CasaSugar

Nice and New: Brocade Home Brushed Metal Vase

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:00:22 -0700

We discussed last week how Brocade Home is back, but with little fanfare and no new Fall collections to show for all the time it spent on its grand vacance this Summer. But, I did notice something nice, new, and appropriate for Fall in the shop. The oversized Brocade Home Brushed Metal Vases ($129) in high-gloss bronze have a warmth that faces off with the rapidly decreasing temperatures these days. At 22 to 30 inches high, they're also statement pieces that will demand attention whether or not you fill them with fresh flowers. If bronze isn't for you, though, they're also available in silver. What do you think?

How-To: Remove Contact Paper Adhesive

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:12 -0800

Remember how I covered my hideous linoleum floors with woodgrain contact paper? Well, while they looked fabulous, it came time to take them off. The contact paper itself was easy to remove, but as expected, a very tough adhesive residue was left. I tried literally everything to get rid of the sticky mess - WD40, Goo Gone, vinegar, Oops!, you name it - and searched far and wide on the Internet for tips to no avail. In the end, thanks to a tip from a friend, I was able to remove the residue. Want to know what the magic potion was?

12 Works of Art Made From Books

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800

You needn't spend top dollar on oil paints and horsehair brushes to prove your artistic skill. These days, plenty of artists are creating magnificent works of art from things as simple as books and X-acto knives. Some of you may think that books are sacrilegious, and that they should remain as they were printed, from cover to cover. But don't forget that books are printed en masse - and these days, available for download - and one-of-a-kind artwork made from books can be much, much more than the sum of their parts. Let me show you!

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Casa Quickie: Cleaning Soot

CasaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:30:20 -0800

If your fireplace's brick surface is marred by a thick layer of soot, here's one nontoxic way to deal with it. Just mix up an ounce of soap with an ounce of table salt. Mix with enough water to make a cream and then rub it onto the brick's surface with a cloth. After 15 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush. It requires some elbow grease, but it will help cut the soot!

Source: Flickr User Ted Percival

Casa Quickie: Freeze 'Em

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:00:23 -0700

When you're painting your interiors, and the task takes more than one day, it's a pain in the butt to have to wash all of your brushes and supplies whenever you take a break. So instead of washing all of the paint off my brushes, I just pop them in the freezer in a plastic bag and defrost them when I need to get back to my paintstaking project. If you've got room to spare in your freezer, you might as well keep your brushes frozen even after your project is done. That way, if you ever need to do touchups, your brush will be ice cold and ready to go!

Cool Idea: A Dignified Toilet Brush

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:00:42 -0800

Nobody likes to look at the toilet brush. That's why we hide it behind the toilet or under the bathroom sink. However, if I owned the
Vipp 11 Toilet Brush ($200), I'd display this sleek canister in prime viewing sight. Handmade in Denmark, it's solidly constructed and available in white, matte black, cream, reykjavik blue, and stainless steel. I love it when good design shows up in the most humble parts of our homes!

Casa Quickie: Dual-Purpose Paint Brush

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:30:38 -0800

If you have dust and dirt in hard-to-reach crevices in your home, try using a paint brush to remove it. The fine bristles will successfully flush out dirt from even its most stubborn hiding places, and will do a more thorough job than a household broom.

Source

Nice and New: Bottle Brush Christmas Tree

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:25:46 -0800

While the smell of fir trees at Christmas time can't be beat, those pesky needles all over the floor are definitely overrated. That's why this Kuno Prey 58" Christmas Tree new at Unica Home is kind of a great option. Its branches are made of green bottle brushes (aka cleaning supplies, you lazy bum) and has a festive red base. It's pretty kitschy, but that's why it makes me smile. And you can save it for next year...and the year after that...until its loses its charm, which it won't. I know it's just barely November but supply is limited, so order fast!

Before and After: Charming House Shelves

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:00:40 -0700

Writer and crafter Mary Helen recently stumbled across these cute unfinished house shelves at the Salvation Army. Seeing crafty potential in these plain Jane shelves, she decided to take them home and turn them into something fabulous.

Want to see how she transformed these shelves? Then read more.

Using white craft paint and Amy Butler craft paper, Mary Helen took these shelves from boring to vibrant. She explains,

Using newsprint to create templates for the shelf cavities, I carefully traced the shape of each shelf onto my decorative paper. I cut each pieces out and trimmed it as needed so that it would lay perfectly flat inside the shelf. Then, I used a foam brush to apply a very thin coat of Elmer’s Glue (you can also use Mod Podge) to the back of each piece of paper. After gluing, I placed the paper on the wall of the shelf, and smoothed it out with a dry foam brush.

I love this smart project, which is an excellent example of upcycling. And I can't wait to see what cute little objects Mary Helen will place in her shelves, once they're hung. Check out Mary Helen's post for all of her advice and directions.

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DIY: A Fab Photo Wall

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:36 -0700

I love this instant-art idea, used in one of the Superior Deluxe Rooms at the Portland Ace Hotel. It also seems like it's begging to be DIYed.

Find out how to create something similar when you read more.

You can re-create this look by measuring your wall, and then selecting white matting for each photo, and mounting the matted photos along your wall. Or, you can simply use a découpaging technique to fasten the photos to your wall directly. See how to do the latter below.

Measure your wall, and then estimate the number of photos you want to use for each row. Space the photos evenly. You may want to cut out pieces of paper that are the same size as your photos, and then gently tape them to the wall. Experiment until you have the dimensions and spacing that you like the best.
Lightly pencil in the space where each photo should be. Use a ruler, measuring tape, and level to make sure the photos are even.
Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper on the floor below the wall you're covering.
Open up your windows, and make sure the room is well ventilated.
Using a sponge brush, apply wheat paste to a small portion of the wall.
Now, line up the first photo, and apply it, burnishing out any bubbles with your hands as you press it onto the wall.
Continue to apply wheat paste and press your photos onto the wall, lining them up neatly until the wall is covered.
Make sure you've burnished out any bubbles. Sometimes using a credit card here will help.
Now, allow the wall to dry.
Using a synthetic bristle brush, apply a coat of Polycrylic Protective Finish, which will protect the pages from peeling, scuffing, and other damage.
If your adjacent walls get messy from applying the Polycrylic, you can easily clean it up with a sponge and some warm, soapy water.

Source