CasaSugar

New Sleek LaCie Hard Drives Designed by Philippe Starck

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:02:00 -0700

Today, the makers behind the glamorous gold hard drive and the rainbow bright flat cables - LaCie - is announcing its new sleek and sexy desktop hard drive and mobile hard drive. By teaming up with world renowned designer Philippe Starck, LaCie was able to create this new collection of drives which incorporate Starck's iconic design philosophy.

What's unique about the desktop hard drive is its touch-sensitive surface, which you can pre-program to open an application of your choice. So say you want to quickly show off videos on your drive, you can press your finger on the front panel and it will instantly pull up the folder with your video files (or launch iTunes). Both the desktop and the mobile drives are made from aluminum, which makes them nice and durable. They are also both Mac and PC friendly, will easily connect to your laptop's USB port and feature a built-in desktop manager, for quick drive formatting and customization. And best of all, the desktop drive is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities and only costs $130, while the mobile drive is available in 320GB and 500GB capacities for only $100. . . That's one heck of a deal.

To check out more photos of the LaCie Starck desktop hard drive and the LaCie Starck mobile hard drive, just read more.

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Philippe Starck and Karl Lagerfeld Guest Edit Wallpaper*

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:04 -0700

Wallpaper* has called on two titans of the design world, Philippe Starck and Karl Lagerfeld, to guest edit its October issue. Beginning by pushing the boundaries of magazine production, Starck designed the first triple-layered, transparent front cover, while Lagerfeld introduced the first peelable front cover.

As for the editorial, Starck approached scientists, physicists, cosmologists, artists, and activist rock stars, on a "mission to make intelligence sexy." Meanwhile, Lagerfeld brought his photography skills to light, following his new model muse and coverman Baptiste Giabiconi "from Ancient Rome to mid-century Paris," revealing a passion for architecture. I love to see these design icons moving beyond the parameters we're used to seeing them in, not only taking on new roles as editors but showing that they're not one-trick ponies. The issue hits newsstands today, and check out this complementary gallery online.

Freaky or Fabulous: Lagerfeld's Wallpaper Cover

FabSugarUK — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:37 -0700

Karl Lagerfeld has teamed up with Philippe Starck this month to create a special edition cover for Wallpaper magazine. The publication literally has a "peelable" cover featuring Baptiste Giabiconi in Dior Homme which can be removed to reveal the other cover where he is naked! Starck has developed a new technology of paper allowing the cover to be constructed from three layers of tracing paper which has never before been used on a magazine. Editor-in-chief, Tony Chambers explained, "Like their illustrious predecessors, Lagerfeld and Starck have made full use of their prime piece of Wallpaper* real estate. Both have stepped out of their creative comfort zones to challenge our preconceptions as well as their own." How do you feel about the revealing cover?

Desire/Acquire: Philippe Starck's Miss K Table Lamp

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If I were to purchase every Philippe Starck design I've fallen for, I'd be bankrupt - in a killer house. I already do a good enough job spending money I don't have without the French superstar's help, so really there's got to be an easier way to achieve his design style. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I doubt Starck would mind if I snatched up a stylish red lamp inspired by his Miss K Table Lamp ($360, on sale for $288). Right? I've got my eye on a great knockoff with a similar Saarinen-shape base and streamlined shade. See it when you read more.

No, maybe the IKEA Lampan ($5) isn't made of the token Lucite Starck's known for (it's made of plastic). But for five bucks and a near replica in both shape and color, I'd choose it any day.

Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair Gets a Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:35 -0700

Philippe Starck has no doubt had an influence on many areas of the design world, but he will never escape his Louis Ghost Chair. The 2002 design pared down the opulent Louis XVI chair and is as relevant, contemporary, and stylish today as it was seven years ago. Starck did try to reimagine it in a child size, the Lou Lou Ghost Chair, but Louis reigns supreme. The folks at London design shop Lifestyle Bazaar are taking one more shot at reinventing the thing in hopes of making it cutting-edge once again, rather than the design staple it has become.

They've asked nine designers and artists from various disciplines (street art, tattoo art, taxidermy, sculpture, furniture design, conceptual salvage, product design, and interior design) to customize nine Louis Ghost chairs for the London Design Festival in September. The chairs will be auctioned off to benefit Children With Aids Charity. One chair will be decked with colorful cakes, sweets, and meringues to be photographed by Rosie Day, and for guests of the exhibit to actually snack on. I bet Starck never imagined his precious set would one day become a buffet.

Chace Crawford Loves Philippe Starck

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:00:43 -0700

Now that Chace Crawford has moved out of the Chelsea apartment he shared with Gossip Girl costar Ed Westwick, he's on to bigger and better things. The place he now calls home is a penthouse rental in the hip and exclusive Financial District building Dwell95, which was outfitted head-to-toe by French superstar designer Philippe Starck. The urban sanctuary is part of the yoo by Starck international development project and houses studios, lofts, and one and two bedrooms in two styles: "classic" and "nature." The former is not your average traditional style but is quintessentially Starck, infused with his brand of chic modernity and bathed in rich wood cabinetry and limestone countertops. The latter takes a lighter note with earth tones, organic materials, and natural light oak. Want to take a peek at Chace's new home and hear about the design? Then read more.

As you might expect, the fully-furnished suites are dripping in Starck-designed fixtures and products, from his arachnid-like Juicy Salif Lemon Squeezer for Alessi to his Miss K Table Lamp. But Starck's also shown some love for his contemporaries, including realist accessories designer Harry Allen, as well as design innovators Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. Nate Archibald might prefer the Upper East Side, but I think these digs are right up Crawford's alley. Think you could get used to this? Rates for the furnished suites start at $5,100/month.

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Love It or Hate It? Kartell Mademoiselle Armchair

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:15:59 -0700

The Kartell Mademoiselle Armchair ($860) was designed by Philippe Starck, and features lovely, transparent legs set off by a fabric-covered expanded polyurethane body. Would you put it in your casa?

Louis XVI: 16 Louis Ghost Chairs Around the World

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

I've been thinking about love a lot lately. L'amour. The L word. And, do you know what most comes to mind? My beloved Louis Ghost Chair, a modern interpretation of the classic Louis XVI chair, designed by none other than wacky Frenchman Philippe Starck. As a love letter of sorts, I've decided to showcase XVI (translation: 16) Louis Ghost chairs around the world. If you haven't yet fallen under Louis's spell, seeing the iconic chair everywhere from a rustic office to a formal dining room will induce lust you've never felt before.

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Guess Where Philippe Starck Discount Shopped?

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:25 -0800

Designer Philippe Starck assembled this table setting while shopping at an unlikely store. Can you name this discount store, which tends to go for quantity, not quality?

Cool Idea: Kartell/Philippe Starck Topiary Garden

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:21 -0700

As part of Milan Design Week 2008, Kartell installed seven 13-foot-tall topiary sculptures depicting a selection of its best known outdoor products at the Triennale Garden in Milan. The super-sized shrubs included a giant Dr. No chair, Victoria Ghost chair, Bubble Club chair, La Boheme stool, and Mr. Impossible chair, all designed by Philippe Starck. Starck announced in March that he will retire in two years, so this foray into the garden serves as a bit of send-off. And, since Starck has expressed shame for driving consumerism and materiality, this is certainly a step in the right direction for him. To see more images of the garden, read more.

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