CasaSugar

Inspired: Ginnifer Goodwin's Updated Black

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:30:24 -0800

Ginnifer Goodwin is one of my favorite characters on Big Love, and she doesn't disappoint off the set either. I love the way that her basic black skirt and sheer top, which she wore at the Dolce and Gabbana flagship boutique opening earlier this week, is given an updated twist, thanks to these unexpected tribal beads.

I was inspired to create a room that employed the same style strategy: basic black, with a tribal twist. In much the same way that Ginnifer has updated her classical black with tribal beads, the Jayson Gilt Kuba Chair ($2,695) is a classically shaped, antique French chair that's been upholstered in vintage African Kuba cloth. Unexpected and elegant - just like Ginnifer.

To see how this chair figures into my look, read more.

I stuck to pieces with elegant lines and luxe materials (think: velvet, wool, lacquered wood), and then added some African-inspired textiles and shapes, with everything anchored by basic black. I think Ginnifer would approve.

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Inspired: Ralph Lauren NY Fashion Week 2009

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:45:58 -0700

Fashion Week may be over, but we've still got the runway images to gawk over. Since we can't sport the new gear 'til Spring, I figured I may as well use it as inspiration for interiors. The Ralph Lauren ensemble shown here is a bit costume-y, but I love its balance of rough, sporty safari elements with glamazon sequins, and its palette of army greens and rustic browns. The Momeni Metro Rug shares the palette but looks luxurious with its ombré effect, so I thought I'd use it as a jumping-off point for a room designed around this Ralph Lauren look. To see the items I've rounded up to achieve this glam safari living area, read more.

Okay, the tepee may be a bit overboard, but I couldn't resist!

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Inspired: Miriam Makeba's Vibrant Style

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:07 -0800

Afro-pop legend Miriam Makeba, also known as "Mama Africa," died on Sunday at the age of 76 in the south of Italy, following a concert appearance. This powerhouse songstress's long and varied life included marriage to Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, exile from her home country of South Africa, a starring role in the film Sarafina!, about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, and an appearance in the 2002 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony.

Over her lifetime Makeba made dozens of records and was responsible for bringing the issue of apartheid to the forefront in Western countries, though she always identified herself first as a singer, not as a political activist. In a condolence message, former South African president Nelson Mandela said "It was fitting that her last moments were spent on a stage, enriching the hearts and lives of others . . . "

To see how Makeba's stage presence and definitive look can translate to your home (as well as aid African women and charities), read more.

As T Magazine noted, "From African headdresses and shoulder-padded caftans, to this very right-now dashiki minidress and go-go boots, Mama Africa’s 76-year-old heart may have given out as she was exiting a stage near Naples, Italy, last night, but her look - and the spirit that inspired it - keep on keeping on."

In honor of Makeba's vibrant voice and beautiful stage presence, I wanted to find some home items that reflected her rich persona as well as honored her homeland of Africa. Many of these products also directly benefit charities and artisans in Africa. You can take a look at the widget for some of these Makeba-inspired finds, or shop South African Fair Trade products here.

African Market Basket - $49.00	Kuba Cloth Pillow - $250.00
Artecnica - anemone shade by heath nash for artecnica - $15.00	Coral Impressions II Outdoor Print - $159.00
African Wedding Basket - $89.00	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Large Kuba Star Tree Topper - $59.99
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading African Bird Christmas Ornaments - $11.99	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Village" Table Throw, 42"x80" - $35.00
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Sky" Table Throw, 42"x80" - $35.00	Ebony Black Dinnerware Set (16-pc.) by Block - $239.99
Zig Zag Stool - Green - $375.00	CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Night Sky" Table Napkins, Set of 4 - $20.00
Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Sky" Apron - $20.00	Origins - $29.95
CLOSEOUT! Fair Winds Trading Zanzibar Large Star Christmas Ornament - $5.97	Shweshwe Salad Plate - $20.00
Fair Winds Trading Rwanda "Lattice" Apron - $20.00	Bamileke Tables - $1,295.00
patty johnson Maun Windsor Chair - $750.00

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Obama Buys $4,800 Recycled Chandelier For Daughters' White House Bedroom

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:56 -0700

In last night's episode of Man Shops Globe, Keith Johnson traveled to South Africa, where he was on the hunt for not-so-typical African crafts. After stumbling upon some unusual pottery and a handmade wooden dining chair straight out of a Van Gogh painting, he wandered into a magical art collective shop called Magpie , which sells knickknacks and décor made entirely from recycled objects. Be it a lid to a dog food can, a wine cork, or a Barbie, the eco-conscious craftsman turned the disposable into the extraordinary. Johnson was blown away by a tall, dramatic chandelier made from found objects, trinkets, and castoffs, and ordered one for Anthropologie.

As it turns out, President Obama bought the $4,800 recycled chandelier for Sasha and Malia's bedroom in the White House. We did learn back in January that the Obamas planned to decorate the girls' room with Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, and that they already have a large collection of African and Asian art, so it's quite fitting actually! While the purchase is certainly expensive for young girls, as is the family's celebrity decorator Michael Smith, Barack and Michelle did decide to pay for their White House renovations personally, and forgo the allotted $100,000 presidential decorating budget, so you can't blame them!

This Just In: Versace to Design NYC Clock Tower Interiors

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:46 -0700

Donatella Versace has been contracted to redesign the interiors of Manhattan's Clock Tower Building on 5th Avenue, according to the New York Observer. Once the MetLife building, the Clock Tower is being transformed into a 55-unit condo building by international holding and investment company, Africa Israel. Rotem Rosen, the company's CEO, told the Observer that the building is shaping up to be "the highest-end residential building in New York." He said, "the whole interior design of [the Clock Tower will be] Versace, from the lobby to the spa to the restaurant designed specifically by Donatella herself. Everything inside will be 100-percent Versace design." The building's restaurant club will be the world's first designed specifically by Donatella, and the rest of the building will be designed by the Versace Group.There's more to learn about this luxe megaplex, so read more.

The units have yet to be sold (or constructed) but Africa Israel is expecting a lot of excitement from Russians, who make up a lot their client base and love Versace as well as "top celebrities." Aside from Donatella Versace herself and her daughter, he declined to comment on which celebrities had plans to live there, but he did say, "To give you an idea we connected with Versace through Guy Oseary." Guy Oseary is the CEO of Maverick Records and a talent manager, whose clients include Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Katharine McPhee, and Alex Rodriguez.

According to Reuters, "Africa Israel paid $200 million for the Clock Tower building last year," and the "completed complex is expected to be worth about $1 billion." The penthouse alone will be over 10,700 square feet. Yowsers! Tell me, would you like your pad to be designed by Versace?
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In the News: Juxtaposing Days in the Life

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:45:30 -0700

David Elliot Cohen, the photographer who dreamt up the coffee table book series A Day in the Life has turned his eye to new topics. In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, he says that "Photography is now wallpaper . . . Great pictures of ordinary events are everywhere you look. You can't avoid them."

So, to remove himself from this endless roll of wallpaper unfurling on Flickr streams across the world, Cohen turned to documenting an area that people didn't want to touch: that of pain, injustice, and environmental devastation.

While this may sound stark, Cohen's new book of photo essays, What Matters ($27.95), is required reading for anyone that cares about the future of this planet.

To hear about the photo essays, read more.
According to the article,

Cohen searched out long projects by photographers who had been shooting a single subject, like AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, for two to 10 years. He then found an expert author in that field, and sent the pictures. "I specifically asked the writers for essays that passionately advocate," he says. "I wanted them to get pissed off in print, and most were happy to do that." His budget was about one-tenth of the $1.8 million of a "Day in the Life" book.

Check your local bookstore for copies of the book. For more about the book, check this article.

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This Just In: TLC Premieres Over Designed Sept. 20

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:30:34 -0700

Saturday, Sept. 20, TLC will premiere another new series, Over Designed, hosted by design expert Kenneth Brown. Brown will help overzealous homeowners who have taken a motif to the extreme, by enlisting the help of their family and friends to create more livable and inviting spaces. Think palm trees, penguins galore, all things Africa, or an extremely played-out Hawaiian theme. "The series will strive to celebrate each person’s unique design sense of style, but will help streamline their look and offer ways to better celebrate their collections," explains Kenneth. The show airs at 8:30 p.m. EST/PDT, so be sure to tune in. I can't wait to see these magical transformations!
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Casa Verde: Kristin Davis's Eco Choices

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:30:15 -0700

If you're looking for inspiration on ways to go eco chic look no further than Kristin Davis. Perhaps better known as Charlotte from Sex and the City, this celeb is surprisingly green in her lifestyle choices. While it's true that she did drive a Beemer to the Sex and the City movie premiere, her BMW was actually hydrogen powered. While hydrogen vehicles are still in the experimental stage for the general public, research suggests that they may help to curb greenhouse gases, since their use doesn't involve the burning of fossil fuels.

Another eco choice? Well, Kristin is an ambassador with Oxfam, a charity that works to find long-term solutions to poverty and injustice in over 100 countries. Kristin's worked with Oxfam since the South East Asia tsunami in December 2004, first as a donor and most recently traveling on behalf of Oxfam all over Africa.

Kristin's biggest eco change, though, is probably her new solar-powered house, which is currently being built in LA. To see a video of Kristin talking about her house, read more.

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Crave Worthy: Sans Parapluie Cabinets

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:00:30 -0700

Lucas Risé, an Argentinean artist who spent most of his childhood painting street signs in Buenos Aires, now makes a living by creating wonderfully colored cabinets inspired by carnival, circus, and park imagery. His experiences on trips to Europe, the U.S., South Africa, and Brazil have influenced the style of these cabinets, known as Sans Parapluie ("without an umbrella"), the edges and borders of which he says, "disappear to become an open space where different cultures come together and which reflection is life itself." The names of the cabinets (painted with enamel on wood) are as whimsical as the bright and busy designs themselves, such as "Carousel," "Circus," "African Breeze," "Violin," and "Flower Park." Inquire for price.

Coveted Crib: Viceroy Villas by Kelly Wearstler

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:15:01 -0700

A flagship development in the Caribbean's British West Indies, the Viceroy Anguilla Resort and Residences, which is described as an "array of luxury homes comprised of individual villas, townhomes, and low-rise resort residence buildings," with "sophisticated and contemporary interiors" designed by Kelly Wearstler, has unveiled its model four-bedroom villa, which is open to buyers. Of the residences' design, Wearstler has said, "We used textiles and techniques from all over the world, including hand-carved wood pieces from Asia, hammered metalwork from India, and beaded artwork from Africa, which offer a visual contrast with the modern architecture." The Viceroy Anguilla Resort and Residences, I might add, is a Kor Hotel Group property — a company owned by Wearstler's husband. Few photos of the residences have been released, but when they are, you can count on Casa to bring them to you. I can assure you that they'll be fabulous, and all that the high-class elite dream of. . . . For now, here's a sneak peek.

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