CasaSugar

Before and After: A Sad, Sad Daybed, Rescued!

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:19 -0800

One Living Etc reader had been looking for daybeds by Ercol, a British furniture manufacturer known for its bentwood designs, for ages and finally bought this one off of eBay for a good price. But it required a bit of work. She "sanded it all down, oiled it, replaced the webbing which had crumbled to dust." And it needed a cushion! So she embarked on her first upholstery project and also made throw pillows to go on top. You'll be wowed when you see the finished project, so read more.

Doesn't it look great!? The shape of the daybed really is beautiful, and I'm so glad that she rescued it. I love the mixture of pattern pillows, too.

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Before and After: An Old Sideboard Gets a Hip Makeover

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:23 -0700

Aside from its missing drawer handle, there's nothing really wrong with this old sideboard. It has a rich color and a beautiful glossy finish. But, sad as it may be, this style of wood furniture is not very of-the-moment. Everyone wants to paint, paint, paint these days. And wallpaper. Paint and wallpaper, paint and wallpaper. I think there should be a balance of both. You've got to mix some wood pieces in with your painted, metal, and plastic ones.

Want to see the transformation this sideboard received? Then read more.

I think it looks great! The marine paint really makes the sideboard's ornate shape stand out, and the two papered drawers add a whimsical touch. Lately, the trend is to paint furniture in high-gloss, but I really like the matte finish of this piece. It seems less frivolous and more timeless than glossy pieces. What do you think?

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Found It! Magazines' Favorite Bird Sculpture

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:03 -0700

Can you see the common element in both of these photos? There's a black bird sculpture hovering on the shelf in Emily Walker's Canadian crib, recently featured in Canadian House and Home. Not to be outdone, the same bird's perching on the Living Etc July 2009 cover. I've actually written about this bird before, and it was originally featured in the house of two famous designers. Do you recognize this black bird?

To see where you can find this bird, read more.

It's the Vitra Eames House Bird ($208). Charles and Ray Eames originally decorated the Eames House with numerous objects from their travels, and this American folk art wooden bird was apparently one of their favorites. Originally found in the Appalachian mountain region of the eastern United States, this Eames bird is based on the original sculpture, and made from alderwood with a black lacquer finish.

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Get the Look: Neutral With a Splash

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:01 -0700

There's no shortage of patterned pillows in the world to love, so where do you draw the line? As someone who is drawn to color and pattern, I've always struggled with this. But, I think the answer is simple: go neutral. This living room has a neutral backdrop: white side table, translucent lamp, beige sofa, white walls, etc. The array of patterned pillows here works because it doesn't have any competition. Beyond that, the two bolder hues - royal blue and lime - are matched by the vase and greenery on the shelf, making it look much more cohesive and composed. I thought I'd try to re-create this room for you, in case any of you dig it as much as I do. To see my finds, read more.

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Get the Look: Eclectic Open Plan Dining Room

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:00:59 -0700

This open plan dining room is so eclectic, it's almost silly. But I love it! The mish-mash of the Victorian fireplace with the retro table and lime-green chairs, along with the quirky accents like the oversize letters, baby carriage, and glass dome, create the impression that someone really artsy lives here. But, it doesn't have that messy, bipolar look of some artist studios: it's polished. You can see people entertaining here, especially considering the extra chairs stacked in the corner. I could go on, but I thought I'd just help you get the look in your home, if you dig it as much as I do. To see my finds for re-creating this room, read more.

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Midday Muse: In the Mix

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:04 -0700

Growing up, I was a well-coordinated girl. My mother dressed me well, always pairing a stripe with a solid, never mixing patterns, often a bow in my hair, shoes shined, etc. And then Sienna Miller came along with her Bohemian chic and made it okay to look messy, to mix florals with stripes, to clash colors. In the world of interiors, I've noticed the same. Pick up any shelter magazine and you'll see a bold mix of texture, pattern, and color that hasn't always been accepted. I'm not sure if there is a correlation between the two . . . if people feel more free to decorate eclectically because they dress that way, or if it's just a coincidence. Or perhaps this is all a mirage, and since I've moved out of my mother's traditionally-styled home, I am just personally embracing a more eclectic look in my own home. Either way, I'm digging it, and I like to mix things up.
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Love It or Hate It? Half-Painted Hemnes Bed

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:00:25 -0700

I've long loved the Ikea Hemnes Four-Poster Bed, and while I love the composition of this room, I'm not so sold on the half-painted bed. What's your take? Source

Get the Look: Patterned Symmetry

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:30:52 -0700

I've told you before that I'm not a fan of matchy matchy. But sometimes, repeating the same simple pieces in a room creates a luxurious effect that's muted, not headache-inducing. In this bedroom, the furniture and accessories sit in perfect symmetry, while the split headboard and sunny yellow pendant lights add a playful element that lightens the mirror-image mood.

Furniture: For the bed itself, you can go with a basic frame. As for the headboard, pick up a fabric with a palette matching your duvet, with a big graphic pattern such as these bursting chrysanthemums. Stretch the fabric over two tall canvas frames, a few inches less than half the width of the bed, and staple them to the frames. Pick up two matching nightstands in a medium wood with clean lines, such as the CB2 Acacia Nightstand ($149).

There's still lighting and accents to hear about, so read more.

Lighting: Bright yellow pendant lights, such as the Perch Walker Pendant Light ($190), hanging low over the nightstands will add a playful element and a boost of color.

Accents: Setting an array of small green glass vases and carafes by the bedside makes the nightstands mirror each other, but not to the extreme. Try the Pottery Barn Vintage Green Glass Jugs ($29-69).

Bedding: Start with crisp white sheets and pillowcases. Then, pick up a bedskirt and two throws with the same subtle, green/blue stripe. Next, find a duvet or matelassé with a big botanical pattern to set at the foot of the bed, and pick up textiles in a matching palette for the headboard. Two accents pillows with a graphic pattern in a coordinating color, like the Area Alma Pillowcases ($30 and up) will add an interesting visual element to the space.

notNeutral - Ribbon Etched Carafe - $29.00	Vintage Green Glass Jugs - $69.00
Arcade Glass - flores vase by arcade - $283.00	Kensett Sheet Set by Nautica, 100% Cotton Sateen, 350 Thread Count - $69.99
Area Day White Sheets - $140.00	Blake Nightstand - $449.00
Acacia Nightstand - $199.00	Sleepy Hollow Storage Shelf-Nightstand - $149.00
Perch! - Walker Pendant Light - $190.00	Foscarini - tite suspension lamp by marc sadler for foscarini - $313.00
Fontana Arte -caffe lamp by fontana arte - $141.00	Nordstrom Twilight Lumbar Pillow - $68.00
Area Alma Pillowcases - $30.00	Bedford Jacquard Bed Skirt - $129.00
Ludlow Full Dust Ruffle - $29.99	500 Thread Count Damask Stripe Bed Skirts - $19.99
Matine Toile Duvet Cover & Sham - Powder Blue - $29.00	Block Print Duvet Cover & Shams - $198.00
Manuel Canovas Botanical Bedding - $95.00	Custom Comfort Trinidad - $44.99

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Midday Muse: I'm an Island (Fan)

CasaSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:37 -0700

Growing up, I would always sit on our high stools at the kitchen island and watch my mother cook dinner as I did my homework. It was basically the only way for me to spend time with her alone at night, and it was also how I learned to cook. Sometimes, my sister would practice piano in the room, or spread her books out on the dining table to study. In the mornings, we'd all hop on the stools and eat cereal together as my mom made sandwiches on the other side. We had an open-plan living space (a kitchen and casual dining room combined), and it worked for us; I can't imagine growing up any other way. But, some chefs prefer the kitchen to themselves, far from where their family actually dines, and others simply prefer the privacy of a separate kitchen. Where do you fall?
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Get the Look: Mary Portas's Brilliant Living Room

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:30:41 -0700

One of my favorite shelter mags, LivingEtc, recently shot UK retail queen Mary Portas's London home. Her bright, enthusiastic take on color and her eclectic mixing of styles is refreshing. When LivingEtc asked her about her use of bright shades, she responded, "Neutrals just don't make my heart leap." A woman after my own heart!

To find out more about this home, as well as to see some similar pieces that I've rounded up for you, read more.

Mary Portas's show, Mary Queen of Shops, a six-part series broadcast on BBC Two, is currently broadcasting its second season. The show focuses on struggling fashion boutiques that, with a little help from Portas, attempt to turn their businesses around.

Portas's innovation and think-outside-the-box mentality is obvious not only in this show, but in her house as well. I'm absolutely in love with her living room's graceful, teardrop-shaped amber chandelier, which reminds me of a very high-end version of this steal of the day. I found some similar products to those seen in Portas's living room, including that Noguchi lamp. If you're interested in checking out more of this beautiful, eclectic home, see the entire slideshow here.

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Kartell bourgie - $362.00	Thomas Paul Swallows Silk Twill Pillow - $80.00
Dervish Linen Pillow by Thomas Paul - $100.00	English Roll Arm Slipcovered Studio Sofa - $2,545.00
Daisy Chainstitch Embroidered Boudoir Pillow Cover - $29.00	Fern Jacquard Lumbar Pillow Cover - $39.00
Fritz Hansen little friend table - $892.00	Crow Bottle Opener - $25.00
Klein/Reid - klein-reid c-thru vases - $68.00	Esque Slump Vase - $350.00
White Tchotchke Shelves - $24.99

Bensen canyon lounge chair - $1,495.00	Bond 60 Round Dining Table in Stainless Steel - $799.00
Aero Chair - $160.00	Bellesol Mirror - $199.00
Espresso Mantle Shelves - $49.00	Thin Metal Profile Frames - $19.99
Oversized Letters - $19.00	Roost Glass Museum Dome - $58.00
Kadota Fig Plant - $98.00	Noir Vase - $149.00
Inglesina Classica Pram in Azzurro - $1,099.00	Benson 48 or 54 Round Dining Base in Stainless Steel - $649.00
Uttermost Amberlyn Wall Mirror - $219.99	Bensen little rock lounge chair - $775.00