when it comes to wall murals, i’m usually a “no, thank you” kinda girl. for some reason they conjure up images of poorly drawn disney characters in children’s rooms and folk art country scenes in my grandma’s house. but when i saw this metallic wall mural from apc at tonky design i was sold. this residential commission on great jones street in manhattan features a shimmering silver graphic pattern that gives a nice sense of visual interest to the wall, without hitting you over the head with an old school “MURAL” vibe. if i had a bright open space like this i would love to have something bold like this on a wide wall. click here to check out more on the project…thanks, apc!

phew! last night was a late night of d*s book work so i’m running a little behind this morning. but i’m so happy to kick things off with a post about the diy elements from our wedding. the martha team did a great slideshow/interview about all the crafty elements of our big day right here, but today, over at the d*s guest blog, i’m posting some of my favorite images of the handmade elements from our wedding, along with explanations of how we made them. there’s info on our stenciled table napkins, fabric escort cards, tea linen ceremony decor, silhouette paper fans (on martha tv yesterday!), paper and button flowers and much, much more. CLICK HERE to check out the full post, all 16 photos and all the ideas over at the d*s guest blog.

*click here for the wedding part 1 post (decor, people, location, dress), and here for the wedding part 2 post (decor, the band and our invites)*

When I first saw Days of Heaven, I was blown away. Totally speechless. It is, without a doubt, the most visually beautiful movie I’ve ever seen. Every frame could make me weep. The music. The costumes. The wheat fields. The farmhouse. The farmer. If you want a peek inside my fantasy realms of my brain, this is your chance.

[image above, clockwise from top left: vintage ticking fabric,polermo umbrella $29, reproduction gramophone $184, mechanic’s light $148, empire sofa, bowler hat $100, antique hat rack $500, pheasant feathers]

Set in the fields of the Texas panhandle in 1916, the film follows three migrant laborers and their deepening entanglement with their wheat farmer boss. Steady, mysterious and understated, it never ceases to lure me and by the end I’m all weepy and longing to run through a field by moonlight. Sadly, wheat fields and open sky are in short supply in Brooklyn, so instead I must placate myself with dreams of farmhouse tables, hunting dogs and faraway gramophones playing old timey music. -amy m.

[image above, clockwise from top left: antique garden forks $195,wooden bowl $20, wheat sheathes $14, mirror $368, wool blanket $ 470, german shorthaired pointer , farm table $1000, grasshopper print $40]

today’s biz ladies post comes from one of my favorite people around: kate caprari of three square design. i’ve been working with kate since the beginning of design*sponge to customize our layout and design and she’s the only reason i know anything about html coding. so when it came time to cover the topic of e-commerce, websites, selling and sharing your business online, i went straight to my favorite source. today kate is covering all of the different options for getting your business online, so whether you’re looking to set up a small shop, a blog for your business, or a custom-designed website she’s got all the advice, tips, links and details you need to get started at any level. if you’re thinking about getting your work online this is a definite must-read. thanks so much to kate for sharing this advice with us!

CLICK HERE for kate’s full post after the jump!

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i wanted to take a little time out today to post a special mid-week sneak peek from yves of i love deer in belgium. yves recently moved from the city out to the country side to find more open space and natural light that would fit his budget.

yves found an old gatekeeper’s home from the beginning of the previous century and embarked upon a series of remodels and upgrades over the past few years, removing some of the interior walls to create a more open, airy feel. during the rebuild yves kept green building practices in mind, focusing on sustainable wood and using solar panels to provide power for the home.

there are over 130 square feet of windows in the “new” home as well as a great mix of old and new scandinavian furniture. the majority of yves’ furniture came from flea markets, secondhand shops, family hand-me-downs and ikea. i think the finished look is a really lovely modern take on a country house- and would the perfect place to get away from it all after a hectic day (or year) in the city. great work, yves! click here to see more yves work online and click here to view these images full sized on flickr.

CLICK HERE for the rest of yves peek (including all 12 images on one page) after the jump!

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[image above by aron wright]

today’s city guide is dedicated to nashville, tennessee! i’ve been dying to check out nashville for years and am thankful to nashville native lindsay for creating today’s guide to eating, shopping, entertainment and site-seeing in this exciting city. so, a big thanks to lindsay for sharing her local’s tour of nashville!

CLICK HERE for the full guide to nashville after the jump!

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