artwork by Grace Bonney 21

lyrics on vinyl

While Amy and I were laying yet another layer of thick black paint on our office floors (let’s hope the fumes scare away the mice that have taken up residency between tenants), we took a break to snap some process shots. As we stood in the hallway, we met one of our new neighbors, who happens to be an audio engineer with an impressive vinyl collection. I’m not a vinyl collector myself, but I’ve always been impressed by people who put the time and care into maintaining a great collection. After we painted and I walked home, I stumbled onto a box of vinyl records that had been carelessly tossed on the side of the road and fairly scuffed up (which seems like it would be some sort of punishable hipster crime in my neighborhood). I cringed when I thought of what our new neighbor would think and wondered what sort of DIY project I could use them for now that they are un-playable. I’m still racking my brain for something clever, but these record-based pieces from artist Patrick Laurent of Quiet Boy Studio seem like a nice idea.

Patrick paints lyrics on old records and currently sells them through his Etsy shop. In addition to selections that are special to him, Patrick takes custom orders if you have lyrics that mean something to you. This would make a fun gift for someone’s birthday, wedding or anniversary, so if you’ve been trying to come up with a personalized gift, click here to check out Patrick’s current selections or order a custom piece. xo, grace

artwork by Grace Bonney 20

kate lewis paintings

I’m a little sleepy this morning, so I thought I’d wake myself up with some colorful paintings from artist Kate Lewis. Kate’s paintings of interiors have a loose, organic feel that reminds me of a quick sketch — in the best way possible. They feel as though she joined the homeowner for a cup of tea and happened to have a palette with her to document the moment. Each is a quick peek inside a beautiful room, focusing on small details like fabrics, flowers or lighting. You can check out all of Kate’s paintings right here; it’s fun to see some of the design trends we’ve been covering for the past few years immortalized in paintings (kilims, anyone?). xo, grace

More images after the jump . . .

diy by Kate Pruitt 38

diy project: artwork & secret storage box

Try as I might to achieve minimalism, I just can’t seem to stop the clutter in my life. After a huge clean, the house experiences a few days of perfect organization and cleanliness before the chaos creeps back in, usually through a series of seemingly innocent decisions — a piece of mail I set aside instead of filing away; an irresistible thrift-shop find that gets purchased without a plan for where it should go; a sale on craft supplies. You know how it is. Okay, maybe they’re not so innocent.

While I still plan to eliminate and prevent clutter, I also embrace it to a certain extent as a challenge to finding clever ways of storing things secretly. I consider today’s project a double achievement in this category: I have not only found a place for my extra pieces of art, but I’ve also created a stealth storage unit that can hold the most unsightly items in my house: my random binders, files and paperwork. With the right piece of art and a readymade box, you can make this project in under an hour. So I ask you, if the clutter is hidden behind a pretty piece of artwork and nobody sees it but you, does it exist? Happy crafting ;) — Kate

Read the full how-to after the jump!

sneak peeks by anne 53

sneak peek: kate challis & andrew hollo

The Melbourne, Australia, home of Kate Challis, Andrew Hollo and their 2.5-year-old son, Jasper, is in fact a 19th-century storefront in the inner city, complete with gallery shows in the front window. When they first bought the place seven years ago, friends thought they were crazy, but they loved the rawness of the area and seeing it develop, as well as the village’s strong community. Andrew works as a management consultant and has a love of books (see below). Kate, who authors urban kaleidoscope, an interiors blog devoted to spaces with soul and personality, has run the gamut of experiences, from completing a PhD in art history (early Renaissance illuminated manuscripts) and opening a yoga studio to working as a corporate trainer and facilitator, saying “Like my personal style, my life is very eclectic.” These days most of her time is spent doing what she loves most: being with her family and exploring her passion for design. And when they’re not in Melbourne, they’re in Bali. Thanks, Kate! – Anne

Image above: This antique table I found on eBay; it’s in the kitchen, where we spend most of our time. The curtain fabric is by Timorous Beasties, an avant-garde Scottish textile and fabric designer. At first glimpse, you think it is a traditional toile depicting sweet rural scenes when, in fact, it shows down-and-out life in contemporary London. Totally appropriate for the street on which we live.

Image above: The curtains are a brilliant deep aqua blue. A number of people tried to talk me out of such a bold colour. Conventional wisdom says to stick to more neutral colours for curtains. But where is the fun in that? I have not regretted it. The painting of the girl on the polar bear is by one of my closest friends, Pacquita Maher. What I love about this room is that it is both minimal and luxurious. The chair is an eBay discovery that was recovered, the little deco table is from an antique shop and the metal tin that sits underneath is Balinese.

Image above: The sofa in our living room is 2.5m (over 8 feet) long and big enough for the entire family (including the 2 cats). The Madeline Weinrib raspberry pink rug I found on sale. I almost didn’t get it, as someone else had put it aside, but then they changed their mind and bought a grey or taupe one instead. As the saying goes, their loss was my gain. Like the curtains in the bedroom, it’s bold and not for everyone, but I adore it; it breathes some fun and warmth into the room, which is what you want in a living area. The metal Moroccan tray table I searched for for several years until I found the stand in one shop and the top in another. The art on the wall is a combination of photographs, prints, paintings and watercolours, which were found, bought, collected or given over many years.

See more of this beautiful home after the jump!

flowers by Grace Bonney 12

ariel dearie flowers

Last fall I was waiting in line for brunch at Five Leaves and stumbled upon the cutest little pop-up flower table. Rows of tiny arrangements were being sold and taken home in petite cups, and it took everything I had not to bring them all home. I tucked the florist’s card in my pocket and have been following her online ever since. Ariel Dearie is a Brooklyn-based florist who grew up surrounded by the romantic, overgrown courtyards of New Orleans. That loose, lush feel creeps into her work, whether it’s a small arrangement or a wedding bouquet. I love looking at flowers for inspiration inside, so if you’re interested in a little flower love this morning, click here to check out Ariel’s portfolio online. (You can check out her blog here, too.) xo, grace

More images after the jump . . .

products by Grace Bonney 19

canopy studio by kat webster

Amy and I are working on a special upholstery project for the new D*S office, so I’ve had indie fabrics on my mind. Because our sofa budget limited us to a more affordable box-store sofa, I wanted to use the rest of our seating budget to work with an independent designer in some way. We both love the look of two-tone or partially reupholstered sofas (this one is a fave), so we want to have slipcovers made for just the seats. I’ve been scouring Etsy for some new fabrics to work with, and I loved these options from Kat Webster at Canopy Studio. Kat sells her original designs by the yard right here and also designed this sweet modern cat bed. Cute cat designs and nice textiles? I’m sold. xo, grace