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Crave Worthy: Pyrite Napkin Rings

casasugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:46 -0800

I recently rounded up Fall napkin rings for you, with a seasonal palette of warm tones. While I'm certainly a fan of all of those choices, I can't help but say I'd kill to have a set of the Thad Cline Pyrite Napkins Rings ($140). The stunning, handmade pieces are made from bronze wire wrapped around a natural Pyrite stone. The smashing sparkling rocks would make any dinner table glamorous this holiday. Do you like them?

Crave Worthy: Orten'zia Large Floor Lamp

casasugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:00:51 -0800

Bruno Rainaldi must have taken a note from the Talking Heads' catchphrase "This ain't no disco" when designing the Orten'zia Large Floor Lamp ($4,628). The luminary certainly has a disco ball aura to it, but its nickel-plated petals give it a unique flair that's light years away from the glowing dance floor of the Saturday Night Fever set. Unfortunately, with that price tag, it's also astronomically distant from my living room. Perhaps someone like Jade Jagger could set it on the glossy floors of her swank London pad, though.

Crave Worthy: Double Alexander Table

casasugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:00:18 -0700

Life isn't fair. Really, and truly. You know how I love Lucite. And, you know how I love Moroccan design. So, what if the two could become one? The White Webb Double Alexander Table ($2295) is both of those things, with its clean, crisp Lucite material and its exotic Moroccan pointed arches. But sadly it's a little beyond my reach — especially in these turbulent economic times. Okay, technically the table is based on historic Indian designs, but a quick Google image search (and a look back at this Moorish table) will prove me right. And my love for the exotic arches is all the same regardless of their origins.

Crave Worthy: Lotus Bleu Lacquered Table Lamp

casasugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:34 -0700

I love lacquer. Trays. Tables. Anything, really. A layer of lacquer can really transform a humdrum design into something glamorous. If you pair a great design with a lacquered finish, you must be after my own heart.
Lotus Bleu can consider me swept off my feet, as I can't resist its Lacquered Table Lamp ($280). The luminary combines the the turned-wood trend with nine cheerful colors of your choice, a white silk shade, a three-way switch, and of course that glossy shine that weakens my knees. I love how its circular ledge will hold a pair of earrings, or a small personal knickknack; it's the ideal bedside table lamp.

Crave Worthy: Bespoke Silk Scarf Chair

casasugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:30:50 -0700

I've never been a fan of branding (logos, monograms, etc.), and in fact I pretty much detest it. It kind of makes me feel like I'm in a herd of cattle. That being said, even though the Suzan Fellman Bespoke Silk Scarf Chair ($6,400) may feature a prominently placed Chanel logo, I still totally heart it. Upholstered with vintage silk scarves, it transforms your basic slipper chair into a statement piece that's a little bit Art Deco and a bit mod. Its sleek, transparent Lucite legs are a non-competing counterpart to the bold patterns, and they contribute a bit of a 1930s vibe. Love it?

Crave Worthy: Jethro Macey Sideboard

casasugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:00:24 -0700

If you told me the words lace, sideboard, white, floral, lacquer, and modern could exist all in one breath, I wouldn't believe you — and I'd likely chastise you for being a tease. But impressively, those adjectives do exist all together . . . in the Jethro Macey Sideboard ($8,000 and up). The white sideboard has a lacquered surface and its doors shine with a textured rose pattern that emulates antique lace. I love how the masculine quality of its clean lines and mid-century-style legs are juxtaposed with the femininity of the rose pattern. It's subtly stunning, and would make killer storage for a modern bedroom, living room, or dining room. Macey also sells concrete lace tiles with the same repeating decorative rose pattern that's a really innovative style of surface design. To see the tiles,

Crave Worthy: Marie Christophe Lustre Cygnes Chandelier

casasugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:55 -0700

I try to be sensible about where I spend my money . . . invest in durable, timeless pieces that I use every day, cut back on trends and accessories, etc. And then, something comes along like a bolt of lightning on a clear day that's so unique and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, it makes me want to throw caution to the wind. A piece like the Marie Christophe Lustre Cygnes Chandelier (inquire for price) might not be the most sensible place to spend my hard-earned dinero, but it would certainly put a smile on my face each day. I simply adore its delicate, whimsical wirework and vibrant turquoise and amber beading. What I really love, though, is its regal swan heads graciously carrying baubled lamp shades in their beaks. What could be more charming?

Crave Worthy: Neiman Marcus Albright Bathtub Set

casasugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:30:03 -0700

I can't think of a more idyllic way to warm up this month than soaking in the Neiman Marcus Albright Bathtub Set ($6,489). Made of AcraStone, a chip- and wear-resistant material with a porcelain-like surface that is warm to the touch, it's a smart splurge if you're a life-long bath lover like me. Its Old World copper tub feet, faucet, and accessories have a classic appeal that will stay in style as long as its lifetime manufacturer's warranty. If that weren't enough to wash over you with heartache, it has a thermostatic valve, which maintains your desired water temperature to within 1°F, regardless of changes in the temperature or pressure of the water supply. Forget love, this is ever-lasting lust.

Crave Worthy: Pottery Barn Canton Floor Lamp

casasugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:30:37 -0700

One glance at the Pottery Barn Canton Floor Lamp ($599), which stands more than five feet high with an oversize shade, and you know you're in the presence of greatness. With a transparent glass base and a linen shade, it's the counterpart to tall, dark, and handsome; the Simon Baker to your Clive Owen. If good looks aren't enough to sweep you off your feet, you'll be happy to know that Canton offers a little personalization as well. Fill the lamp's base with branches, faux botanicals, or teddy bears for that matter to get the woodsy, floral, or playtime look you're going for.

Crave Worthy: Aluminum Wine Table

casasugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:30:06 -0700

This little Aluminum Wine Table ($399) won't break the bank, but it's still far from a steal. This is actually the type of crave worthy product I love: one that's within my budget.

What started off as a traditional side table is suddenly delightfully modern thanks to the material it's been cast in. Instead of hardwood, the table's been rendered in hand-cast aluminum. I love the contrast between the table's traditional shape and its high-tech aluminum. Do you?