CasaSugar

Trend Alert: Magical Mushrooms

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:00:37 -0800

Maybe it was a natural follow-up to the garden gnome trend, but it seems as if the interior design world has gone a little wild for the mushroom motif as of late. From high-end fungi such as the Artifort Mushroom Chair ($2,529)
to more affordable items like the Paper Cloud Mushroom Pillow ($75), there's no reason not to ensure that each of our homes has some fungus among us.

Whether you like your mushrooms modern and candy colored or woodsy and lifelike, there's plenty to choose from in the design world. To see some of my favorite finds, read more.

Midday Muse: Art Imitating Nature

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:00:54 -0700

This sculpture, "Urchins," by Kelly Ann Lees, is part of the 2008 Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney, Australia. This public art festival, which is in its twelfth year, features over 100 sculptures placed along the Bondi to Bronte coastal path. I wish I had an Australia trip planned for the near future, so I could check out this artwork in person. I love public artwork: it beautifies spaces, fosters a sense of community, and encourages people to spend more time in public spaces.
Is there any great public art in your town or city?

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Photographer to Watch: Pamela Tachibana

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:00:36 -0800

Pamela Tachibana is a printmaker/hybrid artist from a long line of artists, all of whom warned her to find a different profession. She now resides with her family, creating art on the craggy coast of Kennebunk, Maine, a part of New England notorious for its quick, lusty summers and seemingly endless, unforgiving winters. Pamela is showing in a group show that benefits the American Breast Cancer Foundation this month at the Four Walls Gallery in Portland, Maine, and also has her next solo exhibit at the Kennebunk Free Library Gallery beginning April first. To see some of Pamela's beautiful and eerie photos -including many that are half price -check out the slideshow. Source

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Midday Muse: Back-To-Nature Mantel

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:00:31 -0800

My fiancé and I go on a lot of backpacking and hiking trips, and always tend to pick up some small memento during our trip. The horseshoe in this photo was discovered on a trail after we came across two coyotes while backpacking in the eastern Sierras. The rocks were found on other backpacking trips, while the one in the extreme foreground were slipped into pockets immediately after we got engaged on the coast in the Redwoods.

Do you keep nature objects in special places in your home?

Midday Muse: Tree Weaving

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:46:56 -0700

My sister happened upon this art installation when she was hiking in a Wisconsin forest this summer. Talk about designing with nature. I love how it looks as if this tree is wearing a hoop skirt.

Simple Style: Fall Olive Jar Arrangement

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:42:19 -0700

I love decorating with elements from nature, and this autumnal arrangement, from Better Homes and Gardens, fits the bill. For this simple display, a collection of rustic olive jars in various sizes are scattered on a worn wood console. Striking chestnut branches arch out of just one of the jars. Pretty by itself, the arrangement also makes a nice backdrop for a bowl offering party favors, such as this one: a little linen bag filled with potpourri and cinched with a satin ribbon.

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Go Natural With a Branch Chandelier

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:30:08 -0800

If you're craving the look of a hanging chandelier, but not necessarily the formality, you can keep things natural by using a branch motif in your lighting fixture. Or, just use actual branches! Check out some ideas for going natural with branch chandeliers.

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Do You Decorate With Ruffles?

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:35 -0800

Kristina, from Tidy Tips Photography recently sewed these linen ruffle pillows for her home, and I love the way that the natural color offsets the girliness of the ruffles. Tell me, do you decorate with ruffles in your home?

Round-up: Natural Air Fresheners For Your Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:40 -0800

Got a stinky smell in your home? You might want to pause before turning to that can of synthetic air freshener.

Did you know that most synthetic air fresheners - such as Lysol - do little to nothing to freshen the air? Instead, these chemical-laden products simply add more pollutants to your home when you spray them around your living room or bathroom. So, instead of making a bad situation worse, combat unpleasant smells with something that is derived from natural ingredients and won't detract from your home's indoor air quality. Take a look at the widget below for some of my favorite natural air fresheners.

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Trend Alert: Natural Curiosities

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:45:45 -0700

A while ago, I showed you home décor that followed in the fashion of The Book of Plants. To balance all of that flora with some fauna, today I have some décor ideas that seem influenced by Albert Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. Since his book sits right below The Book of Plants on my coffee table (it's a great distraction for kids at dinner parties), it seemed only reasonable to follow up on my first trend alert.

Seba's book is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and has been reproduced by Taschen for everyone's viewing enjoyment. It features an incredible (and often fantastical) collection of animals, plants, and insects from all around the world. Check out the widget below for some of my favorite Seba-inspired finds.

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Holmegaard - 'glow' glass table lamps by holmegaard - $504.00	George Kovacs Mushroom Tangerine - $225.00
Artifort mushroom chair - $2,630.00	Autoban by De La Espada Mushroom Family Stool - $2,995.00
Mushroom Chair - $129.99	Mushroom Pillow by Paper Cloud - $82.00
Roost Porcelain Mushroom Lamp - $185.00	Artifort mushroom pouffe - $633.00
Roost Cargo Mushroom Box - $26.40	Jasper Morrison Porcini Table Lamp - $493.00
Thomas Wold Mushroom Forest Coffee Tables - $970.00	Roost Cargo Mushroom Stool - $297.00

Needlepoint Pillows - $98.00	Sea Life Pillows - $49.00
Sea Life Lumbar Pillow Cover - $39.00	Roost Porcelain Sea Life - $20.00
Sea Urchin Bowls - $32.00	Monkey Desk Accessories - $126.90
Mist Platters - $52.95	Each Garden Print - $165.00
L'Objet Tesoro Creamer & Sugar Bowl - $250.00	Mariposa Rectangular Sea Life Tray - $54.00
Sea Horse Print - $1,095.00	Jefdesigns - Octopus Silkscreened Panel - $120.00
jefdesigns Sea Fan Limited Edition Lightbox Painting - $1,500.00	Thomas Paul Sea Life Dessert Plates - $28.00
Thomas Paul Sea Life Serving Tray - $18.00	Shell Vanity & Faucet - $1,599.00
Thomas Paul Sea Life Dinner Plates - $36.00	Sea Life Watercolor Prints - $69.00