CasaSugar

Living Large in a Small Space: Marlies's Vibrant Studio in the Netherlands

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:30:06 -0800

Marlies lives in the western part of the Netherlands, where, she writes, "It can be quite hard to find a nice affordable home in the city. This small (366ft) studio apartment was offered to me just six months ago, by a organization that provides affordable houses for working young people. I was very happy, because before this I lived in very expensive and even smaller(!) apartments." Marlies notes that although she works with a very small design budget, she loves to create a pretty, cozy home. Using thrifted and antique elements, Ikea finds, and Etsy artwork, she has created a lovely small home for herself. Take the tour to get ideas for creating your own small refuge in the city, and then check out her Flickr page for more inspiration.

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Cool Idea: Real Size Roomscape Curtain

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:15:07 -0700

When you're living in a studio, or otherwise short on space, sometimes you must resort to trompe-l'œil effects to fool people into thinking your pad is bigger than it is. But, mirrored sliding doors on your closet are simply too '80s to even consider. Dutch artist Bauke Knottnerus knows what I mean. Knottnerus's Real Size Roomscape Curtain gives the illusion of more space, as it's printed with a photograph of a living room. Can't afford a sofa? Not enough space for a bulky TV? You've got one instantly with this curtain! And, like any old drape, it does a fantastic job of concealing your junk. I think this product is just a prototype for now, but I could totally see it in Urban Outfitters, couldn't you? What do you think?

Casa Verde: An Energy-Generating Revolving Door

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:59 -0800

When it comes to sustainable technologies, Royal Boon Edam is truly opening doors. The company has introduced the world's first energy-generating revolving door, which not only saves energy but also generates it with each person who passes through. The door was installed in the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in the Netherlands, which was recently refurbished by RAU, an architect firm specializing in ecological buildings. The energy that commuters apply to the door by pushing it is harnessed by a special generator, which safely controls the rotating speed of the door. Meanwhile, low-energy LED lights in the ceiling slurp up the stored energy to keep the door space constantly illuminated. To hear more about this inventive technology, read more.

What's more, red-to-green LED scales inside the door show how much energy is generated and "Human Powered Energy" stickers are adhered to the door, so that people are aware of their contribution as they pass through the door itself. With a daily capacity of 8,500 commuters, the average day-to-day schlep to work adds up to about 4600 kWh in energy savings per year, much more than a standard door that doesn't save any energy! In addition to that, your plain ol' revolving door makes heating and air conditioning more efficient as it prevents air flow in and out of a building. Though Royal Boon Edam's energy-generating revolving door is currently used in a commercial capacity, I think this is only the beginning, and I hope one day our doors will harness our own energy for homes as well - without making me sweat.
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Coveted Crib: Minimalist Modern in Amsterdam

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:52:12 -0800

While minimalism is definitely not my decorating modus operandi, I do envy those who can tightly edit a space to perfection. Such is the case with the Amsterdam apartment of James Webb, a partner, along with Kirstin Gabriëls, in the firm gabriëls webb, a multi-discipline design and architecture office located in Amsterdam.

Although Webb no longer lives in this gorgeous apartment, he writes that having to move out of this space did motivate him to buy his own place, which is, no surprise, lovely as well.

I love the contrasts in Webb's first apartment, from the traditional, wide-planked wood floor with state-of-the-art speakers set upon it to the ornate candelabra set next to an ultra-modern turntable on the mantel. Curious as to what else resides in this modern, minimalist flat? Find out when you read more.

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Source: Flickr User P2an

Trend Alert: Modern Delftware

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:22 -0800

I just came across tattoo artist Paul Tillman's Irezumi dinnerware collection (available here), which seems to be inspired by Dutch delftware with traditional Japanese motifs, and am noticing a trend. Delftware, as you may know, is the blue and white pottery and tin-glazed pottery that originated around Delft in the Netherlands in the 16th to 18th centuries. The ceramics had a white glaze that was typically accented with blue floral and pastoral imagery. But these days, the latest trend is to take that signature blue and white palette and kick it up a notch by injecting it with more contemporary motifs, or in some cases, use ceramic delftware to make unusual items - like a computer.

Lovegrove & Repucci's Urban Delft for Areware (available at Unica Home) gives the conservative Dutch pottery a grittier edge by bringing graffiti into the mix.

See five more of these modern delftware designs when you read more.Marcel Wanders's Delft Blue Collection for Mooi reimagines delft in all sorts of peculiar ways, like a traditional vase being blown away, a piggy bank bearing the brunt of a hammer, and those signature petals adorning a submarine.
Dutch design guru Jacob de Baan put the tradition on its head by using asymmetrical and organic shapes and centuries-old trademarks on his Pitcher ($120) for Royal Delft, a company which has been making the blue and white porcelain since 1653.

Studio Ooms brought the art form into the bedroom with The Milkmaid ($180), their ceramic blue delft dildo.

Anthropologie's Caledon Sugar Bowl ($15) and Creamer ($15) uses more sculptural pieces with stamped motifs to give delftware a contemporary edge.

And, Pure*Delft Blue from Plush Department is the first design computer (and a limited edition) with a ceramic casing handpainted in Delft, also produced by Royal Delft.

Before and After: A Dull Bath Blossoms

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:00:29 -0700

When faced with a dull and drab half bathroom, it's easy to ignore it, since the work to transform the space often seems daunting. However, crafty lady Singalala took her dull and drab bathroom from an eyesore to a standout in one weekend! She writes, "I have been living in my rental house for two and a half years now. I live in the Netherlands and for small, rental houses it is customary to have only one toilet, in the hallway. The shower or bath is usually separate. My toilet is under my staircase and is very, very small. Besides this, my toilet was old, the grout of the floor was loose and it had a big hole where the ventilation pipe was. The lightbulb was attached to the wall with a weird construction. The tap was full of limescale and was missing most of its chrome. The pipe for the water was exposed and painted in a bad shade of beige. The summary: not very pretty."

To see how Singalala turned it around, read more.

Using stencils and a bright shade of paint, Singalala completely transformed this bathroom into something beautiful. She raves, "I love my toilet now! It turned out much better than I imagined, and on a budget. I only paid for the accessories, tap, mural transfers and the metal paint. The rest was free or were leftovers from other projects around the house. And it only took me a weekend! My boyfriend was on holiday and was very pleasantly surprised when he returned."

Read more about this project on Craftster.

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Study Reveals That Men Who Tidy Make the Ladies Happy

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:39 -0700

In another case of researching the obvious, an Oxford University study shows that women are more attracted to men if they believe they will help out with household chores and contribute equally with childcare. As a lucky woman whose husband does half the housework (and as a woman who has been in the opposite situation with boyfriends and housemates in the past), all I can say is: duh!

The study, which was reported in the Telegraph, examined heterosexual relationships in 13 countries, questioning 13,500 men and women between the ages of 20 and 45 from each country about gender, housework, and childcare responsibilities. Those sexy Swedes and Norwegians came out on top, with British men following in third place. The article notes:

Australian men – stereotyped for their love of beer, sport, and the great outdoors – came in last, rated as the least attractive in terms of pulling their weight around the house.

For the complete list, from best to worst, read more.

Sweden
Norway
Great Britain
United States
Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Republic of Ireland
Spain
New Zealand
Japan
Germany
Austria
Australia

H&M to Launch Homewares Collection in 2009

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:33 -0800

I may just be speaking for myself here, but I think for most of us (despite good intentions), the new year is a time of failed resolutions. Sad, but true. Such is not the case for H&M, which will embark on a new venture in early 2009, making its foray into the arena of interiors with a range of home textiles and accessories. Whether you're looking for a quick bathroom update, a new look in the living room, or a punch of color in the kitchen, online and mail order shoppers in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands can count on H&M's expertise to inject a little fashion into your homes. And, of course, it will all come at an affordable price: cushions will range from $6 to $19, bed sets from $19 to $63, and towels from $11 to $19. Some key pieces in the range will be 35 different pillow cover designs and 15 bed linen sets. True to H&M’s clothing heritage, shoppers will be encouraged to mix and match, and with palettes of neutrals, monochrome, nautical blues and reds, and bright neons, it shouldn't be hard. There will be something for everyone, too: bold decorators might choose a Jackson Pollock-inspired paint splatter-printed cushions, while the back-to-basics person goes for H&M's organic bedding and cushions in clean white and soft beige. To see a bunch of photos of the collection, read more.

It looks fabulous, right? A bit of an Ikea meets Urban Outfitters vibe, with a little more pep! I can't wait until it makes its way to the States. All I can say is, Europeans, shop your hearts out and show H&M that they're onto something!

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Love It or Hate It? Le Clochard Cardboard Quilt

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:34 -0700

Tired of faux bois? How about faux carboard? This Le Clochard quilt cover (inquire for price), while made of 100 percent soft-combed cotton, looks like it's made from flattened cardboard boxes. There's a method behind the madness, of course: a large portion of sales will go to support SZN, the foundation for homeless young people in the Netherlands.

Cool Idea: Recycled Chiquita Banana Box Chandelier

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:08 -0700

During her time at the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands, artist Anneke Jakobs salvaged Chiquita Banana boxes and cut out their cheerful banana shapes and iconic logos. She then cleverly arranged them into chandelier form, fastening the cardboard together with cotter pins. Jakobs has made a PDF manual for re-creating her chandelier available on her website, and interested buyers can also email her for pricing. "At the end," she says, "it's everyone's choice to spend their time or their money on something."
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