We keep stumbling on brilliantina interior designer Andrée Putman‘s clever, simple, visionary plays on ordinary objects. Here she hacked a clawfoot tub way-before-her-time, by replacing the claw feet with giant balls to give the tub a completely “other” modern look. It retains the comforing depth, length and back-slope of the classic clawfoot. Putman used this…
Read More
One of our favorite books as kids remains A Hole Is to Dig, A Dictionary of First Definitions, a brilliant wise collaboration by the great Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak. We only recently discovered Open House for Butterflies originally published in 1960. It is indeed a treasure full of charmingly philosophical, zen-ish, in-the-moment wisdom, perfect for kids…
Read More
Frequent contributor Susan Dworski passed on this photo and commentary from her brother, who lives on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala: West side neighbor’s guardian’s solution to lack of long enough wood piece for a hand rail along the camino publico…….. While not entirely w/out a certain rustic charm……. Flip side of well orchestrated indigenous handicraft……… Cockamamie for…
Read More
(Watch video HERE.) Watch this video with the sound off and you’d swear it was special effects made by Dreamworks or Hollywood. In fact, it was filmed in Norway, Finland and Sweden during autumn, winter and spring, the three seasons those countries have darkness. The “silent storms” referred to are the geomagnetic storms which takes place…
Read More
All the elements of a classic, unrenovated loft are here: tin ceiling, pipes and sprinklers snaking across the ceiling and down a wall, big old iron radiators, electrical boxes showing, a door that had been painted a million times… Fashion Designer Betsy Johnson totally transformed it by painting walls and ceiling a daring LOUD pink.…
Read More
Although acrylic can initally be pretty cool looking, we’ve never been crazy about it given it’s tendency to scratch and yellow with age. But recently, Design Milk’s Interview with Aaron R. Thomas, “Master of All Things Acrylic” shifted our view a bit. When we saw the acrylic furniture Thomas had painted, a light bulb went off.…
Read More
Stunned by sight of a scarlet phaleonopsis, I actually BOUGHT this PLASTIC orchid for $5.99 at TJ Max when I was shopping one day. Sure, it’s flat-out fake, but it radiates unfailing good cheer every day, winter or summer, day or night. And it serves as an essential reminder.
Read More
On the heels of our post about found Art and Inspiration, we stumbled on this at Aqqindes: artist Carl Andre’s found steel sculptures, circa 1960! Beautiful!
Read More
David Saltman over at Houdini File sent us these beautiful 3D optical illusions created in sand, which allow for many possibilities for real and imaginary play, art, sports, fun….
Read More
This simple, stylish hanging shelf is made of only 3 elements: a (painted) board, suede or leather lacing, wall hooks. It reminded us of other cool iterations —some more complex, some simpler — of the hanging shelf.
Read More
Passing by a park one day, we found a ready-made sculpture with a curiously-modern feel. Found art and inspiration comes frequently when you cultivate the practice of seeing. Here’s a trove of examples.
Read More
The other day, a friend texted smartphone snapshots from a book she was reading: whole pages, with passages she found illuminating marked in pencil. It’s one of the best uses for SMS messaging we’ve seen, as though our friend was putting the book into our hands or reading the paragraph directly to us.
Read More
A sensual description of Anson Mills’ Appalachian Heirloom Sweet Flint Popping Corn reminded of my popcorn improvisations, when I went haywire experimenting with different flavorings. Download 6+ recipes plus a ton of inspiration in a free PDF from The Improvisational Cook.
Read More
Jake Lodwick created an online-customizable, free-print-out management system called Standards. According to Lodwick: In a matter of months, you’ll be a high-performing, self-directed Überperson – guaranteed!” We’re gonna try it!
Read More
The big glass picture window door looks great at first, affording an expansive view of the garden. But think of the arc of that door as it opens — a good 5 feet at least! You couldn’t have any furniture or planters in the way, because a door needs unobstructed space to open. The door then dictates…
Read More
This image of a charming plywood platform bed reminded us of the late Tobias Wong’s bed made of a mattress on top of a grouping of file cabinets. No need for an OFFICIAL bed, of the grand style seen on every home blog and magazine. A good mattress on a flat sturdy slab is a simple formula. And…
Read More
There are many explanations for the symbolism of the maypole, around which people dance in celebration of May Day…Here are a few.
Read More