CasaSugar

Celebrate International Women's Day With CasaSugar

CasaSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:00:59 -0800

Today is International Women's Day. Annually on this day, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Definitely look in your local paper to see if there are any events in your community celebrating this day, and for now, take a look at some of my favorite posts celebrating creative women here on CasaSugar.

Designer Natalie Chanin creates beautiful and innovative repurposed designs for your home.
Architect Zaha Hadid was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize in its 26-year history.
Artist Yvette Molina paints dreamy flora on aluminum.
Photographer Tria Giovan has established a successful career shooting for a number of coveted shelter magazines.
Designer Sheila Bridges makes inspiring interiors for livable and lovely homes.
Architect Julia Morgan was the first woman allowed in Paris's Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
Artist Cal Lane brings an unexpected feminine twist to traditionally male-dominated objects.
Designer Eva Zeisel has not only lived an incredible and dramatic life, she's also making beautiful designs well into her 90s.

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Designer Spotlight: Griffith and Cletta

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:15:46 -0800

Landscape designers Jay Griffith and Russ Cletta craft outdoor vignettes fit for the silver screen, so it's no small coincidence that these talented designers work with Hollywood clients. Check out the slideshow for a glimpse of the gorgeous landscape design they create. Source

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Designer Profile: Robin Wilson

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:04:33 -0800

Design, home, and lifestyle expert Robin Wilson launched her eponymous firm, Robin Wilson Home, in 2000 with a focus on interior design, residential renovations, and project management. Over the years, Robin Wilson Home has built a superior reputation in the renovation and design business through the consistent use of a thorough, hands-on approach to ensure "on-time and on-budget" completion with unique styling and the highest level of quality craftsmanship. Today, it is Robin Wilson's mission to combine healthy living with her passion for design. Robin Wilson and her team at Robin Wilson Home handle everything for the home from the foundation to the furniture in a style that is characteristically classic with a modern touch, creating a comfortable environment with a timeless feel. Her passion for indigenous cultures is found in her use of eco-décor, which integrates textured patterns, natural stone, and organic fibers throughout her design portfolio. Robin has appeared in publications such as O at Home, the Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, and the Chicago Tribune, and she has made appearances on CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC. In May 2007, Robin was featured in the New York Post's annual list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York. To take a look at one of Robin's interior-renovation projects, including the bare-bones before pictures and the stunning afters, just check out the slideshow! Source

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Designer Spotlight: Cath Kidston

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:00:31 -0700

Cath Kidston creates undeniably girly stuff for people who aren't really into girly stuff. The U.K. designer of textiles, wallpaper, clothing, kitchenware, and home accessories has developed a distinctive, vintage-inspired look, with florals and other patterns that are funky and feminine.

Her designs feel at once once old-fashioned and also adorably modern, so walking into a Cath Kidston boutique is like entering a space that exists in its own kitschy era. Since opening her first store in London's Notting Hill district in 1992, Kidston has expanded her empire to include 11 more shops in the U.K. and one in Tokyo. This month, Cath Kidston will be unveiling a new online store for U.S. customers; until then, check out my finds from the U.K. site by clicking on the photos below.

October's Vogue Features Kelly Wearstler's Hollywood Home

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:02:13 -0700

Since so many of you have a love it or hate it relationship with designer Kelly Wearstler's unique style, I figured that you'd be interested in taking a tour of her Hollywood mansion. Good news - now you can.

The October issue of Vogue includes a special feature on interior designer Kelly Wearstler’s Hollywood mansion, gorgeously photographed by Francois Halard with a profile penned by Hamish Bowles. Definitely head over to Vogue for the complete tour, and also check out the outtakes, which are only available online.

There are definitely some fascinating facts to be learned, such as her scrupulously color-coded shoes and vintage hats collections, and her use of color (cerulean blue) and pattern (faux crocodile) in her young sons' bedrooms. I know that I find Kelly Wearstler absolutely fascinating (and fabulous), and this Vogue profile only reinforces that impression.

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Photos courtesy of Vogue

Designer Profile: Michael S. Smith

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:53 -0800

Last week, I told you that Michael S. Smith had been chosen as the Obamas' White House designer. I can't tell you how thrilled I am by their choice. Smith blends modern comfort with a timeless elegance, and I'm excited that a Californian will be decorating the capital residence.
Smith, who divides his time between Los Angeles and New York, honed his designing chops at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Although just 44 years old, Smith has already received many prestigious awards, including Architectural Digest’s The AD 100 in 2002 and 2004 and 2003 Designer of the Year from Elle Decor. Smith's work has also graced the pages of Elle Decor Magazine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Town and Country, Domino, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, and W. Smith's new book, Houses, offers advice on decorating your own home through the example of 20 projects, including Smith's own Bel Air residence.

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:30:57 -0700

Philippe Starck and Karl Lagerfeld take on the October issue of Wallpaper*.
The Melrose Place apartments are on the market.
Try one of these 10 ways to say "home sweet home."
Don't miss these design ideas to steal from the Boys are Back.
Why not hang one of these alphabet posters for grownup homes?
The New Yorker profiles Kelly Wearstler.

The New Yorker Profiles Kelly Wearstler

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:06 -0700

The “presiding grande dame of West Coast interior design,” Kelly Wearstler, is featured in a six-page profile in the Sept. 14 issue of The New Yorker.

I've always considered Wearstler (pronounced "Worst-ler") an enigma - wife of a hotel mogul, author, Top Design judge, crimped-hair enthusiast, Southern belle, ex-Playboy model - but her design skill is irrefutable. So, it was interesting to read about how the girl who grew up in a cluttered Myrtle Beach home decorated in a "blowsy Provincial style" became the face of ornate, layered, over-the-top Hollywood Regency style.

"You don’t hire her for her subtlety, you hire her for what her critics call ‘muchness'," said a client. Her style, as it turns out, is governed more by instinct than intellect: "I don't have time to think things through a lot. I just do how it feels," she says. I was also intrigued to hear that she thinks of herself as having "a very European sensibility" that's "well travelled, collected." Pick up a copy to read the full text or read an abstract online.

Designer Profile: Kelly LaPlante and Organic Interior Design

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:58:07 -0800

Los Angeles eco-designer Kelly LaPlante and her firm, Organic Interior Design, try to impress upon clients that good style and organic and sustainable furnishings can be synonymous. LaPlante has designed her own line of elegant, eco-friendly furnishings, including soy candles and organic sofas, which are available through her showroom in Venice Beach.

Kelly's work has recently been seen at the Sundance Style Lounge, the Global Green Oscar Party and the Ultimate Emmy Green Room. Her book, Eco-Luxe: Sustainable Spaces of Extraordinary Individuals is forthcoming.

To see a gallery of Kelly's design work, just read more

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Introducing the CasaSugar Community!

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:15:54 -0700

We are so excited to unveil our new CasaSugar Home Decor Community, which is centered around all of your favorite topics from decorating to organizing, gardening to green living. Our new community will allow you to start your very own groups, participate in other member's groups, meet new friends that share your interests, and maybe even be featured on CasaSugar. We have made it easier than ever before to create and share content with your CasaSugar friends, so check it out and start having fun.

The CasaSugar Community features all the groups that so many of you have already made incredibly popular like Su Casa, Organization Tips, Design Finds, and Everything's coming up flowers! Plus, we'll be featuring more of your amazing content and starting all new groups centered around our favorite topics - for example check out our So Fresh and So Clean and Lovely Little Vignettes groups!

For those of you that already have an account, you can get started right away. For those who don't, you can browse the CasaSugar Home Decor Community without an account, but to really dive in, register here. Not sure how to create a post in a group? It's easy; learn the steps here.

Looking for your unreads? They have gotten an upgrade too and can be found here. Your new profile features all of your content as well as a link to your very own OnSugar blog. If you have any questions or problems you can ask me, check out our Community Help group, or send a private message to our community manager.

We're so excited to share our new community with you - check it out now!