CasaSugar

Designer Suki Cheema Thinks Spring With His Indonesia Collection

Elka Karl — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:34:27 PDT

Designer Suki Cheema is renowned for his intuitive, in-depth understanding of pattern, textiles, and printmaking, which has landed him positions with Calvin Kelin, Ralph Lauren, and Diane von Furstenberg. In fact, it was Diane von Furstenberg who inspired Suki to follow his dreams of launching his own line. With SUKI CHEEMA, an exclusive collection of home and personal accessories, Suki marries his love of art, textiles, and travel. The line includes throw pillows, quilts, rugs, tabletop items, handbags, and more, all featuring hand silk-screened prints and embroidery techniques that are centuries old.

I recently caught up with Suki to discuss his latest collection, Indonesia and found out his thoughts on printmaking and pattern, Spring decorating, and inspirations.
CasaSugar: What inspired the Indonesia collection specifically?

Suki Cheema: A trip to Indonesia some time ago. I was most inspired by the Batik designs from Java. Batik is unique to Indonesia and is one of its most traditional art forms. It has a special place in the culture and history of the people. My color choices for the collection were also influenced by Indonesia. You will see lots of indigo and shades of blue throughout the collection with pops of scarlet and other bright colors.
CS: How did you develop the patterns for this collection?

SC: During my trip I collected lots of batik fabrics and took photographs of everything that caught my eye. I like to take inspiration from traditional things and give them a modern twist, which is exactly what I did for this collection. I play with the scales and dimensions of patterns and reform things so that the inspiration is just that and not a literal interpretation.

Keep reading to find out more about the SUKI CHEEMA collection and to see more of the line

10 Not-to-Be-Missed Home Decor Pieces on Sale

Elka Karl — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:00:38 PDT

What's on your wish list? A DwellStudio rug? A new silk pillow? We've found these items and much more in this weekend's sales roundup. Find just what you need to put a little Spring in your home's step!

4 Modernist Designers to Watch According to Vas Kiniris

Angela Swinderman Elias — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:00:27 PDT

After 20 years of running San Francisco's Zinc Details, owner Vas Kiniris has watched modernism evolve. From the iconic mid-century styles that still remain relevant to the explosion of new talent hitting the scene, Vas strives to incorporate both ends of the spectrum into his design store. You may have caught Vas's tips yesterday for his favorite ways to shop and style like a modernist. Now, we're tapping his shoulder to find out which designers he thinks will shape the future of modernism.

"Mike & Maaike is an amazing industrial design studio led by an American husband and Dutch wife team based in San Francisco."

"Klaus Haapaniemi has a fantastic dinnerware line for Iitala. I especially love the new botanically-inspired Korento collection!"

Keep reading to see which other modernist designers are on Vas's radar!

Crewel to Be Kind: Modern Takes on This Old-School Embroidery Technique

Elka Karl — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:05:20 PDT

From home decor to fashion, needlework is all the rage. This daringly dressed model was seen today on the catwalk during the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology Graduates Show 2012 at China Fashion Week. Her sculptural dress is created from loops of thread stitched using a crewel technique.

Crewel embroidery, also known as crewelwork, is at least 1,000 years old. Traditionally, it's used wool thread to create patterns and decorations on fabric, either following a drawn design or using a freehand technique. The traditional version of crewelwork, known as Jacobean embroidery, features stylized flora and fauna designs, though modern motifs are also becoming much more common in design. And while crewelwork was once treasured for decorating homes in the form of bed hangings and curtains, it's now more commonly seen in pillows and rugs. In particular, Jonathan Adler has championed the technique in recent years, but he's far from alone in his admiration of this type of needlework.

Currently, I'm coveting the Plumage Lampshade ($108, top right corner), which features silk-embroidered birds against a navy background. While the birds stand out strongly when the lamp is shut off, they blend into the background when the lamp is switched on.

To enjoy this look on a budget, pick up one of the Crewel Pillow Covers ($34, bottom row, middle) from West Elm. Inspired by '70s minimalist art, these pillow covers are embellished with embroidered geometric patterns.

Did another item catch your eye? Just click on its image to start shopping!

12 Not to Be Missed Home Decor Pieces on Sale

Elka Karl — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:00:40 PDT

Whether you're trapped indoors thanks to a perpetual rainstorm, or simply too tired to hit the shops in person, there's no need to forgo the sales this weekend. We've turned to the online sales to discover something cool for your casa, all at 40 percent off or more!

10 Supercool Throw Pillows For Your Kid's Room

Kate Stahl — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:45:30 PST

Does your kid's room need a lil decorative update? Try a cool pillow, perfect to jazz up that glider, perk up a bed, or just to make your lil lady or guy smile with its whimsy. Modern, kid-friendly throw pillows from fave children's stores like Land of Nod and Serena and Lily - and from smaller labels sold on Etsy - are a small way to make a big style impact . . . and give your babe a sweet new place to rest his head.

Get Into the Swing of Spring With Floral Accessories

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:08:59 PST

Nothing else really epitomizes Spring decor like a floral pattern. Instead of splurging on big-ticket items for seasonal sprucing, though, I'm looking to incorporate blooming accessories for small doses of Spring cheer. It's easier on the wallet and helps to keep a space from looking overwhelmingly girlish.

Instead of covering walls with this Blazing Poppies wallpaper ($150), I like the idea of using it to line storage pieces, like a bookcase or media unit. The explosion of indigo, tangerine, red, and fuchsia almost has a painterly quality to it.

Of course, florals don't always have to be drenched in color. I love how graphic a simple black and white pattern can be too, like the one on this Gemma Mug ($6).

When I think of floral motifs my mind always goes to Marimekko. Its iconic large-scale floral patterns are reinterpreted in a new collection for Crate & Barrel. These Marimekko Ruusu Napkins ($9) are my favorite.

Click on all of the products in the layout to shop the floral looks directly!

25 Pretty and Plush Pillows Under $50

Sara Yoo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:18 PST

My living room needed an overhaul, so recently we scraped together what we could to purchase two new sofas. They're my dream pieces, but their spare mid-century design screamed for a little adornment, and our investment left little in the way of a budget for throw pillows. Additionally, I forgot to account for the cost of what seemed to be simple decor items (often $100 or more) and the fact that I would need more than one! Fortunately for pillow shoppers on a budget, there's a plush supply of inexpensive options out there in a diversity of design styles. We've rounded up some of our favorites under $50 as well as some easy DIY ideas for sewers and non-sewers alike!

Source: California Home and Design

Millworks Pillows and Ready-to-Wear Looks Usher In an Early Spring

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:26 PST

Maybe it's the unusually warm Winter we're having in Northern California, but I'm already anxious to incorporate exuberant Spring colors and patterns into my wardrobe and home.

Luckily, H.D. Buttercup's San Francisco location just added a new millworks shop-in-shop filled with pillows ($58-$78) covered in graphic patterns and groovy palettes. While the prints are botanically inspired, the drawing style and colors evoke a sort of retro, California coolness that I love.

I noticed a similar vibe in pieces from Lela Rose, Erin Fetherston, and Libertine's Spring 2012 collections. The mesh of contrasting, abstract patterns in complementary hues achieves the same sort of effect that a sofa full of the new Millworks pillows would - funky, but still polished. Perfect for ringing in an early Spring!

Link Time: A Caribbean Getaway, DIY Wall Art, and Tips For Finding the Right Pillow!

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:47:19 PST

Tour the lush grounds of a surprisingly affordable inn nestled in the Caribbean jungle. - Garden Design
Paper bird cutouts serve as bold wall decor in this incredibly chic Tribeca apartment. - Houzz
Save cash with these seven budget-savvy bathroom makeover tips. - Country Living
Cozy up with this gallery of modern fireplace designs. - California Home + Design
Try your hand at making this woodland monogram art. - Craft
Banish sleepless nights with these tips for finding the right pillow for you. - Stylelist Home
Marvel at this horse stable turned kitchen. - House Beautiful