CasaSugar

Good, Better, Best: Traditional Kitchen Islands

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:30:43 -0700

When designing a dream kitchen, I'd be sure to allot ample room for a kitchen island. A good kitchen island increases prep space while also adding a handsome furniture element to the room. I've rounded up three traditionally designed kitchen islands to show what's good, better, and best on the market today.
Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

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Good, Better, Best: Rectangular Wooden Outdoor Dining Tables

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:00:26 -0700

If you haven't dusted off your barbecue yet, pull out that Weber and start grilling! It's Spring! While you're at it, you'll need to find a place to eat. Lucky for you, I've done the work for you and chosen my top three picks for rectangular wooden outdoor dining tables.

The first in the trio (Good) is this Crate & Barrel Arbor Large Rectangular Dining Table ($499). It's made from plantation-grown eucalyptus, a fast-growing and easily replenished hardwood, and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The table seats up to eight and has an umbrella opening. To see two more choices, read more.

Better: The Restoration Hardware Santa Monica Rectangular Dining Table ($1,185- $1,715) is made from sustainably harvested, premium grade A Indonesian teak. It has mortise-and-tenon joinery, making it very strong and simple to assemble. It's available as a six-seater table or as an extension table that seats six unextended and eight extended, making it quite versatile. It also has an umbrella hole.

Best: Last but certainly not least is the Smith & Hawken Avignon Extending Table ($2,299). It's made from the finest-quality premium teak, which is environmentally harvested. It seats eight unextended and 12 extended, and leaves store under the table's surface, making it ideal for both an intimate dinner and big backyard barbecue.

Good, Better, Best: Chic Backgammon Sets

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:00:49 -0800

Even if you haven't a clue how to play backgammon, these chic boards will put you on top of your design game. Laid out on a coffee table, backgammon sets are like the leisure-time equivalent of a pretty art book or an elegant bowl. Here are three to suit your budget, whatever it may be.

The Ballard Designs Backgammon Set ($70) looks like it could have been designed by Kate Spade. It's perfect for whiling away the days at a Summer retreat, or just making your living room feel like one.

For the even better backgammon boards, read more.

I can't get enough of the Barneys Handmade Psychedelic Lacquered Wood Backgammon ($795). Something about combination of hoity-toity and hippie-dippy puts me perfectly in the mood to roll some dice.

This luxurious Ralph Lauren Dawson Backgammon Set ($1,299) could easily be a set piece in a Gossip Girl Upper East Side living room. It's masculine and just a tad sinister.

Good, Better, Best: Modern Desk Clocks

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:00:17 -0800

Clocks have long been a fixture in homes worldwide, with not only a time-keeping function but also an aesthetic one. But as we've become drawn to our computers, cell phones, PDAs, and electronic kitchen appliances, we've found ourselves with little need for a free-standing clock, and these handsome things have fallen by the wayside. Personally, I like to put my gadgets to rest and out of my bedroom so I can have uninterrupted sleep, but I'll gladly grandfather in a good-looking desk clock. Lately, I've been looking for a handsome modern desk clock with a white face. So, I thought I'd round up a few that I'm thinking about. First (Good), the Jonas Damon Twice Once Clock ($80) is a modern reinterpretation of the two-sided railway station clock. I like its minimal face, and the punch of color its orange hands bring. To see two others, read more.

Better: The Riki Desk Clock ($120) is a re-release of a 1970 Riki Watanabe design. I love that its large font makes it easy to read and its cute round shape, but I'm not sold on the pumpkin color.

Best:: The Amadana Alarm Clock ($118) is quite handsome with its simple face, quadrilateral shape, and lack of needless trimmings. It's also an alarm clock with slow, Euro lounge-esque sounds (listen to them here), giving you a natural, less-startling awakening than your average alarm clock. And, it features an LED light that shines on its laser-processed clock face with the press of a button, but doesn't look so "electric" when it sits untouched. Beautiful.

Good, Better, Best: Branch/Root Console Tables

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:00:34 -0800

I've been noticing these branch-base console tables at a few of my usual design haunts, and thought perhaps it's a growing a trend. I'm really loving the organic, textural quality they bring to a room, especially considering that many homes are leaning towards a more pared-down, modern look these days.

Good: Shown above is the Ballard Designs Faux Bois Demilune Table ($699, reduced from $1,495). I certainly love its half-moon shape and how the table top looks like a slice off of an old tree stump. But as the name suggests, the base is actually made from a concrete-like resin over a sturdy metal frame, not genuine branches. That's a turn off to me, although the price is more affordable than others.

I have two more tables to show you, so read more.

Better (middle): The base of the Jayson Home & Garden Grapevine Console ($2,295) is made from natural grapevine: one point for nature! I like the juxtaposition of the glass top with its organic details. I also like its breadth; it could really be a focal point in a foyer.

Best (left): My favorite of the three is the Dransfield & Ross Root Console ($2,799). Like the Jayson console, it's crafted from natural tree roots, giving it an organic appeal, but it brushes off an overly rustic look with its handpainted white lacquer finish. The modern white finish makes the outdoorsy vibe of the table more appropriate for a contemporary home.

Faux Bois Demilune Table - $1,495.00	Grapevine Console - $2,295.00
Dransfield & Ross - $2,799.00

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Good, Better, Best: Folding Dining Chairs

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Whether you live in a small studio or a house with an occasional surplus of dinner guests, folding dining chairs are a smart thing to have around. Just tuck them in the back of a closet, or send them to your attic or basement, and you'll have spare seating ready and waiting — not clogging up your floor plan. Don't get me wrong: I don't advocate picking up a set of those beige metal folding chairs you see at P.T.A. meetings across the country. There are plenty of handsome options for you, at varying price points. Here are three to get you folding.

Good: The Crate & Barrel Set of Four Folding Chairs ($89) has a basic yet elegant form with its slatted, solid wood seat and rich espresso stain. It may not be the most comfortable chair, but it's certainly handsome and practical. If you need to, you can toss on a cushion to make it easier on your seat. Oh, and did I mention you get four for 90 bucks?! Pretty rad.

There are two more folding chairs to strike your fancy, so read more.

With its steel frame and padded leather seat, the DWR Lina Folding Chair ($140) gives folding chairs, never praised for their comfort or looks, a second chance. Not only is it functional and comfortable, but it's superbly stylish. Choose from an avocado, black, or tobacco plush leather seat, or a mix of all three.

The Gae Aulenti April Folding Chair ($1,359) doesn't look a thing like a folding chair, and that's because it folds in rather than up. Its steel frame with aluminum alloy joints and its great width and depth keep it super stable — even if you're cruising around on your yacht having dinner. Its seat cover is comfy as well as removable, in indoor, outdoor, or cowhide fabric, so you can keep it in fine form if you happen to spill. Spare covers are also available if you want to mix up your color palette every now and then.

Good, Better, Best: Slipper Chairs

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:15:02 -0700

If you're on the hunt for an accent chair to provide occasional additional seating, a slipper chair - a low-slung chair with a high back - is a great option. The classically clean lines of a traditional slipper chair design - basically two rectangles for the seat and back with no arms - make it versatile, complementing many interiors. Its low height and slightly sloped back give it more comfort than other accent chairs, and an intimate, relaxed look. I've come up with three slipper chair options, for those of you in the market for one.

Good: The Bed Bath & Beyond Trento Slipper Chair ($149.99) has nice, clean lines, and would work well as spare seating for guests. But its faux leather PVC upholstery is less than desirable, and its cushion doesn't seem to be the most comfortable.

There are two more great choices, so read more.

Better: The West Elm Hemp Slipper Chair ($399) has handsome, chocolate-stained legs, and a plush cushion. But, only available in flax and cinnabar, the color choices are limited.

Best: The Williams-Sonoma Abigail Slipper Chair ($995-$2,250) is modern with square lines, a grid-tufted back, and chunky maple legs. With hand-tied steel springs in its cushion, it's probably the most comfortable and supportive of the three. Available in over 14 different fabrics, ranging from the more affordable chino to a luxe faux croc, there's a color, pattern, and price tag for every living room.
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Good, Better, Best: Wine Racks

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:15:53 -0700

A friend asked me to find her a handsome wine rack for her bedroom because her recent grad roommates consistently drink any "booze" she leaves in the kitchen. Natch, I agreed. There are plenty of stylish wine racks, so I knew it wouldn't be a difficult task. There are lots of interesting modern ones these days, like the Harry Allen Pile Wine Rack ($65), Dennis Lin Cru Wine Rack ($150), and Crate & Barrel Shesham Wine Rack ($30), but when it comes to my own vino, I'm partial to simple, functional storage. To hear my picks for the good, better, and best wine racks, read more.

Cellar Wine Rack - $39.95	Riddling Wine Rack - $99.99
Design-Your-Own Wine Racks - $29.99

Good: The CB2 Cellar Wine Rack ($39.95) marks the spot! Its criss cross shape is visually interesting and a bit modern, especially when stacked to hold a larger collection. Made of sheet metal with a gunmetal finish, it's sturdy and will hold up well. Each rack holds 12 bottles, which is a decent amount for someone who's just beginning a collection, or the perfect amount for anyone throwing a cocktail party.

Better: The World Market Riddling Wine Rack ($99.99) is in the shape of original riddling racks used by vineyards to store champagne. Riddling is the process of slightly shaking or turning each bottle to consolidate the sediment in the wine so it could be removed. Vineyard staff had the laborious task of turning each bottle a fraction, sometimes over 30,000 bottles per day. Now, there are machines to do this task for them, but I think using the classic design as wine storage is a nice nod to history. This rack holds up to 35 standard-size wine bottles with corks facing down to keep them properly moist, but it is also available in a 12 bottle size.

Best: The Container Store Design-Your-Own Wine ($24.99) is notably less expensive than the Riddling rack, but there are a few reasons why it's my pick for best. For one, its simple, modular design allows for the storage to be expanded upon so if your wine collection grows, you can stack more racks vertically or horizontally. Also, the natural hardwood can be finished or painted to match any décor. And, it's classic and understated, keeping the focus on the collection of wine itself, rather than perhaps a love for modern design, which could be a passing phase anyways. The Container Store will likely always have this product in their inventory, but if not, it's a common design in wood factories, like J.K. Adams in Dorset, VT.
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Good, Better, Best: Mid-Century Tufted Sofas

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:30:03 -0700

When it comes to rainy Friday nights, there's nothing better than curling up on the sofa with your shoes off. But when it comes to sofas, there's always a good, better, and a best. This go-round, I'm going to take a look at the trifecta of mid-century sofas, tufted, buttoned, clean-lined, and ready to make an appearance in a living room near you.

Good: Quite possibly named after everyone's favorite Mexican beer, the Macy's Corona Sofa ($899) conjures up all sorts of jokes about going South of the border. No, not really. But, it has the clean-lines, button-tufting, and tapered legs of the '60s sofas your parents lounged on while watching Dick van Dyke. The color choices aren't extensive but nothing to complain about either; it's available in pear, café noir, or stone. But, bummer: this three seater's fabric is an acrylic, polyester and nylon blend.

To see photos and hear about the other two, read more.

Corona Sofa - $899.00	Petrie Sofa - $1,499.00
Wells 78" Two-Cushion Sofa in Ambassador Leather - $2,599.00

Better: The Crate & Barrel Petrie Sofa ($1,499) is a step in the right direction, with a similar frame, button-tufting, tapered legs, and a two-cushion construction. Like most of Crate & Barrel's upholstery, this sofa is available in a variety (13) of color options. It's also upholstered in cotton fabric 100% brushed cotton fabric (rather than synthetics!) finished with stoneguard for max clean-ability.

Best: The Room & Board Wells Sofa ($2,599) has a similar frame and button-tufting to the Petrie, but it modernizes the mid-century look by opting for a handsome, rectangular-leg base, rather than the tapered legs of the first two. This looker is made of full, top-grain, full-aniline dyed leather, available in your choice of five basic colors.

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Good, Better, Best: Handcrafted Pillows For Ring Bearers

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:15:21 -0700

If you're including a ring bearer in your wedding, you're probably looking for a beautiful, classic pillow for him to transport the rings upon. While you can always find a satin-and-lace pillow at a bridal shop, why not make your pillow a little more unique? I've rounded up some hand-crafted pillows and one even more unique choice for your ring bearer in this Good, Better, Best.

Good: This Handmade Silk Pillow ($36) can be customized with the couple's initials. It's a perfect, understated pillow for a classic couple. You can also specify the ribbon color and embroidery stitch, or even send in your favorite ribbon or flowers to use on the pillow.

For two more choices, read more.

Better: I love the look of this Purple and White Dupioni Silk Hydrangea Bow Ring Bearer Pillow ($39). The pillow is topped with a silk sash and bow, and finished with a high-quality silk hydrangea. This pillow measures in at eight inches square and features thin satin ribbons to attach the rings and a ribbon on the back to help the ring bearer carry the pillow safely. It has also been hand tufted with a mother-of-pearl button. It would be perfect for a bride who'd like to put a little punch of drama into her ceremony.

Best Even though this Tiny Text Ring Bowl ($21) is the least expensive choice, I believe it is the most elegant, unique, and charming of the bunch. You can keep the quote that's on the bowl, or customize it with a quote from your ceremony, or with your names and wedding date. After the ceremony, you can use the bowl to hold jewelry, or you can hang it by a cord on your wall, or place it in a shadow box or in a display with your wedding photos. Each bowl is handcrafted of fine pure white clay, and fired in a kiln, and each has a protective matte finish applied to the surface and are designed for decorative use.

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