Links for a Leap Year

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 5 of 13, W24 *
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What will you do with your extra day? February 29 is a once-every-four-years phenomenon, so why not consider what 24 bonus hours could mean for you.

Whether you spend the extra time here and there, or all in one swoop, I've collected some recent design articles for you to enjoy. Get some inspiration and ideas by following these links:

Cuteness uncovered

After reading last week's article about task lamps, you'll know that I have a soft spot for home decor that's cute. Were I in London, I'd head straight to Somerset House to see Cute: An exhibition exploring the irresistible rise of cuteness, on until April 14. Since I won't be travelling anytime soon, the next best thing is savouring a well-written review:

Is This Peak Cute? See Inside a London Show Exploring Our Cultural Obsession With the Adorable | Artnet News

A new exhibition in London looks at pop culture and contemporary art to understand society’s obsession with all things “cute.”

Artnet NewsJo Lawson-Tancred European News Reporter

Scarves unwound

Your entryway might have a coatrack, and if so, winters are the time for impromptu decor in the form of colourful scarves. Get to know a trend that could enliven your space in What's So Special About a Rainbow-Check Scarf? from the New York Times Style section.

Icons defined

Like many Gen X Torontonians, I'm fond of buildings that first impressed me as a child, including the Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place. It's fascinating to learn that postcards were key in making these places part of our collective imagination:

Selling a Modern Nation: Canadian Architecture’s Postcard Canon

As Canadian design flourished after WWII, the nascent technology of mass reproduction helped enshrine a new canon of architecture postcards.

Azure Magazineazureeditorial

Pine celebrated

Fancy woods get all the glory – walnut, oak, mahogany – so it's great to see designers paying attention to the qualities of less-acknowledged pine. Catch up on all the excitement that's brewing:

Designers explore “underdog” pine wood at Stockholm Furniture Fair

One of the main trends at this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair was the use of pine wood, with designers using heat-treated pine for outdoor furniture, creating lighting from pine veneer and reevaluating waterlogged pine.

DezeenCajsa Carlson

Coffee tables collected

Planning on redecorating? It can be hard to know where to begin. When facing this task a few years ago, I started with the coffee table – and with that settled, everything else followed. Here's a handy cheat sheet if you're shopping for one that's just right for you:

The 23 Very Best Coffee Tables

Interior designers share their favorites, from acrylic to glass to marble styles.

The StrategistHem

Tchotchkes mocked

I'll leave you with a cartoon I loved from the current New Yorker, by Ellis Rosen: