as part of their 80th anniversary celebrations, faber & faber have released six collections of poems selected by great writers in collectible hardback versions. senior designer miriam rosenbloom commissioned some exciting illustrators and printmakers to create the cover designs and i think the series as a whole is really stunning. much like the penguin classics that were a big hit last year, i think this series will be a wonderful addition to anyone’s home who appreciates great design, great poetry, or both. click here for more information. thanks, miriam!

the bamboolarule from baskerville studio is such a simple, but clever idea. after seeing his arthritic grandfather having trouble picking up a flat ruler in his architecture studio, james at baskerville studio decided to create a clean, modern ruler that would be easier to pick up. the bamboo for bamboolarule is steamed and bent into an arc so fingers can easily pass underneath to pick up the piece. also, by needing to use a little bit of pressure to press it down, it reduces slipping when drawing. the bamboolarule is still in prototype form, but i think it’s such a great idea- and a wonderful example of clever design solving a real problem. click here for more information and to contact baskervillestudio.

i’m loving this sweet silkscreened ’sardana’ print from roddy and ginger. it’s such a nice combination of adult and child-friendly. click here for more info and to buy….

today’s final post belongs to the lovely leslie siegel. leslie has been a prop stylist in the design industry for 14 years and is currently at work on a full-length feature documentary. but today she’s taking a break from work and sharing her park slope, brooklyn home with us. i am dying to have a meal in that cool dining nook (oh, the giraffes!) but there are plenty of great spots, so i hope you’ll enjoy leslie’s peek!

i’m heading out now for my birthday- the biz ladies are taking a breather today so we’ll be back next tuesday with multiple biz ladies posts and plenty of free tips and advice for small-biz owners.

[image above: I live in park slope, brooklyn with my boyfriend of 12 years (lloyd) who is a cinematographer currently making his first documentary film. our apartment is a bit of a mish mash and is still evolving which is why i haven't included more room shots. after our brand new leather sofa from DWR was mercilessly cat-scratched, (our cat Phipps is no longer with us) I had to find creative ways to cover up the holes hence the throws, sheepskin and burlap attempting to look casual but layered strategically. The bird panels/screens behind the sofa were found at an estate sale in Connecticut. we bought like 8 of them and have them leaning all over the apartment. The wall sculpture above the couch was bought on ebay and is by Curtis Jere.]

[image above: The giraffe stencils behind our Saarinen Tulip table and chairs are by artist Jared DeFrancesco who also painted the wonderful deer and dots painting i sent earlier. He's been busy doing commissions: borderofutopia@riseup.net]

[image above: The two lucite Usame coffee tables are by patricia urquiola (one of my design-idols, although these tables are unfortunately lint magnets!) for kartell. On our coffee table: a really great book on women designers is from the 2007 exhibit at Just Scandinavian on Hudson street. Also on the table: lines and shapes! -- love it-- hope to collaborate someday.]

[image above: The striped cotton and beechwood chair is by Les Toiles de Soleil. I know it's for a deck or the beach but i like it in the livingroom (and i can pretend i'm on a deck or the beach) got it at calypso home. The pillow is from auto on washington street.]

[image above: the desk, lloyd and i each have inspiration boards behind the desk. lloyd is a pretty great doodler. we also have some of his childhood art hanging around.]

[image above: I love plants and work very hard not to kill them. i found the runner underneath at cb2-- it is from the non-profit organization Conserve and is made from recycled milk pouches gathered around New Delhi, India.]

[image above: my vintage swedish spice rack]

[image above: our dresser (by blu dot). the art on the blu dot dressers: painting by david licht, collage by leslie, childhood art by lloyd]

caroline lubbers of goldfish marketing spends a lot of time behind the scenes helping promote some of our favorite designers, but today we’re excited to turn the tables on her and show off her home in today’s sneak peek. she and her family live in chicago in a 1915 condo that was rehabbed 10 years ago (they have been their 5 years and are currently putting the place on the market). caroline has created a wonderful palette of bright color mixed in with neutrals where one can rest their eyes that fits in nicely with her love of old things with “previous lives.” you can check out more from caroline on her blog, whipped, and don’t miss additional images right here. [thanks, caroline!] -anne

[in the words of caroline: I am quite a practical person so the things in my life are almost always comfortable and usable.  I am also very nostalgic and love old things with a history.  I prefer family antiques, hand-me-downs, used books and finds from estate sales… anything with a story behind it.   Over the past years, I have been lucky and have found myself surrounded by wildly creative and talented people that have most certainly influenced my style.  Professionally, I have been fortunate to work with such creative geniuses as Katrina Markoff of Vosges Haut-Chocolat and Ebony Snow Chafey of Snow & Graham.  Personally, I have been influenced for years  by old friends including Stephanie Waddell of Agnes & Hoss and artist Maria Vettese, to name a few. ]

Instead of a headboard, we have a piece of Agnes & Hoss silk stretched around a large canvas and hung on the wall.  The pillow is also one of my favorite Agnes & Hoss patterns, Jellyfish.  The bedside tables are antiques painted white and dressed up with Anthropologie nobs.

I love swimming and the sea.  Our bedroom was designed to create the same peace and calm that I get from floating in water.  On the dresser I keep my blue glass bottle collection that has been mostly scavenged from Michigan antique stores.  Tucked next to them are a few shells and a rock found on beaches during recent vacations.

My daughter Vivian and I each have antique dressing tables.  Mine belonged to my great grandmother.  Hers was a find from a small shop in Portland, Oregon.

When we moved in 5 years ago, the one thing I wanted to do was redo the kitchen.  Somehow it never happened.   I did make a few changes like adding chalkboard paint to the back door.  I use it the top half for menu planning and list making.  Vivian uses the bottom half  for her own musings.

I keep my main spices on the counter on top of a simple white tray from CB2.  Somehow, everything seems more organized when sitting atop a tray or dish.

The painting on the wall is by Chicago artist Rob Funderburk.  He painted it on the back of wood taken from a set at the Goodman theatre where he had a part-time job.

Living room fireplace with decorative cover, tile work.

The sunroom chairs are an antique store find and sit around a hand-me-down cherry wood table from my parents.   Our built-in bookshelves and fireplace add to the vintage charm of the old condo.  We never did hook up the gas fireplace as I find the iron fireplace front with the white brick and square tile just as pleasing.

CLICK HERE for the rest of caroline’s peek after the jump!

read more …

in the next month d*s is going to be launching a very, very exciting contest for any artists who specialize in illustration, pattern design and surface design (or anyone who’s ever wanted to try those fields). i can’t give away too much, but it’s going to be all about helping out up-and-coming designers with an opportunity that’s almost too good to be true. so lately i’ve been researching illustrators and surface designers, looking for people who might be great contestants. and today i was thrilled to hear from brooklyn illustrator jing wei. her style is right up my alley and i love the color palette she uses. i’m hoping she might consider joining the competition, but until then, click here to check out more of jing’s beautiful work online.

[ps: if you're a student or designer who is looking to get a leg up in the illustration/pattern/surface design industry, get your profiles ready- we'll be announcing the contest, details and prize(s) soon...]