CasaSugar

Roundup: Knotty Details

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Ahoy! I love the beachy look of nautical ropes used in the home. Unlike the standard boat, fish, and lighthouse motifs, rope details a pay homage to the high seas with a less kitschy tone. They can be subtly used on glasses and doormats or steal the show on standouts like this impressive Dock Glow Chandelier ($798). The detail on this chandelier is incredible - it literally looks like it was made purely from ropes. If you like the natural fiber look, you might also like these burlap Etsy finds. To add this look to your home, check out the accents I've roped in below.

Love It or Hate It? Spool Side Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PST

Ballard Designs' new Spool Side Table ($199) was inspired by actual spools used by French rope makers to display and sell their natural fiber manila rope. Crafted of mango wood and authentic manila rope, it's not the bulky side table it appears to be: its top lifts off for storage. While this design is quite clever to me, with an antiquey meets nautical vibe, I think I'd rather own the real thing. If you read about my drum side table, you know how I love to turn unusual finds into furniture. How about you?

Casa Quickie: Wrap It Up

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:15:39 PST

Photographer Todd Selby recently toured the NYC apartment of music label director Keith Abrahamsson and stylist Kate Young, which is simply too cool for school. Under a backdrop of warm grays, the digs have plenty of high-quality furniture with interesting shapes and artsy elements, but the thing I love the most is that each room has something subtle and creative to notice.

In the bathroom, I thought the couple was so clever to wrap an ugly pipe with rope (or twine) to lend it a more organic, less industrial look. Especially in cities, many of us are plagued with old piping and other things we'd like to hide. So it could be a useful trick for many of you. The material is really versatile and can work with different aesthetics; you needn't just have a nautical theme. What do you think?

Noboarding: I Say Yes to the No, bindings that is

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:30:00 PST

If you are a surfer in your heart and soul, nothing can compare to the freedom of gliding over ocean waves, with nothing but a board between you.

But in the winter, your only option is to snowboard, but the feeling of being locked into bindings that are attached to a board, isn't much like surfing at all. Until now.

Check out the noboard. No bindings. Nothing but you and your board. In order to stay on, you hold onto a rope that's attached to your board, which has a heavy duty, thermal-set, elastomeric pad. This just means that it's specifically designed to have outstanding grip and it's able to handle cold temperatures.

Noboarding allows you to use your body more freely, which obviously makes it much more difficult than regular snowboarding. Which was why it was created in the first place by the late and great Gregg Todd.

You can check out the Noboard short film (Yes to the No) coming to a town near you - the Banff Film Festival World Tour features this and other stunning short films on mountain themes that are like nothing you've ever seen.

Want to see a some photos and a video of noboarding? Then

View 4 Photos ›

Skip to My Lou: Burn Serious Calories With Jump Rope

Heather Dale — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:06:39 PDT

In case you didn't get the memo, jump ropes are still in style. Just because it was an activity you did as a kid, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it now. Jump rope is not only an amazing cardio workout - a 145-lb person can burn 132 calories in just 10 minutes if jumping at a quick pace - but it's also a simple, convenient workout as well. Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, includes skipping in the workout routines she suggests to her clients.

Here's why else jump rope is so great.

Can't Stop Wanting: Shourouk Bracelets

Noria Morales — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:00:00 PDT

Parisian designer Shourouk Rhaiem first had me hooked with an insanely beautiful crystal bird statement necklace, but that was $700, and I was looking for a slightly smaller investment. That's when I came across her crystal and rope bracelets ($210). The mix of pastel and neon crystal with woven cord feels simultaneously regal and sporty, the combination of which I equate with perfection. You could totally stack these, but just one is enough, and it would also make a great gift, no?

Get in Gear: Jump Ropes

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:21 PST

Whether you're an exercise newbie or a fitness buff, jumping rope is a great option for fun, quick, and effective cardio. Though a jump rope is one of the simplest pieces of equipment available, shopping for one isn't easy because they come in various lengths and the quality can differ depending on materials used.

You'll find that ropes differ in handle size and cord weight; I recommend staying away from ropes made of cloth or leather. Generally, beaded ropes are supposed to give you the best aerobic workout. Speed ropes are the lightest type of rope, but I've found they can be difficult to control when you're a new jumper. I prefer slightly heavier ropes made of plastic.

See some jump rope options and learn how to determine the proper length of your jump rope when you

While standing on the center of the cord, the handle tips should reach your armpits. If the handles are up by your ears, the rope is too long for you! You can also jump with your rope to determine if it's the proper length: If the cord doesn't touch the floor, the rope is too short; if it lands in front of you, it's too long.

See How We Gave This Ikea Lampshade a Nautical Twist!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:49:44 PDT

As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Elka Karl and I have been thinking of ways to punch up basic Ikea products. You may have seen how I added block-printed ikat polka dots to this Asele lampshade ($15). Well, now I'm revisiting the same shade with an entirely different approach. Armed with some thin manila rope, a glue gun, and a Bran table lamp base ($20), I set out to create a nautical-inspired lamp with a modern twist.

Keep reading to discover how easy it was to create my rope lampshade!

Isla Fisher Breaks From Cannes Film Fun to Hit the Park With Her Girls

Allie Merriam — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:42:03 PDT

Isla Fisher brought her two daughters, Olivie and Elula Cohen, to a park in France yesterday. The girls tackled the rides and a minitrain during a couple hours free of work for Isla. She's in the South of France chatting up her movie Rise of the Guardians during the Cannes Film Festival, and earlier yesterday, joined costars Chris Pine and Alec Baldwin for a press conference about the animated holiday release. Isla's husband Sacha Baron Cohen is also making the rounds at the cinema celebration. Sacha's at Cannes as the Dictator and made his usual stir yesterday by arriving on the Croisette atop a camel. He then threw on a swimsuit for a PR stunt on a yacht. Sacha roped a bikini-clad Elisabetta Canalis into horsing around for the cameras.

Reasons to Own a Jump Rope

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:35:17 PDT

If running outside is not your cup of tea, and steep gym prices prevent you from hitting the pool or a spin class, you'll need an inexpensive and easy way to keep up with your cardio sessions. You may associate a jump rope with school-aged girls, boxers, or those in the military, but jump ropes are a great tool to keep in your home gym and here's why.

Cheap way to save time while burning major calories: For about $8 and 30 minutes, a 130-pound woman can burn 330 calories - running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile (six mph) only burns 270 calories.
You can do your workout anywhere: Whether you're in a hotel room on a business trip, outside on your deck, or inside your home because of bad weather, you can jump rope - just make sure the ceilings are high enough. Since a jump rope takes up so little room, it can easily be stashed in your suitcase, gym or yoga bag, or even your purse.
Jumping is good for bone health: If you're young, you're not exactly worrying about osteoporosis yet, but what you do now can help prevent this condition. It turns out that simply jumping up and down helps strengthen your bones.
It tones your legs and booty: Who doesn't want a tight and toned tush? Just like running and biking, jumping rope requires mostly leg strength. You can jump up and down, side-to-side, or forward and backward, jump while moving around the room, jump with one leg, or jump with both legs together. Varying your steps will target different muscles and also prevent boredom.