Caroline Gomez‘s work ticks off all the boxes: natural, soft, and well-designed. I’m particularly drawn to her pastel ceramics and kitchenwares. Wouldn’t that planter look lovely suspended over my kitchen sink? I think so, too.
01/ A minimalist depiction of mental disorders.
02/ This zen rock garden is actually full of Japanese candy!
03/ Hilariously true animated gifs of basic tips and etiquette for surviving in NYC.
04/ Painstakingly crafting portraits of musicians made from cornflakes.
05/ Ringly lights up and buzzes when your phone needs you!
06/ This retired Boeing 727 was converted into a home in the woods. Would you dare?
07/ Picnic Lounge is an oversized blanket that resembles an antique rug. Clever.
08/ Smart ads for Keloptic turn impressionist art into realism.
09/ Social Planes take you offline – download, write, fold, and fly!
10/ When baristas and bartenders joins forces we are blessed with coffee cocktails.
This week on Design Crush:
Have you entered our Soundfreaq Sound Rise giveaway?! Wake up with this alarm/bluetooth speaker hybrid, it’s sure to get your day off to a good start.
Eight art prints I wish I had room for on my walls this month.
Melissa Zexter hand-embroiders her own photography in the most beautiful way.
Industrialist meets rugged glam in the design of Maslo Jewelry.
Crazy incredible paintings/sculptures from Conrad Jon Godly.
I’m slowing going minimalist with my style and this modern lamp is my latest addition.
Childhood dreams and sketchbook drawings come to life thanks to Katharine Morling.
If you’re looking for a super easy project this DIY Matchstick Holder is where it’s at!
After seven years of blogging we finally have a Design Crush identity suite like pros.
So it turns out I’m a bad blogger and missed Design Crush’s 7th birthday last Thursday – whomp whomp. But it also turns out that seven years of blogging means you’re kind of legit, and what better way to proclaim it that with an entire identity suite of paper goods from MOO.
I went all out designing letterhead, postcards that double as notecards when slipped into an envelope, business cards and mini cards, and mailing labels. I pulled in elements from Design Crush’s site design like the diagonal stripes, dotted line, arrow, and signature green to keep the branding consistent. But if you’re not a designer, no biggie. MOO has plenty of templates you can use instead for an equally custom look.
I opted for MOO‘s Luxe line, paper and card stock that go above and beyond to leave a stellar first impression. Each piece of our identity suite was packaged in a box with magnetic closure for maximum protection against crushed corners and the dangers of messenger bag interiors and office drawers and shelves.
One of my favorite things to design – aside from logos – are business cards. For awhile now I’ve been wanting a super pared down version in black and white, so I decided to go for it and may never go back to anything more complicated. I love the simplicity and stark contrast!
For the mini cards I changed things up slightly by adding a touch of our signature green and reversing out the logo on black. I imagine I’ll be using these for more casual contacts, so didn’t include my name or phone number.
These sticker labels are super simple and can be used to organize things in my office or for the more obvious purpose of addressing packages going in the mail. Sufficed it to say I now feel prepared to handle any sort of communication emergency with all of my crisp and clean identity suite goods!
I received product from MOO for use in this post.
Posted In office, paper goods
Yup, I know. It looks like I just plopped some matchsticks in a glass bottle and called it a day. While DIY matchstick holder is definitely one of the simplest projects I’ve ever done, there are a few more steps to it… but not many.
Supplies
• small glass bottle (I picked mine up at Michael’s for $1)
• strike on box wooden matchsticks
• pen
• scissors
• tape
• glue
First thing first, dismantle the box sleeve that has the striker. Be as gentle as possible and flatten that bad boy out, and then grab your scissors.
Trim off the striker panel, then cut it in half. Match the two sides up together (trimming them up to match if you were a little off), then flip over and tape on the back side. Place your glass bottle on top of the joined together pieces, center and trace. Trim around the circle (or whatever shape you end up with) and stay to the inside while cutting so that the end result is slightly smaller than your tracing.
Flip the bottle over and apply a few thin concentric circles of glue, align the striker shape you just created and press firmly. And, well, that’s basically it. You could add some craft paint or wash tape to the exterior for a little something extra, but I’m a simple kind of girl who prefers the look of wood and glass alone. (And though this isn’t really a Father’s Day DIY, I know my Dad would agree if it were for him!)
Add as many matches as you can while leaving enough breathing room for them to move around a bit. You want to be able to actually remove them for use after all! Like I told you, easiest DIY ever. I think this guy would make a great little hostess gift when paired with a candle or grilling accessories for get togethers this summer, don’t you? Or, like I said, maybe even Father’s Day this Sunday. (wink, wink)
Posted In accessories, gifts, house and home, make it
As I prep my house to go up on the market at some point this year, I’m realizing more and more about how my style has evolved since I moved in nearly six years ago. I’ve always been a tchotchke and accessories kind of girl but I’m thinking that’s going to change. I’ve gotten a head start on packing up a lot of smaller things, which has got me thinking about my next home and how I’d like it to be. My house is already more pared down than usual and I have to say, I’m loving it. Piece by piece I’ve been making small changes here and there, choosing things that serve more than one purpose. Am I becoming what I’ve always longed to be – a minimalist?
Case in point is the newest addition to my lamp addiction – Sonneman‘s Level Table Lamp. I love the mixed materials used in the design and that it’s not as feminine as a lot of other pieces in my home. Because it’s so sculptural it feels like form and function in one. Not to mention just how fantastic it looks atop the vintage Danish modern credenza in my living room! I have a feeling that this is a sign of how my decorating choices are going to be from now on.
For this sponsored post I received product from Lamps.com. As always all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush going!
Posted In house and home, lighting, sponsored post
If you’re like me you prefer to wake up to one of your favorite mellow tunes rather than the jarring blare of an alarm clock. Those first few minutes of the day can determine your mood for hours (especially on a Monday), and Soundfreaq created the alarm clock/bluetooth speaker hybrid Sound Rise with just that in mind.
The stacked design looks right at home on your bedside table in either black or wood tones, and the sound quality is seriously impressive. You can also enjoy solid sound while you get ready or soft music to relax to while falling asleep. Control the tone of your music with neutral, warm, and bright options for a customized experience. One of my favorite Sound Rise functions is the ability to set different alarm times for weekdays and weekends – who hasn’t accidentally set their Saturday wakeup for 6am? The worst. And you can even blackout the digital display, perfect for someone light sensitive like myself. Sound Rise features a USB power port you can use to keep your phone charging while you sleep, without having to fuss with a dock of any kind. Just one last thing: a nap timer. Soundfreaq has seriously thought of everything!
And now the part you’ve been waiting for – a chance to win your own Sound Rise! Get every day off to a better start by entering any number of ways below, but do it before Sunday, June 15th at 11:59 pm.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
01/ Love this complicated photoshoot done underwater on a shipwreck in Bali!
02/ This piece on Dogs of War is incredible.
03/ I’m all about Emily Henderson’s cat rescue makeover that she shared this week.
04/ Jim Bachor took the problem of potholes into his own hands.
05/ I like that this DIY modern pet bowl stand can be height customizable.
06/ A room made out of chocolate where you can, YES, lick the walls!
07/ Beautiful product upcycling from Kurasuhito Kurasutokoro and Yusuke Komatsu.
08/ Coca-Cola has created a modular system to reuse their plastic bottles. (It’s about time.)
09/ This is fascinating, people from around the world posing with their daily food intake.
10/ The Pastello Draw Act looks like a dream with its crazy crayons!
This week on Design Crush:
Beautiful experiments with dye and the sea by Arnaud Lajeunie.
I finally upgraded to a chair fit for a boss lady!
Andy Boot gives rhythmic gymnastic ribbons a second chance at life.
Area has flat out nailed simple but quality textiles for the home.
This cut paper alphabet from Tony Ziebetzki is so good.
A traditional game is reimagined with Pieces N Play Domino.
Big Happy Family is helping me stay organized as I dash out the door.
Whimsy Milieu is creating pieces that make every day a happy one.
Show you’re passionate about the creamy treat with pudding 10 ways.
I think pudding is a highly underrated dessert/snack/midnight comfort food. It’s cool, creamy, and perfect for summer with its ease of prep and days of lasting time in the refrigerator. Not to mention the massive variety of recipes available for pleasing any and every taste palette. And if you put enough thought into it, pudding can even be healthy enough. Here are ten recipes to help bring pudding back into your life!
Click on each image to go to the recipe.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Modular things make me stupidly happy, so it was a no brainer that I needed the Big Happy Family in my life. But which part of my home to organize? I could get culinary tools in order or plant an herb garden in the kitchen. The office could stand some wrangling in terms of small supplies that I’m forever misplacing. But the entryway, yes. That was the answer.
The differently sized magnetic modules were perfect for what I had in mind, some organization and some green all in one place. The Big Happy Family was fairly easy to install, all it takes is some sheet rock anchors and screws. The wall plates snap easily onto the brackets that get attached to the wall, then the various modules attach to the plates via magnet. This makes removing everything such a breeze and reorganizing the modules on a whim super simple.
I used the small Shorty modules for plants – a cactus, a succulent, and an air plant – and I love how easy it is to remove each one when it comes time to water. (I’ve been known to be clumsy!) Outgoing mail finds a home in the Wide Mouth, while the String Been makes an ideal vase for clippings from my yard or flowers from the market. And the Wide Mouth is a perfect catchall for my keys and whatever else I don’t want to forget when dashing out the door to meetings and hot dates. (Ahem.) I’m thrilled with this new addition and am looking forward to figuring out new purposes for Big Happy Family as time goes on!
This is a sponsored post by Viesso. As always, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush going!
Posted In house and home, sponsored post, walls
The Pieces N Play Domino set takes a classic game and simplifies it with the use of color instead of numbers. Now I’m sure domino purists will scoff, but I for one think it would make me want to play even more. Now I just need a set, a picnic blanket, and a partner!
(via bltd)
Posted In entertaining, house and home