CasaSugar

Ask Casa: A Home Office for Two

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
My boyfriend and I are moving into a small one bedroom, but luckily the living room is quite spacious. As children of the digital age, we always have our laptops out for work or school. Is there some sort of space-saving desk that allows for two workstations at a time? It would be easy to just get a long folding table, but I was hoping there was something more stylish. Thanks! SaranoemiTo hear my suggestion for Saranoemi, read more.

Hello!
Funny you should ask. A home office for two that was featured in the now-defunct Blueprint magazine is one of my favorites. Two simple Parsons-style desks were pressed up back-to-back with a sheet of colorful Plexiglass in the middle.The arrangement offers a bit of privacy for each person, and the Plexiglass can be use to hang paperwork and stick Post-its, etc. You'll essentially have two work zones, but you won't break up the room physically or visually, since the sheet is transparent. And, it doesn't require as much wall space as a long table or two desks set length-wise against the wall.

Depending on how much space you have to work with, you can re-create this with either the West Elm Parsons Desk or Parsons Mini Desk. Contact your local plastics supplier for the sheet of Plexiglass.

Parsons Desk with Drawers - $329.00

Parsons Mini Desk - $249.00

Hope that helps!
Casa

Source and Source

DIY: Make Yourself an Ottoman

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:15:33 -0800

I recently stumbled upon an excellent DIY over on Blueprint's blog, and since it's Renewal month at Casa, I thought that many of you might be inspired by their great instructions. If you have some old cushions lying around, this is a simple way to bring them into the twenty-first century. To find out how to do it, read more.

Supplies:

Two couch cushions (box cushions work best)
wood cut to fit the cushions
Paint in your choice of color
4 casters
Power drill

Here's how:

Choose two cushions. You could use regular sofa cushions, but for a more streamlined look, purchase box-edged floor cushions.
Measure the cushions.
Have a piece of wood cut to the size of your cushion at your local lumber store.
Choose a paint color for the ottoman's wood base.Then paint the wood and let dry.
Choose your casters. You'll need four.
Drill four holes in the wood - all approximately 2 inches in from each corner - and screw the casters into the holes.
Flip over so the casters are on the floor, and stack both cushions on top of the wood platform.
For best results, use a nonslippery fabric on the cushions, such as canvas. Silkier fabrics tend to slip, which isn't conducive to ottoman relaxation!

Source

This Just In: Blueprint to Fold

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:21:33 -0800

As if the recent demise of shelter favorite House and Garden wasn't enough bad news, now sources say that Blueprint is folding as well. According to fishbowlNY, the magazine billed as a "fresh, fun guide to personal style" apparently couldn't find enough of an audience. While not completely disappearing, Blueprint will be dialed back into a publishing schedule that will coordinate with Martha Stewart Weddings. The number of layoffs related to this action is unconfirmed, though a number of employees may be retained. The final issue of Blueprint will be January/February 2008.

This is a magazine that I, for one, will sorely miss.

For an excerpt from the official press release, available at fishbowlNY, just read more

According to the official press release,

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. today announced strategic plans for two of its publications for 2008. Going forward, the company will produce Blueprint as focused special interest issues within the home category, which it will introduce to brides-to-be through its established Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Bluelines, the Blueprint blog, will continue and the company anticipates growing Blueprint digital content across its websites. Blueprint magazine will discontinue publishing on a stand-alone basis after the January/February 2008 issue.

As more news comes in, I'll update Casa readers on developments.
Source

Telescopeeyes' Holiday Light Project

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:15:07 -0800

After seeing the post where Angelica made her version of Blueprint magazine's Light Bright diy holiday project, Telescopeeyes was inspired to make her own. (Blueprint's project is on the left, while Telescopeeyes' version is on the right.)

She says, "I set out to try using what I already had on hand to pull it off (instead of spending the outrageous $140 detailed in the mag)."

To see how she made her very cheap version of the Light Bright, just read more

What She Used

An old Ikea frame covered with stapled fabric from apartment decor of years past (wood frame, thick cardboard backing, fabric). It may be the 21x29 (19x27) RAM which is only $4.99 new.
White semi-gloss latex paint (left over from painting wall trim in the house, quart size). You can purchase a new can (Valspar 1-Quart Ultra Premium Interior Latex Semi-Gloss Wall & Trim Paint, Ultra White) at Lowe's for $12.
A new $2 set of 100-bulb mini Christmas lights (white cord) from Target. I didn't bother gluing the lights in.

Has anyone else tried this project?

DIY: Blueprint-Inspired Holiday Project

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:09:26 -0800

Our own Angelica completed a DIY project over the holidays that's positively brilliant.
She writes:

After a series of failed baking adventures I realized it was time for me to transfer my love for YumSugar and food magazines to CasaSugar and design magazines. In the spirit of the holidays I picked a Light Bright project from this month's Blueprint magazine. I must admit, I'm a much better painter and craftswoman than I am a baker so the project was definitely a confidence booster. The Blueprint picture is on the left, my replica is on the right.

To find out how to make your own replica, just read more

What You'll Need

stretched canvas
paint
brushes
groundcloth or newspapers to protect your floor
pencil
awl
white twinkly tree lights
craft glue

You can find the complete Blueprint directions here. But read on for Angelica's directions:

Start by painting a stretched canvas from an art-supply store (Blueprint used a pale-pink latex paint, I picked a light-gold color because the walls of my house are all beige.)
Plot out your design by penciling dots on the back, keeping them a half inch apart.
Gently press an awl through each dot to make a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the bulb (the Blueprint creators and I both used white Christmas lights).
Press a bulb into each hole; secure each with craft glue. (I skipped the glue step just in case any of the lights blow out.)

View 10 Photos ›

100 Reasons to Get Rid of Stuff

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:27:02 -0700

I have way too much stuff, and I know I'm not alone. Every weekend, it seems, I'm adding to a pile of clothes, books, and home decor I don't like anymore with the goal of hauling it off to Goodwill. So thanks to Unclutterer for pointing me to this massive list, originally published in Blueprint, called 100 Reasons to Get Rid of It.

There's really a wealth of information here, including shocking factoids and great online resources that will help you rid your life of clutter. Many of the "reasons" are charities in need of your donations, most of which I hadn't heard of before. I highly recommend reading the whole list, but here are 10 of my favorites:

People burn 55 minutes a day looking for things.
80 percent of what we own we never use.
Verizonwireless.com. Put a refurbished phone (of any brand) into the hands of a domestic violence victim.
help1up.org. Furnish homes for disaster victims.
dressforsuccess.org. Give interview and work clothing to disadvantaged women.
Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.
giftcardbuyback.com. Get cash for gift cards you'll never use.
The Bronx, New York, man who, in 2003, was trapped in his home under an avalanche of books and newspapers for two days before being rescued.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris
Swaporamarama.org. Attend nationwide clothing exchanges and do-it-yourself alteration workshops.

What Is Your Favorite Home Magazine?

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:20:13 -0700

Metropolitan Home Folds

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:56:46 -0800

Another one bites the dust. Hachette Filipacchi Media announced today that it will fold Metropolitan Home with its December issue. The company plans to focus its efforts on its other shelter glossy, Elle Decor. HFMUS President and CEO Alain Lemarchand said, "We believe the best strategy in the upscale shelter segment is to boldly focus our resources and investment on Elle Decor, which is the ad-page leader within the US market. Despite the downturn in ad pages that has affected all magazines, the Elle Decor brand has multiple opportunities for growth across all platforms.” Met's longtime Editor in Chief Donna Warner and her staff will leave the company.

This closure follows a long string of folds in the shelter world, including HFMUS's own Home, House & Garden, Blueprint, O at Home, Cottage Living, and, of course, Domino. So while it's not a shocker considering the economic climate, it is still sad news indeed. But at least this glossy went out with a bang, wowing us with the Metropolitan Home Showtime House and the exquisite Modern by Design Showhouse this year.

Source

Cool Idea: Frank Lloyd Wright in Thread

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:30:37 -0800

Craftster member PencilNeck's embroidery creativity has bowled me over. She made this embroidery of a Frank Lloyd Wright blueprint as a Christmas gift for a family member who works with architectural design. She embroidered almost exclusively with backstitching for the project, and found blue floss to match the blueprint color.

For more images of this project, including her cool Frank Lloyd Wright signature, read more.

PencilNeck writes, "My biggest headache was struggling with fabric tension and possibly the weave of the fabric causing my lines to look not so straight despite my following the printed lines exactly . . . It helped that my husband kept reminding me that this is an embroidered interpretation of a blueprint and will not look the same as a pen drawing. The obsessive-compulsive side of me took over and turned this into a monster of a project, but I finally stepped back, looked at it from a distance, and pronounced it acceptable."

I'd say! This looks more than acceptable to my eyes. It's such a unique idea, and her execution is impressive. I don't doubt that the family member who's lucky enough to receive this gift will declare it his or her favorite of the season.

View 4 Photos ›

Source

Gift Guide: The Architecture Buff

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:30:06 -0800

My sister, who's been drawing blueprints in one form or another since we were little kids, is currently finishing her second year of grad school at the architecture department at UC Berkeley. Since she spends about 18 hours a day in the studio as it is (I'm not even coming close to exaggerating), she probably doesn't want to spend her few free hours browsing through architecture books, at least during the semester. However, once the holiday break kicks in, I'm pretty sure that she'll be curled up on a sofa with a more recreational, picture-heavy architecture book in her hands.

If your family's anything like mine, there are at least a few folks in your immediate circle who can happily pass the evening leafing through books chock full of great facts and even better photos of buildings, architectural details, blueprints, and life stories of famous architects. One good place to start is with the volume Architecture: Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future ($95), a book commemorating the 150th anniversary of the American Institute of Architects. I found this book at Builders Booksource's online site, which is an amazing resource for books on architecture and building. Another great place to check for architecture books is at Chronicle Books, whose architecture section is chock full of gems, such as the recently released California Academy of Sciences: Architecture in Harmony With Nature ($29.95).

For more book suggestions, read more.

For more gift gifts, holiday home decorating tips and more, check out HolidaySugar!

Eames House AID - $14.95	"San Francisco architecture & design" - $16.95
Princeton Architectural Press Forecast (Nozone) - $24.95	"New York architecture & design" - $16.95
Taschen Meier: Richard Meier & Partners Complete Works 1963 - 2008 - $150.00	D.A.P. Jean Prouve - $250.00
Taschen Studio Olafur Eliasson - $150.00	Taschen 100 Contemporary Architects: A-Z - $59.99
The House Book - $24.95	Taschen Modern Architecture A-Z - $300.00