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Happy 103rd Birthday Eva Zeisel!

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:39:30 -0800

World-renowned Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel turns 103 today! Though she is best known for her work with ceramics, Eva, a featured Designer Spotlight here on Casa, has designed everything from acrylic candelabras to wooden and glass coffee tables, and is considered by many to be the matriarch of industrial design.

In fact, New York magazine named Zeisel in its list of nine living Design Revolutionaries back in '07. Better yet, her work is in the permanent collections of museums like the Met, the V&A, and the MoMA, and she received the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York in 2005. Honored with the award at 99 years old, she could have brought closure to her successful career, but she impressively continues to design new works of art today. And while the curves and sensuous shapes of her recent designs are certainly sought after, her earlier pieces remain relevant and stylish, a mark of a truly influential designer. Take a look at some of Eva's work below.

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Metropolitan Home Folds

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:56:46 -0800

Another one bites the dust. Hachette Filipacchi Media announced today that it will fold Metropolitan Home with its December issue. The company plans to focus its efforts on its other shelter glossy, Elle Decor. HFMUS President and CEO Alain Lemarchand said, "We believe the best strategy in the upscale shelter segment is to boldly focus our resources and investment on Elle Decor, which is the ad-page leader within the US market. Despite the downturn in ad pages that has affected all magazines, the Elle Decor brand has multiple opportunities for growth across all platforms.” Met's longtime Editor in Chief Donna Warner and her staff will leave the company.

This closure follows a long string of folds in the shelter world, including HFMUS's own Home, House & Garden, Blueprint, O at Home, Cottage Living, and, of course, Domino. So while it's not a shocker considering the economic climate, it is still sad news indeed. But at least this glossy went out with a bang, wowing us with the Metropolitan Home Showtime House and the exquisite Modern by Design Showhouse this year.

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Artists Plan to Freeze a Vacant Detroit Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:27 -0700

This Winter, photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune plan to freeze one of the thousands of abandoned homes in Detroit to draw attention to the city's foreclosure crisis. The house will be sprayed with water and gradually covered in ice, and Holm will photograph its transformation for the project, called Ice House Detroit. The property that's chosen will be one that is already due for demolition, because it is fire damaged or dangerous to the public. After the freezing, the duo will work with Architectural Salvage Warehouse Detroit to salvage what they can from the house to be recycled. It will then be demolished, and they hope to donate the lot to a group like Greening of Detroit or Earthworks Urban Farm to be used as a community garden or other public space.

I'm sure these four frozen walls and a roof will stand out against the landscape of thousands of other vacant homes throughout what was once Motor City. But it's not Detroit natives who need a reminder of the plight of the city, which is why it's nice to see that this project, not yet begun, is getting attention on a national stage. I'm intrigued to see Holm's photographs of the house in frozen form.

Mandatory Composting Begins in San Francisco Today

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:15:23 -0700

Beginning today, the city of San Francisco will require both businesses and residences to compost food scraps and biodegradable products or risk a fine for not properly sorting their garbage. While other cities require recycling service and participation, the law, which Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into effect in June, is the first nationwide to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables.

A study by the Department of the Environment found that 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfills is compostable, primarily food scraps, and 31 percent is recyclable - which is mostly paper. Seeing that SF already has an impressive 72 percent recycling rate, the legislation could send that rate soaring to 90 percent.

To facilitate the program, the city will offer free green compost carts to apartment buildings and businesses, as well as free kitchen pails for renters. Fines will be capped at $100 and are meant primarily to raise public awareness and encourage compliance. Has your city or town made any moves to require composting? Has your city had success with any recycling fines or mandates? Tell me by commenting below!

Source: Flickr User MayorGavinNewsom

Anthropologie to Open First London Outpost Oct. 23

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:26 -0700

Anthropologie will open its first European outpost, and the first outside of North America, in the heart of London's West End on Oct. 23. Anthropologie has made a habit of seeking out architecturally distinct spaces for its stores, and this one will be no exception. The store will occupy a historically renowned, three-story building at 158 Regent Street, which was once home to Waterford Wedgwood, a prominent English china retailer since the 18th century.
The new store will sell Anthropologie's signature mix of fashion, accessories, home décor, decorative antiques, and found objects - many discovered around the world by antiques buyer Keith Johnson. As with all of the brand's stores, Regent Street will also incorporate reclaimed materials from nearby and feature work by local artists. Another shop will open early next year on London's King's Road. Londoners, get your wallets ready! And a night job while you're at it!

1st Dibs to Launch 21st Century Design Department

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:53 -0700

Welcome to the 21st century. 1st Dibs, the online destination for antique and vintage furnishings, will launch a new category of furniture on Oct. 21, called 21st Century Design. The department will sell one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces between $5,000-20,000. One of the initial offerings will be a limited edition of Poul Kjaerholm's 1953 Molded Aluminum Tripod Chair ($15,000) in blue, gray, yellow, and black from R 20th Century - who had a booth at the 20th Century Modernism Show in San Francisco last month. It's no surprise really that 1st Dibs is going this route, seeing how well modern designs are selling these days. But the truth is, the website already sold these items; they just didn't have their own category. Are you a fan of 21st century design?

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How-To: Get Under the Sheets With Jason Lewis

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:03 -0700

Samantha Jones isn't the only one who can get Jason Lewis in bed. Charisma Linens, which sells bedding and bath linens at Bloomingdale's, has landed the actor as the star of its latest marketing campaign. Shot by photographer Nino Muñoz, Lewis posed in a bed made with lush, understated, and elegant Charisma linens. You can watch out for the ads in some of your favorite shelter magazines, including Elle Decor and House Beautiful. Wondering why Lewis was chosen to dress this finely appointed bed? Charisma's chief marketing officer Dari Marder says, "Jason not only looks beautiful in the campaign, but he is a warm, kind-hearted person whom I know our customers will be thrilled to meet at Bloomingdale's when he makes appearances for Charisma." Umm . . . that's for sure! But, I will admit, those linens look beautiful too. Take one more look at Lewis in bed when you read more.

IKEA France Celebrates the 30th B-Day of the Billy Bookcase

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:08 -0700

It's been 30 years since IKEA designer Gillis Lundgren debuted the wildly popular Billy Bookcase ($89.99). The product is a classic, streamlined design that's been used to store everything from pantry items to novels, and has been personalized every which way in homes around the world. So to celebrate, IKEA France is running a promotion called Your Billy, where the bookcase's fans can send in photos of how they've DIY'd it to enter to win IKEA gift cards. The retailer has also released a limited-edition Billy collection printed with graffiti/doodle-style words, as well as a special anniversary book recounting the history of the bookcase, and some cute related products like "B" Bookends. IKEA US doesn't seem to be running the same promotion just yet, but the US is usually the last. So we'll stay tuned!

Lilly Pulitzer to Debut Bedding Line For Garnet Hill

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:00:47 -0700

Palm Beach prep is coming home. Pink and green queen Lilly Pulitzer will debut a new home goods collection for Garnet Hill in January. The line will include bedding and bath accessories in her signature happy chic colors. Bedding designs will include "Truly Lilly, " "Classic Lilly," and "Trend Lilly" with sheets, quilts, comforter covers, shams, pillow covers, coverlets, and bedskirts. The bath designs will include a shower curtain in starfruit yellow; Chinoiserie towels in hibiscus pink, starfruit yellow and surf blue; a Chinoiserie tufted bath rug in hibiscus pink, starfruit yellow and surf blue, and a juice stand shower curtain in turquoise.

This isn't the first time Lilly has entered the interiors business. The company has had other bedding collections, but they've ceased production. From this sneak peek image of the collection, it seems to be much more contemporary. And the quilting is beautiful!

When my aunt was growing up, she bought a stack of quilting fabric squares from her local Lilly shop in Palm Beach and sewed her very own Lilly Pulitzer quilt. To this day, she still owns it and I've always been covetous. I guess now she won't be the only one with a Palm Beach princess bedroom.

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November's Architectural Digest Features Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

If you've ever wanted to see the interiors of Michael Jackson's infamous Neverland Ranch, you can put your curiosity to rest. The November issue of Architectural Digest features two stories about Jackson and his sprawling 2,700-acre Santa Ynez Valley, CA, estate. Inside are many rare photos and a personal story recalled by photographer Harry Benson who visited and photographed Jackson at the estate over the years.

I was intrigued to learn that the icon kept most of the furniture and interiors just as they were when he bought the property from real estate developer William Bone in 1988. I'm also surprised at how dark the interiors are; I expected more color from the much-talked-about "fantasy land." Although, Jackson's playful décor, like his Peter Pan sculpture, more than makes up for that.

Get a sneak peek inside Neverland Ranch and at some portraits of Jackson, and read some memorable quotes when you read more!

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Here are a few quotes from Benson:

Michael took me into the rehearsal studio where he had refined the moonwalk. He told me he often brought Prince there to watch him practice in front of the mirrored wall and said they would dance together someday. I was convinced that was going to be the next act.

One could see how Neverland could take Michael’s mind off all his worries and transport him from the reality of his stressful life. He had everything he wanted there.

Standing outside his bedroom was a wax figure of a queen’s Household Calvary guard. The bedroom itself was dark and quite plain, in tones of beige and brown, and, to be honest, a bit depressing.

Pick up your copy on newsstands today, and be sure to check out these other exclusive online photos.