CasaSugar

Roundup: The Best of Endless Summer

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:30:28 -0700

So long sweet August. Your time has come. But, I won't bid you adieu without a little reminiscing. Here are my favorite posts celebrating this month's Endless Summer theme:

Casa Quickie: Bring Summer to Your Fireplace

Don't worry, we'll be back next Summer with more wonderful tips. Until then, stay tuned for September's scholarly theme!
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Casa's Must Haves for August

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:00:26 -0700

It's a busy month for travelers, but ever since I was a kid, August has also been one of my favorite months to spend at home. There's just something about the days getting shorter that makes me want to lounge about and make the most of the remaining warm days. So for my must haves this month, I'm eyeing home finds that will let me enjoy a few more outdoor evenings and get excited to move back inside.

I've just discovered - and become smitten with - this Bola Floating Water Torch ($58). These would be a perfect way to add some extra light to a late Summer BBQ.
For a similar look indoors, I'm loving the Tom Dixon Copper Shade Pendant ($450) that just arrived at Design Within Reach.
I've got a stack of Summer reading I still need to get through, and this Pottery Barn Chesapeake Hammock ($89 to $99) will be the perfect place to finish it.
I wasn't kidding when I said I had a coral fixation, and the Alessio Emma Silvestris Mediterraneo Fruit Basket ($65) is particularly hard to resist.
Finally, I won't mind the cooling weather if I can crawl into the divine new Missoni Home Collection Irvin Bed Linen Set ($48 to $435), which includes everything from pillows to duvet covers.

Casa Quickie: Bring August Flavor to Your Mantel

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Enjoy August both in and out of doors by adding some summery accents around your house. While it's still bikini weather outside, keep the chimney, flue, and logs off your mind, and opt for vibrant color and greenery instead. Create a summery arrangement of vases, plants, or candles (or all three) in your fireplace and on your mantel. Think of your fireplace like a shelving unit; stack your beach reads there, display your favorite knick-knacks, or lean artwork against the mantel.

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How-To: Steal Ideas From Anthropologie's August Catalog

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:00:38 -0700

While the August Anthropologie catalog's concentration is on "Real People, Real Places," there's also plenty of home decorating inspiration to be found as well. Come along with me to see some of my favorite ideas from the latest catalog.
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August Must Haves

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Summer's slipping through our fingers, but let's not say goodbye to it too quickly! Take advantage of this last month of balmy days and lazy evenings. August is a great time for last-minute adventures, as well as prepping for Autumn activities, including returning to school and closing up Summer houses.

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Before and After: Lauren's Retro-Modern Kitchen

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:03 -0700

Craftster member Lauren is an amazing crafter, but she's been taking a hiatus from personal craft projects to work on a much bigger one: making over her new house.

Lauren writes, "We bought our house in mid-August and have been going to town on every inch of it. It is a 1931 cottage style 1 1/2 story house that we fell in love with on the very first round of showings. We have mostly completed the house in just one month, but the kitchen was the first to be finished to completion."

To see the great improvement Lauren made on her kitchen, read more.

Lauren, who says she loves retro kitchen decor, has done a great job integrating '50s-style items with a more modern look. I love her use of pattern and color, from the curtains to the wallpaper and cupboard inlays. The cupboards look super fresh thanks to the new coats of paint, and I love the scalloped edging over the sink. Her use of accents is spot-on, too. What a nice update!

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August Must Haves

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:30:20 -0700

Can you believe it's August already? If you can't bear to say goodbye to Summer, then take a trip with me this month as we explore our theme of Endless Summer. This month I'll find great tips, furnishings, and ideas that will have you feeling Summer until we have to bid it adieu. Take a look at my favorite finds for August. Source

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Before and After: Peeling Paint Replaced With a Sunny Hue

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:50 -0700

Su Casa member and impressive home renovator Ahles and her husband wanted to repaint their home, but the painter's estimate came in at $13,000. She writes, "This was close to our budget for the entire house, so like much of the rest of it, we did it ourselves."

To see the results, read more.

Ahles writes, "The total cost was $1300 in primer, good paint, sanders, and supplies. Shortly after we started sanding the first part of the house (we did a lead test first), both my parents ended up in the hospital, so we didn't touch the house again until August. With the help of three dear friends, the rest of this was done in the past month. It's far from finished yet, but an improvement!"

This is such an incredibly big project, and the results look great! I love the sunny new yellow shade of the house.

Have you joined my Su Casa group yet? Show off your home reno projects, just like Ahles did!

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Nice and New: Amy Butler August Fields Collection

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:00:27 -0700

Amy Butler has introduced a new home décor fabric collection for Rowan, called August Fields. The collection features four diverse color stories inspired by gardens and wild fields in "high season." Their natural prints and modern textures are easy to mix and match . . . which is good because you'll want to get your hands on every one of them. I'm particularly drawn to the pared-down, shell-shaped tile repeat pattern (top, second from left). But honestly, I just love how they all look together. The collection is available at Purl SoHo. To see more of the fabrics, read more.
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How-To: Stay Safe During a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:24 -0700

Since the breakout of the August wildfires north of Los Angeles, at least 53 buildings have been destroyed, and 4,300 people have been evacuated. As of this writing, more than 12,000 homes are under threat.

While some families have been reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Want to know how to protect your family and your home from a wildfire? Check out these smart pointers from the City of Napa, CA's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks" - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.