New Year's Renovations

Happy New Year to all of you! We hope all of you find success, love, fulfillment, and comfortable socks in this new and sci-fizzle sounding decade. 2010 may sound like the future but the future is now.

Speaking of now, Porcelain and I are going to take a little blogging break. We've been Painting Walls Orange... for nearly four years and we are now - finally!- a little burnt out. We wish there was some kind of device that could put it all into perfect order but we think it's time for some major renovations.

But please don't worry that Design Boner will never get (it) up again. We're not worried! We will continue to post just not as often. This next month will find us powering brunching and, over Bloody Mary flights and rose petal butter, we will scale back, seek out the creative, and focus on what sets Design Boner apart.

If you have any thoughts on what direction this blog should take - what do you love? what do you love (not so much) - we're completely open to the feedback. We hope to have more figured out by the end of January. Until then, please feed yourself on our RSS so you don't starve yourself of wit and...

!...STAY TUNED...!

Holiday Supplies!

You wanna know what's better than sugarplums, tinsel, and Christmas cookies combined? Spending the holiday with a brand new kitten!

Flannel

Meeting Flannel, the new addition to the Alison Rose/Mr. Sketch/Grace family, is my happy surprise present. I didn't ask Santa for kitten snorgles this year but this little fuzz bundle might just end up being my perfect Christmas wish.

Yet, on the opposite end of the surprise spectrum, a friend's mom was trimming the tree this past weekend and fell off a ladder and broke her leg! Yeouch! [Update: She is doing alright although confined to the couch].

So have you been hit with any holiday surprises - good or bad - yet? Or maybe you have a memorable anecdote from the past to share with us. Other than playful kitten kisses and Coquito, laughter is the best salve for holiday anguish.

Bonus Bone: Pine Tree Stand

Pine Tree Stand by Maria Håård, at Design House Stockholm

Place a star on top AND the bottom of the tree this year. Minimal, Swedish, and available in red, green or white. So much nicer than the clunky ones from Home Depot.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Scandinavian wreath

Kotte wreath, at Ikea

Hardwood and I picked up this simple wreath made of wheat at a recent trip to Ikea. A nice, but still natural, change of pace from the usual boxwood wreaths we buy.

If you want a more fragrant option, watch this Jane Cumberbatch video and learn to make a savory rosemary wreath.

Bonus Bone: Sleep & Eye Pillows

Sleep Pillows, $24

The past few days might have found you traveling, cleaning, cooking, eatingeatingeating, shopping, and maybe - if you too were lucky enough to spend today in a 69-degree Denver - completing some yard work. My point is: we all deserve a rest.

I just found these cute Sleep Pillows from Jane, Inc. Filled with lavender and flax seed, they promise to open sinuses and usher in a calm sleep. If you want something you can take on the plane with you, Jane also sells Eye Pillows.

Eye Pillows, $20

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We took a break this week. We hope you did too! Just know that we're always thankful for you, your readin' eyeballs, mouse-clickin' hands, and genuinely smart-ass comments.

Bonus Bone: Albion gravy boat

Albion Sauce/Gravy Pitcher, at The Conran Shop

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Do you have your gravy boat ready? Excuse me, I mean sauce pitcher. Ooo la la! So fancy, those Brits! What they call a sauce pitcher, we call a BOAT.

Anyhoo, I love the simple, elegant lines of this boat designed by Terence Conran. The shape is a simplified, subtle bird. The spout is its beak while the handle and plumage act as tail feathers. This is a bird theme I can get behind.

Pass the gravy, darlin'!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

It's Big, It's Heavy, It's...Pink?

Duraflame Colorlog

I don't have a fireplace in my home (sad face) so this log is not for me but Duraflame still earns an honorable mention for not only helping out the boobies (happy face) but also calling this product Colorlog!

When/if you hearth-having people buy a Colorlog, 2% of the sale will go straight to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. And, according to the Oakland Tribune, the log really does burn pink (and purple and orange).

So get out there now and log load for the wintertime. Yet if you're meager and fireless like Porcelain and myself, you may just have to settle for the Duraflame screensaver (sad, sad, crying face).

1 of 3 HOT Screensavers

Thrifty Christy

7.5 Ft Upside Down Christmas Tree, at Sam's Club

My local Salvation Army actually has one of these upside-down Christmas trees for sale!

It's unadorned (you must provide photo ornaments of your own grandkids) and I don't know how much it costs. Yet this is the first time I've seen one of these in-person and, letmetellyou, it is green and it is crazy.

But you must hurry on over if you want to check it out. For in the world of discount stores, the good stuff (talkin' to you, DJ Play Station) is gone in a blink but coordination of color is forever.

Reds and Greys, by Brian C.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Design Boner and all the fun-lovin', law-breakin'
CTA riders wish you a very pleasant (and safe) holiday.

Three Years!

Celebratory birthday drinks and ice cream cake

Three years ago today, design boner was born! We decided to celebrate the occasion by spending a fun-filled day together, along with one of our dearest friends (material name yet to be determined). Brunching, dancing, and drinks. The perfect trifecta!

At Fiddlehead Cafe, Porcelain inhaled her plate of Chilaquiles and washed it all down with a Spicy Bloody Mary. Cardboard chose the deliciously flavorful Truffled Eggs and a cup of coffee with a hint of cream.

With full tummies and just a tiny bit sleepy, we headed over to the Athenaeum Theatre to see Little Dead Riding Hood performed by Chicago Tap Theatre. Cardboard had seen two members of this dance company perform earlier this year and we were all so glad she told us about this production. Completely wowed and inspired, we all knew we'd be googling Chicago tap dance classes as soon as we returned home.

Porcelain & Cardboard celebrate turning 3 by feeding each other cake!

To close up the day, we went for a birthday drink at the sophisticated but not snotty In Fine Spirits. Cardboard chose the elegantly named Bonaventure (12 Bridges Gin, Junmai Ginjo sake, cucumber, lemon, mint) and Porcelain went with the summer classic, Pimm's Cup (Pimm's No. 1 Cup, fever-Tree bitter lemon soda, cucumber, strawberry, lemon, mint). A nearby table was also celebrating a birthday. They were sweet enough to offer us a slice of their ice cream cake, which we happily fed to one another (see photo above).

It was a perfect day with a perfect friend!!

A Blue Blogger

So it's only been one day in Worktown without Porcelain and I already miss her. I missed her after only 48 minutes! Invoices and PO's just aren't the same without her happy, shiny (I mean matte) face around.

So I'll just pacify myself with the thought that she is having the SUPER BEST TIME EVER on her rented cottage getaway. And she'll undoubtedly come bouncing home with lots and lots of photos. But, in case you all need a visual to attach to my anguish, this is what Porcelain looks like in Michigan:

D P N' Dots & Hard Scoop

[Insert melancholy sigh here]

Memorial Day Means More Than Grilling But We're Just Going To Simplify

No more snow grill! Get out there, dust it off, degrease it, derust.

Let's start this summer thang cookin'.

Happy Memorial Day!

This is My Love on Steroids

Triple Chocolate Caramel Apple, at Mrs. Prindable's

Dang it. I just found the perfect Mother's Day present and it's one day late.

These decadent apple orbs serve 8-10 people. 8-10! I do believe that, had I planned ahead and actually bought her one, this is what Mama Cardboard would have called an "apple huge."

Hope all you foxy mothers had a great holiday weekend!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! If you're looking to combine a little spring cleaning and some Earth Day celebrating you should wander over to Mrs. Myers. They're offering free shipping on every order today!

Photo credit: NASA

Library Love

This is National Library Week and today just so happens to be National Library Workers Day! This means both Porcelain and I, who slave away daily over stacks of books and bar codes, deserve a nice little treat.

Maybe you'll be so kind as to order us one of these candles which, apparently, fills the air with the aromas of "antiquated leather-bound volumes...and parchment."

D.L. & Co. Modern Alchemy Ex Libris Candle, at Candles Off Main

Or (preferred option) perhaps you'll book us into a weekend getaway at "Manhattan's most celebrated concept luxury hotel," the Library Hotel.


We'll take The Arts floor - thank you - and your novel is due back in three weeks.

Happy Eatster

More Easter magic from Allrecipes can be found HERE.

Happy St. Pat's

Run of Luck Shamrock Wall Decal, by studiojk at etsy

Happy St. Patrick's Day...
...to you and all yer wee lasses and lads!

Just be careful today, if you're stumbling out in a tall felt hat, as it is possible to drink a tad too much green. Be witty, be lucky, get yer shamrocks home safe.

Happy Valentine's Day

Heart Egg Molder, at Perpetual Kid

design boner [hearts] you.
(Now please make us some eggs!)

V-Day Decor

Heart Garland

I don't normally dress up my house for Valentine's Day but today, I'm feeling the love. And I owe this warm and fuzziness all to the crafty blogger at Mintage Home.

Heart Shaped Wood Block

Click over to this charming blog for tutorials on how to make a sparkly LOVE banner, glittery heart blocks and/or mobiles, or even a welcoming window display.

Love Covered Front Door

Thanks, MintHome, for the spreading the love (and glitter) around like homemade butter!