Victor Hugo’s handwritten manuscript of Les Misérables is full of crossed out passages, arrows and inserts of new text. It’s a fine symbol of the requirements for any inventive work.
Read Moremaria robledo: the perfection of everyday imperfections
A quote from our friend Maria Robledo captures the wondrous imperfections in the daily world that make them so completely perfect, as do her photographs…
Read MoreDesign Question: When to Leave Rough and Aged As Is
Part of the artfulness of envisioning a space is knowing when to keep rough and aged areas and let them be themselves, a subject we’ve written about before. Here, patched brick walls painted white, and a rough concrete floor are a lovely backdrop of elemental REAL that works well for modern furniture. After demolishing of…
Read Moreskype is a tool for learning, helping, teaching, connecting
As we compile many innovative uses for Skype and FaceTime, we realize how “virtual” really CAN allow us to “be there”.
Read MorePop Music Wisdom for Thanksgiving and Beyond
Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow: Pop Music Wisdom excerpts wisdom and advice from 250 pop songs. Some of them are spot on. Here are two, with the music.
Read MoreWheelz’s Wheelchair Freestyle: ‘See Challenges in a New Way’
Check out this splendid, energizing, deeply heartening video of Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham, a “professional hardcore sitter” pushing his wheelchair to exhilarating limits, including occasional wipe-outs, par for the course with any attempt at mastery and risk-taking.
Read MoreCheap, Chic Holiday Table Inspiration
The table settings at an Anthology Magazine dinner echoed many of our own cheap, chic ideas.
Read MoreOur Best Thanksgiving Recipes + Improvisations
Here’s our round-up of favorite Thanksgiving recipes, along with a few notated improvisations we’ve done here and there; you could easily forge a perfect menu from them. And since we view recipes as rough formulas and idea generators, we encourage your to take them in whatever direction you want.
Read MoreWines and Beers to Serve at your Holiday Fete
Wondering what wines or beers to serve with your holiday meal? Our wine-and-spirits authority Anthony Giglio’s recommendations —and the thinking behind them— will help you navigate your local wine and beer emporium.
Read MorePeople, Stylish Interiors, Everything…Ages and Changes!
Aging, in oneself or one’s surroundings, is nearly impossible to see until, suddenly, it has already happened. Shiny new paint become dingy and marked; interiors and websites become dated, and as we see from these remarkable gifs, WE ourselves, slowly change…We are all in process. A remarkable series of gifs at My Modern Met perfectly…
Read Moreroast turkey strategies: pre-salting vs wet-brining
Here are my two favorite strategies for producing a perfect roast turkey: dry salting and wet-brining.
Read MoreCelestial Cricket Music + A Cricket Thermometer
When sound artist Jim Wilson slowed down a recording of crickets, he discovered stunningly beautiful celestial choir that sings like humans. Just listen.
Read MoreIn Search of Cool Elevator Design, We Found Someone’s Home
On a visit to Scandinavia House some time ago, we stepped into a wildly-painted elevator; every surface covered. It made us wonder, Why is elevator design SO boring? Check out what we found.
Read Morehow to stage a tasting: tea, chocolate, wine, anything
The simplest way to learn the flavor possibilities of a food or beverage is to compare versions of it side-by-side in one sitting — whether it be chocolate, ham or even colas; the flavors and textures of one sample illuminate those of another and anchors its palette of flavors and textures in your mind.
Read MoreDaily Exercise Routine: Dancing, Leaping, Frolicking, Joy
What if, instead of going to the gym, dancing, leaping, frolicking and joy became our exercise routine? We can’t help think it would have a big liberating impact on our daily life and work.
Read Morehow to speed clean silver
Desperate to get a mountain of sliver polished for a photo shoot, we abandoned silver polish and tested an easy old-fashioned speed cleaning method, which worked brilliantly.
Read MoreThe Art of Yayoi Kusama: Obsession Becomes Medicine
Although we’ve long been fans of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, now in her nineties, we had no idea of the power of her influence, dedication and work until we saw this remarkable 7-minute video interview (which flies by). She shows how two maligned concepts — obsession and accumulation — have been the means of transformation and healing for her.
Read MoreRibeiro’s Real Life Instagrams Remind Us to Really SEE
Bruno Ribeiro set up framed filters around Washtington D.C. to make Real Life Instagram, a commentary on our desire to slap a filter on reality and share it on social networks It’s also a reminder for us to SEE FOR OURSELVES. Which is what we think the best instagrams do, like this handful from Maria Robledo.
Read Morehow to: bleached plywood walls, trivets, more
Bleaching plywood gives it a pale, silvery cast and much softer look than the usual orangey woodgrain, especially appealing when you’re using it on a wall.
Read More5 Famous ‘Nap Takers’ Give Us Permission to Rest Midday
Need permission to take a nap in the middle of your day? Check out the ever-illuminating Daily Routines, a website about how various famous writers, artists, designers and other brilliant creatives organize their day. Practices include drinking, drug-taking, rising early, exercising, working late into the night, and procrastinating, among others. Perhaps the most eccentric nap routine:…
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