CasaSugar

Nice and New: Scissor Letter Opener

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:15:10 -0700

I don't take my life - or my mail - seriously enough to ever own a letter opener. But, I do think they're ideal for staging a chic, mature home office, and they also make great gifts for the man who has everything. I guess I'm not the only one who can go without one, because I haven't seen an innovative letter opener since, well, ever. That is, until now.
Jean-Sebastien Ides designed this Scissor Letter Opener ($40) as a play on traditional scissors, resembling a single scissor blade. I think it's pretty clever. But then again, traditional scissors, if you hadn't noticed, also do a fantastique job of opening letters.

Nice and New: Folding Bird House

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:15:51 -0700

I just noticed this Folding Bird House ($50) new at the MoMA store, and I'm completely smitten. If you haven't already caught that I adore birds, I do. And, obviously, I'm a design fiend. So what better way to combine my two loves than with a sharp, contemporary bird feeder? This one comes flat-packed and easily folds upright, meaning more compact and eco-friendly shipping. It includes a wooden perch and a metal string for hanging, so all you'll need is some bird seeds to feed your little gentille Alouette. Oh, and did I mention it's white-painted steel? You know how I crave white furniture . . .

Steal of the Day: Chilewich Woodgrain Floormat

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:00:25 -0700

If you still haven't gotten your fill of the faux bois trend, thanks to the Chilewich Woodgrain Floormat ($69.95), you can do so without breaking the bank. The faux bois mat is made of vinyl-coated polyester, so it's durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean. And its rubber back will keep you from slipping around. The 2-x-3-foot size is the only one available, but I think it'd make a great little rug in front of your kitchen sink or stove. And while it's definitely not the most natural mat you could buy, you can sleep tight knowing that no trees were harmed in the making of this mat.

Sale Alert: MoMA Store Summer Sale

CasaSugar — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:30:43 -0700

The MoMA Store is currently holding its Summer Sale, offering discounts of up to 65 percent on home furnishing, personal accessory, desk, stationery, toy, and game items. It's not often that one of my favorite museums cuts me a break like this — unfortunately they're no longer accepting my rusty student ID card for discounted entry. So, I'm certainly pumped about the sale. Here are a few items I wouldn't mind taking home:
Source

Nice and New: Saul Bass Posters at MoMA Store

CasaSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:00:20 -0700

I always struggle when faced with filling out personal questionnaires (they're lame), except when it comes to the "who I'd like to meet" field. My response to this question is always Saul Bass, undisputedly one of the greatest graphic designers of the mid-20th century. Bass's vision has given a face to long-standing brands like Minolta, AT&T, and United Airlines, and he was also a master of film title sequence and poster design, collaborating with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, and Martin Scorsese. Bass died in '96 of lymphoma, so the long-shot chance of ever meeting him will sadly never come. But, I delight in knowing I can still enjoy his work, as the MoMA Store now sells reproductions of his posters, such as Psycho ($12) and Vertigo ($12).

Eco Chic: Jellybean Eco Shopper Bag

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:00:27 -0700

You all know how I love my Flip & Tumble bag, mostly because it rolls up into itself, so it's small and lightweight enough to carry in your purse. Well Flip, mama's got a brand new bag. The Jellybean Eco Shopper Bag ($30) from the MoMA store also folds into a small square, so it can be easily stored in a purse, and has an inner pocket and an outer zip pocket. Functionally, it seems to work the same way as F&T, but printed with a playful jellybean pattern, it also boasts some visual magic. What to do? Well, it wouldn't be very eco chic to go and buy another shopper bag just because it's pretty. Maybe if I wait until my Flip wears out until I buy this Jellybean, it'll be Easter time and the bag will be wildly appropriate . . .

Love It or Hate It? Chat Plates

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:47 -0700

These quirky Ikuko Nakazawa Chat Plates ($45) are the epitome of a conversation piece, designed to resemble conversation bubbles from Japanese comics. I think they'd speak wonders laid on your nightstand to hold jewelry and odds and ends.

Love It or Hate It? Tord Boontje Garland Table Lamp

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Tord Boontje's much-loved Garland pendant light reinvents itself as the Garland Table Lamp ($165). The addition of the steel base on this lamp gives it a bit of a tree-like appearance, which works because the garland itself is made up of leaves, flowers, and other botanical bits. And, cool thing, you can tap the base to dim it or turn it on and off. What do you think? Do you love it? Or is the original still your favorite?

Steal of the Day: Cheong and Nogtev Lined Glasses

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:30:10 -0800

This set of six Cheong and Nogtev Lined Glasses ($49.95, reduced from $70) feature a different number of etched rings from one to six, so that you can tell your glass apart from the others at those busy bashes and brunches you throw. Aside from their convenient function, they're simply handsome, and would work wonders for open shelving. They'd also make cute little vases for a trio of flowers on your breakfast table, or delightful storage for your makeup brushes on a bathroom shelf. What do you think?

Nice and New(ish): Square Red Wire Basket

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:00:04 -0800

The MoMA Store has recently launched Destination: Alessi, a selection of limited-edition products reintroduced from the Alessi archive exclusively for MoMA. One of these products is the Alessi Square Red Wire Basket ($110, $99 for members), which was released in 1951 and 1966. The bowl is made of stainless steel and epoxy-polyester paint, and can be used in the kitchen for bread or fruit, or as a décor accent around the house. Personally, I think its sleek lines and bold color can stand on their own, but it could also serve as a place to stash your mail, keys, etc. or a bundle of sphere-shaped ornaments around the holidays. What do you think? Are you glad this basket has made a comeback?