Category: Design 101
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The Tramp Art Origin Story Isn’t What You’ve Likely Been Told (The Real One Involves The IRS!)
Every article I’ve ever read about Tramp Art starts out something like this: “Have you seen this art? It’s grotesque! It’s hideous! It’s so ugly, it’s beautiful! Can you believe this awkward and/or magnificent piece was carved by some hobo in exchange for a can of beans?” You can almost hear the banjo twang under…
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Designing With Kids In The Mix? The 7 Things Arlyn Told A Parent To Skip (& What To Buy Instead)
Last week, a reader popped into my DMs on Instagram to ask me if there was a reason they never saw us using what she called “natural fiber” rugs in our room reveals. I had to confirm what she meant by that, but I assumed she was referring to materials like seagrass and sisal. I…
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Your Favorite River House Pieces Are On Sale For 48 More Hours
If we’re being honest, the River House project broke the internet (or my inbox, at least). The single most asked-about source? AllModern. Why? Their pieces were the quiet foundation of the entire project, delivering the kind of design that hits the sweet spot between high style and solid construction that actually works in real life.…
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How To Create A Non Generic Living Room (That Will Also Impress Your Family For The Holidays)
Here’s the deal. There’s never really a bad time to buy home decor and furniture. When you’re ready and able to invest, then you should because the sooner you make you’re home your own, the better. However, there are better times to buy these wonderful things, and that is when they are on sale, because…
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Is Your Open-Concept Floor Plan Not Working For You Anymore? Here Are 4 Ways On How to Fix It
Don’t want an open floor plan, but not exactly sold on closing off all your rooms from each other? Well, welcome to your happy medium: Putting back up a wall (with interior windows) or an architectural room divider. I think it was only a matter of time before those vast, open-concept homes with no distinct…
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What Really IS Folk Art?? And How Do They Look Based On Where They’re From?
Welcome to another installment in my unofficial guide to non-cookie-cutter design. My first take explored the beauty of ethnic textiles, global and ethnic design; my second, a plea for designing for whimsy rather than chicness. Today, we’re diving into a topic that I lightly touched on earlier this year, in a team shopping post about…
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12 Really Good Small Online Decor Shops To Make Your Home Unique
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When I originally thought of this online decor shops post, it was because A. I just shot my house, and getting to show off all of the special things I’ve collected over the years makes me SO happy, and I want others to feel the same about the things in their homes. B. Both Pierce…
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Design Hot Take: Let’s Stop Chasing “Chic” & Instead Go For Whimsy (A.K.A. Joy)
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! Before you keep reading, pause, close your eyes, and picture something in your home that brings you immense joy. A vase with a funny little pattern. A wall color you were nervous about but did anyway. A bowl you always pull out for your nighttime ice cream treat after a long…
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Our Expert Rules For Putting A Bed In Front Of A Window
Usually, when a bed is placed in front of a window, it’s because that was well, the only logical option. And while it’s usually not the most ideal placement because it can cause some headboard limitations, window treatment trickiness, etc., it doesn’t mean it can’t look awesome. Actually, I am currently helping two dear friends…
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What Are Your Throw Pillows’ (Or Bedspreads’ or Curtains’) Fabric Patterns Saying? More Than You Likely Know + Where to Shop the Real Deal
I’d bet that many of us don’t know much about the products we put in our homes. We buy things because we’re drawn to them for some reason; whether how they look, how they feel, what they cost, or what solution they bring to us. But what if we treated the things we bring inside…