CasaSugar

Open House: What Trends Have You Bought Into?

CasaSugar — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Some trends are so pervasive, you don't know how transient they'll be until they're "over" - and all over your home. I fall hard and fast for lots of décor trends. But I'm such a skeptical and prohibitive shopper, I usually don't make the mistake of buying things that will be "out" in a few months. I will cop to buying into a few fleeting trends, such as wall decals and lace.

Other trends I think have enough staying power to invest in. For instance, I wrote about ikat as a trend nearly two years ago, and I think it looks as chic and relevant, yet classic, today as it did then. My interior designer aunt and mother used four ikat pillows in the sitting room of one of their clients, and though they were probably on my wish list a couple years ago, I still totally covet them. I think that says something; even if only, "buy what you love." Tell me: What trends have you bought into? Any trendy items you still love? Any headed for the donation center?

Are You Over Ikat?

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0800

Ikat (the textile used on these shades) has been trendy in the décor world for over a year now. I tend to tire of trends quickly, but ikat still holds my heart. How about you?Source

Open House: Can You Turn Trends Into Classics?

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:00:06 -0800

Hawley McLean Haleblian, whose home earned an Honorable Mention in the Met Home of the Year Awards, has re-envisioned last year's zebra trend, employing a technique that makes it much more permanent.

Instead of cautiously experimenting with a zebra print pillow, Hawley went all out. She tore out an 18-square-foot section of tile, and then drew in the outline of a zebra hide. She filled in the outline with smashed black and white tiles and fixed it permanently in the floor.

I love this unexpected touch, and think it could arguably stand the test of time. Can you think of any other home trends that you'd be willing to add to your home in a more permanent manner? Whether with a mosaic tiling effect or an expensive piece of heirloom-quality furniture, what trend would you turn into a classic at your abode?

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Your Favorite Home Trend of 2008

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

As part of our Best of 2008 polls, you named typography your favorite home trend this year, and I'm with you there! While I don't necessarily like to decorate with words, I think designers have been doing a lot of interesting things with typography this year. From pillows to bookends to bird houses, letters and characters have been reinvented in dozens of fresh new ways. Be sure to check out Helvetica, a wonderful documentary about the proliferation of the typeface.
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What's Your Favorite Home Trend of 2008?

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:15:00 -0800

Each year (even each season), trends come and go. Some stick, often surprisingly. Some fade quickly. And some make a comeback years later (hello leggings!). When it comes to interiors (and fashion, I suppose), it's best to get your trend fill with low-ticket accessories, which can be swapped out when something "hipper" comes along. To see how all these trends, whether long lasting or brief, have stacked up this year, I've compiled a poll of the interior design trends this year. Let me know which is your fave.

Midday Muse: In the Mix

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:04 -0700

Growing up, I was a well-coordinated girl. My mother dressed me well, always pairing a stripe with a solid, never mixing patterns, often a bow in my hair, shoes shined, etc. And then Sienna Miller came along with her Bohemian chic and made it okay to look messy, to mix florals with stripes, to clash colors. In the world of interiors, I've noticed the same. Pick up any shelter magazine and you'll see a bold mix of texture, pattern, and color that hasn't always been accepted. I'm not sure if there is a correlation between the two . . . if people feel more free to decorate eclectically because they dress that way, or if it's just a coincidence. Or perhaps this is all a mirage, and since I've moved out of my mother's traditionally-styled home, I am just personally embracing a more eclectic look in my own home. Either way, I'm digging it, and I like to mix things up.
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Midday Muse: Not-So-Mellow Yellow

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:00:15 -0700

I've never quite gravitated towards the color yellow. But, it has become trendy, and lately I've been seeing bright, taxi-cab yellow everywhere from modern retailers like Ikea to traditional shops like Anthropologie. Even New York magazine is spotted with the hue. When you look back at the pale yellows that were trendy a year ago, it seems to be that "mellow yellow" is no more. While I don't actually mind these vibrant yellows, and find them quite cheerful, I worry that I'll tire of them quickly. I think the home office shown here does a good job of integrating the color in a way that can be temporary. The basics of the space are the silvery gray desk and rug, and two white lamps. If next month turquoise is the It color, a simple slipcover for the ottoman can be bought and turquoise stripes painted to bring the space up to date. Maybe yellow will never be for you, but if you're integrating trends into your home (or wardrobe), you should always do so in a way that isn't permanent. Invest in timeless pieces, and bring in trends with color and pattern that can be easily abandoned.
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Let's Go Trend Hunting: Wordy Furniture and Graffitied Home Finds

CasaSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:00:03 -0700

This month, at Paris's trade interior design show Maison & Objet, UK designer Andrew Martin, who's known for his Union Jack motif furniture, showed off some other, bold prints, including this chair upholstered in designer Martin Waller’s new God Bless America fabric.

Martin and Waller aren't the first (or the last) designers to jump on the typography and graffiti bandwagon. There are a lot of really great interior design finds out there right now that display words, graffiti, or a combination of both. So, let's go Trend Hunting!

Here's how it works. First, join my group Trend Hunting. Then, when you track down a cool graffiti or typography product, bookmark it and tag it with the phrase Wordy Home Finds, and then save it in the Trend Hunting group. You can read this post for full directions on how to start your Trend Hunting mission, and here's a detailed explanation of bookmarks from GeekSugar.

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Participate in Trend Hunting

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:30:07 -0700

Since I love CasaSugar's new community features so much, I've decided to start a reader challenge called Let's Go Trend Hunting. In this challenge, I ask you all to help me track down cool home finds from across the web, using our Bookmark feature that lets us all share with each other the awesome items that we find online. Now, it's not just me telling you what I like; you all get to tell each other what you like! To get started, follow these easy directions:

Join the group Trend Hunting.
Once you have joined, you will need to add the bookmark code to your browser's toolbar. Check out Bookmark FAQ for the link to add to your browser's toolbar.
Find the products you want to bookmark for the challenge.
Click the Bookmark button on your toolbar. A window will pop up with your bookmark.
Change the title, if you want.
Fill out the Categories and Tag fields, if you want.
Select Trend Hunting in the group drop-down. Repeat this process for as many items as you would like to include in your widget.
Once you have your all bookmarks, visit Let's Go Trend Hunting and click on New Post. Choose Layout from the tabs at the top.
To include your bookmarks in your Layout, click on Add Image and pick Your Bookmark tab. Click on the bookmarks you would like to include. You can personalize your Layout page and make it look like a magazine spread.
Once you have created your Layout page, there are easy Widgets at the bottom to copy and paste into the comments.

Trend Alert: Advanced Etching

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Dating back to the 1500s, etching, using acid or mordant to cut into a material, is certainly a thing of the past. There's actually an old cliché that I love: in an effort to entice a woman home with him, a man will say, "Want to come up and see my etchings?" as an offer to come look at something artistic. But ladies, these days etchings are something worth taking a look at. Designers have abandoned girlish mirror and glass etchings, using new materials like acrylic and plastic, using laser to etch, or even adding color like a tattoo. And these advanced etchings aren't simply decorative. Many, like the Ghost Acrylic Candelabra ($65), make a trompe-l'œil statement. See more modern etchings.