CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: Serene in Stockholm

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:30:19 -0700

This Stockholm flat was designed by lifestyle store Indori, and establishes a Scandinavia-meets-Zen vibe. Details like hung textiles soften spaces, while a restrained palette keeps the feel calm and serene. One element that I love is the bright blue tile in the bathroom, which adds a needed pop of color to the otherwise soothing, natural colors that predominate in the apartment.

To tour the entire apartment, read more.

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This Just In: Ryan Phillippe Buys a Zen Palace

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:30:14 -0700

Ryan Phillippe has purchased a 5-bedroom, 7-bath home in LA’s Hollywood Hills for $7.175 million, according to Big Time. Built in 1998 by producer Sylvio Tabet, the home, appropriately named "Rising Zen" is a mixture of Asian and modern architecture, but has an overwhelming Zen presence to it. According to listing information, it features "a large separate private master suite, a Koi pond, maple floors, a step-down bar with an aquarium backdrop, a dining room with Shoji screen doors, two flat-screen TVs, a gym, an office, a media room, three additional bedroom suites, and city and ocean views," as well as a "60-foot eco-friendly pool, an outdoor shower, a fire pit, a bar, [and] a gazebo." I would never have pegged Ryan for a Zen guy, and maybe he's not. But I think once wiped of its innumerable Asian furnishings, the house's unusual architecture and city and ocean views make it a coveted crib, filled with light and a remarkable feeling of openness. Check out the photos and tell me what you think!

There are dozens more where these came from, so read more.

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Roundup: Bamboo(zled)

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

These chairs, from a New York residence designed by Jonathan Adler, may look like bamboo, but you can rest assured that they're made out of wood.

Bamboo-look furniture, accents, and chandeliers have been popular for more than two centuries of interior design. Whether used in a zen-like spare and modern home or a Palm Beach-style beach pad, bamboo-look pieces can look great in a variety of homes. I've found bamboo-look pieces, as well as some textiles mimicking the design of the grass itself. Want to see my bamboo finds? Then read more.

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Get the Look: Casa Angelina on the Amalfi Coast

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:01 -0700

Although I've only recently been introduced to Hotel Casa Angelina, a pristine white oasis on the Amalfi Coast, I've already fallen head over heels in love with the place.

Nearly every room is doused in warm white, with the exception of some steel accessories and a natural fiber rug here or there. Rather than appearing sterile or uninspired, it's downright relaxing (even just to look at), and would be the perfect place for a Summer respite. Top that with the coastal views of this cliff-side getaway and you're in heaven. Sadly, a trip to Praiano, Italy, is not in my sights anytime soon, so I thought I'd re-create the look of this Zen space for my own home. See my finds when you read more.

The key to re-creating this room is restraint. Keep it all white, aside from light fixtures and steel chair. And, make sure to use lighting to add warmth to the room. Check out Chez Larsson to learn how to install a built-in desk such as this one in front of a window your home.

Edland Four-poster Bed Frame - $279.00	Bertoia Side Chair - $460.00
Flos - kelvin desk/table lamp by flos - $35.00	Isdans Roller Blind - $7.99
Malm 4-drawer Chest - $79.99	Hotel White Duvets and Shams, 100% Cotton, 620 Thread Count - $29.99
Cubix Nightstand - $399.00

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:00:07 -0700

Shelterrific introduces you to Angela Adams for your walls.
AT:LA tours a Zen Texas bungalow.
YumSugar whips up a delicious Fall fondue.
Danny Seo finds a cool use for cassette tapes.
Desire to Inspire rethinks kitchen purchases.
Forecast Earth looks at energy-efficient homes in NOLA.
PoppyTalk's swooning over hot pink.
Re-Nest asks if you could live without a fridge.
Daily Dose introduces you to new blogger Vanessa De Vargas.

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Home Library: Domino: The Book of Decorating

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:15:18 -0700

Domino is one of my favorite shelter magazines simply because it offers so much to so many people. From approachable DIY ideas to luxurious furniture options, the magazine manages to mix styles and budgets while always looking effortlessly chic. Continuing in that tradition, the magazine's new book, Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy ($32) offers something for everyone. Impressively, the decorating guide accomplishes this while never seeming over-generalized or out of touch. Whether I was reading about lighting arrangements for a kitchen or choosing the best bed frame, everything felt relevant.

To see some sneak peeks of the inside pages, read more.

The book is written in an approachable, friendly tone that anyone can relate to, whether she's decorating her first apartment or her 15th. Chapters take on different rooms, with basic information on furniture and decorating pieces, ideas to steal, explanations of why real-life rooms work, and gorgeous photos and helpful illustrations. Taking readers from room to room, and style to style, you'll learn about proper curtain length, table heights, and ways to get a masculine or modern style (or a "sophisticated froufrou" or "rustic zen" look). One of my favorite features of the book is the "Story of a Room" section of each chapter, which takes you through a Domino employee's room.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone interested in home decorating. It was inspirational for me as well, as I'm currently dealing with rearranging our entryway. Whether you're tackling an entire home or a single room, Domino: The Book of Decorating will provide inspiration and advice for your home decorating dilemmas.

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Top Design, Episode Four: "Bachelor Pads"

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:12 -0700

Poor bachelors. They never get a break it seems, especially when it comes to interior design. There's a reason for that of course, and this week's episode of Top Design exploits the belief that bachelor pads are "gross" as Shazia so succinctly expressed.

The designers were given the biggest amount of money yet to work on their bachelors - $10,000 - as well as the use of carpenters, seamstresses, and painters. Designers again were separated into teams, and they consulted with their individual bachelors to determine their design aesthetic (for James, it was "panty-dropping chic"). Bachelor Obi was very involved, and talked about how he wanted to have better feng shui in his apartment; he'd actually clipped design ideas from Elle Decor. Wow! The last bachelor, Eddie, had a mess of an apartment, with the only organized element in the house being his massive collection of shoes.

To see who rocked the bachelor bad, and who got booted from the show, read more.

To my delight, the individual "Pop Design" contest was back this week. I love that the designers get an opportunity to assert their individual tastes. This week, the Pop Design involved arranging flowers; most of the designers did a great job, and this was a challenge I would've loved to try my hand at as well. Nathan won for his sophisticated floral design.

Overall, the designers did a great job remaking the bachelors' apartments. James' apartment (you know, the panty-dropping-chic guy) looked way sophisticated with decoupaged screens, great updates in the bedroom and living room, and if anything, was simply too unbachelor-like. Obi's pad had a masculine Zen vibe going on, with neutral colors, dark wood, and a sophisticated, mellow vibe. Eddie's apartment was definitely an improvement, with the beginnings of clean, tailored lines. Unfortunately, the designers hadn't finished the main living room, and the judges weren't pleased.

At the judging (which included guest judge Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out, Andrea, Wisit, and Teresa's team had the top design for Obi's apartment. I had to agree that the designers did a great job keeping the apartment sophisticated while also remembering their client's personality and needs. The last team, of Shazia, Preston, and Nathan, were on the chopping block due to their inability to work together and their uninspiring design. Shazia definitely had a difficult time working with her team. When she tried to assert her opinion, she did it in an odd, petulant way that seemed really immature. In the end, Shazia was kicked out for her bad attitude and inability to assert her design sense.

Do you think Shazia deserved to go home? What stood out for you in this week's episode?

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Photos courtesy of Bravo

What You're Wanting: Designs For Ryan Phillippe's Pool

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:15:24 -0700

Last week I told you about Ryan Phillippe's purchase of a $7.175 million zen-inspired mansion. While it's definitely a gorgeous place, the pool area could use some accessorizing, don't you think?

So, for this week's What You're Wanting, I want to know how you'd redecorate Ryan Phillippe's pool. What kinds of seating, accessories, plants, or outdoor entertaining must-haves would you put in this space? Add all the finds to your ShopStyle Living stylebook, and create a look tagged with the phrase Ryan Phillippe Pool. Private message me if you have any questions. Oh, and as extra incentive, I'll give some Sugar schwag away to my favorite look!
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Home Away From Home: Hôtel du Petit Moulin

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:15:42 -0700

When your Vera Wang wedding dress comes off, you and your hubby can ditch your designer duds for designer digs and check your newly married selves into the Christian Lacroix-designed Hôtel du Petit Moulin in Paris. Housed in Paris's oldest bakery, dating back to 1900, the hotel, which has preserved its typical French boulangerie façade, is in Paris's trendy, fashion-centric Marais district — in other words, it's the hippest hotel since sliced bread. If a "haute-l" pun were ever appropriate, the time is now: The lodging looks to be one step off of the runway, filled with daring, devil-may-care creations, be it a heart-shaped Venetian mirror on glossy, scarlet-red tiles, a clash of rustic and Zen, or a vividly-hued Jacobsen Swan chair against old-fashioned toile de Jouy wallpaper.
To see a gallery of photos, and to find out more about this hotel, read more.

Like a column of models debuting a new collection, each of its 17 rooms bears 17 distinct atmospheres, ensuring that your honeymoon will be a truly unique experience, differing vastly from that of the über fashionable couple next door and the weekend anniversary escapes you'll squeeze in down the road. Of his fantasy-like design, Lacroix has said, "When I designed l’Hôtel du Petit Moulin in Le Marais, I had the impression of rediscovering an erstwhile childhood dream, left by the wayside. A dream of living in a hotel, building a décor, day after day, in the colors of the times, putting ambiances together into volume and space and not only on paper or through fashion collections." Those with a cookie-cutter relationship might prefer to stay in the Four Seasons or any beige-on-beige chain hotel, but this eccentric boutique hotel is for stylish, unconventional lovebirds. If and when the novelty of your couture suite wears away, you can take pleasure in the reality that you've got Paris and a long marriage awaiting you at your doorstep.

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Steal of the Day: Silk Floor Pillows

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:45:56 -0800

If you can't swing the tansu shelves then Gump's can provide you with these super-on-sale silk floor pillows ($69.99, originally $150). These tailored Silk Floor Pillows would work equally well for meditation or entertaining a group of friends. Inspired by traditional zen pillows, the dupioni silk cushions are tailored with soft pleats and a mango-hued top panels and filled with naturally resilient, supportive kapok fivers.

St. Germain Folding Chair - $99.00	Chippendale Outdoor Bench, Red - $995.00
Thomas Paul Lamps GoldFinch/Bamboo Aqua Table Lamp - $215.00	Vagabond House - $150.00
Kate Spade Pompano Point Silverplated Frames for Lenox - $49.99	Metal Wall Hooks - $18.99
Pearson Swing-Arm Floor Lamp - $795.00	Parrot Chandelier - $35.00
Bamboo Chandelier, Green ($20 fs) - $595.00	Metal Rod, Bamboo Finial - $59.00
Ikuno Curtain - $98.00	Chippendale Bench, Black - $995.00
Three Nesting Tables - $799.00	SUM Underwater Bamboo Wallpaper in Blue - $172.00
Airedelsur - $235.00	Turned Bamboo Mirror ($25 fs) - $1,250.00
kate spade "Pompano Point" Giftware - $40.00	Inhabit Bamboo in Grass Pillow - $60.00
Macao Set of 2 Armchairs - $795.00	Adjustable Bamboo Floor Lamp - $495.00