CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Patchwork Wallpapering

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:00:51 -0700

This feminine bedroom, styled by Bazaar Style author and stylist Selina Lake, was featured in BBC Homes and Antiques magazine.

I love how a patchwork of vintage wallpapers was used to create this feminine boudoir background. Not only does it give the room a nostalgic, period look, but since it really only requires wallpaper samples, it's also a very affordable. Furthermore, you don't have to be in love with each wallpaper because the patchwork effect overrides the dated look of the individual designs. There's strength in numbers!

What do you think?

Get the Look: Selina Lake Style

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:00:21 -0800

Interior stylist and author of Bazaar Style Selina Lake has done it again, spellbinding me with fresh photos in her portfolio. Her talent at styling everything from a mantel vignette to a tented outdoor sitting area is insurmountable, but I will take a shot at recreating one of the stunning rooms in her portfolio. I was taken by this rich living room with its chalky eggplant and gold palette and I thought you might be too, so here we go. To see my thoughts on recreating this space, read more.

Beyond its architectural details, the elegance of this room relies heavily on accessories and curves. Without the cohesive palette of its pillows, throws, candlelight, and ornate mirror, this room would be quite lackluster. Beyond that, the furniture doesn't necessarily make a bold statement, but the curves of each piece tie it all together and parallel the femininity provided by lush textiles and ornate details.

But first, begin by painting your walls a chalky gray like Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky (2122-30).

On to furniture. A Chesterfield sofa like the one shown here with nice, rounded arms isn't hard to find. Use a nightstand with feminine curves as a side table. If you can't find a gilded one, lay on a couple coats of gold paint. Choose a dark wood coffee table with a nice silhouette. Your armchair should have comfortable curves, and a soft fabric like velvet.

Milo Sofa, Linen Flax - $3,498.00	Silhouette Tables - Coffee - $799.00
British Cane 1-Drawer Nightstand - $1,725.00	Aunt Jane Chair - $949.00

And finally, accessories. Royal shades of eggplant and gold rule this room. Go with rich velvet pillows and plush throws, a splash of gold sequins, and a dose of gilded hand-carving in your candlesticks and mirror.

Source

Trend Alert: Apparel as Home Décor

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:15:37 -0800

From inspiring shelter magazines to the portfolios of interior stylists and photographers to haute décor shops, I've been seeing our bodies' garments artistically displayed on the beautiful bones of houses around the world. At a time when fashion rules the pavement and the print pubs, names like Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent prolifically roll off the tongue, celebrities are becoming designers left and right, and Birkin bags take 48 hours to make, it's no wonder that apparel is making waves in our homes as well in the buzzing media world. To see where I've found frocks and accessories in bedrooms, living rooms, and beyond, check out this slideshow. Source

View Slideshow ›

Midday Muse: A World-Class Backyard

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:00:27 -0700

Designer Selina Lake created this world style-influenced backyard vignette using a vintage suzani, feminine-hued throw pillows, and a jaunty crystal-accented parasol. While you might not have all of these elements in your garage or attic, I bet you could round up a few to create a similar cozy outdoor space at your own home. I'm currently contemplating taking our old coffee table out of the garage and setting it on a back deck platform in our yard, adorning it with lanterns and throw pillows, and inviting friends over for a midnight Scrabble marathon. How could you create some Summer style using elements you already own?

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Home Library: Bazaar Style

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

After months of heated anticipation, I've finally had the blessing to read Bazaar Style, an interior design book from beloved Designer Spotlight, stylist Selina Lake, interiors writer Joanna Simmons, and interiors photographer Debi Treloar, which was just released in April. Chock full of salivating images of homes furnished with French flea market and Moroccan bazaar finds, alongside modern design classics, big-box buys, and inherited antiques, the book will reveal the potential in your beat-up furniture and a can of
paint, inspire you to paint the surround of a window to frame the view, and liberate you to break conventions, be it by setting your table with mismatched china, or duct taping fresh flowers to the wall. While the photography alone would be enough to sell me on this title, unlike some of its contemporaries, the ratio of editorial advice to image content is not negative, let alone meager; Lake and Simmons have channeled their industry expertise into hundreds of tips, suggestions, and solutions for achieving this unprecedented style in your home. To hear more about this impressive book and see some photos from it, read more.

View 7 Photos ›

While the bazaar look fully embraces welcoming street and thrift-store finds under your roof, it isn't necessarily about buying everything cheaply. The key is that mixing layered flea-market purchases, unique pieces picked up during your travels, and a single crave-worthy modern splurge will elevate an entire room to new heights of chic — a point proved page after page seeing real homes furnished with this in mind. Words of bazaar style wisdom range from the narrow, "Pasting wallpaper to tired kitchen units and a plain white fridge — and inexpensive — way to give them a colorful new look," to the broad, "reduce visual shock by finding one unifying element." But, Bazaar Style itself is divided into broad themes, explaining elements such as furniture, textiles, lighting, accessories, display, and color, then going on to show how a particular style works in kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices. By the time you reach the source directory (which offers up Lake's digits as a resource), you'll be dialing +44 to call Lake in the UK and hire her to design your own home's interiors. You'll be out of luck though, true bazaar style is all about the DIY.
Source and Source

Designer Spotlight: Selina Lake

CasaSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:45:01 -0800

In today's Spotlight, the designer is actually an interior stylist. In other words, as Selina Lake said in her recent interview with decor8, her "role is usually to produce images, which are used to sell products, and to inspire magazine and book readers," rather than "to design residential and commercial properties," as an interior designer would. Her editorial experience ranges from decorating and house features to styled shopping shoots and makeovers. At only 26, her client list already includes Marie Claire, LivingEtc, Ikea, House Beautiful, Real Homes, Elle Decoration, and more. She also
recently shot a book called Bazaar Style for Ryland Peters and Small which will be published and on sale this Spring. She's a staunch advocate of shopping for vintage treasures in flea markets and charity shops, and, trained as a surface pattern designer, she's also really interested in decorative fabrics and wallpapers, which you can spot in her shoots. To see an inspiring gallery of Selina's work, read more

View 21 Photos ›

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Sally King Benedict is an artist to admire. - Nick Olsen
Even kids' desks can be cool. - Anh-Minh
The Black & Spiro website has arrived. - Absolutely Beautiful Things
Finally bistro chairs that make you stay and chat a while. - Simply Stated
Selina Lake shares some of her recent work. - Selina Lake Stylist
I'm loving barn door fittings used indoors. - Remodelista

Room Therapy: Mixing Styles With Success

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:45:35 -0700

Hi, Casa!

A friend and I are moving into an apartment together, and we're facing the challenge of decorating and furnishing it. We'd both like to figure out how we can mix vintage, Ikea, and new decorations and furnishings and still make things look good. We have a color palette picked (light green, white, light gray, hints of yellow, and light wood). Any ideas or tips you could give would be great! Thanks!

Tee0206

To see my suggestion, and to leave a suggestion of your own, read more.

Hi Tee,

My house is definitely furnished and decorated with an eclectic mix of pieces as well (we have Ikea chairs around a beautiful, expensive Parsons table, for instance), and I think that most enthusiastic home designers use this same strategy.

I also love the color palette you and your friend are using in your new home. It seems like it will be simultaneously cheerful and meditative, which is a nice combination.

I'm going to direct you to three books that I think are really helpful in mixing styles. The first, though meant for couples, also works great for housemates. The Nest Home Design Handbook has great advice for mixing styles, as well as ways to balance two people's ideas on style and home layout.

Another great resource is written by one of my favorite interior stylists, Selina Lake. Bazaar Style is the perfect inspiration for integrating thrift store finds and flea market furniture into your home. Combine Lake's advice with the inspiration and ideas offered in Found Style, and you'll be well on your way to sorting out your and your friend's combined styles.

Cheers,
Casa

Anyone else have advice for Tee?

Source and Source

Ask Casa: Tone Down My Bedding

CasaSugar — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:30:42 -0700

Hi Casa,
I would really love your help/advice on something. I have a Tommy Hilfiger comforter that I bought freshman year for college; the comforter color is similar to this one shown here. At the time, I was really into bright colors, especially hot pink.
Now, I am entering my junior year at school, about to be 21 and, well, the hot pink seems a little immature to me. Also, I prefer something a little more mellow for my dorm because it essentially doubles as a work space and resting place. I don't really want to spend a lot of money on new bedding because I'll be abroad next semester so the bedding wouldn't be for very long. Do you have any ideas on how I can subdue the color with other things (i.e. room accessories, pillows, frames)? Or any sites that I can look into getting something new in an inexpensive price range?
Thanks for your help!
Gmlgml31

To hear my response, and see some suggestions, read more.

Hi Gmlgml31,
Thanks for thinking of me! I completely understand where you're coming from. There are a lot of options for you. But let me start off by saying that bright pink needn't look immature — and this is coming from someone who works at Sugar, the pinkest company of all!

A simple way to tone down a bold comforter is to fold a blanket or matelassé in a light color at the base of your bed and then use light and large (try euro size) pillow shams. I'm sure your parents have a basic white blanket somewhere for you. This will cover up some of the bright color, and make it more of an accent color. Then, you'll want to draw the focus away from the bed. Hang a large and bold piece of artwork, a tapestry, or poster above your bed on the wall; this will draw eyes up and away from the bed itself. Or, if your dorm allows it, bring in or DIY a headboard to create a focal point.

Since your dorm room doubles as a work space and a resting place, another great option for you is to curtain off the bed. West Elm sells a Steel Cable System that works as a curtain rod, which you can use to create a canopy effect over your bed. This will also separate your bed from your desk, so it won't be so tempting to hop back into bed when you should be studying for that English final.

Throw some colorful, patterned textiles onto your bed, such as a suzani, à la Selina Lake's Bazaar Style, and your hot pink bedspread will be tame in comparison. Why not check out some local thrift shops, flea markets, and your linen closet at home to see what patterned linens you can bring into the mix?

Probably the simplest solution to your concern, though, is to get a duvet cover! There are plenty of affordable duvet covers out there in the sale sections of some of my favorite retailers, as well as at stores like Ikea, Garnet Hill, and The Company Store. Or, you could stitch a simple duvet cover together with two flat sheets. Here are a few choices for you:

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Casa

Summer Style Contest Entry: CocoChic's Patio

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:29 -0700

The CasaSugar Summer Style Contest continues, and I've got handfuls of wonderful submissions from you readers, revealing what your Summer style at home is. Of her Summer style, TeamSugar member CocoChic said that her apartment is very modern and her patio is gray stucco with a gray-painted cement floor, so her focus was "to bring the patio lots of color and make it feel warmer." She called upon her catch-as-catch-can attitude to do so, using an old bath towel as a rug, covering her Ikea table with a fringed vintage wrap, and setting a bouquet of hot-pink hydrangeas in an orange basket as tabletop décor. I'm getting a serious Selina Lake vibe from this table setting; it's very Bazaar Style. I love how CocoChic has managed to pull together a very sophisticated, yet colorful and Summery table setting, at no cost; that carefree attitude is what Summer is all about.

Have you entered the contest yet? It's simple: just send a photo illustrating your Summer style at home to my TeamSugar inbox or post it to the Su Casa group for a chance to win one of two $500 gift cards to Crate & Barrel.

Nordstrom Micro Chamois Throw - $68.00	Henley Pillow - $21.95
Gold Sequin Pillow - $350.00	Nordstrom Sequin Stripe Pillow - $45.00
Velvet Linen Pillow Covers - $25.00	Acanthus Mirrors -32" x 38" - $198.00
Sheepskin 2\'x3\' Rug in Ivory - $89.00	Mercury Glass Candleholders, Green - $20.00
Taper Candles Sets of 6 - $7.99	Holmegaard - 'cocoon' glassware by holmegaard - $38.00

PB Classic Stripe Bedding - Select Items - $89.00	Printemps Bed Linens - $32.00
Eden Bed Linens - $119.00	PB Classic Bedding - Select Items - $129.00
Marimekko ® vire bed linens - $29.95	Pinstripe Bed Linens - $24.95
CLOSEOUT! Martha Stewart Collection "Maidenhair Fern" Luxury Bedding Collection in Ocean - $24.00	Saranac Duvet Cover & Sham - $169.00
Margaret Duvet Cover & Sham - $39.00	Braid Duvet Cover & Sham - Blue - $99.00
Mogul Flower Duvet Cover + Shams - $29.00