Strange Closets

Two weeks ago, I featured Andrew Stansell‘s hand-crafted, metal mission-style furniture. Another local designer, Randall Kramer, also works with metal and has created a number of beautiful pieces. Coincidentally, Stansell and Kramer once shared the cover of Chicago Tribune’s Sunday magazine in an article about their respective decisions to leave traditional jobs to follow their [...]

I recently sang about the Canary yellow trend, and I haven’t changed my tune; I’m just not feeling it. Canary’s cousin, mustard, however, has me feeling a bit more spicy. Why? I’ll give you a clue; and if there’s even a kernel (or is it Colonel?) of truth to all the visual evidence I’ve been [...]

A vision in blue? Available at Susan Silver Antiques and 1st Dibs. Dan’s collection of ceramic English Springer Spaniels made me think of Foo Dogs, which seem to be showing up everywhere. But unlike Dan’s decorative poochie punches (which are quite charming), I’ve never had much use for Foo Dogs, which in actuality, represent lions.* [...]

From New York Magazine – June 9th, 2008 Kids can be just as interested in design as adults and just as creat . . . y’know what? I thought kids were boring when I was a kid, and I think they’re REALLY boring now (except for Esme). Oh, and your kid; I like your kid [...]

My high school bedroom.  While this room saw less action than a day old sushi shop, this hunter green wallpaper represents the first time I exercised my design sensibilities.  That’s why I’m not a designer. Please imagine the voice of Bill Curtis as you read this. The year was 1986, and Hunter Green was the [...]

It seems like you can’t open a design magazine without seeing letters (although I guess that’s true of any magazine). To be specific, you can’t open a design magazine without finding big, often vintage letters being used in decor ((I’m being almost literal – we’re talking about letters after all).

I grew up in a small town surrounded by soybean fields and wooded areas, so one was just about as likely to hit a deer while driving as get lucky on a Saturday night (and far more likely if you’re me).