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Custom-Designed USB Jewel Pendants

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:50:41 -0800

When it comes to geeky jewelry pieces, I'd have to agree with most of you in saying that the ones that are cute and functional get two thumbs up, but the ones that are geeky but not really fashionable? Yeah, they won't be making it to the top of my holiday wish list. Well here's a collection that is chic and stylish and feature USB drives in 2GB and 4GB built-in storage capacities.

The LA-based USB Jewel was started by Giselle Jhunjhnuwala - a pianist and composer - when she needed a portable place to store her repertoire of sheet music. Have a peek at her crackled shell and wooden creations.

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Enchanted Woods iPod Dock: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:05:19 -0800

I've posted about wooden gadgets and accessories before, but this product is a little more rustic than most. The Enchanted Woods iPod Dock ($98) is made from authentic hickory and branches and is a docking station only - no speakers.

It's sold at Anthropologie, a store better known for its pretty dresses than gadgets. While I'm not a huge fan of this dock, I suppose it could look at home in a rustic ski lodge or cabin in the woods. What do you think?

Do You Chop Your Own Wood?

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:09 -0800

For those of us who appreciate a nice wood fire, we either have to buy wood already split, or get out an ax and do the job ourselves. Growing up, I got my fair share of chopping wood as a household chore, but I actually really enjoyed the task. Do you chop it at your home?

Do You Have Wood Paneling?

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:27 -0800

Unless it is painted, I usually find wood paneling too dark and rustic for my taste, and sometimes it just looks too dated. But in Fall and Winter, it has a cozy effect that I enjoy, especially if there is a fire roaring nearby. Do you have wood paneling?

Photo by Maura McEvoy

Love It or Hate It? Wood Trays With Swarovski Crystals

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:24 -0700

OK, I like wood trays. And I like Swarovski. But together? I'm just not sold. These Wood Trays With Swarovski Crystals ($175 on sale) will add some bling to your tray needs.

Casa Verde: Wooden Furniture That's Green and Budget-Friendly

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:00:22 -0700

Slate magazine recently answered a reader's question about affordable, earth-friendly furniture. Are the two concepts compatible? And what are the best options? You can read the whole article here, but I've handily summed up the advice from writer Nina Shen Rastogi. The first (and perhaps most obvious) piece of advice is to buy the highest quality, solid wood furniture you can afford. This way, your furniture will last for decades (at least).
Ready for the rest of the advice? Then read more.

Furniture made from medium-density fiberboard is an affordable option that is made from leftover sawdust and lumber scraps. It takes more energy to produce MDF than it does to process lumber. However, as the article notes, "[f]igures from New Zealand suggest that, on a pound-for-pound basis, the production of composite-wood products is more energy-efficient [PDF] than making plastics and most metals."
Plywood, another type of composite panel, uses about the same energy to produce as MDF.
Buyer beware, though: MDF, particleboard, and plywood all contain adhesives that may release formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, according to the International Agency For Research on Cancer.
The cheaper the furniture, the more likely it is to release formaldehyde, since it's more expensive to use more high-quality, less toxic glues, and to cure the furniture over time to ensure that the furniture isn't releasing formaldehyde.
To avoid this danger, look for furniture with low- or no-formaldehyde adhesives.
If your new MDF or particleboard furniture contains recycled content or alternative fibers, it is less likely to offgas.
If your particleboard or MDF furniture smells funky, leave it outside for a few days so it can offgas outside of your living space.
When buying solid wood furniture, ask about how the wood is sourced. Look for certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. Always ask retailers about how the wood is sourced, and let them know that this is important to you as a consumer.
The best option for both your budget and the planet is to buy secondhand solid wood furniture. Check flea markets, Craigslist, and tag sales for quality items.

Definition: Wood Veneer

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:30:15 -0700

Furniture is an investment, so you'd better know what you're in for when you foot the bill for that console you loved so much. One common term you'll come across when shopping for furniture is "wood veneer." This is essentially slices of a superior wood (walnut, mahogany, etc.) that have been glued to lower-priced wood (like pine). It's the next best thing to solid hardwood, because your furniture will be masked in a rare wood, but cost much less. Buyer beware, though: veneer can often peel, so it may need replacing. A product description will likely read something like "rich walnut veneer," meaning that it looks like walnut. If the description mentions "engineered wood," this means the veneer is glued to MDF, a less durable material made of compressed wood fibers, so double check before you buy.

Cool Idea: Firewood Serves as a Table Set

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:00:47 -0700

In this outdoor patio, designer Rebecca Cole has used wire and firewood to craft elegantly organic table sets on this patio. I love the surprising contrast between the refined pink cushions and the cordwood. I have to wonder, though, how easy this would be to move. It would be ideal to create these stools and tables with locking wheels, so they could easily be moved from place to place. What do you think? Are you a fan of this look as well?

Roundup: Wild For Walnut

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:15:42 -0700

If you're a furnishing with the word "walnut" in your product description, the chances I'm saving my pennies for you are high. I'm wild for walnut! The fine wood is as durable as it is beautiful, and it only looks better with age. Beyond that, its cool modern style makes a perfect complement to any room. My next big furniture splurge is likely to be walnut. But, seeing as there's so much of it out there to drool over, there are plenty of decisions to make before I go spending. See a few walnut pieces I'm eyeing when you read more.

De La Espada sled lounge chair - $1,565.00	Atlantico 020 Chest in Walnut - $4,835.00
Shesham Wood 5-Tier Pillar Candle Holder - $49.99	Driade - costes & king costes by philippe starck - $1,086.00
De La Espada 010 atlantico coffee table - $1,315.00	MADE nest side table - $2,350.00
Blu Dot Minimalista Side Table - $299.00	Blu Dot Wonder Wall Two Drawer Cabinet - $699.00
Beverly Floor Mirror - $999.00	Urbana Design teardrop vases - $60.00
Mercer Sideboard - $3,950.00	Cherner Chair Armchair Walnut / Ebony - $999.00
Vitra George Nelson Walnut Diamond Desk Clock - $395.00	Eames® Walnut Stool 413 by Herman Miller - $829.00
Walnut Wastecan - $39.95	Tambe Walnut Side Table - $399.00
Walnut Table Kubus 71" - $2,100.00	J.K. Adams Stainless and Walnut Wood Serving Tray - $137.99
Goetz Sofa in Walnut in Black Leather by Herman Miller - $3,099.00	Walnut Bark & Antiqued Bamboo Chargers - $78.00
Cherner Chair Stool in Walnut With Chrome Base - $639.00	Portica 72X36 Extension Table with Cherry Veneer Top - $1,699.00

Steal of the Day: Beveled Side Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:00:58 -0700

If you love the look of wood, but want something that's a little more refined, check out the jewel-like bevels on this West Elm Beveled Side Table (originally $199, now $99.99). The angular ends on the solid acacia wood add an elegant look to these tables, though they'd work equally well as stools, too. In fact, they're so versatile they could easily be used for plant stands, stacks of books, a place to rest your feet while lounging in a living room . . . the list goes on. And at half the price, you can afford to snap up more than one.