CasaSugar

This Just In: Cost Plus World Market Celebrates 50 Years

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:30:22 -0700

Cost Plus World Market is kicking off a weekend of in-store events and shopping today at its flagship San Francisco store (2552 Taylor Street) to benefit local schools, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, running through Sunday, Oct, 26. Those of you in the Bay Area who stop by will enjoy live entertainment, product giveaways, food and drink samplings, winemaker bottle signings, henna painting, and more. There will also be a live broadcast of KGO-AM’s Gene Burns of “Dining Around With Gene Burns” from the store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chef Ryan Scott of Top Chef Season Four will host a cooking demonstration. While it sounds like a great weekend, and I certainly want to attend, I was actually more intrigued to learn about the history of the store. To hear how Cost Plus World Market came to be, read more.

In 1958, SF businessman William Amthor began selling rattan baskets and furniture he'd picked up during his regular travels to Asia and Europe along San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, a popular tourist destination and still-functioning wharf. The locals loved his imports and their affordable prices, and he soon opened the first Cost Plus World Market store (today still the flagship store) in San Francisco, naming it after his affordable pricing strategy: cost plus 10 percent. By the '60s and '70s, the store had become an eclectic mix of international products like Spanish pottery, African mosquito netting, Indonesian collectibles, and French coffee presses. And, in the 1960s, Cost Plus was the first to introduce the Papasan Chair, an iconic furniture design which is still popular with students 40 years later. Today, the retailer has a chain of nearly 300 stores, with inventory from well over 70 countries.
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Good, Better, Best: Wine Racks

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:15:53 -0700

A friend asked me to find her a handsome wine rack for her bedroom because her recent grad roommates consistently drink any "booze" she leaves in the kitchen. Natch, I agreed. There are plenty of stylish wine racks, so I knew it wouldn't be a difficult task. There are lots of interesting modern ones these days, like the Harry Allen Pile Wine Rack ($65), Dennis Lin Cru Wine Rack ($150), and Crate & Barrel Shesham Wine Rack ($30), but when it comes to my own vino, I'm partial to simple, functional storage. To hear my picks for the good, better, and best wine racks, read more.

Cellar Wine Rack - $39.95	Riddling Wine Rack - $99.99
Design-Your-Own Wine Racks - $29.99

Good: The CB2 Cellar Wine Rack ($39.95) marks the spot! Its criss cross shape is visually interesting and a bit modern, especially when stacked to hold a larger collection. Made of sheet metal with a gunmetal finish, it's sturdy and will hold up well. Each rack holds 12 bottles, which is a decent amount for someone who's just beginning a collection, or the perfect amount for anyone throwing a cocktail party.

Better: The World Market Riddling Wine Rack ($99.99) is in the shape of original riddling racks used by vineyards to store champagne. Riddling is the process of slightly shaking or turning each bottle to consolidate the sediment in the wine so it could be removed. Vineyard staff had the laborious task of turning each bottle a fraction, sometimes over 30,000 bottles per day. Now, there are machines to do this task for them, but I think using the classic design as wine storage is a nice nod to history. This rack holds up to 35 standard-size wine bottles with corks facing down to keep them properly moist, but it is also available in a 12 bottle size.

Best: The Container Store Design-Your-Own Wine ($24.99) is notably less expensive than the Riddling rack, but there are a few reasons why it's my pick for best. For one, its simple, modular design allows for the storage to be expanded upon so if your wine collection grows, you can stack more racks vertically or horizontally. Also, the natural hardwood can be finished or painted to match any décor. And, it's classic and understated, keeping the focus on the collection of wine itself, rather than perhaps a love for modern design, which could be a passing phase anyways. The Container Store will likely always have this product in their inventory, but if not, it's a common design in wood factories, like J.K. Adams in Dorset, VT.
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Found It! Zebra Kilim Stool

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:24 -0700

Flipping through my blog feed, the apartment of a contestant in AT:LA's Small Cool 2008 contest caught my eye. Yes, it was small, and cool, but that's not why it grabbed my attention. I recognized the zebra print stools in the contestant's living room from a previous Steal of the Day of mine. It's called the Zebra Kilim Stool from World Market. Since the time I wrote that Steal, I got a chance to check it out in person at my local World Market. It's definitely a good-looking piece, but the canvas fabric made it look like a Steal. But, I must admit, it looks much better actually staged in an apartment, and in a pair. If you follow the link to World Market, it no longer seems to be available online, but you can try your local store. What do you think of it? Do you think they work used here like a coffee table?

Sale Alert: World Market's Spring Sale

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:45:08 -0800

Cost Plus World Market has a home-décor sale going on right now. While the sale is limited in the number of items available, there are some good deals to be had. In addition, their normal sale section is chock full of great finds. Check the widget below to see some of my favorites from the sale.

Steal of the Day: Cost Plus World Market Star Lantern

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:00:29 -0800

The Red Star Lantern (originally $19.99, on sale for $14.99) from Cost Plus World Market would look lovely hung in multiples on an ornament-covered porch or from the branches of a front-yard evergreen. Illuminated from within by a tea light, the cutouts in this lantern will cast playful patterns along whatever interior or exterior landscape from which you choose to hang it.

Steal of the Day: Zebra Kilim Stool

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:57:14 -0700

I've been loving the zebra rug trend for some time now but I have yet to saddle up. A large bold print zebra rug might clash with my existing décor, and I don't quite want animal hide in my home, so I've been looking to get my stripe on with a smaller, more humane measure. I think this Zebra Kilim Stool ($79) is just the thing to do the trick, and it won't break the bank either. It's also got turned wood legs—two trends in one, beat that!

Sale Alert: Cost Plus World Market Year End Sale

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:29 -0800

Ahhh year-end sales! Just when you've spent all of your money on holiday gifts, the world comes to you with bigger and better deals. How can you resist when the goodies are so fabulous? Cost Plus World Market is currently holding its year-end clearance sale, slashing prices on fab fab furniture, kitchen, and tabletop items in store and online. There's a lot to tempt you, like these wide-lipped Pear Shaped Vases ($17.48), but also plenty of smart basics to buy now if they're on your list.
Here are a few things I wouldn't mind taking home from the sale:

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Metropolitan Home Folds

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:56:46 -0800

Another one bites the dust. Hachette Filipacchi Media announced today that it will fold Metropolitan Home with its December issue. The company plans to focus its efforts on its other shelter glossy, Elle Decor. HFMUS President and CEO Alain Lemarchand said, "We believe the best strategy in the upscale shelter segment is to boldly focus our resources and investment on Elle Decor, which is the ad-page leader within the US market. Despite the downturn in ad pages that has affected all magazines, the Elle Decor brand has multiple opportunities for growth across all platforms.” Met's longtime Editor in Chief Donna Warner and her staff will leave the company.

This closure follows a long string of folds in the shelter world, including HFMUS's own Home, House & Garden, Blueprint, O at Home, Cottage Living, and, of course, Domino. So while it's not a shocker considering the economic climate, it is still sad news indeed. But at least this glossy went out with a bang, wowing us with the Metropolitan Home Showtime House and the exquisite Modern by Design Showhouse this year.

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Home Away From Home: A Skate-Inspired Hotel Suite

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:30 -0800

Skateboard label Etnies is rolling into the world of hospitality. The California-based brand has designed a skate-inspired hotel suite in Laguna Beach's Casa del Camino. But you won't find any Etnies logo monogrammed sheets here. "We didn’t want to make it look like a trade show," said VP of marketing Don Brown. "We focused more on the culture of skateboarding, taking the movement, curves and shapes and injecting that into the design."

Elements include wheel tracks on the ceiling, a mirror framed with skateboard wheels, mounted skateboards for guests to use, and "Go Sk8" artwork in the bathroom. My favorite piece is the God Father Lounge Chair, a leather chair and ottoman inspired by Eames's iconic Lounge Chair, made of pieces which remarkably resemble a skateboard deck. It's part of the Skate Study House collection, which I wrote about back in 2008. Continue reading.

Vivienne Tam Launches Upholstery Furniture Collection

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:15:39 -0700

Fashion force Vivienne Tam is taking her modern Chinoiserie home - to your home. She's partnered with Rowe Furniture to create a new collection of custom upholstery furniture, including multiple sofa groupings and accent pieces. While designing furniture is a natural extension for many fashion designers, I think Tam's strength lies in textiles, so I'm excited to see a range of exclusive fabric designs used in the collection. "I want to bring beautifully designed prints, fabrics, colors and textures to create a truly unique line with subtle and sophisticated pieces inspired by my Chinese roots," she explains.

As for the furniture designs themselves, I'm most impressed with her Adler Sofa (shown here). There's a really harmonious balance between its sleek legs and plush cushions, blending formality and comfort. The way the rectangular shape of the legs is built into the sofa's arms themselves is very unique, but also derivative of Eastern styles. To see her chair designs and hear more details, read more.

To me, her Peony chair looks too much like a cross between the Artifort Apollo chair and the Ikea Skruvsta - not very original. Her Daniela chair is a slipper chair we've all seen before. And the Greek key arms on her Camelia chair are amiss paired with her cherry blossom print and Chinoiserie-style legs. But I do praise the textiles; each is understated, elegant, and youthful.

The line will start shipping at the beginning of next year, but will be unveiled at the Las Vegas World Market in September as well as the High Point furniture market in October.

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Multi-Color Stripe Jute Rug - $49.99	Diamond Rug - $39.99
Square Mother of Pearl Clock - $19.99	Chiara Pillar Holders - $6.99
Seagrass Cube With Lid - $49.99	Polka Dot Napkin Sets of 6 - $17.94
Dark Bamboo Flatware Sets of 4 - $9.96	Luce Dinnerware Set of 4 - $23.96
Scented, Paper-Wrapped Soap - $7.99	Grey Bamboo Towels - $4.99
Grey Bamboo/Cotton Bath Mat - $14.99	Shanghai Screen - $173.98
Seri Handpainted Desk - $269.00	Diwan Kilim Bench - $199.00