CasaSugar

Crave Worthy: Worlds Away Bennito Side Table

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:00:09 -0700

What could be more glamorous than a combination of hand-applied gold leaf, a mirror top, and feminine curves on an Art Deco side table? Nothing seems to come to mind. The Worlds Away Bennito Side Table ($1180) is an Eva Zeisel-meets-Grace-Kelly furnishing for the modern woman. Use it as console table in your foyer to stash your fab clutch, luxe cell phone and your favorite lip product, or simply set it next to a crave worthy sofa. And, don't be surprised if guests think you're actually the Princess of Monaco . . .

Home Library: Majestic Metropolitan Living

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:10 -0800

Just a week after the fold of Metropolitan Home, I've got my hands on another city-centric design volume: Sue Hostetler's new book Majestic Metropolitan Living: Visionary Homes in the Heart of Cities. The shelter and design editor for magazines like Gotham, Hamptons, and LA Confidential, and the host of Plum Homes With Sue Hostetler on Plum TV (which "targets the most active, influential, and educated audience in the world"), Hostetler has tapped her cronies for tours of their unique and luxe urban dwellings.

The American dream of retiring to the pool and tennis courts in your countryside home is squashed by this book, which showcases a range of sprawling, real-life city homes. Each has an original sense of style, a warmth that defies traditional conceptions of "cold urban modernism," spectacular views, and in several cases, an outdoor space complete with a pool or lush garden. Many of the homes were created, not surprisingly, by converting former warehouses or other nonresidential buildings, or combining apartments.

Continue reading . . .

On the Market: Yves Saint Laurent's Villa Mabrouka

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:00:34 -0700

French designer Yves Saint Laurent, who passed away in June 2008, is known for his iconic fashions. However, the designer also had a discerning eye when it came to the world of real estate. His Moroccan home, Villa Mabrouka, or "House of Luck," is currently on the market, and I am swooning over the house's location, style, and interior design.

Interior Design notes,

The Moroccan home represents a collaboration between two of the great French aesthetes of the 20th century: Laurent, who turned pantsuits and safari jackets into haute couture, and Jacques Grange, the only interior designer ever to receive the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration. Perched on a cliff overlooking the coast of the Spanish region of Andalusia and the Strait of Gibraltar, the 9,688-square-foot home rests on nearly two acres of grounds landscaped by Madison Cox, featuring soaring palms, Italian lemon trees, and extensive lawns. A heated swimming pool was excavated into the mountain rocks on which the estate stands, while a nearby pavilion was designed by architect Stuart Church.

To take a tour of this gorgeous Moroccan home, read more.

The home, which is located five minutes outside of downtown Tangier, features gorgeous Mediterranean Sea views,and is surrounded by immaculate gardens. A mix of Moroccan and English styles, the home is eclectic, refined, and absolutely gorgeous. I'm ready to move in! If you have the cash for this killer property, check out the details at Christies Great Esates.

View 11 Photos ›

Source

Home Away From Home: Hôtel Duc du St. Simon

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:00:13 -0700

You can stay in a modern, white-walled, Kartell'd hotel in any city in the world. But if Paris is your getaway, why not surround yourself with quintessential French style? Hôtel Duc du St. Simon, a favorite of Domino founding editor Deborah Needleman, is a quaint, sophisticated home away from home where understated elegance rules the roost. Guest rooms are bathed in romantic florals, jacquards, and toiles, and filled with fine antiques and original art. So even if a trip to Dordogne isn't on your itinerary, you can still experience the French-country style. Overall, the space is cozy and homey, almost like you're visiting a chic grand-mère of a friend a train ride away. In reality, it's located in the fashionable St. Germain-des-Prés district, just a few blocks from La Seine river and an extensive collection of Impressionist art in the Musée d'Orsay, so there's much to see and explore nearby. And after a long day of sightseeing and eating crêpes, you can kick back in the hotel's stone-walled lounge, gaze at antique artwork and mirrors in ornate gold frames, and sip on un kir. Rates start at $356 per night. See photos when you read more.

View 20 Photos ›

Do You Live in the Mountains?

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:15:02 -0700

In the past I have lived in the mountains (and the delta), and my home in the Bay Area now is a stone's throw away from the mountains. I have the best of both worlds, I think - the benefits of city life immediate to me, and dozens of outdoorsy activities not far from home. How about you?

Artist of the Day: Daniela Cunha Lay

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:00:05 -0700

It's not unusual to find a 26-year-old who cites Andy Warhol as an inspiration or who thinks she can emulate Jackson Pollock. But, it's a rare thing to meet a young woman whose mixed media, Warhol-inspired pop art speaks of revolution in Spain, war crimes in Iraq, and human perishability, whose Pollock-inspired paintings give you chills. I recently caught up with the young São Paulo-born, Brazil-and-California-raised artist Daniela Cunha Lay at the opening of her exhibit at one of my favorite design stores in San Francisco, Flipp. With little background on her work, I asked what medium she used. "Mixed media, of course," she said, speaking a mile a minute, "Nothing that I do is simple." After a tour around the exhibit, it was apparent that she couldn't have related herself or her work more succinctly.

To create "Divine," a mixed media collage of sorts, she took a 1928 photograph of her quite glamorous grandmother on the day of her wedding, and photocopied it on several different machines to achieve varying tonalities. Then, she "cop[ied] the copy of the copy, so as to crumble down the image, driving it as far away from its original print as possible," further establishing the obvious passage of time, and tore some to suggest that, "we and everything around us is inevitably perishable."

Lay's work speaks for itself, so hear more and check out some images of her work when you read more.

Standing on a 2-meter ladder, she painted "Rust," a splatter painting of a deformed, human-like figure amidst a crimson background, by throwing acrylic paint across a stretched canvas on the floor. I simultaneously felt violently haunted and calm viewing this piece, proving that her efforts to evoke "solitude, stillness, and inner piece in the midst of a violently chaotic world," succeeded.

Be sure to explore Daniela Cunha Lay's website to see more of her portfolio of paintings, photographs, conceptual videos, and graphic art, as well as several artist statements. And, if you live in the Bay Area, stop by the reception for her exhibit at the Diego Riviera Gallery tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

View 32 Photos ›

Get the Look: Amelie's Bedroom

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:05 -0700

Amélie Poulain took not only France but the world by storm. We were all swept away by her quirky French je ne sais quoi, awkward naïveté, and childlike demeanor. Of course, the movie Amélie also made an impression from an artistic standpoint. From the scenery and the tunes to the coloring and the editing, I was encapsulated in Amélie's fantastical world in every sense. The sets, particularly her apartment, were as captivating as the innocent girl, and I've always been intrigued by her bedroom. So, when a Su Casa member inquired about her comforter, I decided I'd attempt to show you how to get the look of the room. To hear my thoughts, read more.

To begin, you must set the stage with a metallic rouge wallpaper like Amelie's, and paint your wainscoting to match. The Graham & Brown Serenity Wallpaper ($60/bolt) shares a gold-on-red pattern with Oriental charm and a delicate, starry design.

You can find her prints by Michael Sowa, the Fowl With Pearls ($14.99) and Filmhound ($14.99), at Art.com, and have them hung in unmatching frames for the same peculiar, offbeat look.

As for the comforter, which Su Casa member eunyee9 asked about, I couldn't track the exact design. But, I think the Dream Silk Comforter ($349), with its peachy champagne color, interesting quilting pattern, and plush heft is a good match. To see more Amélie-esque bedroom furnishings, check out this widget:

Veneer Profile Frames - $19.00	Eccolo Red Heart Journal - $9.99
Swing Motif Frame 5x7" - $39.95	Linden Street® 5" Round Metal Clock - $40.00
Sealy Best Fit!® 330TC Sheet Set - $34.99	310TC Easy Care Standard Pillowcases - $30.00
Tribecca Bed - $699.00	"Dream" Silk Bed Linens - $124.90

Source and Source

Designer Spotlight: Domestic Construction

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:02 -0800

While most Anthropologie catalogs are beautifully styled, the fabric rooms pictured in this particular catalog truly took my breath away. The stitched backdrops and room facades were designed by Trish Andersen and Maureen Walsh, whose design studio Domestic Construction focuses on interiors, environments, and unique fashion and home products. Trish and Maureen met at Savannah College of Art and Design. Each woman then moved to New York to pursue her passion separately, with Trish working as a display coordinator at Anthropologie and Maureen working on her clothing line, Uncle Bikes. With the formation of Domestic Construction, these two bright lights of the design world are truly showcasing their sparkle. Make sure to check out their Etsy site to purchase some of their designs. And check out some of their other products and installation work in my slideshow!
All photos courtesy of Anthropologie and Domestic Construction

View Slideshow ›

Best of 2008: Casa Interview

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:00:37 -0800

This year, I was lucky enough to interview several familiar faces in the interior design world, and you were always eager to hear a word from the wise. But when Sex and the City production designer Jeremy Conway stopped for a chat about Carrie Bradshaw's new bedroom, you were blown away and full of chatter. Revisit the interview here.

What You're Wanting: A Retro-Modern Kitchen

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:00:59 -0800

I've become a little obsessed with the Life archives, which were recently added to Google Images. If you're not careful, you too could be pulled into hours of poring over images from America's past. This image, of Joan Wilson whipping up something yummy in her stylish circle skirt, was taken in 1950. I love the look of her kitchen, which would be a classic look in today's midcentury modern-obsessed kitchen world. Of course, you don't want to simply re-create this look in your home, though. You also want to add a modern, up-to-the-minute touch to the retro look and, of course, a lot of your own style.

So, for the latest What You're Wanting, I want to know how you'd furnish, accessorize, and style a retro-modern kitchen. What table would you choose, or would you keep the one shown in the photo? How about chairs and benches? Would you choose a different clock? What color scheme would you work with?

Add all the finds to your ShopStyle Living stylebook, and create a look tagged with the phrase Retro Modern Kitchen. Private message me if you have any questions. Oh, and as extra incentive, I'll give some Sugar schwag away to my favorite look!

Source