CasaSugar

Crave Worthy: French Blow-Up Poster

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:30:02 -0700

OK, I may have had an irrational love for the 1966 Michelangelo Antonioni film Blow-Up (starring Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, and David Hemmings) since I was in the womb, but I am not alone in my love for the mod Brit film's killer poster. It often tops lists of the world's greatest and most iconic posters (see here and here), written by cinephiles and design fiends alike, and for good reason. The original 1966 Italian design is the one most fawned over, but there are actually several variations, almost all featuring a sexy model and her photographer. I for one have a soft spot for the French poster, designed by Georges Kerfyser, which is a variation of the original by its Southeastern neighbor. The design is confrontational, racy, and mod in a kitschy magenta and blue color scheme; what could be better? Those adjectives sound so tawdry, but I'd honestly kill to hang the eye-catcher in my house: if only it didn't sell for 450 smackers. If you haven't seen the film, Netflix it, and maybe then you'll begin to understand where I'm coming from.

Cool Idea: Dyed Doilies

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:00:41 -0700

Doilies are blowing up in the design world these days. Not only is there a doily motif trend, but the crocheted mats are being used in modern and alternative ways, such as hung in frames and stitched onto bedding. But a doily's life as an ornamental napkin is not over yet. You may remember I recommended dyeing your doilies to give them a quick update. Well if you need proof from a true tastemaker, see how Eddie Ross kicked the dated look of his Salvation Army doily finds by dyeing them with charcoal Rit dye. I love how the dark doilies dress up his simple table setting and really make his white linens pop. Beautiful. Do you have any doilies lying around in need of revival?

How-To: Remove Candle Wax

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:30:00 -0800

There's nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner, but waking up to a table covered in wax is no picnic. Before you reach for a razorblade that will scratch up your gorgeous dining table, or even think about tossing your tablecloth in the washer, I have some tips for safely and easily removing that candle wax. If the wax has dripped onto a hard surface like a metal, wooden, or glass table, use a blow dryer to melt the wax. As it liquefies, wipe up the melted max with a paper towel or a cotton rag. To hear how to remove wax from your table linens, read more.

Begin by scratching away as much of the wax as you can with a dull knife. Don't pick too hard if you have delicate linens.
Now, lay a piece of newspaper or kraft paper down on your ironing board. Set the waxy portion of your tablecloth on top of that, and then lay down another piece of paper. You can also use a piece of brown paper bag (i.e. lunch bag) for this.
Turn your iron on low-medium and slowly iron over the paper. The paper should absorb the wax as it liquefies. Lift up the paper to check that it's working, and increase the heat and replace the newspaper or kraft paper if necessary.
Next, wash your linens or have them dry cleaned.

Casa Quickie: TP For Your Tech

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:16 -0800

I just spied this inventive idea on Real Simple and couldn't help but pass it along, considering that my gadget cords all look like a messy ball of yarn. If you're anything like me, and you've got cords for your camera, iPod, computer, BlackBerry, blow-dryer, speakers, television, DVD player, etc. clogging up your outlets, God bless you. No really, if that's the case, then here's a trick for you. When you've finished a roll of toilet paper, just slide it over a collection of your cords to keep them contained and untangled. Or, you can use it to keep a single cord from coming unwound once you've folded it up for storage. This is particularly a great idea to keep in mind come Dec. 26 when you've got tree lights to store!
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Weird Furniture: Where There's Smoke by Maarten Baas

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:15:20 -0800

Dutch designer Maarten Baas's "Smoke" is a series of a charred furniture finished with an epoxy resin so that the pieces are preserved instead of destroyed. A 2004 exhibition called "Where There's Smoke" at Moss in New York showcased the collection of 25 one-off pieces, including iconic designs by Gaudi, Eames, Rietveld, Sottsass, and the Campana Brothers among others, which had each been burned with a blow torch and then salvaged with the translucent sealant. At the exhibit, the pieces were put in a timeline from antique to modern, grouping pieces like a grandfather clock and chaise lounge together, and a second stage of pieces like an Eames LCW chair and Noguchi coffee table from 1900-1950 together.

Three of the "Smoke" works were picked up by Marcel Wanders for reproduction by his international design company, MOOOI, and important designers and collectors like Lidewij Edelkoort and Philippe Starck have also personally acquired the pieces. Select pieces have been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. What's really beautiful about the series is that the furniture retains that charred texture, it's quite haunting, and appropriate for Halloween. To see more photos and close-ups, read more.

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Open House: Proud of Your Projects

CasaSugar — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:11:27 -0700

Not to brag, but I must admit that I'm pretty pleased with some of the DIYs I've completed, and the before and afters I see here and there never cease to impress me. Sometimes it takes a lot of willpower to keep my house so fresh and so clean too, so I can't help but pat myself on the back when I stay on top of things. I'm sure you feel the same, and I'm sure you've completed plenty of projects that entitle you to blow your own horn.

Since last week I asked about what projects are on your To Do list, for this Open House, I want to hear about the projects that you're most proud of having completed. Did you work with an architect to design your house? Is the interior design of your living room coming along nicely? Have you come up with some inventive craft projects lately? Even completed a DIY you've read about here? Did you build a deck on your home? Have you been keeping your house so fresh and so clean lately? Let me know by leaving a comment below! And, be sure to add photos of these great achievements to our Su Casa group.
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Casa Craving Challenge: Winter Velvets

CasaSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:00:07 -0800

With the temperatures continuing to drop, the winds blowing like crazy, and the rains pounding down here in San Francisco, there's little else that I'd like to do save curl up on some gorgeous piece of furniture. And since velvet just strikes me as the coziest fabric ever, I would, ideally, like to curl up on this velvet Carter Sofa (inquire at website for price).

For this week's Casa Craving Challenge I'd like you to find a and bookmark gorgeous velvet furniture that will keep you cozy all Winter long. Show me all of your fabulous finds by creating Casa Cravings and tagging them with the phrase winter velvet furniture. I'll feature the results next Wednesday, Feb. 6. Please let me know if you have any questions. For a list of online home stores to try, read more

Amazon Home
Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Crate & Barrel
Design Within Reach
Gump's
Ikea
Jonathan Adler
Lekker Home
Linens and Things
Macy's Home
Pottery Barn
Restoration Hardware
Room & Board
Target
Urban Outfitters
Unica Home
West Elm
World Market
a href="http://www.hickorychair.com/product_detail.aspx?i=5001">Source