All posts by Sara Huneke

Sara is a writer, creative director and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY.

11 Chic Ways to Bring Copper into Your Home Décor

Copper is the black blazer of home décor. Put it against anything and it instantly adds a touch of polish and sophistication. Less gaudy than the brass of the 80s and more inviting than the chrome of the early 2000s, copper is the metallic of the moment. Dulux, the British paint brand, named Copper Blush the Colour of the Year 2015. Its popularity shows no signs of waning, and with good reason. The warmth and grace of rosy copper, along with its reflective properties, add a little shimmer to any situation.

Whatever your budget or style, we’ve got ideas for how you can bring some sophisticated bling into your interior spaces.

 

1. Bright Lights. Big Impact.

Copper is at its most elegant, most potent and most electric when in the form of an elegant globe lampshade. Emanating light from within and reflecting it on the outside, a copper lamp puts the material on full display. No one does it better than Tom Dixon. The British designer is the visionary behind some of the chicest restaurants, lobbies and interiors of the world. If one of his pieces isn’t in your budget, don’t worry. There are plenty of odes to his work at more approachable prices elsewhere.

 

Amanda Nisbet Design
Image Courtesy: Amanda Nisbet, author of Dazzling Design | Designer: Tom Dixon

 

2. Functional Copper

In our eyes, beautiful objects are even more beautiful when they serve a purpose. Sure, there are some gorgeous tabletop sculptures and decorative balls out there, but many of us live in small spaces where we have to make every inch count. Enter: copper accents with a function.

 

Copper Paul Leobach
Image Courtesy: Kontextur via Kenneth Schiller

 

Copper Candles
Image Courtesy: Target

 

3. A Copper Wall

A little sheen goes a long way, but a lot goes even farther. If you’re ready to make a long-term commitment to copper, an entire wall of the shimmery material is the way to go. Architect Jeff Sherman, of Delson or Sherman Architects, outfitted the two-story wall of his master bedroom in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn with multiple copper panels. He chose copper because he knew that “it would improve from contact with skin over time, rather than smudge like a painted surface.” He did the installation himself, which was no small feat. Because it’s heavy and very ductile, working with the ribbons of copper was like working with “a 25 pound fettuccine.” The effort was clearly worth it. We love the way the copper is reflected in the mirrors across the room and knowing that it will only look better over time makes it even more appealing.

 

Copper Wall
Image Courtesy: Jeff Sherman of Delson or Sherman Architects PC

4. Copper Prints

If an entire accent wall isn’t in the cards, you can still enliven your walls with a copper print. This ethereal moon phase calendar is available from Little Lark’s shop on Etsy. Once 2016 has come and gone, you can cut off the bottom portion and keep the upper square as a timeless portrait of the moon on its own. If you’re not as inspired by celestial bodies as we are, check out other sources for affordable prints online like 20×200  and Society 6 .

 

Moon Print
Image Courtesy: Christy Nyboer of A Little Lark 

 

5. Charger It Up

Do you know about chargers? They’re purely decorative plates that peek out flirtatiously from beneath dinner plates, protecting the tablecloth from spills. Perhaps you remember a version of them in brass on your aunt’s Thanksgiving table in the 90s when they became popular. In reality, they’ve been around since Biblical times, and they’re an easy, affordable way of dressing up your table without investing in a whole new set of tableware.

 

Williams Sonoma
Photo Courtesy: Williams Sonoma

 

6. DIY Copper Ladder

An elegant copper ladder is no farther away than the plumbing aisle of your local hardware store and a weekend afternoon. Brittany Cramer, the mastermind behind the blog Brittany Makes, pulled together this beautiful piece to occupy an awkward wall space in her newly renovated kitchen. The result is stunning, but functional. Even the staunch non-DIYers among us will be inspired by her ingenuity. For instructions and more photos, visit her blog.

 

Copper Ladder
Photo Courtesy: Brittany  Cramer of Brittany Makes 

 

7. Bling-y Books

While we don’t advocate judging a book by its cover, we’re willing to make an exception for those that are truly beautiful. A big book with a copper foil cover makes an intellectual statement for your coffee table. This cheeky leather notebook by Nuuna pushes the envelope with its message that “You Are So F**** Special.” If you don’t care to leave your inner thoughts out for all to see, you could turn the journal into a guest book, asking visitors to leave a favorite quote or musing.

 

Nuuna Book
Photo Courtesy: Nuuna

 

8. Copper-colored Window Treatments

What better way to enjoy a rosy-fingered dawn than through a rosy copper curtain? This semi-transparent copper-hued fabric from the legendary Création Baumann catches and refracts the light as it enters. We would also love to see the cocktail dress Maria von Trapp would fashion out of these.

 

Copper Window
Photo Courtesy: Création Baumann

 

9. Copper Throw Pillows

Embrace the softer side of copper with metallic throw pillows. It’s another way to explore the copper trend with minimal commitment and expense.

 

 

 

10. Don’t Forget the Bathroom

A copper accessories set is an instant facelift for your bathroom. No demolition required. The beautiful thing about copper with a rosy hue is that it plays well with other metallic colors, so whatever fixtures you have now, a copper soap dispenser will most likely only enhance it. We love the sleek simplicity of this set from Anthropologie.

 

11. In The Closet

If you’re not ready to take the copper plunge in the more public rooms of your home, then opt for sleek hangers in your closet. Like wearing beautiful lingerie, only you and your loved one will know they’re there. Ooh la la.

 

Copper Hangers
Photo Courtesy: The Modern Shop 

Which Celebrated Female Movie Director Are You?

From Meg Ryan’s brilliantly faked orgasm in When Harry Met Sally  to the heart-pounding explosions in The Hurt Locker, women directors are responsible for some of the most iconic moments in film history. Yet the vast majority of movies are still directed by men. According to a recent report from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, women directed only 7% of the highest grossing films in recent years. The entrenched discrimination against women in Hollywood is so dire that the ACLU just filed a grievance with state and federal agencies to help boost representation of them behind the camera.

In celebration of the incredible women directors who’ve created cinematic masterpieces despite the odds, we bring you this quiz. Find out whose style, subject and voice most match your own sensibilities, and maybe you’ll discover your next favorite movie, too.

(Please select one answer for each of the following six questions…)

 

[quiz=2]

One-take Wonders: 6 Incredible Music Videos Shot in a Single Take

Action movies and reality TV depend on quick cuts to heighten what’s happening on screen. But sometimes, one continuous take can pack an even bigger punch. Here are six music videos that push the limits physically, emotionally and technically of what’s achievable in a single take. No editing required.

 

Call Your Girlfriend, Robyn (2011)

 


With the stamina of a world-class athlete and the fashion sense of a dystopian teddy bear, Robyn dances her heart out for three-and-half minutes straight in an empty soundstage. Perfectly timed lighting changes and 360-degree camera moves bring out the triumph and heartbreak in Robyn’s vocals and elbow thrusts.

 


 

 

No Surprises, Radiohead (1997)

 

This one will leave you breathless. Thom Yorke stares straight at you from inside a diver’s helmet as it slowly fills with water. His literal suffocation excruciatingly echoes the metaphorical suffocation in the song’s lyrics. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video in the classic Radiohead documentary, “Meeting People Is Easy.”

 


 

 

Two Weeks, FKA twigs (2014)

 

What’s better than FKA twigs? A giant FKA twigs surrounded by a handful of miniature FKA twigs dancing. Here, the multi-talented Brit presides as a golden goddess over a bevy of mini-twigs in one glorious panning shot. Though she typically directs her own videos, this one was directed by Nabil.

 


 

 

Hunter, Bjork (1997)

 

https://youtu.be/CyM5wow-hUk

It took one day of shooting in a studio and months and months of post-production to put together this uncanny and futuristic video. In a pure white environment, a purely bald Bjork shifts shapes between her human body and that of a translucent blue polar bear. She’s alternately the hunter and the hunted, beautifully underscoring the song’s lyrics and her own struggle to find creative expression. Her longtime creative collaborator, Paul White, directed the video.

 


 

 

Blood Brothers, Ingrid Michaelson (2012)

 

https://youtu.be/JHVLpTyGgt0

Although technically only the first couple minutes of this video were shot in one take, we’re including it because time-lapse makeovers are such fun to watch. This one came out a couple years before Cut Videos’ wildly popular “100 Years” series. Through hair, makeup, costume and set changes, Ingrid Michaelson transforms herself into seven music superstars before your very eyes. She proves her lyrics right: “we’re all the same under a different name.”

 


 

 

This Too Shall Pass, OK Go (2010)

 

Leave it to OK Go to dress a marching band in ghillie suits and get them to dance in a swamp. This exuberant and flawlessly executed video is actually the second one for “This Too Shall Pass.” The other one features an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine and was also shot in one take, the band’s now signature visual hook.

Yo Quiero Mexico City in One Day

It would be easy to spend a week exploring the vast metropolis of Mexico City, but if you only have a day, here’s an itinerary that will let you sample the tastes and culture of this beautiful city. A clean, efficient and inexpensive public transportation system makes maneuvering around the city fairly easy.

 

 

Pastelería Ideal

flickr Yusuke Kawasaki Pasteleria Ideal
Photo by: flickr/Yusuke Kawasaki under license CC BY 2.0

With its high ceilings, chandeliers, security guards and line of cashiers along the walls, Pastelería Ideal has the feel of an old-world bank. But instead of piles of gold, there are piles of pastries, breads, buns and cakes heaped on tables throughout the expansive interior. Grab a tray and go hunting for your favorite sweet and savory treats. When you’re satisfied, bring it to one of the cashiers and have them wrapped in a vintage-looking box that looks like it was designed when the bakery first opened in 1927. At less than dollar apiece, the pastries are as affordable as they are delicious.

 

Museo Frida Kahlo

flickr momo Museo Frida Kahlo
Photo by: flickr/momo under license CC BY 2.0

This meticulously preserved house and garden was the home of legendary Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, for most of her life. A brutal trolley accident she endured as a young girl rendered the artist bedridden and in severe pain for a large part of her life, so she completed many of her masterful self-portraits lying on her back in bed. That same bed and mirror can be seen up close in the bedroom where she spent so much of her time.

 

Mercado de Coyoacán

Flickr Flying CrimsonPig Coyoacan
Photo by: flickr/FlyingCrimsonPig under license CC BY 2.0

Located just a short walk from the Frida Kahlo museum is Mercado de Coyoacán, a labyrinthine market where locals buy everything from produce to party favors under one roof. Explore the winding aisles and let your nose guide you to one of the food stands in the center. There, you can ask an attendant to build you the taco of your dreams.

 

Museo Nacional de Antropología

flickr Antony Stanley Museo Nacional de Antropología
Photo by: flickr/Antony Stanley under license CC BY-SA 2.0

Housed in a stunning mid-century building on the edge of Chapultapec Park, Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology is packed with murals, dioramas, artifacts and recreations that span pre-Columbian times to present day. Even those who’ve never considered themselves archeology aficionados will find something fascinating in this comprehensive museum. Spend some time peering at the meticulous dioramas that make ancient life feel visceral and alive, and then relax for a bit by the multi-story tree fountain and reflecting pool.

 

El Pialadero de Guadalajara

El Pialadero de Guadalajara
Photo by: Sara Huneke

Qué rico. You might have to wait for a table at this popular restaurant down the road from the Museum of Anthropology, but you’ll be glad you did. Specializing in cuisine from Jalisco, El Pialadero serves some of the best tortas ahogadas and ceviches outside of Guadalajara. Wash it all down with a michelada, the popular Mexican beer-based cocktail that’s served in a salt-rimmed glass.

 

La Botica

flickr alejandro de la cruz La Botica
Photo by: flickr/Alejandro De La Cruz under license CC BY-NC 2.0

Mmmmm mezcal. The smoky liquor made from a form of agave native to Mexico has enjoyed a surge in popularity throughout the country. And there’s no better place to try the drink than at La Botica, a hole-in-the-wall mezclaría located not too far from El Pialadero. You can sample one of dozens of varieties of the liquor each with its own story, flavor profile and tanginess.

Gifts that Give Spotlight: Global Girlfriend

When you buy a hand-woven scarf from Global Girlfriend, you’re not only getting a gorgeous addition to your wardrobe, you’re helping a woman in need. Global Girlfriend is an online boutique that sells high-quality, eco-friendly products made by women artisans who are facing challenges of poverty, illness and oppressive societies.

Stacey Edgar founded the company in 2003 with a $2,000 tax refund. She traveled the world visiting women and community organizations in India, Nepal, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Uganda and Kenya to source products that would translate into the US market.

Since then, hundreds of women’s lives have been changed. Each piece sold on the site is as unique as the woman who made it. Research shows that when we invest in women, women in turn invest in their families and communities, and everyone benefits. So, let’s go shopping!

Here are a few of the gorgeous handcrafted items you can get from the store:

 

Global Girlfriend Chevron Necklace

This chevron necklace was designed by Mata Traders in India.

 

Ugandan Washed Stripe Beach Bag

This beach bag is made from 100% Ugandan cotton by Gulu seamstresses.

 

Global Girlfriend Thistle Farms Body Butter

Thistle Farms body butter is handmade by women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

5 Bold Commercials that Made a Statement

If you’ve ever gotten a jingle stuck in your head or found yourself asking someone “where’s the beef?” you understand how influential TV commercials can be on culture. Commercials are created to sell products. There’s no getting around it. But if they’re a necessary evil, some companies are doing good at the same time. They’re using their marketing dollars to spread love, awareness and acceptance and showing a full spectrum of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation and ability in their spots.

Here are five commercials that took risks for the sake of doing right.

 

“Like a Girl,” Always

https://youtu.be/XjJQBjWYDTs

 

It’s the iconic TV commercial for Always that changed the way millions of people think about a common phrase. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Lauren Greenfield, gathered girls and boys of various ages and prompted them to do things “like a girl” on a camera. Through their candid responses, we clearly see how this simple phrase has become an insult and we need to change how we use it. The positive message struck a chord. The extended commercial has 60 million views on YouTube and the followup spot has nearly 40 million.

 


 

“Not Sorry,” Pantene

https://youtu.be/rzL-vdQ3ObA

 

Here’s another commercial that challenges us to think about the power of language. Pantene illuminates the way that women are socialized to apologize even when they’re not at fault in situations at work, at home and even while waiting at the doctor’s office. Pantene wants women to be aware that they might unconsciously be putting themselves in subservient positions by saying “sorry” much more often than men do. Messages of women empowerment in advertising pay off big, too. In a survey conducted by SheKnows, 52% of women said they bought a product specifically because of the way women were portrayed in its advertising.

 


 

“Good For Your Heart,” Cheerios

 

When a cute little girl discovers that Cheerios is good for heart health, she shows her dad how much she loves him by pouring an entire box on his chest while he naps on the sofa. It’s a charming moment of innocence and caring that ended up causing a lot of controversy when it came out a couple years ago. Why? Because the little girl’s mom is white and her dad is African-American. But Cheerios refused to give in to the hateful comments that filled its YouTube page. Instead, they brought the family back for a sequel commercial that aired during the Super Bowl and sent a powerful message of support to millions of interracial families around the world.

 


 

“Made of More,” Guinness

https://youtu.be/hbA6U3OeRRs

 

Beer commercials don’t have to be filled with bros and bikinis. In this moving spot put out by Guinness, a group of friends in wheelchairs gets together to play a grueling game of basketball. But there’s a twist. The commercial’s message of acceptance, love and dignity for people living with disabilities is important. Outside of Artie Abrams on Glee, there are few images in mainstream media of people in wheelchairs, so it’s a big deal that Guinness decided to dedicate an entire commercial to celebrating them. It’s true that “the choices we make reveal the true nature of our character.” And sometimes a commercial can reveal the true nature of a company.

 


 

“This is Wholesome,” Honey Maid

 

Honey Maid could easily have cast traditional families in this commercial selling crackers, but instead, they chose to show families of all kinds, including a single parent, two dads, and an interracial family enjoying their products. Sadly, Honey Maid’s message of love being at the core of a family was hard for some people to accept. Commenters on YouTube left hateful messages. But Honey Maid fought back and created a beautiful rebuttal commercial called simply, “Love,” in which the nasty comments were turned into a work of art.