CasaSugar

Definition: Key Pattern

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:12:53 -0700

A classic design motif that consists of interlocking and repeated geometric designs - typically vertical and horizontal lines linked together at right angles. The look is also called "Greek key" because of its ancient Grecian origins. The bold, masculine pattern is often used as a border or a decorative accent on rugs, dinnerware, and wooden furniture.

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Walt Disney Launches a Wallpaper Collection

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0700

From silent films and gloved mice to Arabian nights and amusement parks, the Walt Disney Company has covered a lot of bases. But never ever did I think the media conglomerate would get its feet wet in the world of wallpaper. I was wrong. York Wallcoverings and the lifestyle brand Walt Disney Signature have teamed up to debut an upscale wallpaper collection inspired by original artwork from the Disney archives of the 1940 classic Fantasia. The collection includes 12 prints with graphic and botanical motifs derived from specific scenes in the animated film, such as the dancing thistles and orchids, frost fairies, and milkweed ballerinas in "The Nutcracker Suite."

The verdict? I am really impressed. When wallpaper samples arrived at my desk and I saw the words "Disney" and "wallpaper," all I could think was, "Oh no." But the designs are sophisticated, modern, and hip! My two favorites are Allegro, a Moroccan-style fretwork pattern, and Shimmer, a grasscloth that's very subtly woven with metallic gold, but there are a few others I'd definitely use, too. The only downfall of the collection are two wallpapers, Pixie and Sparkle (at left), which have glass beading and sparkly sand on them; from a tactile perspective, they are cool, but the shimmer is just tacky.

See the other wallpapers in the collection when you read more.

View 12 Photos ›

What do you think? Would you like to use any of these in your home?

Assisted Living: Incorporating a Bold New Antique

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0800

CasaSugar Community member LynniePop posted this design dilemma in the Assisted Living group:

We just purchased this new antique cabinet for our dining room. The problem is it's not really our style and really doesn't match any of the sleek, clean lined, contemporary furniture we have in our house. For some reason we fell in love with it in the antique store and decided to put it in our dining room, but I need help incorporating it with our other furniture. Are there other accents or decorations I could add to the room to make our contemporary dining room table and chairs mesh better with this new piece?

To see her dining room table and offer your ideas, read more.

Here's LynniePop's dining room table, the Round Dining Table with Cutout Legs ($449-$599) from West Elm.

First of all, LynniePop, I would definitely recommend painting your dining room walls. This will instantly give the space a more cohesive look. Mixing styles and eras of furniture is a smart move; it gives the room depth and shows that you have cultivated your own personal aesthetic.

Your antique cabinet has beautiful Chinoiserie motifs and hardware, so I'd celebrate that artistic style and bring more Chinoiserie elements to your tabletop and around the room. Here are a few products that might do the trick:

Does anyone else have suggestions and ideas for LynniePop? Please share below! Do you have any of your own decorating dilemmas to deal with? Be sure to post photos and tales in the Assisted Living group!

Bambeeno Cashmere Blends Keep Kids Well Dressed

babysugar — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:00:00 -0800

Cashmere may be soft and cuddly, but it isn't practical for babies. What mama wants to stress about her lil one spitting up or dripping ice cream on their Sunday best.

Rather than put a total kibosh on the super-rich wool, designers are incorporating cashmere into more kid-friendly weaves. Bambeeno Cashmere, which made a name for itself with its adorable eco-friendly designs, is now incorporating the lux yarn into cotton pieces. The 90 percent cotton and 10 percent cashmere rompers, sweaters and blankets come in perfectly preppy designs with stripes, scalloped edges and sailboat motifs (starting at $64). The new blends will keep mom from chasing after her tykes with a wipe too, as the pieces are all machine washable.

Cool Idea: An Interactive Trash Bin

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:33 -0700

British fashion designer Paul Smith and Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic today unveiled a five-foot "rabbit bin." Whenever a passerby drops rubbish in the bin, the bunny's ears light up. The bunny is part of the Design Museum Super Contemporary Exhibition in Covent Garden. I love the concept of making civic responsibility (such as keeping your city clean) whimsical and fun. Perhaps the streets of my fair city would be a little cleaner if there were rabbit bins here.

Would you want a rabbit bin in your town?

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Love It or Hate It? Charlie Dog Giclee Print

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:15:29 -0700

You might already know that I've got a soft spot for the canines, but that still doesn't mean I'm sold on this Charlie Dog Giclee Print ($89.95). Are you?

Love It or Hate It? Animal Bookends by Roost

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:00:11 -0700

The Carved Wood Animal Bookends by Roost ($150) are, in my opinion, equal parts cool, cute, and creepy. Whatever you think, if you park your books against one of these hand-carved shesham wood bookends, it'll definitely be a conversation starter.

Love It or Hate It? Diva Red Ostrich Console Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:15:39 -0700

I don't think anyone's going to have a neutral feeling about this Diva Red Ostrich Console Table ($500). Do you love it? Or does it make you want to stick your head in the sand until it disappears?

Love It or Hate It? Droog Door Mat

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:00:55 -0700

These animal doormats ($121) were designed for Dutch company Droog by Ed Annink, and were inspired by Deco-era pictograms. Would you want a hippo or a bunny saying hello to your guests?

Trend Alert: Modern Delftware

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:22 -0800

I just came across tattoo artist Paul Tillman's Irezumi dinnerware collection (available here), which seems to be inspired by Dutch delftware with traditional Japanese motifs, and am noticing a trend. Delftware, as you may know, is the blue and white pottery and tin-glazed pottery that originated around Delft in the Netherlands in the 16th to 18th centuries. The ceramics had a white glaze that was typically accented with blue floral and pastoral imagery. But these days, the latest trend is to take that signature blue and white palette and kick it up a notch by injecting it with more contemporary motifs, or in some cases, use ceramic delftware to make unusual items - like a computer.

Lovegrove & Repucci's Urban Delft for Areware (available at Unica Home) gives the conservative Dutch pottery a grittier edge by bringing graffiti into the mix.

See five more of these modern delftware designs when you read more.Marcel Wanders's Delft Blue Collection for Mooi reimagines delft in all sorts of peculiar ways, like a traditional vase being blown away, a piggy bank bearing the brunt of a hammer, and those signature petals adorning a submarine.
Dutch design guru Jacob de Baan put the tradition on its head by using asymmetrical and organic shapes and centuries-old trademarks on his Pitcher ($120) for Royal Delft, a company which has been making the blue and white porcelain since 1653.

Studio Ooms brought the art form into the bedroom with The Milkmaid ($180), their ceramic blue delft dildo.

Anthropologie's Caledon Sugar Bowl ($15) and Creamer ($15) uses more sculptural pieces with stamped motifs to give delftware a contemporary edge.

And, Pure*Delft Blue from Plush Department is the first design computer (and a limited edition) with a ceramic casing handpainted in Delft, also produced by Royal Delft.