CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: Modern Dose Cowhide Zebra Rug

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:50 -0700

If you're still feeling the zebra trend, but have yet to pick up on it, perhaps the Modern Dose Cowhide Zebra Rug ($475, from $575) is for you. It's certainly stylish, and its stripes will add a nice graphic quality to your home. But, this rug is more of a statement than a comfort piece; if you're going for a cozy lounge look, I'd try a Flokati or a shag rug instead. Bear in mind this au courant piece is made of cowhide (though not zebra), so if animal hide is not your flavor, then may I suggest my recent hand-tufted zebra rug steal, instead. If that one's not for you either, you can get your zebra on with a kilim stool, perhaps. Oh! And Modern Dose offers free shipping on all items, beat that!

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:49:55 -0800

According to a recent New York Times article, cowhide rugs, which "brought an appealing touch of the natural world into too many modern homes this year," have gone from trendy to passé due to the "democratization of design." However, I'm not interested in their use as a floor covering. If you'll remember, the last few How Would You posts, that's not how this Casa post works. Instead, I'm asking you to think outside the home-decorating box and find alternate uses for traditional home accents and furniture pieces.

How would you use a cowhide rug so the Times can't call it square? Leave a comment below and let me know where you'd put or how you'd uniquely use this rug in your home.
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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:06 -0800

Get inspired for Spring with these gardening projects. - AT:SF
Check out a house built in Sun Valley inspired by the one in Something's Gotta Give! - Hooked on Houses
Make shade without trees with these covered decks and patios. - Charles and Hudson
Check out the goods at 1000 Markets. - Shelterrific
Trend watch: tropical décor. - ShelterPop
Decorate your kitchen with chic tea towel art. - PointClickHome
Check out the new addition to Nicole's office. - Making It Lovely
Scoop up a hip cowhide ottoman for a diminutive price. - CopyCat Chic

The Iconic Egg Chair's Guide to the Galaxy

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:15:19 -0700

If, like me, you're a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books, good news: the latest book in Douglas Adams's series has recently been released, with And Another Thing . . . written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. But what does this have to do with interior decorating, you ask? Well, a lot! Since the iconic Arne Jacobsen Egg chair is featured in Colfer's book, a limited-edition version of the egg chair was created by Fritz Hansen in collaboration with Lost Weekend and Penguin Group. The redesign features an embroidered, colorful array of lines on the back of the chair, representing an exploding Earth. Each chair is made from white hide and comes with a coordinating cowhide pillow. A matching footstool will also be available for sale as well. Only 42 chairs will be made, so these are definitely collector's items.

If you're in New York, stop by the Union Square Barnes and Noble at 7 p.m. this evening to check out a reading by Colfer, and one of the iconic chair redesigns, in person!

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:00:10 -0700

Bring some girly, pretty, modern fabrics into your home. Decor8
Can you spot the difference between a high- and low-priced cowhide rug? - Shelterpop
I want this extra-large triangular bathtub. - Shelterrific
Learn how to make these adorable wedding or party pompoms. - Laissezfaire
Make some business-card holders from recycled magazines. - Craftzine
Pantone? There's an app for that. - Design Milk

Coveted Crib: Black and White and Modern All Over

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:00:03 -0700

I love too many colors and styles to ever go only black, white, and modern, but I applaud he who has the restraint (and the balls) to do it. I spotted this large Georgian house in Tetbury, a small town in - believe it or not - the Cotswolds, and was blown away. Short of a dab of yellow paint in some artwork and its plush green lawn, the house is all black, white, and gray, and each room is essentially either entirely black or white. This makes matching oh so easy! Is that a cop-out? Beyond that, low-slung, stream-lined furnishings rule, and some modern classics like cowhide rugs and Arne Jacobsen Egg Chairs and glitzy elements like crystal chandeliers and tufted furniture are spattered throughout. It's a very powerful space that's not necessarily what I would personally create for my own home, but I'd kill to stay over a few nights. See more photos and chime in when you read more.

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Get the Look: Dark and Cozy in Stockholm

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:00:46 -0800

I spotted this home in Sweden's design glossy Skona Hem, and loved the coziness of the living room, and how courageous, rather than predictable, the dark colors are. The mix of materials - velvet, silk, leather - brings so much texture and life to the room. In most rooms, a purple velvet sofa such as this one could be abrasive, but the palette here welcomes it; it belongs in this room. I thought I'd show you how to get the look of this room, since I love it so! It's not the type of space that comes naturally to most; it's quite eclectic. To learn how to achieve this look, read more.

Start by covering your walls with the Cole & Son African Tree wallpaper (inquire for price). Next, you'll need a velvet sofa with defined curves in a deep purple or blue color. Lay down a patchwork cowhide rug. Instead of a coffee table, go for a Moroccan-style tea table. Glam it up with a scented candle and some fresh tulips. For storage, get yourself a Chinese armoire or cabinet. Top it with some bulbous metallic vases. Center a round mirror over the fireplace as a focal point. And, for
lighting, go with a rice paper floor lamp with Vietnamese style. Here are a few products that will help you get this look:

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Good, Better, Best: Folding Dining Chairs

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Whether you live in a small studio or a house with an occasional surplus of dinner guests, folding dining chairs are a smart thing to have around. Just tuck them in the back of a closet, or send them to your attic or basement, and you'll have spare seating ready and waiting — not clogging up your floor plan. Don't get me wrong: I don't advocate picking up a set of those beige metal folding chairs you see at P.T.A. meetings across the country. There are plenty of handsome options for you, at varying price points. Here are three to get you folding.

Good: The Crate & Barrel Set of Four Folding Chairs ($89) has a basic yet elegant form with its slatted, solid wood seat and rich espresso stain. It may not be the most comfortable chair, but it's certainly handsome and practical. If you need to, you can toss on a cushion to make it easier on your seat. Oh, and did I mention you get four for 90 bucks?! Pretty rad.

There are two more folding chairs to strike your fancy, so read more.

With its steel frame and padded leather seat, the DWR Lina Folding Chair ($140) gives folding chairs, never praised for their comfort or looks, a second chance. Not only is it functional and comfortable, but it's superbly stylish. Choose from an avocado, black, or tobacco plush leather seat, or a mix of all three.

The Gae Aulenti April Folding Chair ($1,359) doesn't look a thing like a folding chair, and that's because it folds in rather than up. Its steel frame with aluminum alloy joints and its great width and depth keep it super stable — even if you're cruising around on your yacht having dinner. Its seat cover is comfy as well as removable, in indoor, outdoor, or cowhide fabric, so you can keep it in fine form if you happen to spill. Spare covers are also available if you want to mix up your color palette every now and then.

Home Away From Home: The Thunderbird Hotel

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:30:06 -0700

For all of those hipster, art-aficionado newlyweds out there, there's no cooler US stop than Marfa, TX. If you haven't heard about this destination yet, prepare to be surprised. The small, West Texas town has been a home to outsiders and artists for decades, and after minimalist artist Donald Judd settled here in the 1970s, modern art and design mavens quickly followed.

If you and your honey decide that Marfa sounds like a cool place to spend your honeymoon, then definitely consider booking your stay at the luxury boutique hotel The Thunderbird.

To find out more about this hotel, read more.

This cool hotel was given a facelift by Lake/Flato Architects three years ago, transforming the horseshoe-shaped hotel from a prior-century highway stop to a cutting-edge, modern-design boutique hotel. The hotel offers a wide array of amenities while maintaining a laid-back, Texas feel. Guests can chill by the pool, which features native plants and cacti landscaping, as well as an arbor of ocotillo, which shades the poolside lounge area. After a chilly dip, kick back in one of the Oaxacan-made patio chairs poolside.

Guest rooms feature original photos and artwork, recessed lighting, cowhide rugs, and custom-made platform beds and writing tables by artisan Jamey Garza, Just as its design reflects its modern sensibility and past-century retro chic, so do the Thunderbird's amenities. While the hotel has wireless high-speed Internet access, as well as a CD and DVD library for your perusal, it also offers guests the use of a vintage typewriter and Stack-o-Matic record player and vinyl library, as well as the use of Polaroid cameras. Pretty darn cool.

After you've had dinner at one of the excellent local Marfa restaurants, get your drink on at the hotel's Thunderbird Lounge. Try one of the lounge's signature cocktails, or opt for michelada or a draught beer. Reflect on your new marriage, or maybe even catch a glimpse of the mysterious Marfa lights outside by the lounge's fire pit and patio.

For all of the modern art-loving newlyweds, Marfa, and the Thunderbird Hotel are sure bets.

Get the Look: Warm Minimalism

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:00:33 -0700

This living room from Livingetc took me off guard because, while it's notably minimal, it still has a cozy, warm feeling unlike the sterile modern living rooms I'm used to seeing. The modern fireplace stove looks sleek and handsome, while the painted white floorboards give the living area a cottage-y feeling. I love how all of the furnishings sit low to the ground and relaxed, while the colored-glass vase appears to be the tallest item in the room. To learn how to get this warm minimalist look in your home, read more.

The Furniture: Pick up a dark colored (navy, green, gray) sofa with clean, modern lines that's low to the ground, or cut the legs on an existing sofa loose to shorten it. Find a white coffee table with a funky shape that's also low to the ground, like the Cappellini one shown here. Choose a simple, contemporary, white side chair that also sits low to the ground; try a design classic like the Nelson Coconut Chair or the Fritz Hansen Space Lounge Chair. Use other white seating for empty corners and nooks in your home.

The Accents: Go for a tall, colorful, blown-glass vase to set on your funky coffee table. Set down some interesting reading the table as well, and lay a cowhide rug in natural brown on the floor below. Finish off the couch with a traditional, navy-striped accent pillow. Hang an old sign or a meaningful word printed onto canvas above a doorframe or on an empty wall. Pick up some roll-up roman shades in natural linen to shield some of the light. Replace your old fireplace with a sleek modern one.

Overall, restrain yourself from buying or displaying too much "stuff." Create a clean space by using a near-white palette with an uncomplicated color used on the couch and a punch of color in an accent. Find warmth on your throw rug and fireplace, rather than in bright colors.

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