CasaSugar

Before and After: A Change in Chelsea

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:21 -0700

Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door is at it again! This time the DIY expert and interior designer conquered her young sister's apartment in Chelsea, NYC, which is shared with two roommates. Communal living spaces often pose a problem, as each roommate has her own tastes, and recent grads often can't afford to be spending their hard-earned mula on décor. So with a budget of only $350, Camila made over her sister's living/kitchen/dining area. As you can see, this wall with cupboards was a bit of wreck before. She says, "I swear the busted chair was just like that. I did not stage it!" Want to see the after photo? Then read more.

A few punches of color face off with plain vanilla walls - and win. She painted the cabinets with chalkboard paint, which is ideal for notes between roomies. And the stools flanking the cabinets were a curbside find, which she upholstered in chic gray stripes. Accessories and some cute embroideries add girlish flair. This project is an inspiring one; it's not complicated, but it's certainly happy! See more before and after photos of the apartment at High-Heeled Foot in the Door!

Casa Quickie: Chicken Wire For Open Shelving

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

Vintage china cabinets may be beautiful, but their glass doors are too precious for some homes. So if you have an all-wooden armoire or glass china cabinet, you can replace the wooden or glass door façades with chicken coop wire to bring an inherited piece of furniture into the 21st century. Chicken wire offers the visual lightness of glass, but it's less formal - ideal for those of you with eclectic or shabby chic homes. And yes, you could just remove the doors, but this effect is more unique. I love how the collection of beautiful dishes looks stacked in this cabinet. Why hide them?
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Cool Idea: Cabinet Door Mirror

CasaSugar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:30:49 -0700

In a Sydney home tour shot by photographer Todd Selby, I noticed this old cabinet door - check out the knobs in the center behind the plant - repurposed as a mirror, and love the look of it. I've seen old windows repurposed in plenty of ways (see here and here), but never a door. On second thought, this could be a window that opens outward. Regardless, I love how it's both thrifty and polished and how it upcycles something that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Have you repurposed any windows or doors in your home?

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Before and After: Van Gogh Armoire

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:00:59 -0800

TeamSugar member Citygal, who gave her TV cabinet a makeover in July, is at it again. This time, she's made over an armoire she bought off of Craigslist for $100 with a can of paint and some chic door handles. First, she removed the original knobs. Then, she primed the armoire and painted on two coats of Scheuder-Holland 2070 Van Gogh Yellow. Finally, she replaced the original hardware with a pair of Anthropologie Rock Candy Handles ($18). To a see a photo of the finished product, read more.

I think her armoire looks exponentially better! I love the color she chose; it's an ideal partner for the primary colors in her painting. And the period antique brass and glass handles add a touch of nostalgia that conquers the big box retailer look of the original armoire. Wonderful, right? Have you made over any furniture lately? If so, be sure to add your photos to our Su Casa group!

Crave Worthy: Victoria Cocktail Cabinet

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

You can't get away with serving two-buck Chuck and Popov from this magnificent Pedro Sousa Cocktail Cabinet ($22,750). Well, maybe you could, since your guests might be so distracted by the fabulousness of this cabinet they'd miss out on the bottles altogether.

The first of a collection of limited edition cabinets by the young Portuguese designer Pedro Sousa, who graduated from design school in 2002, this case piece is not only a sleekly luxurious and unusual confection, but an investment in fine art. Its base may look like cast iron, but it's actually hand-carved and lacquered wood, and its drawers are made of high quality leather. The exterior of the cabinet is akin to the Batmobile - multi-faceted, slick, and intimidating - but its sunshine-yellow interior pours a spoonful of fun into your domestic mixology.

Before and After: Au Revoir Rouge

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Nearly a year ago I bought this red television stand made by an artist out of materials from an antique milk crate. I loved the industrial look of it, and how a half-moon shape was worn away next to the handle. The large cabinet is ideal for my media storage, too. But, the minute I got it home, I knew the vibrant red color simply wouldn't work with my green walls. Can you say impulse purchase?
I tossed and turned over it for months, and finally recently decided to spray paint it white. I taped off the brass handle and wheels, to keep the hardware intact. A few hours and four cans of high gloss white later, and the table made perfect sense in my home. To see my vision in white, read more.

As you can see, bright red wouldn't have coordinated very well with my green walls. With every sweeping motion of the paint can, I was anxious I'd made the wrong choice. But, I'm happy with it now. Much like the side table I recently made over, a little paint goes a long way. What do you think?

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.

Do You Have Open Shelving?

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:45:24 -0700

Americans are too attached to their kitchen cupboards. It's as if they'd never considered storage other than upper cabinets. Open shelving can actually make a kitchen feel open, relieving the tight, cramped feeling that many kitchens have, in addition to leaving space to display artwork and other decorative elements. But if you don't have matching dishes or you're not diligent about stacking them neatly, open shelving can look sloppy. And of course, open shelves attract dust more easily.

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Nice and New: Convertible Compact Desk

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:30:00 -0700

If you want a home office as stylish as you are, it's best to start with a smart desk. If you're negotiating tight spaces, there's no need to bring home a big chunky desk; there are plenty of small ones out there. Crate & Barrel has just come out with its Convertible Compact Desk ($499), which is a clever home-office solution that converts from a 30-inch cabinet to a 55-inch full-size desk by sliding out its top panel (and desk's legs). The cabinet itself has removable dividers to store small odds and ends, storage for a laptop, cord cutouts for all of your wires, as well as a larger storage drawer and a filing cabinet drawer. Now, if only someone could do your work for you . . .

Etsy Find: High Tea Spoon Cabinet

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:45 -0700

I've written about many common types of storage and even some that have stumped you. But, never a spoon cabinet. Only the Aussies (OK, and maybe the Brits) would designate an entire cabinet on the wall just for their spoons. I'll overlook this absurdity given my interest in the Tim Neve High Tea Spoon Cabinet ($45). The silverware storage unit received a modern update with a bold graphic illustration print used as a backing and a finish of glossy black paint, making it scrumptiously delightful. So, for those of you who have a vintage spoon collection, you can rest assured that you won't look one bit Granny for it — (even though you kind of are).