CasaSugar

Gift Guide: Design Fiend-Approved Toys

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:30:35 -0800

Anyone who has ever heard of a gift registry knows that people get picky when it comes to which gifts they'll accept into their homes. This is particularly true with bride-zillas, first-time pregnant ladies, and design fiends. So, if you're planning to pick up a gift for the son or daughter of a design fiend friend or family member, you better restrain yourself before you head to Toys 'R Us. Toys and games are not simply for the enjoyment of children . . . they have an aesthetic purpose in the homes of design lovers.Take for example this MUJI New York City in a Bag ($15). God forbid you let your kids play with plain blocks: they must be hip and metropolitan! This set comes with eight wooden structures representing New York City's iconic buildings. Although your friend may have moved to Connecticut and quit her graphic design job to be a full-time, stay-at-home mom, her children will be able to say they grew up in The City . . . or at least with it. To see other children's gifts that will surely be approved by your design-fiend friends, read more.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage.

Trumpo Top Small - $25.00	The Fable Game - $32.00
DwellStudio Finger Puppets - Set of 5 - $30.00	Wooden Pull Toy - Elephant - $70.00
HBC Single Sphere Rattle with Elongated Handle Silver - $70.00	Blank Matryoshka Doll Set - $125.00
Bowl with Dominos - $149.00	Vitra Girard Wooden Doll #8 - $160.00

How-To: Decorate Children's Rooms

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:30:34 -0700

Although decorating our own rooms sometimes seems like a daunting task, there's actually a lot less to consider than designing a space for another person, particularly your own children. It's no surprise we gravitate toward home décor items that please and interest us, and colors and textures we find soothing or stimulating; it's nature. But, when choosing furniture and accessories for another's room, we don't have that same innate instinct. Some children may be nurtured by a peaceful personal nook, secured by a cozy bed, or energized by their own place to play. While you should consider all of these things, it's crucial not to compromise your own taste or abandon your style when it comes to decorating your children's rooms. Check out this slideshow to learn a few more tips on designing for your offspring, courtesy of House to Home! Source

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Cool Idea: Take a Tip From the Kids

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:00:05 -0700

If you're yearning for a pretty, feminine chandelier or other accessory for your home, but you don't want to drop big bucks on it, then consider looking in children's sections of major home retailers. For instance, this Blossom Chandelier ($299) from PB Teen bears a passing resemblance to the Primavera Chandelier ($1,800), but at a fraction of the price. So, if your tastes align with some of the more whimsical designs found in children's and teenager's retailers, it might be smart to check there before heading into more pricey adult fare.

Have you ever shopped in stores like PBTeen for yourself?

Wall Murals for Kids

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:01:14 -0700

Artist Devon Holzwarth created Mural Studio in 2003 with the intention of applying her fine art training and imagination towards creating murals that can transform a space. I especially love Devon's kids' murals, and would've been thrilled to have one of her underwater murals decorating my bedroom as a kid.

To find out about how to buy one of Devon's murals, and to see images of her fabulous children's murals, just read more

Devon studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, and after graduation moved to San Jose, CA. After painting a huge mural for the preschool room at her church, she decided to create a mural and fine art business. In addition to Mural Studio, Devon also launched Devon Industry, an online shop and gallery where you can buy Devon's paintings and an assortment of hand-made products including felted scarves, flowers, and painted floorcloths.

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Cool Idea: Trampoline Tent

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:09:07 -0700

My brother and sister and I did a fair amount of backyard camping when we were kids, but if we'd had one of these trampoline tents, it would've been impossible for our parents to get us in the house.

This tent fixture ($250, plus delivery from the UK) clips onto the edge of a circular trampoline, converting it into a tent or backyard playhouse for kids. It features four windows and two zip-up doors, and comes with a waterproof fly sheet. Do you know any kids who'd dig this?

Source

Adorable Little Animals

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:30:57 -0700

I think I'm going to have to step up my knitting skill set beyond the basic knit one purl two, because Farmer Fox is making me crazy covetous. Parents with a knack for knitting would be well-served to grab one of these patterns, which I found first at Craft:, and are available from Ariadne Knits and the fabulous brain of Montreal designer Jennie Eveleigh Lamond for $4.50 as a PDF download. So. Cute.

The Muswell Cat pattern, also from Jennie Eveleigh Lamond, is also available for PDF download for the same price.

Any knitters out there want to make one?

Coveted Crib: Pink Simplicity in Tribeca

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:54 -0800

In this 700-square-foot Tribeca loft designed by Ghislaine Viñas, precision and simplicity rule the roost, along with one particular: pink. The owner, a life-long pink enthusiast, wanted to give her family home some personality with her beloved bright pink and magenta hues. So the focus of the living room is this bright '70s-style corner sectional, and white and light oak give the space lightness and a neutral background to tame the vibrancy of the furnishings. The kitchen boasts a fuschia backsplash and counter stools, which make the industrial concrete countertops and steel elements seem more playful. When you move into the bedrooms, bathrooms, and children's playroom, the color palette changes, with neutral background tones still dominating but blues and greens introduced as focal points. Take the full tour when you read more.

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Source

Do You Frame Children's Artwork?

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:15:06 -0700

A recent SFGate article tackled the question of what to do with children's artwork. Although I don't have any kiddles myself, friends' children have given me some lovely drawings, and I've often displayed them on the mantel for a while. However, I've never gotten around to framing anything. In the article, one mom is noted to "proudly displays walls' worth of her children's work. Her family's guest bathroom is covered floor to ceiling with art by her 11- and 13-year-old daughters."

Are you in this camp, or do you chuck the little ones' art in the recycling after it's served its time on the mantel or fridge?

Source: Flickr User Childrens Book Review

Casa Interview: The Good Wife's Stephen Hendrickson and Beth Kushnick

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:28 -0800

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a huge fan of the new CBS series The Good Wife. In particular, I adore Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Margulies) apartment. With classic styling and great use of color, it's definitely a look I'm currently coveting. Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to chat with the two people responsible for the look of that very apartment. The Good Wife's production designer, Stephen Hendrickson, and set decorator, Beth Kushnick, answered my questions about the look of Alicia's home.

CasaSugar: How did the production designer and set decorator define Alicia (as a starting-over mom, lawyer, etc.), and how did this play into their concept of her new apartment?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: We defined Alicia as a working mom who wanted to make a comforting life for her kids as they had to downsize from a large house in the suburbs to a much smaller apartment which she purchased and had renovated. We kept some furniture from the old house like the kids' beds and the dining room furniture. In addition the show creators wanted to keep Alicia's king size bed as a visual - that it was too big for her new bedroom and show that one side of it was now empty. We also created a maid's room in the back of the apartment for all of her husband's belongings.

CasaSugar: How did Alicia’s style as a North Shore mom change when she moved into Chicago proper?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: Her new apartment had a sophisticated color palette . . . Alicia's apartment also has more contemporary living room furnishings and an upgraded kitchen.

Read the rest of the interview, and check out photos of the set.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:58 -0700

I love these blue and red rooms. AT:NY
Try some woolly DIY projects this Fall. AT:SF
I adore Kevin Waldron's children's book illustrations. Peacock Feathers
Swoon over this ostrich feather chandelier. Shelterpop
Kate Spade's new store in Japan is seriously chic. Happy Mundane
I like the polished masculinity of Lori Andrews Interiors. Grassroots Modern