CasaSugar

Home Depot to Launch Exclusive Martha Stewart Living Brand

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:11 -0700

Home Depot and Martha Stewart Living have announced a plan to develop an exclusive Martha Stewart Living line of home improvement products including outdoor living, home organization, and home décor items for Home Depot's stores. Like Martha's other products, you can expect them to be traditionally stylish and good quality, but they will also be affordable. Both design teams are working side by side to create a collection that makes coordinating décor and design during home improvement projects easy. You can look for the line's outdoor living products, such as patio dining sets ($399-1,999), in stores beginning in January 2010, followed by home organization items, such as closet organization systems, in February.

It's no surprise to see Martha Stewart expanding her brand to another store - she's practically on her way to world domination. But it is curious to see Home Depot taking on a designer name. Designer capsule collections is something we've seen with other big retailers like Target, Macy's, Rooms to Go, and HSN, but it's a first to see Home Depot headed in that direction. It's also exciting! Especially since Home Depot is a national brand, and a one-stop shop for home improvement products, it will be a treat to find some stylish décor there.

Sale Alert: Macy's Semi-Annual Home Sale

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:00:33 -0800

Martha Stewart steals, modern furniture, and minimalist bedding abound at the Macy's Semi-Annual Home Sale. With discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent, this sale is a great place to stock up on staples like bath towels or splurge on chic furniture finds. (I was pleased with my experience ordering furniture there, for sure.)

I've been shopping the sale virtually, and there are a lot of great deals to be had. Plus, if you spend $125, you get free shipping with the promo code HOME. See what I'd scoop up below.

Martha Stewart Textured Mercury Glass Lighting Collection - $359.00	CLOSEOUT! Style&co. "Sea Reeds" Bedding - $60.00
Metro Accent Chair - $649.00	Martha Stewart "Mercury Glass" Centerpiece Bowl, 10" - $90.00
Chloe Velvet Metro Living Chair - $699.00	CLOSEOUT! Simply Modern Entertainment Television Stand - $919.00
Calvin Klein Bedding, Cut Flowers Comforter and Duvet Cover Sets - $50.00	CLOSEOUT! Lauren Ralph Lauren "Hot Springs" Bath Accessories - $19.99

Halloween How-To: Martha Stewart

CasaSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:00:24 -0700

This Halloween, I've costumed you as some of the biggest forces in the design world: Jonathan Adler, Simon Doonan, and Kelly Wearstler. But, you must also consider the queen bee homemaker herself, Martha Stewart. She may not sport a floral button-down daily like Doonan or experiment with wild tress techniques like Wearstler, but she does have a distinct style: classic and age-appropriate, always with her signature blond bob. Don't be surprised to see Martha with a crafting tool at hand either: she's always prepared. Here, she's seen posing at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Macy's Flower Show, where she also signed copies of her latest book.

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How-To: Make a Pinecone Lamp Finial

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:45:26 -0700

I tend to gravitate toward more modern pieces that are a departure from nature and the outdoors; you won't find any taxidermy in my house. So, I wondered if there was a way to balance the two without sacrificing my aesthetic. There is, and Martha Stewart has found it. You can bring a dash of wintry outdoorsy-ness into your home by topping off a modern lamp with a pinecone as a finial. To learn how, read more.

This Martha Stewart project is laughably simple. All you'll need is some sandpaper and a hot glue gun or super glue. Just sand the bottom of the pinecone so it is smooth and flat. Then, glue that flat tip to the top of the finial, holding it in place for a few seconds. Fini!
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How-To: Make Pumpkin Pie Incense

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:34 -0700

It's that time of year again. Witches and ghosts will soon parade the streets and arrive at your door begging for candy. So, your house better be in good shape when they do. I'm not one for faux cobwebs clogging up my doorway, but I do love walking into a house that just smells like October. I was pretty excited when I came across a Martha Stewart project for a carved pumpkin incense burner that smells like pumpkin pie, so I decided I had to share. All you'll need is a small pumpkin, a knife, an apple corer, pumpkin pie spices, cloves, and a tealight.
To learn how to make this adorable thing, read more.

First things first. Find a cute pumpkin that still has its stem on it, which you can use as a handle.
Then, neatly slice off the top of the pumpkin.
Carve out the innards of the pumpkin.
Make polka dotted vents in the pumpkin's sides using an apple corer. Or, carve whatever shapes you like.
Rub the spices generously onto the lid.
Push your cloves into the lid.
Then, set a tealight in the pumpkin base, put the lid back on, and enjoy!

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Casa Quickie: Nonslip Stairs

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:50 -0700

Thinking back on all the scrapes and bruises I acquired simply from falling down my stairs as an overly energetic kid, I cringe a little. But there was no stopping me, especially on the days (most) when I was late to school. If only my parents had thought to install some sort of no-slip system, I mightn't have been so black and blue. Luckily, I've found the answer to these painful falls, thanks to Martha Stewart.

Want to know the secret? Then read more.

By mixing regular paint with fine sand, you can safeguard your home against hazardous slips and falls. First, paint your stairs with regular paint. Then, tape off a striped area where you'll want
to use nonslip paint. Then mix two cups of paint with 3/4 cups of sand (from a craft or hardware store). Paint your stripes, let dry, then paint over it with a coat of regular paint. You probably won't want to use this trick on you foyer stairs, but your back or outdoor stairs will do.

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How-To: Make Quick and Easy Apple Votives

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:00:49 -0700

One of my favorite Fall traditions growing up was picking apples on Columbus Day weekend. After piling into the car, my cousins and I would head up to an orchard nearby and pick more bushels of the fruit than we knew what to do with. Of course, apple pies were the obvious choice, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. So, we had to get creative with our bushels.

One simple way we'd use up our inventory was by transforming the apples into votive holders. Just trace the circumference of a votive onto an apple, and cut out the shape with a utility knife to the votive's height. You can actually buy a little gadget called a Candle Carver ($11.99) to simplify the process, if you want. I love the way these votives bring a seasonal warmth to the house. If you like, you can even float them in a galvanized bucket of water as shown here. Pretty cute, huh?
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Casa Quickie: A Housewarming Bucket

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:12 -0700

Moving into a new house is stressful. You're finally cured of the headache of packing, and then it occurs to you that you still have to unpack! Then, something inevitably goes wrong. The faucet only gives off hot water, the movers break something, etc. Then, you think you're all set and ready to settle in and you realize you're out of t.p. Ugh! So, as much as a warm apple pie or a batch of your specialty cookies will taste delightful to your new neighbors or a friend who's just moved, a more useful (and migraine-relieving) housewarming gift is a bucket of the essentials she'll need to get settled. Think about the things that were most helpful to you when you moved. Then, pick up a handsome galvanized bucket, or even a colorful scrub bucket, and then comb the aisles of at the hardware store for those items, as well as any tools and practical items they might need. If you happen to throw a cold Corona or a black-and-white cookie in there while you're at it, I don't think you'll face any opposition.
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Casa Quickie: A Rust-Free Toolbox

CasaSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:30:35 -0700

During Home Schooling month, I've introduced you to plenty of useful tools for fixing and installing things around the house. If you stepped to it and filled up your toolbox, now you should be responsible for keeping it in good shape. According to Martha Stewart, keeping charcoal briquettes, which you can find right in your Weber, in your toolbox will prevent your tools from rusting, as the briquettes absorb dampness. You should keep a few in a small fabric bag though, since they tend to leave dust in their footprints. Clever, huh?
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Casa Quickie: Taper Treatment

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:00:41 -0700

I think most would agree that Martha Stewart seems a little OCD about organization . . . if there's anyone who can make a home a picture of perfection, it's her. Personally, I like to have a little mess in my digs: it calms me. But, where guests are concerned, I look to Martha as a guide. My mother has always had an elegant dining room with a sideboard that neatly stores her fine silverware, table linens, tapers, and matches - the perfect arrangement for entertaining. But, it has always vexed me that her candles get scratched up as they roll around in her drawers. I know, it's irrational to be irritated by such a trivial matter.
Again, Martha saves the day. To keep your tapers in tip-top form, she suggests wrapping them in tissue paper and slipping them into a recycled paper towel roll. Genius!

Eileen Fisher Women's Felted Alpaca Wool Melange Round Neck Jacket - $278.00	Martin stretch cotton slim trouser - $79.00
Seamless Scoop Neck Cami - $6.99	Brush Hairline Grace Wig, Blond - $105.00
Gucci gold leather horsebit loafers - $356.00	Burberry Chronograph Watch - $525.00
14k Gold Diamond Stud Earrings (3/4 ct. t.w.) - $2,300.00	Oxo Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors - $16.99
Personalized Adult Fitted Apron, Pumpkin - $24.00	Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook - $45.00
Harvest in a Box - $59.00