ikea really does have some amazing finds! while i do love some of their more unique, signature products, my favorites are the very plain, simple accessories; they allow you to customize them in so many ways to fit your own style. they beg for hacking! i’ve had my eye on the skala tray ($14.99) for a while. i love its clean form, and at first the simple beech wood was appealing to me, but when i brought it home i found it disappeared among the more eclectic objects in the bedroom. with a cork roll and some spray paint, i have made a totally transformed tray that is perfect for my bed activities: reading, snacking, drinking tea, using my computer – i admit that i have a tendency to set up camp in bed sometimes. if serving yourself tea in bed isn’t your thing, you could also hang this tray from a ribbon and have a message board! this project takes only an hour or so, and is great for a rainy, snowy day. have fun!! – kate
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!
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March 10th, 2010 - 11:00am
we’ve got a whole slew of diy posts coming up today so i wanted to kick things off with this fun and affordable idea from artist eleanor grosch. eleanor picked up some cheap blue and white ikea dishtowels and turned them into a “south of france-inspired” tablecloth. total cost? $5. such a clever idea and a pretty look for spring. click here for eleanor’s full steps on her blog. thanks, eleanor!
*click here for a sneak peek into eleanor’s home!
March 10th, 2010 - 10:00am
when i look at photographs, i want to travel. whether it’s to an actual destination, or to a make-believe world that the image creates or inspires, i’ve always really loved the way pictures can make you go somewhere else in your mind. so when i saw silvana’s photographs from paris on etsy, i was instantly smelling strong (strong!) coffee, hearing the sound of street music and imagining all of the beautiful buildings in the city of lights. silvana has a really beautiful set of parisian images in her ‘leefee’ etsy shop, but she also has some lovely nature and nautical-inspired photos as all, all priced at either $17 or $32, depending on size. click here to check out her full collection and shop online.
March 10th, 2010 - 09:00am
when it comes to bedding, i tend to swing to both extremes: i really love crisp, preppy, tailored bedding, and i also love really undone, natural-feeling bedding. so i was happy to hear from tricia rose about her collection called “rough linen“. tricia based the collection on old linen from her grandmother’s house in scotland and her own home in france, focusing on creating a rough look, with a texture that’s still soft on the skin. each piece is made the old way with french seams (no serging), cut to the thread, and pre-washed for shrinkage and to release the texture. i really love this look and thought some of you might enjoy the natural, raw look to these pieces, too. click here to check out tricia’s collection and shop online (prices range from $35-$400 for pillows and duvets).
ps: speaking of beds- simone has a great post on storage beds over at the d*s guest blog. click here to check out all of her small space living ideas!
March 10th, 2010 - 08:00am
I think I’m lacking the certain extra whimsicality that causes some girls to devote their lives to Alice in Wonderland. I like Alice, a lot, but I am no Alice fiend. But since she is on the tip of everyone’s tongues this week I thought I’d pay a little homage to the heroine of the moment. I haven’t seen the new movie and I have to admit, I don’t have plans to see it. The publicity stills have sort of turned me off of it for awhile. “My” Alice is the 1972 musical version Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a VHS which my mom would relentlessly rent from the public library. Small selection, I guess. Even if you were hooked on the Disney version, Burton’s latest adaptation or just read the book like a smart girl, the heart of Alice stays the same. So pick your own fantasy, Alice is yours for the imagining.
1930s copy of Alice in Wonderland $12.50, john derian “Ace of Spades” tray $110, tiffany&co key charm $300, bow headband $50, one lump or two lamp $198, bow gloves $50, vintage 1950s dress $320, john derian coasters $25/each, antique cobalt bottle $5, judith leiber crystal clutch $3995.
Out of everything I’ve found in the hours (and hours and hours and hours) I’ve spent looking for things for this series, this Alice wallpaper takes the cake. Printed from the 1930s artwork of CFA Voysey, it smacks of awesomeness all around. Which is why I, a non-alice freak, am itching to plaster it everywhere. Walls, ceilings, my first born child. (evidence of my love- the all important twitter background.) So let’s talk Alice… Love or loathe? -amy m.
*stay tuned for a d*s video interview with david berman of trustworth soon!
trustworth’s Alice in Wonderland wallpaper $7/sq foot, bunny ring $12, cardiff teacup $18, gray top hat $58, pocket watch $53, teak croquet set $423.
March 9th, 2010 - 01:00pm
illustration by julia rothman (a very limited edition of prints are available in the julia rotham shop)
Spring is in the air (this week, at least!), which means one thing – flea market season! Here on the East Coast, most flea markets pack up for the winter and dealers go off to restock, but then resume with force in the spring. The d*s team will be heading up to Brimfield in May and I’m already making my wish list and saving my pennies. White ironstone makes my list each and every flea market trip – I just can’t get enough!
collection of stoneware from 1840-1870 via 1st dibs
Ironstone is a type of stoneware that was first produced in Staffordshire, England by 19th century potters looking for a cheap alternative to porcelain that could be easily mass-produced in English factories. Most of this early ironstone was decorated to imitate Chinese porcelain.
the masons ironstone china factory is on the right in victoria square, fenton – the square also housed a drinking fountain (center) and a public urinal. photo c.1915 via thepotteries.org
The name ‘ironstone’ was patented by Charles Mason of Staffordshire in 1813. Many Staffordshire potteries had similar products known by a variety of names – semiporcelain, opaque porcelain, English porcelain, stone china, new stone – but all referring to essentially the same thing. Mason’s patent ran out quickly and other Staffordshire factories adopted the name ‘ironstone.’
white ironstone and flowers from Sprout Home
White ironstone has definitely become highly collectible so you might have to hunt for a bargain. Don’t shy away from a piece with a little staining – see below for cleaning tips!
CLICK HERE for more ironstone!
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March 9th, 2010 - 12:00pm
i am excited to welcome designer michelle smith to the biz ladies series. although not new to design*sponge by any means, michelle has graciously offered some very helpful tips on how to balance parenthood with biz lady-hood. thanks michelle for some great pointers on time management and helping us become jackies-of-all-trades!-stephanie
*we hope that all of you talented working moms and dads will share your tips and advice for balancing life/work in the comment section as well. it’s definitely a subject that many people will relate to and identify with…
CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!
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March 9th, 2010 - 11:00am
photo by brian morrison
today i am beyond thrilled to post a city guide to an area that’s just across the water from me: jersey city, new jersey. written by jersey city local kristen scalia of kannibal home, today’s guide is dedicated to celebrating all of the great places to eat, shop, stay, and have fun. kristen explained, “from the shore’s fist-pumpers to the north’s supposed organized crime families, new jersey has its fair of mixed publicity. but i was born and bred here and am happy to point out that new jersey is filled with historical charm, fantastic eateries, and shopping destinations that provide unique goods and copious amounts of charm.” i’m happy, too and am excited to share kristen’s guide here today. thanks, kristen!
CLICK HERE for the full jersey city guide after the jump!
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March 9th, 2010 - 10:00am
if you want to know how i spent, oh, 4 solid hours of my life last night, let me introduce you to the wealth of inspiration that is the world of playing cards. playing cards, grace? really? yes, really. i don’t know how i ended up on this site, but i had to physically pull myself away from it after i’d covered every inch of my desktop with images i wanted to save and work with at some point.
i’ve always had a major soft spot for anything queen of hearts related (wait until you see amy’s “alice in wonderland” themed living in post today!), so i’ve always found myself collecting images here and there that remind of me hearts, spades and anything antique and regal-looking. so when i first loaded world of playing cards i think i felt my heart actually skip a beat. it was like i’d stumbled into a world of complete and total inspiration- there wasn’t a single image that failed to elicit an “ooh!”, and i ended up calling a friend and forcing her to put down her work so she could check it out.
simon wintle’s collection of images and information on the history of playing cards is astonishing. you can search and examine cards from all different countries, or search based on subject matter or specific designer. i learned so much more than i could have even hoped for, so if you’ve got some time (a few hours, maybe?) to spare, i highly suggest checking out the world of playing cards site. the tiny artwork on each card is beautiful, and it’s really amazing to see how the design of cards has changed over the years. click here to check out the site and get inspired…
*all images via the world of playing cards*
CLICK HERE for more beautiful playing card images after the jump!
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March 9th, 2010 - 09:00am
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