CasaSugar

Trend Alert: Apparel as Home Décor

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:15:37 -0800

From inspiring shelter magazines to the portfolios of interior stylists and photographers to haute décor shops, I've been seeing our bodies' garments artistically displayed on the beautiful bones of houses around the world. At a time when fashion rules the pavement and the print pubs, names like Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent prolifically roll off the tongue, celebrities are becoming designers left and right, and Birkin bags take 48 hours to make, it's no wonder that apparel is making waves in our homes as well in the buzzing media world. To see where I've found frocks and accessories in bedrooms, living rooms, and beyond, check out this slideshow. Source

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Vivienne Westwood Debuts Wallpaper Collection For Cole & Son

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:00:29 -0700

Brit fashion designer Vivienne Westwood's apparel may be too punky to wear for some, but her new collection of wallpaper for Cole & Son has just enough whimsy for every house. From her iconic Squiggle print of Fall/Winter 1981-92 to her more recent Cutout Lace of Spring/Summer '07, all of her wallpapers are based on signature designs from her fashion collections.

"It is good when my ideas get carried over into other artistic media," she says. She's right about that. Her Squiggle print has always been a favorite, so I'd love to dress my walls with it. See the designs when you read more.

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Would You Put This Sculpture Outside Your Home?

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

American Apparel CEO Dov Charney's Los Angeles home is pretty unmistakable due to the giant sculpture that flips all of downtown LA off, greeting guests as they approach his front door. I wouldn't call it the most tasteful pièce de résistance, but for the head of a company whose ads are nearly pornographic, I'd say it's fitting. What do you think? Would you put this sculpture outside your home?
Source

How-To: Get Rid of Fabric-Eating Moths

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:34 -0700

If you've opened your closet and realized that your favorite cashmere sweater has holes all over it, you've probably got a moth problem. It's unlikely that the moths are attracted to just that one cardi, so there are a few steps you should take to ensure your whole wardrobe doesn't suffer the same fate. That is, unless we're talking about all those reindeer Christmas sweaters from grandma.

To learn how to kick those buggers to the curb, read more.

Clothes moths feed on wool, feathers, fur, hair, lint, paper, and even cotton, linen, silk, and some synthetic fibers. But in general, they especially crave fabrics that have been stained or soiled with food, beverages, perspiration, sweat, oil, and urine. In many cases, you can't even tell that your apparel has been stained, so you should always clean your garments before you store them.
If you've already discovered you have a moth problem, you should wash all of your clothes in the infested area in hot water and detergent or dry clean them.
When it comes time to store your out-of-season clothes, you should keep them in airtight containers such as plastic boxes and bags, metal containers, or wooden (cedar is ideal) chests.
Moths tend to develop under humidity. So, if your closet or storage space is near a bathroom or humidifier, you should ventilate the area by opening windows or using a fan.
Clothes moths also prefer darkness. So if you have an alternative place to store your apparel that is bright, consider moving your clothes. You might also leave on low-energy lightbulbs such as CFLs or LEDs to light your closet.
To capture the male clothes moths in order to stop the breeding process, use a pheromone trap in your closet.
You should also vacuum your closet thoroughly in all cracks and crevices, as well as carpeting. Use a flashlight to identify lint and hair at the baseboards, in air ducts, and corners of the room that you might not see otherwise. If you have upholstered furniture in your closet (lucky lady), make sure to vacuum it thoroughly as well.
As for moth repellants, mothballs are tried and true, but they can also be harmful to your health, and leave a strong odor on your clothes. So, you can make a sachet with these herbal mothball alternatives. Cedar chips tend to lose their effect after the wood has dried, but cedar chests, which are airtight, are often effective.

Decorating Your Home With American Flags, Inside and Out

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:30:02 -0700

Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, (d) of the US Flag Code maintains that the American flag, "should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free." However, sometimes interior designers and patriotic home decorators hang the flag indoors with the best of intentions. Check out some homes that decorate with American flags, and tell me which ones you like!
Source

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Nice and New: Trina Turk Outdoor Fabrics for Schumacher

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:53 -0700

Back in October, I let you know about Trina Turk's foray into interiors with a collection of home furnishings and an outdoor upholstery fabric line. Well, her collection of California-inspired indoor/outdoor printed fabrics is here. The line features signature patterns from her apparel collections as well as many inspired by the SoCal architecture, landscape, and lifestyle. Her bright, breezy colorways are ideal for outdoor Summer décor, including watery blues, citrus shades, and earth tones. My favorite is the Fronds Print, which has a leafy, decidedly graphic look. Her Trellis Print is a must have for those of you with a thing for Hollywood Regency style. And the Sunglass Print has a vintage, Jackie O. look that just makes me laugh. Check out the other prints and colorways when you read more.

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How-To: Marimekko Your Whole House

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:00:41 -0700

Finnish textile designer Marimekko was made famous when Jackie Kennedy bought eight Marimekko dresses, which she wore throughout the 1960 US presidential campaign. Soon, in the mid-'60s, the company sparked up a relationship with Crate & Barrel, using their designs on textiles like bedding in their stores as well as display backdrops.
Nowadays, Mari's brightly colored graphics have made their way onto every furnishing in the house - a new line of wallpaper being the latest.

Bemz, the one and only retailer of chic slipcovers for Ikea furniture, also recently debuted a collection of Marimekko slipcovers. And, for those of you who have caught on to the trend of using apparel as home décor, the company also launched Mari's New Bags last month, a line of cheerful purses, clutches, and briefcases.

That's not all though, folks: there are plenty more accessories and furnishings for your whole house from the Helsinki company. To see them, read more.

Etsy Find: Handcrafted Bamboo Hangers

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:30:53 -0700

In my how-to on organizing your hangers, I talked a lot about choosing the right type of hangers for your wardrobe. But in guest rooms or coat closets, or when you're using apparel as home décor, sometimes aesthetics take priority over clips, clamps, and rubber grips. If that's the case, consider the Pretty Plum Sugar Handcrafted Bamboo Hangers ($25 for 10). These hangers are absolutely gorgeous, each crafted from a single piece of bamboo. Seeing as they're all made from real bamboo, the color of each varies, creating an interesting visual effect. I love the symmetry of the hooks on these hangers; it's almost too perfect. Are you hung up on these, too?

Kirsten Dunst Lists Her Uber-Chic Nichols Canyon Crib

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:48:11 -0700

It's no secret that Kirsten Dunst is an arbiter of style. I'm always eager to see which casual, offbeat apparel she appears in next. So, it comes as no surprise that her home is equally as hip and unique as her wardrobe. Dunst has put her 2,062-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, midcentury, Nichols Canyon home on the market for $1.7 million. Once you get past her massive gates and state-of-the-art security, you're greeted with the inviting Hallworth Designs retreat. The interiors are a succinct blend of comfortable luxuries like heated floors, pitched ceilings, and exposed beams, which parallels her relaxed style. You'll find midcentury and traditional furnishings throughout in an understated palette - very mature and restrained. It manages to look very in vogue despite the lack of trendy pieces. I can't quite put my finger on what's so stylish about these digs, so you'll have to see photos for yourself when you read more.

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Source

Open House: Flags as Drapery

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:30:42 -0700

According to Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, (d) of the US Flag Code, the American flag, "should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free." But Austin's Hotel St. Cecilia has used Old Glory as drapery on hospital tracking here in a bedroom suite, and I applaud the look. To me, a flag displayed nearly anywhere (so long it's in one piece) looks patriotic. But some of you - and the authors of the code - may disagree. Then again, there are plenty of tiny US codes and laws that I don't follow (oops), so should this one matter? Tell me your thoughts below. Do you approve of this use of the flag as drapery? Have you done something similar in your own home? Or are you against it?
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Fatboy - Junior Marimekko - $189.00	Marimekko - unikko coasters and trivets by maija and kristina isola - $12.00
Marimekko Tamara Linen Sheet Sets - $34.95	Marimekko Tamara Guest Towels - $5.95
Marimekko - unikko bed linens by maija isola for marimekko - $19.00	Marimekko Iso Krassi Pillow - $59.95
Marimekko ® Umi Wall Hanging - $24.95	Jennifer Delonge - Glam Glider Ottoman - $659.00
Marimekko - unikko kitchen collection by marimekko - $10.00	Marimekko Lumimarja White Tablecloth/Napkin - $7.95
Marimekko ® hedwig bed linens - $29.95	Marimekko Lehtimaja Mist Shower Curtain - $49.95
Marimekko Lehtimaja Green Bed Linens - $34.95