CasaSugar

Roundup: 10 Antique Desks For Modern Feminine Bedrooms

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:40 -0800

I'm loving this colorful, girly bedroom, whose Louis XV French bureau desk looks perfectly at home in the lively, modern space. Inspired, I wanted to see what other antique or antique-look desks might complement a modern, feminine bedroom.

While I tend to think that bedrooms should be limited to sleeping space, it's often impossible to pare down furniture in small spaces. But no worries - a desk can find a perfect place in your boudoir. To integrate an antique desk into your bedroom, try mixing and matching styles. Pair a Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair with your 19th-century desk, and don't be afraid to mix textile patterns as well. There's no reason a French desk can't be in the same room as a Kuba cloth duvet cover or an Amy Butler ottoman. Be creative, and trust your instincts!

Source

Crave Worthy: Jayson Vintage Chair and Ottoman

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I've never met a French furnishing I didn't like. The French are relentless purveyors of style, and they win me over again and again, be it with a Chanel frock or a Philippe Starck chair. The Jayson Home & Garden Vintage Chair and Ottoman ($2,995), seating from mid-20th century France reupholstered in dark gray linen, is no exception either. I love how this glamorous gilded Louis XV is juxtaposed with the masculine tone of the fabric. No, it's probably not the most comfortable chair and ottoman
on the block, but it would look darn good in my living room.

Roundup: Tassels

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:00:20 -0700

While I'm fairly certain that anything Mad Men's Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) reclines against will look gorgeous, this pillow is an instant eye-catcher even without the redhead's influence. The tassels are the secondary scene stealer here.

Tassels, which can be found everywhere from curtains to pillows, are both a pretty and functional decoration. Thousands of years ago, the tassel was used by weavers to tie off rugs, blankets, and garments with knots. Louis XV of France was also a big tassel fan, and during the time that he used them, the tassel came to be associated with high social status. While tassels themselves are now used to tie back curtains or as drawer pulls, they're also incorporated into many pieces of furniture and decorative accents.

Most of the tassels that I've rounded up have a more of a bohemian feel than Joanie's tasseled pillow. To see my faves, read more.

Source

Casa Verde: Williams-Sonoma Home Green Collection

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:33 -0700

If you're looking for another good option for classical design that comes in eco shades, try Williams-Sonoma Home's Green Collection. All of the furniture in the line features classical looks combined with durable construction and one or more of the following characteristics: organic textiles, recycled materials, reclaimed materials, and/or sustainable construction.

My absolute favorite piece in the line is the French Chair ($1,695), which features a classic Louis XV shape. From its cabriole legs to its floral carvings, it is one gorgeous example of green seating. Which piece in the line do you love?

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?

Crave Worthy: Antique Ebonized and Turquoise Silk Chairs

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:00:01 -0700

I love a good plush seat, but sometimes I can't help but sacrifice comfort for good looks. And, that time is now. The Antique Ebonized and Turquoise Silk Chairs ($1,300 for pair) from Paris Hotel Boutique don't look one bit comfortable, but they're just so ravishing. I think it's the juxtaposition of the contemporary turquoise Dupioni silk with the 1900s ebonized and gilt design. I imagine the chairs were originally upholstered in a fussy floral, but the lack of pattern here really lets the chairs' beautiful shape shine. I'd set them at the heads of a dining table, paired with some basic black Louis XV chairs, or station one in a quiet hallway to provide a pop of color.

Open House: Your Parents' Style

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:30:36 -0700

This is a snapshot of my mother's living room, filled with antiques and plenty of outdated '80s/'90s textiles. Were she to redecorate today, I can guarantee she'd opt for a loose, more livable space. But, her taste remains colorful, traditional, and sophisticated. While I wouldn't mind winding up with a few of the pieces in this room (Louis XV chairs, secretary desk, mirror, maybe the coffee table), my style is certainly a departure from hers, and I might even consider painting some of the furniture. I prefer cleaner lines and fewer colors — more modern in general.How about you? How does your style compare to that of your parents? Has their décor style changed through the years? Do they adapt to trends? Would you like to inherit any of their furniture? Tell me by commenting below!

Coveted Crib: 90 Years and Still Stylin'

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:00:05 -0800

At 90 years of age, Dallas socialite Betty ("Boop") Blake and arbiter of art is redecorating (reupholstering) with longtime friend and design collaborator Joseph Minton. Her mid-century modern mid-rise apartment lends itself as a showcase for notable works of art by Josef Albers, Joan Miró, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg, and others, as well as for perhaps more notable pieces designed by another old friend of hers, legendary British interior designer Syrie Maugham.
To hear more about and see photos of Blake's home, read more.

In the D Magazine article about Blake's home, Minton declined to speculate about the worth of Blake's Maugham pieces (including original, never reupholstered ones), but beats around the bush by saying, "let's just say they are very, very rare." Alongside the modern art and Maugham treasures are Louis XV-style chairs around a 1950s marble-top dining table, a pair of Knoll tables beside a Maison sofa, and a smattering of grand antique hand-me-downs from Blake's mother's estate. Of this unorthodox mixture, Blake poses, "because having all of only one thing would be dull, don't you think?" A bona fide art connoisseur, Blake opened the Betty McLean Gallery in Preston Center, Texas in 1951, which was the state's first contemporary art gallery. She has also lent "tremendous support to regional artists and museums." While her relationship with the art world may explain her inclination to redecorate, she inspires us all by asking, "Is there ever a time not to enjoy good design?"

View 7 Photos ›

Source

"Blue Wash" Writing Desk - $899.00	Wonderscape Desk - $998.00
Petite Secretary Desk & Jennifer Arm Chair - $699.00	"Cynthia" Writing Desk - $1,250.00
Phillipe Desk - $1,195.00	Writing Desk & Chair - $1,499.00
Kidney-Shaped Writing Desk - $1,699.00	Empress Writing Desk - $7,500.00
Louis XV Desk - $999.00	New! Carved Demilune Desk - $699.00

Zania Runner - $19.99	Nurata Tablecloth - $8.00
Tia Placemat - $7.95	Blissliving Home Poppy Pillow - $65.00
Thick-Net Tassel Pull - $9.00	Tentmakers Tablecloth - $88.00
Multicolored Tassel Towel - $15.00	Vetiver Balls - $12.00
"Grand Baroque" Tapestry - $60.00	"Cyprus" Curtains - $75.00
Oversized Tassel Tieback - $15.00	Tassel Table - $599.00
"Hacienda" Bed Linens - $325.00	Natori "Topkapi" Decorative Pillow Collection - $175.00
Tapestry, Rod & Finials, and Tassels - $105.00	Palm Harbor Embroidered Pillow - $179.99

Grayson Chair - $1,500.00	York Bed - $2,450.00
Sylvia Side Chair - $695.00	Beverly Sofa - $3,300.00
Abbott Corner Chaise - $1,850.00	Randall Club Chair - $1,650.00
Hampton Bed - $2,450.00	Oxford Ottoman - $895.00
Fairfax Tall Bed - $2,450.00	French Chair - $1,695.00