CasaSugar

Desire/Acquire: Wooden Tripod Floor Lamp

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:31:32 -0700

The Ralph Lauren Architect Floor Lamp ($600) is a chic, classic, and polished design that's ideal for the traditional homes of those cable-knit-sweater-wearing women. I find it très élégant with its rich red mahogany, and I love how it references the three-legged design of a surveyor's tripod. And, while I'm sure it's a very sturdy and high quality, I couldn't bring myself to spend 600 smackers on a floor lamp that's not a statement piece (this guy's more of a filler). Luckily, I found a more affordable alternative. To see it, read more.

The Wisteria Wooden Tripod Floor Lamp ($249) will cost you less than half the price of the former lamp, and it's equally chic. It's natural teak wood base gives it more of a casual vibe than the mahogany, but I tend to see few really formal homes these days, anyway. This lamp adjusts from a 35.5-inch height to a 58-inch height so it can alternate between a table and floor lamp. Beat that, Ralph Lauren!

Steal of the Day: Gump's Tripod Pharmacy Lamp

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:00:35 -0700

For those of you who loved the tripod base lamps in my Good, Better, Best, do I have a deal for you. While not identical in style to the tripod lamps I featured, I find this one actually preferable in several ways. The Gump's Tripod Pharmacy Lamp (on sale for $169.99, originally $455) has an antiqued-nickel finish that makes it seem like a great flea market find, and its shape, which is modeled after early 20th-century pharmacy fixtures, only enhances that impression. While the tripod lamps from my Good, Better, Best, were definitely trendy, this one will stand the test of time, both in terms of quality and of style.

Good, Better, Best: Tripod Floor Lamps

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:30:24 -0800

I've always been, admittedly, a little turned off by floor lamps. I think the overwhelming number of tacky torchiere lamps in college dorm rooms bruised me for life. But I do love the height that a floor lamp gives a room. In a space with bare walls, or lacking curtains, a floor lamp can immediately draw your eye away from a low-lying sofa or armchair and give visual balance to a room. So I'm delighted by the proliferation of handsome tripod floor lamps in the shelter world these days. There's something about them that's quite regal yet unassuming, and they meld seamlessly with any style of décor. To see my picks of the Good, Better, and Best tripod floor lamps around, read more

Good:
The Target Tripod Floor Lamp with Drum Shade ($159.99) is simple, affordable, and sturdy, but its gold-yellow shade is a turn-off.

Best: The CB2 Tripod Floor Lamp's ($199.99) over-sized linen shade, available in natural or taupe, is high on drama, but its slender legs leave a small footprint.

Best:
The Philippe Starck Rosy Angelis ($636) has a feminine, skirty shade and legs that go for miles.

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Before and After: Jason Martin's Living Room Redesign

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:00:48 -0700

LA-based interior and furniture designer Jason Martin recently launched an e-decorating service called DIY+, for those "who want help with a design project but wish to complete the project on their own and in their own time." If you're willing to make the purchases on your own and put your new furnishings in place, with just a few emails and phone calls, you can essentially get the look of a full-service redesign. I was intrigued by the concept and decided to check out Martin's work, and stumbled upon quite a few drastic makeovers. This Highland living room was one of my favorite makeovers. The purple sofas (with red pillows - eek!), to begin with, were an eyesore, and poorly arranged. Really, it just looks jumbled (see curtains), dreary, and there's no cohesive design scheme. To see how Martin changed that, read more.

Martin's redesign is simply comfortable, literally and visually. He chose a neutral palette with a few pops of color to give the room a relaxed vibe - as living rooms should be. From the tripod floor lamp to the straight-armed, curved-bottom sofa, each furnishing has a great form. One sofa and two chairs versus two sofas opens up the space immediately, relieving the cramped feeling. And having the seats face each other magically creates a more social atmosphere. A low coffee table and floor pillows make the room even more comfortable, and offer spare seating. He also replaced the rigid, lonesome dining chair in the corner with two comfortable arm chairs and a small table by the window, creating an additional seating area altogether. I love it! It's not overly decorated, but it has a wonderful flow and it's cozy. What do you think?

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