CasaSugar

How-To: Organizing Your Books

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:30:53 -0700

Unless you're of minimalist mindset, keeping books around can give your home a cozy look, add interest to a room, fill up empty space, make a place feel more like home, and reveal your personality to guests — not to mention keep you entertained. But when your library is simply causing visual and physical clutter in your home, it's time for a reassessment. It's time to hit the books! How you organize your books is another reflection of your personality — design-oriented, Type A, intellectual, etc, but actually logging down an inventory of your books will help you systematically and in case you lose track of them somehow. So, I'll give you a potpourri of options, and you can choose your own scent. To hear seven options, read more

Color-coordinated. Organizing your books by spine color, in a rainbow colored lineup or otherwise, can add visual appeal to a room. This technique is fit for design fiends, who don't mind having to search a bit to find the book you need. Look at it this way: there's a world of possibility in your snooze-worthy scientific encyclopedias that you never thought were cool. Wanna see how it looks? Check out my bookcase.
Digitally. There's a handful of software that will help you catalog your books, including Readerware for Books, Booxter, and Delicious Monster. I've yet to test these out, but most reviews are favorable.
Dewey Decimal System. This one's an ode to my grade school librarian, who was a staunch proponent of Melvil Dewey. It organizes your books into 10 main classes, 10 further divisions, and then 10 sections. Decimals allow it to be numerical as well as hierarchical, so similar topics will also have similar numbers, and books are arranged on the shelf in increasing numerical order, not necessarily by topic.
Library of Congress System. This system, developed by, you guessed it, the Library of Congress, divides subjects into broad categories, which are given letters, and assigns call numbers to each book. So, books of the same topic are on the same shelf.
Utility. Keep books your rarely need to use in the hard to reach places, and the ones you read frequently in easy to access places. Put display books, art books, etc., at eye level so your guests can enjoy them.
Genre. Rather than organizing books simply by topic, organize them by genre. Keep all your naughty fiction novels in one place, travel books in another, reference books in another, self-help in another, etc., much like a bookstore would. Use bookends between each section so they're visually easy to find, even if each book doesn't have a set place.
Vertical free-for-all. If a classification system isn't for you, go for vertical bookcases which will keep your books looking clutter-free, even if there's nothing systematic about them.

Don't have books? Check out my home library for suggestions.
Source

Etsy Finds: Talking Turkey

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:13 -0800

Whether you're eating the classic Thanksgiving bird next Thursday, or just want to add a kitschy reminder of it at your celebration, I've found plenty of ways to talk turkey this Thanksgiving - and all of those ways are handmade, of course!

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Good, Better, Best: Classical Computer Armoires

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:30:33 -0700

Not all of us have the luxury of a separate home office. And for anyone who works in a multi-purpose room - such as a living room or guest room - a computer armoire is a great buy.

These workstations are large enough to contain all of your tech needs, and the elegant doors let you hide your clutter when the desk isn't in use. So for this Good, Better, Best, I've rounded up some classically styled computer armoires at three different price points.

Good: When the doors are shut, this Hampton Computer Armoire in White ($500) just looks like a cabinet. But inside are thoughtful touches like a keyboard tray, corkboard, and a dry-erase board.

Two even better classical computer armoires, so read more

Better: The grass-green finish and shuttered doors give this Pottery Barn Seymour Home Office Armoire ($1,999, via Outblush) a touch a hipness. It's designed to hold a computer or a TV.

Best: I love the old-world Japanese elegance of this Gump's Shinto Office Armoire ($3,400). It's made from solid walnut and joined without a single nail, and details include sliding doors in the back to help manage your wires.

Crave Worthy: Alain Berteau Instant Classic Side Chair

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:00:32 -0700

I love the look of this Alain Berteau Instant Classic Side Chair, but I like the packaging even more. Featured in the May/June 2007 issue of Blueprint, this sassy seat arrives de-constructed and folded up into an impossibly flat box.

With just eight screws and a few minutes, you can transform the birch wood panel into a cute chair with a slightly cartoonish silhouette. The chair is available in an unfinished or clear-varnished version ($150) or in different different lacquered shades ($225). These chairs would be great as a set around a casual kitchen table, or just use one as a conversation piece in a living room or bedroom.

Cool Idea: Decorate With Antique Keys

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:56 -0800

If you're a fan of the shape and look of antique keys, you'll be happy to hear that they're popping up all over the design world. They're such a classic element, too, that they're unlikely to go out of style. See my ideas for decorating with keys in your home.
Source: Flickr User stevendepolo

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

I love these AphroChic pillows. - Decor8
This romantic, modern bedroom has a classic twist. - AT:LA
Whip up some holiday placemats. - Craft
This postcard garland is adorable. - PoppyTalk
Offer suggestions for a washable, affordable comforter. - Shelterrific
Check out this fab Seattle kitchen makeover. - ShelterPop
Pick up some eco-friendly mobiles. - Re-Nest

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.

Crave Worthy: Niki Jones Silhouette Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:30:58 -0700

Aside from antiques, it's not often that I see a dining chair that's so outstanding and lustworthy as the Niki Jones Silhouette Chair ($407). The shape has beautiful proportions and such a delicate shape. Its form is based on classic French antiques, but has been updated with a high gloss lacquer. For some reason antique-inspired modern designs, like the Louis Ghost Chair, always get me. The trouble is that if, like most, your dining table requires at least four chairs, your bill will be pricey. But this one can also stand alone and dress up any empty corner.

Meg Ryan Reduces the Price of Her Bel-Air Mansion

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:11 -0700

Nearly a year ago to date, I let you know that Meg Ryan had listed her six-bedroom, seven-bath Bel-Air home for the tune of $19.5 million. With no bites, she took it off the market in February. Now, she's relisted the property with a new real estate agent, knocking the price down to $14.2 million. Even though Meg's been reeling in the big-screen bucks since the '80s, I suspect that even for her, a $5 million loss makes a difference. Think of all the Joe Versus the Volcano-style vacations she could take with that moola!

The listing for the Holmby Hills-area Spanish-style compound reads:

Museum quality restoration of a classic Spanish estate sited on promontory with wide open city and ocean views across layers of greenery. Wonderful arches, resort-like grounds and complete privacy. Stenciled and painted wood ceilings, tiles, ironwork, rich wood floors, doors and windows, arches, etc. French doors throughout open to loggia, dining pavilion, expansive lawn and pool. Stunning kitchen, generous living room and dining room, separate bar room, two family rooms and screening room.

To see interior and exterior photos of the property, read more.

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Sale Alert: Restoration Hardware Holiday Sale

CasaSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:30:29 -0700

To celebrate the spirit of the upcoming season, Restoration Hardware is offering a special savings of 20 percent off of holiday décor. But don't worry, if you're not ready for red and green, the selection includes versatile items like rustic glass hurricanes, crystal votives, and classic pillar candles. I think these Vintage Glass Garlands ($28, reduced from $35) would make a beautiful tablescape any day of the year.