grace bonney

We obsessively follow the online musings of Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney. Her blog/ website extraordinaire covers interiors, style, food, and do-it-yourself projects, and has forums for female entrepreneurs (she speaks our language through and through). Her inspiring site keeps us motivated to try new things. Her use of technology to stay connected while on the go inspired a cerulean travelogue- and so we tracked her down on her iphone between antique fairs, high powered conferences and lowbrow coffee breaks. Here is what she had to say…

cerulean- How did you first begin Design Sponge? What milestones have you reached or are working on reaching with the site?

I began design*sponge in 2004 while I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. ;) I've been proud about a lot of things we've done with the site, but launching the Biz Ladies series in 2008 in person was amazing. I was so proud to have been a part of that, and happy to have been surrounded by so many talented female business owners.

cerulean- How would you describe your own personal style in clothing? vs interiors?

Hmm...I'd say preppy, girly, classic. As I get older I find myself leaning more towards old-school classics and things that make getting dressed and looking pulled together easier. In my interiors I'm the same way, but I take more risks (bright colors, crazy patterns) because I don't have to wear them outside.
 
cerulean- What are your favorite luxuries in life?

Iced coffee or tea breaks during the day, the occasional car service (vs. the subway), and eating at nice restaurants when we can.
 
cerulean- What is your favorite vacation destination?  

Savanah, Georgia and  Montmartre in Paris- they're always locked in a dead heat for first place.

cerulean- What is the one thing that you take from apartment to apartment?

My cats and my husband. Furniture wise? Not a lot- I really enjoy using new apartments as an excuse to trade in old furniture (ebay, craigslist, etc) for "new" used furniture.

cerulean- What can we find you reading?

Magazines or websites, I'm sadly not a huge book reader. Though I've gone through a lot of business books lately.

cerulean- What are your favorite indulgences?

All the pieces listed above, combined with chocolate after almost every meal. Life is too short to pass up really good sweets.

cerulean- Who was your favorite interview/ contributor for Design Sponge?

Working on the Design*Sponge book I got to meet and work with designer Genevieve Gorder, who was the reason I fell in love with design. That was a major high point for me.

cerulean- Who are your interiors style icons?

Dorothy Draper, Ruthie Sommers, my mom. 

cerulean- If you had to have a completely different career, what you want it to be?

Something involving food or a specialty food shop.

Grace's blog, Design*Sponge. Click the image to be take directly there.

Grace featured in the November 2008 issue of Domino Magazine, where she and the site are listed as a “leader of the pack”.

 

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courtney barton

You may have seen her repeatedly on our travelogue... this style maven extraordinaire has left her home in Houston Texas to travel the world, with Kuala Lumpur as her new home base. She writes the fabulous blog, inside the loop, which is a must read. We got in touch with her somewhere between the beaches in Kuantan, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia, to let us know what makes her tick.

cerulean- How would you describe your own personal style (in clothing or in interiors)?

I am a glutton for mixing motley prints, patterns and textures—in both fashion and interiors—which means I can't get enough of designers like Suno New York, Junya Watanabe and John Robshaw. I've started a Lust List of locales to visit for their fabric weaving and printing; I'm fascinated by textiles! I'm also somewhat of a magpie, gravitating towards anything shiny and metallic.

cerulean- What are your favorite luxuries in life?

Loeffler Randall flats and boutique hotels. 

cerulean- What is your favorite vacation destination?  

Oddly enough my favorite destination to date has been Marfa, Texas. It was single-handedly the most unexpected trip I've ever been on. It has this uncanny ability to be both rustic and urban, ahead of it's time while still having a sense of West Texas nostaligia, and a place where cowboys comingle with hipsters—all just an hour from the borders of Mexico! As for what's next, I'm itching to get to India this March to experience the Holi Festival firsthand.

cerulean- What is the one thing that you take from apartment to apartment?

My collection of Le Creuset cookware.There's nothing in the world like cooking with Le Creuset! They make me feel like I'm "home" no matter where I am because food is such an integral part of our family. We're from Louisiana, what can I say!

cerulean- What can we find you reading?

Sadly because I spend so much time blogging, any time I have a spare minute I'm either writing or researching. My books often lay lifeless on the nightstand for weeks on end, but traveling gives me a much-needed break from the computer! I recently left the beaches of Kuantan, Malaysia and am now in Jakarta, Indonesia, so I'm making lots of headway in terms of catch-up reading. I just finished Julie Powell's much talked about Julie & Julia and I'm now working my way through Julia Child's My Life in France. 

cerulean- What are your favorite indulgences?

Food (see a reoccurring theme here?). I can't imagine the horror of a life without curries, roti canai, New Orleans po-boys or anything cooked in a vat of coconut milk!

cerulean- What is your getaway or place for respite in KL?

My laptop. I can instantly see, hear and write to friends and family back home. I never feel out of touch or far away thanks to technology! 

cerulean- Who are your style icons?

The local women I encounter while traveling, Slim Aarons' photography subjects and my grandmother. I'm determined one day to find the gusto required to stroll around in bejeweled caftans (maxi length, of course) and turbans, all the while dripping in exotic gems. 

cerulean- What piece of home did you take with you to KL?

Plenty of family photos, mostly of my grandparents in their traveling heyday.

 

Check out her blog by clicking the logo below...

Jordan Perry has been exploring the southeast for most of her life, developing an amazing sense of place mixed with a flair for the exotic. This style carries over into all aspects of her life, and imbues the many ways she helps others design theirs. She has brought her fabulous since of “edited” style from North Carolina to New Orleans, Washington DC to New York City, with a few international stops along the way! And now her breadth of design abilities stretches as far. From interiors, fashion, and events to writing, blogging and traveling, this girl has it all down pat. She currently lives in New York where she is a freelance designer and contributor to EddieRoss.com, among others. We continue to come back to her for ideas about revamping our tired interiors, or reworking a concept on our website. We just cant get enough of her advice and style inspiration. Below are several images of Jordan’s fabulous early twentieth century home in Jackson MS that recently ran in the New York Times. Tres chic. Photos by James Patterson.