CasaSugar

Nick Olsen's Design Advice For Recent Grads

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:34 -0700

The Washington Post recently caught up with Nick Olsen, a protégé of high-profile interior designer Miles Redd and former "Deal Hunter" for Domino's now-defunct blog, Daily Dose. The 27-year-old designer has been discount decorating since his teens, and working under Redd for five years. In other words, he knows a thing or two. So, Olsen offered up some design advice for recent graduates - the brokest brand of decorators around, but also the ones excited to be living on their own for the first time.

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Ask Casa: Books on Spanish Colonial Architecture

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Hello Casa,

My dream is to buy or build a Spanish Colonial home for myself one day. I was wondering if you could recommend some books on this architectural style for me. Some coffee table books would be fine, or something on the construction of the homes too and interior design . . . anything at all I would greatly appreciate. I also remember that you wrote a post about Reese Witherspoon and that her new house was a Spanish Colonial. That house was absolutely lovely too. Thank you in advance!

Always, PeachyKeen19
To hear my suggestions for PeachyKeen19, read more.

Hi PeachyKeen,

Thanks for thinking of me! I'm with you on this one; Spanish Colonial is one of my favorite styles of residential architecture as well. This is especially true of homes with original architectural details. There are a few books I think might be right up your alley.

Haciendas ($34.95) by Linda Leigh Paul, from Rizzoli Press (one of my favorites), highlights the interiors and exteriors of 25 Spanish Colonial homes, both traditional and modern, in Mexico and the US, and will give you a broad overview of the style. This book is quite photography-heavy, with 250 rich photos, but I think this is key for understanding the architectural elements. It also gives a great historical background on the style, with information on the hacienda's origin as homes for Spanish nobility, up to newer styles today throughout the US.
Spanish-Colonial Architecture in the United States ($16.95) by Rexford Newcomb traces Spanish architecture throughout the US, including Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This book is a must-have reference, much more text-heavy than the former, although it is illustrated with 195 photographs and 50 measured drawings. Newcomb is a distinguished architectural historian who's written several books on various styles of architecture. This book is well-documented (no fluff here), and offers a range of perspective views, detailed close-ups, measured front elevations, and floor plans to get down to the grit of the style.
Another title out of Rizzoli Press, California Romantica: Spanish Colonial and Mission-Style Houses ($40.95) is co-authored by actress Diane Keaton and LA-native D.J. Waldie. In architectural circles, Diane Keaton is praised for her preservation of historic California homes, and considered a committed preservationist. California is basically the hub of Spanish Colonial architecture in the US, so this is a must-read even if you plan to live elsewhere. The book features residential examples of both California Mission and Spanish Colonial styles, and introduces you to influential architects like George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Richard Requa, Lilian Rice, and Paul R. Williams.

Beyond that, with her cinematic eye, Keaton made a point to specially commission the photography for this book, so the photos alone are must-see. The book also gives you a tour of Keaton's own Spanish-style home, which I've actually written about before.

Hope that helps! And good luck finding your dream home.

Cheers,
Casa

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Casa Quickie: Don't Be Afraid to Paint

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:30:22 -0700

It always bugs me when my friends put up with their beige rental walls, and then complain that their homes aren't as cute as mine. After college when I was living on my own in a rented studio, my first design decision was to paint my walls Benjamin Moore's "Wales Green." I painted before I'd bought any furniture, aside from a mattress and box spring. It instantly made me feel at home, even though my bedside table was a cardboard box turned upside down.

Apparently, decorator Nick Olsen is with me on this one. He recently shared his biggest design mistakes with The Washington Post, and first on the list is being afraid to paint. "If you're not willing to paint, you're really not willing to do much in terms of decorating," he says. "Being safe will get in the way of good design." I can hear your response already: your landlord won't allow it. Nick says, "I know people will say that they signed an agreement and they are not allowed to paint; fair enough. But every situation is different. I painted every single surface of my first apartment studio and only lost $200 of my security deposit, so it was totally worth it." Worth thinking about.

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On the Market: Grey Gardens For Summer Rental

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:24 -0700

Grey Gardens, the once squalor-filled Hamptons mansion that was the home of "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, aunt and first cousin of Jackie O., and the subject of HBO's recent flick of the same name, can be yours for $30,000 this Summer. Current owners journalist Sally Quinn and husband Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee are renting out their East Hampton mansion from August 28 to Labor Day. Thirty thousand for 11 days in a former garbage-strewn home? Well, the turn-of-the-century house has since undergone an intensive renovation, and Long Island is nice in the Summer. See postrestoration photos of the home from a 1984 issue of Architectural Digest when you read more.

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10 Tips For Short-Term Rental and Sublet Agreements

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:00:23 -0800

Did you know that Washington DC residents are renting out their homes for the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration? Residents can stand to earn a pretty penny: the pictured home is renting for $550 a day! The practice is becoming so popular that there's even a website dedicated to the cause. Whether you're a DC resident looking to rent out your house for inauguration weekend, or a homeowner or renter who'd like to do a short-term sublet for an upcoming vacation, it's better to be safe than sorry when offering your home to a stranger. Douglas Culkin, president of the National Apartment Association, notes that, "By taking some basic precautions, people can leave their homes feeling like they have done their due diligence to ensure a smooth renting experience.”

To see tips from the National Apartment Association, read more.

Draw up a basic, legally binding agreement to secure payment that includes a damaged property clause. Get 50 percent deposit in advance.
Give strong consideration to doing a background check of the resident. It costs about $30 to $40 and can be done in minutes. Search for “resident screening” to find a vendor. Incorporate the cost of the screening into what you are charging for “rent.”
Make sure you're protected with insurance - if someone injures themselves in your home you may be liable. Check your policy.
If you currently rent your home and are thinking of sub-letting it for the week, check with your landlord to make sure you are legally allowed to do so before you post your advertisement.
Make a duplicate set of keys. Send them via an insured carrier service but do not include your home address anywhere in the package, in case it gets lost or stolen before reaching its intended recipient.
Change the locks after they leave. Incorporate this cost into what you charge for rent.
What about pets? If your lease agreement allows them, you'll have to decide if you want to let a renter bring their pet for the week, but be clear if no pets are allowed so there are no surprises upon your return.
As a courtesy, alert your neighbors, who will see strangers entering and exiting your home during their stay, so they don't call the police.
You'll exchange emergency numbers with your renters, but in case you are not immediately reachable, leave a second local emergency contact number, especially if you plan to leave the area.
Clean out the fridge, make some closet space, etc. Schedule to have a cleaning company come before the renters arrive and after they leave. No one wants to see the other's leftovers.

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Su Casa: A Compact and Charming Kitchen Sink

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:31:37 -0700

Today's Su Casa comes from a gallery that Arielrb38 posted showing off her fourth-floor walk-up in Washington, DC. (Want to share your photos? Here's how to post in the Su Casa group.) She makes great use of a small space with the spice rack and hanging fruit baskets, and the plants and the colorful poster really add life to the nook.

Great Art Online: Yee-Haw Industries

CasaSugar — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:00:00 -0700

Yee-Haw Industries was established by partners Kevin Bradley & Julie Belcher, who opened up shop from a back-40 barn in Corbin, Kentucky, with salvaged, antique equipment. Their vibrant, folk art, wood cut prints of country music's classic stars, such as Hank Williams, Sr. and Loretta Lynn, caught eyes and told stories. Soon, modern music acts, including Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Southern Culture on the Skids began commissioning promotional posters and album art. In 1998, having outgrown the bluegrass barn, Yee-Haw moved to Knoxville, where they offer tours of the Yee-Haw studio in action and maintain a store to sell their wares.

To see more of Yee-Haw's beautiful work, and to find out how to win some of it, just read more

Yee-Haw's work has been honored by selection to PRINT Magazine's Regional Design Annual for seven years running and has been reviewed and featured by The Washington Post, AIGA Journal, Fortune Small Business, Southern Living, Esquire, American Illustration 21, and was recently published in The Art of Modern Rock, the Poster Explosion. Yee-Haw has done fine illustration, as well as design and letterpress, for clients such as RRL-Ralph Lauren, The American Visionary Art Museum, MTV2, and the Cartoon Network. The studio has recently collaborated with the National Gallery of Art to design & produce a unique line of Dada merchandise, available exclusively at the National Gallery for the duration of the 2006 Dada exhibition.

Check back later today when we'll be giving away some gorgeous Yee-Haw Industries products to one lucky winner!

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