CasaSugar

Weird Furniture: Mint Stool

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:00:31 -0700

I detest halitosis as much as the next person, but since when does that mean I should have to sit on my breath freshener of choice? Just because you can turn any round product into the seat of a stool doesn't mean you should. I think I have to go separate ways with "art engineer" Lee J. Rowland and his Sweet Seats Mint Stool (inquire for price) on this one. That is, unless I were trying to furnish the corporate offices of Breathsavers. I'm sorry . . . am I being harsh? Tell me what you think of this mint-inspired stool.

Love It or Hate It? Button Bench

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:15:46 -0700

The Jellio Button Bench ($1,400) is made to resemble a classic candy store treat with its colorful rubber dots. It certainly gives me a retro flashback of accidentally swallowing paper - not to mention a good laugh. What do you think?

Casa Beta: Wall Candy Arts Rococo Chalkboard Decal

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:24 -0700

I know I said I am over wall decals, but I can make exceptions. The peeps from Wall Candy Arts approached me about their decals, and being the sweetheart that I am I gave their selection a gander. Most of their decals seem to be for children, which I'm all for: kids should have their fun. But, I was digging the Rococo Chalkboard Decal, so I asked to try it out. Wondering what that cryptic lettering is? Find out and hear my thoughts on the product when you read more.
It's "ART" backwards! (OK, I need to work on my handwriting.) Moving on . . . Functionally, I had no problems with the decal. It comes on a larger sheet, from which you must peel it off. Seeing as the design is a little ornate, it took a little time, to push back the smaller pieces to make the negative space. But, no more than five minutes. The decal was easy to apply to the wall. It pressed on perfectly the first time, no bubbles. It comes with a set of chalk, which is convenient. And, the chalkboard works just as an "old-fashioned" one would: you can wipe it clean with a paper towel, rag, or damp cloth. I also tried peeling off the decal and replacing it (seeing as it's reusable), and it reapplied flawlessly.

Onto the design. If you're someone who likes a modern Marie Antoinette style, you'll like this. It's a little girlish. Seeing as it's also both a chalkboard and a decal, it's pretty casual. So, I'd really only recommend using it somewhere like a kitchen, laundry room, or children's room where formality isn't key. I think it's a great alternative to painting an entire wall with chalkboard paint, which is popular these days, because really how many notes and grocery lists do you need to jot down? Wall Candy Arts also sells a simple, rectangular chalkboard decal for those of you who aren't keen on rococo.

Candy Spelling's Holmby Hills Mansion Officially On the Market

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:29 -0700

While rumors have been swirling for several years that Candy Spelling was quietly shopping around her Holmby Hills mansion, the home is now officially for sale. And at $150 million, it's the most expensive home on the market in the United States.

The house, which is built on the former site of Bing Crosby's Hollywood home, is a 56,000-square-foot mansion built in a French chateau style and sits on over 4.6 acres. The house is absolutely massive, with more than 100 rooms, although neither the listing agent nor the owner herself can tally the exact number at this time. With a beauty salon, bowling alley, screening room, wine cellar and - yes, I kid you not - a gift-wrapping room, you can see why the excess might be difficult to keep track of.

"Everything there is glamorous, and is luxurious and it’s really great scale,” said Sally Forster Jones, an agent with Coldwell Banker Previews International in Los Angeles, which is colisting the property. “There really is nothing to compare it to.”

To see a video tour of the mansion, read more.

Spelling, who's due to move into a Century City high-rise penthouse, which is only about 16,500 square feet, apparently won't budge on the price of the Holmby Hills mansion. Her attorney, Stephen Goldberg, told the Wall Street Journal "The ones who could afford it three years ago, can still afford it today."

Source and
CBS Videos Online

Get the Look: The Cullen Living Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

Twilight had some serious design eye candy, so it's no surprise that New Moon would follow suit. This photo of the Cullen's living room is making me a feel a pang of envy. The apple greens and beige mixed with the abstract artwork, flickering pillar candles, and plethora of flowers creates a moody vibe that is totally calm and almost otherworldly. These colors wouldn't normally be my go-to colors, but seeing this beautiful space has me itching to redesign my home. I thought I'd see if I couldn't re-create the look in case you're digging it too. Learn how to get the look when you read more.

Source

Love It or Hate It? Tongue-in-Cheek Chair

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:50 -0800

I'm trying to decide where these Peter Harvey-designed Tongue-in-Cheek chairs ($5,900) would be most appropriate. A wacky dentist office, perhaps? Available in some candy-bright colors, these chairs are built out of UV-resistant GRP (glass-reinforced plastic).

Do You Celebrate the Day of the Dead?

CasaSugar — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

The Day of the Dead, which is also known as El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day, occurs on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 (All Souls Day).

During the holiday, people pray for, honor, and remember friends and family members that have died. It is primarily celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans in the US and Canada. Here in the Bay Area, families build beautiful altars, and celebrations take place at local museums and cultural centers. And of course, panaderias are filled with delicious treats, sugar skulls, candied pumpkin, and other baked goods that celebrate the holiday.

Source: Flickr User sfmission.com

Do You Get Trick-or-Treaters?

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:11 -0700

Even though we buy candy, put out a jack-o'-lantern, and turn on the porch lights, we've only received a few trick-or-treaters in the past four years at our home. It could be because we have a gate leading up to our walk, and even though we prop it open, it still might intimidate the kids. How about at your house?Photo courtesy of AMC

In The News: No One's Immune From Downsizing

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:30:01 -0700

For most of us, downsizing means foregoing an addition on a home, or selling a vacation home, especially in this uncertain real estate market. If your last name is Spelling, though, downsizing has a slightly different meaning.

As reported in the LA Times, Candy Spelling, widow of Aaron Spelling, has traded in her Holmby Hills home - the largest house in the entire county of Los Angeles with 123(!) rooms and measuring in at 56,500 square feet- for her new $47 million condo, which spans the top two floors of LA's Century City high rise, which is still under construction. You see? No one's immune to downsizing; it just operates on a different scale.

The condo is significantly smaller at around 16,500 square feet. Of course, that's still a massive amount of residential space. Personally I wouldn't want to deal with a house that size, nor the environmental impact that such a big home would incur (not to mention the housecleaning bill). However, Ms. Spelling can obviously do exactly as she pleases, and if this downsizing is her idea of home sweet home - even at the cost of $2,848 per square foot - then more power to her.

Source

Casa Verde: Graduate to Cloth Napkins

CasaSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:32:32 -0700

Even some of my more grown-up friends are still using paper napkins (or - gasp - paper towels) for everyday dining. If you're among them, it's time to upgrade to some real table linens, which are both more sophisticated and better for the environment.

For weeknight dinners, don't worry about buying anything fancy. Just some simple, machine-washable cotton will do the trick, such as these Cotton Candy Napkins ($11.95) woven by the Cakchiquel people of Guatemala on looms made from recycled building materials. It would be a pain to wash a bunch of napkins every night, so don't. Instead, use your napkin for a few days in a row, and encourage the other members of your household to do the same. When the napkins are officially dirty, just toss 'em in the wash.

John-Richard Collection - $950.00	Karlstad 2 Chaise Lounges + Sofa - $997.00
Orient Express Rugs White Shag Rug - $1,899.00	Horchow Emporador Console - $1,269.00
Banjara Fretwork Pillow - $195.00	PB Pillar Candle - $5.00
Acqua di Parma White Cube Candle - $70.00	Vitra place sofa - ottoman - $1,840.00
Wilder Floor Lamp - $650.00	Mikasa Vase, 12" Avenue - $72.00
Horchow Faux Roses - $295.00