CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Skullrilla Ashtray

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:00:46 -0800

The Skullrilla Ashtray ($25) by David Weeks takes a bite out of smoking habits. It's also got a primal and trendy skull quality, if you're looking for that sort of thing. Although this ashtray isn't quite my style, it's a dude-worthy gift for a smoker. And, as a non-smoker I appreciate that pungent ashes are concealed and won't cloud up my face! What do you think?

Love It or Hate It? The Last One Ashtray

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:57:37 -0700

Industreal's The Last One Ashtray (about $20) could be seen as ironic or sincere, depending on who is using it. Either way, I think it's clever and chic. What do you think?

Get the Look: Mad Men - Doctor Wayne's Office

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:30:49 -0700

While I've told you about how to get the look of the Mad Men set, from Helen Bishop's living room to Don Draper's office, I still have more to share with you. The sets from this show are just too fabulous to ignore, so I'm going to take you through a few more ideas for recreating the show's unique, mid-century look.

There's something so decadent about Betty Draper's scenes at her psychiatrist's office. Perhaps it's the fact that she's alone, doing something for herself for once, and not tending to her children or house or husband. Here's how to get this look at your own home (though bald-headed Freudian psychiatrist not provided, sorry).

The Chaise Lounge Simple, mid-century, distinguished, and leather hit all the marks. You can keep it classic, with black leather and a modern shape, or think a little further outside the box.

Pierre Chaise Lounge in Natural Cowhide - $1,349.00	Arielle Chaise - $1,299.00
Herman Miller® eames chaise - $4,599.00	Pierre Chaise Lounge in Black Leather - $1,249.00

The Doctor's Chair Think: imposing, authoritarian, removed, and omnipotent.

Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman - $3,599.00	Eames® Aluminum Lounge Chair - $1,799.00
Egg™ Chair - Leather - $12,955.00	Wegner Wing Chair in Black Leather - $5,799.00

To get the rest of the look, read more.

The Floor Coverings Patterned wool, whether it's in an updated design or a classic Persian, will offset the modern lines of some of the other furniture.

Couristan "Shiraz" Floral Persian Red Area Rug, 5' 6" x 8' - $1,889.00	Burst Rug - $599.00
Scroll Silk & Wool Rug in select Colors - $1,350.00	Nourison "Persian Classic" PCL1 Persimon Area Rug - $359.00

The Side Table Choose a masculine, wooden classic on which to display your treasures.

Filbert Tray Table - $995.00	Antique Shoppe End Table - $249.99
Rolly Side Table - $380.00	Antique Shoppe Sofa Table - $349.99

The Coffee Table A Saarinen or Nelson table is perfect for holding Betty's cigarettes and ashtray (but hopefully it will not support any nicotine products in your home).

Saarinen Low Oval Coffee Table - $1,297.00	Herman Miller® nelson pedestal coffee table - $699.00
Herman Miller - end tables by george nelson for herman miller - $549.00	Knoll saarinen coffee-white laminate - $513.00

The Accessories Choose objects that express your worldliness, such as religious statues from your intercontinental travels, or some phallic-oriented object that expresses a Freudian theory.

B-D Ediciones - shiva flower vase by ettore sottsass - $201.00	Horse Statue - $69.00
Aluminum Steer Head by DK Living - $650.00	Stone Seated Buddha - $165.00

Photo Courtesy of AMC

Get the Look: Hipster Dude Haven

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:30:35 -0700

Is your man a hipster dude? Do his digs need to be decorated? This Get the Look will show you how to create a dude-worthy pad for your main squeeze, for which he will be forever grateful. If you get it right, maybe he'll take you out for green tea gelato and a Godard film!

The Palette: In one word, jumbled. No hipster dude haven should actually have a palette. That would be against the rules — anything goes for an apathetic decorator. Most of his furnishings and decorative accents can be described as found, hand-me-down, vintage, flea market, old, or belonging to his old roommate, Knoll (yes, named after the furniture designer). If by coincidence they match, it had nothing to do with him.

To find out about his furniture, lighting, and accents, read more.

The Furniture: Furniture will be mostly street finds, or pieces left over from roommates past. That's not to say that your man doesn't have an eye for design - he does, but he'd never pay full price for original pieces. He might, though, find a Wassily Chair on the street with a broken seat and fix it by placing a task chair from his art studio class in the center of it. And he has hobbies, too - like pinball (a non-contact sport). So, he might buy a custom-built pinball coffee table from Craigslist. If you have to ask about the bed, then you should probably remember who you're dating. Mattress, no box spring, on the floor (sheets could use a wash).

The Lighting: Hipster dudes aren't really into lamps, unless you're talking about the Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story. But they do like conserving energy, so be sure to pick up some CFLs.

The Accents: Accents are key for an HD.

Walls. To start, the Lit major will definitely want a book poster featuring a title by his favorite author (Urban Outfitters Book Posters, $29.99). And he probably picked up a poster at the benefit event for the radio he DJ'd for in college (try Aesthetic Apparatus). To get his dose of rebellion, he might also go for a Che wall hanging ($15).
Bedding. For sheets, what could be more rad than a Pabst Blue Ribbon pillowcase ($12)? To keep himself warm, he'll use an afghan blanket he found in the basement closet of his mom's house — Grams crocheted it.
Tableware. If he's a smoker, he will likely ash in the vinyl record bowl that you DIY'd for him. Glassware will consist of odds and ends, including but not limited to plastic cups from Mardi Gras parades, Solo cups (which also make great ashtrays), and beer glasses stolen from his favorite watering hole.
Muzik. HD is into tunes, too, so he's got to have a vintage turntable to play his vast collection of records (he's been a collector since he was 5). But don't be fooled; he probably has a fancy new iMac hidden under his pile of clothes somewhere to play — gasp! — mp3s downloaded from Soulseek. He'll also need a vintage projector for aesthetics, and to throw a Wes Anderson-appreciation movie night in the park.
Bathroom. Every man loves the toilet throne, and yours also loves his bike, so a 10 Speed Vinyl Toilet Graphic is only appropriate. While he's in the bathroom, he might also like to lather up with a Poor Boy Beer Vegan-Friendly Soap Bar ($4.75) made from PBRs.

Source, Source, Source, Source, and Source

Get the Look: Carrie Bradshaw's Creative Crib, the Accents

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:59:12 -0700

You're not an expert just yet on how to get the look of Carrie Bradshaw's creative crib. Here is a lesson on the leading lady's accents.

The Accents:
Ms. Bradshaw is a fashion fiend, so be sure to subscribe to all the girly glossies and use them as coffee table reading. She’s a writer, so hoarding periodicals is a part of her job. Everywhere you look, high and low, there should be stacks of mags, books, and archives of the newspaper you write for. I don’t endorse smoking, but C’s a smoker so a butt-brimmed ashtray is a must. Hang shopping bags from all the high-end NYC shops (Barney’s, Bergdorf’s, Bendel’s, Jimmy Choo) on the backs of doorknobs to use as storage for all the "stuff" that amasses living in a big city. Choose a super plush mattress, and anything from Calvin Klein's bedding collection will get the look.

Adorn your bathroom sink and bathtub with beauty products (Kiehls moisturizer, Bobbi Brown brushes, your boyfriend’s Rogaine). Stock the kitchen with an assortment of stemware you wind up with after late nights out. Plaster the fridge with magnets and family photos so you feel at home. There’s no use in trying to make your jam-packed walk-in closet look neat; think of it as “organized chaos.” Mat and frame abstract sepia and black-and-white photographs, and hang them above your bed, or prop them on a console table. Be sure to have curtains made from the Marimekko fabric Carrie used.

To see my CB-esque picks, click the images below.

Source and Source