CasaSugar

Casa Shops: Taigan

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:41 -0800

As the list of online designer sample sales grows, a new web shop has opened with a slightly different business plan. Taigan is a community of over 30 (and growing) specialty shops, boutiques, and galleries nationwide for members only. The site offers access to small, upscale shops in cities as far and wide as Chattanooga, TN and Aspen, CO, which may not otherwise have an ecommerce site.

Taigan gets its name from a rare hunting dog which is said to have "a discerning eye and keen sense of awareness," an analogy for the company, which hunt for all things little-known and beautiful around the country. Purveyor of art, antiques, home décor, fashion, and jewelry you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere online, Taigan does seem to have a card up its sleeve. But, after your 14-day trial is complete, membership costs $15 a month or $165 per year. For the average shopper, I'm not sure the cost is justifiable, but it certainly might be worth it for an interior designer.

Anthropologie to Open First London Outpost Oct. 23

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:26 -0700

Anthropologie will open its first European outpost, and the first outside of North America, in the heart of London's West End on Oct. 23. Anthropologie has made a habit of seeking out architecturally distinct spaces for its stores, and this one will be no exception. The store will occupy a historically renowned, three-story building at 158 Regent Street, which was once home to Waterford Wedgwood, a prominent English china retailer since the 18th century.
The new store will sell Anthropologie's signature mix of fashion, accessories, home décor, decorative antiques, and found objects - many discovered around the world by antiques buyer Keith Johnson. As with all of the brand's stores, Regent Street will also incorporate reclaimed materials from nearby and feature work by local artists. Another shop will open early next year on London's King's Road. Londoners, get your wallets ready! And a night job while you're at it!

Casa Shops: Adelante and Curb Service

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:33 -0700

Whenever I visit friends in Austin, I try to drop by Adelante, a hip, laid-back women's clothing and lifestyle boutique. The shop, which has been in Austin since 1992, and called San Antonio home before that, is a family-owned boutique that offers everything from shoes, dresses, and jewelry to home accessories and vintage, refurbished furniture.

The owner, Tricia Roberts, has a great eye for fashionable, affordable finds, and I always find some must-have item when I stop by.

Now, Adelante has started Curb Service, a mobile shopping adventure that's fit into a retrofitted 1976 Airstream. Available for rent for private parties, showers, or other special events, this adorable trailer was once Tricia's husband's hunting getaway. To see how it's been transformed, read more.

The Airstream has certainly undergone a major transformation. It now features Palm Springs mod decor with fabric by Trina Turk, vintage accessories and furniture, and sea grass carpeting. For a private party, the Airstream is decked out in fashion, accessories, vintage cowboy boots, home accessories, and fashion finds, all for the partygoer's shopping pleasure.

Check out Adelante's blog for more information about the store. Next time you're in Austin, make sure to stop in and say hi!

See more photos of the Curb Service Airstream, the shop, and some of its great home finds in the gallery.

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Casa Shops: Schoolhouse Electric

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Historic homes and buildings like turn-of-the-century schoolhouses are a treasure trove of great design, featuring ornate moldings and classic light fixtures. But unless you stumble upon one of these real estate wonders, it can be difficult and expensive to track down originals or even true-to-form replicas to give your own home historical authenticity.

Enter 150-year-old Portland lighting company Schoolhouse Electric, which was founded when a collection of original cast-iron molds, all but forgotten for more than a half century, was discovered in an upstate New York warehouse. The company now sells over 100 replicas of these fixtures, some of the best examples of true American lighting design, ranging from the early 1900s to the middle of the 20th century. Since its establishment, the lighting company has discovered more collections of art deco, arts and crafts, early electric, transitional, art nouveau, colonial revival, and classic modern molds and fixtures, making it a go-to vendor for all of your luminary pursuits. See more of the fixtures in place when you read more.

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Casa Shops: Alice Supply Co.

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:00:39 -0700

There are two things I know to be true: I'm a sucker for good packaging (and color), and my cleaning supplies rarely see the light of day. The answer to and beguiling lovechild of these truths: Alice Supply Co. In hopes of giving mundane household items a little personality, making chores a little less laborious, and ending "the humble dustpan's days of being shoved away in a closet," former surfwear industry execs Maria Barnes and Raili Clasen founded Alice, aptly named after The Brady Bunch's witty housekeeper.

Not only have they infused sunny, citrus colors like clementine and lime into their essential household tools, as well as summery stripes, cordial camo, and fresh faux bois, but they've also used classic shapes and quality, durable materials like metal and wood. While you'll find plenty of lucky retailers peddling Alice products around the country, you can also order a sponge set, dust pan and brush, plunger, toolbox, garden hose, and bucket online - and at friendly prices. I'm convinced, and if housekeeping is anything like their hip lifestyle photos suggest, you can call me Alice.

How-To: Care For Succulents

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:00:25 -0700

Last Friday, I featured Kelly's cool succulent favors in the Weekend DIYs. Kelly wrote to me to announce that she's just opened up a shop featuring her succulent designs. I'm a huge fan of these hardy plants, and I'm also loving the designs that Kelly features at SucculentLOVE. Specializing in creating fresh, modern displays for succulents, Kelly's designs run the gamut, from rustic and pretty to modern and chic. While she's currently only selling and delivering in the Los Angeles area, she's setting up a shipping system and aims to have it in place by the end of the Summer. While succulents are low-care, they certainly aren't no-care plants. To hear Kelly's tips for taking care of succulents, read more.

Succulents would rather you ignore them than lavish them with attention. This way they'll actually grow better.
When the soil is completely dried out, spritz your succulent with water from a spray bottle to keep it from getting too parched.
Full sun is best!
If your succulent develops any brown leaves, simply pull them off and let the plant keep growing.
Give your succulent a breath of fresh air once in a while by placing it on a porch or a balcony.

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Casa Shops: From Sthlm

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:30:00 -0700

When I traveled to Sweden, I was stunned by all the gorgeous blondes (and blonds), but I was especially impressed with the country's propensity for good design. Not only were design shops ubiquitous, but even simple, everyday items seemed to have smart aesthetics. Though stylish as well, I'm not referring to traditional folkloric design - or Ikea.
Nevertheless, I was pleased to hear about a new stateside store that showcases (and sells) the work of one independent Swedish designer each month, from Sthlm. This month, the first month, you'll find cutting boards, coasters, and tea towels by pattern designer and illustrator Lotta Kühlhorn are up for sale. Kühlhorn's poppy mixed apple and radish designs are cheerful and colorful. Her simple and bold graphics have a '70s flair that would certainly be welcome in my '00s kitchen. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

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Nice and New: west elm's Eco Storefront

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:39 -0800

Today, west elm's newest storefront opens to the public. If you're in the Bay Area, stop by today starting at 10 a.m. to browse the wonderful selection of furniture and accents and to take in the very cool, very eco Emeryville, CA, west elm. What's so eco about it, you ask - and what cool new products did I see when I stopped by yesterday? Check out my slideshow to find out! Photo courtesy of Carlie Statsky

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Casa Shops: Eco Housewares From Celery Street

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:16 -0800

Looking for another online source for eco home products? Then check out Celery Street, a well-designed and easily navigable website that was started by a husband and wife team. This web retailer gathers up the best eco-friendly, organic, reused, and refurbished products across the globe, and then offers them to the earth-conscious consumer. With everything from housewares and eco-chic decor to kitchen utensils, clothing, bath products, pet toys, and children's items, you're sure to find something you love. Check out some of my favorite finds below.

Casa Shops: Spectrum West

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:30:59 -0800

I just got an email introducing me to a shop called Spectrum West that sells "post modern acrylic furniture and accessories for the modern home decor enthusiast." As you know, I'm an enthusiast of both acrylic furniture and modern décor, so it sounded right up my alley. Spectrum West is a new venture by Spectrum Limited, a company that's been manufacturing high quality acrylic furniture for 25 years. The vast collection includes acrylic dining tables, console tables, coffee tables, chairs, as well as acrylic accessories and pedestals.
To find out more about this company and its furniture, read more.

You'll find many familiar faces in the collection, as certain designs are clearly inspired by classics like the Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair (the world's most copied chair), as well as more contemporary pieces like the Essey Illusions Side Table. Though "knock-offs" tend to get a bad rap, it's refreshing to see an iconic design newly envisioned in a transparent material, or a cheerful neon. Spectrum West has plenty of original designs as well, which are worth a gander. The prices are a bit overwhelming though; a set of three basic nesting tables, which you can get at CB2 $199, costs $1,325. I also noticed that in the Spectrum Limited Gallery, their acrylic coffee table (shown above) made its way into the home of Libertine clothing designers Johnson Hartig and Cindy Greene, which was featured in Domino.

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