CasaSugar

Desire/Acquire: Hans Wegner's Wishbone Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:41 -0800

On the heels of my 10 Knockoff Designer Chairs From Overstock slideshow, I found a knockoff of noted midcentury Danish designer Hans Wegner's Wishbone Chair ($730), designed in 1949. The Wishbone Chair, also known as the CH24 Chair or the Y Chair, is a small, light armchair with a gracious shape and elegant Y-shaped back. It offers good support, is easy to move around in, and can be pulled up close to a table even though it has arm rests. Though Hans Wegner designed over 500 chairs in his lifetime, this one is the most popular by far, and still claims a high pricetag 60 years after it was introduced. Beloved as it is, it's still out of reach for most. So it's a good thing Overstock makes a knockoff.

Overstock Selling Largest Floor Rug in the US . . . For $135,000

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:15:00 -0800

Overstock has made a name for itself by selling surplus merchandise to consumers at deeply discounted prices - and always shipping for only $2.95. Cheap is the word that the company most brings to mind. But there's one product that most definitely calls for an exception. The Rare Antique Meshkabad Persian Rug, at 26 feet, nine inches by 37 feet, retails for a whopping $135,000. The one-of-a-kind rug was hand-woven from 100 percent fine lamb's wool, using vegetable dyes, some time around the 1920s. It took a group of semi-nomadic people living in the village of Meshkabad (near Arak in North-Western Iran) five years to weave the rug. Wow!

I was first just shocked by the sheer price of the rug. But then I realized it's essentially the length of a pretty fancy yacht! And it took longer to weave than many people stay in one house! It's actually kind of sad, really, that a tribe spent so much time weaving something that eventually ended up on a surplus retailer's website. No? If you had the dough, and the space, would you buy it?

10 Knockoff Designer Chairs From Overstock

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:01 -0800

Overstock.com makes a business out of selling surplus, returned, and new items which from the get-go are usually more affordable than the products at full retail in other stores. Top that with the fact that Overstock always ships for only $2.95 (even furniture), and you've got yourself one hell of a bargain. But just because something's cheap doesn't mean it's beautiful, right? Think again. As it turns out, Overstock sells dozens of knockoffs of designer furniture that actually have fooled me. So if you're looking for a Le Corbusier lounge chair or an Eames rocker and you can't quite afford one, you're in the right place. Let's compare 10 knockoff designer chairs from Overstock with the originals.

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Summer Style: Outdoor Rugs at Overstock.com

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:49 -0700

Overstock.com can be a wonderful shopping treasure — kind of like a low-rent ShopStyle. But, unless you have the patience to dig through its wealth of tacky inventory, it is a pain in the bottom. Since I noticed that they have a vast selection of outdoor rugs, and I told you that outdoor rugs were a must-have this month, I decided to be a good friend and weed through them for you. Overstock actually has several rugs that I'm really drawn to, like this Manchester Propylene Area Rug ($114), more so than those from traditionally more stylish retailers like West Elm. Check out the widget below to see if there's one for you.

Steal of the Day: Hand-Tufted Zebra Rug

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:00:54 -0700

Oh, Overstock, sometimes you tempt me with items I wouldn't normally order for my rather laid-back, nonanimal-hide-decorated home. For instance, it seems a shame to pass up this Zebra Stripe Rug (on sale for $239.99, originally $749). At an expansive 5-x-8 feet, this hand-tufted wool rug will add a safari flair to your home. If you need some inspiration on how to make it fit, Desire to Inspire has rounded up some lovely photos. So pretty! Darn it though - I'm afraid there's no floorspace for it in my house; how about in yours?

Steal of the Day: Petite Sphere Crystal Table Lamp

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:00:39 -0800

Overstock has been a good friend in the past, when it comes to steals. Today, I am bestowing upon you their Petite Sphere Crystal Table Lamp ($50). Its crystal ball base is simple, elegant, and chic — just the thing to shed a little light on a small side table or your favorite cozy corner. I'd suggest picking up another shade, though; the camel-colored shade that comes with it is a bit antiquated and tacky even. Go with a dark colored shade, perhaps in a drum shape, or a bold pattern to liven it up. A shade with some sort of circular pattern would be trendy and nicely mimic the base. And remember, shipping is only $2.95!

Steal of the Day: Hand-tufted Blue Stripes Wool Rug

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:18:01 -0800

I'm a loyal supporter of Overstock.com. Their inventory is enormous; it's all discounted; it's changing all the time; and last but not least, the cost of shipping is always just $2.95. Yes there's a lot of ugly in there, but if you take the time to sift through it all, it might be worth it.
Doing just that, I found this gem: an 8' x 10' hand-tufted blue striped wool rug ($247), which originally cost $700. The stripes are simple yet bold, and would work well with a variety of décor styles. I'm partial to the cool blue tones, but the rug is also available in a few other color schemes. Click below to see the others.

Steal of the Day: Austin Pearl Sofa

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:30:10 -0800

This Austin Pearl sofa ($549.99, marked down from $1,399.99) is the perfect party guest. It's never too rowdy, it doesn't announce its presence with an inappropriately loud and gaudy get-up, and it never takes on the role of the wallflower. In fact, it always looks like it's perfectly comfortable and perfectly suited for its situation. With its velvety beige upholstery and quality hardwood frame, this sofa will have you sinking into its comfy yet modern confines as soon as you get home from work. And when you do throw the inevitable house party? It'll be happy to mix and mingle (and to hold up its end of the bargain when it comes to accommodating weary guests). Just don't expect it to pass out hors d'œuvres.

Desire/Acquire: Molded Plastic Rocker

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

The Eames Molded Plastic Rocker ($479) is a design classic. Originally produced in 1948, it's known as the RAR (rocking armchair rod) and was out of production for 30 years until Design Within Reach, with the Eames Office's blessing, started reproducing the design. The molded shell's deep seat is perfect for rocking a baby or relaxing on a front porch, and it's built from environmentally friendly molded polypropylene.

However, if you're comfortable rocking out on an unofficial reproduction, there's a much cheaper option available to you. To see what it is, read more.

Overstock.com sells the Vinnie Cradle Chair ($157) at a significantly smaller price than the official Eames rocker. However, it's kid-sized, so be prepared for its diminutive proportions. I'm guessing that the small size is the loophole around which this chair can be made. While I'm all for good design within everyone's reach, I'm not so comfortable with such a blatant ripoff of the Eames's classic, graceful design. What about you? Would you buy this knockoff?

Desire/Acquire: Kartell Stone Stool

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:04 -0700

Designed by Marcel Wanders, the Kartell Stone Stool ($245) has a very precious appearance thanks to its geometrical facets, which reflect light like a Cartier engagement ring. I'm a fan of the stool's hourglass shape, and the range of colors offered allows you to cue the stool to your room's palette. But, like all of Kartell's products, it is made of plastic ("durable polycarbonate"), and at $245, many of you may consider it a splurge. Luckily, there's a more affordable alternative. To see it, read more.

The Prismatic Pedestal Side Table ($74.99) from Overstock maybe be a knock-off, but it could have fooled me! It has the same hourglass shape and faceted surface for a fraction of the price.