CasaSugar

Cool Idea: National Geographic Home Collection

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Palecek established the National Geographic Home Collection to celebrate authentic designs of artisan traditions and their countries of origin. What's even better is that net proceeds from the National Geographic Home Collection go to the World Cultures Fund, created to support the work of archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, and artists. Again, awesome.

Even though I definitely think that this collection is a cool idea, the styling for this photo is a little over the top. Although I realize that the intent was to highlight as many of the collection's products as possible, the overall effect is a jumbled, world-traveler-with-no-editing-ability mess. Am I just being harsh, or do you, too, find the overall effect a little unsettling?

Casa Interview, Part II: Domino Founding Editor Deborah Needleman (and an Awesome Giveaway!)

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:00:39 -0700

Deborah Needleman, the founding editor of Domino, is a goldmine of savvy advice on decorating your home, honed from years of experience heading up the style-centric magazine as well as decorating her own home. You can read the first half of my interview with her here. Deborah's tips and thoughts on decorating continue in the second half of this interview.

Our homes are really personal spaces. Considering that most of us are shopping from the same few décor retailers and finding inspiration in the same shelter magazines and blogs, how should we go about personalizing our homes?
Every home definitely needs a few old things and a couple unique things. And when most of what we have is mass-produced, it's more important than ever to have some things made by actual human hands, whether it's pottery, rugs, pictures, whatever. It is essential to find a few things that no one else has, whether you find them in a shop, at a tag sale, bring them back from a trip, collect them from nature, or even make them - like just tacking up drawings or notes from friends. Stuff that is meaningful to us, what we love or collect or find is interesting to our guests. I also do think it's really nice to have one really good piece - whether that's a table, rug, chandelier, whatever. It gives your room some substance, some weight - and also ensures it doesn't look like anyone else's.

To read the rest of the interview, read more.

I love your home, which I saw featured in New York magazine a few years ago. I know that you’re a big fan of neutrals and white, or at least you were when that article was written. Are you still a neutrals gal?
Thanks. It's funny, in New York City which is so chaotic and where I get easily overwhelmed, I need to be a neutral gal. It totally calms me down, and keeps my head clear. But upstate, where I feel more relaxed, I love layering patterns and color - florals, suzanis, chintzes, Indian prints, etc. I'm covering my sofa there in purple linen, my study is painted black, and one room is the craziest color green I've ever seen.

I love how your home is elegant and adult-oriented, yet still kid-accessible. What is your advice on and personal experience with creating gorgeous spaces that are also kid-friendly?
I have never understood dumbing down design for kids. No one had kid-friendly homes when I was growing up - people just had the homes they had and their children lived in them! A family home is for adults and children - why on earth would anyone give over their living room to let it look like a play room?! I'll probably get hate mail for this, but aside from a gate so children don't tumble down the stairs, and maybe a lock on the cabinet if you have the kind of children that want to eat the Ajax or whatever, children can be taught that table edges are sharp and that food is to be eaten in the kitchen and that open markers can't be left on the rug!

Other than that, if you have a fairly light palette like I do, you have to accept that you won't have the cleanest house in the world. Fortunately I like a bit of a patina on things! I like that the floor is scuffed by skateboards in part because I love a house where children feel free to run wild, have loads of friends over, and make forts out of the sofa cushions, but also where they have a sense of responsibility and respect for things. Oh, and I have cheap rugs, so if they get destroyed, I won't be sad! And I certainly wouldn't choose a linen velvet sofa fabric if I had to do it again! Kids don't rule the roost, they share it.

Your HomeGoods StyleScope tool helps home decorators find their style. How would you describe your own style?
I think I'm fairly conventional at core - I couldn't have furniture at funny angles or a bed floating in a room or anything too wacky or "fun." I dig symmetry. I like things that are classic in shape and form - not overly embellished, but I appreciate many kinds of design. I think I take this fairly classic base and mess it up a bit. I'm certainly not traditional. I like to layer on personality and quirk with ethnic textiles, cushions, interesting objects, fabrics, and art. I love stuff from India, Morocco, England. Thus, Bohemian Classic.

And to revive a favorite Domino feature of mine, what are 10 things that make you happy?
Hilarious question! Well, first of all, we never let people say their children or their dogs!!! Too boring and obvious.

Nearly all Santa Maria Novella products (if I could only choose one thing, it'd be their potpourri. But I'm crazy about the milk body cream, the honeysuckle perfume, and the pomegranate soap and bath salts). I am obsessed with scent - on my body and in my home!
My veg garden. (Really, seeing my children eat their way through our veg garden, but at Domino I would've edited that out as too sentimental!)
Making flower arrangements for the house.
My white parsons table (I have two) - and a brilliant new parsons side table in the pitch-perfect green color.
Comfy chairs in kitchens and bathrooms.
Cheap weekly blowouts from walk-in, no-appointment places.
Summer dinner outside with friends.
Staying in a lovely hotel room (never a trendy hotel, I like old-school, old-fashioned hotels). I love that nothing belongs to me and the beds are perfectly made. The Duc du St. Simon in Paris is pretty excellent.
Bobbi Brown makeup. Makes you look sun-kissed, not dolled up.
I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't say this, but having a decorator!! Specifically having the genius Rita Konig as a decorator!

Thank you, Deborah! We have a special giveaway for you CasaSugar readers on the way. One of you lucky readers will win a $500 gift card to HomeGoods! Check back for more details about the giveaway later on today!

Interview: Todd Oldham on Top Design

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:15:25 -0700

As you may know, Bravo’s series Top Design will be back for its second season on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with a new look, new producers, and a new host. Lucky me, I recently had the chance to participate in a conference call with the new host, celebrated fashion model and design aficionado India Hicks, as well as world-renowned designer Todd Oldham, who has moved over to a new role as the contestant's mentor. It was really a blast to hear from both of them, and I can't wait for the season to begin.

Here are some of the highlights:

On designing on a budget:

It’s an old-fashioned notion to think that style has anything to do with money. Top Design, this season especially, has a great evidence of that because many of the challenges had . . . don’t have anything to do with money but have to do with ingenuity. I’ve seen very, very rich affairs that look pretty awful. So I’ve never been too confused what money gets you.

On common design mistakes that people fall into:

I always find that one of the worst disasters I see is just people having someone else decide what they need around themselves. No matter how beautiful [something] is, if it doesn’t really suit the person I think that’s a much bigger disconnect than maybe having some tastes that everyone might not like.

To hear more of what Todd had to say during the call, read more.

On his new role as mentor:

I’ve been sort of crazy blessed with opportunity right now. My schedule is very tight. When I first joined Top Design, I was able to do both roles, but the amount of time that that requires is off the charts. So I was able to just really kind of clear the schedule for the mentor, which I was happy [about] because that’s my favorite part.

This was the no homework job. It was really fun just to get to show up and be very present. It was really fun and organic. I love being in the moment and reacting, and sort of responding to the energy from the contestants because, you know, they’re - I wouldn’t say they’re in panic mode, but they’re about as revved up as they can get.

On the judges (Kelly Wearstler, Jonathan Adler, and Margaret Russell):

I think all of - what I was impressed about all the judges is that they’re fans of design. There’s no, you know, no one’s a brutal nightmare. All the information is constructive. I think that the contestants are really lucky to have such fair sort of, you know, good-hearted judges.

On what each contestant brings to the show:

It’s very nice to mix it up. I actually always prefer some idea influenced by more of an outsider point of view. LA and New York are terrific but, you know, the influences here are very broad and sophisticated. Sometimes being sort of less exposed or exposed to more hybrid ideas leads you down more interesting paths.

That’s what’s great about this show. There’s like, there’s every kind of person and thought process you could find. There was all kinds of ages, points of view, ethnicities. It’s really - it’s an interesting microcosm of design and also the world. It’s a really good mixed point of view.

On his preference for design styles (mid-century v. traditional):

Most of my friends are a little more eccentric and [have] kind of gone more the individual route. I think ultimately it’s a hybrid of anything that leads us to more interesting ways. So I think the Frank Lloyd Wright house with the big mushy cushions might be a better way to go about it.

On his own home's style:

Mine’s very cozy. I think I have a different philosophy about home and design than others because I find a lot of people, clients, like the design to end. I think of it more as a garden where it’s just constantly going and adding to, and painting on top of, and layering in. I have a lot more fun with that. So then I don’t get so attached, and it makes it more interesting.

Stay tuned to hear what India Hicks had to say!
Source

Before and After: Peruvian Pet Stairs

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:00:20 -0700

A celeb client of Danny Seo's had these cringe-worthy dog stairs by her bed, but her pooch couldn't part with them. So, it was unanimously decided that they needed a chic facelift. Seo hopped over to a flea market in Los Angeles, where he picked up a vintage Peruvian rug for around $30. A lot of trimming and stapling later, Seo had reupholsterd the stairs, giving them a bit of cheer and an ethnic vibe. To see the transformation, read more.

Pretty fabulous, right? It just goes to show that there's potential for style in even the most mundane household item.
Source

Coveted Crib: Kathryn Ireland's Ojai Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:30:19 -0800

Before launching her career as an interior designer, Kathryn Ireland worked as an actress, a women's clothing designer, ran a public relations firm, and produced music videos with her husband. A bit of a nomad professionally and residentially, Ireland has called London, Scotland, Toulouse, and LA home. Her Ojai Spanish-style farmhouse is a reflection of her travels with furnishings sourced from retailers all over the map and bold textiles with an ethnic vibe.

To find out about her design style and see images of her home, read more.
Although her home is equal parts ancestral English charm, sunny California whimsy, bohemian indifference, and Mediterranean warmth, she pulls it all together in her homey, comfy, family-friendly signature style. House Beautiful recently interviewed her, uncovering her distaste for "matchy-matchy-matchy," her fireplace fetish, and her tips on stuffing pillows. More importantly, the inspiring images of her 1940s farmhouse certainly put her in Coveted Crib territory.

View 14 Photos ›

Source

Chatting With the west elm Winner

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:19:48 -0700

As promised, we're going to take some time in the next few weeks to chat with Kavi484, who has won the west elm sweepstakes, worth $5,000 in west elm merchandise.

Over the next few weeks, we'll bring you some interview questions with Kavi484, to learn more about her personal style, take a peek into her current digs, and find out how winning the sweepstakes will change her home life!

To hear and see more about Kavi484's decorating style, just read more

CasaSugar: How would you describe your home décor style?

Kavi484: My décor style definitely tends toward dark woods, rich textures, and earthy, bold colors. I guess you could call it “ethnic” if you wanted to describe it using a single adjective. My parents are from India, and I have definitely been influenced by an Indian aesthetic in the colors and styles that I like. Both the way I dress and the way I would decorate a home reflect that heritage – I wear lots of bright colors and bold patterns, often mixed together, and that is how I would decorate my home as well. I also like to wear bold makeup and tons of jewelry, and similarly I tend to have lots of knickknacks and accessories in my home. I have a big collection of Indian textiles I’ve been amassing since college, just waiting to be put to use in my “grown-up” home after I graduate from law school! They are in a mix of colors, patterns, and textures, which is very “me.”

I also love to sew, and have often put that skill to use in decorating. In college, I made curtains for my apartment out of an old silk sari that once belonged to my roommate’s mother – a deep teal with magenta borders and gold threadwork. I’ve also sewed slipcovers for chairs, duvet covers for my bed, etc. I have a pair of Isaac Mizrahi for Target tea towels with that bold, photographic pink poppy on them (the one he also put on a duvet cover) that are just waiting to be made into throw pillow covers!

Get the Look: Colorful and Portable Rooftop Décor Part I

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:00:50 -0700

If you have rooftop access to your city apartment building, or even your own house, you'll be a popular gal this Summer. Be it breezy or balmy, your friends will be pounding on your door in hopes of taking a gander at your lofty views. Even if the sun's gone down, you can create a warm, colorful, and comfortable rooftop for your entertaining (or escaping) needs by picking up some portable décor. You may need to avoid leaving your rooftop furnishings out day in and day out due to landlord restrictions or bad weather, so I've hunted down and compiled some products for you, in a look that's both easy to carry and set up as well cheerful. To hear about rooftop lighting and furniture, read more.

Rooftop Lighting: Combine tiki torches, citronella candles, a lightweight or tabletop firepit, and ethnic, patterned lanterns to give you light and warmth, keep bugs at bay, and create instant style.

Portable Furniture: The temporary, portable furniture solution is to surround a folding tray table with folding beach chairs, or opt for a plastic or rattan tray to set on the ground as your "table." But, you'll need something to keep things from flying away and in place. If you'll be serving a meal on your rooftop, rather than just hanging, you can make it a bit more formal with folding café or director chairs and small folding table.

Stay tuned to hear about rooftop accessories and textiles!

Tabletop Gel Firepit Small - $92.50	Oil Lamp with Clear Glass Shade - $115.00
Golden Globe Lights - Clear - $39.00	Striped Torch - $7.95
Bamboo Torch - $7.95	Citronella Bucket Candle - $16.95
Citronella 3-Wick Striped Cache Pot - $14.99	3-Wick Citronella Candle in Striped Bowl - $19.99
Solar Tiki Torch (Set of 2) - $19.99	Torch Lights - $12.99
Copper Fire Bowl - $139.00	Gondolier's Lantern - Square - $74.00
Clear Hanging Swirl Lantern - $19.99	notNeutral NotNeutral Season Lantern - in black - large size - $180.00
notNeutral NotNeutral Season Lantern - in persimmon - $50.00

Format Tray - $34.95	Palau Bed Tray - $54.95
Lacquer Bed Tray - $49.95	Folding Tray Table - $59.00
Hapao Scallop Tray - $50.00	Wood Beach Chair - $39.99
Bali Club Chair or Canvas - $20.00	Veneto Adjustable Folding Chair Sunbrella® Cushion - $130.00
Folding Cottage Side Table - $79.95	Set of Two Cafe Folding Chairs - $119.00
notNeutral - Melamine Tray - $17.00	Patio-Perfect Tray - $28.00
Rattan Serving Tray - $49.00