CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Scented Tassels

CasaSugar — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:00:38 -0700

TasselAire perfumed tassels ($35) infuse a subtle fragrance into the air of your home, simply by hanging them on your doorknobs, closet hooks, or armoire keys (if you've got one). You can also use them as tie-backs of curtains. There's a decent variety of scents available, including lavender and rosemary, bitter orange, and Mediterranean jasmine. Assuming they smell nice, I love the idea of taking something that's typically used simply for decoration and giving it a new purpose. Potpourri is SO over!! I'm also loving the pretty box they come in. Do I smell a reimagined tassel trend approaching? I'm just waiting for Blik to make tassel wall decals . . .

Nice and New: Anthropologie Crystal Perfume Bottles

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:00:01 -0800

Anthropologie has a whole new crop of glam crystal perfume bottles, or Provence Society Perfume Bottles ($18-$38), to house your signature scent or just put on display for their boudoir beauty. I'm aching to have the whole set of them, and display them amongst vintage perfume bottles in my bathroom. Wish list! I'll accept just one or two, if that's all you're willing to give me this Christmas (wink wink).
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Are You a Collector?

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:31:20 -0700

Collecting things—stamps, foreign coins, perfume bottles, matchbooks— can be a fun hobby. It can also be a great way to decorate your house, and to create little vignettes. Sometimes though, I feel like people need to draw the line with their collector's items; it can become a tad obsessive.

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Roundup: Modern Roses

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:30:10 -0700

Do you think that roses should be relegated to old ladies' perfume bottles and shabby chic pillows? If so, I'd like to change your mind.

You'll be happy to hear that an updated take on the beautiful bloom is easy to find and decorate with. In fact, the rose is making a comeback in hip, modern homes. Take this Je Taime Poster ($40), for example. With a modern font and a blockprinted rose outline, I dare you to find anything fuddy duddy about it.

To find roses that are more modern than the norm, look for designs that utilize abstracted designs and simplified color palettes. See some of my other favorite modern rose finds when you read more.

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!

Su Casa: A Glamorous Bathroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:00:40 -0700

Su Casa member ckim8120, who made this chic tree branch jewelry stand, has taken her keen design eye to the bathroom. She started with painting the walls three shades of Behr green: Spring Hill, Mint Hint, and Athenian Green. Then, she applied IKEA SLÄTTHULT decorative stickers ($19.99) to the wall with a vine-like effect, and installed an IKEA KRISTALLER Chandelier ($39.99). Beyond that, she used accessories to transform a dull bathroom into a glamorous one, even if that didn't mean installing the old-style washstand and free-standing tub she dreams of. I'm really impressed. It's amazing what a few details can do. See more photos and hear some of ckim8120's bathroom decorating tips when you read more.

Here are her decorating tips:

Replace boring knobs w/whimsical drawer pulls to revitalize basic cabinets.
Use your pretty perfume bottles as decoration.
Bring in dramatic lighting with a chandelier.
Anything crystal adds old Hollywood glamour.
Bring in color and personality to a bathroom with towels and rugs.
A side table can be both functional & beautiful.
Painting your door can add a pleasant element of surprise.

View 4 Photos ›

Check out her post to hear more!

Midday Muse: Do Glamour and Relaxation Mix?

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:00:36 -0800

The Neisha Crosland shimmering aluminum Hollywood Grape wallpaper adds an instant dose of glamour to this petite bathroom from House to Home, and the dark wood vanity conjures 1930s film, ushering you into the alluring Art Deco era, whilst making the most of a small space. As much as I swoon over this glam salle de bains, I think the style should be reserved for powder rooms and half bathrooms.
When the day winds down, and it's time to freshen up with a long bath or hot shower, I want a tranquil, serene space that's a retreat from blinding colors and extroverted patterns. You can introduce small spoonfuls of luxury into your bathing space with accessories like an antique perfume bottle or a Venetian mirror, which will add glam while maintaining a relaxed design scheme.

Do you like glamour in your relaxed spaces, such as a bathing area? Or do you prefer something more relaxing?
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Roundup: Gilt by Association

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:00:38 -0800

Gilding, which is defined as covering something thinly with gold leaf or gold paint, can add a glamorous touch to common objects. While the luxurious look of a gilt item may be specious, it's all the while beautiful, and I can't help but want one for myself. Be it a gilt twig bowl or a perfume bottle painted with gold flowers, that metallic shimmer is every bit elegant. So, I've rounded up some of the most glamorous gilt interior décor items around, and they're yours for the taking. Go for the gold when you read more.

Trend Alert: Rose Motifs

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:00:51 -0800

What's not to love about roses? Their beautiful, curling blossom structure has made them one of the most popular flowers in the world; their scent has been transferred to perfumes and linen sprays, and their diversity enables them to flourish in home gardens across the world. Of course, roses are also popping up in the world of interior design. Take this rose round ottoman (on sale for $412). Made of wool rosettes, this unique furniture piece would add a touch of glam to a living room or bedroom. I can even think of some feminine modernists who would adore it.

The LA Times breaks down the history of the rose thusly:

The ancient Romans associated the rose with their goddess of love, and European aristocracy in the 17th century prized them so highly they were accepted as payment for debt. The tradition of beauty continues with a new crop of rose-inspired furnishings: ruffled-edge bowls, tiles with digital imagery, linen fabrics - even a whimsical chair upholstered in paper roses.

To see my picks for rose motifs in interior design, read more.

Casa Beta: Diptyque's Feu de Bois Room Spray

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

"What is this stuff? Perfume?" my husband asked me when I brought home a bottle of Diptyque's Feu de Bois Room Spray ($60). French for “wood fire,” the promo materials for this room spray promised that "Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle is the perfect substitution for a crackling fireplace. The earthy-but-refined spray is infused with a complex scent that is evocative of fir trees, firewood, and autumn woodlands."

So, did the hype live up to the actual effect? Find out when you read more.

Upon first spritz, I wasn't won over. But, as with all good scents, you need to let it settle in. And sure enough, within a few minutes, our home was infused with the smell of a burning wood fire. Seriously, it's the only way to describe the scent. If you're a fan of this scent, with all its cozy associations, then I definitely recommend this room spray. But I wasn't the biggest fan in the house: I've caught the hubz surreptitiously spritizing the house with Feu de Bois several times in the past few weeks. And this is in addition to the wood fire we burned last weekend! Seems like some of us can't get enough of Diptyque Feu de Bois's crackly wood fire scent. And that, I think, is a point in its favor.

Twinkle Living Rose Walnut and Grape Bedding - $52.00	Marseille Soap - Rose - $25.00
Indonesia Square Serving Tray, Floating Roses - $30.00	Blissliving Home Jenna Pillow - $75.00
Avalisa Imagination Collection Rose Stretched Wall Art - $59.00	Linen Rose by Court Of Versailles - $113.00
Plush Living - Nook Rose Silk Pillow - $64.00	Area Rose Pilow - $85.00
Novica Jasmine Rose Jar - $44.99	Graham and Brown Hemingway Design Wallpaper - Macintosh Rose pattern - $60.00
nani marquina Roses Rug - $3,100.00	3D Rose Vase - $175.00

Twig Bowl - $89.00	Knot Mirror - $575.00
Honeycomb Mirror - $429.00	Driftwood Lamp - $415.00
Gilded Monstera Leaves (Set of Six) by Tozai - $135.00	Michael Aram Sona Triple Heart Bowl - $265.00
Evoca Judaica By L'objet - $100.00	L'Objet Aegean Gold Charger - $250.00
Luxor Perfume Bottle - $28.00	Kartell gold gnomes - limited edition - $374.00
Marie Nightstand - $698.00	Vintage Gilt Accent Table - $1,895.00
Vintage Gilt Sofa - $4,195.00	Martha Stewart Collection with Wedgwood "Garland Moss" Accent Salad Plate, 9" - $40.00
Gilt Candle Sconce - $195.00	PB Gilt Frames - $24.00
Bond No. 9 New York Chelsea Flowers/6.4oz - $85.00	Metallic Bark Candles - $29.00
Pair of Silver-Gilt Boxes - $2,200.00

Graham and Brown Hemingway Design Wallpaper - Macintosh Rose pattern - $60.00	Snowball Perfume Bottle, Rose - $20.00
Helen's Arbor Curtain - $108.00	Portmeirion "Botanic Roses" Sandwich Tray, 12" x 5.5" - $50.00
Rose Wood Tree, Small - $49.00	Carmen Pillow - $29.95
Madison Gray Rose Candle by Fringe - $22.50	Rosewood Kissing Ball - $19.00
Red Rose Ball Candle in Gift Box - $1.75	nani marquina Roses Rug - $3,100.00
Rose Pop Chandelier - $299.00	3D Rose Vase - $175.00
Rose Bowl Enamel by Michael Aram - $165.00	Rose-Quilted Linens - $50.00
Waterfall Rose Rug - $149.00	Hand-Painted Silk Pillows - $175.00
Rose Wood Wreath, 24" - $89.00	Koko - Metallik Rose Bay Pillow - $90.00
Rose Round Ottoman - $515.00