CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Casa Verde: Droog Rag Chair

casasugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:08 -0700

The next time you find yourself in the need of new furniture, you can refrain from opening your mailbox in search of a shelter catalog or from typing a URL into your browser. That's right, you might already have the materials needed for "new" furniture sitting in your home . . . or your hamper. That is, according to Droog. The Droog Rag Chair ($5,500) is made from layers of 15 bags of unique, upcycled rags. And, if you like, they can be your own rags; you have the option of recycling your own rags to be included in the design. Now you have a use for that free Capital One T-shirt you got when you signed up for a credit card at a festival booth . . .

Steal of the Day: Anthropologie Spindle Wingback Chair

casasugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:30:02 -0700

I've had the Anthropologie Spindle Wingback Chair ($1,300, reduced from $2,500) burned into my mind ever since it first made its debut. Actually, I'd come across the spindle/turned wood print in Ilse Crawford's portfolio and emailed her personally to find out where I could get my hands on the fabric. In case you're not familiar, Ilse is the founding editor of Elle Decoration and also a very talented interior designer.

It turns out that she herself designed the print for Christopher Farr Cloth. Anthropologie snatched it up to upholster this classic Queen Anne Chair, which looks scrumptiously comfortable: the ultimate reading chair. The price of the chair has been reduced $1,200 since I
first fell for it. But, although it still makes my heart go pitter-patter, it's probably more economical to reupholster a thrifted wingback chair in the fabric myself. Sigh.

Less or More: Modern Leather Chairs

casasugar — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:00:32 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these modern leather chairs and see if you can answer my questions about them.

Crave Worthy: Cherner Armchair

casasugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:00:31 -0700

Designed in 1958 by Norman Cherner, the Cherner Armchair ($949) has a dramatic and elegant sloping shape, achieved by molding plywood, that sweeps me off my feet, literally and figuratively. Made of solid beech, it's built to last. This particular chair is a reproduction of the 1958 design, manufactured to the exact original specs by Cherner Chair, a company run by Norman Cherner's sons. Some of you purists might demand the 1958 original, if you're to shell out nearly a grand on a chair, but to me it's of no consequence . . . so long as I can share a lifetime with one of my many true loves. Everlasting love. Sigh.

Steal of the Day: CB2's Buena Park Chair

casasugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:45:25 -0700

Major steal alert: The CB2 Buena Park Chair has been massively marked down. Originally $169, this adorably modern version of a Luxembourg gardens chair is now only $39.95. I don't know how it can be this cheap, but I'm not about to start arguing about it. Instead, I'm going to order a couple of these posthaste, before you Casa readers snap up the rest of the stock. The Buena Park Chair comes with a weather-resistant polyester cushion, and its powder-coated black metal frame is rustproof. Perfect for your endless Summer reading, or for watching the leaves turn on Fall days.

Weird Furniture: 1960s Female Form Fiberglass Chair

casasugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

What is it with men and designing female-shaped furniture? At first, I thought it was kind of funny. But really, the sex-centric furniture is just everywhere these days; it's getting kind of ridiculous. Exhibit A is the 1960s Female Form Fiberglass Chair ($10,500), a chair that proliferates the animal-hide trend, and takes the classic Louis XV chair to a "sensual" level — kind of like a dirty version of Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair. I must say I'm a little confused by the back of this chair though; this lady looks to be double-jointed. What do you think? Funny or misogynistic?

Love It or Hate It? Multi-Legged Chair

casasugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:15:00 -0700

I find this multi-legged Oliver Tilbury chair (available by special order) rather intriguing. Do you?
Source

Love It or Hate It? Multi-Legged Chair

Love It

Hate it

Undecided

Steal of the Day: Pottery Barn Emerson Chair

casasugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you ever fell in lust with Hans Wegner's Wishbone Chair ($599) — a beloved design from 1949 that never ceases to be stylish — but couldn't afford its high price tag, your time is now. Pottery Barn has created a successful knock-off (sans a wishbone-shaped backrest) and lucky for you, it's on sale! The Pottery Barn Emerson Chair ($169-$199, reduced from $249-$289) claims to be inspired by "the look of classic Chippendale style," which is a big load of b.s. Even if Wegner's chair was "inspired by classical portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Ming chairs," I think Pottery Barn should own up and pay Wegner credit where credit is due — right? Still, this slight sequestering of information won't keep me from loving Pottery Barn's version; I'm a sucker for its slender, curved form, natural-fiber seat, and washed gray tone.

Definition: Chaise Lounge

casasugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:00:21 -0700

Originally a misspelling of the French term chaise longue, and pronounced "shez long," chaise lounge literally means long chair. Now available in modern and traditional variations, as well as formal and contemporary, the chaise lounge is a type of sofa designed for reclining. Most often seen in the living room or bedroom, it's often ubiquitous with the reclining patient found at an analyst's office. Source

Love It or Hate It? Toilet Backrest Radiator

casasugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:00:04 -0700

This design by Italian design firm Why Flou is meant to be not only a backrest for your toilet but also a radiator, making your bathroom not only warm but also fun! What do you think?Source

Love It or Hate It? Toilet Backrest Radiator

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

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

Good, Better, Best: Slipper Chairs

casasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:15:02 -0700

If you're on the hunt for an accent chair to provide occasional additional seating, a slipper chair — a low-slung chair with a high back — is a great option. The classically clean lines of a traditional slipper chair design — basically two rectangles for the seat and back with no arms — make it versatile, complementing many interiors. Its low height and slightly sloped back give it more comfort than other accent chairs, and an intimate, relaxed look. I've come up with three slipper chair options, for those of you in the market for one.

Good: The Bed Bath & Beyond Trento Slipper Chair ($149.99) has nice, clean lines, and would work well as spare seating for guests. But its faux leather PVC upholstery is less than desirable, and its cushion doesn't seem to be the most comfortable.

There are two more great choices, so

Weird Furniture: Paperback Chair

casasugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:15:59 -0700

When you were deciding what you were wanting for your reading nook, you probably hadn't considered a chair made of paperback books. Myopic Books, a neighborhood bookstore in Providence, RI, did though. On display in their shop is this wacky chair made by artist David Karoff. With the exception of the wheels, all of the materials used to build the chair were recycled, including scrap metal and books from the discard bins at the local library. To keep the books in place, Karoff drilled holes through them, and slipped them onto the chair's (hidden) metal frame. I kind of love it, especially for a bookstore, but don't think it would work in my home. Would it work in yours?
Source

Love It or Hate It? Wal-Mart Bamboo Chair and Ottoman

casasugar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

This Wal-Mart Eco-Friendly Tre Bamboo Chair and Ottoman Set ($299) is made from bamboo — a sustainable material — using a bentwood technique, and is styled after Eames designs. I think it's pretty good looking, but then again, it is from Wal-Mart, which many of you may find controversial. What do you think? Would you buy it?

Love It or Hate It? Wal-Mart Bamboo Chair and Ottoman

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Do You Have a Slipcover?

casasugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:00:56 -0700

Slipcovers are a pretty great invention for klutzes like myself, who often eat, and frequently spill, on the sofa. They can be balled up and machine washed like a coffee-stained white blouse. But they don't look as polished as an upholstered sofa, and unless you have one specially made, the fabric selection is minimal. Do you have one?Source

Do You Have a Slipcover?

Yep, call me slipcovered.

I used to, but no longer.

I don't, but I'd like one.

Nope, I'm slipcover-less.

Crave Worthy: Jayson Vintage Chair and Ottoman

casasugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I've never met a French furnishing I didn't like. The French are relentless purveyors of style, and they win me over again and again, be it with a Chanel frock or a Philippe Starck chair. The Jayson Home & Garden Vintage Chair and Ottoman ($2,995), seating from mid-20th century France reupholstered in dark gray linen, is no exception either. I love how this glamorous gilded Louis XV is juxtaposed with the masculine tone of the fabric. No, it's probably not the most comfortable chair and ottoman
on the block, but it would look darn good in my living room.

Nice and New: Lou Lou Ghost Chair

casasugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:15:39 -0700

Building on the success of the now famous Louis Ghost chair, released in 2002, Philippe Starck has come up with a child-size version of the chair for Kartell. A worthy heir, Lou Lou Ghost incorporates the features of its big sister, with a Louis XVI silhouette that is resolutely modern and features a polycarbonate body, a resistance to scratches, and perfect ergonomics. All you design-fiend parents out there can turn your kids on to good design from an early age with the Lou Lou. Available in a variety of candy-colored transparent pastel colors (fluorescent orange and green, sugar pink, blue, sky blue, purple, lilac, and pale green) and three opaque colors (red, white, black), you're bound to find one that suits your little darling. And for those of you without kids' rooms to furnish, I honestly think it'd be pretty cute used to stack books beside your favorite reading chair. It should be available in Kartell shops for about $116 in Europe this Summer, and hopefully in the US soon there after.

Weird Furniture: The Worker Chair

casasugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:00:48 -0700

You know that I love Hella Jongerius. But, sometimes her designs can be a little kooky. Take, for example, the Worker Chair made by Vitra. The design combines some crafty elements (stocky compact seat cushion and half-timbered structure) and other more technologically sophisticated elements (polished aluminum arc stand, wooden armrests); overall, the contrast is a bit unsettling. Beyond that, the back seat pillow fittingly, though unattractively, looks like a briefcase. I'm sure all the design fiends have kissed Jongerius's feet for this piece, but I don't see the appeal. Do you?

Weird Furniture: Mommy's Chairs

casasugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:23 -0700

You'd better sit down for this. What you're looking at is not a child's drawing of a dinner table. On the contrary, Lucy Merchant's Mommy's Chairs are in fact real chairs, made of powder-coated recycled steel. According to Merchant, the sculpture-like seating is meant to "represent the spontaneity of a rough sketch." It's interesting to see that a design inspired by a doodle, a type of drawing that's inherently unpolished, can be so flawless; the visually trickery of this furniture is astounding. And, if the spindly shape of the chairs wasn't enough to confound expectations, the Crayola-box colors of the designs further demonstrate their inspiration. In this case the cliché couldn't be more true: things are not always as they seem.

Etsy Find: Mecedora Low Rocking Chair

casasugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:30:08 -0700

I never think to look for furniture on Etsy, so I was delighted to come across this awesome chair in my search for an Etsy Find. The Mecedora Low Rocking Chair ($875) is handmade from 1,000 feet of woven cotton rope and a stainless steel frame. It may not have plush cushions but looks pretty darn relaxing (and fun!) to me; it sits low to the floor and has a wide stance so you can rock very far back without tipping over. I like how the rope has a natural tone to it; anything bright might overpower the random pattern of the seat and backrest weaving. What do you think? I'm sure many of you will pass on this one, but for those of you with perhaps a midcentury-modern home or a minimalist loft, it could work wonders.

Weird Furniture: Globus

casasugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:00:24 -0700

Although I've been feeling globe shapes lately, I must say the Michiel van der Kley Globus ($8,775) is one big piece of weird furniture. It is described as a "compact personal mobile workstation," but is basically a desk and and chair on wheels in a big white ball. Its rotating chair and pull-out table top are revealed when you crack open its globe shape, and you can close it up and roll it away if you want to work in another room. Honestly, I think a laptop is a much more versatile "workstation," and they don't look like something out of Barbarella or Google Zurich. What do you think? I generally don't think of myself as much of a traditionalist, but I guess I'm making an exception for the Globus.

Crave Worthy: Beach House by Mary Bloch

casasugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:30:08 -0700

You may not be the owner of an actual beach house, but you can still getaway from it all with the Beach House by Mary Bloch ($2,097- $4,474), designed in 1962. That is, if you've got nearly seven grand to drop on this little, woven cabin and its stool. The petite lounge-chair-like hut will give you a bit of privacy from the neighbors, and its waterproof canvas roof will keep you dry. I love its gingerbread house-like cutout, roll-up windows and its guillemet-esque shape. But, we all know I'm a dreamer (and a sucker for Summer style) . . . what do you think?

Ask Casa: A Peculiar Armchair Question

casasugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:15:38 -0700

Hey Casa,
I'm wondering if you can help me with a peculiar armchair question. I've been looking for a picture or the name of a certain French/ Parisian upholstered armchair that is quite iconic. It is quite similar in design to this chair shown here (at least, the arm rests are). I've always seen the chair upholstered in white with black detailing. It's very elegant, and I'm pretty sure it's originally French. I hope my description isn't too obscure! Thank you!
SundayGreen

To see my response,

Love It or Hate It? Calculator Stools

casasugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:30:30 -0700

These Calculator Stools (inquire for price) are quite possibly the geekiest furniture I've ever seen — or at least equally as geeky as the Mac II Couch. They look like something Napoleon Dynamite might own. Do you like them?

Love It or Hate It? Calculator Stools

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Steal of the Day: CB2 Rex Chair

casasugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:00:13 -0700

With the Fourth of July fast approaching, Summer is in full effect. What that often translates to in my world are impromptu outdoor parties. You know when you have a couple friends over for some poolside baking and all of the sudden it looks like a Mardi Gras parade in your backyard? Then, someone gets the grill going, and everyone needs somewhere to sit while they chow down on their burgers and buns. The CB2 Rex Chair (on sale for $49.95) rises to that occasion, as its woven plastic piping and polished aluminum will stand up to the elements, and it can also be stacked for storage when it's just you at home in your bikini. Now only if you had a constant supply of Coronas to serve your unexpected guests . . .

Less or More: Louis-Style Emeco Chairs

casasugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:18 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these Louis-style Emeco chairs and see if you can answer my questions about them.

How Would You . . .

casasugar — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:30:13 -0700

For the next round of this challenge, I'd like you to take a look at this French Mountain Region Sculptural Dog Chair ($7500). Hand carved in 1910, this piece of furniture is unusual, to say the least. It's made from walnut, and by the looks of it seems quite substantial. I think this odd chair could really make an impact in the right interior.

So, my question for you is how would you use this canine chair in your home? What room would serve it best? What other accents or furniture pieces would help it to blend into a room? Or would you want it to stand front and center? Tell me by commenting below!

Weird Furniture: RD4 Chair LE*

casasugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:15:51 -0700

I'm all for one-of-a-kind furnishings, and anything eco chic, but despite those truths, I could never bring myself to put the RD4 (Roughly Drawn) Chair LE* ($1,548), a limited-edition piece hand woven from 100-percent recycled plastic waste material, with no two exactly alike in my living room. The chair certainly makes a striking visual statement, and is modern in an interesting way, but it's too overwhelming for my home. I'd love to see it in the Manhattan Beach home with the green staircase that I recently wrote about, but can't think of another home it would work in. This chair claims to be "a tour de force piece heralding the future of sustainable design." Do you agree? Or do you think that eco-chic furnishings should be limited to those sustainable designs that appeal to a wider public?

Crave Worthy: Hudson English Reading Chair

casasugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:38 -0700

For those of you hoping to get the look of a modern rustic kitchen, the Hudson English Reading Chair ($2,850) couldn't be more appropriate. The vintage leather chair from England with a blue and brown plaid wool cushion and nailhead trim is a perfect stand-in for the handsomely worn leather chair tossed with a velvet pillow in that kitchen. But the Hudson chair is also a Pandora's box of sorts: its arms open to expose a pen tray on one side and a writing table on the other! I'd argue that this is absolutely the best chair for reading the morning paper while your eggs are cooking — after all, you can grab a pen from the arm if you need to fill in the New York Times crossword. What's not to love?

Crave Worthy: Camel Back Zebra Print Chair

casasugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:30:08 -0700

While I've shown you plenty of zebra print home items, I've never shown you one as crave worthy as this Palacek Camel Back Zebra Print Chair ($1,250). Made of high-quality zebra faux fur upholstery, the chair is built upon a black-wood, camel-shape frame. I love the refined lines of this chair, and the upholstery, while commonly seen on floors all over chic homes in the past year, is less commonly found on a formal sitting-room chair. There's something both spontaneous and classically timeless about this piece. It'll be a hit anywhere you choose to showcase it.

Eco Chic: Hee Seating

casasugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:30:13 -0700

When Danish designer Hee Welling opened his refrigerator he didn't find a rotten science project or dozens of beers, but he discovered a chair. Three chairs, to be exact. Looking to design furniture using only one material, he was inspired to recycle refrigerator shelves to make his Hee Bar Stool ($98, reduced from $200), Chair ($98, reduced from $200), and Lounge ($250). He later revised the triptych, adding only a powder coating, which made them suitable for outdoor use. Hee can be yours in green, white, or yellow, on sale at Design With Reach. If they're too steep for you, maybe you should take a look at what's holding up the five jars of mustard in your refrigerator.

Etsy Find: The Idea Chair

casasugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:42 -0700

Apparently, my love for home furnishings runs so deep that I even hang it on my walls. I also have a friend who has successfully mounted legs from a bentwood chair in her living room as a sculptural piece, and I have to say, it looks great.

It should come as no surprise then that I'm enthusiastic about Jess Gonacha's silkscreen print, The Idea Chair ($15). Its combination of yellows and blues, a wallpaper-like background, and delicate India ink lines are wonderfully rendered. Oh, and then there's that chair.
Jess explains the piece this way: "There was a chair in my house in college that I used to sit in to do all my drawing and homework and relaxing. It was mustard colored velvety, and i so loved it. This piece reminds me of that chair." This piece is printed on archival white matte paper, measures in at 7.5 inches by 9.5 inches, and is based on an original painting. Definitely check out more of Jess's work on her website.

Crave Worthy: Cotswold Chair

casasugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:30:48 -0700

You were understandably enthusiastic about the aptly named Lady Chair. However, I have a hard time imagining those of you who cohabitate with a manly man getting even the smallest, riveted corner of the Lady Chair in your door. If that's the case, then I present you with a testosterone-friendly option: the Cotswald Chair ($1,998) from Anthropologie. With a wide seat, leather whose coloring is described as "bourbon," (it doesn't get much more manly than bourbon), and a mahogany finish, this is a chair that even the most furniture-apathetic man can get enthusiastic about.

Found It! Chace Crawford's Lawn Chair

casasugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:15:26 -0700

In full Summer vacation mode, Gossip guy Chace Crawford recently did some light reading, drank a fountain soda, and lounged in a sophisticated striped chair in a London park. If you happen to live in L-town and want to do some lounging of your own, a little investigative Flickr-ing suggests that you can do the same in Hyde Park. If you live on the other side of the pond, no worries, I've gone and found those purdy chairs for you. To hear where,

Eco Chic: Doreen Westhphal's Plantable Lounge Chair

casasugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:45:56 -0700

I would love to plant this chair in a rather drab section of a patio or garden, as it would really contribute a conversation piece to your outdoor entertaining. Called — yes, it's true — "Let´s Grow Some Balls!", this chair combines a lounge chair with a plant container, and the entire thing is made of recycled plastic. Pretty cool, huh? Designer Doreen Westphal presented the chair at the Object in April of this year at the Salone Internazionale de Mobile as part of the Tuttobene exhibition.
For another look at the chair,

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

casasugar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:30:30 -0700

. . . would you match your furniture to your dress with this Dolce & Gabbana Philippe Starck Mademoiselle Chair ($950)?

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

Absolutely — furniture should be fashionable, too!

Maybe — but not in that pattern.

I like the chair, but I'd never wear leopard spots on a dress.

No, not my style.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

This Just In: Brad Pitt Drops Big Bucks at Art Basel

casasugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:41:52 -0700

Are you sick of hearing about Brad and Angelina yet? I hope not, because I've got some more "news" on the Brad Pitt front for you. According to Bloomberg, Brad Pitt was in Switzerland on Tuesday at Art Basel, an annual international contemporary art exhibition which has been pegged "the Olympics of the art world." After being chauffered there in a BMW, he snapped up two Max Lamb Bronze Poly Chairs ($25,000) and the Family Lamp by Atelier van Lieshout, made of foam and reinforced fiberglass, the Cinderella Table ($293,000) by Dutch designer Jeroen Verhoeven, made of a solid block of Carrara marble, and the Silver Sky rug ($175/sq. ft.) by Colombian designer Jorge Lizarazo, woven from aluminum thread. At the very least, Pitt's little shopping spree, (perhaps not coincidentally the day before Angelina's birthday) cost him a cool $500,000. But, we know Brad and Angelina have a new house to furnish, and Brad's interest in design and architecture is no secret, so this comes as no surprise. I've got to give it to him; he does have a good eye . . . the birch version of the Cinderella table sits in The Collection of New York's MoMA. Perhaps, Brad picked up the contemporary art as inspiration for the new building he's designing in Dubai?
Source, Source, and Source

Love It or Hate It? Zero Gravity Wing Chair

casasugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:00:57 -0700

Made of memory foam and the biggest single piece of bentwood ever used to create a chair, the first and only chair ever to be certified by the Space Foundation, tested and recognized by NASA, the Zero Gravity Wing Chair ($14,400) is a cross between an Eames Lounge and Ottoman and a classic wing chair. Do you love it . . . or do you prefer the originals?

Love It or Hate It? Zero Gravity Wing Chair

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Before and After: From Outdated to Marvelously Modern

casasugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:00:17 -0700

I love this chair makeover from Craft magazine photo editor, Sam Murphy. Here's what she started out with.

To see the charming results,

Love It or Hate It? Pharrell Williams' Perspective Chair

casasugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:45:01 -0700

The Perspective chair (inquire for price) was designed by Pharrell Williams as a collaboration with Domeau & Pérès. The chair will only be available in a few colors, and only four of each color will be sold. Oh — and the chair apparently represents the love between a man and a woman. Pharrell explains it by saying, "I had often wondered what it’s like to truly be in love, not lust for once . . . So I decided not to ask what it was like in someone else’s shoes or what it was like to sit in their seat . . . I decided to sketch out my own experiment; the perspective chair.”

Love It or Hate It? Pharrell Williams' Perspective Chair

Love It

Hate it

Undecided

Found It! Blue Velvet Armchair

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:00:56 -0700

Reading sfgirlbybay's "Unexpected Guests" column, where she offered a peek into the beautiful home of San Francisco artist Jinnie Lee, Lee's blue velvet armchair caught my eye — and not just because it's gorgeous. If you're a loyal Casa reader, it may look familiar to you, too. To hear where it's from,

Cool Idea: Nick De Marco's Garbage Chair

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:30:27 -0700

Artist Nick DeMarco from California College of the Arts designed this chair for a sustainable production furniture class. His XS chair is essentially a shell that can be filled with any excessive item you have around the house — from bottles and cans to old clothes or newspapers. He wanted to draw attention to the reality of trash, and how it can be reused. The chair was presented at the ICFF in New York this month, as part of the Sustainable Design For Mass Production exhibit. While I think the project works on a conceptual level, I can't imagine even the most eco-hippie communal homes filling their living room with such furniture.

For a video of Nick describing his project,

Crave Worthy: Anthropologie Lady Chair

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:30:40 -0700

Scallops? Rivets? Anthropologie is right on for saying their Lady Chair ($1,498) reminds them of a French Madeleine cookie. All sweets aside, the chair looks très comfortable, and that's what's most important when I sit down to read Victor Hugo or watch Jean-Paul Belmondo on screen. The shell shape of the chair (and Madeleines) would be quite appropriate for the beach, perhaps along with some trendy natural curiosities, but I'd plop this natural linen chair down anywhere in the house. Do you love it?

Less or More: Chippendale Chairs

casasugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these Chippendale chairs and see if you can answer my questions about them.

Crave Worthy: The Folly Chair

casasugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:30:47 -0700

I must admit to nursing a little crush on The Folly Chair ($950). I even love how its name represents the silliness of having two chair backs for one chair seat. Made of mahogany (though it resembles bamboo), it's paneled with handwoven caning. Each chair is made by individual artisans, and features dowels and corner braces to guarantee that, if you really wanted to, you could utilize those two chair backs with two people, and this chair would stand up to the weight. Do you love it too, or is this too much folly for you?

Steal of the Day: Raja Chair

casasugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:00:37 -0700

If you're thinking the West Elm Overlapping Squares Chair and its circle followup are a bit played out, but still want to introduce that trendy geometric element into your home, then the Grandin Road Raja Chair ($299, reduced from $399) is for you. The Chinese cherry wood chair is a sleek eye-catcher that'll give any lonely corner in your home an instant face lift. It's not exactly a Papasan, but for a wood accent chair it actually looks pretty comfortable — with a cushion of course. It's also quite versatile and plays well with both modern and traditional homes. You like?

Weird Furniture: Mum's the Chair

casasugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:00:11 -0700

You may have lost your chance to send a great gift in time for Mother's Day, but you can still honor mom with this flippant tribute to maternity, the Adrenalina Mum seat (inquire for price). This beanbag of sorts, filled with feathers and polystyrene micro-balls and topped with a silicone nipple for good measure, says, "the turkey's done," in the most unusual way. Pick up a breast sideboard and a vajayjay sofa to match and your home will be a vision of motherhood. Just don't invite Mom over to see it, I think she'd prefer a card . . .

Crave Worthy: Room and Board Quinn Chair

casasugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:15:54 -0700

I may have once written that blue velvet is a fall luxury, but I lied. Sorry, it's May now and I still can't resist the rich and warm color and texture of it. Dressed in the luxurious material, the Room and Board Quinn Chair ($749) is no exception; I can't keep my eyes off of it. I'm also really loving the combination of the chair's mid-century lines with the velvet, which is more commonly used with Louis-style and Baroque furnishings. Then, consider that my beloved Quinn just looks like a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a delicate few, and maybe you'll understand why my heart is aching for him. Yes, Quinn's a him. I hope my fiancé doesn't mind if I elope with this chair instead . . .

Crave Worthy: Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair

casasugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:34:26 -0700

I know, I know. I'm a bit behind the clock to be declaring this now. But, Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair ($410), have I told you lately that I love you? It just occurred to me that I had yet to introduce Louis Ghost as a Crave Worthy, and since I'm of the persuasion that it's never too late, here it is. Philippe Starck introduced the chair in 2002 modernizing the classic Louis XVI chair (a design that originated during the King's reign) with clear Lucite. This type of daring refashioning of an old design is a token Philippe Starck move. But, six years old, the Louis Ghost has already become a classic and Starck himself has since updated it, offering up new colors and the option of adding a custom decoration (like a decal) to it. Can you think of a modern design that's more alluring than this? I honestly don't think I'll ever be over it; it's my undying flame.

Less or More: Zebra Director Chairs

casasugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:30:40 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these zebra director chairs, and then see if you can answer my questions about them.