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Wallpaper Magazine's 2009 Design Awards Winners

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:32 -0800

Wallpaper magazine, which focuses a discerning and design-savvy eye on topics such as travel, design, entertainment, fashion, and media, has just released its Design Awards 2009 issue, which goes on sale today. The 2009 Design Awards, which include recognition for everything from best grooming product to best women's fashion collection, also showcases a number of home and interior design items as well. The judges, which included Kanye West, had their work cut out for them, but I have to say they came up with some great choices. Definitely check out the current issue (W* 119) of the magazine for the full portfolio of judges' portraits and full explanations of the winning entries. To see some of the home-related award winners, check out the slideshow. Source

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The Hottest Stuff at ICFF 2009

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:49:05 -0700

As part of the 21st annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York, 16 companies were honored with the 2009 ICFF Editors Awards. Misewell, a Wisconsin-based furniture company owned by these two cuties, was one of the winners. Find out about who they are and what they won, and what else caught the judges' eyes, including eco materials, American-made furniture, and stunning accessories.
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Coveted Crib: Montecito Residence

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:58 -0700

The American Institute of Architects recently recognized this Montecito, CA, home's functional, graceful design when it named it one of 17 winners of its annual Housing Awards Program. Montecito Residence is a single-family home set in the dry, wildfire-prone Toro Canyon. Designed by Seattle-based firm Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, the Montecito Residence won in the One/Two Family Custom Housing category.

The home's minimalist look is both practical and elegant. Given the fire danger in the area, simple, fire-resistant materials such as steel and concrete reduce the risk of the structure being lost to a wildfire. The architectural firm utilized a raised roof that shields the house from the area's brutal sun. This umbrella-like roof also creates a central hallway that catches off-shore breezes, helping to naturally cool the house.

The minimalism continues on the interior as well, which helps to keep focus on the exterior landscape, and provides open interior spaces for relaxing (as well as for romps for the owner's three dogs). I'm impressed how practical materials, such as steel and glass, showcase the beauty of common-sense architecture and design.

For more photos of this stunning residence, read more.

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Swiss Architect Peter Zumthor Wins Pritzker Prize

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:35:07 -0700

Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has been named as the winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the architecture world's most prestigious annual award. Zumthor, 65, will receive his honor - which is often described as the Nobel of Architecture - at a ceremony in Buenos Aires on May 29, along with a $100,000 grant.

Zumthor's work is noted for its austerity, and his most famous buildings include the Therme Vals in Vals, Switzerland, and his St. Nikolaus von der Flue Chapel near Cologne, Germany, the former of which exudes meditational spareness with its thick walls, use of stone, and indirect sunlight.

On winning the prize, Zumthor notes, "That a body of work as small as ours is recognized in the professional world makes us feel proud and should give much hope to young professionals that if they strive for quality in their work it might become visible without any special promotion."

For photos of the Therme Vals, read more.

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Berkeley, CA Resident Wins Met Home of the Year

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:00:49 -0800

Karman Ng of Berkeley, CA, is the winner in the Met Home of the Year Contest, selected by Metropolitan Home from its favorite readers’ homes and spaces of 2008. The prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Ng, who owns a design firm, designed a home for himself, his wife, and his 4-year-old daughter that successfully merges warm, inviting colors, a modern design, and a common-sense approach to family living.

To see another photo of this home, read more.

Ng's award-winning home features a multilevel floor plan with small rooms that feature built-ins, dramatic lighting, and smart storage solutions. The designer noted that he wanted a home that could “host cocktail parties as easily as it could host slumber parties, and also one that felt warm enough for my family but ‘cool’ enough for our guests.”

Want to add your two cents to this year's contest? Then take Metropolitan Home's online poll to vote for your favorite home from the 11 finalists and Ng’s grand prize-winning home. The reader favorite will receive the Readers’ Choice Award.
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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:30:45 -0800

Moby wants to be your landlord.
Be inspired by some red carpet looks.
Got ash? Here are 10 ways to reuse it.
Gaetano Pesce is an award-winner.
Do you know which Hollywood actor has an opulent home?
Versace launched a new e-home boutique.
Learn how to keep a neat and clean Winter entry.
I want to know if you can turn trends into classics.

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:30:49 -0800

What will be 2009's Keep Calm and Carry On?
Learn about a cool natural earth building method.
Don't forget to enter January's Su Casa Challenge.
Try out my ideas for displaying vintage aprons.
Zooey Deschanel graces the cover of February's domino.
Check out Wallpaper magazine's 2009 design award winners.
Do you own a dress form?

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Cool Idea: Instant Photo Frame

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:00:51 -0700

Sherwood Forlee is the New York-based design engineer who created the HomeHero Fire Extinguisher, the winner of the 2007 IDSA Gold Award and a much blogged about home-safety item. But, Forlee's forté isn't only in saving lives, he also rescues photos. With framing costs high and limited space in our homes, many of our photos get thrown by the way side, never seeing the light of frame. With his Instant Photo Frame though, Forlee has made it possible to frame every photograph we take. By downloading this frame for free, cutting out its interior, and placing it in front of your camera before you take your photo, you'll have an instant (and free) frame for every photo you snap. To see how it works, read more.

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West Elm Winner to Be Announced on Wednesday!

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:00:10 -0700

At long last, we have a winner. And better yet, we can announce it. The west elm sweepstakes, which awards one lucky Casa reader with a $5,000 wish list, has an official winner!

I'll be announcing the winner on Wednesday, so check back in to see which lucky Casa reader won our prize. And in the meantime, show us your wall!

This Just In: Domino Readers' Choice Winner

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:56:09 -0800

Lara from Atlanta, Georgia, is the winner of Domino's Readers' Choice Award! While there were many great homes featured in the contest, I have to agree that this one is a gem.

To see more pictures of the house, and to hear what Lara has to say about her house, just read more.

Lara writes,

I love whimsy. I love color. I love vintage design. And at heart, I am a hunter. I love finding some discarded treasure, whether it be at a flea market, estate sale or eBay. I live for a good bargain and have a keen sense of knowing the value of things. I'm not above mixing old with new, like my retro-inspired couch by Crate & Barrel. It fits perfectly with all my actual vintage furniture. To me, great design is about having a good eye for those special pieces and then knowing how to put it all together. Oh and a little about me, I am a photographer and moved from NY to Atlanta just five years ago.

Congrats to the winner, and to all of the other wonderful homes that we got to peek into during this contest!

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