CasaSugar

Does Interior Design Take Priority at Your Coffee Shop?

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:01:55 -0800

According to the Herald Tribune, in addition to its new/old logo, Starbucks is undergoing a design overhaul of its interiors. The java monopolist has brought back designer/architect Arthur Rubinfeld to his old post to change things up. Rubinfeld has presented a new design, which may include, "energy-efficient lighting, new furniture using reclaimed materials, and modular merchandising racks, [as well as] new paintings that evoke the company's coffee heritage." I'm sure Starbucks knows what it's doing, so I don't doubt the changes will be beneficial. I'm curious, though, whether a coffee shop's design influences whether or not you'll order a latte. Does design influence your preferences out of the home?

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Desire/Acquire: Angled Leg Coffee Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:30:34 -0700

West Elm is a relatively affordable store, sort of the midpoint between ultra-affordable stores like Ikea and pricier ones like Williams-Sonoma Home and Pottery Barn. It's also full of great modern design, which unless you're shopping at Ikea, is hard to come by at an affordable price. But West Elm items like this Angled-Leg Coffee Table ($299) are still out of reach for many, or simply not sensible if you're a student or in transition. So, I was happy to come across a near-identical, more affordable alternative. To see it, read more.

The Overstock Wenge Round Coffee Table ($169) has nearly the same shape as the West Elm version, with a criss-cross base and round tabletop. It's not as top-heavy and its legs are not actually angled, but I don't think that detracts from the design. Unfortunately, the table is made from MDF, whereas the former is solid wood, which explains why you save about $130.

Ask Casa: Post-Grad Style

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:56 -0700

Hi Casa!
I'm 22 and I just started my first job out of college. Unfortunately, I still live with my parents. But I figure that if I have to do so then I might as well have a room I enjoy coming back to after a long day of work. I've been wanting to redecorate my room for a while now. However, I don't have a lot of money to spend on new furniture or décor. Most of my furniture is mismatched, and I've had it all since college. Do you have any tips on how I can update my room on the cheap and make it a place that I enjoy spending time?
Thanks! - Kerry

To hear my suggestions for Kerry, read more.

Hi Kerry,

Congrats! I don't think you're alone in this query. Luckily, there are a few easy and affordable things you can do to perk up your bedroom. The idea is to give your room polish and a distinct style, separate from how your parents may have decorated.

First of all, shed everything! If you'd moved into your new apartment, you wouldn't bring everything you've owned since grade school that's still sitting in your parents' house. So, go through it all and recycle, donate, or toss won't you don't want or need. This will give your room a more grownup, less cluttered feel.
Next, create symmetry. The easiest way to do this is to use matching nightstands or bedside table lamps. You can find very chic, affordable lamps at places like Target and HomeGoods. A nightstand can be just a simple side table.
Get a headboard. A headboard will instantly give your room a focal point, and curb any mismatched feel your other furniture gives off. If you can't afford a headboard, try any one of these 10 cool alternatives to off-the-shelf headboards.
Paint your mismatched furniture in one color - glossy white always works - to give the space cohesion.
Create a designated sitting area for reading, having your morning coffee, or making phone calls, etc., with a chair, small accent rug, and small side table. Then you won't feel trapped on your bed or hanging with your parents.
Paint your walls. Color is an easy and cheap fix for any room!
Give your bed a grownup makeover with white bedding, and add color and pattern with throw pillows or a bedskirt.
Find cheap artwork at flea markets, garage sales, or student art sales, or create your own.
Make the space cozy with a rug.
Go "shopping" in other rooms in your home. Look around your parents' home for furnishings that might facilitate the above. With an open mind, you never know what you may find.

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Roundup: Out of This World, in Front of Your Sofa

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:00:16 -0700

Let's face it: when we're not hovering over the kitchen counter, our lives revolve around the coffee table. So why not make yours the center of attention, style-wise? I love the Barbarella-esque look of this Mondo Coffee Table ($273) from Overstock. I think it would be fun to make an extraterrestrial, otherworldly table the focal point of a room. Kind of like saying, "I know I'm crazy, so what!?" So, I've discovered a few more:

Found It! Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Coffee and Side Table

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Art director and daughter of Carine Roitfeld, the longtime editor-in-chief of French Vogue, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld recently let photographer Todd Selby into her New York apartment. Selby has a knack for making everything look stylish (as does this beauty), but I was particularly taken with Restoin-Roitfeld's marble coffee table and side table. Her apartment may be decked out with fancy, fashionable accessories, but I thought there was something understated and unpretentious about these tables. Yes, they do contribute to the digs' stark minimalism, but in a casual way. As it turns out, they're pretty attainable - even for those of us who are not fashion royalty. To see where you can buy them, read more.

The tables are the CB2 Smart Side Table ($149) and Coffee Table ($199). They don't seem to be available any longer with a marble top, just glass. But, the CB2 Smart Round Coffee Table ($299) does have a marble top.
Photo by Todd Selby

How-To: Decorate a Dual-Purpose Space

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:55 -0700

Having lived in a studio in the past, I've experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of trying to make one room play two roles. I have many friends living tiny apartments who try to cram the furniture meant for both a living room and a bedroom into the same room, and let me tell you, none have succeeded. It's not only studio dwellers that encounter these issues, though. Sometimes a home office needs to double as a living room, or a bedroom as a workout room. If you're in the same boat, I have a few tips for you.

7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Decorator, Step 7: Build Your Room

CasaSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:34 -0700

You're almost there! I've got one more step for you to send you on your way to becoming your own decorator. It's the fun part: building your room! Now that you've created a budget, done some research, found your style, drawn up a floor plan, and found a theme for your room, it's time to shop. Using the colors, patterns, and other qualities from your inspiration board as a jumping off point, find furnishings for your home, all the while sticking to your budget.Choose a few options for everything on your list and play around with combinations until you've hatched a plot that works. If the sofa you love has a bold pattern, you might want to reupholster your side chairs in a solid fabric. If your "keeper" coffee table is low to the ground, you might look for a high-pile rug to continue that cozy vibe. Try creating a look on ShopStyle to help you visualize how it will all come together.

7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Decorator, Step 6: Budget Your Shopping List

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:00:04 -0700

You're well on your way to becoming your own decorator, but you've still got a few more things to learn. The next step is to budget your shopping list.
See my advice for budgeting when you read more.

To get started, look at your floor plan and figure out where the negative space lies and what you need to shop for. Now, do your research and figure out a price range for each item on your list. For example, you might be able to find a side table on Craigslist for $40 and give it a paint job, buy an affordably priced one new for $130, or buy a high-end one for $400. Prioritize each item on your list. I recommend investing in larger pieces like sofas, coffee tables, and secretaries, and cutting back on smaller furnishings. But, you might also want to invest in a piece of artwork, which you can use as a jumping off point for the design of your room. Figure out how much you can afford to spend, and how much you expect to spend on each item.
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7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Decorator, Step 5: Measure and Plan

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:00:07 -0700

You're well on your way to becoming your own decorator. The next step is to measure and plan, something that educated interior designers are experts at. In fact, most interior design schools require that you draw a scaled design plan as part of the application process. To find out how to measure and plan, read more.

First, take measurements of all of your furniture, rugs, and larger accessories you're going to keep. Then, either using some graph paper and pencils or an online interior design software like Floorplanner, draw out a floor plan for your room. If you use paper, it helps to cut each furnishing out, so you can move them around. Play with various arrangements, thinking about things like lighting and glare, focal points (TV, fireplace), and seating arrangements. Keep your lifestyle in mind. If you have a lot of cocktail parties, you'll want to center your living room seating around a coffee table. If you're more of a popcorn and TV family, you'll want you seating to face your flat screen. Once you've arranged your existing furnishings, take note of what should be on your shopping list!

Cool Idea: ROSSIN L@p Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:53 -0700

While there's something charming and nostalgic about an old-school desk chair, it's about time it had a modern makeover. The ROSSIN L@p Chair (inquire for price) by German-based Design Ballendat is the second coming of the school desk chair. But, instead of a hefty compartment to store pencils and paperwork, and a writing surface, you can set your notebook computer on its curved arm and call on your hard drive for storage. I think these chairs would be ideal for Internet coffee shops, but I'd love one in my living room, too. My Macbook is practically a permanent resident on my sofa.

Arktura Loop Coffee Table - Blue - $1,990.00	Arktura - stealth coffee table by chris kabatsi for arktura - $2,394.00
Arktura Hive Coffee Table - White - $1,650.00	Thomas Wold Mushroom Forest Coffee Tables - $970.00
Arktura Coral Coffee Table - Berry - $1,990.00	Moroso - phoenix coffee table by patricia urquiola for moroso of italy - QUICKSHIP - $2,824.00
Fontana Arte - tavolo con ruote by gae aulenti for fontana arte - $901.00	Cappellini - bong coffee table by cappellini - $966.00
Context Furniture William & Mary Round Table - $395.00	Knoll risom amoeba coffee table - $846.00