All articles by Rebecca Paul

Rebecca Paul is a Brooklyn based artist, writer, designer and strategist currently living in Buenos Aires. With and Undergraduate degree in Illustration and a Master's in design and business strategy, Rebecca is equally passionate about discovering compelling business ventures as she is about exploring her own artistic expression. The written word is her tool for brining the two worlds together. Her previous work experience includes her position as the Business Operations Manager for Inhabitat.com, the leading website dedicated to green and sustainable art and architecture; as well as the Director of Content Strategy for Prodigy Network, a international company committed to building new economic structures through crowdfunding in Real Estate. Follow her on twitter and instagram @rebeccapaulz

How horse poop inspired the New York City stoop

March 23, 2016

How horse poop inspired the New York City stoop

By Rebecca Paul

Today when we see romantic stoops rise from the sidewalk to the second story parlor, we don't necessarily associate them with fecal matter. But flashback to the late 1800s, and you'll meet a very different New York where almost five million pounds of manure was being dumped on the city streets every day (we can imagine how that would effect our commute to the office). At the rate horse dung was accumulating, it was predicted that by the year 1930, horse manure would reach the level of Manhattan’s third-story windows. With poop literally lining the city streets, stoops became an important and functional part of New York City's architecture.
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Celebrate Your Favorite State With These Reclaimed Barn Wood Side Tables

March 21, 2016

Celebrate Your Favorite State With These Reclaimed Barn Wood Side Tables

By Rebecca Paul

Whether you still live in the same state as you were born or you've ventured to a new part of the country, home is where the heart is. And these state-shaped barn wood side tables can help bring the essence of your favorite state right into your living room. The tables are handmade in Kentucky from reclaimed Tennessee barn wood, and each plank shows unique patterns of weather and wear, adding another layer of sentimentality to the mix.
Find out where to get your own

Mygdal Plantlamp Makes it Easy to Grow Plants in the Dreariest Basement or Cubicle

March 15, 2016

Mygdal Plantlamp Makes it Easy to Grow Plants in the Dreariest Basement or Cubicle

By Rebecca Paul

In New York City we're almost always strapped for space, and more often than not we're also left wanting sunlight and greenery. While there are many different products on the market that attempt to help us solve for these deficiencies, our current obsession is with the Mygdal Plantlamp. This amazing new product allows users to grow plants anywhere without sunlight, regardless of how dreary your space may be. It employs LED technology to replace natural sunlight and is almost totally self-sufficient. According to its designers, the plant can grow for years without water, as the "self-sustaining ecosystem" imitates the process of photosynthesis.
Find out more here

One-Cent Coffee Stand Fed Hungry New Yorkers Back in the Day

March 14, 2016

One-Cent Coffee Stand Fed Hungry New Yorkers Back in the Day

By Rebecca Paul

The corner coffee cart is a well-known part of New York City's landscape, but it may have been first actualized as a much more charitable endeavor. Back in 1887, the first one-cent coffee stand for poor New Yorkers opened on Ann Street off Broadway. Standing in front of City Hall's high-octane newspaper offices of Park Row, St. Andrews One Cent Coffee Stand served a half-pint of coffee with milk sugar and a slice of bread for just a penny.
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History

Use This Cool Paperweight for Efficient Decision Making

March 9, 2016

Use This Cool Paperweight for Efficient Decision Making

By Rebecca Paul

The city's fast paced environment presents a myriad of challenges on a daily basis -- Should I take the express or local train? Is that apartment worth the extra $300 a month? When should I start looking for a new job? Now, instead of letting the stress eat you alive, make these difficult choices with this cool Decision Paperweight.
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Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Set Transforms Any Patio Into a Playground

March 8, 2016

Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Set Transforms Any Patio Into a Playground

By Rebecca Paul

Spring has almost sprung, and we can hardly wait to get out of the apartment and out in the wilds of our backyards—or our friend's backyard. Regardless of how you get there, outdoor gatherings are always better with a friendly game of tic-tac-toe, especially when you're playing with giant Xs and Os. This beautiful set was designed by Jeremy Exley and is sure to bring the right amount of friendly competition to your next outdoor event.
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Office Cocoon Promotes Privacy and Productivity in any Environment

March 7, 2016

Office Cocoon Promotes Privacy and Productivity in any Environment

By Rebecca Paul

Staying focused at work can be challenging for a variety of different reasons, from the coworker who screams on personal calls to the colleague who chews gum with his mouth open, but this clever piece of office furniture is here to help you keep your head in the game (literally and figuratively). Tomoko, designed by MottoWasabi, is an acoustic dome that promotes privacy and concentration in open-plan offices, lobbies, and other public spaces, so you can physically create your own office no matter what your surroundings are.
more on the design here

Kid’s Caravan Bed Provides the Excitement of an RV From the Comfort of Home

March 1, 2016

Kid’s Caravan Bed Provides the Excitement of an RV From the Comfort of Home

By Rebecca Paul

This funky kid's bed was designed to mimic a caravan, and we secretly wish they also made it in adult sizes! Not only is it cozy and playful, but it's also super functional and equipped to handle even the most rugged camper. The bed is packed full of hidden storage space including the helm as the perfect home for toys stuffed animals or blankets. Plus the base of the bed double as a full-sized pull-out drawer.
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This Playful Family Loft Is Outfitted with a Rock Wall, Slide, and Zip Line!

February 26, 2016

This Playful Family Loft Is Outfitted with a Rock Wall, Slide, and Zip Line!

By Rebecca Paul

Located on 29th Street in Nomad, this gorgeous 4,000-square-foot loft was given a design overhaul from Studio DB, customized for a family – complete with four little ones – who recently moved to NYC from Silicon Valley. In addition to a shared open living space, the home was made kid-friendly with fun features like a slide, zip line, and a shared loft space accessed through a unique passageway boasting a rock wall and monkey bars.
See the adult and child spaces

Catissa Cat Tree Doubles As Stylish Wall Art

February 25, 2016

Catissa Cat Tree Doubles As Stylish Wall Art

By Rebecca Paul

New Yorkers definitely love their cats, and now feline owners can give their beloved fur balls their very own urban oasis in the form of the Catissa cat tree. The stylish and modern cat furniture features four stories of lush cushioned sheepskin and can easily be mounted on the wall. The unit was designed to allow your cat to roam, play, climb and sleep at their leisure.
More on Catissa

Popular Articles

This Puppet-Shaped Device Keeps Your Fingers Safe When Hanging Art

February 24, 2016

This Puppet-Shaped Device Keeps Your Fingers Safe When Hanging Art

By Rebecca Paul

DIY and design enthusiasts know very well that you can transform any room with the right supplies, and more often than not you'll only need a good hammer and some nails. But hammering nails into a wall can be tricky, which is where Nail It comes in. This adorable puppet-shaped device holds the nail in place, freeing your hand from the danger zone.
More on the product this way

Designer Fawn Galli’s Carroll Gardens Townhouse Is Inspired by Fantasy and Nature

February 23, 2016

Designer Fawn Galli’s Carroll Gardens Townhouse Is Inspired by Fantasy and Nature

By Rebecca Paul

The home of designer Fawn Galli is an eclectic and vibrant combination of colors, patterns and style, reflecting her not-so- typical childhood (she spent her early years living in a California home without electricity or plumbing) and and rich design background (she spent time abroad in Paris and Madrid). Located in Carroll Gardens, the Brooklyn brownstone is inspired by fantasy, nature and the world at large, bringing together unexpected combinations of style and influence.
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Distinctive Homes

Funky Desk Is Kid-Friendly and Has Secret Compartments

February 21, 2016

Funky Desk Is Kid-Friendly and Has Secret Compartments

By Rebecca Paul

This funky table from furniture retailer Rafa Kids is cleverly designed to resemble the letter K when viewed from the side (hence its name, K Desk). The design also features rounded corners (to keep little noggins safe) and a useful lid that reveals a second table top when lifted. The underside of the lid also doubles as a bulletin board to hang drawings or photos.
More design details this way

Circular Wall Garden Takes Advantage of Your Home’s Vertical Space

February 18, 2016

Circular Wall Garden Takes Advantage of Your Home’s Vertical Space

By Rebecca Paul

It's widely known that house plants provide a myriad of benefits, but if you live in an urban area, it's likely that your floor and counter space are limited. Floral designer Kim Fisher has come up with an ingenious solution that can help you bring living greenery into your apartment (without needing to throw out the toaster to make room) with her sleek wall-hanging circular planter. And no green thumb is necessary -- the planter was designed specifically to hold succulents and airplants (all quite difficult to kill) -- and it's very easy to set up.
Find out how to get your own

Lacquered Coffee Table Was Inspired By a Japanese Noodle Box

February 17, 2016

Lacquered Coffee Table Was Inspired By a Japanese Noodle Box

By Rebecca Paul

Talented furniture designer Tracey Boyd gathers inspiration for her work by collecting ideas, experiences, and unique items found throughout her extensive travels. In the past, she's designed pieces based on salvaged drawer pulls from her hometown in England and ancient murals from across the world. Her Lacquered Cache Coffee Table, part of a collection with Anthropologie, is derived from the shape and function of a Japanese noodle bowl and is separated into four equal sections. Each quadrant opens to allow for additional storage within the table.
More on the table

Magic Wine Rack Makes Bottles Disappear

February 16, 2016

Magic Wine Rack Makes Bottles Disappear

By Rebecca Paul

For over 20 years Tony Potter has been working and living as an illusionist and magician, but this renaissance-man-entertainer also has a passion for woodworking. Combining all his unique skills, he designed a wine rack called Pinetti that makes bottles appear to vanish. And while many of us don't need any help making wine disappear, it's still fun to see this seemingly standard wine rack do its magic.
Learn more about this tricky illusion

Circle Swinging Chair Brings Your Childhood Playground Inside the Office

February 12, 2016

Circle Swinging Chair Brings Your Childhood Playground Inside the Office

By Rebecca Paul

Chairs come in all shapes and sizes, but more often than not they're simply four legs, a seat, and a back. But this standard form did not appeal to Polish designer Iwona Kosicka, as she recently introduced the world to SWING, her legless floating circle chair. This out-of-the-box design gracefully hangs from the ceiling and features refined woodwork, adding fun and sophistication to any room.
More on SWING

Beautiful Bathtub Is Made From Woven White Ash and Maple Veneer

February 11, 2016

Beautiful Bathtub Is Made From Woven White Ash and Maple Veneer

By Rebecca Paul

Beautiful design comes in all shapes and sizes, but a bathtub carefully crafted from strips of wood veneer is not something you see everyday. From Israeli designer Tal Engel, this gorgeous bathtub known as Otaku is constructed from this very process by weaving together strips of white ash and maple veneer.
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New Furniture Collection Solves Our Spatially-Challenged Living Arrangements

February 10, 2016

New Furniture Collection Solves Our Spatially-Challenged Living Arrangements

By Rebecca Paul

Most New Yorkers are more than familiar with the trials and tribulations posed by our spatially-challenged living arrangements. However, with every one of life's obstacles, there's a potential opportunity waiting just under the surface. That's exactly what Parisian designer Gilles Belley intended to uncover when he was awarded a grant from VIA, a French organization promoting local design. With funding in hand, Gilles set out to research and develop furniture that would address the needs of modern city living. His solution includes a collection of three pieces formally titled "Rooms," which includes AREA, WALL and BLOCK, each designed to provide more flexibility for how we function in and define our living spaces.
Learn all about it

Beautiful Coat Racks Made From the Burned Trunks of the Mangosteen Tree

February 4, 2016

Beautiful Coat Racks Made From the Burned Trunks of the Mangosteen Tree

By Rebecca Paul

As city dwellers, it's important to incorporate elements of nature into our daily lives so we don't become as stone-cold as the environment around us. That's just one of the many reasons we love this Yosemite Coat Rack made from the mangosteen tree, which bears the exotic purple fruit found in Indonesia. And who wouldn't want an enchanted forest greeting them at their front door?
The full story of the mangosteen tree

This Floating Persian Rug Is Actually a Sturdy Chair

February 2, 2016

This Floating Persian Rug Is Actually a Sturdy Chair

By Rebecca Paul

If you're bored with all the standard seating options out there, this Carpet Chair will certainly perk you up. From Cyprus-based designer Stelios Mousarris, the wave-like furniture doubles as an optical illusion, taking on the form of a floating magic carpet, but functioning as a sturdy chair.
How does it do that?

Windsor Terrace Home Plays With Patterned Accent Walls and Funky Decor

February 1, 2016

Windsor Terrace Home Plays With Patterned Accent Walls and Funky Decor

By Rebecca Paul

At first glance, it's the colorful design of this Windsor Terrace home that really catches the eye. But zoom in and you'll see that the aesthetic is more than just bold hues–it's patterned walls, textured art, text-based accents, and allover playful decor. The renovation was led by the design team at Rinaldi Interior Design, whose principal Kristina Rinaldi says she "tailors each project to the personality and interests of her clients." If that's the case, whoever is living in this cheerful Brooklyn home is definitely upbeat, fun, and doesn't take him or herself too seriously.
Lots more to see

Keep Track of Your World Travels With This Colorful Scratch-off Map

January 28, 2016

Keep Track of Your World Travels With This Colorful Scratch-off Map

By Rebecca Paul

Whether you spend your days hopping from one city to the next or save up your vacation time for an epic yearly adventure, traveling is a great way to regroup and relax. Every new destination means new memories, and who doesn't want to keep track of the journey along the way? These two maps from will help you do just that while also adding some worldly decor into your living space. Both the Scratch Map and Scratch Map Deluxe feature a fun scratch-off surface that reveal vivid bursts of color with just a few coin swipes.
Find out more here

The USB Typewriter Brings the Old-School Word Processor Into the Digital Age

January 27, 2016

The USB Typewriter Brings the Old-School Word Processor Into the Digital Age

By Rebecca Paul

While functionally the typewriter is no longer necessary to get words onto paper, the aesthetic appeal of the old-school word processor is timeless. In addition to their retro good looks, typewriters are also fun to use, providing us with an ongoing sense of accomplishment as the carriage slides back into place with each new line of copy. Since the same cannot be said for our fancy computers, smartphones, and tablets, Philadelphia-based designer and engineer Jack Zylkin created the USB Typewriter to bring back the days when creating words and sentences also meant creating sound and movement.
Find out more ahead

Policy
Shop

Download Ikea’s Adult Coloring Book for Free!

January 25, 2016

Download Ikea’s Adult Coloring Book for Free!

By Rebecca Paul

Adult coloring books are all the rage these days and we couldn't be happier. While there are many different types available for purchase (check out this coloring book-notebook combo or this architectural-inspired rendition), Ikea has just released their own version, which is free to download (h/t Curbed). From decorative houseplants to POÄNG chairs and KALLAX shelving units, each of the five pages includes a collection of Ikea products arranged in fun geometric patterns.
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