products by Grace Bonney 5

Pinks & Reds

When I think about colors and the idea of a month devoted to them, I immediately go to my favorite color combo: red and pink. I’ve devoted most of Design*Sponge’s color themes to that palette (our book is red and pink and so are the website accents and our office) so these pieces from Leif caught my eye this morning and felt right on target. This plus-print tea towel comes in a bright poppy red and seems bright enough to wake me up on even the earliest morning call. I love the way it looks against this pink woven storage basket, too. Red and pink always feel so warm and happy and, for me, they never go out of style. Click here and here to check these out at Leif and shop online. xo, grace

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past & present by Amy Azzarito 8

Color of the Day: Emerald Green

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diy by Grace Bonney 7

Every Day DIY: Beaded Lamp Pull Cord

Sometimes two heads are better than one. After excitedly planning and making this week’s DIY project, I ran into a crafting snafu- now going on a major fail. The “10 minute drying time” has turned into 24 hours so I had to bag it for today and lean on my trusty teammate, Max to help me come up with something that would be fun, colorful and easy for anyone to make in under 30 minutes. We looked around at our craft supplies and BAM!- Max made a cute pull cord to dress up our super simple West Elm lamp. I’ve always loved projects that are about dressing up existing objects (rather than buying something totally new) so this one is right up my alley. You could easily paint your beads, wood burn a pattern into them (if you want to spend more time adding delicate details) or make clay beads using last week’s craft supplies. But today we’re using simple hemp cord (dyed blue) and beads that match our couch area’s main color theme (orange and red). I hope this project will be one everyone can do on a quick lunch break- or even the bus/train commute home. *If cords aren’t your thing, you could easily tie this into your key chain for a little extra color. xo, grace

This post is brought to you by Kate Spade Saturday! See why every day can feel like Saturday here.

The full how-to is after the jump….

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diy by Grace Bonney 22

DIY Gem Pushpins

Every now and then a craft project falls into my inbox and I’m blown away by how the simplest ideas are often the best. This clever plaster push pin project comes from blogger Mandy Pellegrin of Fabric Paper Glue. She was kind enough to share it here with us today- and she has another DIY great idea we’ll be sharing next week. Thanks, Mandy! -xo, grace

Sure, Pinterest has revolutionized the way we keep tabs on our sources of inspiration, but if we’re honest, nothing can really replace a good old-fashioned bulletin board. They’re not only home to our favorite glossy clippings; they can also be a place to stow and display the items that represent so much more than the visual stimulation afforded on our computer screens — a place to keep the tactile textures of our favorite fabrics, little reminders of life’s events, or sweet handwritten notes. So, why not give these items the presentation they deserve by using pushpins with a little design flair? With this DIY, you’re three steps (four, if you’re ambitious) and about 15 active minutes away from a truly unique set of gem-shaped pushpins. -Mandy Pellegrin

The full how-to continues after the jump…

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style icon by Grace Bonney 10

Style Icon: Mama Sponge

In addition to a new editorial theme for this month, May is all about Mothers for me. Mother’s Day is on May 11th, so we decided to do something special for the holiday- and the amazing women who raised all of us. Each week of this month, one of the D*S team members will be celebrating their mom as the featured subject of a Style Icon post! We’ve already had a blast looking through old photos of our team moms (wait until you see Anne’s awesome mom photo in front of the Taj Mahal!) and pick photos that best represent their styles. To kick things off I’m starting with my mom, Elaine. It’s hard to put into words how much I love my mom and how big of an influence she’s been on my life. Along with the love and support of my dad, she’s one of the biggest reasons I feel strong and brave enough to follow my passion and do what I love every day.

I had so much fun going through old photos of my mom that my dad sent over. My mom’s style has changed over the years, but I’ve always associated her with such a classic American sense of style. And this photo of her from 1976 on the back of my great uncle Terry’s boat on Martha’s Vineyard captures her style perfectly for me. I hope this roundup does 1970s Elaine Bonney proud. I sure know she’s made me proud to be her daughter. xo, grace

*P.S.: You’ll all have a chance to share photos of your moms – stay tuned for a new contest update on Friday!

Image above, clockwise from top left: Knot bottle opener $28, Rope Napkin Ring $5, Nautical Clock $60, Rope Handle $15, Palm Leaf Tote $32, Sunglasses $11.99, Indigo Tablecloth $64, Mermaid Door Knocker $95, Starfish Earrings $14, Anchor Paperweight $60, Black Dog Mug $10

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flowers by The Ladies of Foret 5

May Day Bouquet

Traditional celebrations surrounding the start of May are marked by flowers, ribbon, and merriment. Celebrated in various ways throughout cultures this time of year is linked to the ancient Pagan ritual Beltane, the Festival of Flora honoring the Roman goddess of flowers, and in more contemporary times, May Day. Celebrations traditionally observed on May 1st include the exchange of baskets of flowers and sweets, the crowning of a May Queen (with crowns of flowers, of course), and a dance around the maypole weaving ribbon into beautiful patterns. These traditions are a flower-lover’s heaven! -the Ladies of Forêt

Image above via April in Alabama

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