CasaSugar

This Just In: Eat the View Wins Over On Day One

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:30:35 -0800

You may remember back in August, I told you about a campaign and petition to plant healthy, edible landscapes in high-impact, high-visibility places, including the White House - much like San Francisco's Slow Food Nation Victory Garden - called Eat the View. Well, as it turns out, after the polling the public on their preference of 81 ideas for our future pres., Eat the View was named the winner by On Day One, a platform for gathering ideas about what Obama should do on his first day in office. This isn't to say that Obama will be taking any orders from On Day One, but the people have spoken, and it's clear that many would like to see some veggies growing at 1600 Pennsylvania. What do you think about this campaign? Do you have your own vegetable, fruit, or herb garden? Would you like to see more gardens in public spaces?
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Home Away From Home: The Madonna Inn

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:30:01 -0800

Looking for a kooky, kitschy hotel experience? Then check out San Luis Obispo's own Madonna Inn. This 51-year-old hotel is an absolutely unique experience for visitors, featuring an overwhelming pink color palette and rooms with themes including "Love Nest," "Caveman," and "Portugal."

If you're in the market for a unique wedding reception venue, the Madonna Inn can handle your reception. Fully equipped with a steak house, day spa, convention center, and bar, the Madonna Inn can supply all of your needs - especially if those needs involve gaping at the Swiss-Alps-meets-Old-West decor. One last piece of advice: don't forget to direct your male friends to the rocks and waterfall urinal if they need to take care of business - it's apparently a tourist must-see.

Take the full tour.

12 Works of Art Made From Books

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800

You needn't spend top dollar on oil paints and horsehair brushes to prove your artistic skill. These days, plenty of artists are creating magnificent works of art from things as simple as books and X-acto knives. Some of you may think that books are sacrilegious, and that they should remain as they were printed, from cover to cover. But don't forget that books are printed en masse - and these days, available for download - and one-of-a-kind artwork made from books can be much, much more than the sum of their parts. Let me show you!

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Roundup: Orange Accents

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

I thought I'd continue the talk of warm colors with one color that's very trendy these days: orange. I see orange paired often with deep grays in spare, contemporary spaces. But it looks equally smart in traditional rooms, paired with turquoise or navy. A room painted in orange, or even a chair upholstered in orange, probably wouldn't be my thing. But I do like orange used in accents, especially if the color is continued throughout the room. So I thought I'd round a few up. From clocks and candles to wall hooks and letter trays, orange comes in all shapes, forms, and functions.

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Color Theory: Cool Colors

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:30:48 -0800

This week in Color Theory month, one of the areas I'll be focusing on is cool colors. The term is associated with the contrast of landscape light between the colors of daylight and sunset with a gray or overcast day, cool colors being the latter and warm, the former. Cool colors are the hues that range from blue-green to blue-violet, including gray.

As you know, colors have a psychological effect. Unlike their counterpart, cool colors tend to recede, which in effect creates a calm and relaxing space. With that in mind, you should consider this perceptual temperature of a color when choosing your paint and textiles. Cool colors are great for bedrooms and other lounging spaces. Cool colors also make a great background for warm-colored focal points, making them pop more. Stay tuned for more posts on decorating with cool colors.

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Build-Your-Own Gift Kit

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:15:37 -0700

This Mother's Day, wow the lucky lady on your list with a personalized basket of her favorite goodies. Thanks to our friends at Pier 1 Imports, you can now build your own gift basket. Choose from an oh-so-tempting Spring selection of fragrant soaps, bath products, jewelry, chocolates, and lots more. Tuck in six to seven items, a bit of tissue paper, then tie with a super-colorful ribbon, and voilá! A one-of-a-kind gift created especially by you. Perfect for Mother’s Day. PS: Coming soon – Pier 1 Imports' exclusive new bath collection.

Thanks to Pier 1 Imports for sponsoring this post.

Before and After: An Old Sideboard Gets a Hip Makeover

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:23 -0700

Aside from its missing drawer handle, there's nothing really wrong with this old sideboard. It has a rich color and a beautiful glossy finish. But, sad as it may be, this style of wood furniture is not very of-the-moment. Everyone wants to paint, paint, paint these days. And wallpaper. Paint and wallpaper, paint and wallpaper. I think there should be a balance of both. You've got to mix some wood pieces in with your painted, metal, and plastic ones.

Want to see the transformation this sideboard received? Then read more.

I think it looks great! The marine paint really makes the sideboard's ornate shape stand out, and the two papered drawers add a whimsical touch. Lately, the trend is to paint furniture in high-gloss, but I really like the matte finish of this piece. It seems less frivolous and more timeless than glossy pieces. What do you think?

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Hazelnut's Bryan Batt Opens Up to House Beautiful

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:54 -0700

If you're a design enthusiast and a New Orleans fanatic like me, you know Bryan Batt as a co-owner (with his partner Tom Cianfichi) of one of NOLA's finest décor boutiques, Hazelnut. I featured the boutique back in February of '08, and now Batt is set to ink his own home décor book. If you're just mad for Mad Men, you know him as Sterling-Cooper's in-the-closet, recently fired art director Salvatore Romano.

This month, House Beautiful is getting to know him, too. The shelter glossy has the lowdown on Batt's bedroom behavior, from his no-TV rule to his underbed storage, and of course, his bedroom décor resources.

I'm always interested to see where people get their design inspiration. So it was fun to hear about the jumping off point for his bedroom design:

The painting is the whole point of the room. It's by a friend of mine. Suzie Allain, who's a local artist and designer here in New Orleans. She showed some things at Hazelnut, my store here, and I fell in love with this series of bamboo stalks. She did this for me custom and then the room evolved around it.

See more excerpts from the issue.

Ask Casa: Post-Grad Style

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:56 -0700

Hi Casa!
I'm 22 and I just started my first job out of college. Unfortunately, I still live with my parents. But I figure that if I have to do so then I might as well have a room I enjoy coming back to after a long day of work. I've been wanting to redecorate my room for a while now. However, I don't have a lot of money to spend on new furniture or décor. Most of my furniture is mismatched, and I've had it all since college. Do you have any tips on how I can update my room on the cheap and make it a place that I enjoy spending time?
Thanks! - Kerry

To hear my suggestions for Kerry, read more.

Hi Kerry,

Congrats! I don't think you're alone in this query. Luckily, there are a few easy and affordable things you can do to perk up your bedroom. The idea is to give your room polish and a distinct style, separate from how your parents may have decorated.

First of all, shed everything! If you'd moved into your new apartment, you wouldn't bring everything you've owned since grade school that's still sitting in your parents' house. So, go through it all and recycle, donate, or toss won't you don't want or need. This will give your room a more grownup, less cluttered feel.
Next, create symmetry. The easiest way to do this is to use matching nightstands or bedside table lamps. You can find very chic, affordable lamps at places like Target and HomeGoods. A nightstand can be just a simple side table.
Get a headboard. A headboard will instantly give your room a focal point, and curb any mismatched feel your other furniture gives off. If you can't afford a headboard, try any one of these 10 cool alternatives to off-the-shelf headboards.
Paint your mismatched furniture in one color - glossy white always works - to give the space cohesion.
Create a designated sitting area for reading, having your morning coffee, or making phone calls, etc., with a chair, small accent rug, and small side table. Then you won't feel trapped on your bed or hanging with your parents.
Paint your walls. Color is an easy and cheap fix for any room!
Give your bed a grownup makeover with white bedding, and add color and pattern with throw pillows or a bedskirt.
Find cheap artwork at flea markets, garage sales, or student art sales, or create your own.
Make the space cozy with a rug.
Go "shopping" in other rooms in your home. Look around your parents' home for furnishings that might facilitate the above. With an open mind, you never know what you may find.

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Ask Casa: Decorating With a Puppy in Mind

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:34 -0700

Hi Casa,

We've just recently adopted an adorable puppy, and we're having a great time with her. The only problem is she's taken over the house! We had to move and hide anything she might eat or chew, so our living room and bookcases look empty.

Our kitchen is overwhelmed by her dog bed, and her doggy toys are scattered all over. Plus there's always that dog "smell." I know we need to just find the right system of organization and storage that will be safe for her and attractive to us, but I don't even know where to start! Any suggestions or tips?

Thanks!
Alex

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Alex,

As it happens, I'm pretty well-versed on this one, since my husband and I adopted a puppy back in June (that's him lounging on a friend's sofa a few months ago). It's been eight years since I dealt with a puppy, and I'd forgotten how much work it is! Here are the most helpful things that I've gleaned from my experience of living with, and decorating around, a puppy.

During the day, the puppy is crated, so I usually air out his dog bed on our deck, to keep it smelling fresh. This helps cut the doggy smell.
To organize his toys, I placed a blue tin bucket in one corner. It's actually a really cute container in itself. While Haiko, our puppy, will take his toys out (and won't return them, sigh), it's easier to just toss them all in this bucket once he's abandoned one. This keeps us from tripping over bones and balls, and also keeps the house tidier.
Try to teach your puppy to enjoy one place in common areas as her spot. You can do this by placing her bed in that area, and then rewarding her with praise and treats when she stays there. Eventually, she'll settle in that spot.
I sympathize with you and your empty bookshelves, but don't worry, your puppy will grow out of the chewing stage. I'd try replacing your books little by little. Make sure to sternly tell your pup "No!" if she tries to chew on them, and give her a Kong or bone when she approaches your books. Our puppy went through a long chewing phase, but with simple reprimands and redirecting, he's now left our books and records alone.
To cut down on the doggy smell further, air out your house by opening windows. You can also try a natural air freshener or Nature's Miracle to eliminate odors.
Since doggy smells tend to stick to upholstery, keeping your pets off of furniture will reduce doggy smells as well. If you can't bear to keep your pup off the sofa or bed, you can try laying down a fleece blanket where your puppy usually rests. Make sure to regularly wash the blanket to cut down on smells.
You might also want to look into investing in a dog bed that will fit into your decorating scheme easier. Check out these dog beds on PetSugar for more ideas.

Anyone else have a great puppy strategy? Tell Alex about it when you leave a comment.

Hope this helps!
Casa

Horchow Orange Porcelain Vase - $499.00	Wallter - Slat Rack - $145.00
Etro Mathet Embroidered Throw - $626.00	Bussolari - frida lacquered frame by bussolari - $125.00
Dot Wall Hook - $19.95	Dokument Letter Tray - $7.99
Slope 11"x17" Pillow in Orange - $129.00	Costes Orange - $85.00
Orange Amac Boxes - $0.39	Armand Diradourian Snake Pillow- Orange - $295.00
Vitra nelson ball clock - orange - $335.00	Jonathan Adler - throws by jonathan adler - $295.00
Vitra CLO Clock- Orange - $290.00