CasaSugar

Inspired: Cassie's Edgy Take on Crochet

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:07 -0700

Singer Cassie rocked an edgy, punk crochet look at the BET Awards last night. I love how glam the lacy pattern looks in black, and Cassie's punk-inspired half-shaved head accentuates the singer's beauty while letting fans know that she's not to be trifled with. Inspired, I set out to find some similar looks.

Of course, my hero Tord Boontje would have a lamp that would fit Cassie to a T. His Artecnica Come Rain Come Shine Light ($4,950) has the same lacy, edgy glamour as Cassie's BET Awards ensemble.

For some other, less spendy ways to get a similar look, read more.

Before and After: From Dull to Punk

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:15:43 -0800

For some home decorators, music is a way of life, and that means that music must become a part of their home decorating scheme. Take Craftster member Anarchy_Onions for example. As you'll see, she isn't shy about incorporating her musical tastes into her home. I love it when people have a definite idea about what they like and dislike, so I admire Anarchy_Onions's moxie!

Anarchy_Onions started off with this plain-Jane dresser.
To see how she switched it up, read more.

She explains, "I saw something like this a long time ago that someone was selling and I always wanted to make one. When I redecorated my room, I got the chance. The third panel is a bit crooked, but overall I dig it."

For all of you who might not know who these characters are, the man is Sid Vicious, the bass player for seminal British punk rock band The Sex Pistols, and the woman is Nancy Spungen, his girlfriend. While this dresser may be way too punk rock for your taste, you've got to give Anarchic_Onions credit for a job well done!
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On the Market: Spend Some Green on this Green Day House

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:57:25 -0700

While Green Day lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong may hail from working-class roots, his Bay Area home, which is now on the market for $4.85 million, shows that he's certainly not living on a boulevard of broken dreams.
I wouldn't read anything into the decor of the house, or Armstrong's punk sensibilities (or lack thereof), since I'm sure that this house has been staged within an inch of its life. Whoever staged it seems to have taken a little too much inspiration from Napa Style, Pottery Barn, and a really unfortunate mix of poorly sourced Moroccan influences.

The house itself isn't bad, though it's certainly not one of my favorite celebrity homes. To see why, and to view lots of interior and exterior photos, read more.

Located in the swanky Upper Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, the Mediterranean-style five-bedroom, four- and two-half bath home spreads across 7,000 square feet on a nearly 1/2 acre double lot. Built a little more than 10 years ago, the home features a pool, pool house, and professional music studio.

The listing for the property notes that the "original Julia Morgan steps [are] intact." Armstrong's house was built on the site of Red Gate, a gorgeous mansion built for Charles Wells by one of my favorite architects, Julia Morgan. The home apparently burned down in the 1991 Oakland fires. And while I'm sure that Mark Becker, the architect commissioned by Armstrong to build his home, is a fine designer and builder, hardly anyone can, in my opinion, compare to Julia Morgan's sublime style.

The home is being shown this month by appointment only, and if you have the dollars and the down payment, you can make an appointment here.

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Get the Look: Topshop New York

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, UK clothing chain Topshop opened its first stateside outpost in New York City, kicking things off with a new Spring/Summer '09 collection designed by Kate Moss. Of course, the racks are filled with fashionable gear, but the store itself is also furnished to the max in quirky Brit style. I'm loving the modern rock 'n roll edge of this dressing room corner, so I thought I'd try to re-create the look. To see my finds, read more.

For the wallpaper, I went straight to stylish British wallpaper company Graham & Brown. The Chantilly Wallpaper ($60) isn't a perfect match, but it's a close runnerup, with the same sexy, stormy vibe.

You can learn to make your own record bowl in my rockin' DIY here.

For more furnishings to help you get this polished Brit-punk look, check out this widget:

Graham and Brown Barbara Hulanicki Wallpaper - Viva pattern - in Black Gloss - $60.00	Moooi - pig table by front for moooi - $2,277.00
Noguchi Table in Black by Herman Miller - $1,349.00	Dupioni Silk Pole Pocket Drape - $109.00
Ibride Sultan Red Dog Stool - $350.00	Ritva Pair Of Curtains With Tie-backs - $29.99
40x30 Infinity Mirror in Stainless Steel - $349.00	ludwig mies van der rohe Barcelona® Stool - $2,046.00
Knoll barcelona chair - chrome plated - $4,328.00

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:00:35 -0800

Porcelain goes punk.- 2Modern
Lifelike crocheted butterflies are a sweet ode to our fluttering friends.- Shelterrific
Meet another master carpenter.- Charles & Hudson
Tour a moody Aussie mancave.-AT:LA
Learn to make beaded flowers.- Craftzine
Check out an entirely papered space.- Desire to Inspire
Visit a Parisian home entirely engulfed in ferns.- Inhabitat

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Ask Casa: Displaying Vintage Aprons

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:03 -0800

Hello CasaSugar,

I have a collection of perfect condition '50s aprons. These things are cute! I would love to display them but I have no idea how. I have a hook that I hang my everyday apron on, but I don't think 10 aprons would look good on that! If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it!

Natalie

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Natalie,

I, too, am an apron fan, so I can understand your impulse to decorate with them. According to Country Living, vintage aprons, if they're in pristine condition, can fetch a decent price, too, so your collection isn't simply sentimental, it may also be valuable.

There are a number of ways you could display your collection. Here are a few of my suggestions:

Choose shadowbox frames, and carefully fold your aprons so they display the best section of each. Then, hang the aprons, in the frames, in a collection of three or more aprons.
Make curtains out of the aprons by hanging them from curtain hooks along a kitchen window.
Follow Punk Glam Queen's lead and simply hang your aprons together in your kitchen. You can use cute coordinated hooks to pull the collection together.
Try tying your aprons around kitchen chairs or stools as chair skirts.
Take photos of your aprons and create a gallery of apron photos, if you don't want to fold and display the real aprons in frames.

Do any CasaSugar readers have other suggestions for displaying vintage aprons? Let me know your ideas by commenting below.

Cheers,
CasaSugar

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:15:05 -0700

AT:SF checks out the wild colors in a Berkeley, CA, punk house.
Shelterrific shows you how to garden hydroponically at your house.
This Old House instructs you on how to build a bird feeder.
Re-Nest discusses eco bleach.
SavvySugar asks if you would move in with the 'rents if you lost your job.
Danny Seo wants to know if you've tried any great green products.
YumSugar asks what Fall veggies you're craving.
Charles and Hudson has an easy way to pick the best paint color.
Desire to Inspire introduces you to Beth Webb.

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Cool Idea: Edgy Porcelain

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:00:45 -0700

If you haven't noticed, I'm anticipating a trend here, with my coverage of alternative crochet work, subversive lace, and now, edgy porcelain. It's as if a punk-rock grandchild raided her grandma's attic and added some 'tude to traditional, feminine styles.

The Brooklyn-based designer Sarah Cihat did just that when she asked metalsmith Michael Miller to dress up the hand-cast porcelain bowls and vases from her new Dirt collection. Using copper and brass chainwork, Smith's metalwork adds an unexpected touch of edginess to Cihat's designs, and I love the results.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:08:02 -0800

What was that? You're looking for punk-rock window shades? Craft will tell you where to find them.
A very cool grandmother made 99 octopi ornaments for her family. Read about it on My Byrd House.
Another Shade of Grey has found a great stocking stuffer - homemade cranberry-fig soap.
Dwell reports on Design Miami
Inhabitat reports on how solar can become more affordable.
Girl Meets Glamour has the right stripes.
Tired of all the holiday soirées? Need to concentrate on some home entertainment? Then try the holiday-party excuse generator.

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Artist of the Day: Nikki McClure

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:02:30 -0700

Nikki McClure is a wizard with an X-acto knife, and has singlehandedly given the cringe-inducing term "papercuts" a whole new meaning. She is known for her painstakingly intricate and beautiful imagery, which she cuts from a single sheet of paper. Her work depicts the virtues of hard labor and patience (i.e. weathered hands washing dishes, people sweeping, mothers caring for their babies, and farmers working the land), and her artwork certainly requires those virtues as well. Large elements of celebration and the enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life and the earth are also depicted in her work. She regularly produces her own posters, books, cards, t-shirts, and a beloved yearly calendar. She also designs covers for countless records and books, including illustrations for magazines the Progressive and Punk Planet (R.I.P.). She is a self-taught artist who has been making paper-cuts since 1996. McClure's ability to have a steady hand holding that oh-so-sharp X-acto knife absolutely mystifies me, and I can't wait to get my less adept paws on one of her prints!

To find out how to win a signed print by Nikki McClure, and to see more of her artwork, read more

Tune in later today to see the Nikki McClure print we'll be giving away to one lucky CasaSugar reader, and to learn how you can get a chance to win. To see more of Nikki's paper-cuts, click the images below.

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Arktura Coral Coffee Table - Black - $1,990.00	Chatting Garden Rug - $88.00
Lace Cut Media Storage Unit - Coffee - $699.00	Crocheted Wall Hooks - $9.99
Emma Black Lace 3 Wick Candle by Fringe - $55.00	Pattern Bent Wood Chair - High Gloss Black - $199.00
Cutwork Hook - $14.00	Velvet Burnout Curtain - $108.00
Lace 20\"x13\" Pillow in Ink - $119.00	Pressed Vinyl Dot Placemats - $6.95
Lace Shopping Basket - $24.99	Moooi crochet table - $1,099.00
Artecnica - come rain come shine light by tord boontje - $4,950.00	4"x6" Lace Picture Frame by Fringe - $40.00
Lace Cut Bath Cabinet - Coffee - $349.00	D.L. & Co. Art Noveau Diffuser - Belle of India - $95.00