CasaSugar

Etsy Find: Recycled T-Shirt Rug

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:00:54 -0700

Looking for an eco-friendly alternative to a fluffy shag rug? Then try this Recycled T-Shirt Rug ($48) from Etsy seller Talkingsquid. I love the deep navy blue hue of this particular area rug, but if blue's not your bag, Talkingsquid makes these rugs in a variety of colors and sizes. Constructed from discarded t-shirts, Talkingsquid hand cuts t-shirt strips and sews them onto a durable cotton jersey t-shirt base. You can handwash the smaller size rugs on the delicate cycle, but larger rugs (such as the five by eight foot size), should ideally be dry cleaned, given their size.

Guess What This Rug Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:34 -0700

This cotton shag rug is made from remnants of something we all have in our closets. Can you tell me what?

Win Some Cozy Organic Sheets

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:38:37 -0800

November is Hibernation month here at CasaSugar, and I'm thinking about getting cozy as the temperature drops. On chilly weekend mornings I love to cuddle up in bed, and nothing is nicer than some organic cotton sheets to cuddle up in!

This clean, contemporary sheet collection ($162 for king set), courtesy of Green Stuff Connection is a great way to start going organic in your home. Made with 100% organic cotton in a 200 thread count from HDN, this flat sheet and fitted sheet are included in the set, which is packaged in reusable fabric packaging. The flat Sheet features a 3 1/2 inch cuff and is available in full, queen, or king to the lucky winner. For complete contest rules, go here.

Enter for the contest by leaving a comment below!

Steal of the Day: Ivory Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:36:45 -0700

Remember our primer on sheet thread counts? You'll be happy to hear that this ivory Egyptian cotton sheet set from Cost Plus World Market fits within the proper parameters for thread count at a solid 250-and best of all, the queen set is now on sale for $34.50 (nearly half off!). The set includes a fitted and flat sheet and two pillowcases. Did I mention there's free ground shipping? This definitely qualifies as a Steal of the Day.

Roundup: Organic Cotton Accents

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:30:17 -0700

This Earth Day, try adding some organic cotton bedding, bath items, or pillows to your home scene. Why organic cotton? Well, it protects the environment by avoiding use of pesticides, which also helps out cotton workers. Since cotton is still picked by hand in many places, cotton workers on organic cotton farms aren't exposed to dangerous pesticides. Consumers also benefit through the use of organic cotton, since it is softer than conventional cotton products. While organic cotton is still more expensive than conventionally grown cotton, the increase in demand is helping to drive prices down.

Organic cotton is also getting a lot more design-savvy. Check out the calm, cool blues of this Kahuna Comforter Set ($345). What will you add to your home scene? Do you have any organic cotton goods in your home now?

Casa Beta: Christy Organic Waffle Towel

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:46 -0700

Since the divets in a waffle are great for collecting syrup, it stands to reason that a towel designed with a waffle pattern will also be great at sopping up - well, not syrup, unless you live in a Willy Wonka house. Good old water is all this waffle design needs to contend with, and I'm happy to say that the Christy Organic Waffle Towel ($105 for three bath towels) does just that.

Granted, these towels are a bit of a splurge, but I can attest that they're well worth it. The waffle design of the towel wicks away water more efficiently than any towel I've ever owned, and the organic cotton is a great reassurance that I'm keeping my house as eco as possible. I have to admit that I've been neglecting some of my other towels in favor of the waffle towels, and if finances permitted, I'd be tempted to replace more of my bath towels with the Christy's waffle towels.

You can check out Christy's newly designed website for its latest line, as well as news on retail locations and helpful hints for caring for your linens. Have you tried a waffle towel? What are your thoughts about the design?

Casa Verde: Handprinted Fabric From Home Sweet

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:15:45 -0700

If your eye is tired of the same old fabric designs, then check out Home Sweet. This small textile design company is run by Jennifer Nelson out of her Delaware home, where she designs and then handblocks her fabric patterns. Specializing in hand-printed, environmentally friendly fabrics and home goods, Home Sweet's designs are fresh and modern, with a dash of retro charm.

Explaining her design philosophy, Jennifer notes, "It's a labor of love, because it takes a lot more time to make something than it does to buy it, but I’m motivated by the finished projects. They’re organic and beautiful, and the fact that I’ve invested myself in them gives them roots."

Want to see more of Home Sweet's designs? Then read more.

Home Sweet’s patterns are printed on a 55 percent hemp/45 percent organic cotton blend fabric that has a natural color for its background. The fabric's weight is best suited for use in upholstery, pillow covers, drapes, totes, and other home-related projects. Jennifer uses eco-friendly water-based inks for her patterns, which may fade in time. If you're concerned about this possibility, you may want to dry clean (at an eco-friendlier dry cleaner, of course) your fabrics.

If you have a specific fabric use or pattern in mind, you can contact Jennifer to commission a project, or to refine your idea. And if you see something you like, check out Home Sweet's Etsy shop to make a purchase.

View 9 Photos ›

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Home Away From Home: Stockholm's Hotel J

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:41 -0700

Stockholm's Hotel J is a super chic chalet influenced by the fine craftsmanship of yachting with a distinct Scandinavian twist. Bright and airy, the interiors' chairs and sofas are upholstered in thick white wrinkly cotton and also feature clean-lined contemporary light oak furniture. The hotel has a gorgeous view of the Stockholm harbor, and guests can rent sailboats or taking sailing lessons.

"Nautical by nature," the hotel is filled with boating accents throughout, such as sail remnants and model sailboats, but knickknacks are kept to a minimum. I love the calm vibe of the hotel. Beds are dressed in blue and white stars and stripes, but not in a kitschy way. Stockholm, here I come! Take a tour when you read more.

View 11 Photos ›

Roundup: Beautifully Designed Organic Bedding

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:00:04 -0700

In the past few years, organic bedding, which had previously been eco-friendly but not very design-savvy, has really come into its own, with beautiful patterns and vibrant colors spicing up a selection of organic cotton. I'm happy to see this textile gain mass appeal, and given its reasonable price point, there's really no excuse not to transition to organic bedding.

To see a roundup of my favorite organic bedding, and to hear more about the health risks of using conventional cotton bedding, read more.

Did you know that US farmers apply nearly 1/3 of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton they harvest? Conventional cotton crops account for 25 percent of all chemicals used in the United States. Furthermore, many non-organic cotton sheets are treated with formaldehyde, which helps them avoid wrinkling. And since there's no law requiring companies to label sheets that use formaldehyde, they usually don't. These sheets don’t even have to have a label informing you of what they were treated with! Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical that, unfortunately, is found in many common household items like furniture, particle board (which is actually used in the construction of your house), paints, and carpet.

By choosing organic bedding, you can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, and know that you're doing your part to reduce pesticide use on farmland as well. Oh, and now, thanks to great new designs, you can keep your boudoir looking chic at the same time.

Source

Casa Interview: Michelle Adams of Rubie Green

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:00:50 -0700

I recently told you about Michelle Adam's online shop Rubie Green, which sells classical upholstery prints available in eco-friendly fabrics. All of Rubie Green's upholstery fabrics are made of 100 percent certified organic cotton and produce minimal factory waste. Michelle was kind enough to answer some organic textiles and decorating questions for us. You can see her first answer here.

CasaSugar: How can people who are new to decorating with eco-friendly fabrics start adapting them into their home's decor?

Michelle: Many people like the idea of using eco-friendly fabrics in their home, but find that it feels like a daunting task to find the right look, feel, price point etc. I'd recommend deciding on what sort of texture you're after and experimenting from there. If you like the look and feel of linen, give hemp a try as it has a very similar hand and weight, or even tussah silk and organic linens. If you're more of a cotton person, try organic cotton! Most companies are happy to provide small swatches for matching purposes, so you can get a sense of what you're buying before you make the big purchase.

Photos courtesy Patrick Cline

k studio Dog Pillow - Black - $110.00	Amenity Bloom Organic Cotton Duvet Cover - Cream & Cocoa - $330.00
looolo Can Can Linen Cushions - $146.00	Balanced Design Flannel/Felt Pods Pillow (Black) - $162.00
Organic Cotton Knit Throw - $49.00	Organic Color-Block Shower Curtain - $49.00
PB Organic Bath Mat - $43.00	Organic Ikat Towels - $9.00
Unison Larch Organic Blanket & Pillow in Gray - $40.00	Sunburst Organic Bath Towels - $29.00
Mehndi Bed Linens - $24.95	Amenity Birdseye Organic Placemat - $25.00
Balanced Design Flannel/Felt Pods Pillow (Red) - $162.00	Organic Cotton Selvedge Window Panel - $29.00
Blissliving Home Kahuna Comforter Set - $65.00	looolo Coquette Pirouette Linen Cushions - $146.00

Pure Comfort by DKNY - $115.00	Grid Print Organic Sheet Set - $139.00
Area Organic Mist Charcoal Sheets - $100.00	Organic Cotton Vintage Paisley Bedding - $69.00
Clodagh Deep Sea Duvet, 100% Organic Cotton Sateen - $89.99	Area Organic Details Sheets - $120.00
Unison - Organic Larch Blanket - $58.00	Organic Cotton Fiore Bedding - $169.00
Area Organic Navy White Duvet - $220.00	Amenity - Organic Cove Duvet - $330.00
Organic Cotton Antique Stripe Bedding - $99.00	Tile Organic Sheet Set - Select Items - $129.00
Avery Organic Duvet Cover & Sham - $39.00	Tatum Organic Bedding Ensemble - $239.00
Olivetta Owl Organic Duvet Cover & Sham - $29.00	Unison Tatami Organic Ivory Duvet and Cases - $44.00