The Inside Source

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Smarter Cubes

Now, this might be a task for someone handy. We love the idea of these cubist shelves, simply lined with wood that you could find at the local Home Depot. The wonderfully basic design serves as the perfect enclosure for your most colorful and decorative of books. Though this version has been built into the home, it looks like the type of thing you could recreate without having to remodel your whole house — perfect for a transient, space-starved place like NYC.

(Photo courtesy of Contemporist. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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A Perfect Space

Purchased in 1968 for $68,000 by Donald Judd, this building (yes, the entire thing) was the lauded American abstract artist’s home and studio for over two decades, until passing away in 1994. To fund a $23 million overhaul of the space, preserving both the cast-iron exterior and an interior filled with countless personal effects, the Donald Judd Foundation sold off art from the collection to pay for restoration efforts. The result can be seen in person for those of you in New York City, with public tours starting in June. The building is a tribute to the artistic hotbed that SoHo once was, and the massive amount of space it had provided to foster it.

(Photo courtesy of Curbed. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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I Spy: Flamingo

With summer on the approach, we’re dreaming of white sandy beaches, the shortest of shorts, and anything associated with sunshine. Maybe that’s why we’re seriously crushing on this bit of flamingo wall art. Inspired, we trolled through eBay for all things “pink bird.” You’ve got your flamingo lawn ornaments, shower curtains, and more flamingo printed fabric than you’d know what to do with.

(Photo courtesy of Petit Passport. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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Into the Blue

Forget everything anyone ever told you about using a neutral palate when you’re decorating. The dark blue walls seen here, paired with a sofa of a similar shade, create a dark coziness perfectly suitable for a reading nook or a library (if you’re so fortunate to have one). Brightening up the space here, literally and figuratively, is accomplished with a BL-3 floor lamp by Robert Dudley Best for Gubi. The Bestlite is an iconic silhouette that has been in use since the 1930s. You can find some classic examples of these on eBay.

(Photo courtesy of Flo Deau. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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Roundabout

Though Emilio Pucci’s artistic director reportedly flies back and forth between Paris and Florence for work everyday, Peter Dundas still keeps a pretty impressive pad near the Pucci headquarters just in case. Seen here is the gorgeous wooden staircase in his 15th-century palazzo apartment. Now that’s something we wish we could find on eBay.

(Photo courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar. Text by Jenny Bahn)

(Source: designtraveller)

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I Spy: It’s a Hoot

The original inspiration for this edition of “I Spy” were the playful paintings featured in this dining room. But we quickly discovered that “abstract owl” was a query that brought up a ton of incredibly unique items (way more narrow in focus than simply searching for “abstract painting”). Check out this rare Joseph Damarais signed and framed artist proof or this Eames-era midcentury baby snow owl carved out of stone. Also from the midcentury is this “brutalist” metal owl sculpture. You can check out the entire selection of “abstract owl” items here. And remember, when it comes to using eBay efficiently, try to be as specific as possible to find the most delightful of hidden gems.

(Photo courtesy of Abaton. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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I Spy: Sleigh Bed

The arched wooden frame of a sleigh bed was something a few of us over at The Inside Source were very familiar with growing up. So when we started digging around eBay on the hunt for one, we were surprised to find that sleigh beds are actually rare! What to do in instances such as these? Set up your eBay Feed, which will automatically add your new query to your other coveted items whenever they are put up for sale. Patience is a virtue, friends!

(Photo uncredited. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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I Spy: Ladder Love

When piecing your home together, consider a ladder to be more than just getting from Point A to Point B. The properly aged ladder can also serve as a visual break in a room, possibly holding magazines or fabrics or even acting as shelves (if the steps are thick). We recommend searching eBay for “alder ladders“ or “antique ladders.” Dig deeper with words like “barn” or “oak” to discover a few gems you can re-purpose for your new home.

(Photo: Modern Hepburn. Text by Jauretsi)

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For the Birds

Artist Pablo Piatti first got his start in the fashion industry, gradually expanding his horizons to encapsulate more fields, including, in this case, wallpaper design. His painterly work has an amazing depth of feel to it, pushing the limits of two-dimensional space with his intelligent use of color against black, white, and gray. Seen here with a wooden table and chair set by Spacecutter along with a few hanging trees, this is as stunningly subtropical as a dining room can get.

(Photo courtesy of Evan Joseph. Text by Jenny Bahn)

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The Winner of Our You Can’t Fake Fashion Contest Is…

Hark, The Inside Source has found a winner for the graphic contest celebrating eBay and CFDA’s You Can’t Fake Fashion campaign! After judging tons of entries for creativity and originality, we award Marcy Castelgrande a $500 eBay gift card for her design “True Beauty” (see her artist statement below). We’d like to thank all our other entries who submitted amazing works.

Title of Submission: True Beauty

Artist Name: Marcy Castelgrande

What is the inspiration behind your submission?

A pure design is an evolution of creativity, inspired by vintage accessories and large floral prints, modern shapes, seasonal colors, and the reflective print trend. This bag illustrates that a true design is not a copy or a counterfeit. It is the love affair of ideas and a growth of creativity, and if these designs become merely clones of one another, the true beauty dies.

(Photo: Courtesy of Marcy Castelgrande)