CasaSugar

Home Away From Home: An Office Made From Cardboard

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:40:11 -0700

Amsterdam ad agency Nothing has manifested its name in its office space by building it entirely out of cardboard. The idea was conceived by Alrik Koudenburg who wanted to use the most "nothing" building material he could find. The space was designed by Joost van Bleiswijk and uses a no-screw-no-glue technique. Beyond that, the walls double as a creative canvas for the creative agency, allowing clients and staff to leave their mark. Not only does it amaze me that everything from the desks, shelves, stairs, and pillars are made from cardboard, but that it all looks so polished and streamlined. There's nothing "trashy" about it. To see more photos, read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Sh*t Box

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:15:00 -0700

The Sh*t Box ($30) is a lightweight cardboard toilet that packs flat for portability, made specifically for outdoor use. Whether you're heading to Burning Man or your ole porcelain toilet is broke, Sh*t's got you covered . . . and it can even be used as a stool (har har). Comes with 10 biodegradable poo bags! What do you think? Would you buy one? Use one? Could be cleaner than a Porta Potty!

Love It or Hate It? Cardboard Fireplace

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:50 -0800

I spotted this Cardboard Fireplace ($24) at Urban Outfitters and I kind of love it. For one, the bricks remind me of the cardboard bricks I used to play with when I was a kid. And two, I love a good faux fireplace - my "crackling fire" DVD plays on repeat in the Winter. But I do wish this fireplace had a prettier mantel, like a white one with ornate moldings. What do you think?

Cool Idea: Re-Imagining Cardboard Boxes

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:14 -0700

Su Casa member Bromeliad could've simply recycled this cardboard box, but she saw hidden potential in its boring exterior. She explains, "This is a simple and inexpensive project I made using a cardboard box, doublesided tape and highlighter markers."

To see how she transformed the boxes, read more.

Bromeliad printed out an image of ikat that fit the size of her box, traced the shape, and colored it in. Using doublesided tape, she wrapped the cardboard box with the "ikat." What a cool, cheap transformation! Get all of the directions here.

Have you come up with a cool home project? Show it off in Su Casa!

DIY: Cardboard and Fabric Magnetic Photo Frame

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:15:36 -0800

How About Orange recently constructed this clever photo frame out of some items found around the house. I can't believe this is made from cardboard!

What You'll Need

corrugated cardboard
fabric
felt
cutting surface
scissors or other cutting tool
glue gun
magnets
cotton batting or fleece

To find out how to construct it, read more.

Here's how, from How About Orange:

Cut a piece of corrugated cardboard to the size you want. (Make sure the opening is slightly smaller than the dimensions of the photo you intend to frame.)
Cut a piece of cotton batting or thick fleece exactly the same size and glue it to the cardboard, then turn it face down.
Next, cut your fabric into a rectangle that allows you enough extra to wrap around to the back of the frame.
Trim the outer corners off at 45º and cut slits toward the inner corners.

Then wrap the fabric to the back and glue.
Add a felt backing with either a slit for inserting your photo, or just stick on two separate pieces, one for the pocket and another strip across the top to hide the fabric's ugly raw edges
When you glue the felt on, apply the glue just outside of the area where the photo will sit. Make sure the outer edges are stuck down, too, and add some magnets to hold it on your fridge.

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Love It or Hate It? Le Clochard Cardboard Quilt

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:34 -0700

Tired of faux bois? How about faux carboard? This Le Clochard quilt cover (inquire for price), while made of 100 percent soft-combed cotton, looks like it's made from flattened cardboard boxes. There's a method behind the madness, of course: a large portion of sales will go to support SZN, the foundation for homeless young people in the Netherlands.

Casa Quickie: Plywood Pleasure

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:15:37 -0700

Can't afford to wallpaper your whole room? Not allowed to wallpaper your rental? Instead, cover a cheap sheet of plywood or even cardboard with a patterned wallpaper. This trick still makes an artistic statement, but it's not permanent and it's also portable. Take it with you when you move! You can make more of an impact by papering a couple of panels, or several, and placing them around your room to give it cohesion. Check out House & Home for more budget-saving tips.

Etsy Find: Gift Tissue Box

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:30:53 -0700

There are few things uglier and more space-hogging in a bathroom than a toilet paper stand. Worse are the racks that clip onto your toilet. But if your home isn't equipped with a built-in TP holder, whaddaya do? Enter the Gift Tissue Box ($10.20) from Etsy seller lemontree77. The corrugated cardboard box is a simple cover for a necessary item, but it's charmingly cute, a bit romantic even, and it hangs easily onto your doorknob. Hopefully its delicate little tree motif will also remind you where all that paper comes from, urging you to limit your TP use.

Casa Quickie: Don't Be Afraid to Paint

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:30:22 -0700

It always bugs me when my friends put up with their beige rental walls, and then complain that their homes aren't as cute as mine. After college when I was living on my own in a rented studio, my first design decision was to paint my walls Benjamin Moore's "Wales Green." I painted before I'd bought any furniture, aside from a mattress and box spring. It instantly made me feel at home, even though my bedside table was a cardboard box turned upside down.

Apparently, decorator Nick Olsen is with me on this one. He recently shared his biggest design mistakes with The Washington Post, and first on the list is being afraid to paint. "If you're not willing to paint, you're really not willing to do much in terms of decorating," he says. "Being safe will get in the way of good design." I can hear your response already: your landlord won't allow it. Nick says, "I know people will say that they signed an agreement and they are not allowed to paint; fair enough. But every situation is different. I painted every single surface of my first apartment studio and only lost $200 of my security deposit, so it was totally worth it." Worth thinking about.

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Cool Idea: Flower BagPack

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:00:06 -0700

Young Polish designers Olga Dabrowska and Adam Groch (aka +OYO) created the Flower BagPack (prototype) as an alternative for the cellophane wraps for bouquets. The bag is not only good-looking, but also eco-friendly and more functional than the traditional cellophane sleeve.

There are two variations of the design. One is meant for one-time use and to be recycled, as it is made from only waste paper and cardboard. It allows bouquets to be packed quickly and stores easily, and is very compact. The other is meant for multiple uses - for the charming man who makes a habit of bringing his girl flowers - and is made of cellulose and leather leftovers, both ecological materials. It can be rolled up and stored when it's not in use.

Pretty clever, eh? Makes me want to go out and buy myself a bouquet! To see additional photos, read more.

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