CasaSugar

Philippe Starck and Karl Lagerfeld Guest Edit Wallpaper*

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:04 -0700

Wallpaper* has called on two titans of the design world, Philippe Starck and Karl Lagerfeld, to guest edit its October issue. Beginning by pushing the boundaries of magazine production, Starck designed the first triple-layered, transparent front cover, while Lagerfeld introduced the first peelable front cover.

As for the editorial, Starck approached scientists, physicists, cosmologists, artists, and activist rock stars, on a "mission to make intelligence sexy." Meanwhile, Lagerfeld brought his photography skills to light, following his new model muse and coverman Baptiste Giabiconi "from Ancient Rome to mid-century Paris," revealing a passion for architecture. I love to see these design icons moving beyond the parameters we're used to seeing them in, not only taking on new roles as editors but showing that they're not one-trick ponies. The issue hits newsstands today, and check out this complementary gallery online.

Desire/Acquire: Philippe Starck's Miss K Table Lamp

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If I were to purchase every Philippe Starck design I've fallen for, I'd be bankrupt - in a killer house. I already do a good enough job spending money I don't have without the French superstar's help, so really there's got to be an easier way to achieve his design style. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I doubt Starck would mind if I snatched up a stylish red lamp inspired by his Miss K Table Lamp ($360, on sale for $288). Right? I've got my eye on a great knockoff with a similar Saarinen-shape base and streamlined shade. See it when you read more.

No, maybe the IKEA Lampan ($5) isn't made of the token Lucite Starck's known for (it's made of plastic). But for five bucks and a near replica in both shape and color, I'd choose it any day.

Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair Gets a Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:35 -0700

Philippe Starck has no doubt had an influence on many areas of the design world, but he will never escape his Louis Ghost Chair. The 2002 design pared down the opulent Louis XVI chair and is as relevant, contemporary, and stylish today as it was seven years ago. Starck did try to reimagine it in a child size, the Lou Lou Ghost Chair, but Louis reigns supreme. The folks at London design shop Lifestyle Bazaar are taking one more shot at reinventing the thing in hopes of making it cutting-edge once again, rather than the design staple it has become.

They've asked nine designers and artists from various disciplines (street art, tattoo art, taxidermy, sculpture, furniture design, conceptual salvage, product design, and interior design) to customize nine Louis Ghost chairs for the London Design Festival in September. The chairs will be auctioned off to benefit Children With Aids Charity. One chair will be decked with colorful cakes, sweets, and meringues to be photographed by Rosie Day, and for guests of the exhibit to actually snack on. I bet Starck never imagined his precious set would one day become a buffet.

Chace Crawford Loves Philippe Starck

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:00:43 -0700

Now that Chace Crawford has moved out of the Chelsea apartment he shared with Gossip Girl costar Ed Westwick, he's on to bigger and better things. The place he now calls home is a penthouse rental in the hip and exclusive Financial District building Dwell95, which was outfitted head-to-toe by French superstar designer Philippe Starck. The urban sanctuary is part of the yoo by Starck international development project and houses studios, lofts, and one and two bedrooms in two styles: "classic" and "nature." The former is not your average traditional style but is quintessentially Starck, infused with his brand of chic modernity and bathed in rich wood cabinetry and limestone countertops. The latter takes a lighter note with earth tones, organic materials, and natural light oak. Want to take a peek at Chace's new home and hear about the design? Then read more.

As you might expect, the fully-furnished suites are dripping in Starck-designed fixtures and products, from his arachnid-like Juicy Salif Lemon Squeezer for Alessi to his Miss K Table Lamp. But Starck's also shown some love for his contemporaries, including realist accessories designer Harry Allen, as well as design innovators Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. Nate Archibald might prefer the Upper East Side, but I think these digs are right up Crawford's alley. Think you could get used to this? Rates for the furnished suites start at $5,100/month.

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Love It or Hate It? Kartell Mademoiselle Armchair

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:15:59 -0700

The Kartell Mademoiselle Armchair ($860) was designed by Philippe Starck, and features lovely, transparent legs set off by a fabric-covered expanded polyurethane body. Would you put it in your casa?

Louis XVI: 16 Louis Ghost Chairs Around the World

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

I've been thinking about love a lot lately. L'amour. The L word. And, do you know what most comes to mind? My beloved Louis Ghost Chair, a modern interpretation of the classic Louis XVI chair, designed by none other than wacky Frenchman Philippe Starck. As a love letter of sorts, I've decided to showcase XVI (translation: 16) Louis Ghost chairs around the world. If you haven't yet fallen under Louis's spell, seeing the iconic chair everywhere from a rustic office to a formal dining room will induce lust you've never felt before.

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Guess Where Philippe Starck Discount Shopped?

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:25 -0800

Designer Philippe Starck assembled this table setting while shopping at an unlikely store. Can you name this discount store, which tends to go for quantity, not quality?

Cool Idea: Kartell/Philippe Starck Topiary Garden

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:21 -0700

As part of Milan Design Week 2008, Kartell installed seven 13-foot-tall topiary sculptures depicting a selection of its best known outdoor products at the Triennale Garden in Milan. The super-sized shrubs included a giant Dr. No chair, Victoria Ghost chair, Bubble Club chair, La Boheme stool, and Mr. Impossible chair, all designed by Philippe Starck. Starck announced in March that he will retire in two years, so this foray into the garden serves as a bit of send-off. And, since Starck has expressed shame for driving consumerism and materiality, this is certainly a step in the right direction for him. To see more images of the garden, read more.

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In the News: Philippe Starck's Democratic Ecology

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Back in March, in an interview with German publication Die Ziet, prolific industrial designer Philippe Starck admitted to feeling "ashamed" for being "a producer of materiality," saying, "Everything I have created is absolutely unnecessary." In shock, the design world was buzzing. Would this mean retirement for the can-do-no-wrong designer? What would we blog about? Well, luckily, we haven't yet had to cross that bridge. It turns out, according to a New York Times article, despite his misgivings, Starck has been "advocating environmentalism" for some time in his personal life with his "organic diet, the solar-powered oyster farm he owns in Arcachon Bay in southwestern France, and so forth - ending with 'the least polluting plane on the market,' his private jet." And, more buzzworthy, he has designed a line of products called "Democratic Ecology," which are "relatively cheap, attractive, energy-saving products" meant to “introduce everybody to ecology.” The first is a "miniature rooftop wind turbine, priced between $780 and $1,250, which Mr. Starck said can produce up to 80 percent of a home’s energy." In the works as well is a solar panel film that covers existing windows, a prefab green house, an electric car, an eco-moped, and a solar- and hydrogen-powered boat. As to be expected, these eco products won't be a stitch "granola": Starck says, “It’s very, very important that they’re beautiful, because ecology should be a pleasure, not a punishment." Read more about the line in The New York Times's "And Now, to Try and Catch the Wind."
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Crave Worthy: Philippe Starck Royalton Sofa

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:45:00 -0700

Though I'm not a mathematician by trade, I still believe that the Royalton Sofa ($9,335) - designed by Philippe Starck in 1991 - can be expressed by the following formula: Settee + Headboard = Royalton. The ever-resourceful and always surprising Starck is responsible for many unique designs, including my fave, the Louis Ghost Chair.

Of course, I'm more likely to spend 10G on my garden than on this piece of furniture - let's face it, if your dog secretly jumps on your sofa, it's never a good idea to drop a lot of money on such a royal piece. However, a girl can still dream, right? The Royalton, a few Louis Ghost Chairs, a luxurious rug . . . my dream living room's out there somewhere, even if it's only in my imagination.