CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Mix Your Own Paint

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:41 -0800

If you're an enthusiastic home renovator, chances are you have several cans of paint that are nearly empty sitting in your garage or storage space. You could donate them to a recycling center, but why not try using them for your next DIY project? As long as you have some flexibility in your color scheme, you can indulge your inner creative and mix. Start with the lightest color, and gradually add other shades until you have the shade you want.

I actually did this when painting a living room in an old rental house, and my friends were shocked when they found out that the color had been an experiment! Sometimes, the results are just that good.

Have you tried this technique at your house?

Su Casa: A Thrifty and Hip DIY Shelf

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Often, home enthusiasts find a product that is perfect for their homes, but find that the price point is definitely less than ideal. Such was the case with Su Casa member Senorita.

She writes, "I had fallen in love with the CB2 Hancock bookshelf ($199). I wasn't keen on that exact color (a bright orange), but I loved the shape. I debated on buying two and repainting them, but at $200 a piece, that was a little more than I was willing to spend. So I started my search for a shelving unit that would work on this extra-large wall of mine."

To see what she found instead, and what fabulous color she decided upon, read more.

Senorita continues, "I happened to browse through Ikea and found a series called Lerberg. They were a little smaller than the CB2 shelves, but with a little paint could be whatever color I wanted, and for three (enough to cover the wall) a mere $60. So, I got to work and bought three shelves and three cans of lime-green paint. I am thrilled with the final product - they definitely pop with color!"

Have you come up with a smart DIY or home project? Then share it in our Su Casa group!
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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!

Before and After: A Sophisticated and Glamorous Nursery

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:44 -0700

Su Casa member mianakao recently moved into a new home, and turned this dull room into something absolutely spectacular. Her fabulous results prove that even the most dull room can be transformed into a gorgeous, glamorous space with a little imagination and a lot of hard work.
She writes, "We just moved into our new house (a sprawling foreclosure), so I had free reign with this room! As you can see in the before photo, the room was dull, dingy, and needed lots of TLC."

The results are truly astounding. To see how mianakao turned this dingy, dull space into a beautiful nursery, read more.

Can you even believe it's the same room? I am truly amazed! Mianakao explains, "My goal was to use black and white in a tasteful way to help the baby's visual development. My first choice was stripes around the room, but I figured that might just make the baby dizzy after a while. So, instead, I went with a high-gloss black latex paint, and brightened up the room with tons of white. (The green is an after thought accent color to warm up the space)." "Also, in an effort to be somewhat creative, I stuck a vinyl decal of a tree on the wall, painted over it, and then cut out the vinyl with an X-acto knife. Had I thought ahead, I could have incorporated the accent green on the tree. Sticking a vinyl decal on the wall wasn't creative enough for me . . . and I didn't want to deal with all of the air bubbles."

I also love that mianakao kept to a strict budget for this makeover. She writes, "Since we're in a tight economy, everything you see (with the exception of the crib and the chandelier) was found on Craigslist. Nothing was over $40! I also found items for free from the freecycle network. I just sanded the furniture and painted it flat white to match everything else in the room . . . well, my husband handled all the hard work. Small accents like the beautiful black and white crystal chandelier just added a touch of chic for our new baby girl!"

Take the full tour when you check out the gallery. I'm truly inspired!

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How-To: Decorate With Autumn's Bounty

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:00:44 -0700

One of the most inexpensive and festive ways you can add Fall flavor to your home is by decorating with the bounty of the season. Think apples, wheat, gourds, and other Fall harvest crops. See some of my favorite ideas for adding Autumn's bounty to your home.

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Kate's Chic, Budget-Beautiful Sun Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:25 -0700

Kate Abney, an editor at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, recently sent me a TwitPic of her fabulous sun room. I asked her if she'd send me a few more photos, and some background on her room and decorating style, and she graciously obliged.

Kate's apartment is on the second floor of a large, historic (1916) yellow-brick apartment building in the heart of midtown Atlanta. She notes, "We do have quite a lot of windows in the place (beautiful light!) but the interior is well-insulated and we are always more than cool enough - or toasty enough - in the summer or winter, respectively."

One of the rooms that really shows off this light beautifully is Kate's sun room. To see more photos of the room, and to find out all about how she decorated it, read more.

Since I know that readers are often curious as to where people sourced the objects and furniture in their homes, Kate was nice enough to let us in on the details. She notes that she picked up the printed cotton rug from Urban Outfitters for about $25, while the green upholstered chair was discovered at a vintage store for $50. "I'm still on the hunt for a cool Suzani lumbar pillow to toss on it," she notes.

Kate couldn't find the exact drinks table she was seeking, so she craftily created one using two Ikea planters, turning them on opposite ends and filling one with plaster-of-Paris.

"The Shaker-style blanket chest is an antique that's been in my family for years and once belonged to my great-grandfather. My uncle refinished it for me last year to the perfect matte warm brown finish. It's even gorgeous on the inside and perfect for stowing my laundry until I have a chance to take it to the laundry mat," Kate says. "The green botanical print cushion I actually made from a $10 CB2 table runner, just removing the seams, stuffing it and then sewing the end back up."

Kate ordered the mid-century upholstered footstool from an antiques store in Florida via eBay, while the arc lamp is a Bed Bath & Beyond knockoff, and the desk is from Target. Other room elements include a Jonathan Adler ceramic vase and a bent plywood chair shipped straight from France that she found through eBay.

What a great space, Kate! I wish I could visit and relax in your lovely sun room. I also admire your savvy sourcing of diverse accents and furniture. Nice work!

Do you have a well-decorated room to show off? Share it in my Su Casa group!

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Casa Quickie: Use a Tapestry For a Tablecloth

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:00:02 -0700

The other day, I showed you a photo of a boho-cool Scandinavian dining room that successfully mixed decorating styles and unusual objects. One of the neat features was the family's use of a simple cotton tapestry as a tablecloth. It continued the boho vibe of the room, and was also a cheap and chic alternative to a more expensive tablecloth.

Don't get me wrong: I love beautiful, expensive tablecloths, like the Anthropologie Forested Tablecloth. However, at $108, I'm not quite ready to jump on buying this cloth, especially when my houseguests aren't often the neatest people in the world. It's always been hard for me to justify getting a really expensive tablecloth when someone's going to inevitably spill red wine on it! So, to stop stressing about my precious tablecloth and concentrate on my guests, I often use a tapestry instead. At around $20 to $30, it's a great, penny-pinching alternative to a more costly cloth. Interested? Check out these bedspread tapestries to get started!

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10 Daybeds Under $1,000

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:07 -0700

Daybeds are a great solution for accommodating an unexpected overnight guest, or simply sneaking in a compact seating option in a study or living room. I've found 10 great daybed choices, all under $1,000, to add to your home. Better yet, many of them are significantly less than a grand.

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10 Cool Alternatives to Off-the-Shelf Headboards

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Are you feeling a little creative? Or is your decorating budget not large enough to accommodate a headboard right now? There are plenty of cool ways to get all of the defining, chic appeal of a headboard without spending big bucks. Check out some of my favorite alternatives to off-the-shelf headboards.
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Home Away From Home: A Wigwam Holiday

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:38 -0700

Want a cheap vacation? Well, if you're a Brit, you can take your family on a wigwam holiday. Apparently, in-country vacations are increasingly popular on that side of the pond, due to the economic recession. Wigwam vacations, such as the Strathfillan Wigwams in Tyndrum, Scotland, shown here, are a great low-key, low-expense destination for frugal vacationers.

On this side of the Atlantic I know that many of my friends and family are economizing their holidays by vacationing in-state or staying with family or friends. And yes, many of them are camping, though I can't say that any of the campsite photos I've perused from their vacations are anywhere as adorable as the Strathfillian Wigwams.

To find out more about this holiday destination, and to tell me about your low-cost vacation plans, read more.

The wigwams are constructed from Sitka spruce or Norway spruce logs, which are homegrown in Scottish forests. Small logs or poles are bent into a curved shape to form its unique (and may I add adorable) whalebone" frame.

You can choose a wigwam holiday from one of 30 seaside, farmland, and woodland sites in beautiful settings across Scotland, northern England, and the Welsh Border Counties. All of the 30 wigwam holiday sites are rural, with many based at farms or camping parks. You won't be roughing it too much, since most sites include a central shower and bathroom facility as well as a cookhouse. The wigwams are fully insulated, and available for use year-round, and feature wooden floors and painted walls.

Are you tempted to embark on a wigwam holiday? Or have you been on one (or something similar) in the past? Tell me all about your experience!

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