CasaSugar

Roundup: Mardi Gras Madness

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Happy Mardi Gras! The yearly celebration in New Orleans ends officially tonight, the day before Lent begins on the Christian calender. While the people in NOLA have surely been decorating the streets with beads, floats, crawfish, costumes, doubloons, and beverages galore, I thought I'd have a go at decorating our homes Mardi Gras style. The official colors of Mardi Gras were chosen in 1872 by the Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch Romanoff of Russia during a visit to New Orleans, and reaffirmed at the first daytime parade, Rex. Mardi Gras's symbolic colors include purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). The Mardi Gras flag also features a crown, another symbol of power. Beyond that the fleur-de-lys is an iconic symbol of New Orleans, and undoubtedly makes many appearances in NOLA during this holiday. So, I thought I'd roundup a few furnishings for you incorporating these historical symbols. Don't go overboard and snatch them all up: A few accessories will add just enough festivity to your home. To see my finds, read more.

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Midday Muse: Fleur-De-Lys on the House

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:00:56 -0700

On a recent stroll through San Francisco, I was delighted when I spotted a fleur-de-lys used as an architectural element on the exterior of a Victorian house. As you may remember, I rounded up some fleur-de-lys home furnishings during my February New Orleans coverage, seeing as it has been a symbol of the city since its birth. The lily-inspired shape is also a symbol of French royalty, and some argue it has Italian roots, so it's not quite a surprise to find it outside of the Crescent City. I always loved seeing them top wrought iron fences in NOLA, but I think the shape works well as an architectural ornamentation, too. Have you seen any in your 'hood? Are there any similar ornate details on the exterior of your home?

Ask Casa: Brocade Home-Esque Linens?

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Dear Casa,

I am very much into brocade, Victorian-inspired prints, and anything with a fleur-de-lys on it! I'm looking for a new duvet cover, and was wondering where good online stores would be to find these types of prints? I love pretty much everything at Brocade Home, that is exactly my style, however their bedding selection is quite small and nothing really strikes me. Any stores you could recommend similar to Brocade Home would be great!

Thanks,
Kalliefornia

To see my answer, just read more.

Dear Kalliefornia,

I did a little background research on Victorian patterns, and discovered that, as you might have guessed, floral patterns were popular in the Victorian era, as were lace details. In the early and middle years of the 19th century, rich colors and strong patterns were popular, though by the 1870s, lighter colors and more delicate patterns became popular.

There are actually a lot of choices for bedding that adapt this Victorian-inspired use of color and pattern, and I found pretty possibilities everywhere from Anthropologie to Pottery Barn. I rounded up a variety of choices for you, as well as some matching throw pillows to complete the look. I hope one of these strikes your fancy, and if your heart is set on a fleur-de-lys duvet cover, I found a lovely option in that pattern as well!

DwellStudio Camellia Bedding - $253.00	Lilac Valley Quilt, 100% Cotton - $99.99
Matine Toile Duvet Cover & Sham - Cranberry - $39.00	Damask Print Duvet - Amethyst - $149.00
Wallpaper Print Duvet - Pear - $149.00	Satin Shams- Peony - $29.00
Cocoa Collection - $19.00	DwellStudio Hedgerow Shams - Saffron - $99.00
Ink Duvet Cover - $495.00	Anthology Blossom 4 Piece Comforter Set - $19.99
Cable Diamond Quilt & Shams - $39.00	Nate Berkus Maharani - $39.99
Abstract Floral Print Duvet - Mist - $49.00	Company C® Damask Quilts & Shams - $30.00
Pine Cone Hill® Pine Cone Hill Cottage Toile Linens - $46.00	Haya Bedding - $88.00
Sferra Phoebe Sheeting - $248.00	DwellStudio Hedgerow Duvet Set - Persimmon - $308.00
"Giata" Bed Linens - $80.00	Wallter Swoop bedspread & shams - $204.00
DwellStudio Thicket Shams - $99.00	Viceroy Garden Quilt - $228.00
Manuel Canovas Botanical Bedding - $95.00	Marimekko ® kikku bed linens - $99.95
Foulard Print Duvet - Silver - $149.00	DwellStudio Hedgerow Persimmon Duvet and Cases - $99.00
Windermere Sham - $68.00	Wallter - Onion Wool Bedspread King - $530.00
Floral Velvet Burnout Sham - $39.00	Wallpaper Medallion Bedding - $58.00
Ribbon Quilt - White - $199.00	Nordstrom Toile Duvet Cover - $230.00
Chinoiserie Bedding - $98.00	Lanai Quilt & Sham - Black - $149.00
DwellStudio Talon Bedding - $242.00	Abrielle Duvet - $228.00
Sweet Shrub Bedding - $48.00	Walnut Duvet Cover - $495.00
Organic Cotton Vintage Paisley Bedding - $69.00	Brighton Floral Quilt - $29.00
Victorian-Scallop Bedding - $58.00	Chantilly Chenille Bedspread - $79.99
Scenes de Peche Bed Linens - $41.00

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Roundup: Fleur-de-Lys

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:00:49 -0800

Continuing with my New Orleans theme this month, I thought it'd be appropriate to round up some fleur-de-lys home furnishings, seeing as it has been a symbol of the city since its birth. Fleurs-de-lys abound in New Orleans. Today, they top wrought-iron fences, serve as trendy baubles, brand popular clothing lines, and emblazon football helmets in the Superdome, cheeky advertisements, and even post-Katrina fridges. The history of the symbol is long and does not escape the shelter market. The lily-inspired shape has bloomed on everything from bedding and bath linens to glassware and paper towel holders. Here's a healthy dose for you:

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Found It! Fleur-de-Lys Glasses

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:30:44 -0800

Have you been aching for that lampshade you spotted in a hotel on your last vacation but have no idea where to buy it? A side table in a friend-of-a-friend's living room? Let us know and we'll do our darnedest to try to find it for you. And remember, a photo of the item where you originally saw it always helps.

A big fan of any non-souvenir tribute to the wonderful city of New Orleans, I fell hard for these rose-colored fleur-de-lys glasses when I saw them at a local wine bar. Lucky me—I spotted them for sale at Anthropologie ($32 for 4). I love their floral cameo, and that not only is the glass beautifully tinted, but also textured!

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:30:00 -0700

This Wrought Iron Gate ($650) from Italy in the 1900s has clearly seen better days, and might detract from your home's curb appeal if you set it in front of your lawn. But despite its wear and tear, its slightly bent out of shape fleur-de-lys spires, missing pieces, and rusted exterior give it a visually interesting and much-loved architectural quality. So, for this challenge, I'd like you to tell me how you'd use it in (or outside of) your home, other than as a gate. Would you hang it up as wall décor? Would you lean it against a wall as a sculpture? Would you turn it into a dining table, using an iron base and a glass top? Would you paint it? Would you use it as a headboard? Hang lights from it as a chandelier? Tell me by commenting below!

Steal of the Day: Fleur-de-Lys Window Boxes

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:15:32 -0700

I was just looking out my bedroom window the other morning and thinking about how a window box would improve the view. And since I'm also a fleur-de-lys fan, this Smith and Hawken window box offers me everything I could possibly want in a flower box - including a reduced price tag. These sturdy steel Fleur-de-Lys Window Boxes ($119-$159) would look great wherever they were placed, whether in a New Orleans Creole or a Cape Cod beach cottage. But wherever you put it, geographically, make sure to fill it with beautiful blooms.

Cool Idea: New Orleans Water Meter Doormat

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:42 -0800

Anyone who's ever lived in New Orleans recognizes the starry, art-deco design of the city's water meter lids. Designed by Edwin Ford in the early 1920s, the crescent moon and stars became so sought after that people actually used to pilfer them, so much so that for a time the city tried to replace them with plain ones to try to stop the theft. Nevertheless, the 85-year-old design has become an iconic symbol of the city - along with the fleur-de-lys, of course. So, one clever local turned the groovy vintage meter cover into a Decorative Door Mat ($32). The high-quality, durable mat is as useful as it is nostalgic and charming, and you don't have to steal from the city to own it. Clearly, it's not for everyone, but it's a great gift for anyone who knows a thing or two about NOLA. Hint, hint.

Ask Casa: Decorate My New Orleans Living Room!

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:45:46 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
I need your help! I just moved into a one-bedroom in New Orleans, and will be living on my own for the first time. My bedroom is furnished but in my living room, I have a television and TV stand, and that's it. So, I'm basically starting from scratch! Can you offer me some suggestions for my living room?
My style is classy, urban, girlie, and colorful, but not outrageously so. I want comfortable, welcoming furniture, not like "sleek" or anything. And, I want it to look mature! I like dark wood, and maybe dulled blues, greens, reds, or yellows for fabrics, so the space has color but isn't too bright. I also want to get cool New Orleans artwork for walls, so maybe if the color of some of my furniture can bring out some of those colors, that'd be nice. I'd also like a pull-out couch for guests. My budget: as cheap as I can get for good quality furniture; I am a recent grad, after all. Do you have any thoughts? Anything would help!
Thanks,
Brooke

To hear my thoughts and see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Brooke,
Thanks for thinking of me! I love starting from scratch: think of all the possibilities! It's hard for me to get a clear idea of your style, but I am going to try my best. I get the impression that you want a grown-up apartment. The best way to do that is to make conscious decisions about what you bring into your home, so everything looks composed. Beyond that, add original artwork, and invest in at least some good quality furniture.

I built a living room for you from the sofa up. I chose the Macy's Montreal Sofa in pear, which has plush cushions making it refreshingly casual, and warm but not overwhelming in color. It's also on sale, and available as a sleeper if you so choose. Next, an Ikea Ektorop Tullsta Chair is comfortable and classic but inexpensive. Try a Bemz slipcover with it to make it look more polished. Then, the Brocade Home Silhouette Side Table in Coffee is dark wood, as you like, and has nice feminine curves to give your apartment a bit of girliness.

A woven screen from World Market is inexpensive, and will add texture and an architectural element to your apartment. The Soho Bookcase, also from World Market, is also affordable and dark wood, and its clean lines will give your place a mature, urban feel. You can find a wing chair much like the Anthropologie Astrid Chair at a local flea market or antique shop (New Orleans has many) to add comfortable seating; have it reupholstered in a subtle botanical pattern with subdued colors, or a solid fabric with a nice texture. A low, round coffee table like the West Elm Angled Leg Coffee Table is welcoming and cozy.

Next, I chose a coordinating rug with other "dulled" but warm colors and a floral pattern for femininity, the Ballard Designs Calabria Rug. If it's out of your price range, a quick glance at ShopStyle will show you plenty more to coordinate (or check out these). Set a mother-of-pearl table lamp on a clean-lined Parsons side table in dark wood for a girl-y/urban mix. Long, silk or velvet drapes will finish everything off with sophistication. Then, add a mix of glass vases around the room (filled with fresh flowers, of course). Find a nice silver tray, wine bucket, corkscrew, and matching colors to create your very own bar; you do live in New Orleans, after all.

Then, pick up some original artwork. Check out some local antique print shops, and frame a lithograph of old New Orleans. Invest in a George Rodrigue or a James Michalopoulos (or his Jackson Square knock-offs), and a more affordable Simon Hardeveld. Restrain yourself from decorating with Mardi Gras beads and don't go overboard with the fleur-de-lys. For more accents, check out Hazelnut on Magazine Street.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Get the Look: Bastille Day Garden Party

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:00:48 -0700

In honor of Fête Nationale, or Bastille Day, I created a festive look for a garden party celebrating the holiday.

As France's tricolor flag wears red, white and blue, I decided to incorporate those colors, but not overly so, as many Fourth of July celebrations do. Inspired by Claude Monet's Red Poppies at Argenteuil, I chose a poppy printed tablecloth, and decided on French café chairs for seating. Of course, a cheese board is a must for any French fête, and a fleur-de-lys topped trellis makes instant royal French décor. Throw in a silver candelabra, some Diptyque candles, some appropriate reading, a red toile platter, and some blue accents and you'll be ready to storm the Bastille, figuratively. Voilà!

Merida Meridian Viewpoint Kids Forget-Me-Not Fleur Modern Kids Rug - $609.00	Sandy Chapman 2-Light Fleur-De-Lis Hand Forged Iron - $378.00
Belle Fleur Knob - $8.00	Fleur de Lis Lanterns (Set of 3) - $129.99
Fleur De Lis Wall Art - $100.00	Louisiana State Map - $249.00
Orleans Table Lamp - $100.00	"Marina" Mirror - $245.00
Crown Correspondence Cards - $46.00	Art Insert, Crown - $19.00
Hoops Glasses (Set of Four) by New Arcadia - $75.00	Bernardaud Frivole Collection - $45.00
Rutherford Park - $89.99	Momeni "New Wave NW-19 Multi" Area Rug , 2' 6" x 14' - $1,089.00
Koko - Waves Plastic Floormat 5 x 9 - $81.00	Ming Medallion Silk Pillow - $125.00
Rosemary Vine Rugs - $169.00	Venini Hourglass- Green/Purple - $770.00
Flower Beaded Napkin Ring - $2.95	avalisa - Wonder Wool Rug - $310.00

Montreal Sofa - $999.00	Calabria Rug - $79.00
Ektorp Tullsta Chair - $149.00	Silhouette Side Table - Coffee - $199.00
Mika Woven Screen - $129.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Astrid Chair, Snapdragon - $1,498.00	Angled-Leg Coffee Table - $299.00
Adjustable Metal Floor Lamp - $149.00	Chiara Table Lamp - $69.99
Parsons Cube Side Table - $169.00	Tyler Velvet Queen Sleeper Sofa - $1,299.00
Chemistry Lab Vases - $18.00	Tall/Wide Flat Vases - $5.95
Maxfield Serving Tray - $69.00	Luxe Ruffled Serving Bowl - $49.95
Speckled Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00	Black Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00
Simrin Surya Coasters - $44.00	Screwpull by Le Creuset Lever Wine Opener Gift Set - $79.98
Monogrammed Wine Bucket - $62.00	Silk Dupioni Window Panel - $59.00