CasaSugar

Get the Look: The Cullen Living Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

Twilight had some serious design eye candy, so it's no surprise that New Moon would follow suit. This photo of the Cullen's living room is making me a feel a pang of envy. The apple greens and beige mixed with the abstract artwork, flickering pillar candles, and plethora of flowers creates a moody vibe that is totally calm and almost otherworldly. These colors wouldn't normally be my go-to colors, but seeing this beautiful space has me itching to redesign my home. I thought I'd see if I couldn't re-create the look in case you're digging it too. Learn how to get the look when you read more.

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Ask Casa: Help With My New Living Room

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0800

Hi Casa,

I recently rented my first apartment and now I have to furnish and make it my own space. Eeek! I feel like I need some serious help. The apartment is not very big and I'm not allowed to paint the walls so they must remain white. Right now I'm focused on the living area. As of right now I have a couch, chair, and an accent table. I'm need of a coffee table, but I was thinking instead of going the table route, of doing a cocktail ottoman. I found one at Target, the Kerry Rectangle Ottoman, I thought might work well. If you could give me some pointers I would be truly grateful. I've included a picture so you can get some idea of what I'm working with. Thanks, xnieves

To hear my suggestions for xnieves, read more.

Hi xnieves,

Thanks for writing in! How fun? Your first apartment! The space looks great. Your parquet floors are gorgeous, and that fireplace nook is great.

It's too bad you can't paint the walls, but you do have some alternatives. If you're allowed to, hang large-scale artwork to instantly bring color to the space. The wall above that fireplace is just begging for a big, bright painting. You can also hang textiles, tapestries, or curtains to bring in color. Another great trick is to wallpaper boards of plywood and just lean them against your walls - see what I mean here.

While I do like the idea of using an ottoman instead of a coffee table, I'm afraid it will be too hefty for this small space, especially in that dark brown color of the Kerry ottoman. If you really want one, I'd recommend getting two small ottoman cubes instead - something more like this. But honestly, I think the space would really benefit from a coffee table that's much lighter visually, such as a glass or Lucite one. For instance, the CB2 Smart Coffee Table ($199) would look great (and let those parquet floors peek through).

The biggest problem I see already here though is that you're headed in a very beige and brown direction, which is not very inspiring or intriguing. You need color in this space. I recommend adding colorful throw pillows to the couch, and maybe a small one to the chair as well. Since you can't paint the walls, your furnishings should take the lead on adding color and personality. You should also dress up that fireplace nook; read my post on Decorating a Nonworking Fireplace for ideas. Bring in color with accessories, too, such a candlesticks, books, vases, etc.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Casa

Before and After: From Scary to Shabby Chic

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:00:23 -0700

Côté Maison reader Serge purchased a dilapidated retirement home in the Bordeaux region of France after leaving a duplex in Paris. The exterior had already been partially restored but the house still needed a lot of work. Two years and thousands of euros later, he and his wife had redone the roofing, floors, bathrooms, bedrooms, electricity, tiles, garden, pool, and even planted 360 saplings! They also converted an old barn into a photo studio, a small house into a guest room, and a garage and shed into spare apartments.

As you can see, the room above was a scary sight that needed a lot of work, but it did have beautiful, rustic ceiling beams. So, they transformed the space into a calm, shabby chic living room that I'd kill to own. See it when you read more.

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Get the Look: Molly Sims's Lovely Living Room

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:00:48 -0700

Interior designer Kishani Perera designed Molly Sims's former Hollywood Hills home, and it's always been one of my favorite celebrity spreads. There's a lot going on in this corner of her living room, but since Perera cued the palette to cool blues, greens, and purples, it's not overwhelming. Her arrangement of black ornate framed mirrors really makes a statement, and the black beaded chandelier plays off of that, bringing in even more glamour. I thought I'd try to re-create this look for those of you who dig this modern Victorian style. See some products to help you get the look when you read more.

Photo by Max Kim-Bee

Get the Look: Bright Modern Living Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:00:19 -0700

It's a bold move to choose a large checkered print for your sofa - that's a lot of pattern. But when you keep your palette otherwise simple, with just a couple other principal colors, it works! I absolutely love the daring sofa in this room. And just because the space really has just two colors (brown and white) doesn't mean it's not fun. Textured pieces, such as the shag rug, fur pillows, and driftwood table, are playful but still subdued. The room also has intrigue because of the unusual shapes of the furnishings: the arc floor lamp, the organic coffee table, the jungle-like tree. And then, a few high-style elements like glass vases and a Costume National book polish it off. To get this look, start by picking up the Pal + Smith Madison Sofa.

For more items to complete the look, read more.

Love It or Hate It? A Wall of Mismatched Mirrors

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:37 -0700

In this very eclectic living room, which I think belongs to photographer Debi Treloar, one wall is adorned with an arrangement of mismatched ornate gold mirrors in varying shapes and sizes. In general, I feel like it's hard to go wrong with a mirror. Here, I think the disparity of the mirrors works with the room's sort of lost-and-found vibe. But I'm not sure it would work everywhere. What do you think?

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Cool Idea: An Easel as TV Stand

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Since I don't watch much TV, updating my hefty idiot box to an ultra slim HD flatscreen is not very high on my list of priorities. But if I did own the latest and greatest in television technology, I would love to use an artist's easel as a stand, like this one featured in House Beautiful. Tech gadgets are always difficult to coordinate with décor, but that's especially true when your design scheme is earthy and traditional. The wood construction of the easel makes for a near seamless integration. And better yet, it allows you to change the height and angle of your TV - something that few standard media centers can do. Would you try this in your home?

Love It or Hate It? Cary Leibowitz's Pop Pink Pad

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:06 -0700

The Harlem home of American visual artist Cary Leibowitz (aka Candyass) is a melting pot of sorts, juxtaposing objects from different eras. Louis XIV furniture lives with psychedelic '70s lamps, optical wallpaper, neoclassical busts, and Victorian secretaries. Pop art is the lowest common denominator, as Leibowitz is a collector of Andy Warhol's works. While it's definitely busy, it's not prohibitively so. To me, it's just fun! What do you think?

Get the Look: Brad Ford's Lovely Lime Living Room

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:00:17 -0700

I'm still swooning over this living room designed by New York-based interior designer Brad Ford. It's light and airy, comfortable, great for entertaining, and well-balanced. There's also a good mix of eras here: the Saarinen side table and swivel head floor lamp are very midcentury, while the quilted white leather ottomans and exposed metal legged sofa are undoubtedly contemporary. As for color, white and lime green are the primary hues here, but touches of pink, blue, and brown give it depth. Learn how to recreate this room when you read more.

Before and After: Vicente Wolf's Living Room Design

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:00:26 -0700

If you've ever hired an interior designer, you probably received renderings, floor plans, and fabric and surface swatches before your designer made orders and had everything installed. A good designer will give you a very thorough sketch of the space, and all the swatches to help you get a feeling for the colors and textiles. New York-based interior designer Vicente Wolf recently shared a rendering and photo of this space he designed, which I thought might be interesting for you to see if you've never hired a designer. It really removes the guesswork from the process and makes hiring a designer much less daunting. To see a photo of the final installation, read more

I love how the room came out, and I think I'd be very pleased with the rendering as a client. It's quite true to form. Check out Wolf's post on what makes a good presentation here.

John-Richard Collection - $950.00	Karlstad 2 Chaise Lounges + Sofa - $997.00
Orient Express Rugs White Shag Rug - $1,899.00	Horchow Emporador Console - $1,269.00
Banjara Fretwork Pillow - $195.00	PB Pillar Candle - $5.00
Acqua di Parma White Cube Candle - $70.00	Vitra place sofa - ottoman - $1,840.00
Wilder Floor Lamp - $650.00	Mikasa Vase, 12" Avenue - $72.00
Horchow Faux Roses - $295.00

SUM Underwater Bamboo Wallpaper in Blue - $172.00	"Donovan" Wing Chair - $2,279.00
Jeremy Console - $3,795.00	"Tropical" Rock Crystal Lamp - $3,995.00
"Sauda" Chandelier - $1,124.90	Ruffle Edge Mirror - Wall - High Gloss Black - $599.00
Howard Elliott "Saratoga" Mirror - $360.00	Ruffle Edge Mirror - Floor - High Gloss Black - $699.00
Howard Elliott "Queen Ann" Antique Black Mirror - $245.00	Halden Mirror - $159.00
Areaware My Brother's Mirror - $190.00	Orrefors 'Delight' Votive Candle Holder - $40.00
Cerealart - flowerella vase by kenny scharf for cerealart - $300.00

Arlington Sofa - $1,599.00	Balanced Design - Flannel/Felt Color Block Pillow - $140.00
Patent Leather Cube - White - $169.00	Enzo Lamp - $398.00
Christopher Marley Shell Artwork - $450.00	Saarinen Side Table - $560.00
Green Tea Bamboo Bowl (18x7.5-in.) by Front of the House - $39.95	CLOSEOUT! Martha Stewart Collection "Chenille" Throw - $100.00
Kanist Vase - $7.99	Arielle Love Seat: Custom Colors - $1,499.00
Arielle Chaise: Custom Colors - $1,399.00	Blissliving Home Poppy Field Pillow - $75.00
Framed Letterpress Bird Prints, Set of 2 - $229.00	Wool Shag Rug in Select Sizes - $595.00
5'x7' Wool/Cotton Shag Rug, Natural - $229.00