CasaSugar

Guess What This Product Is?

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:15:24 -0700

This sleek and shiny product could be many things. But like many other things, it's becoming obsolete thanks to email. Can you guess what it is?

Desire/Acquire: Pillar Umbrella Stand

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:00:22 -0700

This Aaron Thomas Hand Screen Printed Pillar Umbrella Stand ($389) was designed specifically for design fiend and international hotshot Kanye West. But, after Thomas carefully hand-illustrated the Roman-style pillar, burnt screens, and laid out the design, West ended up not purchasing them! It's made of acrylic and measures 10x 24 inches. If I had the dough, I'd snatch one up in a second. But, I doubt there are many folks out there who'd spend so much on, essentially, a waste basket. For those who dig the trompe-l'œil effect of this stand, and the monochrome palette, I've found a much more affordable alternative. To see it, read more.

The Umbra Loft Vazo Vase ($16.99) may not have a pillar design, but it is a very similar one. At 5.8-x-5.8-x-12.8 inches, it's about half the size of the pillar stand, so it'll certainly hold a smaller, purse-size umbrella. Or, you can use it as a vase! What do you think?

Love It or Hate It? Umbra U+ Collection Balloona Stool

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:26 -0700

The Umbra U+ Collection Balloona Stool ($200) might be a clown's dream furniture, but just because you can wrap a stool in deflated balloons, doesn't mean you should. On the other hand, it's got that contemporary art thing going, and has a very unexpected look. What do you think?

Nice and New: Umbra U+ Collection Photo Clock

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:15:57 -0700

If my job is any indication, I'm not exactly a numbers person. But, paint-by-numbers? That's another story. So, when I spotted the Umbra U+ Collection Photo Clock ($80) on a recent trip to the SFMoMA (in the gift shop, of course), I thought I'd died and gone paint-by-numbers heaven. A clock, with a beautiful design, ornate hands, that I can personalize with my own raw direction-following talent? Where do I sign!? Lucky for you, the clock is new at Velocity Art & Design, so you won't have to fly to SFO to pick one up. And, if you want to be a real rebel, you can paint reds where the greens go, or use your own color palette to be a badass DIY queen. Oh, and if mechanical clocks aren't your thing, you can order the matching frame on sale ($19) from the SFMoMA's online shop.

Good, Better, Best: Magazine Rack Coffee Tables

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:08:27 -0800

It's always nice to have a 2-in-1. Shampoo+Conditioner. Boyfriend/Roommate. The possibilities are endless, and they certainly come in handy when you're trying to save space. One place in the home which easily collects clutter is the coffee table, so I was ecstatic to see some great magazine rack/coffee table combos out there.

Good:
This Magtable Coffee Table ($158 ) has been around the block a few times lately in the blog world. And you know why? Because it's a cheap catch, and it has slots for all of your monthly subscriptions, even the ones you've been hording since last year.

Two even sweeter magracktables follow, so read more

Better:
This playful sophisticate known as the Magino Coffee Table ($698 ) is made of an inch of clear acrylic, offering an unobstructed view of your mag collection which can sit inside of its U-shaped table legs.

Best: It was a tough decision deciding which beautiful coffee table would be "better" and which would be "best". That is, until I read that this Offi Magazine Table ($149) can be flipped on its side to become not only a magazine rack/coffee table, but also a laptop stand. For $550 less than my "better" pick, you can have a 3-in-1. What more could you really ask for from a table?

Nice and New: Umbra Illuzine Magazine Rack

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:30:50 -0700

Umbra already wowed me with its Conceal Book Shelf ($10.50) and Conceal Towel Shelf ($18), which make things appear to float in mid-air. Now, the company is appealing to one of my major obsessions - magazines - with its newest product.

The Illuzine Magazine Rack ($31.50), designed by Satina Turner, is equipped with metal rungs for hanging magazines. When all of the rungs are covered, the magazines appear to hover in space. Oooh, I want one. What do you guys think? Check out the Conceal shelves and tell me which one you like better when you read more

Crave Worthy: Umbra Biblioteca Bookshelf

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:15:42 -0700

I love the slightly surreal effect of this Umbra Biblioteca Bookshelf ($525), which was designed by Matt Carr and goes on sale next month. The designer came up with the idea for the piece after finding two vintage coffee tables and using them to make a similar shelf for his own house. I love the something-from-something-else look, and as Happy Mundane points out, a crafty type could make a similar shelf the DIY way.

Bold Wine Racks for Beginners

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:45:03 -0700

Before long, even the most casual wine lover needs a wine rack. I'm hardly a wine cellar-worthy oenophile, but I still have at least five or six bottles in my house at any given time. So I've been on the lookout for a well-designed, eye-catching wine rack that's just big enough to accommodate a small but significant collection.

After finding a few lovely choices on Hostess with the Mostess, I've discovered a number of wine displays that are as bold as a good Syrah. Many of these are also expandable, so you can add storage as your collection grows. To see my picks, click on the photos below.

Nice and New: Umbra PhotoArt Paint by Numbers Frame

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:13:13 -0700

I adore the distinctively kitschy look of paint-by-numbers art, not to mention the quaint "everyone's an artist!" idea behind it. Completed number paintings can be great thrift-store finds, and now the frame-mavens at Umbra have come up with the PhotoArt Frame ($55).

Designed by Sative Turner and fashioned from birch, the paint-by-number frame comes with a brush, paint, and an instruction sheet. It holds a 5-by-7 photo, so you can use your finished artwork to display the image of your choosing.

via MoCo Loco

Ask Casa: A Corner Bookshelf For My Bedroom?

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:25 -0800

Hi CasaSugar,

I've been a longtime reader of CasaSugar because I love all things related to home. Unfortunately, I live in Manhattan, which means that unless you can afford a multi-million dollar pad, you're stuck with minimal space and awkward layouts.

I was wondering if you could help me locate something - I'm looking for a bookshelf that fits into a corner (that is also not too small like the ones at Target). I have this awful blank space in my bedroom and I'm hoping that a dark brown wood corner bookshelf would really let me display all of my colorful knickknacks, bringing some life into my otherwise sparse bedroom.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Fablawya

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Fablawya,

Although decorating in a small space can be a definite challenge, it can also be incredibly satisfying when you create the perfect layout for a home. I agree that using a corner bookshelf could help to breathe life into your small bedroom, especially when mixed with colorful and carefully chosen accents.

While using a bookshelf that fits perfectly into a corner is the most efficient use of space, I think that using a bookshelf that's visually arresting may be a more intriguing option. Try the Soho Bookcase (on sale for $189), or the Umbra U+ Pisa Bookshelf ($500), which are both good options. While they might not sit perfectly in a corner, their clean lines will actually improve the space by adding an unexpected silhouette.

For some other choices, check out the widget below.

Good luck!
CasaSugar

Somerset Corner Cabinet - $399.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Umbra U+ Collection Pisa Book Shelf - $500.00	Kingston 44" Corner Media Stand - $399.00
Sahara Folding Bookcase - $59.95	Four-Shelf Adjustable Bookcase - $135.00
Metal and Wood Four-Tier Ladder Bookshelf - $179.99	Five-Tier Corner Bookcase - $69.99

Source