When I first heard about Dwell’s project and online miniseries, Building Green in Harlem, I had mixed reactions. At first I was nervous because, as a Harlem resident, I am hypersensitive to the various misinterpretations others have of the neighborhood. However, I was also glad that a nationally-distributed magazine decided to get involved with David Alan Basche and Alysia Reiner’s inspiring renovation. The masterminds behind the home office are Collective Four, a super-talented group of industrial design students at Pratt. My favorite part of the entire project are the nesting boxes used as well shelving; not only are they amazing to look at, but they they are made from Lyptus, a renewable material grown from eucalyptus trees. Steelcase, a company that specializes in environmentally conscious office furniture, donated the two chairs to complete the office. I am in awe of how the design process, which is documented in both a Flickr gallery and a blog documenting from the concept stages to the finished project. Now you’ll have to excuse me while I re-watch all seven episodes.

–Stephanie Young

If you’ve ever wanted to cover a major red carpet event, this may be your chance. Billboard and LG Electronics have teamed up for a summer contest that will grant a grand prize winner an all-expense paid trip for two to the Billboard Music Awards. To enter, you just log into Billboard and submit a 100-word statement on why you would be the ideal blogger for this event. That’s just the grand prize though. Billboard will also choose dozens of the so-called “next generation” bloggers to cover local concert and festivals. You get in for free, take pictures, and upload them for posting on the Billboard blog page for all the world to see. It’s that easy! The closest major city I am near is Los Angeles, so I know what I am signing up for.

I love wallpaper. If possible, I would cover every inch of wallspace in my apartment with papers by Deborah Bowness or Dan Funderburgh, and then I’d probably move onto the ceilings, floors or perhaps even my the cats I am forced to co-habitate with.

Okay, that’s a little nuts, but I’m serious about the love-factor. There’s something so classy and glamorous about a room plastered in a bold, over-the-top pattern, something that just screams sophistication and elegance to me. Then, I discovered Surrealien’s line of custom wallpaper and I could barely wrap my mind around it. Taking into consideration the placement of lights, pictures and doors before the paper is even printed. The result is a warped, surreal pattern straight out of a Dali painting, yet something so natural looking it takes a few moments to register in your brain. When it does, though, be prepared for the awe and amazement to sweep over you.

I personally believe that art should be something that is accessible and affordable for everyone, and supporting a good cause while adding to your personal collection occurs, then that’s just icing on the cake. That’s what brother and sister team Wade and Lynne Penhorwood set out to create with their online gallery, pretty:darn:swell, someplace where artists and aficionados alike could go to both buy and sell quality, limited-edition prints while supporting causes near to their hearts. $5 from every sale during the allotted time period pieces are available goes to the charity of the artist’s choosing. Sound like something you could get behind? I thought so. Head on over and check out their current offerings — I’m waiting for my print of Mary Patterson’s “Sno-White Drive In” as we speak.

When I first saw the lineup of bunny characters on Youngest In Charge, I didn’t know what to think. The cartoon bunnies are a trip, and whoever created them was obviously influenced heavily by pop culture. Everything from a Bundiana Jones to a bunny version of Nigo (complete with “Billionaire Buns Club” t-shirt) make appearances, and after seeking out and corresponding with creator Vince Chan, I learned more about the inspiration behind his “Big Bun” characters. Vince hails from Vancouver and works as a graphic designer in the apparel industry; for a creative outlet he has been working on Youngest In Charge, a comic book project, and designing a new persona for Big Bun each week. Ultimately, Vince would love to produce a print show and possibly a vinyl toy version of some of his designs. You can contact him via email and see his portfolio of his various design work and Optical Weapons and on Coroflot. Good luck, Vince, and keep up the awesome work.