CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Ask Casa: Petrified Wood and Ceramic White Stools?

casasugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:00:37 -0800

Hi CasaSugar!
I am working on wrapping up my living room and would love to get a petrified wood stool and a ceramic white stool similar to those in Monique Lhuillier's house (that I am totally in love with), which was featured on an Elle Decor cover a year ago.

I've talked to Hudson Furniture in New York — they have the petrified wood but they sell at $1,200-2,000 each. I'm looking for something in the $800 range. As far as the ceramic stool, I've seen one from West Elm, but I'm not sure about the quality. I'm willing to spend up to $500 on something nicer.

Thanks in advance for your suggestion!

Pookie17

To see my suggestions,

Love It or Hate It? Collapsible Stool

casasugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:45 -0800

According to David Ngo, the designer behind the Jacob's Stool, it is "designed to maximize the user's living space and bring added aesthetics to the room." The stool's legs collapse, and then it can be hung on the wall by its fabric hinges as a piece of art. I think it's an innovative solution for small-space living. What about you? Source

Love It or Hate It? Collapsible Stool

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Less or More: Bentwood Stools

casasugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:35 -0700

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

Love It or Hate It? Umbra U+ Collection Balloona Stool

casasugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:26 -0700

The Umbra U+ Collection Balloona Stool ($200) might be a clown's dream furniture, but just because you can wrap a stool in deflated balloons, doesn't mean you should. On the other hand, it's got that contemporary art thing going, and has a very unexpected look. What do you think?

Love It or Hate It? Umbra U+ Collection Balloona Stool

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

casasugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:00:17 -0700

. . . would you set this pair of Mongolian shaggy lamb x-based stools ($9,500), designed by influential interior decorator Dorothy Draper, in your living room?

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

Absolutely — they're fantastic and a wonderful example of her work!

Maybe — if I were going with a furry, neo-baroque theme.

No way! Those are absolutely ridiculous.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Etsy Find: Ottoman Empire

casasugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Etsy seller Spruce Home, a design studio based in Austin, TX, has upholstered this ornate, wooden-based ottoman in Amy Butler's Nigella Primrose fabric, giving it a vibrant, modern update. The Ottoman Empire ($425) stands 14 inches high with a 30-inch diameter, the perfect size to use as a round coffee table, or set with a tray or some shelter books on top. Not only do I adore the aqua and cool green fabric used, but it looks like it'd be super comfortable used as a stool, foot rest, or even a dog bed! If this ottoman isn't for you, Spruce has a handful of other beautifully upholstered pieces available in their shop. Need a cane back chair? A striped sofa? A set of modular Herman Miller chairs? See what else they've got in store when you

Weird Furniture: Mint Stool

casasugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:00:31 -0700

I detest halitosis as much as the next person, but since when does that mean I should have to sit on my breath freshener of choice? Just because you can turn any round product into the seat of a stool doesn't mean you should. I think I have to go separate ways with "art engineer" Lee J. Rowland and his Sweet Seats Mint Stool (inquire for price) on this one. That is, unless I were trying to furnish the corporate offices of Breathsavers. I'm sorry . . . am I being harsh? Tell me what you think of this mint-inspired stool.

Love It or Hate It? Sh*t Box

casasugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:15:00 -0700

The Sh*t Box ($30) is a lightweight cardboard toilet that packs flat for portability, made specifically for outdoor use. Whether you're heading to Burning Man or your ole porcelain toilet is broke, Sh*t's got you covered . . . and it can even be used as a stool (har har). Comes with 10 biodegradable poo bags! What do you think? Would you buy one? Use one? Could be cleaner than a Porta Potty!

Love It or Hate It? Sh*t Box

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Steal of the Day: Champagne Wire Cage Stool

casasugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:00:29 -0700

I like bubbly. I like bubbly pear cupcakes. I like a lot of things that have to do with champagne . . . even the Napa Style Champagne Wire Cage Stool ($98, reduced from $288). A stool shaped like a champagne cap? Yes, it's a little kitschy, but it works. I wouldn't go so far as to pick up the coordinating bright orange faux cork stool (yuck!), but I think the wire cage stool is attractive on its own. The stool's design origins aren't completely obvious at first glance either, which is a plus. In other words, you needn't live in Napa Valley to own it. What do you think? Am I totally off-base?

Steal of the Day: Titanium Garden Seat

casasugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:00:38 -0700

Garden stools have been trendy for a couple years now, but I never understood why they were priced so high for what is basically a ceramic drum — see here and here. They're cute though, and versatile, as they can serve as seating or a small side table. If you feel the same, and haven't yet made the splurge, maybe the Ballard Designs Titanium Garden Seat ($89, reduced from $149) will appeal to you. I like its bead detailing
and Chinoiserie-style cutouts. Its price tag also won't break the bank, and its polished titanium finish doesn't have the tiresome cutesy kitsch of some of its brightly colored counterparts. Yay for sale items!

Less or More: Criss-Cross Silver Stools

casasugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:40 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these criss-cross silver stools and see if you can answer my questions about them.

Ask Casa: A Desk For My Bedroom

casasugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
I am thinking of setting up a work space in my bedroom. I don't have much space and I would like to get one of those high desks, like a standing desk. Do you have any examples of cute ones? And cute stools to match?
At this point, I would put aesthetics and price over comfort for the stool. I will mostly use the space for browsing the Internet and doing a little work, so storage isn't completely necessary. I have a space that is about 40 inches wide and 20 inches deep.
Thanks,
Citygal

To hear my response and offer your own,

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?

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

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.

Less or More: X-Based Benches

casasugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:31:45 -0700

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

Steal of the Day: JCPenney Saddle Seat Barstool

casasugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:45:08 -0700

I never thought I'd say it . . . but I love JCPenney. The sales are magnificent. This JCPenney Saddle Seat Barstool ($59.99) is solid wood in a cool, coastal blue. I'm envisioning a trio of them bringing Asian flair to a poolside bar. Throwing back some Miller Lites on a hot Summer day may not be the epitome of classy, but there's no reason you can't sit stylishly while doing so, right? If soft blue isn't your thing, a quick paint job will fix that. I'm thinking this might be a handy stool to have around in the kitchen while I'm shredding up some carrots or DIY-ing some découpage. What do you think?

Found It! Zebra Kilim Stool

casasugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:24 -0700

Flipping through my blog feed, the apartment of a contestant in AT:LA's Small Cool 2008 contest caught my eye. Yes, it was small, and cool, but that's not why it grabbed my attention. I recognized the zebra print stools in the contestant's living room from a previous Steal of the Day of mine. It's called the Zebra Kilim Stool from World Market. Since the time I wrote that Steal, I got a chance to check it out in person at my local World Market. It's definitely a good-looking piece, but the canvas fabric made it look like a Steal. But, I must admit, it looks much better actually staged in an apartment, and in a pair. If you follow the link to World Market, it no longer seems to be available online, but you can try your local store. What do you think of it? Do you think they work used here like a coffee table?

Crave Worthy: Bierdermeier-Style Stool

casasugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:00:07 -0700

My heart literally stopped beating altogether when I first laid eyes on the Neiman Marcus Bierdermeier-Style Stool ($579-599). Tasteful, yet seductive. Reserved, yet entrancing. Breathtaking. Aluminum hand-cast into the perfect ornate shape. An x-base. Tall, slender, feminine, tapered legs. Scarlet red with a crisp, white cushion. All that one could dream of in a barstool, aside from a cold drink in front of you.

Roundup: X-Based Tables and Stools

casasugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:45:22 -0700

We all know that O's are trendy. So, why not pick out a classic X to go with the O's that are so in vogue? I love the timeless quality of x-based tables and stools. There's one for every taste and style under the sun. And, they're not going anywhere like some furnishings — cross my heart and hope to die. Are you in the market for a dining table? A coffee table? Side table? Stool? The 24th letter of the alphabet is calling your name.

Source

Weird Furniture: The Box

casasugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:30:00 -0700

At first glance, this photo of Pieter Jamart's The Box ($552) looks like a stock photo of any ole moving day. But why would someone drop nearly 600 smackers on this box if it were cardboard? You wouldn't. To find out why,

Nice and New: Neiman Marcus Cane Garden Stool

casasugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:15:12 -0700

With Spring on my mind, I can't help but be attracted to this Neiman Marcus Cane Garden Stool ($220), which brings to mind a latticed garden archway. This one's less than half the price of the crave worthy stool I featured recently and opens up top as storage for your outdoor (or indoor) essentials. Its hand-painted woven pattern is very Dorothy Draper, I must say, and would sparkle in any modern-day prepster interior.

Weird Furniture: Kraft Paper Softseating

casasugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:00:49 -0700

Molo's Softseating ($130- $2,390) is made entirely from kraft paper with 50% recycled content. The paper is cut into a honeycomb-like structure that flexes to fan open into stools, benches and loungers. Not only is it flexible, it's versatile and compact; you can compress it like a book for easy storage. It was also recently acquired by the New York MOMA for their permanent collection. I can see the appeal of Softseating in a public space — it's fun, eye-catching, and memorable. But would you want this in your home?

Less or More: Tree Stump Stools

casasugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:15:52 -0800

In the wise words of The Real World, "You think you know, but you have NO idea." For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these tree stump stools, and then see if you can answer my questions about them.

Love It or Hate It? Lacquered Root Stool

casasugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:19:04 -0800

This lacquered Root Stool ($570) from Jayson Home and Garden is certainly striking, but I'm not sure if it's striking in a good way.

Love It or Hate It? Lacquered Root Stool

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Nice and New: west elm Tree Stump Stool

casasugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:00:33 -0800

This west elm Tree Stump Stool ($149) caught my eye in the photo of west elm contest winner Kavi484's newly furnished digs. I hadn't seen it on west elm's website before, and wondered why. I asked our trusty west elm design expert, Angel, and she gave me the deets. The stool is made from a real tree, and is so heavy that it's only available in west elm stores. I'd seen tree stumps painted in a bold red high gloss paint and used similarly as stools in a recent issue of Domino and have since had the project on my to-do list. Would you buy the stool or try to do it yourself?

Steal of the Day: Pearl River Oilcloth Stool

casasugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:15:36 -0700

This Foldable Wooden Camp Stool ($12.50) is topped with a fun, peony printed oilcloth that would brighten up any blah corner, and it comes in four different color choices. It might not be the most comfortable stool on the block, but it would be adorable topped with a small tray or some cheeky coffee table books. No need to try match it to your current décor: just embrace the bold pattern as is.

Steal of the Day: Zebra Kilim Stool

casasugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:57:14 -0700

I've been loving the zebra rug trend for some time now but I have yet to saddle up. A large bold print zebra rug might clash with my existing décor, and I don't quite want animal hide in my home, so I've been looking to get my stripe on with a smaller, more humane measure. I think this Zebra Kilim Stool ($79) is just the thing to do the trick, and it won't break the bank either. It's also got turned wood legs—two trends in one, beat that!