20 questions with Design*Sponge

Grace Bonney has been wrting her Design*Sponge blog since August 2004 and it's safe to say that she's grown to be the definitive design blogger on the web. With a full editorial staff to manage and her first book on the way, we were lucky to catch up with Grace and have her answer the following 20 questions.

1 If you could shadow any designer for a day, who would it be?
Grace Bonney: Living? That would be John Derian right now. I’d love to learn more about his knack for combining antiques and contemporary pieces in such a stylish way.
If I was able to go back in time, my ultimate shadowing experience would be with Dorothy Draper. She is my design idol -- I really admire her way with bold pattern and colour.

2 Where do you look for an obscure source of inspiration?
GB: These days there are few things feel obscure anymore. Everyone is online and everyone is scouring little shops everywhere for ideas, so it’s tougher to find places that haven’t been wiped out yet. I’m trying to get out more to check out antique fairs so I can look at things that aren’t all over the web right now.

3 What’s your current paint colour obsession?
GB: I'll always be obsessed with grey -- I’ve yet to meet a grey wall I didn’t like. My favourite is Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Grey. Right now I’m really into combining grey walls with warm, weathered wood.

4 If one song could be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
GB: Oh, it depends on the day. I’m a true Gemini and tend to flip from one end of the spectrum to another so it would be something poppy and happy combined with something calm and low-key. Anything by the New Pornographers is pretty spot-on for most of my days.

Grace Bonney's ultra chic dining area in her New York City apartment.