16 Dec Recent Press, The Wall Street Journal and Mainline Parent

In recent weeks, down2earth interior design has gotten some great press, including a piece in the Wall Street Journal!   We’ve been posting on the articles over on our Facebook page and wanted to share with our blog readers as well.

The Wall Street Journal article highlighted our design work using “live-edge wood” which is a slab of wood that retains the bumpy, organic outer edge intact. is the article provides inspirational images that show how live wood can be used in both rugged and refined applications. Down2earth’s “Mount Vernon Street”  office is the first room featured:

A 4-foot-wide chunk of a monkeypod tree from Indonesia was sliced lengthwise to create two live-edge pieces—each 9½ feet long—for a desktop and a shelf that curve around the corners of a cozy family workspace in a city rowhouse. “The other edges are really controlled, very crisp,” said designer Amy Cuker, of Down2Earth Design. Angled metal supports secure the planks to the study walls.

You can read the full article and see more examples of this beautiful design style by clicking here.

And, as the holidays approach, you may be looking for some great tips to decorate in a budget friendly way.   Here are some tips from Down2earth design creative director Amy Cuker for low stress holiday décor, as featured on Mainline Parent (mainlineparent.com):

Steal Art from the Kids: Chances are your kids are coming home with holiday-themed artwork and seasonal greeting cards are arriving in the mail. Display these items on a bulletin board or hang them on a holiday-inspired clothespin and string line, Cuker said. Kids feel proud you save decorating dollars, and it’s wonderfully personal.

Try a Sweet Display: Fill Mason jars with extra holiday cookies (instead of eating them). Cover with decorative paper or fabric and tie with grosgrain ribbons or sparkly pipe cleaners. 

Know Your Audience: If your kids are young or you have frisky pets, avoid breakable items. Create a cozy atmosphere for family time by using battery operated candles, sturdy ornaments, and soft items, like pillows and throws, Cuker said.

Check out more tips and the full article by clicking here.  Save time and maximize impact when decorating for the holidays by focusing on one or two key rooms (or corners of rooms) where most of the celebrating will happen.   Then, when it’s time to undo the holiday decor, you aren’t faced with putting every room back together.

And consider reusable gift wrap to avoid waste and mess.   A couple of years ago, I gave out holiday presents to my clients wrapped in reusable cotton gift boxes from Gift It Green.   There are other similar products out there as well – a great choice for a more sustainable holiday.

Coming up next week, we’ll be spreading some cheer with more holiday tips and a feature from the team. Cheers!