Feel like driving yourself a little batty, or maybe keeping the kids busy for a few days this summer? Check out Clemens Habicht’s 5,000 Colors Puzzle. Five-thousand puzzle pieces join forces to create one 6 1/2 by 2 1/2 foot color gamut. And yes, I totally want 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.
Sayner Black and Antique Brass Swing Arm Wall Lamp Set
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!
Raleigh 17-inch Oil-Rubbed Bronze and Antique Brass Pendant
Dawson Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
DelRay Bay Outdoor Accent Chairs Set
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.
Kai Water Hyacinth Indoor-Outdoor Accent Table
Fletcher Adjustable Back Adirondack Chair
La Jolla 5-Piece Wicker Sectional Soft with Firepit
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!
Posted In behind the scenes, house and home, lighting, living, outdoors, series, shameless plug, win it
Aside from having a name that makes me smile every time I type it, My Friend Paco also has a shop full of creative and heartfelt home decor and fashion. Each piece is produced in Portugal with its own story to tell that’s full of youth, culture, and open-mindedness. If you appreciate unique, contemporary design check out their rugs, variety of cushions, and scarves for a dose of personality and humor!
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.
And now for you! Rebecca has been generous enough to offer one of her Marble Stripe pillows in gray-lilac to a lucky reader! There are 22 ways to enter for a chance to win and you have 48-hours to get after it.
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.
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
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…
Brass Hexagon Incense Burner Set
Circa Brass Incense Burner Set
Cubed3 Marbled Concrete Incense Holder
Saic Pyramid Incense Burner with Tray
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.
National Painting Week 2013: Inspiration Realized
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.
National Painting Week 2014: A Little Less Blue, A Little More Light
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.
Custom Color Matching with Sherwin-Williams
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.
National Painting Week 2015: The Office Reveal
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
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.
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. I don’t even know how to begin to thank each of you for your support along the way to living this dream that I didn’t know I had. To be completely transparent, when it’s been good it’s been great and when it’s been bad I still couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. I never used to believe people who said when you love your job you’ll never work a day in your life, but it’s so very true. And 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 one of the founding sisters of Artifact Uprising at lunch during Alt Summit when we shared a table, and since then I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with them many a time. Katie and Jenna started AU on a foundation of a decade’s worth of experience as professional photographers and a desire to create printed photo goods with elevated quality, thoughtful design, and responsibly sourced materials.
Since 2012 they’ve done that and more by staying true to their mission and an authentic, creative-driven business model. Artifact Uprising‘s focus on sourcing recycled paper for their books and wood products continues to resonate with me and many others, and they continue to give good materials a second chance at life by using locally-sourced fallen beetle-kill pine.
From a basement to an office in Denver, Artifact Uprising still prides themselves on being an authentic company that’s true to its eco-conscious roots – and that matters! Consistently surrounding themselves with people who challenge, and building great things with great people is what AU is all about.
As Artifact Uprising continues to create beautiful, minimal products that everyone is sure to love, they also keep a focus on stellar customer interactions. Seriously – their customer service is some of the best I’ve ever experienced, and it shows in everything from the site’s interface and user experience to the end product showing up at your doorstep.
“We believe that doing good is more important than doing well – and that kindness makes the world right. We believe in travel and the things you can learn from getting lost. And we believe the best lessons come from the listening. We try to laugh when light is needed and persist when the path requires it. We love wide open spaces and campfires and the kind of quiet that allows you to hear the snow crunching below your feet. We believe in those who wake up every day to choose joy. And we believe in the underdog. We believe in always remembering where you came from. We believe each of us will – in time – do something really, really nice for the world.”
Artifact Uprising is kind enough to be giving away a $250 gift code to one Design Crush reader! There are up to SIXTEEN(!) ways to enter, but act fast because you only have 48 hours to get on it. (They’re also offering 10% off using code GIFTDAD if you’re shopping for Father’s Day!)
Posted In accessories, behind the scenes, create, house and home, living, paper goods, prints, series, shameless plug, walls, win it
1/ EcoBark Dog Harness
After years of searching for a harness that helped control my dog’s tendency to pull, as well as one that fit her broad chest/small neck measurements, I’ve found it. This thing is a lifesaver and the straps are made from recycled water bottles – bonus. (Note: runs small)
2/ Lemon Tree
Plants are therapeutic for me, and I picked up one of these little guys during a plant buying binge. I liked the idea of trying to grow it so much that I bought my Grandma one for Mother’s Day, too. No doubt hers will be five feet tall before mine hits 18-inches!
3/ Native Union Night Cable
This ten-foot long cable is amazing for charging your phone and devices while lounging in bed. The weighted knot anchors it to any surface, so you’re not left searching for your fallen phone when the alarm goes off in the morning.
4/ Elemental Coffee
My favorite coffee from when I lived in Oklahoma City remains my favorite 2 1/2 years post-move. The small batch roastery imports and roasts their own, and you can order a subscription service to show up on your doorstep. I highly recommend the Perusha.
5/ NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square
A classic orangey-red that looks amazing on any skin tone, it’s been my go-to for a few years.
6/ Case Study Bentwood Tray Table
I rely on this tray table in the evenings, when I’m sitting on the couch with the dogs and either listening to records or half paying attention to something on television. It’s a great height and wide enough that I can sit crosslegged under it.
7/ Bebe drawn by Preserve a Moment
The super talented Susanne Kasielke drew my pup, Bebe, from a photo I’d shared in Instagram months ago. Her work is top-notch and I suspect it won’t be long until I commission her to illustrate my other pup as well!
8/ Tadesse Bucket Bag
The perfect bag for summer, its roomy interior provides so much space for essentials while the drawstring closure keeps it all secure. (It’s also available in a mini size and several colors of leather!)
9/ Yucca Plant
I had no clue that yucca plants could survive outdoors in Pennsylvania, or that I had three in my front yard, or that they bloom sporadically! Mine sprouted some tall stalks just about overnight, now I’m waiting for their white bell-like flowers to bloom.