CasaSugar

Living Large in a Small Space: Marlies's Vibrant Studio in the Netherlands

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:30:06 -0800

Marlies lives in the western part of the Netherlands, where, she writes, "It can be quite hard to find a nice affordable home in the city. This small (366ft) studio apartment was offered to me just six months ago, by a organization that provides affordable houses for working young people. I was very happy, because before this I lived in very expensive and even smaller(!) apartments." Marlies notes that although she works with a very small design budget, she loves to create a pretty, cozy home. Using thrifted and antique elements, Ikea finds, and Etsy artwork, she has created a lovely small home for herself. Take the tour to get ideas for creating your own small refuge in the city, and then check out her Flickr page for more inspiration.

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Overstock Selling Largest Floor Rug in the US . . . For $135,000

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:15:00 -0800

Overstock has made a name for itself by selling surplus merchandise to consumers at deeply discounted prices - and always shipping for only $2.95. Cheap is the word that the company most brings to mind. But there's one product that most definitely calls for an exception. The Rare Antique Meshkabad Persian Rug, at 26 feet, nine inches by 37 feet, retails for a whopping $135,000. The one-of-a-kind rug was hand-woven from 100 percent fine lamb's wool, using vegetable dyes, some time around the 1920s. It took a group of semi-nomadic people living in the village of Meshkabad (near Arak in North-Western Iran) five years to weave the rug. Wow!

I was first just shocked by the sheer price of the rug. But then I realized it's essentially the length of a pretty fancy yacht! And it took longer to weave than many people stay in one house! It's actually kind of sad, really, that a tribe spent so much time weaving something that eventually ended up on a surplus retailer's website. No? If you had the dough, and the space, would you buy it?

Etsy Finds: Antique Mirrors

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:45 -0700

These days, most trends are historically referential, be it in fashion, furniture, or even finance. But when it comes to mirrors, all the trends I've been spying as of late have been deeply rooted in the past. Think starburst mirrors, Rococo mirrors, tri-fold mirrors. So, if you're shopping for any of these, you might as well buy an antique or vintage mirror to save yourself a buck (usually) and make your mirror stand out from the crowd of big box buys. I've trolled Etsy to find a few vintage beauties for you.

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Etsy Find: Four-Tier Antique Jewelry Stand

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:00:20 -0700

I recently asked whether or not you display your jewelry, and the response was mixed. Well, I have a sneaking suspicion that if you all were the proud owners of this Who Made It Four-Tier Antique Jewelry Stand ($80.50), the answer would be an unequivocal, resounding YES! This gorgeous and delicate stand is one of a kind, made from both new and antique dishes. It's ideal for hanging earrings and setting bracelets and necklaces, but it would also make a beautiful stand for desserts and hors d'oeuvres at your next tea party! So feminine and elegant. Ordering one now, unless you beat me to it . . .

Sale Alert: ABC Carpet and Home Teams Up With 1st Dibs

CasaSugar — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Beginning today, ABC Carpet and Home, the Manhattan emporium for - you guessed it - rugs, carpet, and home décor, is teaming up with luxury online antique marketplace 1st Dibs to host a special preview for its annual antique rug sale. Through April 29, you can shop at 1st Dibs for more than 300 antique and vintage rugs from ABC Carpet, before the sale begins in-store on April 30. You can expect to save up to 65 percent off original prices and snag a vintage Turkish rug originally priced at $2,499 for $899 or a vintage Tibetan rug originally priced at $1,999 for $999. Sure, these prices aren't exactly within arm's reach for most, but you'll be hard pressed to find an antique Kilim in the bargain bin anywhere. Are any of you looking for a new (old) rug?

Cool Idea: 1930s Vintage Seltzer Pendant Lamps

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:15:27 -0800

I've seen pendant lamp shades made from sugar and flour canisters, as well as corrugated cardboard, plastic tupperware containers, and measuring tape rolls, among with many other alternative materials. Though the look of retro food storage containers may not jive with the aesthetic of my home, it never ceases to inspire me, and I always look forward to seeing more of its kind.
In the case of these Russell Johnson Vintage Seltzer Pendant Lamps ($395), which are cut from 1930s Argentine seltzer bottles, I'm once again impressed with a clever re-purposing of an old item. I think the re-imagined silver bottles are subtle enough to incorporate into any home, without shouting "Look at me! I'm retro and reused!" They execute a charming nod to the past, but fortunately not with avocado green or mustard yellow florals.

Guess What This Handle Is Hiding?

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:21 -0800

A modern, electrified staple found in every home hides behind this rustic iron handle. Can you tell me what's behind it?

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:30:04 -0700

This set of four, brass-studded, Leather Bound Trunks ($15,000) likely once served as travel storage for a sophisticated lady on a worldly voyage like Angelina Jolie in Changeling. But, as these How Would Yous tend to go, I'm not interested in offering up suitcases to you. I want to know how you'd use these elegant antique suitcases in your home as décor. Would you use one as a coffee table? Stack them beside a reading chair as a side table? Turn them into planters? Hang them on the wall? Turn them into pet beds? Paint them? Fill them with old love letters? I know you can come up with a creative use for these ancient beauties. Tell me by commenting below!

What You're Wanting: A Room For This Vase

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:00:49 -0700

I am absolutely in love with this Charles Catteau Deer Vase ($3,900). Created in 1925 in Belgium, its brilliant colors and crackled surface are decorated with four deer. Its unusual appearance is just begging for a room to be decorated around it, don't you think?
For this week's What You're Wanting, I want to know how you'd decorate a room to complement this vase. Would you use blues? What room would you choose? What type of textiles and furniture would work with this unique vase? Add all the finds to your ShopStyle Living stylebook, and create a look tagged with the phrase deer vase. Private message me if you have any questions. Oh, and as extra incentive, I'll give some Sugar schwag away to my favorite look!
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Crave Worthy: Antique Ebonized and Turquoise Silk Chairs

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:00:01 -0700

I love a good plush seat, but sometimes I can't help but sacrifice comfort for good looks. And, that time is now. The Antique Ebonized and Turquoise Silk Chairs ($1,300 for pair) from Paris Hotel Boutique don't look one bit comfortable, but they're just so ravishing. I think it's the juxtaposition of the contemporary turquoise Dupioni silk with the 1900s ebonized and gilt design. I imagine the chairs were originally upholstered in a fussy floral, but the lack of pattern here really lets the chairs' beautiful shape shine. I'd set them at the heads of a dining table, paired with some basic black Louis XV chairs, or station one in a quiet hallway to provide a pop of color.