CasaSugar

Home Away From Home: A Skate-Inspired Hotel Suite

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:30 -0800

Skateboard label Etnies is rolling into the world of hospitality. The California-based brand has designed a skate-inspired hotel suite in Laguna Beach's Casa del Camino. But you won't find any Etnies logo monogrammed sheets here. "We didn’t want to make it look like a trade show," said VP of marketing Don Brown. "We focused more on the culture of skateboarding, taking the movement, curves and shapes and injecting that into the design."

Elements include wheel tracks on the ceiling, a mirror framed with skateboard wheels, mounted skateboards for guests to use, and "Go Sk8" artwork in the bathroom. My favorite piece is the God Father Lounge Chair, a leather chair and ottoman inspired by Eames's iconic Lounge Chair, made of pieces which remarkably resemble a skateboard deck. It's part of the Skate Study House collection, which I wrote about back in 2008. Continue reading.

This Just In: Lauren Conrad's Heart Is Broken

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:30:35 -0700

That's right. Get out your box of tissues and prepare yourself for this sob story. Lauren Conrad's parents have put her adolescent home, of Laguna Beach fame, on the market for a cosmic $17.9 million, according to Real Estalker. Natch, LC will be experiencing some serious withdrawal issues once the sale goes through, yearning to revisit the place that marked her entrance into "reality" television fame-dom and reminisce over the memories of undying flame Stephen Colletti and her teenage angst. If you've been wondering where LC gets her artistic streak, I should probably note that her parent's 8,000-square-foot, 7-bedroom, 6.5-bath home was actually designed by Papa Conrad himself, otherwise known as architect James Conrad. The property boasts "200-year-old reclaimed oak timbers and hand-carved stone fireplace mantels," an infinity pool seeming "to spill into the Pacific Ocean below," and superb panoramic ocean views. If you ask me, I'd say that LC has a much better eye for real estate than her parents.

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Casa Beta: Yumi & Lauri blanQuette

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:45:22 -0800

Interested in a throw that's a step above the ordinary? Then try the Y&L blanQuette, a lightweight blanket resembling an oversize plush Turkish towel. Made of 50 percent organic cotton and 50 percent bamboo, the blanQuette measures in at a generous six-and-a-half by almost five feet wide. It's available in five different collections: The St. Moritz, Nevis, Laguna, Milan, and Furano, which each feature varying colors and patterns. Each blanQuette sells for $195 to $235.

Yumi & Lauri was founded by mother and entrepreneur Laurie Suzuki, who was inspired to turn Turkish towels into something more luxurious and versatile - which led to the birth of the blanQuette. Her commitment to eco-friendly practices also contributed to the organic content of the blanQuette.

I recently had the opportunity to test out a blanQuette from the Laguna collection. To hear my thoughts on it, read more.

I loved the deep purple color of the Laguna blanQuette, as well as the paisley pattern (see photo) imprinted on the plush organic cotton and bamboo threads. The white piping outlining the blanQuette also nicely framed the throw. I was impressed by the plushness of this product.

While it is an unusual, unexpected choice as a throw, this makes it perfect for home decorators who are looking to add a punch of color and interest to a room. I definitely think this would be a great accessory for a beach cottage, ski chalet, or other vacation home. Its lively color and unusual texture makes it perfect for these destinations. My only concern about the product was the smell of the blanQuette when I first received it - even though this is an organic product, it had a strong chemical scent. I immediately washed the blanQuette with some Ecover, and the smell disappeared. I can also say that even with line drying, the blanQuette seemed soft, which is definitely impressive. Overall, I'd definitely recommend the blanQuette for home decorators interested in integrating an eco-friendly, unexpected element into their homes.

Find out more about the different types of blanQuette by browsing the collections.

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How-To: Nine Tips For Transforming a Small Space

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:43:34 -0800

In the recent LA Times TImes article "A Laguna Beach Shopkeeper Applies Decorating Strategies Borrowed From His Boutique," shopowner Trey Russell offers smart tips for keeping a small home organized, stylish, and beautiful. I already shared one tip, and now I'll share many of Russell's other ideas. Make sure to read all of his ideas here, or visit his store online. For now, check out Russell's smart tips in the slideshow. Source

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Casa Quickie: Ditch the Book Jackets

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:00:48 -0800

Do you spend too much time ensuring that all of your coffee-table books maintain perfect jackets? In a recent LA Times article, Trey Russell, owner of Laguna Beach gift boutique Aris tells you to ditch that thinking - and those jackets. Russell maintains that "Book jackets just get torn, anyway, you might as well get rid of them . . . It creates a more monochromatic, less chaotic look." Try it in your own casa, perhaps in a display similar to this one, from Russell's home.

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