CasaSugar

Open House: Have a Heart

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Now that Valentine's Day has passed, I'm curious if any you have any new heart-shaped furnishings. OK, hearts may be a little cliché, but I'm all for a healthy serving of them around the house. Naturally, I'd prefer some diamonds as a V-day gift (tee-hee), but with all the trendy, hearty items around, what's not to love? I received this heart-shaped Venetian mirror from an antique shop from my mother, and it's happy living on my soft-lime walls. Yes, it's a girly, guilty pleasure, but aren't I allowed a little of that every once in a while?
Tell me, do you have any heart-themed furnishings in your home?

Casa Verde: An Eco Valentine

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0800

The Alexander Girard PLYprint Love Heart ($89) offers you an Alexander Girard in the 1970s as part of the Herman Miller Environment Enrichment Panel program. Now, for the first time since 1972, the Love Heart is available through a reissue from Columbia Forest Products. Made in the US and sustainably harvested, the maple plywood board is printed with water-based inks.

I love the sustainable aspects of the Love Heart, as well as its folksy, whimsical design. Can you find a place for it in your romantic, modern home?

Before and After: My Paint Swatch Papercut Valentine

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

I've shown you plenty of lovely Valentine's Day cards, but it's more personal to make something yourself. If you read my paint swatch weaving DIY, you know about my preference for paint swatches as an affordable crafting medium. Check out this slideshow to see how I've turned this pretty pink paint swatch into a little piece of papercut Valentine's Day artwork.

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Cool Idea: The Innervision Mirror

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Sometimes a mirror doesn't show us what we want to see, be it an unfortunate new hair color in the beautician's mirror, or a bit of smudged mascara on your eyelid. Sometimes we just need the mirror to tell us something good. That's why I can heartily recommend the Thorsten Van Elten Innervision Mirror ($100). Available in two different quotes from author and man-about-town Oscar Wilde, my favorite reads, "To love oneself is the beginning of a life long romance." A fitting sentiment for all of us on the brink of Valentine's Day - whether we're single or involved.

To see the other mirror, and its quote, read more.

The other quote isn't quite as much of a pep talk, but it is cheeky - and appropriate: "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances." After all, Oscar Wilde is the author of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, a gothic meditation on beauty.

Are There Flowers in Your House Right Now?

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

I recently picked up a small bouquet to place on the dining room table, since some bright blooms really lift my spirits in the Winter months. The flowers were a steal, too, at only $6, so I felt like it was a little splurge that went a long way. Are there flowers in your house right now?

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6 Cheap and Easy Valentine's Day Decorations

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Valentine's Day probably isn't your biggest blowout when it comes to holiday decorating, but that doesn't mean you can't put a few pennies toward giving your home a cute seasonal look. Here are six super-easy and affordable decorating ideas that will make your house blush.
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The Card Shop: Hello!Lucky Dreamy Card

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

If your valentine has a thing for surrealistic situations and fanciful illustrations, then he or she will love the You're Dreamy Card ($4.50) from Hello!Lucky. With visions of Abe Lincoln, Sergeant Pepper-era John Lennon, and tall sailing ships, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more nontraditional Valentine's Day greeting for your nontrad true love. I think it's pretty perfect, don't you?

How-To: Keep Your Valentine's Day Bouquet Fresh

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

If you're expecting a bouquet of flowers this Saturday, prepare yourself with a few of my tips on keeping them fresh and oh-so-pretty. If there's no man in your life to shower you with Valentine's Day gifts, treat yourself! You deserve it. If your beau brings you flowers every day of the week, you need not read further, and you really should be giving me lessons. Otherwise, to hear my tips, read more.

Do not put your flowers in warm water; this dehydrates them. So once you've cut them, place them in a clean vase filled with cold water.
Cut flowers can sometimes go into shock when they experience extreme fluctuations in temperature, causing them to die suddenly. So, keep them away from warm or cold air drafts, don't transfer them from a hot room to a cold one, and don't leave them overnight in a place (i.e. work) where the heating or air conditioning may be turned off at night.
The waterline on the stems shouldn't be any higher than about a half of a foot.
Some florists sell packets of "flower food" that kill bacteria growing on your flowers. It may work like a charm, but you don't need them: I have some easy household alternatives for you. One tried-and-true alternative is adding a couple tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar; the acidity will kill off bacteria. I just use whatever is handy. Pouring in a tablespoon of bleach should also kill off mold.
Cut the stems of your flowers every couple of days, and replace the water and flower food whenever you do this as well.
You should also make sure to pick off any foliage below the water line to prevent bacteria growth.
If your flowers have wilted, you can try to restore them by putting them in a vase filled with near boiling water.
Most florists receive their fresh flowers at the beginning of the week, so by Friday, they're already on their last legs. Buying your flowers earlier in the week will give you more time with them. On the other hand, most florists will give you a good discount on stems if you buy them on Friday.

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Crave Worthy: The Love Letter Light by Molo

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

For any modernists out there who can't stand the sight of a pink heart, feast your eyes on The Love Letter Light by Molo ($510). This light is constructed from an electroluminescent film, which provides a surface for you and your honey to write love notes to each other. With a romantically low light, similar to that of a candle, it will cast a romantic glow over your boudoir. The lamps are sturdily supported by a base of wool felt rock, with the luminescent film connected to the base by a steel wire. Pair it with some LivingStones Cushions and you'll have a modern and cool space to express your playful sense of romance.

Cool Idea: An Enduring Valentine's Day Gift

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:30:00 -0800

After years of flower arrangements stocking our cabinets with boring glass vases, Rose and Radish has come up with a more sensible approach to valentines. They've paired some of their favorite design objects - not vases - with stunning arrangements of fresh flowers, so that after those blossoms wilt, your loved one will have something to hold on to. They'll work with you to find a style and price range that works for you. This vessel, Sweet Nest ($389), which is made of Nymphenburg porcelain, has a higher price point than most of the other options. Unfortunately, delivery is only available in San Francisco, but you can easily recreate this Valentine's Day gift yourself. To see how this nest can be used when the flowers are long gone, read more.

It's a votive holder! A beautiful one at that.