns! — Nick Olsen

Images above, clockwise from top left: Striped Awning, $257; Savannah Story Elephant Bust, $128; Orbit Mobile, $39.95; Rose Pillow, $34.95; Juggling Balls, $4.95–$8.95; Opening Night Rug, $88–$1198; Big Top Umbrella, $75; Harlequin Tole Chandelier Shade, $27; Bow-Tie Necklace, $20; Carnival Canes, $127 each

falling leaves + temperatures: a fall roundup

Grace Bonney — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:41 +0000

this weekend while i was staring at the frat house that our apartment has become (i think every room has an empty water or beer bottle in it) i felt the need to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. because i’m something of an extremist, my immediate reaction was to look at aaron and say “we need to move.” that’s surely the easiest way to escape clutter, right? while we both agreed to finally get back on the market and start hunting for a new apartment i decided it was also time to pack away my summer clothes (goodbye, cut offs. i’ll miss you) and start thinking about a few new fall wardrobe choices. but because my brain always drifts right back to home design, i thought i’d compose a little shopping wish list of all of the fall-focused home and fashion pieces i’ve craving. i’ve tend to live my life vicariously through these roundups rather than actually buying any of these pieces, but this time i’m hoping i make it home with those boots and one of the gorgeous trays below. if we’re going to have bottles around the house, they might as well pile up on cute trays, right? hope you enjoy the roundup and cooler weather outside. here’s to fall! xo, grace

[image above: 1. safety pin wall plaques $35 2. pendleton throw $98 3. chesnut leaf earrings $38 4. eames hang it all in walnut $249 5. ticking flannel bedding $24-$88 6. acorn key ring $76 7. squirrel ring box $120 8. wharf table lamp $398 9. plaid lunet chair $698 10. welcome to nantucket doormat $42 11. aberdeen two-tone boot $198 (i am so making these my new fall boots)]

[image above: 1. plaid jacket $198 (a perfect early-fall jacket with no bulk) 2. plaid motor robe + carrier $98 3. bronze age flatware $36 (for a bronzy fall table) 4. acorn necklaces $85 each 5. night owls wall stickers by amy ruppel $65]

[image above: 1. sundry cafe tray $78 2. mexican agate ring $428 3. amber hearth candle $20 4. hexagon cloche $78 (perfect for flowers or displaying special jewelry)]

trendspotting: brutalism

Grace Bonney — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:00:04 +0000

Hi, folks! Nick Olsen here, interior decorator, style blogger and newest addition to the design*sponge family. Grace has asked me to scour the market for trends in design and decorating and I’m super thrilled. So let’s get to it: I was tempted to title this post “Hard Times” because my first theme, Brutalism, extends far beyond credenzas and tchotchkes. Things are still a little rough all over in 2010! But as an architectural movement, Brutalism (from the French term for “raw concrete”) busted out in the 1950s and 60s with blocky, imposing structures by Le Corbusier, Paul Rudolph, and later I.M. Pei. That’s Rudolph’s famed Milam Residence near Jacksonville, Florida, in the top image. The style earned as many detractors as fans, but its off-kilter, repeating geometries and rough textures feel like a perfect antidote to the clean Danish modern, exotic ethnic and frilly French-y lines we’ve seen so much of lately.

Perhaps the most famous Brutalist furniture designer is the late Paul Evans, who successfully married artisanal craftsmanship and mass appeal by teaming up with Directional for his famed Cityscape Collection. Shiny woods and metals in a Tetris-like layout characterized the line but Evans also favored a more intricate, if no less brutal, aesthetic throughout his career. Each individual block on the cabinet below has a different, hard-edged (and kinda freaky!) ornamentation. These pieces have been blowing up the auction market for years and inspired renewed interest in the work of sculptor duo C. Jeré, designer Marcello Fantoni and others. The items I’ve spotted — and can afford — reveal both sides of the Brutalist coin: Blocky Chic (top) and Metallic Freak (below). I love ‘em all … et tu, Brute?

[image above, clockwise from top left: Knightsbridge console price upon request, PS Stuga rug $299, Perspective mirror $149, SHILF shelving unit $1394, Chelsea square table lamp $336, Dedale sconce $19.99, Liberation wallpaper, price upon request]

[image below, clockwise from top left: Hammered silver-tone door handle $14.51, Abstract table lamp $399, Bronze washer bowl $99, Dressmaker's lamp shade $88, Starbust mirror $199, Palmae bookends $49.95, Jere rain drops sculpture $1650, Palecek orbit table $492.80]

trend roundup: ikat

Grace Bonney — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:00:54 +0000

even though ikat has had its run in the home design world over the past year or so (and has been in vogue many times before) the fashion world seems to bringing ikat back again with the spring/summer 2009 collections. i know some people are over it, but lately i’ve been blown away by email after email asking for an ikat trend roundup. and since i’m still totally loving ikat prints (and don’t think i’ll ever stop loving them used in moderation) i thought it would be fun to roundup some of our favorite ikat options in the market. thankfully i wasn’t alone in my hunting- my fantastic wintern des helped me find a huge chunk of these items, ranging from bags and rugs to pillows and clothing. i hope you’ll enjoy the ikat indulgence as much as we did. our ikat guide continues way after the jump so click here to view the full roundup or just click “read more” at the bottom of the post. thanks to des for her help with this!

[want to see more trend roundups? click here for the mini-trend archives]

[image above, clockwise from top left: ikat wooden stool $295, silk ikat pillow $95 (via katy), ikat cashmere wrap $32.50, ikat frame by oscar de la renta $100, ikat napkin $14, oscar de la renta v-neck ikat print dress, madeline weinrib ikat pillow, ikat bubble dress by oscar de la renta $963, calvin klein ikat shopper $152, ikat cushion cover $99.99, ikat clutch $150, ikat bowl $14, ikat heels $625]

[image above, clockwise from top left: marc jacobs ikat top $138, ikat flats by oscar de la renta $595, madeline weinrib clutch $450 (oh how i love these!), ]

[image above, clockwise from top left: 2009 dkny ikat dress (i'm saving up already), ikat tea towel by hammocks and high tea $13, organic cotton ikat shower curtain $29.99]

[image above, clockwise from top left: love and luck ikat stationery $16 for a set of 5, furniture by madeline weinrib (price available upon request)]

[image above, clockwise from top left: ikat bag by pink posie at etsy $45.50, ikat duvet cover and shams $16-$60, ikat bedding $199+]

[image above, left to right: ikat chevron tea towel by hammocks and high tea $13, ikat fabric $17.49 per yard, ikat duvet cover and shams $45-$250]

CLICK HERE for the rest of the ikat roundup…

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