Archive for the ‘decorating’ Category

welcome to twin peaks: a tribute in decor

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

“Harry, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it. Don’t wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee.” — Special Agent Dale Cooper

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When Twin Peaks made its television debut 20 years (!) ago, I was one of those geeky young folks who met up with friends to watch each episode while indulging in strong black coffee, an assortment of donuts, and, of course, delicious cherry pie. I recently got to thinking that while I may not want to live on the Twin Peaks set (though I now live just an hour from the famous falls), it was begging to be saluted in decor. So I invited the most stylish woman I know, Tula Jeng of Whorange, to capture the Pacific Northwest-inspired, slightly freaky, utterly fabulous feel of the show. Behold: from log to antler, a tribute to Twin Peaks in decor! — Mary T.

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Breathe that fresh mountain air! Smell those Douglas firs! And watch for falling deer heads. Above: Keep Twin Peaks green with a recycled cardboard moose or deer head, $28. Share a drink with Ben Horne in an animal shot glass, $32, or simply admire his taste in Native American artwork from the Steinbrueck Native Art Gallery. Get that modern rough-hewn feeling with a set of three birch lamps, $450, or an indoor mountain view with the Coat Range coat rack, $195. Keep the darkness of the Twin Peaks woods at bay with an antler table lamp by Jason Miller, $270.

Tomorrow: the Log Lady!

mark your calendars! pi day is March 14

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

pi_pie

Nerds around the world, sharpen your pencils and shine your calculators — Pi Day is upon us again. Every year, 3/14 is a day we set apart to celebrate Pi, the mathematical constant describing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, because the first three digits are 3, 1, and 4. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (H.RES.224) recognizing the holiday, which is also Einstein’s birthday. That’s all the justification I need to party.

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Because this year’s celebration, isn’t until next Sunday, we have plenty of time to get our pi-parations in order. Visit PiDay.org to learn more about the greatness that is Pi, or send your most deserving friends an e-card. Stock up on your Pi apparel, like this T-shirt from Neatorama or hoodies and housewares from ThinkGeek.

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And get those Pi-cecubes a-chillin’ for their signature Pi-Tini, because once Pi Day eclipses, we’ve got 365 long ones until it’s here again. (Unless, of course, you count Pi Approximation Day on 7/22.) And if you need a little Pi year-round, check out Katie D.’s Pi dresser find for some furniture inspiration. — Sarah C.

by the people, for the people: wpa posters

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

John-wpa

There’s a whole group of design enthusiasts who are tired of the ubiquitous “Keep Calm and Carry On’” posters (spoiler alert: us). To those of you who are totally over it, perhaps these WPA posters can fill the void.

America-wpa

President Franklin Roosevelt created the Federal Arts Project during the Great Depression as a way to keep artists employed, promote healthy living and American tourism, and to emphasize community.

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The Library of Congress houses the largest known collection of about 900 posters. The striking lithograph, woodcut, and silkscreen posters are simple and engaging all at once. Visit Apartment Therapy for a simple guide to ordering prints. — Katie D.

strangely appealing: off the wall paper and shelves

Monday, March 8th, 2010

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Now you don’t have to hunt for a shelf that goes with your wallpaper. Kredema Design, a Swedish company, just launched Off the Wall. Simply combine your choice from their 15 wallpaper designs with your choice of several different 3D acrylic sheets to create shelves, book ledges, or horizontal waves on your walls. Love it? So far Off the Wall is only in-store overseas, but you can make an order request online. — Sarah L.

a blueprint for building the perfect dog (art)

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

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The Animal Blueprint Company has a passion for design, architecture, and animals. The natural outcome of that is these great “blueprints” of a variety of dog breeds. Dachshunds, labs, bull mastiffs, goldens — now you can display the perfect blueprint of your favorite canine pal. Prints are $95 matted and $145 matted and framed — not bad at all. New breeds will continue to be added, but if your dog is perhaps of slightly less standard lineage, the company is happy to make a custom blueprint of your pal. It will cost a bit more at $475 each, but for a one-of-a-kind, custom-made piece featuring your dog, that really doesn’t strike me as outrageous at all. See all the animal blueprints here. — Mary T.

etsy find: state pillows by lovecalifornia

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

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A lot of state pillows seem to be cropping up these days, but I’m kinda fond of the wool felt versions by Etsy seller lovecalifornia. Each one is stitched with a tiny heart so you can show your state some love, and the palette is colorful yet muted enough to keep these pillows from verging into kitsch. Find your state for $38-40 right here. — Mary T.

kinda genius: wine glass lampshade

Monday, March 1st, 2010

wineshades

These little vellum lamp shades will transform any wine glass and votive into a pretty lamp (and any living room into a romantic honeymoon suite) and would also be a beautiful, easy centerpiece for unfussy brides. From the MoMA gift store, they are packaged in groups of three for $15 ($13.50 for members) . — Katie D.

new woolly pocket planters launching march 5

Friday, February 26th, 2010

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Around here, we’ve got spring on the brain — despite the winter weather predictions of a certain clairvoyant groundhog — and it turns out our timing is perfect. On March 5, the folks over at Woolly Pocket are set to add five new additions to the modular gardening family: four standalone pockets and an updated “Wally” vertical planter to offer a sleek design alternative to their utilitarian counterparts.

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All Woolly Pocket planters are made from a breathable felt derived from 100% recycled plastic bottles, but the new planters are made from updated version that is twice as thick and three times as dense — in other words, sturdier. And were that not enough to ponder as we tick off the days until spring, new colors will be available in April, and by May, the Woolly Pocket site will include new features so that gardeners of all levels can discuss their passion and progress.

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Woolly Pocket is doing good beyond their goods, too. Last summer, the company launched their Woolly School Garden program — learn more in Dwell’s interview with founder Miguel Nelson — to teach children in K-12 schools about gardening and nutrition. Such developments may just provide the inspiration we need to keep us busy dreaming, planning and indoor planting until the thaw. (And course if all else fails, you can carry a little garden with you in the Woolly Pocket handbag.)

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Watch the video or visit Woolly Pocket for pocket planting how-to’s. — Sarah C.

post off: what’s your “one that got away?”

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

rope_bedMine was an antique rope bed like the one above that just sold on eBay. We spotted it an an antique store, but my husband, unfortunately, hated it. So it stayed at the store. And stayed. And stayed. And stayed…until one day I went in, and it was gone. In its place was an ugly, faded pink settee that made me miss the bed even more. That was 12 years ago, but I have to admit I still miss that bed. Have a story of a décor love lost? Let’s hear it. — Sarah L.

time to decorate the nursery…with cardboard

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

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How committed are you to living green? Would you consider a 100 percent recyclable nursery, with everything made from cardboard? That may take a little getting used to. It also may not be quite as thrifty as you’re expecting — that cardboard cot above? $300. Check out the entire slideshow at LilSugar.