CasaSugar

DIY: Photo Triptych

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:45:50 -0700

Using a triptych photo frame can make a photo collection more substantial, or unite three images with a common theme such as subject, composition, or color. And, if you have three wall-mounted frames without stands, turning them into a triptych will allow them to stand up on their own. A photo triptych makes a great gift and a fun weekend project.

Supplies:

three 3.5-by-5-inch unfinished pine frames
four hinges with screws
small flathead screwdriver
paint in your color of choice and a paint brush (or spray paint)

To see the steps from Martha Stewart, read more.

Steps:

Remove the glass and backing material from the frames. Set aside.
Paint the frames with two coats, drying in between each coat. Let dry.
Using your screwdriver, connect each frame with a pair of hinges at the same distance with the pivot facing outward.
Replace the glass, your photos or artwork, and then the artwork.
Clasp it into place, and fold it standing on a table.
If you want to hang it, you can attach two D rings to the middle frame, and hang it on two screws in the wall.
Enjoy!

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Good, Better, Best: Triptych Mirrors

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:00:19 -0800

A while ago, I fell in love with Sfgirlbybay's folding vanity mirror (seen here and here), which I suspect she may have picked up at a flea market. I have since been on the hunt for a triptych vanity mirror, but I've not yet made the final splurge. I've come across several options that fit the bill and that I have mixed feelings about, because a part of me is still holding out for an antique one. I think all three are wonderful choices, if you can afford them. It often surprises me how expensive mirrors can be, though. To see the three choices I've come up with, read more.

Good: The Restoration Hardware Triptych Tabletop Mirror ($99) is comprised of three beveled-edge mirrors, framed in nickel-plated brass. In full, it measures 28" by 11", so it's fairly portable. But I don't know why it would need to be "ported." I like the shape of it and its simplicity. However, I'm not keen on the frame; it's a bit industrial for my tastes. Funny thing: The dish in front of it resembles the one in Sfgirlbybay's photo (not that it matters).

Better: The Anthropologie Etched Triptych Mirror ($228) is beautifully etched and more ornate and girly than the first. I worry, though, that this type of "faux" Venetian mirror is a trend that will lose its appeal. And at that price, you could probably afford a real Venetian glass mirror. Measuring 30" by 37", it's pretty large and joined at each end to sit easily on your vanity.

Best: The Graham and Green Deco-Style Bevelled Triptych Mirror ($468) is awesome. Like the first, it's also beveled, but its bronze tint and chunky samba-wood frame give it an Art Deco feel that's just plain kewl. It's also large (25" by 42"), which makes it easy to actually see your whole face, you know, if you needed to. The drawbacks here are that it's both expensive and sold from the UK, which will probably require a lofty shipping fee.

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Steal of the Day: Kurt Halsey Art Triptych

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:45:14 -0800

Way back during her junior-high years, my sister went to art camp in Wisconsin with Kurt Halsey, who at the tender age of 14 was already developing his signature style. If you're a fan of his work, you'll want to snatch up this Kurt Halsey Wanderlust Triptych ($19.99, was $40), available exclusively from Urban Outfitters. Each of these three pieces is printed on stretched cotton canvas and comes ready for hanging. Hurry though - I doubt that Urban Outfitter's supply will last long.

Get the Look: Updated, Urban Romeo and Juliet Set

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:05 -0700

One of my favorite things about Summer in the San Francisco Bay Area is attending California Shakespeare plays at the Bruns Amphitheatre, an insanely beautiful outdoor theater in the Siesta Valley between Berkeley and Orinda, CA. This season, the company is staging Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and I'm totally excited about the look of the set. Set designer Neil Patel is creating an Italianesque urban landscape that, according to the play's director, John Moscone, “was initially inspired by a kind of fascist architecture in Italy. Imposing, monolithic, and anything but cheery.” However, to reflect the kinetic energy of the central characters, the set will also feature a wall treatment of graffiti-inspired color.

Inspired by Patel's vision, I decided to try my hand at creating a similar effect - though toned down enough to appeal to the interior decorator in all of us. To see what I came up with, read more.

I decided to create a sitting room inspired by the doomed lovers. I kept the imposing, antique-look furniture of the Cal Shakes set, but softened the lines a bit. I also continued the graffiti-like look in the art pieces. However, I chose a citron and gunmetal palette (one of my current favorites) to work with. The lovers' fragmented families is reflected in the rug I chose, the CB2 Midtown Rug ($299 - $599), while the triptych of art reflects the same graffiti look as the original set. Altogether, the look is austere yet intriguing.

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Summer Style: Pool Photography

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:30:04 -0700

If you can't pop out your back door and jump into a nice, wet watering hole on those dog days this month, you can still feel the warmth of Summer in your home by purchasing some pool photography. And, if you do have a pool, hanging a photograph of one on your walls will coordinate nicely. New York-based photographer Samantha West's moody and romantic "Saint James" print (2007) is available for purchase in 22" x 22" (inquire for price) — a perfect square to soak your house in Summer style. To get your feet wet with some other pool photography, read more.

New Zealander Carlo Van de Roer's Pools series explores abandoned swimming pools that were once bustling social environments, and his Swim series focuses on outdoor swimming pools and public baths marked by patterns and groupings of people. Inquire for prices.

Austin-based photographer Will van Overbeek's 24 Summers at Barton Springs Pool" is just that: a photo series documenting Summer after Summer spent capturing the allure of a favorite Austin locale. Call for prints.

Minnesota-based photographer FriendlyMade's "Swimming Pool" ($11) is a refreshing splash, and a far cry from the weed-filled lakes used by Minnesota swimmers. At 5" x 5" it's petite — or what I'd call a skinny dip.

Southern California-based photographer Jena Ardell's "Pool Triptych" ($25), a trio of three of her Polaroids on a white background, is a hat trick, proving that three is company.

Eco Chic: Hee Seating

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:30:13 -0700

When Danish designer Hee Welling opened his refrigerator he didn't find a rotten science project or dozens of beers, but he discovered a chair. Three chairs, to be exact. Looking to design furniture using only one material, he was inspired to recycle refrigerator shelves to make his Hee Bar Stool ($98, reduced from $200), Chair ($98, reduced from $200), and Lounge ($250). He later revised the triptych, adding only a powder coating, which made them suitable for outdoor use. Hee can be yours in green, white, or yellow, on sale at Design With Reach. If they're too steep for you, maybe you should take a look at what's holding up the five jars of mustard in your refrigerator.

Midday Muse: I Spy Habitat

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:00:39 -0800

UK retailer Habitat's modern décor may not be available to an American like me, but I can still appreciate the nostalgic I Spy-like imagery on their home page. Is it me or is this triptych chaotically beautiful? If the resolution were good enough, I'd print it out, frame it, and hang it. It's a bit Stuart Haygarth meets I Spy, except each item is a chic home furnishing. I spy with my little eye a bicycle. Can you find it?
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