CasaSugar

Guess What This Basket Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:30:52 -0800

This basket may look like it's woven from a natural fiber, but it's actually made from a type of recycled wire. Can you guess the technology that uses the wire?

Etsy Find: De Beaux Souvenirs Bingo Basket

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:00:30 -0700

Ever since I discovered Marie Christophe's wire sculpture light fixtures, I've had a new-found love for wire art. My latest wire art discovery is the work of French designer Claire Rougerie, also known as De Beaux Souvenirs.

Her collection of modern wire designs includes handmade home accessories like sconces, table lamps, frames, baskets, decorative accents, as well as "snapshots" of scenery recreated in wire. I love this Wire Bingo Basket ($126), which has vintage wooden bingo numbers woven into the handmade structure (I <3 Bingo!). As you can see, it's a great place to stash shelter magazines. I might also use it to keep towels in the bathroom, or even shoes that pile up downstairs.

Roundup: Contemporary Baskets

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:00:58 -0700

I wont be hunting for any Easter eggs this year, but if I were, I'd want to put them in a contemporary basket. The requisite pastel pink and purple baskets are festive and traditional, but it's 2009. It's about time for some modern Easter decor - at least for grownups. Let the kids have their fun with dyeing eggs while you fill a sleek, mod basket with some cordials, some gourmet food items, and a bottle of bubbly for the big kids on Sunday. If you're with me, I've rounded up some contemporary baskets to help liven up your holiday!

Ask Casa: Plastic Lace Basket

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:28 -0700

Hi Casasugar,
I was recently browsing your site (very nice!) and saw something I hope you can help me get more info on. I saw a DIY on making your own cereal box magazine holder, and there's a pierced plastic lace basket that I love. If you have or can get any information on this, you'd be my best friend forever. Or, how about I would be so very much grateful to you? Thanks in advance!
Your new fan,
Sweetonu

To hear my response, read more.

Hi sweetonu,
Good question; I love my lace basket! The basket is the Design House Stockholm Carrie Shopping Basket. I recently wrote about how the basket is selling at the Container Store for $29.99. It's also available as a bicycle basket with hardware. Hope that helps!
Casa

Nice and New: Lace Shopping Basket at the Container Store

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:00:45 -0700

You might have seen the Design House Stockholm Carrie Shopping Basket when I featured it in my Not Your Grandma's Lace Trend Alert, or even snuck a peek of it used as a magazine holder in my very own house. I must admit, I shelled out $44 for the basket from Zinc Details - kind of a lot for my shelter mag storage, but I couldn't resist! When I caught it selling for $37 at Unica Home, I felt a little cheated. Now that I've seen it selling at the Container Store for $29.99 (what a steal!), I really just feel as dumb as a rock. But, perhaps this means I can snatch one up to use as an actual shopping basket. : )

Steal of the Day: Modern-Twist PJ Pocket Pillow

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:26 -0700

Whether you desire to hide family heirlooms from burglars, your unmentionables from your cleaning lady, or you just need to quickly get messy knick-knacks out of the way, a storage box in disguise is key. The Modern-Twist PJ Pocket Pillow ($60, reduced from $105) will do just that, revealing your stash of lady mags or gold bullion with a twist of its simple pillow-like façade. Choose from a blue or yellow squirrel pattern, or green or orange elephants. Keep one in the backseat of your car to designate a place for the junk that piles up, or a few in your kid's room to store toys.

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:00:11 -0700

These 48-drawer Swimming Pool Basket Lockers ($600) were once the keepers of some groovy retro swimsuits and certainly not produced for home storage. But they've got a great industrial-style look to them that I think is worthy of personal use. In the past, the dealer's customers used the lockers to store vegetables, sewing supplies, porno (!), and socks. Unless you're the Brady Bunch, you probably have no need to store 48 wet swimsuits. So for the next round of this challenge, I'd like you take a look at this locker and tell me how you'd use it in your home. What would you store in it? Clothes? Veggies? Swimwear? Would you use it for a purpose other than storage (perhaps to conceal a secret door)? Would you leave the painted steel bluish gray or paint it? Would you paint it yourself or have it powdercoated? Tell me by commenting below!

Steal of the Day: Gaiam Step Basket

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:15:21 -0700

The classic Shaker style of the Gaiam Step Basket ($29, from $60) may not appeal to the modernists out there, but I think we can all appreciate its functionality. Maybe it's just me, but I think the mother of every friend I had growing up used to leave her family's things (sneakers, magazines, laundry, etc.) at the base of the stairs to be picked up. There's nothing neat about leaving things laying on the stairs, but a step basket will keep things looking tidy, and you can carry it with you on your way up. Oh, and did I mention that it's made from sustainably-grown rattan? What do you think? Would you use one of these in your own home?

Nice and New(ish): Square Red Wire Basket

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:00:04 -0800

The MoMA Store has recently launched Destination: Alessi, a selection of limited-edition products reintroduced from the Alessi archive exclusively for MoMA. One of these products is the Alessi Square Red Wire Basket ($110, $99 for members), which was released in 1951 and 1966. The bowl is made of stainless steel and epoxy-polyester paint, and can be used in the kitchen for bread or fruit, or as a décor accent around the house. Personally, I think its sleek lines and bold color can stand on their own, but it could also serve as a place to stash your mail, keys, etc. or a bundle of sphere-shaped ornaments around the holidays. What do you think? Are you glad this basket has made a comeback?

Trend Alert: Not Your Grandma's Lace

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:55:12 -0700

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a lace kind of gal, but I can't help but crave this modern lacy look that's showing up everywhere from Summer fashion to sun-shading umbrellas. Anything but delicate and dainty, these bold designs use twists on traditional lace designs - including cut-outs and graphic elements - for a funky and feminine look. Here are six fabulously un-grandma lace creations I've found.

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Alessi nuvem, round wire basket - $30.00	Wire Basket Candleholders - $4.95
Picnic Basket - $19.95	Linear-Weave Storage - $29.00
Copper Linked Basket (10x3-in.) by Front of the House - $15.95	Sundial Basket (9x5-in.) by Front of the House - $89.95
Braided Rattan Recycled Paper Waste Basket - $19.99	Double-Weave Rattan Basket - $99.00
Kartell Basket - $314.00	Woven Abaca Cube - $98.00
Rwanda "Allegory" Knitting Basket, 13 x 19" - $65.00	Alessi Blow-Up Citrus Basket - $175.00
Large Tribeca Bin - $11.99	Wheeled Animal Baskets - Medium Lamb - $79.00
Ranai Planter Basket - $16.95	Sedona Magazine Basket - $34.95
Twig Basket with Handle, Large - $29.00