CasaSugar

See How We Gave This Ikea Lampshade a Nautical Twist!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:49:44 PDT

As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Elka Karl and I have been thinking of ways to punch up basic Ikea products. You may have seen how I added block-printed ikat polka dots to this Asele lampshade ($15). Well, now I'm revisiting the same shade with an entirely different approach. Armed with some thin manila rope, a glue gun, and a Bran table lamp base ($20), I set out to create a nautical-inspired lamp with a modern twist.

Keep reading to discover how easy it was to create my rope lampshade!

What to Buy Now: 50 on Trend Spring Decor Pieces Under $50

Angela Swinderman Elias — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:00:09 PDT

If you're looking to experiment with Spring trends but don't want to invest much, consider accessorizing with decor pieces that cap off at $50. You'd be surprised how a colorful indoor/outdoor chair, strategically placed lamp, or a whimsical piece of art can change the feel of a room. With a mix of fleeting sale items and inexpensive Spring staples, this guide of our favorite on trend decor pieces under $50 is definitely worth a look!

Sale Alert: CB2 50 Percent Off Spring Sale

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:55:00 PDT

It looks like Spring has arrived and CB2 is bringing the discounts along with it! The affordable modern furniture shop has kicked off its Spring sale with discounts of up to 50 percent off top-rated items. From the Rose Line Lamp ($80) that goes with everything to the Peacock Rug ($250) that brings a little sass to your floors to the Flatiron Dinnerware ($3-$5) that gives your dinner party an edge, there's something for everyone, whether you want to make a statement or keep your cool quiet.

Here are a few more of my picks from the sale!

Cool Idea: Hallelujah by Wonderable

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PST

One of my absolute favorite products that I discovered at the Ambiente design trade show, which I attended courtesy of Messe Frankfurt last month, was the Hallelujah Lamp from Netherlands-based designer Wonderable. But I don't just love it because it looks cool - and it does, doesn't it? First and foremost, the pendants are made from a Vietnamese printer's wastepaper, so it's not only inventive, but it's also eco-friendly.Secondly, a team of young artisans, mostly street children, create them in Ho Chi Minh City using the same technique used to create classic Vietnamese garlands. So while the production offers the young people a chance to learn a trade and earn a living from it, it also helps to pass down the techniques of their own culture's traditional crafts.

And lastly, since the lamp is produced from excess paper from a printer, each lamp is unique. The shades not only bear a limitless range of colors, but each has a distinct pattern based on the printed paper used to make it. I liked the stripe-like pattern of this one! Conceivably, the honeycomb-like structure could be produced in solid colors - but where's the fun in that?

Hallelujah is available in stores all over the map, from South Korea to Switzerland and beyond. Unfortunately, it hasn't made its way to the States yet, but you can order yours directly from Wonderable for about $380.

Continue reading to watch a video of the lamp being produced!

Mmm . . . This Lamp Smells Like Bourbon

Elka Karl — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:00:00 PST

Forget the sweet scent of a fig-and-honey-infused pillar candle. When it comes to favorite fragrances, the rich scent of bourbon is high on my list. So it's no surprise that I'm seriously crushing on B. Light Design's Bourbon Lamp.

Ben explains, "[The] Jar Lamp is made with an oak base. The oak comes from an old bourbon prefermentation vat. A smart man convinced me to leave the base unfinished . . . when the bulb heats up and the jar is removed, the smell of bourbon fills the air."

Check out more of Ben's lamps on Etsy.

Desire/Acquire: Floral-Inspired Hanging Lamp

Elka Karl — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:33:15 PST

When I'm in the mood for checking out the latest in innovative, playful interior design, Dutch design company Moooi is my number one online destination. Unfortunately, though, the company's very serious price point for the majority of its work is anything but lighthearted.

One of my favorites right now is Moooi's Dandelion Hanging Lamp ($2,700). Designed by Matti Klenell in 2004, it's made from powder-coated aluminum and chromed steel, and is built to resemble the puffy head of a dandelion, just before it seeds your lawn.

Keep reading for a much less expensive option!

Guess Who Tom Dixon Designed His Comet Lamp For?

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:22:00 PST

British lighting designer Tom Dixon has teamed up with a French champagne house to design Comet Lamp, a romantic lighting installation made from a simple, cardboard box. The lamp references a comet that was seen in the Champagne region of France in 1811, a year of an exceptional vintage when "modern champagnes" were first developed. Can you guess which champagne maker Dixon designed it for?

This Tron Lamp Is Pretty and Mesmerizing

Leta Shy — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:30:25 PST

I confess: I did not make it to a midnight screening of Tron: Legacy last month like many did, or even watch it at all. But even as a nonfan, I must say, this movie has spawned some seriously covetable accessories.

The Ring Lamp is one such product. Its trademark Tron light, designed from bioluminescent polymers, dims or brightens by rotating the light disc, and its streamlined and beautiful design would look at home in many modern pads. And even without knowing anything about the movie, I wouldn't mind waking up to it at all.

Unfortunately, this lamp is still only a concept, but if you are mesmerized by its serene glow, check out a few more pics in the gallery below!

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Love It or Hate It? Snowdust Lampshade

Julia Millay Walsh — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:00:00 PST

Industrial design graduate Olga Kravchenko's Snowdust Lampshade is designed to celebrate dust. Dust, she says, looks best when it accumulates in a natural environment. So with its mass of branch-like shapes, the lampshade is just the thing to catch the small particles as they fall. If Swiffer is your best friend, this lamp probably won't jive with your cleaning routine. But if you're the sort of person who loves any excuse not to clean, maybe it's a match made in heaven.

Comic Strip Lampshade Will Light Up Your Life

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:47:24 PDT

Need to shine some light on your desktop situation? You can go for one of the many geekified lamps I've found in the past, or you can support independent designers by picking up this equally awesome Comic Strip Lamp Shade ($62) from Etsy.

Made from vintage comics (with a geek girl twist to boot), this lampshade will fit on almost any E12 table lamp base, including a few popular numbers from Ikea. Etsy seller Spooky Shades has a bunch of other awesome lamp shades for old movie buffs and vintage freaks alike, so you better get on it before they sell out!

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