Name: Ellen and Everett

Where do you live? Oakland, CA

What do you do? Sr. Public Events Manager, UC Berkeley

DP Purchase/s: Pkolino Little Reader Chair

How would you describe your design style? Modern with a splash of vintage and craftsman, and a dash of romper-room for good measure

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? That amazing blue that you see in the sky at the very top (which is especially visible on cloudless sunny days).

Any favorite design ideas? I’ve started re-using my son’s favorite cool shirts to make into small accent pillows for the sofa in his room.

Any design pet peeves? Matchy-matchy interiors. Mix it up and keep it interesting.

Four places you would rather be right now: The Marais, Paris France; Portland, Oregon; Cinque Terre, Italy; New York City

Anything else we should know about you? We have a classic craftsman house built in 1914. Though graciously proportioned in most ways, the bathroom seems to have a rather narrow core. My husband and toddler started a routine at least two years ago that involved my son, Everett, keeping his dad company in the bathroom while he got ready in the morning (I’m the late sleeper). Everett outgrew his “bouncy seat” ages ago and we were freaked-out about finding a replacement that would allow for sufficient “lounging” while not entering into the dreaded “shiny red beanbag territory.” Imagine our joy at finding an adorable and suitably sized chair for Ev that easily fits into the bathroom and also looks sophisticated in his room. The side pockets of the Pkolino Little Reader Chair are perfect for his little books or catalogs. And all of this was couched in terms of moving him into a “big boy chair” which, you’ll see, worked like a charm. Thanks Design Public!

Thanks, Ellen and Everett!

Inspired? Show us your place! E-mail (press [at] designpublic.com), Tweet or Facebook your Design Public purchases!

Name: Emily

Where do you live? Phoenix, Arizona

What do you do? Co-owner & graphic designer at Two Birds Creative, Inc.

DP Purchase/s: upper playground Dora Drimalas Bike Love Women’s Tee

What’s your favorite DP product and why? My “Bike Love” tee! I recently wore the shirt when I visited some friends in Portland, and to New Belgium’s Tour de Fat in Tempe, AZ. Basically, I love anything bicycle. It fascinates me that the bike is the only mode of transportation that improves with use.

Four sites/blogs you visit daily: I’m a graphic designer, but I love interior design and revamped old furniture.I feed that side of my design-self with Design*Sponge . The graphic designer in me loves all UnderConsideration’s blogs. My fave is Brand New . I’m currently planning our wedding so I visit many wedding blogs these days. One of my favorite is Once Wed . And finally Good reminds me daily that the world is an ever-evolving entity and we need to take care of it and each other.

Tell us about your home, office, workspace, or favorite nook and cranny. I spend most of my days in our home office. Design-wise — it’s a work in progress. It’s a mish-mash of both our (my fiance and my) design styles — natural wood mixed with “modern” IKEA purchases marked with found objects from around the world. I would love for it to one day morph into a photo out of DominoMag. Most of the time, our office is a mess, but it is cozy and bright, and we love it.

Do you collect anything? Tell us of your treasures…. I’m a bit of a collector and a major garage saler—it’s a little ridiculous. Garage sales are where I find most of my collectibles. I have a collection of small frog figurines, and a nice collection of retro flower-power ceramic stackable coffee mugs. Recently, I’ve started a bird collection for our company Two Birds Creative.

Movies you can watch over and over: One summer vacation as a teen, I got really sick and was stuck in my aunt’s “computer room” with no cable and one dvd You’ve Got Mail. Every since then, whenever I feel really sick, You’ve Got Mail makes me feel a little better. Add to the list the Sandlot and That Thing You Do.

Random Fact: We have a 3-legged Australian Kelpie mix named Hopalong Dixie. She also has a blog :::> http://dixileta.blogspot.com/. And she’s famous. The AZ Humane Society liked a photo of Dixie so much they asked if they could blow it up and hang it in their new pet boutique. We’ve yet to go see it if it’s up, but they had us sign a model release and everything!

Thanks, Emily!

Inspired? Show us your place! E-mail (press [at] designpublic.com), Tweet or Facebook your Design Public purchases!

Name: Jessica

Where do you live? Charlottesville, VA

What do you do? I am a PhD student in art history, and I work at a cute shop called O’Suzannah

DP Purchase/s: Fauna Boston Terrier Pillow

What’s your favorite DP product and why? My beloved Fauna pillow. Boston terriers are the bee’s knees, and this pillow is seriously amazing. I mean, have you ever seen anything more adorable or squeezable? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Any favorite design ideas? I don’t identify with super modern design that much, although sometimes I wish I did. I suppose one of my favorite things to do is to use repurposed or secondhand materials in my home. I love old things and using unexpected materials. My “entertainment center” that houses my TV and stereo is made of plywood, rope, and about 90 very old bricks that I salvaged from an apartment building being renovated in Birmingham. The movers thought I was crazy when I moved to Charlottesville and had boxes labeled “bricks,” but I’m still rather keen on the piece and haven’t found anything new that I like more.

Tell us about your home, office, workspace, or favorite nook and cranny: My favorite spot in my house (for things other than sleep) is my desk, which is the classic repurposed door picked up off the side of the road in Birmingham, Alabama. It was tossed out of a house that was being renovated, which is crazy to me because it’s beautiful and solid and chippy. The afternoon light comes in, and to my left are three shelves with some of my favorite possessions, including my Fauna pillow, a Lisa Congdon collage, a Polaroid transfer made by my momma, and a Foxy and Winston woodblock screenprint. Directly in front of me are multiple calendars, from Nikki McClure, Ilee, Modern Printed Matter, and Lotta Jansdotter, as well as my prized Lovely Design wooden rolodex. Above that is strung a series of large-scale prints. I love being surrounded by all these things that I love. (And since there are still four more dissertation chapters to write, I’m going to be spending a lot of time right here).

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? Regarding my self-deprecating sense of humor, “If you wouldn’t say it to or about someone else, don’t say it to or about yourself.” (Thanks, Leslie.)

Four sites/blogs you visit daily:

www.designspongeonline.com
www.poppytalk.blogspot.com
www.decor8blog.com
www.cuteoverload.com

Do you collect anything? Tell us of your treasures….Any prized possessions? In terms of collections, I have a problem with all paper goods, from stationery to prints and photographs. Some of my most prized possessions have come from my grandmothers – my great-grandmother’s ca. 1925 grocery case, and both of my grandmothers’ sewing machines, one from the 1940s and the other a more functional Pfaff from the 1990s. I love having these machines that helped clothe our family and create everything from softies to napkins through multiple generations.

Thanks, Jessica. Mick, you will be missed.

Inspired? Show us your place! E-mail (press [at] designpublic.com) or submit your Design Public product photos to our “Design Public Peeps” Flickr group.

I realized we have not done a customer profile in awhile when I saw this feature in The New York Times yesterday. In a nutshell, architect Koray Duman found a cramped, dark, 2 bedroom Manhattan apartment on Craigslist and was able to envision its open sunlit potential. With $25K, a lot of sweat, and the help of some friends, Duman realized his vision of the stripped-down bright space. A major factor in his success was minimizing free standing furniture to keep the floors clear. In addition to pieces from IKEA and a sculptural radiator from steamradiators.com, he picked up these MASH Studios pieces from Design Public:

Readers, please, don’t make me have to wait until your abode is featured in a national paper to see it! Email us and show off your stuff! Don’t be intimidated by how cool this pad is; I give this one a perfect ten. Often the fives are a lot more interesting and relatable than the tens. If you’re feeling like you’re at a one, send in some shots and tell us about your design struggles and we’d be happy to help.

all photos by Phil Mansfield for The New York Times. To see the entire slideshow house tour, click here.

Name: Kelly Osborne

Where do you live? Thousand Oaks, CA

What do you do? VP, Public Relations & Marketing at See Jane Work

DP Purchase/s: Wow, where do I begin. This is just the stuff that shows up in the pictures…Amenity Home fabric stretch print, Mod Mom Toy Box, Lights Up! Deco Pendant Lamp, Lights Up! Floor Lamp, Blu Dot Barbarella Console Table

What’s your favorite DP product and why? Definitely the Mod Mom Toy Box – it’s such a beautiful piece. I wish she would do larger pieces like buffets or coffee tables. It’s furniture that’s also art. My kids keep their Lego’s on one side and extra train tracks on the other.

How would you describe your design style? Modern Martha. I like to mix modern with traditional, they go so well together.

I took a few risks (i.e. the all-blue bathroom) which made me nervous at first, but I’m so glad I did. I remember our painter laughing and saying “I hope you like blue!” It worked though.

Four sites/blogs you visit daily: Design Sponge, Décor 8, Cook’s Illustrated, Design Public (of course!)

Do you collect anything? I collect Depression Glass, my mother already had a collection that I inherited and then it grew significantly when I worked at eBay. I will admit that I almost never use it, but I love looking at it.

Four places you would rather be right now: Palm Springs, Pacific Grove, San Francisco (the Ferry Building specifically), Ojai Valley Inn (I can’t help it, I’ve traveled a lot but I’m a California girl)

What is a “dream day” like for you? Snuggling in bed with my boys and then spending the whole day in the garden, topped off by a great dinner and a movie in bed. I really like being in bed.

Anything else we should know about you? I have two beautiful boys, twelve chickens, a vegetable garden and I’m married to my best friend

Thanks, Kelly! Your home is beautiful. Real Simple, the place is ready for ya!

Inspired? Show us your place! E-mail (press [at] designpublic.com) or submit your Design Public product photos to our “Design Public Peeps” group. No, your place doesn’t have be of the same caliber as Kelly Osborne’s…it takes all kinds!

Any design pet peeves? “Blah.” I hate very boring wall colors like mouse brown and beige—why bother? Also, anything too studied turns me off. A place should be visually inspiring but also comfortable, and not try too hard.

Do you collect anything? Tell us of your treasures…Any prized possessions? My books are very important to me, being an editor/word person. I like how they create a wall in my studio and all of the different spine colors mesh with the overall colors and feel of my space. I also love my new/old Schwinn Breeze (from 1976), which I just got on eBay.

Movies you can watch over and over: The Apartment, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, La Dolce Vita, The Royal Tenenbaums

Thanks, Jennifer!

Answers to the “I Spy in Jennifer’s Apartment” game:

Name: Anthony and Mr. Buddy (the cat)

Where do you live? Seattle, WA

What do you do? Director of Development

DP Purchase/s: Marmalade pet care Sweet Lounge Pet Bed, Hepper Wave Pet Bed, Hepper Nest Pet Bed, Weegee Floor Lamp.

What’s your favorite DP product and why? All the cat goodies. Mr. Buddy (our cat) can’t live without them! All the items in pet stores are bland.

How would you describe your design style? Retro modern

Sites/blogs you visit daily: velonews.com, yahoo.com, nytimes.com

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? Don’t shave your legs with goosebumps (I’m a cyclist and yes we shave our legs!)

Tell us about your home, office, workspace, or favorite nook and cranny. New modern dwelling built by elemental architecture (elementalarchitecture.com)

What’s your favorite color or material? White

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Silver

If you could redo any space, past or present, what would it be? The “Biblioteca Nacional” in Buenos Aries. Great buuilding that needs a little love

Any favorite design ideas? Old spaces revamped with an acute design sense for interiors

Any design pet peeves? “Euro” Modern, overstuffed couches and “knick-knacks.”

Do you collect anything? Tell us of your treasures….Any prized possessions? Not really a collector, but I own lots of fancy race bikes that I’d die (or get fat) with out.

Favorite member of the A-Team: Their black and red van.

Movies you can watch over and over: Anything that DOES NOT include Tom Hanks and/or Julia Roberts.

Four places you would rather be right now: In Phuket, Thailand at Twin Palms resort; Winthrop Washington hiking in the woods; Italy watching the “Giro D’Italia” bike race; Stumptown coffee shop with my wife.

Thanks Anthony and Mr. Buddy!

Your turn! We can’t wait to see your photo of your friend sitting on your Orange22 Botanist Bench, or an incredible spread set our on your Blu Dot Strut Table. Join our “Design Public Peeps” Flickr group and upload a photo showing how you use your Design Public purchases.

Name:
Kim Gombes.

Where do you live?
San Diego, CA

What do you do?
Former T.V. News Producer now Stay-at-Home Mom to my 4-year-old son.

DP Purchase/s:
Hybrid-Home Visible Robot Print by Brian Flynn. I bought it as a birthday gift for my husband (because it reminds me of him). It’s cool. It glows in the dark, which I was not aware of when I purchased it and we had quite the surprise the night after I hung it.

What’s your favorite DP product and why?
I love DP’s selection of Sustainable Modern Kids and Baby Products. I feel good aboutpurchasing items that are both design-minded and eco-conscious for my son to not only help him develop his own design sense but also to create his awareness of how everything we buy, every product he uses whether he’s wearing it or sitting on it, affects our earth.

How would you describe your design style?
It’s an eclectic mix of mid-century, modern and contemporary with splashes of Pop and Victorian here and there. I like juxtaposing unlikely pieces like placing a mod chair with a rustic sidetable or putting a piece of graffiti art in a big, fat, ornate, gilded frame. I think it all balances out to appeal to a variety of tastes.

Four sites/blogs you visit daily:
DP’s “Best-Of Newsletter” arrives in my inbox so that gets devoured first; Flickr (I’m a total Flickr addict.); DWR’s Design Notes; and designboom.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“Fake it ’til you make it,” from my mother-in-law. (No, I’m not trying to score any brownie points here.) I interpret it as, “Act the way you want yourself to be and you will become it.”

What’s your favorite color or material?
Stone. Whether it’s a wall or a coffee table, rough hewn or smooth, stone has such a strong presence and always makes me stop to regard it.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Gray. I’m originally from New England, where it’s gray most of the year. I love the cold gray starkness of the Maine coast in winter and the dark gray gothicness of places like Salem, Massachusetts. Gray- it’s moody and so am I.

Any design pet peeves?
Cookie-cutter uniformity.

Please share five things/people/places that inspire you.
The 10cent Designer and doorsixteen, my two absolute Flickr faves and my daily sources of inspiration; the works of Tord Boontje and Takashi Murakami also get my creativity going; and my husband, Chad, who is himself an amazing designer with an incredible eye for design, function, style, fashion, art, etc… and he always sees where it’s headed. I’ve learned a lot from Chad.

Thanks, Kim!

Show us yours! Become a member of our “Design Public Peeps” Flickr group and upload a photo of your Design Public purchases in action. Yeehaw.

Name:
Mary Krefting

Where do you live?
Marin County, CA

What do you do?
Video game Designer turned Homemaker and Mom of 2 (Mason, age 3, and Sofia, age 1).

DP Purchase/s:
Fauna Balsa Wall Hanging Camel Print, Zid Zid Kids Silver Poofs, True Modern Orange 4 Drawer Dresser.

What’s your favorite DP product and why?
True Modern Orange 4 Drawer Dresser because it pulled my son’s room together beautifully and is easy for him to open and close the drawers himself so he can choose his own clothes in the morning.

How would you describe your design style?
I like clean, modern, meaningful furniture and objects tied in with the natural beauty of wood and pops of color here and there, sitting side by side with my heirloom peices like our Turkish chair, which we had reupholsterd bright velvet orange to give it a modern twist.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Surround yourself with the things you love.

If you could redo any space, past or present, what would it be?
Well, we are looking to evolve our playroom into a Moroccan style family play room inspired by a feature I saw in Cookie Magazine which showcased the home of the Zid Zid creators. I want Moroccan lamps, low sofas, a large low table for arts and crafting with the kids, and red burgundy theater curtains. Of course we already ordered the silver Zid Zid Poofs and the Fauna Camel Balsa Wall Hanging from Design Public to get us going in that direction.

Do you collect anything? Tell us of your treasures….Any prized possessions?
We do collect carnelians from the sands of Cronkite Beach. They are tiny bright shiny orange specks in the sand, and I always see them from the corner of my eyes in the right morning light. We put them into tiny glass treasure jars and see who can find the most interesting one. Of course, the best ones are usually found the day after a great storm.

Thanks, Mary, Mason, and Sofia!

Are you a longtime DP friend too? Or, do you like to take photos of your stellar home with DP products in it? Let us know! Send an e-mail to: press [at] designpublic.com.