CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: JCPenney Hemstitch Table Linens

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:00:32 -0700

Even if you don't entertain often, every home should have a classic and simple set of table linens, for the occasion that guests drop by and to nudge you to actually sit down and enjoy your brunch every Sunday morning. If you've inherited some antique linens, that's wonderful, but you may want to keep them in good shape for parties. There's no need to drop big bucks on your tabletop, especially when the JCPenney Hemstitch Table Linens ($12-$27, 50% off) are so affordable. You can choose from seven color choices, or mix and match for a table setting that's just for you. Why not buy several color options and see where the mood takes you? Also, if monogramming is your thing, your runner and napkins will be monogrammed free — how 'bout that for a steal?

Would You Dress Your Floors in Monogrammed Rugs?

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:00:58 -0800

This George Monogram ($30 to $35/sq. ft.) by Diane Elson Bankoff is part of Elson & Co.'s children's collection, and I assume it's meant for a nursery. I'm not going to lie: It's certainly a good-looking rug. But personally, I feel that monograms are best left on the doormats, flasks, or preppy L.L. Bean tote bags of the world. Covering your floor in a fun pattern, or a classic Kilim, says more about who you are than a trio of initials ever will. But I suppose a monogrammed rug is one step up from a dull sisal. Tell me what you think: Would you or wouldn't you?

Do You Have Monogrammed Linens?

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:02:03 -0700

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Home Away From Home: A Skate-Inspired Hotel Suite

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:30 -0800

Skateboard label Etnies is rolling into the world of hospitality. The California-based brand has designed a skate-inspired hotel suite in Laguna Beach's Casa del Camino. But you won't find any Etnies logo monogrammed sheets here. "We didn’t want to make it look like a trade show," said VP of marketing Don Brown. "We focused more on the culture of skateboarding, taking the movement, curves and shapes and injecting that into the design."

Elements include wheel tracks on the ceiling, a mirror framed with skateboard wheels, mounted skateboards for guests to use, and "Go Sk8" artwork in the bathroom. My favorite piece is the God Father Lounge Chair, a leather chair and ottoman inspired by Eames's iconic Lounge Chair, made of pieces which remarkably resemble a skateboard deck. It's part of the Skate Study House collection, which I wrote about back in 2008. Continue reading.

Steal of the Day: Archipelago Monogrammed Candle

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:00:07 -0800

Everyone knows someone who can burp the alphabet. I never knew you could sniff the alphabet, though. That is, until I smelled each of these Archipelago Monogrammed Candles ($25, on sale $8) at my local Anthropologie store. Each candle is named a letter of the alphabet that corresponds to their primary scent (i.e. G for Gardenia and J for Jasmine). From A to Z, each scent was so enchanting that I couldn't choose just one. At $25 a pop, I wasn't exactly going to buy all of my favorite scents, so I left empty-handed. Thanks to Garnet Hill, who has reduced their price to $8, my problem is solved. Let's just hope 26 lit candles aren't a fire hazard . . .

Do You Own a Beanbag Chair?

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:15:56 -0700

When I was a kid, I had the pink striped monogrammed beanbag chair from Lillian Vernon that every other child in America had. It was indulgently comfortable, and the perfect size for a little girl like me, but it certainly didn't win any design awards. Even if you have a chic bean bag chair, I think we should leave the oversize, polypropylene-filled cushions to the kids or the students. They're perfect for 90210's student lounge, where comfort, not design, is the aim. Do you have one?

Photo courtesy of The CW

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:36 -0700

I'd love to add a natural pool to my backyard. - Re-Nest
Not into the natural pool? Check out these cool pools. - Charles and Hudson
Tag along on two Oregon garden tours. - Fresh Dirt
Lounge in this beach house bungalow. - AT:SF
DIY your own monogrammed stationery. -Craft
Color help is requested for the painting of this cottage. - Danny Seo
Check out the new Flor patterns. - Making It Lovely
I'm impressed with this reader's DIY garden shed. -Shelterrific

Steal of the Day: Lauria Beach Towel

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:30:44 -0700

Beyond your average, solid, monogrammed towel, sophisticated beach towels are hard to come by, particularly if you'd like a patterned one. So take note: the Pottery Barn Lauria Beach Towel ($29, reduced from $39) is on sale and completely chic. Its artfully rendered botanical graphic is inspired by the vintage watercolor books that decoupage artist John Derian makes a living on. The towel has a thick cotton velour top, and is backed with cotton terry, making it the ideal thing to dry you off after a dip this Summer. And, you can also have it monogrammed to add a personal touch to your pool décor.

How-To: Elizabeth Bauer's Flea Marketing Tips

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:00:42 -0700

Interior designer Elizabeth Bauer has a true passion for flea marketing. She loves mixing eras, patterns, colors, and textures, and finds that flea marketing is a great way to find inspiration and great products. Her love of unusual, unique home goods, all things lucite, and feminine finds can be seen in her West Village store Elizabeth Bauer Design. The store is filled with vintage high-end furnishings and accessories for the home, almost all of which are one-of-a-kind, refurbished antiques that reflect her modern eye.

Elizabeth recently shared her favorite flea marketing tips with me. She notes that, "Flea marketing can be very overwhelming if you are not a regular, since there is so much stuff to look at and in no specific organized format."

Eager to hear Elizabeth's tips? Then read more.

Elizabeth Bauer's Flea Marketing Tips

Identify one or two items that you are looking for prior to arriving at the market. For example, I am looking for a great lamp and would like to add to my silver collection. By pinpointing exactly what you want, your eye is already trained to look for these items instead of getting lost in what sometimes can feel like a lot of junk.
Trust your eye. Since there is sometimes so much to choose from at a flea market, it can be very hard to make quick decisions. Always go for what you noticed first. I have missed out on so many great things because I changed my mind at the last minute and, for example, decided to buy the item right next to it only to go back an hour later and find that it was gone! These mistakes have caused me many sleepless nights as I’m always on the lookout for unique finds to sell in my store, Elizabeth Bauer Design.
The early bird gets the worm. If you are a serious collector, you must arrive at the markets early. Chances are you are not the only one out there collecting this certain something. I collect vintage, linen, cocktail napkins and trust me, they go fast! Last week, I arrived 30 minutes later than I normally do, at the Antique Garage, one of my favorite local markets (25th and 6th Ave in NYC), and lost out on a perfect set of six linen napkins with my monogram. They were one of a kind so I will never see them again.
Network with the dealers. If you are looking for something very specific within a certain genre, don't be afraid to ask the dealer if they have what you are looking for. Dealers have so much more than what you are seeing in their booths on any given Sunday morning. I have gotten so many great things this way. Even if they don't have it they may be able to send you to one of their dealer friends in the aisle over.

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Sale Alert: See Jane Work Tax Time Sale

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:00:10 -0700

Hip, hip, hooray! It's tax time! OK, paying taxes may not be fun (unless you're expecting a big return), but you can ease the discomfort with a little savings. See Jane Work, the ultimate cutest place for office supplies, is running its Tax Time Sale through tomorrow, offering 25 percent off orders when you enter the code SPRING at checkout. Perk up your home office with some stylish supplies while you can! I'm loving this White Crocodile Leather Dictionary ($180) and these Monogram Paperweights ($16.25).