Best of the Web By: Grace Bonney

I’m overwhelmed with a major sense of TGIF today because this weekend we’re taking Hope on a road trip to check out the Phoenicia Flea and Field + Supply, two wonderful artisan markets happening upstate. There’s a part of me that is always trying to find a deeper sense of community and connection, the kind I felt when living further south, and the Catskills region has that in spades for me. I’ve been so impressed with, and inspired by, the way local makers of all types (from food to fashion) team up to celebrate each other and help get the word out about their products. I was out of town for the first Phoenicia Flea (which is organized by two of my favorite homeowners), so I was excited to be able to make it up for its second showing. I’ll be snapping pictures of everything and everyone to share back here on the blog, so stay tuned for some beautiful handmade work next week. Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend – and thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures in the #DSCollections challenge! One of my favorites, from Connected Fair Trade, is above. xo, grace

• We love this interview & studio tour with fashion’s It-guy illustrator of the moment, Donald Robertson over at One Kings Lane.


• I love this curated look at design’s up-and-coming stars written by Site Unseen for Refinery29.


• This simple trick for turning your shower into a spa is pretty great. Hint: it involves Eucalyptus.


• Who knew toilet roll holders could be so chic? I’ll never look at them the same way again.


• I know where I’ll want to stay overnight in the Rockaways this summer: The Playland Hotel. They hired Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel wallpaper to design it. And…it’s gorgeous.


• An ode to my favorite comfort food in the world, Bolognese. Thank you, Bon Apetit, thank you.

• The Design*Sponge gift subscription series with Quarterly : Sign up and tell us what YOU want to get in the mail!


• The new and improved Design*Sponge Pinterest Page!


• Sneak Peeks: A Buffalo Home with a Handmade Touch, Bohemian Meets Beachy in California, A Dutch Church Becomes a Home


• DIY Projects: Black Marbled Candle Holders, Faux Marbled Table Legs, Lavender Cloud Sachets + a peek at the new DIY book Make & Give.


• Recipes: Izy Hossack’s Carrot Cake, Rose Bundt Cake with Vanilla Creme Fraiche Icing & Candied Rose Petals


• Before & After: A Manhattan Rental Closet Gets a Makeover


• Interview + Studio Tours: Annie Sloan of Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, Steven Orr of The New American Herbal , 10 Second Tour of Make Smith Leather Co.


• Biz Ladies: How to Create Content for The Web, 3 Habits You Learned in School That Could Hurt Your Business


• City Guide: 24 Hours in Philadelphia with the Free People Team


• D*S Halloween How-To Guide: Wax Paper Candle Holders


• D*S Take a Hike How-To: How To Make Tree Branch Buttons


• Weekend DIYs: Take A Soak: How to Make Your Own Bath Bombs, Meow! DIY Cat Magnets

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1slJM3l From Grace Bonney

Weekend Project: Rope Jar Lanterns By: TheThingsSheMakes

Materials: BURKEN glass jar

Ikea storage jars can be easily transformed with rope and fabric detailing to create lantern jars for a coastal look.

With jute rope and strong glue, I wrapped the bottom third of the jar and then added a round of the rope to the top:

with further rope, I created a handle with fabric detail:

…and added loops to the handle to attach to the top with metal hoops to complete the look:

Use as candle holders, vases and for home decoration.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1xz2nt0 From TheThingsSheMakes

Easy X-shelf for EXPEDIT bar By: claudiaivonnefranco

Materials: EXPEDIT / KALLAX

I have limited tools for woodworking, and wanted to construct a wine rack for my EXPEDIT. I looked at the available project ideas, and it involved using a table saw, that I am afraid to use because I need my fingers

With my miter saw, I was able to accomplish it! I also spent about $8 dollars for the whole project.

I bought some wood, about 1×2 inch x 8 feet in size for 96 cents each. I measured the diagonal length of the cabinet cubby and cut the wood to length at a 45 degree angle. I cut one and put in place before cutting the next one, in case of wood irregularities. Or in case of tape measure irregularities.

I painted them then glued them in place. The weight of the wine bottles will also hold the wood in place.

I inserted 9 wood pieces in each cubby, leaving a small space in the front of the cabinet for appearance purposes.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1tJIITs From claudiaivonnefranco

REDD side table By: Verena Hall

Materials: REDD shoe shelf

I started my project with simple shoe shelf from IKEA (it’s called “REDD”).

The first thing I did was cut it in half. Make sure you sand down the edges because it becomes sharp as a knife.

The shelf had an edge that was bent in an angle of 45 degrees, to secure it to a wall, so my second step was to bend this angle back to 90 degrees. This way it could provide as a tabletop.

At this point, you basically have a table that’s split in half so the third step is to connect these to parts. I did this by drilling holes in both sides and put rivets in the holes.

The last step is an optional one. I used the holes in the material to make shelves inside my table, where I can leave my magazines and the newspaper. I did this with plastic pipes. I cut them in pieces of 30 cm and insert them through the holes. To secure them I rapped elastic bands around the sides.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1v87LFn From Verena Hall

Shoe box from ordinary PAPPIS box By: Daniel Sher

Materials: PAPPIS box and SATTA handles

Step by step:

stage 1. Take the boring old PAPPIS box, and measure its internal proportions (I’ll help you – it’s 32 X 24 cm)

stage 2. Cut a sheet of cardboard or any other hard material to that size. It will be your shelf, or divider

stage 3. Measure the height of your shoe (add an extra cm or two) and draw a line inside the box (on both sides)

stage 3. Take pushpins and position them along the line (3 for every side)

Use a piece of cardboard in each so they won’t stick out. These will be your shelf holders.

stage 4. Insert the shelf

stage 5. Now we need to create some elevation from the surface on which the box stands, so the lid will open easily. I used cork to create three legs, but you can opt to use bottle caps, more cardboard, bars of gold, whatever you feel like.

stage 5. Your box is now complete, and indeed it is a very respectable box in its own right. However, if you wish to make it a bit more awesome, you could attach a handle. I choose the SATTA handle. just make two holes and bolt the thing like you would do on any other drawer. You will find the bolts are a bit long, so you could increase the width of the cardboard by adding more cardboard from the inside.

I liked it so much I made a whole closet from it (024)

Enjoy

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1qq8jyR From Daniel Sher