CasaSugar

Link Time: Decorating With Antique Sinks, Easy Paint Tips, and Best Design Hotels

Elka Karl — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:56 PST

Add character with a salvaged sink - Houzz
Learn more about a new tool for picking the perfect paint - Stylelist Home
Find a perfect pink Valentine's Day gift - House Beautiful
Try these easy cleaning solutions for every room - Real Simple
Tour gorgeous design hotels worldwide - Elle Decor
Make these wall-mounted boxy shelves - Craft
You won't believe how this firehouse was renovated! - Hooked on Houses

Leonardo DiCaprio Breaks Into the Coffee Biz

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:04:17 PST

Have a hard time getting up in the morning? Well, you've got more than just coffee to look forward to. Thanks to a new line of coffees, the best part of waking up could be Leonardo DiCaprio in your cup.

Today, The Great Gatsby actor announced he's partnering with La Colombe Torrefaction to produce a new coffee line, Lyon. Its entire net profile will benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to promote sustainability for the planet. "Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever," DiCaprio said in a statement. "I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants."

Starting today, the coffee will appear online and on shelves in Williams-Sonoma stores across the country, as well as select Whole Foods Markets. Will you try one of Leo's new coffees?

In Season: Carrots

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:29:21 PST

You eat carrots regularly - but how much do you know about them? Although they can be grown year-round, all root vegetables thrive during the Winter season, protected from cooler temperatures by the earth. Carrots are known for their vibrant orange color, but there are also purple, red, yellow, and white varieties - mostly grown as novelty crops. The root itself is crunchy and sweet, while the leafy greens tend to be on the bitter side.

To learn more about carrots and discover new dishes, just keep reading

Taste Test: Junami Apples

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:15:17 PST

We love any opportunity to taste test new and exciting products, and trying a new kind of apple was particularly exciting. The Junami apple comes from Switzerland originally and its standout characteristic is its juice. The apple is large, round, and brightly colored - definitely something you can't wait to sink your teeth into. Find out what we thought of the Junami apple when you keep reading.

Beautiful Block-Printed and Hand-Embroidered Textiles From Allem Studio

Elka Karl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:46:29 PST

If you're on the hunt for beautiful block-printed and handmade textiles for your home, check out a relative newcomer to the market, Allem Studio. Founded as a design collaboration between friends Mitali Seth and Lovisa Shergill in 2009, Allem Studio creates lovely hand-embroidered and block-printed textiles for the tabletop, bedroom, and living room. Their collection of pillows, bedding, and tabletop items including napkins and place mats features vibrant, colorful designs that reference ethnic-inspired crafts with a modern twist.

Seth and Shergill work out of a studio located in Shrewsbury, MA, and source manufacturing of their products through socially responsible vendors, including SEWA, India, a women's only co-operative.

You can purchase Allem Studio's products through a variety of merchants across the country, as well as online. If you're in New York, make sure to check out Allem Studio at Booth 7962 at the New York International Gift Fair this weekend.

Is Going Organic Really Worth It?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:16:10 PST

Going green has never been quite so hip, but is it worth the cost? Just last week Jessica Alba launched The Honest Company, an eco-friendly baby care line that is not only safe but affordable when compared to other organic diaper and skin care companies. But now one of my favorite organic nursery companies is changing course.

Canada's 3 Sprouts - the maker of adorable modern storage bins, hooded towels, and wall organizers - just announced that due to rising costs, they'll no longer be an organic line. In order to keep costs down - and, presumably, sales up - the company is switching to nonorganic cotton and new packaging for the coming year.

The change has me wondering if more mamas are switching away from organic given the state of the economy?

In Season: Collard Greens

Camilla Salem — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:39:45 PST

Leafy greens are all the rage these days. Sure, they're chock-full of nutrients and vitamins, but they're also delicious. Collard greens are no exception. The mildly smoky flavor in the this Southern vegetable staple is great for cooking. Collard greens come from the same species as cabbage and broccoli, but like kale, this vegetable doesn't form a head. The leaves are dark blue-green and smooth, and they're a great source of vitamin C and fiber.

Collard greens are a very important part of Southern cuisine, often prepared with smoked ham hock. Since the leaves resemble folded money, traditionally, they are enjoyed with black-eyed peas for good fortune on New Year's Day. But the South isn't the only place that appreciates this cruciferous vegetable. Portuguese cuisine makes great use of collard greens. Popular soup Caldo verde, meaning "green broth" in Portuguese, employs collard greens as a base. In addition, the juice of pressed leaves is thought to alleviate several maladies, including bronchitis!

For more ways to eat up your collard greens, keep reading.

A Heart Design You Can Decorate With All Year Round (And It's on Sale!)

Elka Karl — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:07 PST

When it comes to Valentine's Day, heart motifs run the gamut from cutesy to over-the-top romantic. Personally, I prefer a more subtle heart pattern when it comes to home decorating. That's why I love this beautiful Hand-Quilted Reversible Queen Quilt (originally $500, on sale for $400) from Harabu House.

The quilt features a raj paisley design on one side, and a raj heart trinity design on the reverse. And while I can't image growing tired of either of these lovely designs, it's nice to know that you can instantly refresh the look of your bedroom by simply flipping your comforter.

The quilt is handmade by Raksha Bella, an eco-friendly company that designs certified organic cotton bedding that is hand block printed using non-toxic, low impact dyes. The bedding is produced by a group of fair trade women workers in India who are recovering from poverty - so not only is this a great looking product, it's a great feeling one as well. I'm a huge fan of organic cotton textiles, since their sale supports organic farming and growing cotton without using harmful chemicals. Whether you have a valentine this season or not, I think it's a great idea to splurge a little on yourself this Valentine's Day and introduce an organic, Fair Trade-certified, gorgeous new look to your bedroom with this quilt.

10 Meatless Soups to Start Your Week

Lizzie Fuhr — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:19:42 PST

While we are certainly meat lovers over here, we're also big proponents of Meatless Mondays. Not only does it help out with our carbon footprint, but sometimes it's just nice to switch things up a little bit, especially at the start of a week. We've shared our favorite meat-free recipes in the past, but with the arrival of National Soup Month, hot soup is definitely on my mind. Here are 10 delicious meat-free soups that are sure to fill you up and not let you down!

5 Winter Produce Items and What to Cook With Them

Susannah Chen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:19:21 PST

During the Winter months, it's all too easy to pine for warm weather and the Summer fruits and vegetables that go along with it. But don't overlook the fact that, as California chef Annie Somerville put it, some living forces actually flourish in cold climes! Here are five of our favorite pieces of produce this season and a few great ways to eat them.