CasaSugar

In the News: Revisiting a Modern Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:30:01 -0700

Los Angeles is known for its modern architecture and architects, with homes built by the likes of Ralph Rapson, John Lautner, and Pierre Koenig dotting the urban landscape. One such house, which was featured in the LA Times 50 years ago, has just resurfaced in that paper's pages. Dubbed the Times Home Magazine House, it was designed by architect Edward H. Fickett and the interior was designed by Arthur Elrod.

The Encino home, which was built as "a suburban house that embodied forward-thinking design," was, similar to the case study houses, meant to be affordable for a middle-class family. Half a century later, the house still manages to appear private, beautiful, and of the moment. Now owned by Warner Walcott and Jonn Coolidge, whose prior residence was also built by Fickett, the current inhabitants have brought their own sense of coolness to the house while maintaining the home's integrity and original intentions. They also have, as the LA Times article notes, complemented the home's style "with an art and furniture collection that's at once retro yet contemporary - and unmistakably California cool."

While I'm a bit too scattered and cluttered to ever make a modern home like this work to its full advantage, I do admire the "California cool" look of these homes. There's something soothing in their clean lines, placid pools, and deliberate blurring of indoor and outdoor spaces. To see the house in all of its splendid glory, check out the whole article.

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In the News: A Richard Neutra in Dire Straits

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:30:05 -0700

The Los Angeles Times' "The Clock Is Ticking For Richard Neutra's VDL Research House II" is a story about the "fabled glass box on Silver Lake Boulevard in Los Angeles," designed by renowned midcentury modernist architect Richard Neutra and owned by nonprofit Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, and faces sale if upward of $2 million is not raised by supporters by the end of the year. Saturday tours of the landmark have recently begun to raise money for the cause, and awareness of its need for restoration. Visitors can witness firsthand some of its problems, including termite damage, asbestos, cracked and dried reflecting pools, jammed sliding doors, and an electric system that no longer functions. While midcentury modern design is experiencing a boom, and people like Diane Keaton are restoring equally important homes, you wonder why an architectural landmark could be in dire need of preservation. Neutra's son, Dion Neutra, who once worked to rebuild the house after a fire, says, "It’s a result of benign neglect for the 20 years since my family donated the house to Cal Poly." While it's understandable that a home that's been uninhabited for so long could be overlooked, the thought of it selling to a private party, and becoming unavailable to the public, is a glum one.
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In the News: The Midcentury Anti-Garden

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:30:29 -0700

LA Times' More Stark Than the Desert Around Them takes an alarming note of the growing trend of "extending the spareness of home interiors into the garden, and wiping out natural habitat in the process," by midcentury modern homeowners in Palm Springs. These midcentury mod enthusiasts have begun to replace the natural and/or traditional landscapes surrounding their homes with minimalist "gardens" made simply of gravel, lawn, or geometrically-shaped arrangements of cacti and grass, or shaved palm trees. This new terrain is quite the departure from those surrounding well-known designs by 1950s architects like Albert Frey and William Krisel.
On one hand, it's nice to see homeowners realizing the relationship between the architecture of their home and their landscaping, and putting extra thought into it rather than accepting what already exists or what's "the norm" for homes of different architectural styles. But it's also sad to hear that "fig and lemon trees planted there 40 years before by the original owner" are being ripped out. I'm all for designing appropriately for architecture and climate, but this type of starkness will lead to erosion and desertification; a little tasteful xeriscaping, much more appropriate and eco-friendly for the Palm Springs climate, seems to be the perfect compromise. To see more images, check out the gallery.

In the News: Modern Design Meets Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:45:19 -0700

Los Angeles Times' "Not a Scrap of Gingham" shares the story of Vanessa Choy and Andrew Wong, a couple from Hong Kong who closed their architecture practice and moved to LA. They bought a lot in Studio City, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley in LA that earned its name in the 1920s when a number of picture studios popped up there. Then, they drew up plans for an unmistakably modern farmhouse. The exterior seems a distant relative of the traditional barns we've come to know but its concrete wall, unusual lighting, and lack of ornamentation suggest that its interior deviates from the classic form as well. Inside though, the architect couple balanced unfinished wood and rustic ceiling beams with "Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chairs, a glossy grand piano, and the sleek Poggenpohl kitchen" for what I see as the best of both worlds. Furthermore, what I find interesting is that this melding of architectural types was not a renovation of one of America's veteran barns, but was built from the ground up. For a couple new to the wild, wild West, fresh off the commercial landscape of Hong Kong, this mélange seems impossibly ideal. To see an interior shot, read more.

To see more photos of the interior, check out the LA Times' photo gallery.
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Casa Link: Some Good From the Bad

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:08:11 -0800

The Los Angeles Times has an article about a small but lovely solace from devastating wildfires. The high heat of the fire and the nitrous oxide in the smoke can help to germinate long-dormant native flower seeds, resulting in some gorgeous blooms along a fire-scarred landscape. Read the article to get the whole story.

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Fall Style: A Seasonally Colorful Corner

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:15:06 -0800

Lovely Little Vignettes member Deemurph created this colorful Fall corner in her home with a handsome Danish bar cart and some other finds from her favorite vintage store in Los Angeles, 45 Three Modern Vintage. I love how the warm colors are seasonal, but not in a kitschy way. I don't see any pumpkins or Indian corn here, but this lovely little vignette certainly feels timely.

The great thing, she points out, is that it will be "easy to change up this corner as the seasons transition." She says, "All I have to do is change the painting and my flowers . . . and VOILA! . . . a whole new scene!" Looks great, don't you think?

Have you created any lovely little vignettes in your home recently? Please add them to our group!

In the News: Redefining an Architect's Legacy

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:00:44 -0700

Many of us have seen architect John Lautner's modern, unusual work - we just didn't realize it. The bachelor pad that Charlie's Angels's villain Eric Knox inhabits is based on the design for the Chemosphere. This eight-sided home was built in the Hollywood Hills in 1960, and sits atop a 30-foot-tall concrete poll, which was Lautner's solution to building on the steeply pitched site.

A recent New York Times article, "Bonding Humanity and Landscape in a Perfect Circle," reviews a current exhibit on Lautner at LA's Hammer Museum. The exhibit attempts to remedy misunderstandings about Lautner's body of work, which some people interpret as space age-y and removed from the landscape. Instead, we discover through the exhibit an architect who possesses, according to the article, "a keen structural knowledge wedded to an environmental sensitivity - a seamless bond of nature, space and humankind."

While the Chemosphere may not be your cup of tea, it's undeniable that the building solution for this piece of property reflects Lautner's understanding of site-specific construction. My favorite Lautner home is probably the Mar Brisas House, which was built in 1973 in Acapulco, Mexico, and whose lines echo the beach and water below (seen in this photo).

To see some gorgeous images of Lautner's homes, and to find out how to visit one yourself, read more.

Lautner, who trained with Frank Lloyd Wright, went on to influence numerous architects, including Frank Gehry. While the New York Times's review of the exhibit says that it errs on the serious side, and notes that "the curators have toned down the fantasy and sensuality that make his houses so intoxicating," I think that this show would be fascinating for architecture or mid-century design buffs. The exhibit is open through Oct. 12 at the Hammer Museum in LA, and you can also take a house tour of one of Lautner's LA-area homes.

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Found It! Bella's New Moon Ornate Floor Mirror

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:18 -0700

In behind-the-scenes photos from the upcoming and highly buzzed New Moon, Bella Swan's bedroom boasts a fancy ornate wooden floor mirror, in addition to beautiful flocked bedding. Another photo from the set suggests that it may actually be a mirror that attaches to a dresser. But for the sake of the illusion, I hunted down a similar ornate wooden floor mirror for you. Want to see where you can buy it? Then read more.

The Isabella White Cheval Floor Mirror ($749) is nearly an exact replica with a turned wood base and filigree at the top. If you'd prefer something more affordable, the PBteen Lilac Floor Mirror ($199) is similar in style, although it is rounded.

Photo courtesy of David Strick/Los Angeles Times

Found It! Bella Swan's New Moon Bedding

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:00:08 -0700

In some behind the scenes photos from the much-anticipated New Moon, Bella Swan looks very cozy under that beautiful flocked purple bedding. Edward Cullen seems eager to hop underneath it as well. Wondering where you can get this comforter for your own home? Find out when you read more.

It's the Modern Home Flocked Leaf Comforter Set in purple ($29.99-$137.99). It seems to be sold out right now - although you can find it on eBay. But, the Modern Home Flocked Leaf Comforter Set in black/charcoal ($69-$89), which is just slightly different, is still available.

Photo courtesy David Strick/Los Angeles Times

How-To: Create a Craft Corner

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:42 -0700

A good friend of mine just sent me photos of her new house in Los Angeles, and I was excited to see that she made room for a craft corner. My pal loves to craft and sew, and now she has an established space for her handiwork (which is more than I can say for my own house).

There are many advantages to maintaining a permanent space for your crafting or sewing hobby. For one, you won't have to haul everything in and out of a closet or cupboard every time you want to work on a project. Additionally, you won't have to clean up your crafting area and put it away once you have guests over. And perhaps most importantly, having a craft corner will help you to get motivated and actually finish all of those projects you've started!

For all of my tips on creating a craft corner, read more.

A small desk is perfect for your craft corner. Look at garage sales or flea markets for a solid wood desk. You'll want something that's sturdy and not overly precious.
Organize with pretty tins and boxes to keep everything in its place.
If you need additional shelving, try hanging shelves on walls to maximize space.
Positioning your craft corner close to a window will help you to take advantage of natural light. Otherwise, use a task lamp so you're able to see everything you're working on.
Keep all of your tools accessible. Use a large tin can or vase to hold your glue gun, scissors, and other needed tools.
Keep things pretty! As long as you keep your space organized and pretty, it will be a joy to work in this space, as well as to look at when you're not crafting away. Since your corner will be integrated into a bedroom, living room, or study, you want the space to flow. Organization is the key to keeping things looking their best.