CasaSugar

Found It! Crystal Sailboat Chandelier

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:00:18 -0700

I came across this dining room in the portfolio of interior designer Alessandra Branca. Off the bat, I found it to be a very elegant room, but what truly caught my eye was the unexpected crystal sailboat chandelier. Not only is it oh-so-whimsical and particularly non-traditional, but I've actually seen it before. Wanna find out where? Then read more.

Artist Hans van Bentem makes these magnificent custom sailboat chandeliers for Rock and Royal from fine Bohemian crystal, giving the long history of chandelier-making a fresh update in unusual shapes. I featured one of his pieces in a skull Trend Alert back in November 2007, and many of you felt that it was way over the top. Somehow, the sailboat chandelier seems much more subdued. I'm not sure if Branca's choice was actually created by van Bentem, but all signs point to yes.
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How-To: Cleaning a Crystal Chandelier

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:00:45 -0800

One should expect a crystal chandelier like this Neiman Marcus Sterling Chandelier ($1255) to shine like the top of the Chrysler building after you've purchased it, but even beauty queens need a good rinse every once in a while. Since you've invested so much in it, it's important to care for your crystal chandelier in the correct way. Think of it like child-rearing! To learn how to bring back your crystal chandelier's original sparkle, read more.

First things first. If the crystals on your light fixture are removable, gently remove them and place them on a couple layers of soft towels on a flat surface. If the crystals are different shapes and sizes, and you don't think you'll remember their order, take a digital photo of it to record it before you remove them.
Then, line a bucket or your sink with a few more layers of towels and gently wash each crystal with a mixture of lukewarm water and gentle dishwashing liquid, rinse, and dry with a clean white rag. Hold each crystal into the light to make sure you haven't left any spots.
Now, to clean the arms of the chandelier itself, first gently dust it once with a feather duster. Then dip a clean rag in a solution of one part hot water, one part white vinegar. Gently wipe down the arms with the cloth, wring it out, and dip it in the solution again. Repeat these three steps until it sparkles! Then, let it air dry.
Next, hang the crystals back in their original places. To prevent leaving fingerprints on your freshly cleaned chandelier, use a cloth to or a pair of gloves to hang them. Fini!

Crave Worthy: Black Crystal Chandelier

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:15:17 -0700

Granted, this black crystal chandelier ($7,500) from Neiman Marcus is a bit gothic for some people's tastes, but it still has a compellingly dark appeal. Constructed of black crystal strands that are attached to a hand-forged iron frame, this chandelier would really make your next Vampire Lestat Ball. What do you think? Appealing or no?

Less or More Game: Crystal Chandeliers

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:25:49 -0800

For the next round of this game, look at each of the crystal chandeliers below and guess which one is more expensive.

Take the quiz

Desire/Acquire: Luna Chandelier

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:30:30 -0700

If you're into dark glamour, run, don't walk to the Luna Chandelier ($1200). With gothically elegant charm, this chandelier balances its dark exterior shade with a cluster of clear crystals. However, even if you absolutely adore this piece, your pace might be slowed down a bit thanks to the chandelier's tragic price tag.

To find a more upbeat price for a similar chandelier, read more.

For a quarter of the price, you can pick up a near match in the Artcraft Lighting Claremont Chandelier ($317.55). Granted, there are fewer crystal, but you could add your own by buying some chandelier crystals on eBay. Do you like the cheaper option? Or is the original worth the higher price tag?

Desire/Acquire: DWR's Cellula Chandelier

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:05 -0700

While the Cellula Chandelier ($2,210) may be on sale for nearly $400 off the original price, over $2K is more than most of us are willing to spend on a light fixture. Still, since the Cellula chandelier is studded with Swarovski crystal pendants, it's a definite head-turner. It's a great upgrade on the traditional chandelier, and is sleek enough to fit the most cutting-edge home.

To find out where to get a lookalike for nearly a tenth of the price, read more.

The Linear Bar Pendant ($306.99) may not feature Swarovski crystals, but at this price, who cares? They're a close enough match to forgive the lack of Swarovski crystals on the cheaper pendant, in my opinion, especially when there's a $2,000 price difference.

Before and After: A Sophisticated and Glamorous Nursery

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:44 -0700

Su Casa member mianakao recently moved into a new home, and turned this dull room into something absolutely spectacular. Her fabulous results prove that even the most dull room can be transformed into a gorgeous, glamorous space with a little imagination and a lot of hard work.
She writes, "We just moved into our new house (a sprawling foreclosure), so I had free reign with this room! As you can see in the before photo, the room was dull, dingy, and needed lots of TLC."

The results are truly astounding. To see how mianakao turned this dingy, dull space into a beautiful nursery, read more.

Can you even believe it's the same room? I am truly amazed! Mianakao explains, "My goal was to use black and white in a tasteful way to help the baby's visual development. My first choice was stripes around the room, but I figured that might just make the baby dizzy after a while. So, instead, I went with a high-gloss black latex paint, and brightened up the room with tons of white. (The green is an after thought accent color to warm up the space)." "Also, in an effort to be somewhat creative, I stuck a vinyl decal of a tree on the wall, painted over it, and then cut out the vinyl with an X-acto knife. Had I thought ahead, I could have incorporated the accent green on the tree. Sticking a vinyl decal on the wall wasn't creative enough for me . . . and I didn't want to deal with all of the air bubbles."

I also love that mianakao kept to a strict budget for this makeover. She writes, "Since we're in a tight economy, everything you see (with the exception of the crib and the chandelier) was found on Craigslist. Nothing was over $40! I also found items for free from the freecycle network. I just sanded the furniture and painted it flat white to match everything else in the room . . . well, my husband handled all the hard work. Small accents like the beautiful black and white crystal chandelier just added a touch of chic for our new baby girl!"

Take the full tour when you check out the gallery. I'm truly inspired!

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Ask Casa: How Can I Create an Old Hollywood Starlet Pad?

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:39 -0700

Twitter user DefDulce asked me a question which, judging from current trends, I think is on a lot of young decorators' minds: "How can you turn an ordinary apartment into an old Hollywood starlet pad?"

Without seeing her apartment, I can't offer specific, tailored changes or updates. So I thought I'd respond by offering a few key elements essential to any old Hollywood home. Choosing just a few of them will give your home that overtone of glitz and glamour so evocative of Old Hollywood style.

Lacquer your furniture! And if you can't afford to, high gloss paint will do.
Choose rich materials like silk and velvet for drapery and tablecloths.
Bring in luxe details: crystals on chandeliers, fringe on lampshades, gilt accessories.

See more of these.

Furniture and Accessories That Make Us Blush

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:00:05 -0700

If you're going to put provocative décor in your home - dudes, are you listening? - forget the stripper pole and the cheesy frat boy Kiss poster. When it comes to erotic furnishings, designers and artists around the world have gotten very creative. From crystal penis chandeliers to porcelain vaginal vases, there are plenty of furnishings and accessories for the pervert in you, and if not, at least you'll get a laugh out of these.

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10 Chandeliers Made From Everyday Objects

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:55 -0700

Who says you have to spend huge amounts of money on a crystal chandelier? There are plenty of objects lying around your house that could provide pretty lighting, given some ingenuity. Take Stuart Haygarth's Tide Chandelier, for example. Composed of man-made debris that washed up on a specific stretch of Kent (England) coastline, Haygarth collected these bits of garbage and turned them into something spectacular. Many of the chandeliers in this slideshow are recycled, upcycled, or just plain ingenious. While some of these chandeliers are for sale, others are DIY projects that you might want to tackle.
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