CasaSugar

Nice and New: Seating For Eating by StudioIlse

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:15:23 -0700

Interior designer Ilse Crawford has done it again, this time making her exquisite design skills available to the hungry public. Her design group Studio Ilse will launch this elegant new range of wooden seating, benches, and stools, called Seating for Eating, at next month's London Design Festival (Sept. 19-27).

The designs have a familiar, Shaker-style look, and are not a far departure from some of Studio Ilse's other pieces like these high-back chairs. Each piece is handcrafted by De La Espada from solid chesnut with specially chosen knots, and has copper feet. They're also available in this natural oiled and sustainable wood, or painted eggshell white. I love how the high-back benches are both open and intimate; they offer privacy (great for open plan rooms) but are also not totally closed off from the room. The range is also great because it allows for group seating, but also individual seating. I am disappointed to see a single high-back dining chair missing from the collection, as well as the dining table itself. Londoners, get more details about the viewing the line, the exhibition, and sales here.

Do You Have Seating in Your Foyer?

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0700

It's pretty standard to have a console table in your front hall, to use as a landing strip for your keys, purse, etc. A bench or another sort of seat is more unusual. But if your home is heavy on the square footage, it's a cute and easy way to fill space. If you live in a tardy household where someone's always waiting on other family members just to get out the door, having a bench is convenient. Do you have seating in your foyer?

Do You Have a Bench at the Foot of Your Bed?

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I've always loved the look of a bench set at the foot of a bed. Not only is it a convenient place to sit and tie your shoes Mr. Rogers-style, but it's another place to add a bit of color and pattern if you choose an upholstered bench. They're also great if you have a small bedroom, because you can have seating without an entire designated sitting area. Do you have one?

Crave Worthy: Harwick Bench

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:30:29 -0700

You don't need to paint your house a neon hue or put a middle finger sculpture outside your home to make heads turn. Set a glamorous, cerise bench like the Charleston Gardens Harwick Bench ($1,195) on your front porch, and your neighbors will be drooling with envy. If you'd prefer this elegant Chinoiserie-style seat in a more subtle color, the cast aluminum bench is also available in a powder-coated white or black finish. Whatever you choose, rest assured, this durable piece has a 15-year warranty!

Etsy Find: Handmade Maple Bench

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:00:30 -0700

Need to add some organization to your entry? Then try this Handmade Maple Bench ($279). With its streamlined, modern design, compact size, and multiple compartments, it's the perfect place to tuck away everything from shoes to laptop cases when you come home at the end of your workday. This pretty bench is handcrafted from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified Maple, and finished with a clear lacquer that highlights the wood's natural beauty. I also love that its built-in handles make it easy to move. I can see this coming in handy as extra seating for a party - just pick it up by its handles and move it to your living room or dining room.

The builder, Josh Ganshorn, an Oakland-based designer and contractor, will add hinged front panels to this piece if you want to keep the look even more streamlined, and also offers different finishes or paints to match your home.

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Love It or Hate It? Chalkboard Graffiti Storage Bench

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:15:22 -0800

I think I'm over the chalkboard trend. This Chalkboard Graffiti Storage Bench (out of stock), which is made of erasable washable vinyl and comes with white chalk, has just gone too far. I guess in a way this product is innovative, but since when does leaving notes and jotting reminders for yourself have to come at the expense of aesthetics? I don't see anything attractive about this bench, and vinyl is certainly not my textile of choice. I'd much prefer a beautiful Suzani bench and a traditional notepad instead. Take a look at all of these benches and tell me if you'd prefer this rec-room seating.

Nice and New: Home Decorators Summit Bench

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:00:44 -0800

It's funny, a bench isn't really the type of furniture that I seek out. It's really an accent piece and not particularly comfortable either. Though I rarely find myself looking at them, this Home Decorators Summit Bench ($249) immediately caught my eye. I love its elaborate leaf pattern and elegant curves. And its aged finish gives it a charming, well-loved look. Having a cushion made with a cheerful fabric like Amy Butler's Morning Glory or this Japanese Pear Tree fabric would instantly add polish and comfort. Of course, if the cottage-y look isn't for you, a quick coat of paint would bring it up to date.

Cool Idea: A Workbench Bath Console

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:02 -0800

Brisbane, Australia-based design blogger Absolutely Beautiful Things recently shared photos of her home, which is the epitome of elegance. I couldn't help but be swept away by the design of her bathroom, where she used an inexpensive old timber workbench she found on eBay as a sink console, painted white. Paired with white subway tiles, hexagonal mosaic floor tiles, and two mismatched antique mirrors, the workbench has a glamorous rustic look that is so refreshing and understated. A wicker basket stores towels, and a vase of hydrangeas finishes off the look. So sophisticated.
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Are You a Friend of Animal Prints?

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:00:00 -0800

When it comes to patterns, I don't have much of an animal instinct, but I enjoy a dose here or there - so long as no wild things are harmed in the making. I'd set this Cheetah Print Bench ($650) at the foot of my bed, but I wouldn't upholster an entire sofa in the fabric. How about you?

Crave Worthy: Thonet Bentwood Settee

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:00:33 -0700

I can't resist bentwood furniture, a style pioneered by German manufacturer Michael Thonet in the 1800s, even in its more modern interpretations. Try as I might, I never cease to be surprised swept off my feet by the timeless creations. Bentwood café chairs seem to be ubiquitous these days, and I never tire of them, but it is refreshing to see bentwood in another shape, such as the Thonet Bentwood Settee ($1494). The design is a licensed reproduction of an original Thonet, and is built by hand at one of the original Thonet factories located in Eastern Europe. With a cane seat and a slender, curved, walnut or
beechwood frame, it's simply sophisticated, without a stitch of trend appeal. What more could you ask for?