CasaSugar

Su Casa: KateDavis's Amazing DIY Dining Room

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:00:30 PDT

Sometimes I am blown away by the utter creativity and DIY know-how of CasaSugar readers. That was the case when I discovered the photos of KateDavis's dining room in the Su Casa group. She writes, "I wanted a change in my dining room, and after coming across Damien Hirst's 'Valium' online, I knew it would be perfect for my dining room. The only problem . . . the $20,000 price tag for a print." Instead of bemoaning the price tag, KateDavis put her DIY skills to work. She says, "I put a lot of work into recreating the piece and had it printed at Kinkos and framed. It probably ended up being about $80 all in."

KateDavis didn't stop there, though. Her new artwork made her eager to switch out her dining room lighting. To see the incredible DIY chandelier she made,

read more. Kate used the ReadyMade instructions for Jean Pelle's Glass Bulb Chandelier to create this gorgeous chandelier. She writes, "At first I was overwhelmed and concerned I wouldn't be able to make sturdy knots and that I would be in over my head, but the more I looked at the picture the more I knew I needed to try. It took a little while, and many trips to several hardware stores to collect all the materials, but last week I finally had it all together and got to work. I am so thrilled with the results!!! I feel like I have a whole new dining room!" I have been eyeing this chandelier project for the past month or so myself, and am thrilled with KateDavis's successful re-creation of the lamp. Congratulations to her on all of her hard work!

View 5 Photos ›

Weekend Links

FabSugar — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:45:22 PDT

Levi's Warhol Factory Jeans by Damien Hirst - Denimology
Yves St. Laurent is my Halloween dream shoe - Shoe Blog
Feeling flashy? - Little Molly Cake
Katherine Heigl's look for $86.96 - Fashion Under $100
To be or not to be: Caged up - Fashion Pad

Love It or Hate It? Damien Hirst's Spin Art

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:45 PDT

Despite the fact that much of it conjures memories of school fair spin art, 223 lots of work by Damien Hirst grossed a record $200 million at a Sotheby's auction in London this week. Perhaps you agree with Andy Warhol, who said, "Art is what you can get away with." In that case, you'd snatch up Hirst's spin art in a heartbeat (if you had the dough). But maybe you're not impressed by his work, and you'd rather hang one of your own finger paintings on the wall. Where do you fall?Source

Sugar Bits - Bai Ling Blames Arrest on Emotional Distress

PopSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:32:52 PST

Bai Ling blamed her arrest yesterday, for stealing $16 worth of merchandise from an airport store, on being emotionally unstable after a recent breakup. She may be distressed, but she was still blogging! - E! Online
Oasis's Liam Gallagher married his girlfriend of eight years, singer Nicole Appleton, yesterday in a small ceremony in London. It took long enough, but a Valentine's Day wedding seems like a sweet way to start the official marriage. - UK PopSugar
Nelly Furtado's rep has denied reports that the singer is pregnant. And here we go again with another vicious circle of celebrity pregnancy prediction and denials. - Us Weekly
Bono and the British artist Damien Hirst hosted an auction in NYC last night that raised $42.6 million for the fight against AIDS in Africa. Way to spread the love on Valentine's Day. - Reuters
Jimmy Kimmel isn't letting Sarah Silverman off easy after her "I'm F*cking Matt Damon" video. He is apparently making his own tape, titled "I'm F*cking Ben Affleck," set to the song "Heal the World" and staring Ben, Robin Williams, Don Cheadle, Harrison Ford, Ashlee Simpson, and Pete Wentz. All that star power can't top a cameo from Matt, but we can't wait to see what Jimmy came up with. - Page Six

This Is What Happens When Iggy Pop Invades a Perfume Ad

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:49 PST

Perfume commercials are always trying to be provocative and sexy to attract consumers, but the new ads for Paco Rabane Black XS seem to be reaching out in a very different way: specifically, to glam rock fans in the early punk era. What else could possibly explain this frenetic new ad, which has everything a young David Bowie could want: Iggy Pop sensuously wrapping himself in an American flag, models licking a Damien Hirst-y jewel-encrusted skull, a couple writhing in money like a pair of proto-punk Scrooge McDucks, etc. It's as if someone turned Velvet Goldmine into a perfume.

As big fans of Mr. Stardust and his spiders from Mars, the campy elements of the ad are pretty appealing to us. But given the otherwise small overlap between perfumistas and '70s-rock aficionados, this spot seems pretty niche indeed. Still, it's always nice to see Iggy, and maybe now, with a perfume campaign under his belt, he can finally fulfill his beauty destiny by starting a hair care line.

Heidi and Seal Make an Artful Exit in LA as They Plan For a Very Vegas Halloween

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:38:05 PDT

Heidi Klum and Seal joined the LA art crowd last night at the opening of Rankin and Damien Hirst's joint show "Myths, Monsters, and Legends." Heidi brightened up the gallery in bright orange as she and Seal took in the work on display at the Rankin Gallery on Melrose Avenue. The couple, who primarily split their time between LA and NYC, have been hanging out on the West Coast since Heidi wrapped her latest season of Project Runway during September's Fashion Week. The pair will make a jaunt from the City of Angels to Las Vegas in just a couple of weeks when they host their annual Halloween party. This year's soirée will be held at Tao on Oct. 29, and while Heidi is keeping mum about her and Seal's plans for their Halloween costumes, she did hint to us at her recent fragrance launch that they will be "a little bit hairy." They've outdone themselves each year with their getups, and last year, they went all out in metallic body paint, stilts, and plastic suiting to dress as robots.

Coveted Crib: An Art Collector's Cottage in Coconut Grove

Julia Walsh — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:15:00 PDT

Miami-based interior design and architecture firm Errez Design recently reached out to me to share its latest project, a 1910 cottage in Coconut Grove, FL, which belongs to a contemporary art collector. The client has an extensive collection of artwork, including pieces by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Banksy, Swoon, and David Bowie, as well as rare antique Biedermeier furniture, antique textiles, and crystal chandeliers. Designer Ruben Gutierrez says, "The project was more about curating a collection than interior design. The bones of this turn-of-the-century cottage were very charming, but not designed to house such a contemporary art collection or a modern family. However, we made it work by letting each room tell a story that related to its function."

Come along and take the tour, and hear more from Guiterrez about this wonderful home!

Kathryn Ireland Talks Decorating, Flea Marketing, and Handling Clients

Julia Walsh — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:00:03 PDT

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with interior designer Kathryn Ireland, a cast member of Bravo's hit new reality show Million Dollar Decorators, about her career, her clients, her shopping routine, her decorating advice, and her experience on the series. If you haven't read the first part of our interview, be sure to, and then read part two below!

CasaSugar: I know you spend your Summers in France. What do you see as the difference between the way the French and Americans decorate?

Kathryn Ireland: Gosh! Very differently. The French French or people that have houses in France? I mean there’s something completely alluring about the French way of life when you think of the French countryside - the bucolic landscape, sitting under trees drinking rosé. I just love farmhouses. I don’t like the grand; I’m never drawn to anything grand. I like sort of living in a cow barn. Finding places that are interesting for me - it’s very much about the exterior of the countryside. I’m a country person at heart.

I think what I’m drawn to about the French is that people inherit pieces, which is also European. I grew up with a mother that decorated our house. She knew what to do, and I think there’s something so inherent about creating your own home, which is what I’m trying to teach my clients. You know a lot of people have hectic lines and it’s a full-time job trying to get couches and sofa and tie it all together, and some people just don’t have that talent to know what goes with what.

CS: Do you have any tips for bargaining and dealing with dealers at markets?

KI: Oh I’m a great bargainer! I go to Morocco. Marrakech is one of my favorite places, and in fact I’ve just come back from there. I’m doing a container sale for One Kings Lane on August 6, and that was so much fun.

But yea, I know how to haggle, but I also know when I see a good thing and it’s a good price. You know when you do a house and you get a budget, I know what I’m working, and I say let’s not get picky. I may spend a bunch of money on a piece of artwork for the kitchen. It’s about where the things that do matter. For example, in my kitchen in Santa Monica, I have a Damien Hirst in my kitchen and it’s fantastic. It makes the room.

Continue reading for the rest of our interview!

Serve Up the Spotty and Dotty!

Julia Walsh — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Vibrant colors and sprightly floral are serious cheerleaders, but there's no pattern that puts me in a merrier mood than polka dots - or "spotty prints," as the Brits call them. Since Summer decorating is all about keeping the fun, I thought I'd round up some darling dotty motifs for you to sprinkle around your home.

The Blik Sweet 16 Wall Decal ($40) might be my favorite; it's so Damien Hirst, isn't it? I'll also be grinning from ear to ear if someone hands me a cupcake lined with the Mini Grape Polka-Dot Bake Cups ($6). Prefer something more chic? The Large Ikat Dots Pillow ($30) from Urban Outfitters is also a must have. Click the product images to shop the rest of this look!

Show Me Your Casa!

CasaSugar — Sun, 15 May 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Have you done any decorating in your home lately? Picked up a new Damien Hirst painting? Unearthed a vintage rug in your attic? Bought a groovy coffee table for your living room? Whatever it is, I want to see it!

Show off all of your shots of your home, both interior and exterior, in my group Su Casa, where readers can share snapshots and stories related to home decorating, crafts, organizing, and gardening. A Su Casa post could be anything from a photo of a loved one's home to a before-and-after project you've been working on. Think of it as a lookbook for home style. If I see something I like in Su Casa, I might ask you if I can feature it on CasaSugar.

To learn how to post in the group,