CasaSugar

How-To: House Backyard Chickens in Style

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

My friend Beth, who I've known since high school, recently started a blog to update her friends and family on her latest domestic adventure - raising backyard chickens. Since Beth never does anything halfway, she and her husband Craig built a chicken coop that is super cute and matches their 1922 Craftsman home.

She writes, "I paid my way through college 10 years ago raising and killing chickens and also had laying hens. I wanted to get another batch of layers, but was resigned because a) we have a teeny tiny backyard; and b) my husband isn't much of a farmer."

However, all was not lost. Beth notes, "This spring, I convinced the man who drank a case of Diet Mountain Dew each week when we met (he has thankfully kicked the habit since) to build raised beds and start an organic garden. I gave up on the idea of having chickens, but he took up the cause and was convinced we could fit a small coop next to the garden."

To find out more about Beth and Craig's chicken-raising adventure, and to see how well their chicken coop matches their home, read more.

"We bought our chicks on July 9th and went on Seattle Tilth's coop tour the following weekend," reports Beth. "Craig took lots of photos and took all the best ideas from the coops we saw for his own design. Some materials were recycled: he salvaged the window and built the window box out of scraps we had from this and other projects. The coop is painted to match our house, white trim and all. Craig thinks the finished product took about 100 hours to build. It's a little over the top, but that's my husband. (By the way, not only has he stopped drinking Mountain Dew, but he's off all high fructose corn syrup and is quite the label reader. Weird. Now he's all about organic veggies and can't wait for the hens to start laying.)"

I have total chicken coop envy now, and I'm also envious of Beth's hubby's building skills. What a great coop! You can keep up with Beth and Craig's chicken adventures on Beth's blog. In the meantime, check out the gallery to see images of the decoupaged interior of the coop, as well as the coop's perfect match to their Craftsman.

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Crave Worthy: A Backyard Bocce Court

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:52 -0700

I've recently become a bocce fanatic - I'm even in a league. It's the ultimate social game because anyone of any age or skill level can play. So, when I saw this backyard bocce court at Ceja Vineyards, I nearly died and went to heaven. I'd kill to have one installed at my house. You can build your own by picking up perimeter and base materials locally and a crushed oyster shell blend from Boccemon for as little as $595, which is still an investment. To have a court professionally built, it could cost between $18,000-$35,000. Yikes, right? For now, I'm happy to play on uneven grass in my backyard or local park. Divits, wet soil, and other natural elements may leave things slightly out of control for the players, but I'm not in it for the competition. Would you like one built at your home?

Do You Nap in Your Backyard?

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:15:13 -0700

With warm, sunny weather tempting many of us, it's hard to stay inside. And after a few hours of gardening, it might be hard to resist a nap in the grass. Just don't forget your sunscreen!

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Do You Spend Time Outdoors at Thanksgiving?

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:30:20 -0800

After Thanksgiving dinner, I love to take a steaming cup of coffee outside and sit in the backyard to reflect on the holiday. My family also often takes a stroll through our neighborhood to work off some of our holiday dinner. Do you spend any time in your backyard or neighborhood after Thanksgiving dinner?
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Where Do You Put Your Leaves?

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:30:54 -0700

Many of us rake the leaves that fall into our yards in the Autumn. But where do you put them?

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Su Casa: Hanako66's Backyard Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:30:25 -0700

Su Casa member Hanako66 recently put in a lot of work to make her yard and garden shine.

She writes,

These pictures were unfortunately not taken in the spring when everything was in bloom, but will give you an idea of what our yard looks like. I still really need patio chairs too! When my husband and I moved in, the yard was completely dirt. We installed all irrigation, plant material, grass, and our pavers all on our own. My husband even built me a planter for my garden! The only item that we contracted out was our concrete.

I'm impressed by the amount of work Hanako66 and her hubby did. All of that landscaping and building adds up to a lot of weekends! For more pictures of her beautiful outdoor space, read more.

Do you have a home update to share? Then join Su Casa!

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Su Casa: A Beach Backyard to Die For

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Su Casa member Scolls1583 recently snapped some photos at a friend's beach house party in Boston, and was so impressed she decided to share! She says that the host basically built his backyard area "from the ground up . . . put in a pool, built a bar, and decorated with great furniture." I'm certainly wowed by this home; it looks like the perfect place to entertain during an endless Summer. Aside from the obvious coveted Summer features (pool and beach), he's set up plenty of comfortable seating for all of his guests, what looks like a firepit or grill (in foreground), a volleyball net (not shown), and a beer pong table. Can anyone say PARTY?! If you're interested in posting pictures of superb pads like this, make sure to join my Su Casa group!

Home Library: Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:15:04 -0700

If you've ever dreamed about building a backyard escape, then Debra Prinzing's book Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways is a must-read. The book highlights 28 crave-worthy backyard or backwoods spaces across the US. Whether it's a modest suburban shed that's been turned into a writing space or an elegant gallery created from a renovated boathouse, this book offers much in the way of inspiration to its readers.

To see some gorgeous photos from the book, and to hear more about it, read more.

The gorgeous full-color photos were shot by William Wright, who lavishly documents both small nooks and the overall structures. The book also contains sample plans for building a shed as well as practical ideas for building and design. I, for one, am inspired, and have already begun envisioning what our backyard would look like with a 100-square-foot structure in the far corner. If you're prone to hatching similar plans, I recommend picking up a copy of Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways.

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Roundup: Metal Lanterns For Outdoor Spaces

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:56:11 -0700

Earlier today, the fabulous lanterns in Justine's backyard inspired me to post a Midday Muse about backyard paradises. Now, my mind is jumping ahead to Summer backyard parties, filled with great barbecue, fun friends, and lively discussions. And what better way to light your friends' conversations than with some beautiful metal lanterns? I've rounded up a few to give you some ideas.

Assisted Living: Picking Out Patio Cushion Fabric

Casa Community — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0700

CasaSugar Community member itownsend of the Assisted Living group is looking for some decorating ideas for the black iron tables on her new deck:

Hi Casa! I just had my back deck redone and am looking forward to having guests over and enjoying it this Spring. I bought a new table and chair set to match one I already own. I think I'm going to leave the woodwork its natural color and my house is red brick so I'm feeling a bit limited on my color palette. I'd like to do a fun print but the only outdoor fabrics I can find are solids. What do you suggest I use for my patio furniture?

To see what I suggest and to give her some of your own ideas, just read more.

Cheers to you for getting on your outdoor decorating so that when Spring arrives, you can enjoy it. Your fresh deck, brick exterior, and black wrought iron patio furniture will actually make picking fabric quite easy. You could play it safe with solids but I agree with you - patterns are more fun and generally better at hiding stains. Country Living has a line of Sunbrella prints that are dreamy and would add the perfect amount of spunk to your backyard. A kelly green, cherry red, and a beige Ikat are my top choices. If you're not feeling up for the sewing task, there are some great deals on outdoor cushions at Pottery Barn, Pier 1, and Ballard Designs. Does anyone else have any suggestions for paint colors? Please comment below! Have a decorating dilemma of your own? Be sure to post your photos and tales in the Assisted Living group!