Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
I first met Sarah Fox, founder and jewelry designer of all things Cursive Design, what feels like ages ago. After falling for her work we connected online (oh gosh, it was such a smaller place then) and then became pals. Her Chicago-based jewelry line was created in 2005 and is inspired by Sarah’s background in art – she received a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a focus in Sculpture, Color Theory, and Lighting Design. Triple threat!
Cursive Design‘s ever-evolving collection strikes a balance between everyday wearable pieces that also create a statement. Her jewelry designs are characterized by their playful shape composition, relaxed geometry, and use of targeted color combinations. Sarah takes great time and care when sourcing the materials involved in the creation of every piece, and each is made by hand in her studio.
I’ve had the pleasure of attending New York Fashion Week twice, and in 2012 I took Sarah along with me to work on a sponsored project! She created the most incredible art deco-inspired reversible necklace featuring cast brass shapes with the help of a little input from Design Crush’s readers.
I must own at least seven pieces of Cursive Design‘s jewelry, and every time I wear one I’m complimented. Everything is so wearable, I’ve dressed it up and dressed it down and love the versatility of Sarah’s designs. She is generously offering one reader a mini collection of jewelry – color theory no. 7 necklace, dalmatian jasper supermoon necklace, primary circle earrings, triple triangle stud, and circle stud. All pieces can be seen above! You know how it goes, this time there are 24 ways to enter to win but only 48-hours to do it.
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
Krist Kohut is a longstanding favorite artist of mine who has been featured on the pages of Design Crush more than once. Her mixed media art makes me smile time and time again, whether it’s a piece from her intricate Agate collection or the more freestyle Color Field body of work. I feel like I just get Kristi’s work and in turn she must get me – and that’s a great feeling no matter where it comes from!
Krist‘s multi-media art is inspired by nature and she uses any number of mediums to create it, including acrylic, watercolor, ink, pastels, and glass beads. In 2007, in addition to her art practice, she founded Kristi Kohut Home, a design studio dedicated to making high-end fabrics, pillows, poufs, and wallpaper featuring her signature work.
“My work is influenced by color and pattern in the world all around us. A permeating crack on the sidewalk, the vibrant layers of agate rock, the exotic clothing of a faraway place, are my muses. I love the color and effect created when unexpected colors and textures are combined. The glossiness of an acrylic paint next to the chalky texture of a pastel. Or an iridescent blend next to a thick, velvety smudge of oil pigment.
My process is an intuitive dance of play, working until I find just the right combination of color and texture. I know when it is done, when it elicits a feeling inside, a zing, a ping of joy or pleasure that often comes with that final touch or pop of color, suddenly transforming the piece. That feeling is a connection to something more, something that is not of the day-to-day routine of life. The antithesis of routine. A hint at what’s on the other side of this world.”
I own three pieces of Krist Kohut‘s art, as well as a pillow and a scarf. Since releasing her line of wallpaper it’s become a goal to deck out one of my bathrooms with some of her pattern there as well. Of course we’re not leaving you out of the fun – Kristi is kindly gifting one reader with their choice of either one huge 37 x 57-inch print OR two 22 x 30-inch prints! You’ve got 22 chances to enter and 48-hours to make it happen, you know the drill.
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
Lamps Plus, the nation’s largest lighting retailer, has a rather deceiving name – because the Plus is quite impressive as well. Working with them over the years, I’ve added several pieces to my own home from several of the different lines Lamps Plus houses under their proverbial roof. And over the course of time a few lines began to separate themselves as I found myself going back to their pages when I was in need (or want) of something new.
So, I thought I’d share my two favorite Lamps Plus brands with you.
First let’s talk about lighting since that’s what they’re known for, my favorite being 360 Lighting. What really draws me to this line is the breadth of their design offerings, which leans in the bohemian, mid-century, industrial direction. Table lamps, floor lamps, wall lamps, and pendants, they’ve got it all and in finishes that I’m drawn to like a moth to a flame. I have a pair of the Helene Ceramic Table Lamps above on the nightstands in my bedroom and love the texture they bring to the space. Lately I’ve been eyeing a replacement for the arc floor lamp in my living room and keep coming back to pharmacy lamps as a possible option. The Dawson below is number one on my list, and you really can’t beat the price!
Now, let’s get on to the plus because it’s just as fantastic. Doing a quick inventory of my home I realize I own a bench, a bookcase, an armchair, two dining chairs, and a throw pillow from Lamps Plus. And that’s just on the inside! I may love the outdoor pieces even more, two of which are from Teal Island Designs. A few years back I picked up a set of red DelRay Accent Chairs (above), and they adorned my front porch before moving to the back deck this year to act as extra table seating. This spring I took full advantage of the current wicker trend by adding two Hyacinth Accent Tables (below) to the porch for plants. (More to come on that in the next week!) Teal Island’s pieces are made to be used, meaning they can take some wear and tear. Such an important quality when it comes to furniture that’s going to be exposed to the elements.
If you’ve seen something you’d love to add to your own place, or want to browse Lamps Plus a bit, you’re in luck because they’re kindly giving one reader a $250 gift card! Check it out, there are 22 ways to enter but only 48-hours so get going!
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
I’ve followed Rebecca Atwood and her creative process for several years now, and her collection is forever expanding and getting better. Pillows, bedding, dining, wallpaper, art, and fabric by the yard in her signature colors and prints are the perfect pieces to mix in with what you already have to achieve that effortless vibe that so many find elusive.
The latest addition to Rebecca Atwood‘s line is embroidered fabric in seven different colors and patterns that were inspired by a trip to Mexico. Each look was thought out in her sketchbook before being realized and woven in India, then spot-embroidered. The line is ethically-made, just like everything Rebecca makes. And while undeniably beautiful, every single piece is also functional and meant to get better with use.
Aside from a set of Rebecca‘s cobalt shibori pillows that have been a mainstay on my bed for years, I’ve also had the pleasure of using her line of wallpaper. Rather than putting it on the walls, I decked out the back wall of my non-functioning fireplace with the marble in clay-blue for a bit of unexpected pattern in an otherwise dark spot.
Have you read her book, Living with Pattern? It’s one of my recent favorite home decor books, in it Rebecca covers how to work with patterns you may already own, how to add pattern to unexpected places, and the use of pattern in homes across the country. I highly recommend picking it up if you’re drawn to interiors, pattern, or a bohemian aesthetic.
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
I have two favorite jewelry designers in Austin, Texas and this is one of them – meet Fail. After working for two internationally renowned jewelry designers, Christine Fail (yes, that’s her actual last name) decided to strike out and put her stamp on the world. I had the chance to meet her in person a few years ago and she’s just the absolute embodiment of her brand and the pieces she creates – understated elegance, delicate yet strong, a modern classic.
Christine is also a smart businesswoman and split Fail into three categories – Fail, Epic Fail, and a home line. Fail offers designs in 14K gold fill and sterling silver, Epic Fail‘s line is full of timeless designs in 14K gold and diamonds, and the home collection is stocked with unique metal accessories.
I wear this 14K Open Ring in yellow gold from the Epic Fail line on my left hand every day. It’s so perfectly thin that I barely feel it, yet sturdy enough that it doesn’t feel precious which is a balance that I really look for in all jewelry I wear regularly. (It’s also available in rose gold and white gold.)
I hung one of Christine’s organic spirit chains on the curtain rod above my bed before even knowing that’s where it’s supposed to go! These hand-cut and hammered brass beauties come in three different lengths, and are meant to be hung next to a window or in a curtain to keep bad dreams at bay. It’s one of my very favorite things.
All three of Fail‘s lines are always expanding, which means I’ve got my eye out for new pieces to add to my own collection. After the latest round of additions I’m eyeing the Graphite Ridge Ring, the 14K Lightning Stud, the Aeon Earrings, and the Saros Necklace (that stone!).
Oh, and guess what! You have a chance to win a $250 gift card to spoil yourself or someone you love with Fail goodies! There are 18 chances to enter but only 48-hours to do it, so get going. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
While we’re busy celebrating 10 years of Design Crush this month, independent book publisher Chronicle Books is over in San Francisco celebrating 50 years! Every cover they touch is perfectly designed and every book completely on target, leaving no question that Chronicle had a hand in its creation. They’ve been one of my favorite partners throughout the years simply because they do what we here at Design Crush strive to accomplish as well – foster the growth and passion that creativity sparks.
They’ve published some of my favorite books on my bookshelves, and to help us celebrate Chronicle Books is gifting one reader with a selection of eight amazing titles. Pop down below for 18 chances to win! But act fast – you’ve only got 48 hours.
Explorers’ Sketchbooks – This remarkable book showcases 70 sketchbooks, kept by intrepid men and women as they journeyed perilous and unknown environments – frozen wastelands, high mountains, barren deserts, and dense rainforests – with their senses wide open. Here are profiles, expedition details, and the artwork of pioneering explorers and mapmakers, botanists and artists, ecologists and anthropologists, eccentrics and visionaries.
Letter of Note: Volume 2 – Each turn of the page brings delight and discovery in a collection of 125 correspondences that spans centuries and place, written by the famous, the not-so-famous, and the downright infamous. Entries are accompanied by a transcript of the letter, a short contextual introduction, and a spirited illustration – in most cases, a facsimile of the letter itself.
Ducksoup: The Wisdom of Simple Cooking – The debut cookbook from Clare Lattin and Tom Hill, chefs of London’s popular restaurant Ducksoup, featuring more than 130 seasonal, simple, clean recipes. Organized into seven chapters, Ducksoup takes the reader through the restaurants “clean” cooking philosophy and shares the inspiration for the restaurant.
Card Catalog: 30 Notecards from the Library of Congress – Enclosed in a keepsake replica card catalog box with tabbed dividers, each card features a different beloved work of literature straight from the storied collection of the Library of Congress.
Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (in That Order) – Art historian Bridget Quinn delves into the lives and careers of 15 brilliant female artists in text that’s smart, feisty, educational, and an enjoyable read. Replete with beautiful reproductions of the artists’ works and contemporary portraits of each artist by renowned illustrator Lisa Congdon, this is art history from 1600 to the present day for the modern art lover, reader, and feminist.
Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home Cooking Triumphs – The process of truly great home cooking is demystified via more than a hundred lessons called out as “small victories” through a lifetime of cooking thousands of meals. This beautifully curated, deeply personal collection emphasizes bold-flavored, honest food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms – Equal parts instruction and inspiration – a book overflowing with lush photography of magnificent flowers and breathtaking arrangements organized by season. This beautiful guide to growing, harvesting, and arranging gorgeous blooms year-round gives readers vital tools to nurture a stunning flower garden and use their blossoms to create showstopping arrangements.
Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World – The 100 revolutionary women highlighted in this gorgeously illustrated book were bad in the best sense of the word: they challenged the status quo and changed the rules for all who followed. From pirates to artists, warriors, daredevils, scientists, activists, and spies, the accomplishments of these incredible women vary as much as the eras and places in which they effected change.
My introduction to incense was by way of a hippie-ish store I used to visit in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh during high school. To say, it was horrible. That generic smell that I’m sure you can bring to mind if you think about it only a little. The holder I used (sat atop a trunk covered in skateboarding stickers and candles) was one of the wooden ski-shaped variety. In college I finally discovered the better smelling stuff, but to this day I still have that same holder. I’d say it’s far past time for an upgrade…
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sherwin-Williams more than any other sponsor, and this giveaway was the perfect reason to look back at all of the magic we’ve created together with their top-notch paint and my imagination!
First up was the front door at my house in Oklahoma City – did you know there’s a correct way to paint a door? I took the entry from builder beige to Energetic Orange in one spring afternoon and was thrilled with the outcome. It made my home stand out in a neighborhood full of blah.
The next year, as I was preparing to make my move halfway across the country, I was in the process of getting my home ready to put on the market. I partnered with Sherwin-Williams to downgrade the level of blue in the hall bath with a gallon of Mountain Air. The house sold in SIX DAYS, and I just know that relaxing spa-like space had something to do with it.
When I bought my home in Pennsylvania that fall, I reached out to Sherwin-Williams for their expertise once again. After living in a home with rooms painted several colors I knew I wanted this space to be the exact opposite – as in all the same. I had a vision of a gallery-like space in my mind, one that would let my collection of art do the talking and fade away beautifully into the background. I was able to take a chip of paint from the baseboards into a Sherwin-Williams store, where they spent half an hour patiently helping me color match an end result that’s as unique as my 117 year old home.
Two springs ago we partnered once again, this time to give my home office a modern update. It had already been painted the aforementioned Sherwin-Williams customized color and I wanted to give it a pop of personality that felt like Design Crush’s brand. I settled on a diagonal accent wall in Cosmetic Pink, which is similar to the pink of this site and love the spike of energy it can give during afternoon slumps.
Last fall we took Sherwin-Williams‘ Color of the Year – Poised Taupe – off the walls and put it in some unexpected places instead, namely on the legs of an end table and a pattern on a seagrass basket.
In select markets Sherwin-Williams has a team of ColorSnap Consultants who do in-home consultations to help you select the right color palette and products for the projects you’re dreaming of taking on. In addition to five gallons of paint, they’re offering one reader a free ColorSnap consultation if he/she lives in a consultation market. (If not, they’ll provide a gift card for design services.) A value of over $500. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Nothing makes me feel more prepared for travel than a solid dopp kit – do you have one? I actually keep doubles of a lot of my toiletries permanently inside because it makes packing for a trip much easier, and thereby me far less likely to forget something. I have a patterned one from Hammocks & High Tea that’s served me well for at least five years, I love it and can’t wait to take it along for a few more adventures this summer.
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could. NOTE: You have 24-hours left to enter yesterday’s giveaway to win a $250 gift card to Artifact Uprising!
I was a fan of Umbra long before we ever became brand partners – I’m talking college days. The Toronto-based company no longer carries those first purchases I made, but my home is still full of their original, modern, casual, and functional products. Bonus: Their price points are fantastic, making great design affordable for the masses.
Great design can make you think outside the box, and that’s just what Umbra does for me in my home. I’ve used grouping of toothbrush holders as sleek vases, magazine racks to hold linens and cutlery when the table was too full, and wall art to decorate wreaths during the holidays. This coat rack stands in my entry, and this napkin holder on my kitchen counter – I truly love this brand and all it stands for.
Umbra‘s originality in thought and process radiates throughout their catalogue of goods, maybe even more so in the lesser-known Umbra Shift. It’s a small offshoot that’s downright high design featuring established, emerging, and in-house designers creating functional items that are design forward. (I love the Cowboy Coffee Kettle!)
Umbra has every room in your home covered, and one reader has the chance to win a $250 gift card for a little summer spruce up! You have 48-hours and eighteen chances to enter.
