CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: Bloomingdales Fringe Tray

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:00:01 -0800

This richly-patterned Fringe glass tray ($50, originally $60) features antique-floral imagery and vintage patterns. At 16-x-10 in., you can serve a lot of holiday cocktails on this tray at your next party. And after the holiday madness settles, you can suggest this tray for use the next time someone makes you breakfast in bed (you can suggest that someone make you breakfast in bed, too - I'm all in favor of that).

Gift Guide: Serving Trays for the Cocktail Queen

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:20:03 -0800

Everyone loves a good cocktail party. Guests can show up after a home-cooked meal or leave early (and tipsy) for a late dinner date. Hosts can throw one together with little to no planning, a trip to the neighborhood liquor store, and a few simple hors d'oeuvres. In the interest of proliferating these wonderful events, I suggest nudging your favorite cocktail party hostess to throw yet another bash by giving her exactly what any good cocktail party needs: a chic serving tray. I've rounded up several of them at various price points below. Hopefully you'll score some sweet bruschetta and savory stuffed mushrooms out of it.

Source

Gift Guide: Serving Trays For the Party Girls

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:24 -0800

Since I'm a design fiend, I think my friends expect to receive decorating gifts from me. But it really can be just as hard to shop for décor gifts as it is for clothes. Year after year, I struggle to find something that appeals to their tastes and lifestyles.

I think I'm onto something, though. A few of my friends are big party girls, in the sense they that they are constantly hosting get-togethers and cocktail parties of all sorts. I've decided that a serving tray would be a great gift for these ladies. It's obviously great for entertaining, but can also be used as wall art or to organize knickknacks day to day. I've rounded up a wide range of serving trays to fit the aesthetic of every party girl you and I know. Take a look!

8 Alternative Uses For Serving Trays

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

At The Office's "Night in Morocco" Christmas party, Angela looked quite proper and ladylike serving up cocktails to her co-workers. But, such a festive occasion to put your serving tray to work only comes around a few times a year. On the days that you're not playing hostess, your serving tray can be hired for other duties in your home while you kick back and enjoy the sights.
Photo courtesy of source

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Nice and New: Ballard Designs Lily Tray Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:44 -0800

Ballard Designs is hit or miss, but the new Lily Tray Table ($159) is a winner. The tray table folds up, so you can hang it when it's not in use, making it ideal for small studios. But it's no TV-dinner tray. I adore its cheerful garden-bloom accents surrounding the rim of the tray and, of course, it's mirrored tray. Isn't it charming? I mean . . . check out those dainty tripod legs. Of course, you don't have to use it for serving; you can also try one of my eight alternative uses for serving trays.

Before and After: KateDavis's Faux Bois Tray Makeover

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:04 -0700

Su Casa member KateDavis bought this white Melamine Serving Tray ($12.99) from Target, and decided it needed a bit of a modern makeover. She slapped on a piece of faux bois contact paper, instantly giving it depth and pattern. Want to see the finished product? Then read more.

Looks great, right?! If you'd like to see another wonderful faux bois contact paper makeover, check out how I transformed my ugly linoleum floors. Have you made any updates to your home accessories? Add them to our Su Casa group!

Roundup: Cocktail Trays

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:00:53 -0700

Every entertaining household should have a stocked bar with an ice bucket, glassware, cocktail shakers, mixers, and a few choices of poison. I recommend keeping these bar essentials out in the open on a console table of sorts, so guests feel they can serve themselves. Sometimes a closet or cabinet is the only option, though. Regardless, a cocktail tray is crucial for keeping all these items in a cohesive, orderly arrangement. I recommend a rectangular tray with a raised edge and handles so you can carry the tray around to guests if you want to serve a special cocktail. See a few of my tray picks when you read more.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Nice and New: Jonathan Adler Acapulco Tray

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:49 -0700

It's finally Spring and aside from checking off your cleaning checklist, do you know what that means? Barbecues! Grilling up some burgers and tofu pups for friends and family is quite possibly my favorite way to entertain. But just because I'm not serving a delicacy doesn't mean my entertaining decor shouldn't be cute! I'd love to carry some ice-cold lemonades and potato salad on this new Jonathan Adler Acapulco Tray ($28). Made of melamine, it's durable and dishwasher safe, but its whimsical, Tord Boontje-esque wildlife design is superbly chic.

Ask Casa: Color My New Crib

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:50 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
After a very long eight weeks, I'm moving into my new duplex as a first-time homeowner! I'm really excited about having so much freedom to decorate my place however I see fit. But, I'm having a hard time with one room.
I have one open space that serves as the entryway, dining area, and formal sitting room/library with a fireplace. I was planning on painting one accent wall royal plum, another dark emerald, and the remaining walls almond paste. The problem is that I can't seem to find many furnishings and accessories to coordinate with this color scheme. Can you help me find some cool stuff? I plan on incorporating a Turkish lantern and hookah from my honeymoon, so anything with a Turkish, Moroccan, or Arabian influence would be awesome. I'm also never afraid of a good DIY project, so bring it on!

Thanks,
EvilDorkGirl

To hear my suggestions for EvilDorkGirl, read more.

Hi EvilDorkGirl,
That's a great room! How exciting that you have the opportunity to decorate it! You've chosen a very exotic range of colors, but I think they will work. I've rounded up a bunch of products to inspire you.

For your large furniture pieces, I recommend making timeless, versatile choices like a clean-lined ivory sofa and a dark wood dining table with shapely legs. This way, if you choose to venture from your wall color palette or choose a different style, your investments will still be appropriate.

For your small furnishings, like side tables, chairs, and coffee table, I say go for something with a bit of an Eastern flair. You can integrate this style with lattice-like patterns and Moorish arches.

When it comes to accessories, go wild with Turkish and Moroccan elements to get the look of an exotic bazaar. These cultures are often heavy on the textiles, especially beautifully embroidered ones, so I pulled a few plum-toned pillows in varying but complementary patterns to liven up your sofa. Your walls will be dark, so brighten the room with light but patterned curtains and a diamond motif jute rug. A Moroccan pouf offers additional seating and brings in color. A tea-tray-style coffee table that's low to the ground recalls Turkish salons and makes for cozy lounging. Check out the book Bazaar Style for more inspiration!

Hope that helps,
Casa

Good, Better, Best: Square Lacquer Trays

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:10:26 -0800

Since I'm on the hunt for the perfect lacquer tray to set atop my Nelson Platform Bench (coffee table), I thought I'd share with you my top picks, in case you're in the market too. I was originally hoping for two white-square lacquer trays, but now I'm thinking that a little color couldn't hurt. Here are the ones in the running:

Good: West Elm's Square Trays ($19–$24) are colorful "catch-alls for jewels, watches, pencils, and whatnots." They currently come in red, antique gold, and a black-graffiti print, but I've seem them for sale in other colors during different seasons. I love the perfect square shape and round handles, but I'd have to hold out for something that goes with my color scheme.

Better:
These Two Tone Lacquer Serving Tray ($44.50) comes in orange, white, red, aqua, or copper with a brown trim, or fuschia or blue with a green trim. They're very similar in shape to West Elm's but have a better color selection.

Best: These wooden Lacquer Trays (price unlisted) were designed by Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy. I love the varying sizes and the cool green color tones. They would go perfectly in my living room. That is, if I could track them down.
*Unfortunately, these trays were recently removed from La-Z-Boy's site, so if any of you can find them, be sure to comment about where I can get my hands on them.

GG Collection - $245.00	Faux Python Skin Trays - $22.00
Red Pagoda Serving Platter - $67.00	Inlaid Bone Flower Tray - New! - $199.00
Bird's Eye View Garden Wall Art - Single Tray - $89.00	Mammy / Punch - $65.00
Barneys New York Large Rectangular Tray- White/Black - $195.00	Rectangular Platter (13x9x1-in.) by Le Souk Ceramique - $28.95
NEW - $59.00	Rioja Platter - $32.95
Atticus - $120.00	BÄrbar Tray - $5.99
Indonesia Wooden Giftware, Galaxy Collection - $40.00	A di Alessi Ba-ball, Round tray - $132.00
notNeutral - Triton Laquer Tray - $117.00	Fornasetti Occhi Wood Tray - $758.00
Medium Rectangle Mariposa Tray by Fringe - $37.50	Horchow Antique Floral Tray - $135.00
Juliska Pewter Small Platter - $48.00

Simrin Botanical Large Rectangular Tray - $108.00	GG Collection - $245.00
Barneys New York Mondrian Mini Handle Tray - $165.00	Alessi Recinto, Rectangular tray with handles - $168.00
R & Y Augousti Brownlip Circles Tray- Multi - $115.00	R & Y Augousti Shagreen Tray- Ivory - $396.00
Vellum Mercer Tray - $325.00	Alessi Tau Rectangular Tray With Handles - $220.00
Cork Tray - $39.00	Elegant Lacquer Trays - $125.00
Match - $65.00	All-Over Mother-of-Pearl Trays - $88.00
Mother-of-Pearl Tray - $98.00	Christofle Anemone Large Rectangular Tray - $1,570.00
Christofle Three-Part Cocktail Server - $330.00

White Lattice Burnout Curtain - $24.99	Coventry Jute Rug - $29.00
Roland 85\" Sofa in Tara Ivory - $1,299.00	Circle-Cutout Chairs + Cushions - $189.00
Laurent Extension Dining Table - $1,699.00	Square Moor Mirror - $550.00
Moorish 8-Bottle Wine Rack - $29.99	Moorish Wine Coaster or Cooler - $14.98
Elysee Pierced Jar - $119.00	Ceramic Camel - $29.00
Maharam Quatrefoil Emerald Pillow - $150.00	Radius Pillow - $49.95
"Moroccan" Pillows - $300.00	Moroccan Tea Glasses Sets of 6 - $29.94
Agadir Pouf, Small - $198.00	Roost Moroccan Collection - $275.00
Janice Minor - $590.00	New Havana Chair - $599.00
Ivory & Gold Suzani Bench - $195.00	Tava Coffee Table - $599.00