Markers

The artfully graffitied wardrobe and side tables of London designer Anna James (at left) that Dwell posted back in May sparked a little bit of debate among Shine readers, but James isn't the only one embracing scribbles as high art. Yesterday's New York Times Home & Garden section featured a slide show of original-Kate-Spade-partner Pamela Bell's East Village townhouse, which houses Bell, her three children, and a sofa she commissioned her daughter's 7th-grade classmates to decorate with markers. Oh, and a couple of chairs that her 7-year-old covered in fabric paint. Mind you, this was not thrift store furniture, to be cast out and replaced after an afternoon of naughty-feeling fun: The sofa is John Derian, which would be considered a splurge for many (including me), and the chairs seem to have a similar provenance. Check out the photos here. What do you think? Would you sacrifice your sofa as a blank canvas to encourage your kids' creativity—or even to let them feel they've contributed to the home that they inhabit every bit as deeply as you do? A less-committed option: Invest in some "Colour Me" wallpaper from Minimoderns: Read More »