CasaSugar

Before and After: Halsig's Bathroom Makeover

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:00:53 -0700

If you saw TeamSugar member Halsig's brilliant lighting design and her impressive kitchen remodel, I'm sure you have no doubt that she's taken that design goodness to other areas of her San Francisco loft as well.

In fact, her remodel of her oh-so-basic bathroom, which she called "a gas station bathroom," might just be what impresses me the most. She installed a Thassos white marble vanity, a Thassos marble white floor, a sleek partition for the toilet area, lights that turn on when the door closes, and a six-foot-long Boffi Makro Cherry Red Glass bath tub with inset marble cubbies. The result is something so high design, it looks straight out of a W Hotel - a far cry from an Exxon bathroom. To see for yourself, read more.

View 7 Photos ›

Source

Before and After: DeJaVuE's Basement Remodel

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:30:09 -0700

TeamSugar member DeJaVuE recently remodeled her basement, which had red brick and stone foundation walls and a dreary striped carpet. She installed wood floors and soft beige carpet, as well as drywall, but she kept some stonework on the wall as an accent. She painted the walls an army green, which lightened it up and gave it a more serene vibe. To see this fantastic remodel, read more.
Such a great transformation, right?! To see more photos, read DeJaVuE's Su Casa post.

Source

Have Your Ever Renovated a Home?

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:00:32 -0700

Last week I posted some dos and don'ts of home renovation for those of you dealing with the complicated issue of remodeling. Who among you has braved this feat - either for your home or a home you sold?

Source

Dos and Don'ts of Home Remodeling

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:07:07 -0700

I've noticed that many CasaSugar readers are in various stages of home renovations, and I, for one, am very impressed. I've always wanted to try remodeling a house, but I've heard so many horror stories about runaway costs and unreliable contractors - not to mention relationship troubles - that the prospect scares me a bit.

So I was excited to run across Home magazine's list of the dos and don'ts of home renovations. Here are some handy tips for updating your house without losing your sanity.

Do consider your contractor's personality. This person will be in your home each day, so it's paramount that you feel comfortable talking to him or her.

Don't be an absentee homeowner. Communicate with your contractor daily by phone or e-mail, and meet once a week face-to-face.
Do ask for a contract. A good contract should cover the following: start and finish dates, total cost (include how add-ons will be handled), a payment schedule, names of all parties, contractor's license number, description of project, and provisions for early termination. If necessary, consult a lawyer.

For more dos and don'ts, read more

Don't micromanage the crew. Instead, schedule a weekly meeting with the job foreman to discuss progress.
Do be wary if your contractor is reluctant to lay out a timeline for your project; it may mean the contractor has too many jobs at once to finish yours on time.
Don't undercut your contractor. The quickest way to sour a relationship is to hire a member of the contractor's crew to do work after hours for less pay.
Do create a directory. Record in a notebook contact information for each person working in your home.
Don't be shy about what you have
to spend, especially if money is tight. Everything should be in the contract.
Do ask about insurance. Anyone working on your home needs it. You're liable if you hire an uninsured contractor and one of his crew is injured.
Don't rely on your imagination. Ask to see color swatches and paint chips for finishes before you order materials.
Do nominate a decision maker. The easiest way to prevent "he said, she said" is to appoint one family member to deal directly with the contractor and to update everyone else.

Source

On the Market: Sleep in Edward Cullen's Bedroom

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:37:06 -0800

All right, Twilight fans, here's your chance to get a little closer to Edward Cullen. The Vancouver residence that the Cullens inhabit in the New Moon film is for sale for $3.3 million through Soprovich Realty.

The five-bedroom, four-bath home is a modernist's dream, with extensive use of glass and post and beam style throughout the soaring, open spaces. The fantastic views of the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape only add to this home's considerable charm. According to the realtor's listing,

"The Cullen House" as seen in the recent world-wide hit saga - "Twilight: New moon"!! Arthur Erickson's finest and totally renovated in 2001, this award-winning residence is situated on a private 1/2 acre creekside property nestled amongst a gorgeous greenbelt and towering trees. Tastefully remodeled by Brian Hemingway, this home has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, with the finest detail and quality available.

The home features a private studio with koi pond, concrete, slate, wool carpet, and cherry floors, a chef's kitchen, cherry cabinets, granite countertops, 20-foot-high ceilings, an outdoor pool, and a huge media room overlooking a nearby creek. Absolutely gorgeous, for vampires and humans alike.

Take the complete tour when you read more.

This is not the same house used in Twilight. That house was designed by architect Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture. For New Moon, the filming was moved to Vancouver, BC, and the Erickson-designed house, which was also featured in the John Cusack film Martian Child, became the Cullen home for the second film in the Twilight saga.

View 18 Photos ›

Before and After: A Kitchen Expansion

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:00:30 -0700

While turn-of-the-century homes are often quite spacious when it comes to shared spaces and number of bedrooms, often the kitchens are cramped and ill-suited for modern-day home chef work. MainStreet Design Build, a Michigan-based renovation and build firm, came to the rescue, for this family, stepping in to add a kitchen and breakfast nook addition to the home.

Here's the home from the rear exterior, where a small entryway opens onto a large deck. To see how the firm improved the home, read more.

The kitchen and breakfast nook addition added grace to the appearance of the rear of this turn of the century home. In the kitchen, Dynasty Omega cabinetry and commercial grade Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances updated the functionality of the space.

To see the interior pictures, check out the gallery.

View 4 Photos ›

Source

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:23 -0700

A visit to London's new Anthropologie store. - Decor8

Tour Priscilla's pretty home. - AT:LA

Important first remodeling steps. - Charles and Hudson

Learn more about SF's Craft and Folk Museum. - Craft

Check out this gorgeous upcycled stained glass. - Re-Nest

Which interior decorator do you resemble? - ShelterPop

Some towels to "dry" for. - Simply Stated

Before and After: A House, From Dated to Delightful

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:01 -0700

I showcase a lot of inspiring Before and Afters here on Casa, but I must say I've rarely been more impressed with one than with what you're about to see. I came across Flickr user HottHoller's home remodeling project, and I was blown away. For the most part, her house had great bones, but the décor was seriously out of date, and in places, terribly kitschy. It also suffered from dated cabinets and finishes that simply won't fly in '09. So she took great care to make sure that each room was updated and had its own sense of modern flair. In one space, you'll be blown away by blue embroidery. In another, pops of yellow will make you smile. Prepare to be won over.

Source: Flickr User HottHoller

View Slideshow ›

Before and After: Halsig's Kitchen Makeover

CasaSugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:30:35 -0700

TeamSugar member Halsig, who recently installed a brilliant bathroom door, has been working on remodeling her loft - which began as, in her words, "a big empty cement box" - into exactly what she wants for about five months. Thanks to her keen design sense, she now can cook in style in a warm, industrial-looking modern space with all the essentials for a great chef. She installed stainless countertops, Bulthaup open shelving, beautiful Swiss pear Bulthaup cabinetry, a Gaggenau convection oven, Dacor convection microwave, Dacor refrigerator, and an appliance storage room, which serves as a pantry, too. She also designed and installed an anodized aluminum and glass backsplash on her very own! In addition to all of these wonderful amenities, a warm gray/beige (in her words, "greige") paint color kicked the sterile feeling of the loft before, and a round glass table in the middle of the room keeps the space cohesive. To see this impressive transformation, read more.

View 6 Photos ›
Source

Before and After: A Modern Bungalow Kitchen

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:00:42 -0700

One Grassroots Modern reader moved into a 1946 bungalow with a kitchen that was desperately begging for a makeover (see avocado green stove, gloomy cabinets, and dingy tiling). The homeowners whipped it into shape in record time with only $4,000 by ripping up old carpet, refinishing the hardwood floors, installing Ikea cabinets, and hunting down a great deal on a Sub-Zero refrigerator. The difference is truly unbelievable. The space is bright, airy, and modern, not cramped or somber. To see the transformation for yourself, read more.

Beautiful, right? Be sure to head over to Grassroots Modern to hear more about the project and see more photos!
Source