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Steal of the Day: Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays

casasugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:15:09 -0700

If you read my How-To on organizing your desk, you may remember that I wrote, "If everything has a place, you won't need to search for it. . . . That means, an inbox, an outbox, an on-hold box . . ." Something tells me that maybe not all of you have spent the time since then to get your desk into shipshape, so now is the time. You can get started by picking up the Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays ($39 for two) to serve as your inbox, outbox, or on-hold box. At 13-x-11 and 12-x -10 inches, they're the perfect fit to glam up your boring paperwork. If it bothers you that they read "Etc.," get some decorative paper and a calligraphy pen, and switch them to more appropriate names. You like?

Get the Look: Grand Slam Glam

casasugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:00:53 -0700

I've been tuning into a lot of U.S. Open matches this week, and watching tennis always makes me want put on a cute old-school tennis dress and play a few sets. It also got me thinking that the preppy '80s vibe that tennis often conjures would make a great decorating theme!

Well-suited to a girl's room or a guest room, this look I'm calling Grand Slam Glam mixes pretty pastels and preppy details, with just a few tennis-inspired accents tossed in. Here's how to get the look.

The Palette: Think girly country-club chic, with lime green, light blue, and delicate pink. Present your palette in perfectly preppy patterns, including argyle and gingham. Then, just for fun, throw in a few snatches of tennis-ball yellow.

For the rest of the elements and to see my product suggestions,

Get the Look: Nest-Inspired Breakfast Nook

casasugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:00:46 -0700

Nothing says morning like the sound of chirping birds, and the bird motifs that are so ubiquitous now feel like they belong in the breakfast nook. So for this Get the Look, I'm designing a comfy dining area using subtle, natural elements. I was inspired by this Room Service Home Faux Bois Tableware ($34 to $58 per piece). I love the rustic yet delicate charm of the twig accents and nest motif. Here's how to get the look in your nest.

The Palette: Robin's egg blue should be in abundance, offset by dark woodsy brown and pale green.

The furniture: The Faux Bois tableware will look best against a natural wood or white table. I chose a sunny white one with rustic-looking chairs. For a bit of color, find a baby blue sideboard or buffet.

The accents: Bird-adorned pillows are a comfy addition to the wooden chairs, while curtains and table linens should complement the nest theme without being too cutesy.

The lighting: In addition to overhead lighting, I've found some elegant nest-inspired lamps that would look great on the buffet.