Home sweet home.
Yesterday, I shared my interview with Jonathan Adler about his new curated collection of New York Times archive photos. As an interior designer, Jonathan Adler obviously has a lot of experience with curating collections of artwork. That's what designers do, right? Curate things? So I asked him to share his tips for beginning art collectors. I'm sure many of you don't really know where to start Read more
If you're an avid yoga or Pilates girl, and you want a quality mat that's good for the earth and light on your purse then check out Lotuspad mats ($40). They're made of 100-percent biodegradable TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), and even though this mat is 5 millimeters thick, when it's all rolled up, it feels really lightweight so it's easy to carry. It resists bacterial and fungal growth and is Read more
These Manhole Cover Floor Mats at Flax Art and Design ($27.95) cleverly echo the designs of city sewer covers, with versions available for London, Paris, and New York. I don't think I'd want one in my house, but the indoor/outdoor rugs would look cute on a porch. What do you think? Love It or Hate It? Flax Manhole Cover Floor Mats Love It Hate It Undecided Read more
Traditionally yoga is done on the floor, but your mat isn't the only place you can stretch, strengthen, and calm your body and mind. Since yoga's burst in popularity, people have figured out ways to incorporate basic yoga poses into other forms of movement and fitness. If you're a fan of practicing on your mat, check out these four exciting ways to deepen your love affair with yoga. Paddleboard Read more
You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic — challenging, but basic — pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them. "I Can't Breathe" If you're well Read more
After yoga class it's common practice to clean up after yourself — whether that means picking up your own belongings or putting away props, none of us want to leave behind a mess. But if we buy a standard yoga mat made with PVC, that's exactly what we're doing. Long after our own practice had ended, our yoga mats will be clogging up landfills. I doubt this was anyone's intention with their Read more
Who wants to do their Downward Facing Dog on PVC (polyvinyl chloride)? It's a toxic plastic that's used to make many sticky mats. According to Greenpeace, PVC products that are being disposed of within a few years of use, are causing serious waste problems since these and other plastics don't biodegrade quickly. In response to this growing PVC crisis, many manufacturers are beginning to make Read more
The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below. A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the Read more
A new trend in table linens is vertical table runners or place mats for two. Instead of running the width of a dining table, the linens run across the table depth-wise, acting as a shared place mat for parties seated across from each other. I've seen the style in a few different homes, but I think it looks best in a modern interior like this luxury, contemporary apartment on the right bank of Read more
Hate crunches and planks? Work your abs, and then some, off the mat with this 10-minute standing abs workout from FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV. She posted it in the 10 Pounds Down community group. Join fitness expert Jessica Smith for this full-length, 10-minute standing abs video workout that will keep your heart rate up as you target your abdominals (and more!) for even faster Read more
