CasaSugar

Etsy Find: Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:15:35 -0800

My Etsy Finds normally fall under the categories of crafty things, textiles (napkins!), or artwork. But it's rare to find a furniture piece that's not just a reupholstered ottoman. So, I was surprised to come across this Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet ($129). Quite the unique, modern piece, it's a small vanity cabinet with an extending side mirror, three interior storage cubes, an interior cork board, and door-front knobs to hang jewelry from. The cabinet is also fixed with a light bulb to illuminate while you're applying makeup or trying on jewelry. The cabinet can be attached to a wall or rested on a table. It's certainly not for a traditionalist, but for those with a contemporary home, it's a wonderfully functional piece to own.

Etsy Find: Jean Pelle Dorit Candleholder

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Ever since I came across her Vanity Cabinet, I've been keeping tabs on Brooklyn-based designer Jean Pelle's work. My latest fave is her Dorit Candleholder ($35), a faceted, rock-like, hand-cut wooden candleholder, hand-leafed with 24k yellow gold. The gold faces are unexpected and an interesting, luxurious partner to the masculine wood. I have kind of a problem with candlesticks . . . I own more than I can host in one room, so I have to rotate them. But, I'd be delighted to add a set of Dorits to the rotation.

Etsy Find: Black Lacquer Chairs

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:30:36 -0800

I've been finding some very cute furniture pieces lately on Etsy. From the Fruit Stripe Dresser to the Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet, it seems as if more vendors and customers are discovering that Etsy's not just for home accessories and jewelry these days.

I love the purple exuberance of this pair of Mediterranean Chairs ($950). That eggplant hue will certainly make a statement in your living room or bedroom, though I think they'd also look fabulous in an office. Of course, I'm also attracted to their high-gloss black lacquer finish.

The clever ladies behind Spruce Home, a design studio based in Austin, TX, are responsible for these cool chairs. I'm definitely a fan of their work, and have featured it in the past. If these purple chairs aren't your style, check their Etsy store for other cool furniture finds.

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Five Tips For Increasing the Property Value of Your Home

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:15:09 -0700

In anticipation of the new TLC series Hope For Your Home, which premieres this Saturday, I thought I'd share with you host Kirsten Kemp Becker's five tips for increasing the value of your property. A veteran Realtor, author and real estate company, and owner of a successful design company, Becker knows a thing or two about acclimating your home to the current economic climate. Here's a few ways she says you can do so yourself:

Plants on the outside. "The most economic way to achieve curb appeal is by refining your landscaping at the front of your house and by making sure the front door is the focal point. Guests, buyers, and appraisers will take notice of the entry experience and homeowners/sellers need to establish that emotional connection from the moment they pull up to your home. Remember the details: trim weeds, fix broken screens, hide the trash cans from view, and plant some fresh flowers in prominent planters."

There's four more where this came from, so read more.

Paint on the inside. "The biggest transformation in the shortest period of time results from paint. It can lighten a room, create an accent wall, and provide flow from one space to another."
- "If you can't afford new lighting or higher ceilings try painting a neutral color on the walls and a shade lighter on the ceiling."
- "To give a room a focal point or create more drama around one wall, try your hand at some color by painting it a shade of chocolate or charcoal to achieve a designer's touch."
- "If you can't afford to remodel the entire house and change your floor plan to make each room transition smoothly, try using the same shade of paint in all the public areas and down hallways - consistency of tone adds a feeling of congruency and openness."

Kitchens and baths. "Invest time and money into updating kitchens and bathrooms, but it doesn't mean ripping it all out and starting over - you can enhance what is already there. Learn to distract buyers' eyes from that which is not perfect by directing them towards areas that have been completely updated. A coat of paint and new hardware on existing cabinets and bathroom vanities can instantly update dated countertops tiles and fixtures. Take it one step further by using epoxy over existing tile or regrout to avoid demolishing and installing new tile, which saves time and money."

Declutter. "Stick with the timeless tried and true paint colors, accessories, and furniture in order to maximize the length of time and enjoyment out of your investment. Paramount to this is how you maintain your home. There is nothing like clutter to bury a home's value. If a professional can't see the space, appreciate the finishes or easily navigate around personal belongings and oversized furniture, they can't appraise it or sell it for top dollar."

Clean, clean, then clean again. "Even if a house has a poor floor plan, limited landscaping, or outdated bathrooms and kitchens, everything looks more valuable when it is well maintained and dust free. Pride of ownership shines through in a house that is clean and well cared for, which translates into higher profits in a sale and more attractive loan options for a refinance."

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Coveted Crib: San Francisco Ex-Brothel Rowhouse

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:41:58 -0800

This Italianate townhouse, featured in This Old House was for years a brothel in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, then sliced into seven poorly-constructed apartments, and has now been returned to its original form as a single-family dwelling, built in 1878. The current owners, the Wynnes, recently hired "architectural designer Amy Hall McNamara and general contractor Eric Maykranz, a specialist in old-home restoration" to remake the building to meet their family's needs.

Along the way they uncovered and restored many wonderful, original treasures like an intricate floor medallion, a once gas-lit light fixture, an ornate mahogany staircase, walnut-inlayed maple floors, several stained glass windows, and a trio of magnificently cased, tally bay windows. Mixed with quietly traditional decor, and a few updates like a marble-top double bathroom vanity, a built-in glass-front cabinet bar, a circular kitchen floor plan, and handsome, wide openings between the living and dining rooms, the house pays tribute to its 19th century heritage without being hindered by it. For a tour of the elegant rowhouse revival,

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