Design*Sponge

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diy by Kate Pruitt 63

diy project: sculptural braided extension cords


I’m constantly getting into silly arguments with my partner about my DIY projects. Whenever I turn to him for advice, ever the left-brainer, he gives me the practical answer, which I hate. Shouldn’t you be able to carry it this way? Wouldn’t this shape make it sturdier? What’s this extra piece for? Excellent questions, all.

I’m realizing that on the art/design spectrum, I fall much closer to the former than I thought. I like nonfunctional objects, unanswerable questions, excessive use of materials and lots of extra steps. I can’t help it. The problem I’m usually trying to solve is how to add strangeness and beauty to my surroundings, not how to make life easier. If you look at my archive of DIY projects, I think you’ll see that at heart, I’m really not a pragmatist or a minimalist, as much as I’d like to be. Form does not follow function — they duke it out constantly.

I’ve prefaced this particular project with the above disclaimer because I want everyone to know that this project is not practical. Electrical cords continue to vex those with aesthetic sensibilities; the majority of us want them to blend unobtrusively into the background — or better yet, disappear altogether. But say you have a cord that needs to stretch across a room, and you’re sick of the tack-it-along-the-floorboards approach. My hope is that you might consider going the opposite route: Make the cord the center of attention, perhaps a giant colorful braid that you probably won’t trip on because, well, you can’t stop staring at it.

Is this project practical? No. Can you remove the cords easily from these tubes? No. Is it wise to put a giant rope out on the floor? Um, not really. But this is the only extension cord I’ve ever liked enough to potentially wear out of the house as a giant necklace, and that’s success in my book. So if you’re into a little frivolous anti-design, this project is cheap, easy and really fun to make. Enjoy! — Kate

Read the full how-to after the jump!

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amy merrick by amym 24

living in: almost famous



Almost Famous hit me hard as a teenager. To leave behind the Dullsville hallways of high school and hit the road with the likes of fictional band Stillwater was all my 15-year-old heart could dream of. Rollicking tour buses, bedroom floors covered in records, an early 70s appreciation for classic rock — these were my prerequisites for a modern education. — Amy Merrick

1. Steno Notebook, $3; 2. Metal Clip Sunglasses, $45; 3. Papermate Pencil, $10/dozen; 4. Neigh Preston Shearling Coat, $3443; 5. Jet Set Storage Bench, $249; 6. RCA Voice Recorder, $23; 7. Solo Cups, $10/50; 8. Report Platforms, $74; 9. Cream Wheels of Fire, $19; 10. Crosley Portable Turntable, $160

The second set of stills and product round-up continue after the jump . . .

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diy by Kate Pruitt 20

diy project: slatted wood map art

I’ve been seeing a lot of slatted wood lately, mostly in large-scale designs like Morgan Satterfield’s lovely front porch screen or this incredible house that popped up on Desire to Inspire yesterday. I’ve never come across slatted wood as wall art, but after seeing this wall map project from Natalie Gluic, I’m thoroughly convinced that this is a great way to showcase the beauty of the slatted-wood construction.

After giving the strips of wood a rich, deep red oak stain, Natalie traced and painted in a graphic map to add an extra layer of interest. I actually love the abstraction of the map design spanned over the slats, and the subdued paint palette gives the piece sophistication. Constructing the slatted wood is relatively straightforward, and from there you have tons of great options for how to customize it for your own walls. I could also see this looking incredible installed on an outdoor wall with some plants tucked in here and there. Thanks so much for sharing, Natalie! — Kate

Read the full how-to after the jump!

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products by Grace Bonney 9

box 1-7


Sometimes a new product comes along that’s so cool, I have a hard time finding the right words to say so, other than “Wow.” This new modular shelf from BeaMalevich is called Box 1-7 and was created by Finnish designer Pekka Kuivamäki. In essence, Box 1-7 is a shelf that hangs from a single nail and can be constantly rearranged. But it also can be stacked together like Russian nesting dolls or set on a surface to act as standing storage. I love the idea of playing with different formations and shapes on the wall. This would be a fun way to handle small storage in a child’s room, or to manage smaller items in a creative office. No matter where you hang (or stack) it, this is a fantastic concept, and I love how clean and simply it’s executed. Click here to check out the boxes in their various configurations and read more about the design. I can’t wait to see this used in a home tour one day; I think it will inspire a lot of creative shelving concepts. xo, grace



products by Grace Bonney 5

birch bath towel


When it comes to decorating bathrooms, I tend to prefer my textiles as simple as possible. I recently picked up some new white woodgrain-pattern towels for my bathroom, and after seeing those, Kate thought I might like these birch-patterned towels at the Fine Little Day shop. Designed by Marja Rautiainen, these towels have a reversible pattern with white birch trees on one side and black on the other. Each towel has a 70%/30% mix of linen terry and cotton and is available right here. Even if you’re not in the mood for new bath towels, that picture below is worth clicking over. I love the idea that this girl just took a shower and happened to run out into the freezing cold for a photo. xo, grace

products by Grace Bonney 17

makeup for cat ladies


Sometimes the best Valentine’s Day gifts are the ones that you never expect. I got a sweet package in the mail from my mom yesterday and it contained not one but two cat-related gifts. The first one was actually for a cat (Turk thoroughly enjoyed his catnip toy) and the second was for me, the cat-enthusiast. When I opened up the tiny Paul & Joe box I thought it was a box of face blotters (the kind that discreetly soak up excess oil), but it turned out to be a cat-themed and cat-shaped eye shadow! I’m not a huge makeup person, but if anything will get me to wear it, packaging shaped like a cat just might.


When I Googled around for more information, I found that Paul & Joe had created an entire cat-themed range of cosmetics, from shadows and powders to paw-print and cat-face lipsticks. The packaging alone is worth checking out, so if you’re looking for a sweet gift for the cat fan in your life, this might be it. Click here and here to check out and shop their range online. Thanks, Mom! xo, grace