CasaSugar

Guess Who Lived Here in 1983?

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:44 -0800

A prestigious German fashion designer lived in this apartment in Rome in 1983. Can you tell me who? Hint: He recently purchased new digs in Vermont.

Inspired: Tufted Velvet at the International Rome Film Festival

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:15:10 -0700

When I spotted this picture of director Laurent Tirard at the International Rome Film Festival, my eyes immediately wandered to the gorgeous tufted velvet cubes to the director's right. They look so luxe that I immediately wanted to add one to my own home.

Tufted velvet combines two sumptuous decorating ideas: that of tufting, which is achieved when upholsterers thread through layers of fabric and secure the ends of the thread with a knot or button, and velvet, which is one of the richest fabrics used throughout history.

Tufted velvet is all over the decorating world, and I'm particularly smitten with this Scandinavian chaise ($7,995). This gorgeous mid-century piece features a tufted purple velvet cushion suspended on a rosewood frame. While I could never splurge on this piece, a girl can dream, right?

See some other dreamy tufted velvet finds when you read more.

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.

7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Decorator, Step 3: Find Your Design Style

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:00:20 -0700

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a decorator. So, I'm continuing on with my seven steps to becoming your own decorator today with some more tips for you. The next step, which you should never lose sight of, is to find your own design style.If you tend to describe or think of your design style as "traditional" or "modern," think again. Design is too complex to be whittled down to those two words, and knowing your tastes more deeply will help you curate your collection of décor, and toss what doesn't fit. For further details, read more.

Take a look at your inspiration board and see if you can pinpoint your style. Is it masculine, intellectual, and a bit mid-century? Is it girly, Colonial, with a bit of pop art thrown in? Maybe it's cozy, well-traveled, rustic, with a dose of Versailles. Or is moody luxury your thing, with a mix of updated antiques and contemporary furnishings?

Make a list of all these adjectives and take it with you when you shop. Also, take my find your design style quiz to help you get started.
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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:25 -0700

Take me to Rome and let me stay in the Ferragamo family's hotel.- Absolutely Beautiful Things
Prepare to swoon over this amazing office design.- 2Modern
Read an interview with London-based interior designer Christopher Prain.- All the Best
See how one crafty girl updated her toile pillow with highlighters.- AT:SF
Danny Seo launches a new eco-style site, Simply Green.- Daily Danny
Check out some beautiful DIY bridesmaid invites.- Craftzine
Australian architect Scott Weston is at it again.- Desire to Inspire
Get an exclusive peek at some typographic details in the Ace Hotel New York.- NotCot

Open House: Do You Live in Your Dream Town?

CasaSugar — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:30:19 -0700

Burford, this quintessential English town in the Cotswolds, recently placed sixth on Forbes's list of Europe's Most Idyllic Places to Live, ranked higher than Rome and Budapest. With neighbors like Kate Moss, Kate Winslet, and members of Radiohead, I don't doubt that this picturesque village is a wonderful place to put down roots. But, to each her own, right? I'm pretty happy right where I am. What about you? Where in the world is your dream town? Have you found it yet? Do you live there? If not, why not? Tell me by commenting below!
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Before and After: My Bathroom, From Neglected to Perfected

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:02 -0800

Rome wasn't built in a day, so excuse me if my home is still a work in progress. After hanging a shower curtain I'd reviewed for CasaSugar, I pretty much ignored one of my bathrooms, as more high-traffic rooms took priority. Towels were mismatched, and beauty products, on a good day, were confined a cheap case, if not scattered all over the sink. I'd regretfully and spontaneously purchased a handful of silhouettes from eBay because the black and white coordinated with the modern graffiti-esque shower curtain. To sum up, I'd not only turned a blind eye to the shape of the room, but its decor wasn't even my style. So, under a spell of purging and cleansing, I decided to give it a fresh new look that's unequivocally moi and a bit more feminine. Check out this slideshow to see how I achieved a drastic transformation in style.

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This Just In: Third Time's a Charm For Ellen DeGeneres

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:15:58 -0700

It seems like the nesting urge is in full effect for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who have purchased not one, not two, but three homes on Cabrillo Drive in Beverly Hills. According to RealEstalker, the couple, who were recently spotted in Rome, bought this house to accompany their other two properties, which all share property lines, and create something of a massive estate when strung together. RealEstalker estimates that "what is clear is that [Ellen DeGeneres] has spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million for her Bev Hills compound."

The third property is a one-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,785-square-foot house, and as you can see from the photo, nothing to write home about. Who knows what Ellen and Portia will use this house for, or if it will be torn down, as they did with the second house they bought back in December of last year. Whatever the couple chooses to do with their newly acquired chunk of property, you can be assured that they're going to have plenty of room to get their party on at their upcoming nuptials.

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Steal of the Day: Gump's Laurel Wreath Sconce

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:00:39 -0700

Though I do bring you lovely lighting solutions day in and day out, I must apologize for being a little light on the sconces. I'd like to remedy that today by tipping you off to the Gump's Laurel Wreath Sconce ($99, reduced from $175). Its hand-wrought iron laurel boughs re-create the Laureate, a symbol of immortality, nobility, and victory in ancient Greece and Rome. Its mirror is etched with a convex dot that will reflect candlelight around the room, making your home sparkle like the face of a triumphant Roman general. Try DIY-ing this one into a canopy headboard and you'll really live like nobility.

Weird Furniture: Rodolfo Rocchetti Custom Furniture

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:30:01 -0700

Master upholsterer Rodolfo Rocchetti from Rome's Tappezzeria Rocchetti definitely has a great imagination. Rocchetti has made many other well-upholstered, blend-in-anywhere pieces of furniture, but these four sofas are definitely exceptions to that. I'm not sure where you'd put any of these pieces. Maybe Siegfried and Roy need a tiger sofa for their Vegas digs? Or perhaps a Greek architecture aficionado is dying for a replication of the Colosseum in sofa form? While the company's website asserts that "Rodolfo Rocchetti handmade articles are all exceptional, exclusive, refined, and tasteful," I'm not sure if I can get on board with that last adjective. These are definitely unusual, but a black panther sofa with chain around its neck is not my idea of good taste. What do you think of them? And where do you imagine them residing?

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Button-Tufted Stool - $139.00	Old Hickory Tannery Royal Marco Chaise - $2,999.00
Old Hickory Tannery Forest Green Velvet Recamier - $2,899.00	Old Hickory Tannery Red Tufted Chair - $1,599.00
Old Hickory Tannery Tufted Velvet Chair - $999.00	Old Hickory Tannery Tufted Velvet Sofa - $3,399.00
Peyton Upholstered Headboard - Clearance - $1,350.00	Tufted Velvet Headboard - $1,429.00
Haute House - $4,829.00	Chloe Velvet Metro Living Sofa - $899.00
Chloe Velvet Metro Living Chair - $699.00	Hutton Left-Back Sofa in Vance Cloud - $1,999.00