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What You're Wanting, Revealed: An Outdoor Dining Room For Adrian's Castle

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:54 -0800

For the latest what you're wanting, I asked you how you'd furnish, accessorize, and style an outdoor dining room for Adrian Brody and Spanish girlfriend Elsa Pataky's stone castle-like house in upstate New York. The house is stunning, so I'm sure a basic picnic in the grass would still be glamorous, but AudreyStar really took the challenge and ran with it. So she wins the Sugar swag of her choice as a reward! Not only did she choose colors and materials that created a cohesive space, but she thought about all of the details of what a great outdoor space should have, including everything from lounge seating to festive napkin rings. To see her look, read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Spare Seating Hung on the Wall

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:19 -0700

I spotted this photo in the portfolio of Swedish interior stylist Lo Bjurulf, and of course the first thing I noticed was the arrangement of three spare dining chairs hung on the wall. I'd seen this before in the portfolio of interior designer Suzy Hoodless, but here I'm not sure it's pulled off as well. The idea, I guess, is to make your storage work double duty as "wall décor." Do you think this is a successful technique? Or do you find it uncomfortable, visually?Source

Love It or Hate It? One Mismatching Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:00:59 -0700

I recently wrote about mismatched dining chairs, with a photo of a table furnished with all mismatching chairs. Several of you did not approve of the look, but I loved it. I just came across this photo from the portfolio of prop stylist Lili Diallo, and noticed a slight variation of the technique. The bentwood chairs are actually all the same, but one of them was painted red. In the beautifully styled photo, it works, but I think if the chair were moved to the near side of the table, it would just look off. On the other hand, having two red chairs at the heads of the table would definitely work for me. What do you think?
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Before and After: Boring China Cabinet to Fabulous Bookcase

Casa Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Su Casa member LittleLeo recently transformed a dated china cabinet into a fabulous bookcase:
We inherited this piece from a friend who was getting a new dining room set. My husband couldn't understand why I wanted the cabinet and not the dining table too. I explained I had a vision for my home office. I sanded it all down and painted it matte black, wallpapered the back, and had acrylic shelves made. It has set the tone for the room and now the "office" doesn't take away from the living room. It actually adds an extra layer of function to the room, at least I think so.
To see LittleLeo's finished project, .

Have you made over any furniture lately? Be sure to add photos to our Su Casa group!

Do You Have Mismatched Dining Chairs?

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:00:29 -0700

I love the mismatched chairs around this Saarinen table in the home of Virginia Johnson. It's quirky, but it works because there's not much going on otherwise in the way of color and pattern in the room. But, I've seen this look executed in busier, brighter rooms, and it doesn't always work. Do you have mismatched dining chairs?Source

Get the Look: Cut-Back Summer Chic

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:51 -0700

When you're blessed with stunning architecture and a gorgeous view, sometimes less is more. With so much design inspiration and great furnishings everywhere, it's hard to say no to the shopping habit. But, I think this summery dining room and deck is a prime example of how clutter-free comfort can be impressively chic. So, I figured I'd choose a few (just a few) products to help you get this look. The architecture and the ocean vistas are up to you. See my product finds when you read more.

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Casa Interview: The Good Wife's Stephen Hendrickson and Beth Kushnick

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:28 -0800

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a huge fan of the new CBS series The Good Wife. In particular, I adore Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Margulies) apartment. With classic styling and great use of color, it's definitely a look I'm currently coveting. Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to chat with the two people responsible for the look of that very apartment. The Good Wife's production designer, Stephen Hendrickson, and set decorator, Beth Kushnick, answered my questions about the look of Alicia's home.

CasaSugar: How did the production designer and set decorator define Alicia (as a starting-over mom, lawyer, etc.), and how did this play into their concept of her new apartment?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: We defined Alicia as a working mom who wanted to make a comforting life for her kids as they had to downsize from a large house in the suburbs to a much smaller apartment which she purchased and had renovated. We kept some furniture from the old house like the kids' beds and the dining room furniture. In addition the show creators wanted to keep Alicia's king size bed as a visual - that it was too big for her new bedroom and show that one side of it was now empty. We also created a maid's room in the back of the apartment for all of her husband's belongings.

CasaSugar: How did Alicia’s style as a North Shore mom change when she moved into Chicago proper?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: Her new apartment had a sophisticated color palette . . . Alicia's apartment also has more contemporary living room furnishings and an upgraded kitchen.

Read the rest of the interview, and check out photos of the set.

Get the Look: Eclectic Open Plan Dining Room

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:00:59 -0700

This open plan dining room is so eclectic, it's almost silly. But I love it! The mish-mash of the Victorian fireplace with the retro table and lime-green chairs, along with the quirky accents like the oversize letters, baby carriage, and glass dome, create the impression that someone really artsy lives here. But, it doesn't have that messy, bipolar look of some artist studios: it's polished. You can see people entertaining here, especially considering the extra chairs stacked in the corner. I could go on, but I thought I'd just help you get the look in your home, if you dig it as much as I do. To see my finds for re-creating this room, read more.

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Midday Muse: Cushioned Louis Ghost Chairs on Gossip Girl

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:38 -0700

Tuning into "The Dark Night" episode of Gossip Girl, I couldn't help but notice that the set of Philipe Starck Louis Ghost Chairs in Blair Waldorf's dining room weren't naked as usual. The polycarbonate chairs had been dressed up with silk shantung chair pads, giving them less of a transparent look. Personally, I think the chair pads detract from Starck's vision for the chair: a modern reinterpretation of the Louis XIV chair, which is upholstered. But, from a purely aesthetic perspective, they don't look half bad here in Blair's home. And, seeing as the gossip girl lives in a quite traditional abode (unlike Chuck Bass's bachelor pad), I think the chair pads make the very modern chairs more appropriate for the setting. What do you think? Oh also: did anyone notice how there's only wallpaper on one half of the room? Weird!

How-To: Decorate a Dual-Purpose Space

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:55 -0700

Having lived in a studio in the past, I've experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of trying to make one room play two roles. I have many friends living tiny apartments who try to cram the furniture meant for both a living room and a bedroom into the same room, and let me tell you, none have succeeded. It's not only studio dwellers that encounter these issues, though. Sometimes a home office needs to double as a living room, or a bedroom as a workout room. If you're in the same boat, I have a few tips for you.

Thomas Paul Anchor Jute Pillow - $70.00	Fitzgerald Armchair - $695.00
Michael Aram for Waterford Wood Grain 12" Hurricane - $174.99	Chesapeake Rocking Chair - $33.00
Oxford Stripe Pillow Cover - $29.00	Maritime Crisscross Rope Pillow - $88.00
Organic Olive Tree - $95.00	Teak Adirondack Collection - $35.00
Parsons Expandable Dining Table - $599.00	Santa Barbara Side Table - $435.00
Thomas Paul Moby Jute Pillow - $70.00	Couture Pillow - $99.00
Taylor Hurricanes - $6.95	Nils Armchair - $79.99

Bensen canyon lounge chair - $1,495.00	Bond 60 Round Dining Table in Stainless Steel - $799.00
Aero Chair - $160.00	Bellesol Mirror - $199.00
Espresso Mantle Shelves - $49.00	Thin Metal Profile Frames - $19.99
Oversized Letters - $19.00	Roost Glass Museum Dome - $58.00
Kadota Fig Plant - $98.00	Noir Vase - $149.00
Inglesina Classica Pram in Azzurro - $1,099.00	Benson 48 or 54 Round Dining Base in Stainless Steel - $649.00
Uttermost Amberlyn Wall Mirror - $219.99	Bensen little rock lounge chair - $775.00