In the 1970’s mysterious Italian designer Lino Schenal clad his house in sculpted styrofoam, from walls to simple, stylish furniture. Fifty years later we looked to Max Lamb to reveal the secrets of the ubiquitous material for making artful, practical creations.
Read MoreSummer Outdoor Rug Thing
Every time I see this photograph of a garden festooned with vintage rugs, I want to beam myself there Star Trek-style and lounge, reading, drinking tea, napping, with friends or alone. It reminds me of Morocco where the hot, dry weather encourages making outdoor environments with rugs. We can create them too. at least for a party’s worth of hours.
Read MorePictures Hung in Unexpected Places Expand the View
Ever since we spotted this house with framed art on the outside, we’ve been thinking about wonderful places to hang pictures that most people don’t use.
Read MoreBanksy: How to ‘Create Escape’
We’re inspired in so many ways by graffiti artist Banksy’s brilliant tutorial done to the words of Bob Ross, TV painting instructor and host of the iconic Joy of Painting show from 1983 to 1994. Along with revelatory technique is a philosophy for navigating life…
Read MoreThe Cosmic Meaning of Polka Dots and How to DIY Them (Yayoi Kusama)
We love the green polka dots in this down-at-heels kitchen, a perfect way to jazz up a wall. It got us thinking about their cosmic meaning and how to make them without laboriously holding up stencils.
Read MoreMatisse’s Homemade Wallpaper
When we looked closely at this stumbled-upon image of Henri Matisse, we realized that the wallpaper behind him was really tacked up prints and drawings. Brilliant. Looking for more, we found a trove of ideas to employ.
Read MoreHow to Socialize in the Cold + Richard Johnson’s Ice Huts
With winter fiercely, the covid-mandated necessity to socialize outdoors is challenging for those of us who live in cold regions or are simply cold-sensitive. So I’ve hunted down advice about how to hang out outside, whether at a restaurant or on a park bench or in an ice hut if you happen to have one.
Read MoreHouse Paint by Artists + Why (Katharina Grosse, Andrea Zittel)
After months being seriously home-bound, I’ve found myself looking around my space for ways to shift my head. The work of several artists provided both inspiration and illumination as to why…
Read MoreA Bed Surrounded by Flowers Makes a Dreamy Respite
When we stumbled on thisimage by photographer Jill Burrow, we thought, ‘Ah yes. We’d love to sleep surrounded by flowers, especially now, after months of guarded and circumscribed living.’ Looking closely, we found permission to do it…
Read MoreGiant Twisting Balloons Inspire Furniture and Your Own Big Ideas
Designer Seung Jin Yang’s whimsical furniture appears to be made of the kind of twistable balloons used to entertain kids. OMG, we thought, could we make furniture out of balloons?
Read MoreHow to Dispel Worry (Mary Oliver)
Worry and overwhelm are common emotions these days. This morning, we found two simple things that shifted us out of them.
Read MoreAi Weiwei: On Home, Living in Isolation, Hope
Ai Weiwei’s thinking on purpose, home, isolation, hope are an insightful lens through which to consider our current circumstance. And especially, how the impossible becomes possible.
Read MoreThis Artist of Gardens Will Change How You See
Piet Oudolf is an artist who uses plants as his medium. He changed how we see landscapes and the possibilities of our own gardens.
Read MoreA Closet Nook for Sleeping or Writing
While we’re home social distancing, finding usable home ideas for when things blow over fortifies us to practice possibility thinking.
Read MoreEscape to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s Casa Azul
Transported via the virtual tour of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s Casa Azul in Mexico City, we found ourselves wandering through gardens, studios and living spaces: much-needed escape and delight.
Read MorePractical Ways to Alleviate Toilet Paper Anxiety and Hoarding
We’ve read a lot theories for the toilet paper hoarding that has marked the Coronavirus pandemic. We have a few of our own + viable alternatives.
Read MoreDonald Judd Spaces: A Deep Dive Into Judd’s Inspired Designs for Living
We are thrilled by the publication of Donald Judd Spaces, a rare visual survey of the legendary artist’s living and working spaces. It contains a trove of new and archival photographs alongside five essays by the artist which afford a close look and greater understanding of his integrative thinking and aesthetic, and very employable ideas.
Read MoreThe Pleasures of Unframed Artwork Directly on the Wall, Naked
Experiencing Rondinone’s massive painting nailed directly to the wall got us thinking about enjoyable and…intimate…an experience unframed art can be. Along with a simple way to hang it.
Read MoreOilcloth (Not PVC) Makes a Surprisingly Cool, Wipe-Clean Tablecloth that Protects Your Wood Table
When the mid-century wood table I set up for dining and work took a hit from a spilled glass of water, I cast about for a protective everyday solution that wouldn’t look like plastic. I found it in old-fashioned oilcloth…
Read MoreLi Ziqi’s Soothing, Addictive Videos Portrays Living ‘in the Flow’
On Chinese vlogger Li Ziqi’s mesmerizing YouTube channel. she doesn’t speak and there are no how tos or manic hosts,. Instead she evokes a quiet, very pastoral, very ancient way of life whose effect is deeply soothing.
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