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Hot Off the Press: Design Sponge At Home
Grace Bonney's blog-gone-book is as practical as it is inspirational
Houzz Contributor. I am an interior designer with a passion for modern clean spaces and timeless vintage decor which makes for a unique eye. I work in Los Angeles but offer e-design services nationally. Visit my website and my blog at http://www.veneerdesigns.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an interior designer with a passion for modern... More »
The blog Design Sponge took off after its inception in 2004 by empowering readers to create inspiring, authentic and drop-dead gorgeous spaces or home projects — all achievable on a tight budget without professional design help. At long last the book, Design Sponge at Home (Artisan, $35), is out. Read on for a sneak preview and the scoop on how it all came about from creator Grace Bonney.
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If you have ever casually visited Design Sponge, you will find yourself returning multiple times a day. I was expecting the book to be a composite of the best home sneak peeks and DIY projects worthy of coffee table display. But it is much more than that. It is a dense must-have resource chock full of ideas and insider tips that reads like the dream craft/home design textbook you wish you had since high school to refer to again and again. There really is something for everyone to appreciate — from antique flea market to high-end modern — and it all blends together in an original, eclectic voice.
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N.M.: You have been running the blog since 2004. Why did you feel now was the time to write the book?
G.B.: I'd been waiting to find a topic and a home that felt right for us. I'd been talking to a few publishers since 2006, but everyone wanted us to do a pre-existing book series or something very narrow (ie: just homes in a certain area). I really wanted to embrace the depth of content we cover at Design*Sponge, so when I found a publisher that embraced how large that book would be, I knew it was the right place. Not only did Artisan embrace the encyclopedia-style book I wanted to do, but they let me work with my own art team, which was really important to me. I've been working with the same team (Also Design) since 2007, and they really understand my style.
Once we started working on the book it really felt clear that something like this was needed. I loved my dog-eared copies of interior design books, but they never really felt as practical as I wanted. I felt strongly that there was a gap in the market for a book that not only inspired, but took it three steps forward and taught you the skills to make the things you saw in homes and taught you about how and why those looks worked. I really wanted to give you everything you needed (from the tools to the confidence) to create your dream home, not just look at it in a book.
G.B.: I'd been waiting to find a topic and a home that felt right for us. I'd been talking to a few publishers since 2006, but everyone wanted us to do a pre-existing book series or something very narrow (ie: just homes in a certain area). I really wanted to embrace the depth of content we cover at Design*Sponge, so when I found a publisher that embraced how large that book would be, I knew it was the right place. Not only did Artisan embrace the encyclopedia-style book I wanted to do, but they let me work with my own art team, which was really important to me. I've been working with the same team (Also Design) since 2007, and they really understand my style.
Once we started working on the book it really felt clear that something like this was needed. I loved my dog-eared copies of interior design books, but they never really felt as practical as I wanted. I felt strongly that there was a gap in the market for a book that not only inspired, but took it three steps forward and taught you the skills to make the things you saw in homes and taught you about how and why those looks worked. I really wanted to give you everything you needed (from the tools to the confidence) to create your dream home, not just look at it in a book.
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| N.M.: How did you find the time to do this on top of your blog duties? Especially finding all the new sneak peeks. G.B.: That was the hardest part — and to be honest I pretty much learned how NOT to do it. I just tacked on the work everywhere I could: weekends, late nights, all-nighters. The bulk of the writing was done in about three months, and the work load ended up with me in the hospital triggering an underlying migraine condition I never knew I had. I learned my lesson: always pace things out and don't bite off more than you can chew. In terms of finding homes, we reached out to our network of readers, friends, shop owners and designers across the globe to see if we could find some amazing new homes on a short turnaround time. Luckily we found more than 40 new homes, so we shot and edited them quickly and had them in the book within a few months. |
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N.M.: The book reads more like a text book for the DIYer, less like the coffee table book I was expecting. I love the detailed information and tips, the denseness, the variety of topics and projects. Was the original goal to create a text-book-like resource, or did you find that there was so much you wanted to cover as you were putting it together that this was the only way to go?
G.B.: I really wanted the book to be practical and inspirational. With the economy being so rough right now, I thought it seemed out of touch to just have a book of pretty pictures. I wanted to be able to teach people how to actually recreate those inspirational looks and projects in their own style, on their own budget. That was really important to me. I wanted it to be the prettiest and most practical book possible.
In terms of editing, I really went by my gut. I chose some of my favorite projects and homes from the past 7 years of site archives, which was relatively easy. Those homes and projects had been in my brain for years and they were the most fun to pick through and choose. The newer projects were designed to fill in the gaps that we thought were important to cover in terms of styles, prices and skills being represented.
G.B.: I really wanted the book to be practical and inspirational. With the economy being so rough right now, I thought it seemed out of touch to just have a book of pretty pictures. I wanted to be able to teach people how to actually recreate those inspirational looks and projects in their own style, on their own budget. That was really important to me. I wanted it to be the prettiest and most practical book possible.
In terms of editing, I really went by my gut. I chose some of my favorite projects and homes from the past 7 years of site archives, which was relatively easy. Those homes and projects had been in my brain for years and they were the most fun to pick through and choose. The newer projects were designed to fill in the gaps that we thought were important to cover in terms of styles, prices and skills being represented.
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N.M.: You allude to the fact that you were a crafting and design novice when this all started. Describe your learning curve. Do you feel that now you can hold your own with many top designers or are there still design areas you would like to learn more about?
G.B.: I'm always learning and I'm definitely not a crafting pro. But what I do have is something that most people don't realize is the only important skill: fearlessness. I'm never afraid to tackle a project. Even if it looks scary or tough, I know that I'm going to dive in and give it my all. I never mind if something doesn't look exactly like an image. I accepted early on that handmade work is always going to be unique and not "perfect." That sort of fearlessness comes with being willing to try things and embrace the imperfection; that sort of confidence was what I hoped to instill in readers by the end of the book.
G.B.: I'm always learning and I'm definitely not a crafting pro. But what I do have is something that most people don't realize is the only important skill: fearlessness. I'm never afraid to tackle a project. Even if it looks scary or tough, I know that I'm going to dive in and give it my all. I never mind if something doesn't look exactly like an image. I accepted early on that handmade work is always going to be unique and not "perfect." That sort of fearlessness comes with being willing to try things and embrace the imperfection; that sort of confidence was what I hoped to instill in readers by the end of the book.
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| N.M.: Which is your personal favorite section of the book? G.B.: It changes every day, but I really love the flowers right now. People often overlook flowers as a decorating tool, and one that can be done on a budget and with creativity. I wanted to break down the basic steps of arranging to demystify it and show people how you can interpret different trends and styles in floral form. Sometimes it's the most affordable way to decorate a room in a pinch. |
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N.M.: Do you foresee publishing parts 2, 3, etc. in the future? Or updating the resource guides in future editions?
G.B.: Absolutely. No matter how timeless a room or project is, there's always room for updating. I can see us going back to this in a few years and updating the sections so that it best reflects what's happening in design after 2015 or so. Although that seems awfully far away right now. My goal is to do a few smaller books in between this book and the next big one.
Learn more about the blog, the book and how to order.
More:
Book Tour: The Happy Home Project
Book Tour: Patina Style
G.B.: Absolutely. No matter how timeless a room or project is, there's always room for updating. I can see us going back to this in a few years and updating the sections so that it best reflects what's happening in design after 2015 or so. Although that seems awfully far away right now. My goal is to do a few smaller books in between this book and the next big one.
Learn more about the blog, the book and how to order.
More:
Book Tour: The Happy Home Project
Book Tour: Patina Style
Ideabook updated on July 30, 2012.
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