CasaSugar

Guess What This Pot Was Formed With?

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:00:02 -0700

This terracotta pot was formed using a recycled product that we all have in our recycling bin. You can even use it to make a seed pot in a pinch.

Guess Who Designed This?

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:00:02 -0700

I spotted these adorable little figures in the West Coast Green container house. Can you tell me who designed them?

Etsy Find: Reproduction Milk Bottles

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:04 -0700

I'm a sucker for vintage glassware and pottery, so these reproduction milk bottles ($30) are right up my alley, having been hand-cast from antique half-pint glass milk bottles. They remind me a bit of Jonathan Adler's Druggist Collection, with their smooth white surfaces and cheeky printing.

These reproduction milk bottles are from Etsy seller Alyssaettinger, and were modeled after bottles from Concord Dairy. They stand at a diminutive four inches tall, perfect for displaying summer blooms. You can also pop them in the dishwasher, which is always a plus.

Designer Spotlight: Bjørn Wiinblad

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:00:37 -0700

If you're wondering where Jonathan Adler got his inspiration for his Utopia series, or where Tord Boontje got his taste for saturated colors and fanciful flora, look no further than Danish artist and designer Bjørn Wiinblad. This midcentury ceramic artist set up his own studio in 1952, and continued to reproduce his designs through the 1990s.
Much of his work is inspired by the fairy tales of fellow Dane Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote such well-known stories as The Little Mermaid and The Princess and the Pea. Starting in the 1950s, he produced silver, glass, furniture, and ceramic designs for Rosenthal Porzellan AG, and also designed posters, costume and stage designs, tapestries, and textiles for hotels and restaurants across the world. His work is particularly popular in Japan.

To see more images of his work, and to find out whether or not his work is a good investment, read more.

The good news for you? His work is still undervalued, which means that you can snap up some of his finds at reasonable prices (unlike some other midcentury designers' works), and the value is predicted to continue rising. You can find some of his designs on eBay and from other antique dealers, as well as at Unica Home. I love the childlike joy that's evident in his designs, as well as his unique illustrations of people. Are you a fan, or are these a little too fanciful for you?

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Nice and New: Jonathan Adler's Druggist Collection

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:15:43 -0700

Billing himself as "your 24-hour pot dealer," Jonathan Adler gets cheeky with his new collection of pottery, Druggist ($24-$55). Billed as "An Apothecary of Emotion" his collection features translucent porcelain pieces that are first thrown on the wheel. Afterwards, the trompe-l'oeil chains and names of the emotions are added.

Modeled after old apothecary jars and finished with an unglazed matte finish, these pieces are fun and slightly sinister at the same time - especially the mug that declares "love" on one side and "hate" on the other. Still, I would love to have a few of these pieces. I think the apothecary jars especially would be great vessels for all of the cotton balls and q-tips needed for your nightly ablutions. Oh, and they wouldn't look bad on that French Apothecary Chest either.

Artist of the Day: Whitney Smith

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:00:54 -0800

I first saw artist Whitney Smith's pottery in my sister's home. At the time, my sister lived just down the street from Whitney's studio, and had stumbled upon her work at an open studio sale, where she'd purchased a delicate, carved vase. And just last week I fell in love with Whitney's work again when I saw her pottery at the Design Within Reach/Craft magazine event in Berkeley.

Whitney first started throwing clay on a wheel in 1994, and while she pursued other academic interests, she still continued to throw pottery as much as possible. After relocating to the Bay Area she worked as a floral designer in San Francisco while developing her pottery style after work hours. In 2000, she was able to finally realize her dream of working full-time as a potter.

Of her inspiration, she writes,

My design sense is primarily informed by my obsession with flowers and other forms found in nature. I have painted and drawn since I was a small child, and many of my designs are influenced by other painters and 2-D artists. I am also strongly influenced by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th early 20th Century. I like the look and feel of old things and antiques, and my glaze choices have a certain look that reminds people of a different era.

To see a gallery of Whitney's stunning pottery, just read more

Whitney crafts nearly all of her pieces by first throwing them on the potter's wheel and then carving and texturing them by hand. She also paints on her glazes with brushes, which is a timely process that lends a distinctive quality to her pieces. If you're interested in purchasing one of these lovely pieces, you can find her work at her Etsy shop as well as in stores across the country.

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Designer Spotlight: Jonathan Adler

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:00:47 -0700

I've already featured some fabulous designs by the lovable Jonathan Adler, so I figure it's about time I gave him a proper introduction on the site. Lately, he's best-known as the judge with the flamboyant neckties on Bravo's Top Design, but Adler has been a bold presence in the design world since 1994, when he sold his first batch of pottery to Barneys.

Adler soon expanded beyond ceramics into an array of assorted homewares - including lamps, furniture, rugs, and quirky accent pieces. His goods are sold online and at eight boutiques nationwide.

To get an idea for what Adler is all about, look no further than the brand's bold manifesto, which includes such dicta as "We believe that your home should make you happy," "minimalism is a bummer," and "colors can't clash." You can also see some of my favorite Adler designs by clicking on the photos below.

Sale Alert: Pottery Barn Labor Day Sale

CasaSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:30:33 -0700

Whether you're out and about this weekend or chilling with your laptop at home, you can take advantage of Pottery Barn's Labor Day sale. You can now save up to 75 percent on hundreds of markdowns at PB, both in store and online. From the bedroom to the patio, you can find everything you need to dress up your nest. Who doesn't love a good sale? See some of my favorite finds below.

Steal of the Day: Pottery Barn Rattan Luggage Rack

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Still reeling from the parade of friends and family in your home this Summer? Prepare your house for the next busy season by outfitting guest rooms with the Pottery Barn Rattan Luggage Rack ($59.99, reduced from $89). The durable rack, made of thick rattan poles and wrapped with rattan strips, will host a revolving door of suitcases and seasonal gear.
Don't get many visitors? I'd transform it into a chic side table by having a glass top cut to fit, or even just setting a leather, rattan, or metal tray on top it. A portable tray top would be great for cocktail parties. Or you can buy two, and use them as bedside tables. What do you think?

Sale Alert: Pottery Barn Summer Sale

CasaSugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:30:05 -0700

Stock up on everything from furniture to linens during the Pottery Barn Summer Sale. But hurry, quantities are limited! See some of my sale favorites below.

Woven Decorative Lights - $129.00	Bristol Floral Quilt & Sham - $39.00
Lewis Bench Slipcovers - $69.00	Framed Letterpress Bird Prints, Set of 2 - $229.00
Tolix™ Cafe Chair - $19.00	Ceramic Cube - $149.00
Dylan Wool Jute Rug - $299.00	Butler Pendant - $129.00
Sutter Jacquard Bed Skirt - $109.00	Tonal Stripe Organic Duvet Cover & Sham - Marigold - $39.00
Boutis Floral Outdoor Lumbar Pillow - $32.00	Overlapping Leaves Wall Paper - $84.00
Linen Hemstitch Tablecloth - Select Items - $99.00	Pole Pocket Shade - $79.00
Butler Floor Lamp - $190.00	Matine Toile Roman Shade - Select Items - $119.00

Trudie Table Lamp - $219.00	Linen Onyx Napkin - $12.95
Marimekko Iso Krassi Pillow - $59.95	Picnic Basket - $19.95
Remy Black Rug - $79.95	Solange Candleholders - $29.95
Stella Rug - $199.00	Crate and Barrel Pima Cotton Sheet Sets - $24.00
Marimekko Tamburiini Bed Linens - $39.00	Veranda Arm Chair - $179.00
Metric Bed - $1,699.00	9' Round Stripe Umbrella Cover - $199.00
Crawford Sideboard - $1,899.00	Magazine Rack - $21.95
Madura Bed - $1,299.00	Zia Bed Linens - $34.00
Provence Side Chair - $349.00	Windham Corner Desk - $299.00
Palisade Chaise/Cushion - $899.00