CasaSugar

Ask Casa: Petrified Wood and Ceramic White Stools?

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:00:37 -0800

Hi CasaSugar!
I am working on wrapping up my living room and would love to get a petrified wood stool and a ceramic white stool similar to those in Monique Lhuillier's house (that I am totally in love with), which was featured on an Elle Decor cover a year ago.

I've talked to Hudson Furniture in New York - they have the petrified wood but they sell at $1,200-2,000 each. I'm looking for something in the $800 range. As far as the ceramic stool, I've seen one from West Elm, but I'm not sure about the quality. I'm willing to spend up to $500 on something nicer.

Thanks in advance for your suggestion!

Pookie17

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Pookie17,

Monique Lhuillier's house is indeed gorgeous, and the accents that caught your eye are particularly beautiful. Unfortunately, one of the other sources for petrified wood stools I found came in above the Hudson Furniture quote - Jayson Home and Garden carries a variety of petrified wood stools for around $1,500 each. The Chicago-based store Primitive also sells petrified wood stools, and you may have better luck securing a lower price through them. One suggestion I have, in lieu of the petrified wood stool, is the Roost Enchanted Forest Stool ($385), which is made of ceramic instead of petrified wood, but whose matte gunmetal finish gives it a rather realistic appearance.

As for the white ceramic stool, I'm a fan of (again!) Jayson Home and Garden's White Lattice Stool ($275). Instead of a geometric design, as employed in Lhullier's ceramic stools, this one uses an open lattice pattern to create visual interest. I also think that the west elm stool would be a good choice, though I welcome other readers' opinions on the durability of this particular piece.

Definitely check out the widget below to see if there are any pieces that strike your fancy as well.

Good luck!
CasaSugar

Source

Steal of the Day: Titanium Garden Seat

CasaSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:00:38 -0700

Garden stools have been trendy for a couple years now, but I never understood why they were priced so high for what is basically a ceramic drum — see here and here. They're cute though, and versatile, as they can serve as seating or a small side table. If you feel the same, and haven't yet made the splurge, maybe the Ballard Designs Titanium Garden Seat ($89, reduced from $149) will appeal to you. I like its bead detailing
and Chinoiserie-style cutouts. Its price tag also won't break the bank, and its polished titanium finish doesn't have the tiresome cutesy kitsch of some of its brightly colored counterparts. Yay for sale items!

Designer Spotlight: Summer Thornton

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:30:20 -0700

Chicago-based designer Summer Thornton calls herself a "personal stylist for the home," and this apt description fits her perfectly. Concentrating mostly in ceramics during college, she shapes a home — an 1890's Lincoln Park condo, a North Shore mansion, a down-state country home — much like she would a clay pot, infusing it with color and texture and then sending it off to the kiln, ready to stand the test of everyday life. It's no surprise that she can make a Chicago high-rise and a country cottage look equally charming: she is rooted in both. She recently gave me a little introduction, saying:

I grew up in the country where I learned to appreciate the simple things. I was surrounded by nature with its colors, textures, and relaxed mood. When I moved to the city I became obsessed with the architecture of Chicago, the history and glamour of the city. My design style is really about combining those two aesthetics.

This duality translates to a slightly off-kilter traditional style: an industrial filing cabinet used as a side table beside a sofa filled with brocade prints and soft velvets, a cast-iron bed angled diagonally, retro chrome stools in a country kitchen. "I love to mix something high polish and traditionally 'formal' with something rough and lowly," she explains. Be sure to check out Summer's website to see more. And if you're not Chicago based, but want to replicate what you see, she says her favorite resources include Oly Studio, Osborne & Little, Jayson Home and Garden, as well as many antique and vintage stores. To see more images of her work, read more.

View 21 Photos ›

Source

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:57 -0700

Inhabitat sees found objects making functional decor.
Charles and Hudson shows us how to conceal our televisions.
Craft: gives the word textile a new meaning with a T-shirt rug.
Daily Danny picked up a kooky yet functional kitchen stool.
Design*Sponge spots a chic ceramic installation.
Desire to Inspire's latest house tour is quintessentially British.
Door Sixteen's new Ikea bedspread perks things up.
Laissez Faire introduces me to Vera Wang's wedding stationery.

Source

Get the Look: Passport to Morocco

CasaSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 05:15:28 -0700

Sadly, I've never been to Morocco, but I can recognize the country's distinctive design almost immediately. Lately, I've been seeing it everywhere, from design magazines to chain stores like West Elm and CB2. Despite my lack of first-hand familiarity with Moroccan style, I really do love this Passport to Morocco look - particularly for a living room or den.

With a look this lush, you should be careful not to overdo it. I'd suggest using somewhat neutral furniture that matches the theme but doesn't look too contrived. Then, indulge your serious Moroccan jones with patterns and accessories. To learn how to get the look, read more

The palette: Concentrate on rich but muted jewel tones like orange, garnet, ocean blue, and citrine green.

The furniture: For the main pieces, choose rattan or wicker furniture, such as this Williams-Sonoma Home Farallon Love Seat, that fits the theme but isn't explicitly Moroccan. Then, for accents pieces like stools, you can get more exotic.

Lighting: Obviously, you'll need some overhead lighting, but the main requisite here are cut-out metal lanterns. Hang them from the ceiling, scatter them on tables, and fill them with candles.

The accents: Skip the chain-store purchases and opt for authentic Moroccan accents. A ceramic tajine typically used for serving food would make great tabletop storage, while these Moroccan tea glasses add gilded flair.

To view the rest of my recommendations, just click on the photos below.

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Thorsten van Elten - van amburgh stool by thorsten van elten - $150.00	Zig Zag Stool - White - $375.00
Roost Spool Stool - $250.00	Convex Drum Table - $159.00
Roost Ribbon Stool - $290.00	White Garden Stool - $195.00
Lattice Stool - $275.00	Petrified Wood Q - $1,495.00
Roost Eyelet Stool - $310.00	Petrified Wood K - $1,495.00
Gus* Modern - Pawn Stool - $365.00	Grove Stool - $225.00
Helix Stool - $114.00	Roost Enchanted Forest Stool - $385.00
Petrified Wood O - $1,495.00