CasaSugar

Do You Use Placemats at Every Meal?

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:54 -0800

Since my husband and I inherited a gorgeous table from his mother, we always use placemats to keep hot foods or condensation-laden glasses away from its wood surface. With other tables, I haven't been as careful, and even think that a few water stains added to the charm of the older, imperfect tables. Still, for our current table, I like to take precaution. The thick felt used in these screenprinted felt placemats ($17.50 for 2) would definitely do the job.

Found It! Chuck Bass's Dining Table and Chairs

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:17 -0700

In last week's episode of Gossip Girl, Chuck Bass's dining table and chairs caught my eye. Not only do they have a hip, contemporary style that's perfect for a young heir, but they're also very, very familiar. Wondering where you can buy them? Then read more.

Chuck's brick red chairs are the West Elm Leather Scoop-Back Chairs ($199-$796).

His dining table is also from West Elm. It's the Round Dining Table with Cutout Legs ($449-$599).

Etsy Finds: Gorgeous Custom Furniture

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:02 -0700

While I've shown you a lot of home accents from Etsy, I've neglected to share the gorgeous, custom-made furniture that the site also showcases. From dining tables made from salvaged barn boards to '60s-era chairs reupholstered in Thomas Paul fabric, Etsy really does have nearly everything you need to furnish and outfit your home. Check out my favorites.

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Have You Ever Rented Dining Furniture?

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:59:59 -0700

In last night's episode of Gossip Girl, the Manhattan crew headed to Greenwich, CT, for a polo match. The fields (as well as the characters) were dressed to the nines in blue-blooded style with crisp white table linens and white folding chairs under white tents, which would have been rented for the occasion. Have you ever rented dining chair or tables for a party at your house?

Photo courtesy of the CW

Do You Use Tablecloths?

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:00:25 -0700

A tablecloth can instantly improve a less-than-perfect dining table. It can also add a note of elegance to a dinner party. Do you have one on your table?

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Love It or Hate It? Modern Chairs With a Traditional Dining Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:01 -0700

In this dining room, classic modern Vitra Panton Chairs ($262) are paired with a traditional dining table with turned wood legs. I think this little touch of modernity is refreshing, especially for a place which, judging from the wainscoting, isn't a contemporary home. Do you like this mix-and-match effect?

Good, Better, Best: Rectangular Wooden Outdoor Dining Tables

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:00:26 -0700

If you haven't dusted off your barbecue yet, pull out that Weber and start grilling! It's Spring! While you're at it, you'll need to find a place to eat. Lucky for you, I've done the work for you and chosen my top three picks for rectangular wooden outdoor dining tables.

The first in the trio (Good) is this Crate & Barrel Arbor Large Rectangular Dining Table ($499). It's made from plantation-grown eucalyptus, a fast-growing and easily replenished hardwood, and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The table seats up to eight and has an umbrella opening. To see two more choices, read more.

Better: The Restoration Hardware Santa Monica Rectangular Dining Table ($1,185- $1,715) is made from sustainably harvested, premium grade A Indonesian teak. It has mortise-and-tenon joinery, making it very strong and simple to assemble. It's available as a six-seater table or as an extension table that seats six unextended and eight extended, making it quite versatile. It also has an umbrella hole.

Best: Last but certainly not least is the Smith & Hawken Avignon Extending Table ($2,299). It's made from the finest-quality premium teak, which is environmentally harvested. It seats eight unextended and 12 extended, and leaves store under the table's surface, making it ideal for both an intimate dinner and big backyard barbecue.

Casa Quickie: A Tablecloth Alternative

CasaSugar — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:30:12 -0800

For me, setting the table is a little like getting dressed: I won't be caught dead wearing the same thing two days in a row. I like to switch up my dinnerware, napkin rings, glasses, table linens, and menu (of course) each day. But sometimes I tire of my tabletop "wardrobe" and sometimes it's just laundry day. When that happens, I look into my real wardrobe for some alternatives. For this little breakfast nook, I decided to use a cotton scarf as a tablecloth. It's nothing fancy, and the shape isn't perfect for a round table, but it's just breakfast! I think the houndstooth check pattern has a sort of updated Italian ristorante vibe, don't you?

Steal of the Day: Railroad Tie Dining Table and Chairs

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:30:58 -0800

A dining table is a big investment. So why pay full price when you can swoop up a gorgeous one at 30 percent off? Made from reclaimed railroad tie wood with a sturdy, waxed metal frame, the Viva Terra Railroad Tie Dining Table and Chairs ($278-1,468) is a beautiful set for a casual, rustic home, or an eat-in kitchen if you have a separate dining room. I love its slender form and x-shaped base. The table top and chair backs, with original weathered markings, exude a sense of history that's much more interesting than anything you'd see in a showroom. I'd pair the dining table with a different set of chairs, perhaps something more comfortable for winding, conversation-filled dinners. What do you think?

Casa Quickie: Steady Your Wobbly Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:00:36 -0800

Are you guilty of tossing wine corks when you open a bottle? Instead of adding them to the waste stream, save those corks for something that won't give you dark circles under your eyes, deathly hangovers, or liver problems. Slice your wine corks into thin circles and use them to steady any wobbly legs of your dinner table. You can use a little wood glue to secure them to the leg itself. Make sure you're adhering it to the correct leg; sometimes that's tricky. If the table is still a little wobbly, try and try again until your cork slice is the correct height. Interested in another easy reuse for your corks? Check out this Casa Quickie.

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