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Love It or Hate It? Crate & Barrel Azure Chair

casasugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:30:21 -0800

I like the wrap-around, bucket-like shape of the Crate & Barrel Azure Chair ($1,099), and its eco-friendly construction. But, I'm not sold on the tufting; it looks a little odd to me.

Love It or Hate It? Crate & Barrel Azure Chair

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Nice and New: Crate and Barrel Taka Trunk

casasugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:30:00 -0700

I've always loved the look of an antique trunk used as a coffee table, and the fact that they can double as storage for your odds and ends. But, when you're entertaining and your coffee table is spotted with wine glasses and hors d'oeuvre trays, it's a hassle to have to sacrifice your tabletop space if you want access to anything that lies in the storage trunk. So, when I came across the Taka Trunk ($499) at Crate and Barrel, I was delighted to learn that I could have it both ways. The refashioned steamer trunk, made of sustainable plantation-grown shesham wood, is equipped with two generous storage areas, a secret central compartment, removable dividers to store wine or CDs, and a small front drawer to hold your remotes and other small clutter. And, particularly winning, its lid support arms fold out, so you can have tabletop space and still have access to your collection of board games or "bar" inside. I also just adore its nubby round feet and handsome iron hardware. It's this sort of piece that makes me favor traditionalism on occasion, and nearly convinces me to stop loving more modern pieces like the Louis Ghost chair. Just nearly.

Win a $500 Gift Card From Crate and Barrel!

casasugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:30:32 -0700

You and one other lucky CasaSugar reader could be the recipients of a $500 gift card from Crate and Barrel. The catch? Well, there's no catch, actually. All you have to do is send in a photo showing off your home's Summer style.

To find out how to enter to win,

Love It or Hate It? Jardin Chair

casasugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:00:18 -0700

Things I love about the Jardin Chair ($799): It's made from sustainably harvested wood and uses plant-based eco foam. It's roomy enough for two. Its armless silhouette and wing back will make it a versatile addition to most any room.Thing I don't love about the Jardin Chair: It looks like it would be more comfortable in Pee-wee's Playhouse than in my casa.

Love It or Hate It? Jardin Chair

Love It

Hate it

Undecided

Nice and New: Crate & Barrel Bing Table Lamp

casasugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:09 -0700

Maybe I'm still seeing rouge, but I've really been seduced by the new Crate and Barrel Bing Table Lamp ($59). Its petite size and bubble shape of its hand-blown red glass base is certainly charming, but what I really love is how its over-sized fabric shade matches the base in color. It's rare to see matching shades and bases, and while it could look a bit overwhelming, in this case I think it's refreshingly delightful. To be bold, you could put it in an all white kitchen, or it would be subtle in a room with lots of patterns and texture in similar hues. What you think? Do you love it?

Steal of the Day: Crate & Barrel Dane Pendant Lamp

casasugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:00:40 -0700

Faux bois may be a fading trend, but vrai bois (real wood) is not likely to ever lose its edge. That's especially true when it comes to handsome designs like the Crate & Barrel Dane Pendant Lamp ($64.95, reduced from $129). Made of a beautifully grained Brazilian sandalwood veneer shade, it will make a dapper focal point above your kitchen island or dining table. There's obviously something rustic about it that would assimilate easy into a Wisconsin lodge, but its drum shape gives it modern lines that would look just as at home in a SoHo loft.

Steal of the Day: Crate and Barrel Taisho Chest

casasugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:00:32 -0700

If I weren't saving every extra penny for my wedding, I'd be spending it on this beautiful, understated Taisho Chest (on sale for $499, originally $999). This eco chic apothecary cabinet is made from reclaimed elm wood, which was recovered from old homes, government buildings, and other unused buildings in China's Shandong province. The wood is cleaned and dried, and then crafted into these beautiful chests. Although it appears to have nine small drawers, in reality the six-panel door opens to reveal two adjustable shelves, with three square drawers on the right side. This piece would fit in perfectly in my minimalist bedroom; how would it look in your home?

Sale Alert: Crate & Barrel Summer Sale

casasugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:00:18 -0700

Crate & Barrel's Summer sale is heating up, with dozens of items up to 50 percent off. Whether you're in the market for furniture, accessories, lighting, rugs, bedding, kitchen gadgets, or dining items, they've got you covered. Merchandise continues to be further marked down, so if you've got your eye on a sale item, but can't quite make the leap, check back often. Also, if you live near a Crate & Barrel, be sure to check out the floor samples, closeouts, and one-of-a-kind items that are not available online. Here's a few items that I wouldn't mind bringing home!
Source

Steal of the Day: Trovata Round Umbrella Cover

casasugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:00:15 -0700

I'm sure your mother told you to lather on your SPF so you don't get skin cancer, but sometimes it's just a smart move to stay in the shade. There's nothing nerdy about being pale — especially when you're hanging under this stylish Crate & Barrel Trovata Round Umbrella Cover ($99, reduced from $169), which blocks out 98% of the sun's UV rays. Its seaglass and khaki colored stripes will show all of your patio guests what a true sophisticate you are. More importantly, its Sunbrella fabric will stand up to the elements (unless maybe you encounter a natural disaster), so there'll be no need to replace it next season. Now all you need is some outdoor dinnerware and a good margarita recipe, and you'll be set for the season.

Steal of the Day: Cased Glass Vases

casasugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:00:43 -0700

These opalescent Cased Glass Vases on sale for $7.95, regularly $24.95) are perfect for the pastel loving home decorator. With voluptuous curves and eye-pleasing feminine hues, these vases are handblown in layers of white and clear glass, which are then handpainted in pink and lavender. They'd be perfect for bouquets of summer snapdragons, or even some tropical palm fronds. Whatever you choose to showcase in these pretty vases, you can rest assured that you've gotten a good deal in the process.

Good, Better, Best: Mid-Century Tufted Sofas

casasugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:30:03 -0700

When it comes to rainy Friday nights, there's nothing better than curling up on the sofa with your shoes off. But when it comes to sofas, there's always a good, better, and a best. This go-round, I'm going to take a look at the trifecta of mid-century sofas, tufted, buttoned, clean-lined, and ready to make an appearance in a living room near you.

Good: Quite possibly named after everyone's favorite Mexican beer, the Macy's Corona Sofa ($899) conjures up all sorts of jokes about going South of the border. No, not really. But, it has the clean-lines, button-tufting, and tapered legs of the '60s sofas your parents lounged on while watching Dick van Dyke. The color choices aren't extensive but nothing to complain about either; it's available in pear, café noir, or stone. But, bummer: this three seater's fabric is an acrylic, polyester and nylon blend.

To see photos and hear about the other two,

Crave Worthy: Crate & Barrel Josephine Right Arm Chaise

casasugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:30:21 -0700

If the Crate & Barrel Josephine Right Arm Chaise ($1,299) wound up in my bedroom, I can pretty much guarantee it'd become a breeding ground for my daily wardrobe castoffs. But I certainly wouldn't complain about it being there; it's a picture of pretty. I love how the traditional chaise shape is updated with Marimekko-esque graphic black and white florals, giving it a modern edge that fits seamlessly into a classic home. It's the perfect venue for a midday snooze or a late-afternoon read. I'm envisioning a big stack of books right beside it, topped with a nice, cold lemonade. Do you love it?

Steal of the Day: Lucia Table Lamp

casasugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:15:19 -0800

While it may not be as near and dear to my heart as the Haley Lamp, the Crate and Barrel Lucia Table Lamp (regularly $249.99, on sale for $99) is far from an ugly stepsister. In fact, it might be the perfect solution to a color-neutral room. Its brilliant-blue, crackle glaze is certainly an eye-catcher, and if you think the pale shade is too subdued for this bold-colored, urn-shaped lamp, you can always trade it out for something a little busier.

Steal of the Day: Crate and Barrel Santorini Pillow

casasugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:00:31 -0800

I think my favorite type of Steal of the Day has got to be the accent pillows. Take this Crate and Barrel Santorini Pillow ($16.95), for example. For less than 17 bucks, you can reinvent your room with a fresh punch of tonal green or teal and a graphic pattern that'll keep your eye moving. Getting sick of them? Store 'em and switch in a different pair. Easy (and cheap) as pie.

Crave Worthy: Crate and Barrel Haley Table Lamp

casasugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:00:21 -0800

Dear Haley Table Lamp ($219),
I love you like Tom Cruise loves Katie, like Amélie loves cracking crème brûlée, like hearts and stars and flowers, and like the Beatles love me do. I love your glam mercury glass shimmer, your chic silky barrel shade, your three-way switch, and the way you'd command attention in my living room. Unfortunately, sweet lamp, I cannot afford you right now. So, my dear Haley Table Lamp, if you're listening, I hope you love me enough to wander over my way.
Yours truly,
CasaSugar

Craveworthy: Crate & Barrel Savoir Chair

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:45:06 -0800

The Crate & Barrel Savoir Chair ($899). A French pun! Velvet! Nailhead trim! Hot pink! Actually, the color is called "sangria" — even better! It's the answer to my chair prayers in more ways than one. If it looked a tad bit more comfortable, and maybe had some tufting, I'd literally kneel and beg at the corporate gates of Crate & Barrel just to get my hands (and tush) on it. I do love it, but a part of me must hold out for something more perfect. Until then, I'll just salivate over its scrumptious raspberry sorbet color. . .

Steal of the Day: Crate and Barrel Red Reactive Vase

casasugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:03:00 -0800

The Red Reactive Vase ($7.50, regularly $14.95) will add a warm burst of color to a dark and chilly January. This small, graceful shape has an Asian-inspired design, and is coated with a unique, reactive glaze finish in fiery red and earthy browns. Made of clays, feldspar and silica, this vase is for decorative use only, but that shouldn't prevent you from filling it with dried flowers. I think some lovely strawflowers in reds and oranges would look great in this. Due to the glazing, you should hand wash this pretty little object.

Sale Alert: Crate and Barrel Storewide Sale

casasugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:00:40 -0800

Crate and Barrel is holding a storewide sale with savings of up to 50 percent off on accessories, tabletop items, kitchenwares, furniture (!), lighting, rugs, pillows, curtains, bedding, and of course Christmas decorations. Click the images below to see some of my picks from the sale.

Source

Steal of the Day: Crate and Barrel Astoria Pillow

casasugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:11:10 -0800

The Astoria Pillow ($17.50, regularly $34.95) from Crate and Barrel features a bold fleur-de-lis pattern printed in black flocking on a natural linen background. Made of linen with a feather-down insert, the pillow reverses to solid ivory when you're feeling the need for a bit more reservation in your decorating.

Nice and New: Birch Candles

casasugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:00:40 -0800

If you didn't get a hold of those trendy Birch Bark Tubes before they sold out, you can still get the look with these Birch Candles ($8-$22), which are new at Crate & Barrel. If you're sans fireplace, these log-like pillars will burn on your tabletop to give you that sought-after wintry feel. They'd also make a great table centerpiece for the upcoming holiday.

Casa's Must Haves For October

casasugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:32:18 -0700

October is ushered in every year with my sister's birthday on the first day and ushered out by my grandmother's birthday on the last (yes, on Halloween!), so it's always a month of celebration for me. Inevitably, I also associate the month with deep fall colors, such as dark purples and fiery oranges, so some of my must haves for this month are inspired by those colors. In the spirit of celebration, we're also bringing you several contests this month, as well as encouraging you to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'm going to take advantage of all of those beautiful falling leaves and make my own leaf paper art. For inspiration, check out this gorgeous paper art.
Anthropologie's completely crave-worthy Jayne Sofa would provide a brilliant burst of color in anyone's living room, and it's now on sale.
These ceramic pumpkins would look great with an Italian vegetable soup with gnocchi inside. Maybe I'll make some for my sis's birthday.
A gorgeous organic fall bouquet would be a great way to dress up your home, especially when it's free!
Speaking of dressing up your home, October is Dress Your Walls month here at CasaSugar, and we're giving away some art and wall coverings to celebrate, including enough Ferm wallpaper to cover a wall of your home. Stay tuned for contest details!
Squirrel away nature's autumn bounty in these carved wood vessels.
Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a yummy pink-grapefruit-scented Ribbons of Love diffuser from Archipelago ($50). Forty percent of the profits will go to City of Hope Research Hospital.
And finally, settle into fall, grab a book, and cuddle up with an animal pillow from Velocity.

Leafy Autumn Accents

casasugar — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:22:34 -0700

In case you haven't noticed, I get really excited about the arrival of autumn. There's something about the crisp, cool air that makes me want to hang a festive but unfussy wreath and make spiced cider.

Of course, there's nothing more classically autumnal than images of falling leaves, so I've been scouting out some pretty fall accents with a leafy look. The best part about most of my picks is that while they look autumnal, they don't scream fall, so you can also use them year round. Check out my choices below and tell me what you think.

Sale Alert: Custom Upholstery Sale at Crate and Barrel

casasugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:38:53 -0700

Thanks to Shak in Style for tipping me off to the start of Crate and Barrel's annual custom upholstery sale. The event, which runs through Oct. 14, is being held at select Crate and Barrel stores across the country.

Unfortunately, the discounts don't extend to the online store, but if you have a bricks-and-mortar shop near you, it's definitely worth checking out. The chain is offering 25 percent off all of its 2,000 upholstery patterns and more than 150 furniture frames, so you can mix and match for your perfect combo.

Casa Craving Recap: A Chic Storage Bench

casasugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:00:21 -0700

To change things up a bit with our Casa Craving Challenge last week, I had you all go shopping for my buddy YumSugar, who is searching high and low for a chic storage bench. Ideally, she wants something a bit cheaper and hipper than this Crate and Barrel Plus Storage Bench ($899).

As usual, you guys totally wowed me: I had no idea there were so many different styles of benches out there. All of the picks were excellent, but here are some of my favorites:

this ultra-mod version that Whiplash Girlchild found
the total steal from JC Penny bookmarked by Mocelebgossisme
Gruaig_Rua's cottage-y shuttered number for storing shoes
and the super-sleek Delfino benches bookmarked by Gna_21

For many, many more great storage-benches, just click on the photos below. And be sure to tune in tomorrow for the next Casa Craving Challenge.

Casa Craving Challenge: A Chic Storage Bench

casasugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:00:06 -0700

Every Thursday on CasaSugar, I'll give you a decorating theme and ask you to go Casa Craving for items that fit the theme. (Here's a post explaining what a Casa Craving is and how to create one.) And for this week's Casa Craving Challenge, I'm trying something different.

My buddy YumSugar is looking for a perfect piece of furniture, and we're going to help her find it. She wants to buy a storage bench, along the lines of this Crate and Barrel Plus Storage Bench ($899). But ideally, she'd like something a bit more chic and interesting and, preferably, cheaper.

So let's all create Casa Cravings for the best storage benches you can find. I'll feature the results next Wednesday, August 29. Just tag your Cravings with the phrase storage bench. Please let me know if you have any questions. For a list of online home stores to try,

Good, Better, Best: Ottoman Storage Cubes

casasugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:30:49 -0700

It's hard to underestimate the utility of a good storage ottoman: You can put up your feet, use it as an extra seat, and store your junk inside when guests appear. I particularly like the cute cube-shaped varieties, since they also don't take up much room. Here are three great storage ottomans to suit your budget.

Good: The hip, mod pattern on this Urban Outfitters Teardrop Storage Ottoman (on sale for $39.99) distracts from its utilitarian double-life. The padded lid slides off for storage.

Two even better storage ottomans, so

Nice and New: Himmeli Linens at Crate and Barrel

casasugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:42:50 -0700

Even if you don't know it, you're probably familiar with the iconic textile designs of Finnish brand Marimekko. The Unikko poppies pattern is particularly ubiquitous, and many of the designs are carried at Crate and Barrel.

Right now, I'm smitten with C and B's newest Marimekko offerings: the Himmeli bed linens ($49.95 to $99.95) and shower curtain ($44.95). The chocolate brown and snow white fabrics have a nice feminine touch, with a bold design featuring delicate Queen Anne's lace flowers. The pattern is based on a photo negative design by Maija Isola.

The Himmeli bedding line includes sheets, a comforter, pillowcases, a duvet cover, and pillow shams. Thanks to my buddy YumSugar for bringing this lovely product to my attention.