CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Dyed Doilies

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:00:41 -0700

Doilies are blowing up in the design world these days. Not only is there a doily motif trend, but the crocheted mats are being used in modern and alternative ways, such as hung in frames and stitched onto bedding. But a doily's life as an ornamental napkin is not over yet. You may remember I recommended dyeing your doilies to give them a quick update. Well if you need proof from a true tastemaker, see how Eddie Ross kicked the dated look of his Salvation Army doily finds by dyeing them with charcoal Rit dye. I love how the dark doilies dress up his simple table setting and really make his white linens pop. Beautiful. Do you have any doilies lying around in need of revival?

Etsy Finds: Sophisticated Cloth Napkins

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:00:54 -0700

I'm a big enthusiast of white table linens. With a basic backdrop, you can be flexible with your other dinner party décor, changing up your palettes and patterns to make each party special. That said, you'll need to bring in color and flair with napkins, napkin rings, flowers, and serving dishes. So, I thought I'd share a few colorful and sophisticated cloth napkins to get you started on your quest for the perfect party.

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Roundup: Striped Table Linens

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Stripes are the little black dress of tabletop décor. They're always in style. You can never go wrong with a good striped or broad-plaid tablecloth. For instance, I'm absolutely in love with the Designers Guild Dickenson print, and I don't see that changing . . . ever. It's a good thing, because a table cloth and six napkins will cost me $195. For now, I might have to treat myself to a set of four napkins ($40). But why stop there? There are so many striped table linens to love. See my other beautiful finds when you read more.

Roundup: Pretty, Poppy Placemats

CasaSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:30:52 -0700

Whether you're entertaining the same old friends, serving a weeknight dinner for your sweetheart, or feeding new pals, it's always nice to switch up your tabletop décor. One of the most affordable ways to do so is with placemats. Growing up, my mother always had a vast collection of placemats, which made setting the table each night more of a pleasure than a tedious task. So, I thought I'd introduce a few pretty, poppy placemats into your vocabulary. To see my finds, read more.

Casa Quickie: A Tablecloth Alternative

CasaSugar — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:30:12 -0800

For me, setting the table is a little like getting dressed: I won't be caught dead wearing the same thing two days in a row. I like to switch up my dinnerware, napkin rings, glasses, table linens, and menu (of course) each day. But sometimes I tire of my tabletop "wardrobe" and sometimes it's just laundry day. When that happens, I look into my real wardrobe for some alternatives. For this little breakfast nook, I decided to use a cotton scarf as a tablecloth. It's nothing fancy, and the shape isn't perfect for a round table, but it's just breakfast! I think the houndstooth check pattern has a sort of updated Italian ristorante vibe, don't you?

Nice and New: Kelly Wearstler For Sferra

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:15:02 -0800

Contemporary interior designer and Top Design judge Kelly Wearstler has launched a line with luxury linens maker Sferra. The line includes bedding, pillows, throws, table linens, and napkin rings. Wearstler has pumped up the volume of her soft and subtle color palette with statement-making texture and pattern, such as couture-inspired details like hand-embroidered ribbon, appliqué-embellished silks, and delicate strié. The collection, which ranges in price from $38 to $1,650, is available online, at Neiman Marcus stores, and in specialty boutiques. This wacky tastemaker also has a boutique inside Bergdorf Goodman and a collection of hand-made rugs with The Rug Company, but her Sferra collection marks the first time her products will be available to consumers on a national retail scale. Whether you can afford them, though, that's another conversation altogether . . .
Source

How-To: Remove Candle Wax

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:30:00 -0800

There's nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner, but waking up to a table covered in wax is no picnic. Before you reach for a razorblade that will scratch up your gorgeous dining table, or even think about tossing your tablecloth in the washer, I have some tips for safely and easily removing that candle wax. If the wax has dripped onto a hard surface like a metal, wooden, or glass table, use a blow dryer to melt the wax. As it liquefies, wipe up the melted max with a paper towel or a cotton rag. To hear how to remove wax from your table linens, read more.

Begin by scratching away as much of the wax as you can with a dull knife. Don't pick too hard if you have delicate linens.
Now, lay a piece of newspaper or kraft paper down on your ironing board. Set the waxy portion of your tablecloth on top of that, and then lay down another piece of paper. You can also use a piece of brown paper bag (i.e. lunch bag) for this.
Turn your iron on low-medium and slowly iron over the paper. The paper should absorb the wax as it liquefies. Lift up the paper to check that it's working, and increase the heat and replace the newspaper or kraft paper if necessary.
Next, wash your linens or have them dry cleaned.

Casa Quickie: Slip-Proof Tablecloth

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:00:27 -0800

Throwing a successful dinner party is already enough of a hassle without your tablecloth slipping off of the table. You've somehow spent 10 minutes assuring yourself that your linens drape equally to the floor. You set the table, serve your feast, and realize that one side resembles a miniskirt sported by Britney Spears. Frustrating? Yes. Easy to fix? Definitely. Just cut a piece of felt to the size and shape of your tabletop, and the textured fabric will prevent your table's linen number from becoming a bit risqué.

Nice and New: Simrin Farmyard Placemats

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:30:30 -0800

You may not enjoy the scent of cow manure or the sound of a rooster's crow at the break of dawn, but you can still bring a little farm life into your home without counting Babe as one of your dependents. Velocity has introduced Simrin Farmyard Placemats ($36) into its collection of fashionable table linens, and I think they're just the thing to give us all a taste of the old days, short of rearing animals ourselves. The placemats are made from 100 percent cotton, and can be easily machine washed and dried. But that shouldn't prevent you from line-drying them out in the pasture, if you so please.

Etsy Find: Cinderella Pumpkin Napkins

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:49 -0800

When it comes to pumpkins, we often think of jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin carving at Halloween, but the gourd-like squash is stylish all season long. There should be nothing preventing you from decorating with pumpkins until Christmas comes along . . . then poinsettias and fir trees can have their heyday. I'm smitten with these Cinderella Pumpkin Napkins, a set of four olive-green cotton napkins each embroidered with a freshly harvested pumpkin, recalling Cinderella's Fairy Godmother's coach. Their warm-colored palette is ideal for Fall. If not these, you should pick up an alternate set because by now I hope you all adopted cloth napkins in lieu of paper!

CLOSEOUT! Home James Jabberwocky Placemat and Napkin Collection - $45.00	Calvin Klein "Tonal Bands" Linen Collection - $10.00
Chilewich - $62.00	Confetti Indoor/Outdoor Umbrella Tablecloth - $14.99
Calvin Klein "Tonal Bands" Table Runner, 15x90" - $100.00	Unison - Porter Tablecloth - $64.00
Feed Sack Table Runner - Blue - $399.00	Fiesta Rainbow Burst Napkins, Set of Four, 17x17" - $22.00
Bardwil "Broadway" Blue Stripe Napkins, Set of 4 - $30.00	Martha Stewart Collection "Canopy Stripe" Placemat Collection - $9.00
DwellStudio Table Woodblock Runners - in ink - set of 2 - $160.00	Tuxedo Stripe Collection by Chilewich - $25.00
Striped Table Runner - $25.00	Savona Stripe Tablecloth/Napkin - $4.95
DwellStudio Table Woodblock Lake Napkin - set of 4 - $64.00

Kim Seybert Place Mats, Napkins, & Napkin Rings - $104.00	notNeutral Flora Placemat Set - $48.00
Mina Placemats - $32.00	Set of 4 Placemats - Hedgerow Pewter - $88.00
Dansk® Cafe Blanc Urban Picnic Placemat and Napkin - $5.99	Simrin Raja Round Placemats - $48.00
Place Mats & Napkins - $28.00	Franca Placemat - $16.00
Pressed Vinyl Dot Placemats - $6.95	Riva Placemat - $7.95
Louise Placemat - $4.95	Blossoms Placemat and Napkin - $2.99
Liora Manne "Montique" Petals Placemat - $26.00