CasaSugar

Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair Gets a Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:35 -0700

Philippe Starck has no doubt had an influence on many areas of the design world, but he will never escape his Louis Ghost Chair. The 2002 design pared down the opulent Louis XVI chair and is as relevant, contemporary, and stylish today as it was seven years ago. Starck did try to reimagine it in a child size, the Lou Lou Ghost Chair, but Louis reigns supreme. The folks at London design shop Lifestyle Bazaar are taking one more shot at reinventing the thing in hopes of making it cutting-edge once again, rather than the design staple it has become.

They've asked nine designers and artists from various disciplines (street art, tattoo art, taxidermy, sculpture, furniture design, conceptual salvage, product design, and interior design) to customize nine Louis Ghost chairs for the London Design Festival in September. The chairs will be auctioned off to benefit Children With Aids Charity. One chair will be decked with colorful cakes, sweets, and meringues to be photographed by Rosie Day, and for guests of the exhibit to actually snack on. I bet Starck never imagined his precious set would one day become a buffet.

Louis XVI: 16 Louis Ghost Chairs Around the World

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

I've been thinking about love a lot lately. L'amour. The L word. And, do you know what most comes to mind? My beloved Louis Ghost Chair, a modern interpretation of the classic Louis XVI chair, designed by none other than wacky Frenchman Philippe Starck. As a love letter of sorts, I've decided to showcase XVI (translation: 16) Louis Ghost chairs around the world. If you haven't yet fallen under Louis's spell, seeing the iconic chair everywhere from a rustic office to a formal dining room will induce lust you've never felt before.

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Midday Muse: Cushioned Louis Ghost Chairs on Gossip Girl

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:38 -0700

Tuning into "The Dark Night" episode of Gossip Girl, I couldn't help but notice that the set of Philipe Starck Louis Ghost Chairs in Blair Waldorf's dining room weren't naked as usual. The polycarbonate chairs had been dressed up with silk shantung chair pads, giving them less of a transparent look. Personally, I think the chair pads detract from Starck's vision for the chair: a modern reinterpretation of the Louis XIV chair, which is upholstered. But, from a purely aesthetic perspective, they don't look half bad here in Blair's home. And, seeing as the gossip girl lives in a quite traditional abode (unlike Chuck Bass's bachelor pad), I think the chair pads make the very modern chairs more appropriate for the setting. What do you think? Oh also: did anyone notice how there's only wallpaper on one half of the room? Weird!

Nice and New: Lou Lou Ghost Chair

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:15:39 -0700

Building on the success of the now famous Louis Ghost chair, released in 2002, Philippe Starck has come up with a child-size version of the chair for Kartell. A worthy heir, Lou Lou Ghost incorporates the features of its big sister, with a Louis XVI silhouette that is resolutely modern and features a polycarbonate body, a resistance to scratches, and perfect ergonomics. All you design-fiend parents out there can turn your kids on to good design from an early age with the Lou Lou. Available in a variety of candy-colored transparent pastel colors (fluorescent orange and green, sugar pink, blue, sky blue, purple, lilac, and pale green) and three opaque colors (red, white, black), you're bound to find one that suits your little darling. And for those of you without kids' rooms to furnish, I honestly think it'd be pretty cute used to stack books beside your favorite reading chair. It should be available in Kartell shops for about $116 in Europe this Summer, and hopefully in the US soon there after.

Crave Worthy: Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:34:26 -0700

I know, I know. I'm a bit behind the clock to be declaring this now. But, Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair ($410), have I told you lately that I love you? It just occurred to me that I had yet to introduce Louis Ghost as a Crave Worthy, and since I'm of the persuasion that it's never too late, here it is. Philippe Starck introduced the chair in 2002 modernizing the classic Louis XVI chair (a design that originated during the King's reign) with clear Lucite. This type of daring refashioning of an old design is a token Philippe Starck move. But, six years old, the Louis Ghost has already become a classic and Starck himself has since updated it, offering up new colors and the option of adding a custom decoration (like a decal) to it. Can you think of a modern design that's more alluring than this? I honestly don't think I'll ever be over it; it's my undying flame.

Etsy Find: Designer Chair Cocktail Napkins

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:00:40 -0800

If you have your sights set on a Le Corbusier or a Philippe Starck but need to collect 80 penny jars before you can call it your own, think about ordering the Avrilloreti Designer Chair Cocktail Napkins ($26), which will cost you less than 30 Sacagawea dollars. If they don't fit the bill, try my Casa Quickie resource, or just make your own designer chair napkins. You might prefer a real LC4 Chaise Lounge ($2,660), but, oh, wouldn't we all?

Crave Worthy: Niki Jones Silhouette Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:30:58 -0700

Aside from antiques, it's not often that I see a dining chair that's so outstanding and lustworthy as the Niki Jones Silhouette Chair ($407). The shape has beautiful proportions and such a delicate shape. Its form is based on classic French antiques, but has been updated with a high gloss lacquer. For some reason antique-inspired modern designs, like the Louis Ghost Chair, always get me. The trouble is that if, like most, your dining table requires at least four chairs, your bill will be pricey. But this one can also stand alone and dress up any empty corner.

Coveted Crib: Judy Aldridge's Textured Texas Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:40 -0700

It's no secret that fashion designer Judy Aldridge (mother of Jane, the high school "It" girl fashion blogger, aka Sea of Shoes) has a passion for design - take a gander at her blog, Atlantis Home. Each ensemble she puts on is more innovative than the next. So, it comes as no surprise that her home is equally chic. After spotting some stunning furnishings in the background of one of Jane's photos, I was determined to get a peak at the fashion-centric family's Texas digs. As it turns out, the Aldridge home is more crave worthy than I imagined.

After a divorce, Aldridge snatched up a home in Trophy Club, Texas that had great bones including cathedral ceilings and a big galley kitchen. Before dressing it to the nines, she had to do some major gut work. "There were railings everywhere, like a country-Western bar; beige carpet; creepy, hideous ceiling fans with little flowers painted on them," she told Dallas News. With a base of white walls and pretty sealed floors, she curated a mix of Pottery Barn upholstery, vintage finds, and some designer pieces (including Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chairs and Verner Panton's S Chair). Overall the design is heavily white and natural in tone, with plenty of texture thanks to fur accessories and well-worn wood. Aldridge was really disciplined in designing in her home and it paid off: the result is utterly relaxing, chic, and full of personal style. Take a look when you read more.

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Nice and New: Flor Sitting Pretty Rug

CasaSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:28 -0700

Flor tiles have always seemed casual to me, modern and piecemealed as they are. The new Sitting Pretty Rug ($374.70 for 8x10), though, looks striking and fresh in this formal living room. No, it's not a stuffy Persian import, but step onto its brilliant orange-and-pink stripe pattern and you'll feel like you're somewhere. On the other hand, it would look just at home with a bean bag chair and a cozy low coffee table as it does with this Louis Ghost Chair, delicate wainscoting, and curvy French settee. I'm sold.

Weird Furniture: 1960s Female Form Fiberglass Chair

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

What is it with men and designing female-shaped furniture? At first, I thought it was kind of funny. But really, the sex-centric furniture is just everywhere these days; it's getting kind of ridiculous. Exhibit A is the 1960s Female Form Fiberglass Chair ($10,500), a chair that proliferates the animal-hide trend, and takes the classic Louis XV chair to a "sensual" level — kind of like a dirty version of Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair. I must say I'm a little confused by the back of this chair though; this lady looks to be double-jointed. What do you think? Funny or misogynistic?