They say relocation is one of the most challenging experiences in life. It is true. When we crossed the Atlantic Ocean three years ago, we embarked on a journey that transformed us end-to-end. Moving out of your comfort zone is never easy, but it is also a chance to rediscover one's best self. We took that chance, and it ended up being a unique experience that allowed us to rebuild ourselves the way we wanted to be.
Adaptation began with an attempt to bring a sense of order in a chaotic world. Making our new place feel like home was a milestone in that process. But how does one create the feeling of home in a new world?
Growing up in the birthplace of slow living (we are the daughters of the Mediterranean), we knew life was best realized slowly. So we slowed down. To the sliver of a moment, to a breath, to a sensation. We paused and reflected. We nourished an awareness where we could enjoy life's simple pleasures slowly.
And by allowing ourselves to do that, we transformed our everyday routines into delightful experiences. We formed our rituals, habits afresh and let them gradually set in our new life. We basked in the pleasure and simplicity of shaping a slow, sustainable, and meaningful life. Adaptation gradually evolved into a sense of belonging and our home, into a space where everything felt right. We made a home in our new world: Her heart was calm. My soul was lit. Our thoughts were positive, and our vision clear.
Intentional living had freed time for our passion & creativity and created space for what really brings us joy. It was challenging on every level, but it was also a journey of becoming in which we were lucky enough to find who we were meant to be, and by finding that, the art of slow living became our attitude and a new idea of home had emerged.
Slow living allowed us to appreciate good design better. After having had our design studios for several years, the way we viewed design had evolved. We deem good design to be about how we perceive value and meaning and take pleasure from things we use in everyday life. We believe a well-designed object should effortlessly combine elegance, intuitiveness, ease of manufacture, and longevity into a beautifully simple solution.
A good design experience explores new ways of relationship between its key players: Designers, makers, and users. A well-designed object is animated with the maker's energy, infused with life, and is able to create a dialogue with the user. Once it opens up to us, we see the human behind the products and appreciate the wisdom, creativity, and labor put in them that gives us pleasure everytime we use it.
However, this appreciation reveals a problem of representation in our industry. The history of design has been written by both women and men, but there have been times when it was difficult to see where we have had a seat at the table and just how significant our contributions have been. From disparate pay to discrimination, it seems we begin with a disadvantage and have no choice but to fight for equality for the entirety of our careers. So, sadly, if you think that the progressive design industry is immune from gender bias, you are wrong.
Women are under-represented in all design disciplines and workforce. Did you know women make up 94% of buying power for home goods, but the design industry comprises 77% of men and 23% of women? Interestingly enough, the design industry doesn't have a problem attracting women - you don't see gender difference in a school setting; it's only in the professional world that you start to see that. The problem within our industry is in retaining, promoting, and nurturing female designers. Given the current landscape of parity, or lack thereof, women-owned businesses are economically disadvantaged and lack equal opportunity to compete for opportunities. It's even more challenging for independent women creatives; claiming our freedom costs us more work, doubles responsibilities, but the share stays the same.
You may be familiar with the saying "you can't be what you can't see,"-- that goes for the design field, too. We believe good design is about breaking prejudices and being open-minded towards opportunities and challenges of our time. Good design is bound to solve a problem and create change. So it is our commitment as designers, to find new ways to make women more visible in the design industry, inspire, and be the agent of change.
We work to upend the status quo, break down traditional male power structures and motivate women to ply their trade globally because good design also keeps alive the possibility that things could be otherwise. It gives material expression to alternative realities, world views, values, beliefs, priorities, hopes and fears, and dreams.
We believe in creating something useful, something that gives pleasure, and makes the world a better place. That's why as we're trying to right a history of inequality and injustice, we let the pendulum rightfully sway a little far the opposite way until gender parity in our industry is not the exception but the norm. And the world a better place to live.
Back in 2018, we realized that the homeware retail scene needed something fresh and different and thus began the adventure of creating Darling Spring, a design store where we recreated the mood you'd find in the birthplace of slow living with the most inspiring, modern, design-conscious options. Bringing our idea to life, we created a design store where we'd not limit ourselves to a product, a location, or an event but to a feeling: Savoring life's simple pleasures in a slow fashion.
We imagined a free-spirited space that inspires people with a beautiful aesthetic. We lamented our mutual affinity for nuanced and diverse design and curated a collection with quality merchandise that is mainly tucked away from the mainstream market and execute it with a white-glove service experience.
The idea of Darling Spring was born out of a desire to feel at home wherever we are, and while doing that, we wanted Darling Spring to serve as an awareness and make a statement. We believe investing in our people is the best way to create change. So the day we started Darling Spring, we also started making a tool that gives back to our community. We are set out to use the power of business as a form of creative and political expression to address gender inequality in the design industry. Because we know, as designers by trade, being an independent female creative is challenging, so we are spearheading the conversation on what it takes to be one.
Our motive is to ultimately enable women creatives to find greater equity in their ventures. We relentlessly challenge the status quo and shake the boxes we are put in. That's why we put independent female creatives at our forefront, our collection is curated exclusively by works of our creative community to provide undivided attention and exposure to them.
Darling Spring is a concept store - a union of culture and commerce where you can discover good design and shop lifestyle luxuries, homewares, art, food - perfectly gift-wrapped.
Darling Spring is a designer store exploring the intersection of slow living, good design, and female creativity. We are here to help you rediscover a slower approach to the everyday with a collection of crafted and curated goods that tell a story and serve a purpose.
Darling Spring represents a life well-lived, savored, and enjoyed slowly. It is about quality, equality, and intentionality. Our collection of home and lifestyle goods blend modern style with time-tested techniques serves as a reminder that faster isn't always better.
Our efforts to reduce waste, extend product life, and slow consumption are our groundwork of purposeful homemaking. We chronicle the art of slow living one piece at a time, offering a unique shopping experience.
Darling Spring is the indie design store for the contemporary home, where you find the most authentic and inspirational products by female creatives. We are fascinated by objects inspired by nature, made by hand, with organic materials. This is why our products are of high quality, aesthetically pleasing, and functional. Everything at Darling Spring is designed with love, curated with taste, and wrapped in pleasure.
Born on a long winter night, Darling Spring embodies the season of growth. We are after a fundamental transformation, just like Spring is a season of change. For in Spring, the divine aspects of femininity arise. Movement and fluidity, instinct and intuition, receiving and protecting, awareness and justice.
]]>Because inspiration is the best fuel for a better future and we all need more of that.
]]>These powerful messages on linen wall banners perfect for stocking stuffers: Inspiring words for raising better humans. The perfect accessory for the kids’ room decor that’ll support them for overcoming their challenges, these linen banners are perfect vessels to show support for handmade and sustainable products - all values that offer a better future with the perfect and sweet companion of marshmallows for festive nights!
These great book to read because it puts power into girls' hands around the world, inviting them to join a thriving, diverse, and fierce movement of fearless builder girls.
This colorful art print to inspire : Be it a melodious moment in time to highlight the aspiring musician in the house or the sports lover killing her every move! You cannot go wrong with the right motivation in these amazing colors.
You gotta check out our whole collection for more inspirational gifts for young adults, we do have great stuff here, darling!
]]>For a walk in the park, grab your face mask and matching bandana and stroll in style. Here is the perfect gift for your loved ones and fur friends!
Go for Just Peachy 🍑 or Chevron Green 💚 and inspire everyone 🎯
Wroof! Wroof! 🐩🦮🐕🦺 ❤️
]]>Gifts for his new Normal Routine in Style because he prefers practicality and style together.
]]>This matching face mask and bandana for his walk in the park with his best fur friend: This tail wagging combo is the perfect gift for him and his pup so he is covered from patio brunch dates to dog park outings, ...literally. The Chevron Green face mask and bandana is just for him to put a smile on his face and make him stay safe.
This funky kitchen utensil for him to spend enjoyable time in the kitchen: So he can find enthusiasm in the little moments of his daily rituals. This funky enamel colander is the stylish essential for his kitchen - where he spends more time than ever.
This stylish towel set for him to have a shower in a style: A product beyond our perceived functionality, the peshtemal towel is truly a multifaceted item. Made by the artisans, these high quality towels become softer with every wash that they feel like second skin. Hand-loomed with love, their craftsmanship is at its finest which provides excellent user experience for the cool man in your life.
This exclusive Art Print for his new home office: This stunning artwork's dreamlike qualities and modern, monochromatic palette will bring a touch of magic to his new favorite hangout place.
This funky campware for his adventures outdoors: Perfect gift for his favorite hobby, this casserole pan is wanderlust served in style. Made using centuries-old coating methods, this hand-painted pan will no doubt inspire your dad to get creative with his recipes under the stars. Choose the color he likes and you’ll put a smile on his face for sure.
This cozy lumbar pillow for his comfort in his favorite corner: For him to enjoy his reading and watching sessions comfortably, this hand loomed lumbar pillow comes in green with a diamond pattern is going to be his new beloved essential.
This traveling blanket for his getaways: Perfect gift for his outdoor activities - the traveling blanket that rolls up in thirds for easy transport with fancy leather straps. The minimalist take on the design is a classic and bull's eye for the dad likes less is better.
]]>Because she prefers smart accessories every day now.
]]>This handcrafted leather purse: The perfect size to hold anything she needs with the smoothest handle, and the leather is oh so soft. She’ll love it because it is chic and practical. Multifunctional accessories are the go-tos in the New Normal.
This handmade leather clutch: The oil hide handbag that's designed to last a lifetime - it’s beyond trends because it serves the desires of both the minimalist - with its design, and the maximalist - it is so spacious! With its attached hand strap she can carry it with ease - a detail she’ll love in her new routines.
This handmade crochet oversize bag: For a rounded boho-chic look, there is a smile on her face as she dons her florals and takes her Hoop circle crossbody bag to the farmer’s market and moves her shopping in style.
Give her the most unique, because she is the best mum.
]]>Because she fancies unique items and loves adorning herself with everything natural and minimal.
This handcrafted necklace from olive tree wood: Handmade using olive tree wood, the Monmu Wood Necklace is inspired by architecture and natural landscapes. Sustainably and thoughtfully crafted, this minimalist piece is the most natural material the urban woman can wear.
This handcrafted bracelet from up-cycled leather: This natural leather bracelet in white and grey, is handmade from upcycled leather and an inspiration for the woman who cares about the environment without foregoing her style. The perfect monochrome accessory for the thoughtful minimalist.
This handcrafted pair of earrings from magnolia leaves: These unique earrings are asymmetrical in color and size to be worn in any way she likes. Handmade using upcycled papier mache and 925k silver, this lightweight and easy to wear jewelry is the excellent addition to highlight her face.
This matching face mask and bandana: This tail wagging combo is the perfect gift for her and her pup so she is covered from patio brunch dates to dog park outings, ...literally. Comes in two different designs, choose what’ll put a smile on her face and make her stay safe.
Get her the best, so she can make the best of this holiday season.
]]>Easy peasy!
Right?
]]>This is why we've long been using this light tinware once considered a poor man's ceramic. While some may think it is the nostalgic quality and exaggerated as a design statement, its sustainable function surpasses any old-fashioned sensibility. Its universal appeal is no surprise, and with the right amount of retro, it is a delight to adorn our tablescapes with them.
Instructions and Maintenance:
While using:
Obviously, not all enamelware is created equal in terms of quality, but it's really hard to mess up.
Since enamelware doesn't react with any acids in food, it is 100% food safe and great for cooking.
Enamelware is safe for all cooktops: gas, electric, and induction burners. Place it on grates over a campfire, on the grill, and in the oven up to 530 degrees F.
Immediate temperature changes can cause damage, so allow your product to return to room temperature first before heating, cooling, washing, and stacking.
It can get very hot or cold to the touch like other metallic-based cookware. Use an oven mitt as needed and supervise children.
In addition, don't heat empty enamelware, as doing so may damage your coating.
Never use it in microwaves.
Tea, coffee, and some foods may stain the enamel, but this is natural with any material and is not permanent if your white enamel mug is cleaned quickly after use and not left to sit soiled.
All of these uses can perform without damaging the coating or design.
After use:
Enamelware generally comes clean with hot, soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth. To keep it at its best, always try the gentlest cleaning method first and work your way up to more forceful methods if needed.
Our enamel dinnerware set and enamel lined cookware are dishwasher safe, but it is always good to arrange the pieces so they won't bang against other dishes and chip.
If soapy water doesn't work, you can try an oven-cleaning spray used according to label directions.
Do not clean your enamelware with harsh abrasive materials, or detergents and avoid sharp objects like steel wool as they can scratch the surface.
Any enamel coated cookware with set-in stains, white lime deposits, or brown discolorations from mineral-heavy water may come clean if you boil them with a teaspoon of baking soda in the water. If the stain is on the outside, go for a bigger pot to soak the whole thing.
Damages:
It is evident that enamel is not like china, it is sturdy, but it will chip if you bang it or drop it as enamel is a finishing derived from glass. It will not shatter and will stay safe to use, and those small nicks will only add to the charm.
To prevent rust in case the steel is exposed, keep your piece dry. Do not leave it to soak in liquid, thoroughly dry it after washing, and store in a dry place. You can coat the area with olive oil or vegetable oil, or remove it from the steel core with naval jelly or Norwex Cleaning Paste.
You can always make a homemade cleaner yourself by boiling 2 tbs. white vinegar with 3 quarts of water in the pot for about 15 minutes. Then cool, rinse, and wash with soap and water.
The rust stains on the enamel also can be removed with vinegar and water. To keep your enamel coffee cups shiny, squeeze half a lemon over some salt and scrub the mixture with a non-abrasive sponge.
Yet, if it is rusted, we recommend discontinuing using it for food, not because it's not food safe but because these small chips can turn into bigger ones that you could end up ingesting.
There are always various other uses for them in the house - be it a planter, storage in the utility cupboard, or as stationery in the office, adding value to its sustainability. Your mug can turn into a pencil holder, a salad bowl can be a planter to your orchids, enamel trays are perfect for your accessories in the bathroom, and mezze plates are great over the counter storage.
No wonder enamel is around for so long, it is an incredibly useful and beautiful looking material!
Read more:
How Utility became Chic - The Story of Enamel to Enamelware
]]>Being the most sustainable camping gear is not the only benefit of enamelware.
Here are the unsurmountable benefits of enamelware
]]>Without further ado, I lay it down for you:
First of all, enamel does not hinder the recyclable nature of the material it covers, so it is itself recyclable.
Furthermore, it is a great energy saver. The enameled surface's energy transfer is even and fast, so the cooking time is short without any loss of flavor. Its performance is better than traditional casserole dishes and is perfect for simmering, braising, and stewing. And enamel camping mugs serve piping hot coffee longer than any ceramic.
Enamelware is not only durable because of the innate strength of its raw materials or one-of-a-kind production techniques, but it is also timeless regarding its quality. Its colors do not fade as it is resistant to UV light.
With its smooth surface, enamelware is easy to clean and non-stick and naturally anti-bacterial, so maintenance time is replaced with enjoying life. We all surely appreciate that value since the lockdown.
Enamelware travels with ease from cooktop or oven to table to dishwasher, but it's also great for food storage. Enamel food storage containers are ideal for storing your leftovers in the fridge or the freezer. It is resistant to food acids and prevents your food from leeching any unwanted flavors from the steel as well as being non-allergenic, so you can keep your food fresh longer and live healthier.
Last but not least, enamelware is a naturally multi-functional product. You can cook, store, reheat, and serve with the same piece. This 'less is more' approach is invaluable to the small spaces we inhabit in cities. As for the serveware, they are stackable, which makes it easy to store and transport. This natural economy of enamelware allows us to save space in our kitchens and easily throw in a bag for a picnic.
Read more:
How Utility became Chic - The Story of Enamel to Enamelware
]]>Think of all the things you need to bring with you to camping! Mugs, pans, bowls, plates. You can't take your favorite ceramic mug on the road, or carry your heavy cookware into the woods! And surely you won't use plastic and throw it away on your way back?
Darling, we have just the thing for you!
]]>Darling, we have just the thing for you!
Enamelware is functional, practical, and affordable for the home, yet it is durable to bring camping. It's lightweight to carry, quick to clean, and works excellent with an induction cooker.
So it is no surprise that while we enjoy the throwback summer camp experiences from enamelware, this perfect outdoor companion was also trending during the Victorian era. Not that they were practicing social distancing, but 19th-century city slickers saw camping as a way to ditch the daily grind, plunging into the sublime wilderness landscapes.
Inventions like enamelware and the utilization of other outdoor gear, camping was also trending in America at the turn of the century, so much so that it inspired America's first National Parks.
At one point, having won suffrage, women turned to the outdoors. Not because sleeping under the stars was a pastime, but because it was a means to express their new freedom and shatter the systemic lockdown imposed on them for so long.
Today, heading outdoors is again as popular as it was a century ago. Camping in 2020 is viewed as the safest form of travel for good reason, and from glamping to #vanlife you don't have to rough it anymore.
We can all agree that food tastes better outdoors. The delight of cooking on a campfire is unparalleled, and in 2020, it goes without saying that giving back to nature is best achieved by reducing our carbon footprint by dissing plastic and single-use products. Let's leave no trace and enjoy the most sustainable camping gear: Enamelware.
Read more:
How Utility became Chic - The Story of Enamel to Enamelware
]]>Rugs are great artworks on floors, and your rug should please you every time you look at it. They should resonate with your lifestyle as well as your personal style, and with their color and/or pattern, they should act as a graphic statement.
Let’s cover a couple of tips to choose the right size of your area rugs and runners and the color and pattern you choose will tie the look of the room together and create the oasis you thrive for.
]]>Rugs are great artworks on floors, and your rug should please you every time you look at it. They should resonate with your lifestyle as well as your personal style, and with their color and/or pattern, they should act as a graphic statement.
But before talking about our favorite part, let’s cover a couple of tips to choose the right size of your area rugs and runners. Contrary to the individuality of color and pattern choices, there is a right and wrong way to the sizing of a carpet.
As we’ve talked about before, rugs cluster furniture around intimate areas, and this can be achieved by allowing two feet of floor space around the rug’s perimeter to define the area from the walls. Keeping all furniture legs resting on the rug is a rule of thumb in living rooms. While you can select larger sizes that outline the perimeter of the area, you can also make an exception for your sofa by keeping its front two off the rug and go with a smaller size.
The rugs under your dining table should allow your chairs enough space to be pulled away and to sit evenly on the floor at all times. This generally equals to extending the size of the rug two feet larger on each side of the table.
For your bedrooms, while you can apply the two feet extension rule on each side of your bed to be able to step from bed to softness, a runner rug can serve this as well. As per the design definition, your bed will become the focal point of your room with a rug.
You might think kitchens are better off with tiles or mosaic flooring, but in front of your sink and stove is where you stand in one spot for long periods. A runner rug perfectly set six inches away from the cabinets would ease foot, leg, and lower back pain.
Finally, entryways and hallways. Entryways are great first impressions like smiles. Keeping your rugs wider than your doorway will provide comfortable and celebratory greetings, like a welcoming smile. And for good measure, you want to be able to swing open your front door and keep that area clear from obstructions.
Hallways, the great passages for running kids or passing kisses with your significant other, require six inches of floor space on each side, and a rug pad underneath your runner rugs would do wonders.
Always keep in mind that when you can’t visualize a space, you always have painter’s tape to apply dimensions on the floor, and voila! You know the right size.
So here comes color and pattern, the fun part of choosing a rug! The color and pattern you choose will tie the look of the room together and create the oasis you thrive for.
Color has a whole theory of its own, and your home would need different tones according to the function of its rooms. Whatever your style or personal favorites, there are general guidelines that make the functions of a room work well with some combinations.
An emphatic use of color goes easy on the eyes, and a balanced look with paired colors would calm, give comfort and rest. Living rooms would benefit from dominant beiges, grays, and complementary hues. If your living room is on the sunny side, it’s a good idea to choose cool colors to balance the hot and bright sun.
While lighter colors would visually expand the size of a room - a significant benefit for a living room, darker shades would give you intimacy and work well in your bedroom. The darker you go, the richer the color becomes, and the more dominant it will be.
Earthy tones always work in the rooms in which you spend long hours, and you can spice up the hues in your kitchen and dining room to revive energy. On the other end, nurseries and reading nooks perform well with soothing shades so you and your little ones can relax.
Colors are major trending topics, and it is quite remarkable that our tendencies toward certain hues reflect our moods, feelings, likings, thoughts, and even our world view. Colors have always had the power to define eras in history—the Scarlet red of the Victorian Era, the pink and yellow highlights of the eighties. You get the idea. So while it would be somewhat inhibitory to offer specific colors in designing interiors, luckily, there is a rule of thumb that would be of help to choose whatever color you are looking for to go well with what you already have in your home.
There are generally three colors that would work well in a room. The dominant color composes the most space with 60%, and most of the time, that would be your furniture. The secondary color would compose 30%, which would work well as a complementary color, a hue, or a shade, but preferably not a contrasting one. Keeping the color of the flooring in mind, the secondary color would be the right one for your rug. And the remaining 10% is the accent color for your decor, and you can play with variations to your liking.
Patterns, then, can be chosen according to your upholstery choice. If your primary furniture is solid colors, liven up your space with a slightly patterned rug for a nice flow. A subtly patterned rug will also provide a grounded feel and allow the decor colors to pop. But if the upholstery is patterned, say with damask, a solid color for your rug would be easy on the eyes and pop the damask.
It is always safer to order swatches, and feel and see the material in the room itself to assess the tones and to test the cleaning materials.
Finally, whatever you do, stay away from department stores to avoid big markups. Go for handmade, designer area rugs, and support everyone included in the process of creating timeless pieces from artisans to small businesses. Because in the end, your rug is the heirloom you’ll leave to future generations that serve to tell your story.
Read more:
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR YOUR RUG
A MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRODUCT: THE BENEFITS OF WOOL AREA AND RUNNER RUGS
]]>3000 years later, charmingly utilitarian and attractive enamelware serves as a sustainable and safe material in the kitchen and graces your tablescape with a modern, unisex aesthetic.
While enamel has been around for centuries, enamelware is built to last for many years in the home. Today, these unassuming items have become collectible antiques - vintage enamelware is all around, proving their time-tested staying power while plastic is unforgivably ditched to landfills.
]]>3000 years later, charmingly utilitarian and attractive enamelware serves as a sustainable and safe material in the kitchen and graces your tablescape with a modern, unisex aesthetic.
Enamel is an organic coating material in the form of powdered glass. Fired at very high heat in a kiln, this powdered glass melts, flows and finally hardens on any material that can survive the process. Although Stone, pottery, and glass are the age-old materials that could withstand this heat, metal - cast iron, steel, and aluminum became the ideal base materials after the Industrial Revolution. The fusing of the glass is applied layer by layer, and the design is applied via a ceramic decal, permanently sealing it as a result of being fired at such high temperatures. The final product is a smooth and durable porcelain veneer palette decorated with artwork that will never peel.
Made by the same centuries-old methods, enamelware is still handmade through a multi-step and a very hands-on process. Due to this organic nature of production, it is only natural for enamelware to have small imperfections without affecting the piece's integrity. This element of uniqueness frees us from a perfectionist, mechanical uniformity, and adds character to our kitchens and tablescapes.
Enamel is not only a universally used material, but it also has a centuries-old pedigree. The origin of this robust material as a utility staple for the home goes back to the Industrial Revolution. Vitreous enameled cast iron was first used to produce sinks and bathtubs in the mid-1800s.
Craftspeople were already searching for a material that would enable a cooking surface that wouldn't rust and leach harmful substances to the food. Can you imagine tomatoes were thought to be poisonous for about 400 years because it was believed that pewter plates leeched lead causing lead poisoning? Enamel became the perfect solution.
By applying enamel to the inside of cast iron pots and pans, they created the first non-stick surface ideal for baking, cooking, and tableware to safely sustain the taste of their food. No wonder why enameled cookware became a viable commercial product that so quickly.
From the late 19th century on, enamel began to be applied to steel instead of cast iron and was a success that heralded mass-market cookware. Enamel kitchenware stamped from thin sheets of steel was then in every household as pans, pots, kettles, baking dishes, ladles, cups, bowls, plates, and biscuit cutters, becoming primary kitchenware. Soap dishes, pitchers, and bowl sets were popular as bathware.
This new cookware was not only easier to clean and scratch-proof but also lighter in weight. As an incredibly durable material, enamelware was also famous because it was less fragile than china and needed minimal effort to care.
The versatile yet straightforward kitchenware is the first mass-produced American kitchenware, sold from stores to mail-order catalogs. It was the mainstream kitchen utensil until it saw a decline in popularity after WWII when stainless steel and plastic came into favor.
While enamel has been around for centuries, enamelware is built to last for many years in the home. Today, these unassuming items have become collectible antiques - vintage enamelware is all around, proving their time-tested staying power while plastic is unforgivably ditched to landfills.
Read more:
The Perfect Companion to Camping
]]>Regular vacuuming is vital, but your flatweave rugs would fancy some fresh air and a regular shake-out now and then. And if you rotate them 180 degrees once a year, they will age evenly and have a longer life.
Always choose wool because it is durable and easy to clean. Don’t forget that rug pads are crucial for wool rugs on hardwood floors for backing. High traffic areas such as hallways and family rooms would benefit from them.
If you are very concerned about stains, though wool rugs are easily spot cleaned, you can always choose detailed patterns or misty colors, but never go for synthetic fibers. Synthetic rugs are made with toxic, high-impact dyes to color the fibers, so if you have babies or kids, it would always be the smart choice to go with natural fibers and dyes.
And while low piles work best in high traffic areas, we’d recommend going for high piles for your bedroom to reach maximum softness as you go to bed or for when you wake up. Bedrooms can be considered as low traffic areas, so you also have the chance to choose wool blends for softer feels.
Wool and viscose blend tufted rugs are a good option for a plush feel. Tufted rugs are easy to clean - just vacuuming is enough. If you decide to buy a wool and viscose blend, viscose is not a petroleum-based fiber such as synthetic fibers, but a plant-based one, so it is biodegradable. Tufted rugs are more on the eco-friendly and budget side of soft rugs.
Regardless of their material, if you ever need to store your fancy rugs, the way to go is to thoroughly clean them, add cedar balls to protect them from moths and insects before tightly rolling and wrapping them in a protective, breathable fabric. Don’t forget that rugs should always be rolled, never folded to prevent creasing and cracking. They should always be stored in cool, dry environments and be unrolled every few months to check for potential damage.
Read more:
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR YOUR RUG
A MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRODUCT: THE BENEFITS OF WOOL AREA AND RUNNER RUGS
Protection: It is quite straightforward that they protect your floors - especially hardwood floors from abrasions.
Warmth: Wool area rugs insulate your feet from the cold and provide you warmth, especially when you spend hours in a basement working from home.
Acoustics: Disturbed by the slight echo in your ear while you are on Zoom? Rugs are excellent noise absorbents. Lay down a woven area rug and enjoy the experience, darlings.
Health and Safety: Have a full house… Kids and pets running around? Or is Granny residing with you? Don’t think twice: get a wool runner rug, so no one slips!
All these years, we were told that rugs were the leading cause of allergies. It turns out that they keep the allergens from the air, so you don’t breathe them! Who would’ve thought? One more reason to choose natural fibers for your home.
Softness: Love your hardwood floors or Tuscan tiles but miss some softness? You don’t have to go all the way and lay wall-to-wall carpeting—no need to go back to the 80s unless you want that vibe. What you need to do is alleviate the pressure of a hard floor with the softness of an area rug.
Feeling grounded: Rugs have a unique way of bringing together all elements of a room and help us instantly feel grounded. Area rugs primarily anchor the room and establish the mood. They facilitate clustering furniture around an intimate area to define a space, which makes us feel at home. You know that brilliant room that speaks ‘cozy’ in an inviting way? It’s that coziness and intimacy your floor rug provides.
Rugs also slow the energy flow in a room, lowering anxiety. A sense of calmness is exuded when you have a rug on your floor. We need this elevated sense of calm in this weirdly hectic world, don’t you agree?
Read more:
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR YOUR RUG
A floor isn’t just for standing. We tend to overlook what’s below our feet, but what is beneath has a significant impact on our health, safety, mood, and visual pleasure. Our design decisions like color or pattern and material choices define the spaces we inhabit, and we need our spaces to be defined - that’s how our energies flow in meaningful directions since way back when we first found caves for safety.
While different types of flooring have always offered us a variety of usages such as easy maintenance of tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, the freshness of natural stones in summer, or the cozy feeling of hardwood floors in winter, we’d put cool rugs on them any time for a myriad of reasons. So while some might think the main reason we’d have a rug is just for looks, floor rugs have their own range of uses and benefits. So much so that they have become staples of many civilizations and their cultures.
Flourished in the Middle East, a crossroads of civilization, carpet weaving dates back to the earliest tribal cultures in the region. Persian and Turkish rugs are the oldest and most valued with different colors, texture, motifs, and weaving techniques unique to the respective regions. While carpet weaving began as purely functional in scope, as most things do, the element of artistic expression in their designs transformed them to be more luxurious and reflective of said cultures.
Rugs then became the canvases of stories passed down from generations. Their designs, colors, materials, and techniques told and still tell different stories unique to the people as well as their geography.
Having a rich history, the materials of woven rugs determine their durability and feel. Without a doubt, natural fibers are the finest quality materials as they last longer and release no harmful gasses. Wool, silk, or cotton; they all have different feels, benefits, and value. But synthetic fibers are always a no go for your home even if you have allergies, which we’ll talk about in a minute. Home should be as natural as it gets. That’s a rule of thumb for a sustainable life.
While handmade Persian silk carpets exude a lavish sheen and are expensive for that matter, they are very delicate and not as durable as Anatolian kilims or Turkish wool rugs.
Wool is the most durable and extremely versatile fiber in addition to its endless amount of color options. It is historically the best natural fiber for rugs. Wool floor rugs are a natural source for heat retention and insulation. They are stain, dust, and flame resistant and retain humidity. They are densely woven and repel liquids, so they are easy to clean up. What more do we want, really?
So, it is always a good idea to choose wool instead of silk if looks aren’t only what you’re going for, or durability is what you need. You can choose wool as a go-to material whether you intend to use it as a large area rug for your living room or for a small area rug for your dining room, so we’d recommend flatweave wool rugs without a doubt. Not just because of their versatile modern look but also to avoid piling or shedding, and because they are light and virtually at no height, they are great for layering.
Regardless of the material you choose, a rug is always an investment as a statement piece in addition to its amazing benefits. So, although there are machine-made rugs that would be pocket friendly, their durability can never match a handwoven rug, let alone the design quality aspect.
With all the stories carpet weaving embodies as well as the quality of materials and uniqueness of the handmade product, handwoven rugs are by far the superior choice that last for generations.
Read more:
A MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRODUCT: THE BENEFITS OF WOOL AREA AND RUNNER RUGS
MAINTENANCE AND STORING TIPS FOR YOUR RUGS
A SENSATION FOR YOU EYES: STYLE WITH COLOR AND PATTERN, BUT FIRST CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR YOUR RUGS]]>
We all know too well that it is already difficult to live in a world that doesn’t respect the creative and intellectual contributions of women.
Staying true to our mission, we are committed to using our platform to give voice to the stories, experiences, and perspectives to highlight, lift up and support our Black peers in this particularly crucial time.
We are dedicating our platform to better represent womxn from all communities and use our collective power to enact change.
As Darling Spring, we will actively redirect our resources to and invest in black women-owned creative businesses in our industry.
We welcome our community’s input in this process to spread the word to WOC creatives in the design industry and share our message with them.
Applications can be made through here.
Thank you ever so for your participation.
In solidarity,
Eril & Banu
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Nowadays, I wake up to silent mornings, not necessarily serene ones but quiet nonetheless. Today, for a brief moment in that stillness, I thought everything was a nightmare, and now that I was awake, I was finally free from it. Sadly, it didn’t last long. The silence swiftly left the stage to reality and worrisome thoughts. Don’t we have a lot of those recently?
Still and all, I got up, made the bed, got dressed, and specifically wore my favorite shoes. This is a cue I am trying to establish for my new routine. I am trying to make home a more pleasant place to be, but I am also trying to dress my part. Why? Because one of the things I have learned from being a freelancer for so many years, is that my environment affects my productivity - especially in dire times, and I am prone to label everyday Sunday, which takes a depressing turn after a while. So while I tend home more than usual, it helps me to dress my favorites as if I am going out.
I find myself working more since we moved the office home. While the retail industry is on a halt, we are trying to weather the storm as a female-founded small business; my to-do list is piling rapidly, and zoom meetings especially take up so much time.
But when do we do the work itself? I clearly need to dedicate time to my creative tasks. I need a fresh mind for about 90 minutes, not a few distracted minutes squeezed in between meetings or deadlines.
I forwent multitasking years ago; it is impressive how well the mind performs in deep focus. Compartmentalization is harmful in the long run, and I believe multitasking is a lousy hype we inherited from the 90s. No one really benefits from it. It drains more energy than it should - not only for little to-dos or errands but mainly for high-performance tasks. Keeping all tabs open is really a leak in energy.
That is why I have been working in blocks of time for the last couple of years, which I must say, have profoundly benefited from. Personally, this happened when I had to make the transition from being a night owl to an early bird and, dedicating a block of time to what I valued most allowed me to quiet my mind and do the work.
I find it extra compelling in these times we all are going through. Being showered by worrisome facts and thoughts are not natural conditions to work under, and we all must try to at least allocate an hour to find our center and move into the Flow.
Oh, the Flow - my favorite word and my beloved state of being. For me, it is the rhythm I find when I’m writing or designing. It is the state where every decision I take is in harmony with my being, my work, and the world. It is the ultimate state of productivity, and it fills me up with dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins! Oh, don’t we need those?
Dedicating a block of time is the only way to achieve this abundant level of concentration. Unless we set it, it is only a matter of time to see a drop in our daily performance as we are still adjusting to our new routines and trying to navigate stress at the same time.
Setting parameters for when and how long you’ll work will help you sustain a strong performance as long as you allow yourself closure. Knowing when to stop is as important because we all know, it is rather quite easy to miss the cue, and then suddenly, you find yourself working 24/7.
There are two things to consider when ending your day. First is to let your mind have closure - have a Z report because it needs it. And second is for your future self - to have the stamina to start again tomorrow.
As Hemingway has put it, ‘stop when you are going good.’ Yes, you can work for another hour, yes you can reply to another email, yes you can finish that piece. Well, don’t. Leave that last bit for tomorrow. Not only will it be easier to pick up where you left yesterday, but you will also begin with a fresh mind.
Don’t answer emails at 10 pm, and don’t have dinner at your desk. Don’t exhaust yourself. Instead, cook slow, luxurious dinners, enjoy your night in. Nourish yourself. This will help you ground yourself and manage anxiety.
Take off your shoes and mindfully end your workday.
]]>For most of us, it has been a week since we moved our offices home. I imagine most of us now have two sets of pajamas - one set for the day and one for the night. Moreover, most of us probably are having breakfast and lunch while working and dinners next to a pile of papers, mounting every day.
As we all try to navigate through a series of unprecedented events and uncertainties, it is only natural to get lost in how we manage our new routines. In the end, it was not us who made the decision but we all had to pivot to an unfamiliar setting - rather quickly.
But as the current situation suggests, it is in our best interest to create a sustainable environment for work from home today so that we find the motivation to get things done tomorrow.
What we need is a work-friendly space at home and it begins with seclusion because we are after only one thing: Concentration. If we do not have a customized area, a territory, if you like, concentrating will be a battle after only one week.
We do not necessarily need a separate workspace, but a dedicated space that mentally prepares us for work mode will do wonders. You may not need a desk, but a designated area where you won't be disturbed or distracted is key to your high performance.
We need seclusion from distractions, or we might just get ready with snacks in matching designer bowls, on the couch with favorite blue throw pillow, turning on that tv show we've been waiting for. However, choosing a space, we don't go for relaxation is the way to success. So better not designate your couch as your workspace.
The second thing we need is proper cues because there is a lack of triggers we are so used to. It takes only a few days to sink in procrastination. We cannot depend on our mood to start working; therefore, we need cues to replace the commute or the first coffee of the day in our favorite blue mug now sitting nicely at our desk at work.
What else do you need? Make sure you set up everything you need.
It goes without saying the need for daylight. A well-lit work area is crucial as distractions lure us easier after a couple of hours because our body clocks tend to prepare us for sleep in low-lit surroundings.
And a chair. Your chair mustn't be the comfiest but an ergonomic one. The difference is crucial. A too comfy chair will lure you into snoozing, but an ergonomic one will help you concentrate. If you do not want to invest in one, be sure to support your lower back and feet. Supported lower back and feet will help us sit straight, which keeps us awake and forlong our concentration.
So now, your well-lit, ergonomic, dedicated workspace keeps you away from procrastination. Your new cues have begun to emerge even unintentionally - for example, mine is unloading the dishwasher while waiting for the kettle, and the moment coffee is ready, I use that momentum to bypass the couch. Chores are great cues.
Once your physical surroundings and the emotional commute is set, we can talk about inspiration. It is our most necessary but less prioritized need, we take it for granted so quickly!
Yet, concentration thrives with inspiration. Besides, enjoying our surroundings is a powerful source to keep us want to come here daily to get the work done. While uncertainties trap us to procrastinate, inspiration gives us hope and the stamina to do the work for a better tomorrow.
My go-to inspiration for a home office would be decorative elements such as wall art - preferably modern prints. Plants - but I’d keep it minimalistic with air plants as they are low maintenance. And books, lots of books because they make me feel safe and grounded.
Victor Hugo was a great procrastinator. To compel himself to finish his daily writing quota, he kept his formal clothes locked away while working so that he became physically incapable of going out to socialize.
Although it might take a bit of trial and error until you find your right spot, we do not need to be miserable as Hugo was, we can cultivate an inspirational nook to keep our work performance high.
Once we find the spot, the best way to get used to it is to create a block of time. It will help our inner clock move our bodies to arrive to our new spot every day at the same time, and that's what we'll be talking about next.
Until then, stay safe.
]]>As the day rises, I am ready for work, and I have the shortest commute! I am at my desk in a jiffy! Our dining table, a darling hangout location for our famously long brunches, is now my desk. I can still smell last night’s dinner, but here I am on a Wednesday morning, setting my intentions for my day because today, there is no place like home.
Actually, I enjoy this silent moment. It is almost spring, and I can breathe a rather crisp morning from the open window. It is essential, you know, to let some fresh air, and hear how the world sounds before the day runs. Today, I hear Dante, the Portie of our neighborhood, going out for a short stroll in the park.
I have a string of to-dos in my mind. I jot them down every morning, sometimes even before I have my first cup of coffee. I developed this habit some time ago, and it serves me well: I write whatever comes to my mind in a stream of consciousness. I do not care how long it takes or what I write. Yet, I end up making a bullet list most of the time.
I happen to like lists - they help me organize my mind, so this little routine is kind of my favorite part of a day. It is the thing about making a list, though, I’ve got to keep it short, enough to accomplish all in a day. Otherwise, I end up projecting my annual plans to a single day, and we all know that it is not going to end well.
I aim to keep my lists as short as post-its. This helps me with one vital thing I need: Priorities. Because you see, I allowed myself to have a little downtime last night, and I’ve laid out my intentions with my morning brew. So, I am good to go. Yet, having intentions does not necessarily bring you a straight forward to-do list when you have deadlines, delays, and as we have these days, a series of unexpected events.
On any given day, I fill my post-it with a maximum of 4 things and choose as wisely as I can. My perfect list would have the most important to-do on top - the project I most invest in. Whether it is a financial or creative one, it is the big picture I should never lose sight of. And, as most invested projects are, mine is, too, like a marathon, and I have to pay my dues daily to run it.
The following bullet on the list usually is an urgent one - the things I am on a deadline with. These are more like errands I need to run, short sprints like emails, notifications, meetings.
My third to-do is the body of work I need to concentrate without distractions - mostly, weekly goals. A deep focus time usually runs across in the afternoons for me.
My fourth bullet would a dreaded one; for instance, taxes are due, and somebody’s gotta do the job, and I have to be careful - if I stall these, they end up in massive piles.
Mornings are important blocks of time that give momentum to your day, and I must say, after years of home-officing, I notice that mornings are full of opportunities, and ever so tempting distractions. However, sustaining a productive routine depends on priorities that enable us to not lose sight of our plans and dreams.
Nowadays, I also choose a guilty pleasure. We can all make use of some relaxation when we are dealing with things out of our immediate control. So I allow myself to devour in period pieces - preferably turn of the past century.
So head on to comments and tell us what your guilty pleasure is!
Stay tuned for tomorrow as we talk more about working from home and stay healthy.
Take care!
PS: Oh, night owls can execute the list in reverse order, and they may operate just fine :)
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Written while listening to this.
Today, most of us will be waking up to a remote working week.
Your regular Monday morning will feel different: You will not commute with your morning coffee in a tired travel mug in an overcrowded subway ride. Instead, you’ll have your morning brew with your darling mug in the comfort of your bed.
Today, some of us will feel like we can get used to this, while some of us will feel a little out of balance. Either way, if we want to sustain a robust performance when our routines change, there are two essential factors to consider: Energy and Intent.
An excellent performance relies on our energy levels. If our energy is in tune with our daily routine, we perform well. Although for exceptional performance, there are other things to consider, such as nutrition, exercise, and drama-free relationships. Yet how we use our energy truly dictate how well we live our lives.
To keep our energy levels at an optimum, if not best, we rely on our body clocks. It is our unique rhythm that keeps us moving every day - preferably forward. It knows best when to rise, peak, and when to slow down and rest. That rhythm is where our stamina feeds from.
That is why, when we need to modify our habits to new routines, we better keep a steady rhythm. If we help our body clocks stay set, they will, in turn, help us well when we need to keep our minds clear, spirits up, and perform with enough energy. I believe this is essential as we enter uncertain times because we need all our energy, our best selves.
Many would think what drives our performance level is our morning routine. Yet, a healthy weekday begins the night before. The consistency you have every night as you wind down for some rest has a direct impact on how you wake up and start your day.
Whether you like to read some, listen to good music or meditate, you set your next day up perfectly for some splendid action. It is crucial to stay away from blue light for a night of sound sleep and if you allow yourself to have enough hours of sleep instead of binge-watching your favorite series, you will have the stamina to keep up with your new routine.
So, regardless of how and where you take your morning coffee, the state you greet your day is set the night before.
It is quite easy to enter lounge mode when your bed calls you for a power nap, or your couch feels even more comfortable than usual. And then suddenly you notice it is dinner time. You have done no work at all.
Our homes are our comfort zones; they are loaded with distractions, and oh dear, don’t we love them! Yet, to sustain healthy conditions for remote working, the best way to stay on top of things is to set intentions every day.
As our daily routines are disrupted, we lose the cues that trigger our actions to focus on work. Setting intentions will help us align our old and new habits in harmony.
So today, why not allow yourself to ease the way you end your day and wake up as your best self to your new working conditions?
And preferably with your morning brew in your modern coffee mug, it might be wise to set your intentions for the day so that you stay healthy and happy during these extraordinary times.
Stay in touch as tomorrow we talk more about working from home and stay healthy.
Stay safe and take care!
]]>Spaghetti and meatballs a-la Lady and the Tramp is the perfect meal to say I love you. Serve up a stylish Italian feast for your sweetie on Kulak Ceramic’s Dream Dinner Plates, pasta bowls, and appetizer plates—and bring a touch of old-world ambiance to your Valentine’s Day dinner table. This collection of handcrafted porcelain dinnerware comes in romantic shades of pearl and rose and can double as a beautiful gift that will last as long as your love.
Flowers are a must for any Valentine’s Day celebration—and a beautiful handmade vase is the most special way to display them. Check out Sally Blair’s contemporary Bauhaus inspired vases to elevate the design of your home, and give your sweetheart a one-of-a-kind gift (besides your love!)
Enamelware is back, better than ever and the brightest way to surprise your Valentine with breakfast in bed. Made with centuries-old coating methods, each hand-painted mug, tray and plate from Kapka’s Mind-Pop enamelware collection will bring a fun, retro vibe to your morning and is sure to delight your special someone. Plus, the entire collection is dishwasher safe … so instead of doing the dishes, you can make the most of your February 14th.
Whether you’re shopping for him or her, Darling Spring has curated a collection of unique Valentine’s Day home decor gifts. From modern, handmade dinnerware and wall art to air planters and one-of-a-kind throw pillows in a variety of hues, there’s something for everyone to love at Darling Spring. And, don’t forget about our extraordinary jewelry and handbag collection from designers like Monmu, Shilshol, and Waiwai.
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, takes a dark, extreme look into what the future might hold if women continue to be marginalized in American society. Now a hit TV show on Hulu, The Handmaid’s Tale toes the line between antiquity and a future state, set in the land of Gilead—where all modern home decor reverts to Colonial style, clothing is uniform, monochromatic and minimalist, and traditional values are taken to the extreme. Yet all the while, modern technology, and society continue to exist outside the walls of Gilead.
It’s no surprise that Atwood’s minimalist aesthetic has become such a pop culture hit. The perfect mix of classic, conservative style mixed with modern, minimalist materials and structure creates a fascinating tension that gives each household in Gilead a feeling of its own. From the wives to the handmaids to the Marthas, the children they care for, and the men who control their every move, within these four walls lie many emotions and moods.
Believe it or not, the iconic red and white silhouette of the handmaid is based on an old product label for Old Dutch Cleanser, an image that once frightened Atwood as a young girl, and has now become a powerful symbol for women’s rights and equality. And, even in the world of Gilead’s uniformity, with each woman wearing the same minimalist dress like her peers, the individuality and spirit that lives within each of them shine—much to the chagrin of the powers that be.
Express yourself with modern, minimalist home décor
Like the women of Gilead are able to express themselves using what’s on the inside, the Darling Springs collection of Ragna Ragnarsdottir candle holders, bowls and vases let you showcase the beauty of what lies within, too. Each home accessory within the Ragna collection is designed to embrace the mood you choose, so you too can express your individuality.
Ragna Ragnarsdottir’s dreamlike blue, pink and green candle holders, vases and bowls are handmade by pouring colored layers to create unique, graphical landscapes. Just like the characters of The Handmaid’s Tale, each home accessory in the Ragna Ragnarsdottir home accessories collection is seemingly similar… but upon closer inspection, these handmade vessels are each one of a kind, just like Atwood’s most compelling characters and surreal landscapes. Express your inner individuality with a handmade candle holder for your inner handmaid. Offred would be proud.
]]>Josephine Garis Cochrane and her husband William were well-to-do residents of Shelbyville, Illinois, well known for throwing lavish dinner parties for their friends and neighbors in their home. Being affluent members of the community, the Cochranes employed staff to help with cleanup at each party’s end, including washing the fine china and serving dishes she so cherished. However, one morning, Josephine discovered that her precious dishware had been chipped by the staff—so she resolved to wash every dish on her own moving forward to ensure her precious kitchenwares would remain intact.
Of course, with all the parties, this became a big job for Josephine, and she wondered why no one had come up with an easier way to clean household dishes. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention—and the ease of completing this overwhelming household task became Josephine’s necessity. She began working on initial sketches of her automatic dishwasher, which used water pressure and a turning wheel to spray dishes clean. Together with mechanic George Butters, Josephine built the first commercially successful automatic dishwasher and the two received a patent for the world-changing invention in 1886.
The dishwasher debuted at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, where it was awarded the "best mechanical construction, durability and adaptation to its line of work". Although Josephine intended for her invention to take the household market by storm, it was actually first lauded by the hospitality industry—saving hotels and restaurants massive amounts of time and resources in their industrial kitchens, where hot water was plentiful. Once hot water became available to most households in the 1950s, Cochrane’s automatic dishwasher could be found in home kitchens across America. Her company eventually became what is now KitchenAid, and, in 2006, Josephine Cochrane was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Thanks to Josephine Cochrane’s innovations, today’s home cooks can entertain with ease knowing their automatic dishwashers can safely and efficiently clean even the most unique and precious kitchenware. In fact, all of the Kapka colorful enamel tableware available on our site is dishwasher safe—from the stylish, handmade mugs and cups to the full line of dinnerware, fruit plates, trays, and colanders. Kapka enamelware transcends generations, all at once staying true to the artisanship of the handmade dinnerware Josephine Cochrane so admired, recalling the retro-style of 50s homemakers who first enjoyed the fruits of her innovations, and showing today’s home entertainers how dishwasher-safe enamelware fits into the latest table decor trends.