CasaSugar

Do You Have Colored Cabinetry?

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:35 -0700

These vibrant green cabinets are not something I'd choose for my own home, but seeing this bold color choice has got me to thinking about how rare colored cabinets in general are. White and wood stains are pretty much the standard when it comes to kitchen cabinetry, although there are some common exceptions like the Ikea Akrum Cabinet. But I rarely see even a more subtle color like light blue. Do you have colored cabinets? If so, tell me what color in the comments below!

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Cool Idea: A Kitty Litter Cabinet

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:00:30 -0800

Keep your house So Fresh and So Clean with a designated kitty-litter box cabinet. This Brookhaven Colony Recessed Cabinet (inquire for price) from Quintessentials was carved with a cat silhouette, so your feline knows where to go to . . . you know. It'll give the kitty-litter mess a hiding spot, whilst adding a cute factor to your cabinetry. Just don't forget to vacuum in there every once in a while. The only thing cuter would be if your kitty cleaned up after itself. But, the real question is: How does it stack up against the Kitty Washroom that 93 percent of readers said they loved?
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Coveted Crib: A Paper-Perfect Studio Loft

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:50 -0800

If I had my druthers, I probably wouldn't choose to live in a studio. But if I had to, I cannot imagine a more perfect space than this studio loft in Lägenhet, Stockholm (which is for sale). With tall ceilings, a bed and extra storage are tucked up high, making for a true living room. The apartment's bright white walls and beautiful natural light expand the space, while a select few gorgeously wallpapered walls give it depth and serious style. The kitchen has streamlined modern white cabinetry and one of my favorite elements: concrete countertops. The bathroom is complete with a towel warmer (woot!), a washer/dryer, and a sharp zebrawood sink basin. And better yet, it boasts what every girl dreams of: a walk-in closet. Take the full tour when you read more.

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Etsy Find: Janet Hill Studios Paintings

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

For those of us who daydream over shelter magazine spreads and redecorate in our heads, the paintings of Stratford artist Janet Hill are tempting eye candy. On her Etsy site, she notes, "As a result of living in a cold climate for six months of the year, I've developed a strong interest in the beauty of interiors. My inspiration lies in interior, furniture, and fashion design, as well as films. I love the glamour and beauty of interior surroundings."

Perhaps my favorite print of Janet's is this Zucchini Blossoms Print ($11). The open shelving in the center of this photo features elegant dishes, and the cool, green cabinetry and countertops overflow with a Summer garden's bounty. Janet certainly has a talent for portraying a home's beauty. Check out her Etsy site for more paintings or preview some of my favorites when you read more.

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How-To: Take Your Bathroom From Simple to Swanky

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:41 -0700

Bathroom and kitchen renovations are often the most expensive kind. But with dated cabinetry and tiling plaguing homes across the country, they're also often the most crucial! Su Casa member Ckim8120 has taken the matter into her own hands, showing us that you don't need a contractor or a loan (!) to take your bathroom from simple to swanky. For well under her initial budget of $350, she transformed a spare bathroom into something that looks straight out of the pages of House Beautiful. You can do the same to your overlooked bathroom with just a few simple and affordable steps.

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Before and After: A Kitchen Expansion

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:00:30 -0700

While turn-of-the-century homes are often quite spacious when it comes to shared spaces and number of bedrooms, often the kitchens are cramped and ill-suited for modern-day home chef work. MainStreet Design Build, a Michigan-based renovation and build firm, came to the rescue, for this family, stepping in to add a kitchen and breakfast nook addition to the home.

Here's the home from the rear exterior, where a small entryway opens onto a large deck. To see how the firm improved the home, read more.

The kitchen and breakfast nook addition added grace to the appearance of the rear of this turn of the century home. In the kitchen, Dynasty Omega cabinetry and commercial grade Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances updated the functionality of the space.

To see the interior pictures, check out the gallery.

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Before and After: A Country Kitchen Lightens Up

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:37 -0700

I spotted the makeover of this small kitchen in an 1895 house in Dutchess County, NY, in Country Living and felt really inspired. When your room is plagued with dated features like these knotty pine cabinets, sometimes it's hard to see the potential in a space - even more so when you've got only 180 square feet to work with.

Home owner Jennifer Vreeland saw beyond this dreary space, and chose to remove the cramped, wall-to-wall cabinetry in favor of two open upper storage units and a hanging pot rack. The change immediately opened up the space, making it feel airier and less claustrophobic. Top that with fresh coats of white and baby blue, and the space looked instantly lighter and more spacious. See the after photo and hear about her other changes when you read more.

Vreeland kept the country vibe with a slim antique farmhouse table and iron draftsman stools. She made the smart choice to go with a modern, streamlined sink and an oven in powerful sunny yellow, giving the room a touch of modernity and keeping it fresh. I love it! Do you?Source

Coveted Crib: Neal Creek Retreat

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:51 -0700

Usually, when I share photos of a gorgeous modern home with you, there's little hope of actually staying at that place in real life. Not so with the Neal Creek residence. Located near Hood River, OR, this two-bedroom home is actually available for rent.

Architects Paul McKean and Amy Donohue designed this house to make a minimal impact on the environment. The house's main living space is raised one story above ground, which helps to protect it from flood and brush fire damage while providing patio and storage space below. A green roof helps the home to blend into the landscape.

To find out more about this house, and to take a full tour, read more.

The house makes use of renewable, local materials, including cedar siding and cabinetry and an FSC-certified wood floor, finished with vegetable wax. The carpet tiles are composed of natural wool and rubber, and all interior finishes are no-VOC. With Energy Star-certified appliances and highly energy-efficient windows, the home is comfortable and cozy no matter what the season. The Neal Creek Retreat was awarded the 2007 honor award from the American Institute of Architects, Portland.

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Chace Crawford Loves Philippe Starck

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:00:43 -0700

Now that Chace Crawford has moved out of the Chelsea apartment he shared with Gossip Girl costar Ed Westwick, he's on to bigger and better things. The place he now calls home is a penthouse rental in the hip and exclusive Financial District building Dwell95, which was outfitted head-to-toe by French superstar designer Philippe Starck. The urban sanctuary is part of the yoo by Starck international development project and houses studios, lofts, and one and two bedrooms in two styles: "classic" and "nature." The former is not your average traditional style but is quintessentially Starck, infused with his brand of chic modernity and bathed in rich wood cabinetry and limestone countertops. The latter takes a lighter note with earth tones, organic materials, and natural light oak. Want to take a peek at Chace's new home and hear about the design? Then read more.

As you might expect, the fully-furnished suites are dripping in Starck-designed fixtures and products, from his arachnid-like Juicy Salif Lemon Squeezer for Alessi to his Miss K Table Lamp. But Starck's also shown some love for his contemporaries, including realist accessories designer Harry Allen, as well as design innovators Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. Nate Archibald might prefer the Upper East Side, but I think these digs are right up Crawford's alley. Think you could get used to this? Rates for the furnished suites start at $5,100/month.

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Before and After: A Sweet Galley Kitchen Makeover

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:18 -0700

The prospect of renovating a kitchen or bathroom is usually an expensive one. And, unfortunately, there are too many kitchens that look the one in this 1939 bungalow, bruised with dreary cabinets, cringe-inducing laminate countertops, and no sense of personal style. Luckily, one designer has proven that a few budget-friendly details and a DIY attitude are all you need to give your kitchen the fresh update it craves. Rather than making expensive replacements and tearing down walls, she concentrated on reworking the existing surfaces.

To see how she made the changes, read more.

Glass cabinet doors stained in a cool sea-glass blue instantly made the space airier, and she tied the color in with matching wallpaper. A drainboard sink found at a salvage shop for $25 drastically improved the space functionally. Architectural add-ons to the cabinetry and pretty new knobs added style. And she added small-scale, bright white subway tiles to the backsplash, which added continuity to the wall and instantly brightened it up.

Head to DIY Ideas to read the whole story, see more photos, and learn how to tile your own backsplash!