CasaSugar

Nice and New: west elm Mirror Coffee Table

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:02:10 -0700

Remember the mirrored furniture trend that I alerted you to in August? Well, the trend is still in, and west elm has just come out with a chic mirror coffee table ($449), so your living room can be dressed in the latest fashion. The table is pretty similar in shape to their popular Parsons table as well. They're calling it, "Something for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and holiday décor to reflect on." What could be better?

To see some of their other stylish new items, click the images below.

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Steal of the Day: West Elm Parsons Desk and More!

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:00:16 -0700

I have never loved an inanimate object more than I love the polished white West Elm Parsons Desk with Drawers ($299, reduced from $329). For months, I literally scoured Craigslist every day until I got a bargain on a lightly used one. Unfortunately, I moved across country a few years ago and couldn't take it with me. So to see the table on sale has my heart racing, to say the least. The product is one of West Elm's best-selling items, and they rarely ever put it on sale. If you've been pining for one, now is your chance! West Elm also has a handful of other truly stylish items on sale right now, and I'm seriously considering snatching up a few of them. So check out this slideshow and let me do the bargain-hunting for you!

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:39 -0700

The parsons table, 10 ways. - AT:SF
Tour the new Crosby Street hotel. - PointClickHome
Kitchen layouts made easy. - Charles and Hudson
Craft something for Eid ul-Fitr. - Craft
Shabby Chic is back! - Simply Stated
Tour a home with museum-like minimalism. - ShelterPop

Casa Interview, Part II: Domino Founding Editor Deborah Needleman (and an Awesome Giveaway!)

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:00:39 -0700

Deborah Needleman, the founding editor of Domino, is a goldmine of savvy advice on decorating your home, honed from years of experience heading up the style-centric magazine as well as decorating her own home. You can read the first half of my interview with her here. Deborah's tips and thoughts on decorating continue in the second half of this interview.

Our homes are really personal spaces. Considering that most of us are shopping from the same few décor retailers and finding inspiration in the same shelter magazines and blogs, how should we go about personalizing our homes?
Every home definitely needs a few old things and a couple unique things. And when most of what we have is mass-produced, it's more important than ever to have some things made by actual human hands, whether it's pottery, rugs, pictures, whatever. It is essential to find a few things that no one else has, whether you find them in a shop, at a tag sale, bring them back from a trip, collect them from nature, or even make them - like just tacking up drawings or notes from friends. Stuff that is meaningful to us, what we love or collect or find is interesting to our guests. I also do think it's really nice to have one really good piece - whether that's a table, rug, chandelier, whatever. It gives your room some substance, some weight - and also ensures it doesn't look like anyone else's.

To read the rest of the interview, read more.

I love your home, which I saw featured in New York magazine a few years ago. I know that you’re a big fan of neutrals and white, or at least you were when that article was written. Are you still a neutrals gal?
Thanks. It's funny, in New York City which is so chaotic and where I get easily overwhelmed, I need to be a neutral gal. It totally calms me down, and keeps my head clear. But upstate, where I feel more relaxed, I love layering patterns and color - florals, suzanis, chintzes, Indian prints, etc. I'm covering my sofa there in purple linen, my study is painted black, and one room is the craziest color green I've ever seen.

I love how your home is elegant and adult-oriented, yet still kid-accessible. What is your advice on and personal experience with creating gorgeous spaces that are also kid-friendly?
I have never understood dumbing down design for kids. No one had kid-friendly homes when I was growing up - people just had the homes they had and their children lived in them! A family home is for adults and children - why on earth would anyone give over their living room to let it look like a play room?! I'll probably get hate mail for this, but aside from a gate so children don't tumble down the stairs, and maybe a lock on the cabinet if you have the kind of children that want to eat the Ajax or whatever, children can be taught that table edges are sharp and that food is to be eaten in the kitchen and that open markers can't be left on the rug!

Other than that, if you have a fairly light palette like I do, you have to accept that you won't have the cleanest house in the world. Fortunately I like a bit of a patina on things! I like that the floor is scuffed by skateboards in part because I love a house where children feel free to run wild, have loads of friends over, and make forts out of the sofa cushions, but also where they have a sense of responsibility and respect for things. Oh, and I have cheap rugs, so if they get destroyed, I won't be sad! And I certainly wouldn't choose a linen velvet sofa fabric if I had to do it again! Kids don't rule the roost, they share it.

Your HomeGoods StyleScope tool helps home decorators find their style. How would you describe your own style?
I think I'm fairly conventional at core - I couldn't have furniture at funny angles or a bed floating in a room or anything too wacky or "fun." I dig symmetry. I like things that are classic in shape and form - not overly embellished, but I appreciate many kinds of design. I think I take this fairly classic base and mess it up a bit. I'm certainly not traditional. I like to layer on personality and quirk with ethnic textiles, cushions, interesting objects, fabrics, and art. I love stuff from India, Morocco, England. Thus, Bohemian Classic.

And to revive a favorite Domino feature of mine, what are 10 things that make you happy?
Hilarious question! Well, first of all, we never let people say their children or their dogs!!! Too boring and obvious.

Nearly all Santa Maria Novella products (if I could only choose one thing, it'd be their potpourri. But I'm crazy about the milk body cream, the honeysuckle perfume, and the pomegranate soap and bath salts). I am obsessed with scent - on my body and in my home!
My veg garden. (Really, seeing my children eat their way through our veg garden, but at Domino I would've edited that out as too sentimental!)
Making flower arrangements for the house.
My white parsons table (I have two) - and a brilliant new parsons side table in the pitch-perfect green color.
Comfy chairs in kitchens and bathrooms.
Cheap weekly blowouts from walk-in, no-appointment places.
Summer dinner outside with friends.
Staying in a lovely hotel room (never a trendy hotel, I like old-school, old-fashioned hotels). I love that nothing belongs to me and the beds are perfectly made. The Duc du St. Simon in Paris is pretty excellent.
Bobbi Brown makeup. Makes you look sun-kissed, not dolled up.
I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't say this, but having a decorator!! Specifically having the genius Rita Konig as a decorator!

Thank you, Deborah! We have a special giveaway for you CasaSugar readers on the way. One of you lucky readers will win a $500 gift card to HomeGoods! Check back for more details about the giveaway later on today!

Casa Verde: Custom-Made Furniture From Beeken Parsons

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I recently had the opportunity to tour the wood shop of Beeken Parsons, a Vermont-based furniture maker that crafts exquisite, handmade furniture. The workshop was established in 1983 by Vermont furniture makers Bruce Beeken and Jeff Parsons, who first met as students in Boston University's Program in Artisanry. For over 20 years, the partners have crafted exceptionally beautiful, sustainable furniture out of their small shop in Shelburne, VT.

Using FSC-certified wood, this eco-minded company creates a number of products, including tables, chairs, lamps, beds, and office chairs, such as this one. The company has also made custom furniture for colleges such as Middlebury, using trees from the college’s own grounds. Using trees such as these results in something Beeken Parsons calls "character wood."

To find out more about "character wood," and for more examples of Beeken Parsons's work, read more.

Beeken Parsons describes character wood as "dovetail[ing] beautifully with our design instincts, our love of the outdoors and our environmental sensibilities. Character wood tells the story of a tree, of dry summers, wet springs, storms, fires, wildlife activity, rich soils, or difficult growing sites. Grain textures reveal a history of growing conditions. Knots found near the center of the tree are the beginnings of branches formed when the tree was a sapling. Mineral streaks spring from injuries, insect or animal activity. Occasionally, we find spile holes in maple boards, an indication that the tree was tapped for sap to make maple syrup. Wood changes color around those holes. Knots and their surrounding grain have a deep, soft radiance when sanded and finished properly. Character wood has a remarkable range of color, from cream and salmon to auburn and chocolate. The beauty of nature is found, not in its regularity, but in its rich variety of shapes, textures and colors. This array of character lends a richness and vitality to the simple forms found in our furniture."

While some people may prefer "flawless" wood, I prefer the idea of telling a story within a piece of furniture, especially if this furniture is sourced from your own property. It doesn't get much more local or personal than that. Would you ever use character wood for custom-made furniture? Have you already done so?

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Ask Casa: A Home Office for Two

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
My boyfriend and I are moving into a small one bedroom, but luckily the living room is quite spacious. As children of the digital age, we always have our laptops out for work or school. Is there some sort of space-saving desk that allows for two workstations at a time? It would be easy to just get a long folding table, but I was hoping there was something more stylish. Thanks! SaranoemiTo hear my suggestion for Saranoemi, read more.

Hello!
Funny you should ask. A home office for two that was featured in the now-defunct Blueprint magazine is one of my favorites. Two simple Parsons-style desks were pressed up back-to-back with a sheet of colorful Plexiglass in the middle.The arrangement offers a bit of privacy for each person, and the Plexiglass can be use to hang paperwork and stick Post-its, etc. You'll essentially have two work zones, but you won't break up the room physically or visually, since the sheet is transparent. And, it doesn't require as much wall space as a long table or two desks set length-wise against the wall.

Depending on how much space you have to work with, you can re-create this with either the West Elm Parsons Desk or Parsons Mini Desk. Contact your local plastics supplier for the sheet of Plexiglass.

Parsons Desk with Drawers - $329.00

Parsons Mini Desk - $249.00

Hope that helps!
Casa

Source and Source

Kyle Schuneman Redesigns the Tyra Banks Show Office

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

The Tyra Banks Show recently called upon one of my Designer Spotlights, Kyle Schuneman, to transform its drab and boring office into a fabulous workspace. Kyle started by painting the walls a serene blue with eco-friendly, zero-VOC paint. Then, he anchored the room with a Room and Board Parsons Desk and brought in a file cabinet with classic lines for storage. Nature-inspired curtains from Lotus Bleu added some pattern and chimed in on the earthy blue of the walls, while the Palladian Urn Crystal Lamp from Restoration Hardware gave the space polish.

I love how he mixed an Eames task chair knock-off with a Louis XIV side chair at the desk, flawlessly blending different eras and styles. Off to the side of the office, Kyle brought in the Urban Outfitters Antoinette Fainting Sofa, which countered the hard lines of the desk with feminine curves, and created a glamorous space to relax in with a mirrored table at its side. As for artwork, he displayed antique wallpaper in baroque frames from Ikea. Easy, instant, beautiful! See before and after photos and a widget of some of the products used when you read more.

Funny enough, the space was shot by one of my Photographers to Watch, Joe Schmelzer! Check out the photos and tell me what you think. Do you like this makeover? Would you like to re-create this look in your home office?

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Faceted Mirror Side Table - $199.00	Ung Drill Frame - $24.99
Herman Miller® eames aluminum group - executive chair - $1,299.00	Kieran Chair - $595.00
Parsons 60x30 29h Desk/Table Base - $309.00	Home Office Ensemble File Console - $549.00
Sandy Chapman Mini Urn Form Lamp In Crystal - $210.00

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Cool Idea: File Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:06 -0800

It's hard to come by an attractive file cabinet. So, why not forgo them altogether? The Egg Collective File Table (inquire for price) is a white, powder-coated steel desk with a built-in file tray. The table allows you to keep your files close at hand on the face of the desk itself, and frees up floor space which would otherwise be taken by a separate cabinet. Beyond its clever design, it's also simply handsome and reminds me of my one of my all-time faves, the West Elm Parsons Desk. What do you think?

Ask Casa: Decorate My New Orleans Living Room!

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:45:46 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
I need your help! I just moved into a one-bedroom in New Orleans, and will be living on my own for the first time. My bedroom is furnished but in my living room, I have a television and TV stand, and that's it. So, I'm basically starting from scratch! Can you offer me some suggestions for my living room?
My style is classy, urban, girlie, and colorful, but not outrageously so. I want comfortable, welcoming furniture, not like "sleek" or anything. And, I want it to look mature! I like dark wood, and maybe dulled blues, greens, reds, or yellows for fabrics, so the space has color but isn't too bright. I also want to get cool New Orleans artwork for walls, so maybe if the color of some of my furniture can bring out some of those colors, that'd be nice. I'd also like a pull-out couch for guests. My budget: as cheap as I can get for good quality furniture; I am a recent grad, after all. Do you have any thoughts? Anything would help!
Thanks,
Brooke

To hear my thoughts and see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Brooke,
Thanks for thinking of me! I love starting from scratch: think of all the possibilities! It's hard for me to get a clear idea of your style, but I am going to try my best. I get the impression that you want a grown-up apartment. The best way to do that is to make conscious decisions about what you bring into your home, so everything looks composed. Beyond that, add original artwork, and invest in at least some good quality furniture.

I built a living room for you from the sofa up. I chose the Macy's Montreal Sofa in pear, which has plush cushions making it refreshingly casual, and warm but not overwhelming in color. It's also on sale, and available as a sleeper if you so choose. Next, an Ikea Ektorop Tullsta Chair is comfortable and classic but inexpensive. Try a Bemz slipcover with it to make it look more polished. Then, the Brocade Home Silhouette Side Table in Coffee is dark wood, as you like, and has nice feminine curves to give your apartment a bit of girliness.

A woven screen from World Market is inexpensive, and will add texture and an architectural element to your apartment. The Soho Bookcase, also from World Market, is also affordable and dark wood, and its clean lines will give your place a mature, urban feel. You can find a wing chair much like the Anthropologie Astrid Chair at a local flea market or antique shop (New Orleans has many) to add comfortable seating; have it reupholstered in a subtle botanical pattern with subdued colors, or a solid fabric with a nice texture. A low, round coffee table like the West Elm Angled Leg Coffee Table is welcoming and cozy.

Next, I chose a coordinating rug with other "dulled" but warm colors and a floral pattern for femininity, the Ballard Designs Calabria Rug. If it's out of your price range, a quick glance at ShopStyle will show you plenty more to coordinate (or check out these). Set a mother-of-pearl table lamp on a clean-lined Parsons side table in dark wood for a girl-y/urban mix. Long, silk or velvet drapes will finish everything off with sophistication. Then, add a mix of glass vases around the room (filled with fresh flowers, of course). Find a nice silver tray, wine bucket, corkscrew, and matching colors to create your very own bar; you do live in New Orleans, after all.

Then, pick up some original artwork. Check out some local antique print shops, and frame a lithograph of old New Orleans. Invest in a George Rodrigue or a James Michalopoulos (or his Jackson Square knock-offs), and a more affordable Simon Hardeveld. Restrain yourself from decorating with Mardi Gras beads and don't go overboard with the fleur-de-lys. For more accents, check out Hazelnut on Magazine Street.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

This Just In: Alexandra von Furstenberg Unveils Modern Furniture Collection

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:00:46 -0700

Alexandra von Furstenberg (AVF), the former daughter-in-law of fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg and sister of Pia Getty and Marie-Chantal, crown princess of Greece, recently unveiled a limited-edition collection of modern furniture. The collection is composed of Lucite tables in flourescent pinks, greens, and yellows, including a pair of petite prism-shaped side tables, a slender desk, a hefty, square coffee table, a round, x-based cocktail table, and hefty, console tables. The gem-like designs, which are available exclusively at her Los Angeles gallery that opened in March, have been given equally blingy names, like "Trillion," "Ice," and "Radiant." You might be thinking that AvF is milking her last name for all it's worth, but she herself has a creative background, having relaunched DvF's famous wrap dress, studied at Parsons School of Design, pursued costume design and art history at Brown University, and served as a creative director and director of image for DvF.

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Montreal Sofa - $999.00	Calabria Rug - $79.00
Ektorp Tullsta Chair - $149.00	Silhouette Side Table - Coffee - $199.00
Mika Woven Screen - $129.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Astrid Chair, Snapdragon - $1,498.00	Angled-Leg Coffee Table - $299.00
Adjustable Metal Floor Lamp - $149.00	Chiara Table Lamp - $69.99
Parsons Cube Side Table - $169.00	Tyler Velvet Queen Sleeper Sofa - $1,299.00
Chemistry Lab Vases - $18.00	Tall/Wide Flat Vases - $5.95
Maxfield Serving Tray - $69.00	Luxe Ruffled Serving Bowl - $49.95
Speckled Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00	Black Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00
Simrin Surya Coasters - $44.00	Screwpull by Le Creuset Lever Wine Opener Gift Set - $79.98
Monogrammed Wine Bucket - $62.00	Silk Dupioni Window Panel - $59.00