CasaSugar

Before and After: A Floating Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:00:01 -0700

Architect Vladimir Plotkin recently showcased his design for a floating residence at Archstoyanie, an architecture festival in the small village of Nicola-Lenivets, located in Kaluga, Russia. Plotkin explained that the raft and house portions are meant to be separate, with the raft platform used for sunbathing, barbecuing, and socializing during the day. After the resident has had her fill of fun, she can then retreat to the elevated house portion of the structure to rest and sleep off the fun and sun. Here's what the floating home looked like in a computer rendering:

To see it in real life, read more.

And here it is floating down the river at the festival. Would you want to make a Summer escape on this raft?

Source

Weird Funiture: Mac II Couch

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:44:24 -0700

Here's a creative upcycling solution for outdated computer equipment. This couch is constructed from 20 Macintosh II computer. The Mac II couch is fastened together with drywall screws, and is sturdy and, according to at least one tester, more comfortable than this looks. If you happen to pass by the Mac Store in Maryland Heights, Missouri, stop in and check it out for yourself. (Thanks for the link, GiggleSugar!)

Source

Good, Better, Best: Contemporary Computer Armoires

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:09:45 -0700

Yesterday, I showed you three classical computer armoires that let you set up a home office anywhere. But for those of you with edgier tastes, I decided to round up three more office armoires with a more modern vibe.

Good: Though the Ikea Cyril Computer Cabinet ($199) isn't as roomy as some others I've found, I love the smart design and minimalist look.

Two even better contemporary computer armoires, so read more

Better: Simple yet elegant, the Room & Board Calvin Armoire ($2,399) has a drop-down desk and chic, subdued hardware. It's available in a dark wood stain (shown), as well as a medium stain and a natural look.

Best: Pinch Design makes three armoire collections that can be customized in countless ways. I am particularly fond of the two-door Marlow Armoire with the office interior (from $5,570).

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.

Su Casa: Cheap and Chic Computer Desk

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:00:36 -0700

How's this for an innovative use of Ikea furniture? To create a tall computer desk, Thopunk simply stacked two end tables on top of each other, then added a bar stool for seating. I love how the stool looks with the turquoise bureau.

Want to share your photos? Here's how to post in the Su Casa group.

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.

Inspired: Time For Tweed

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

I passed by the Knoll store this morning and saw a Saarinen Executive Chair upholstered in a rich, wintry tweed sitting in the window. Then, I got my computer up and running and saw this smart J. Crew Wool Tweed Oona Coat ($550). Then it dawned on me: it's Fall. I'm not really one to redecorate with the seasons, but I do like the idea of introducing this textured, graphic material into my home. The DwellStudio Painted Tweed Blush Throw Pillow ($106) is a start; it offers the pattern of tweed without the heavy material. See a few more tweed and tweed-inspired items when you read more.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0700

See a few of Victoria Smith's favorite things. - Decor8
Tour Alexis's nautical nest, complete with a porthole window! - AT:NY
Did you know that your water heater, fridge, and washer can all be recycled? - Charles & Hudson
Learn how to organize your computer. - Chez Larsson
Make a pillow from old jeans. - Craftzine
Check out this smart, cocktail-inspired closet makeover! - Eddie Ross

Cool Idea: ROSSIN L@p Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:53 -0700

While there's something charming and nostalgic about an old-school desk chair, it's about time it had a modern makeover. The ROSSIN L@p Chair (inquire for price) by German-based Design Ballendat is the second coming of the school desk chair. But, instead of a hefty compartment to store pencils and paperwork, and a writing surface, you can set your notebook computer on its curved arm and call on your hard drive for storage. I think these chairs would be ideal for Internet coffee shops, but I'd love one in my living room, too. My Macbook is practically a permanent resident on my sofa.

Casa Interview: Interior Designer Leslie Bamburg (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:30:00 -0700

On Monday I brought you the first half of my interview with Labexperiment founder Leslie Bamburg. Two years ago, Leslie Bamburg formed her company Labexperiment, an interior design business that offers an affordable professional decorator option to the design fiend who lacks mad cash. Labexperiment works on the premise that beautiful design can be affordable, individualized, and integrated to meet the resident's needs. Leslie notes that she doesn't believe there should be separation between people's fashion, media, tech needs, music, and interiors. With this philosophy in mind, she makes diagnoses of clients' homes, notes what they need to add, subtract, or rearrange, and then prescribes the elements needed to improve a room or home. Check out the rest of Leslie's interview below.

CasaSugar: What are some of the ways you’ve integrated technology into your prescriptions? I see you’re not a fan of hiding televisions, etc. How do you make them part of the big, cohesive picture?

Leslie Bamburg: Technology can be really beautiful, or really out-of-place, just like anything else you’d buy for your home. I spend as much time thinking about what technology looks like as I do any other piece of furniture or accessory. Just like you’d want a high-quality, well-proportioned and beautiful oven or refrigerator in your kitchen, the TV in the living room or the computer on the desk doesn’t deserve any less consideration. I am a huge geek, so I know that technology is a big part of our modern, futuristic lives.

Want more advice? Then read more.

CasaSugar: What’s the biggest dude decorating faux pas?

Leslie Bamburg: Stereotypically, I think guys tend to not use enough softness in a room. There is a welcoming, comfortable quality in a room that has pillows on the sofa, a throw over the arm of a chair, a cushy rug and soft drapery. They tend to think more functionally, and are the primary target market for large, black leather sofas.

CasaSugar: What’s the biggest lady decorating faux pas?

Leslie Bamburg: Conversely, some women use too much softness. I like a balance of soft and hard lines, and I do think there is a place for black leather, if not used in huge quantities. I think a room should reflect the client’s personality, but still be welcoming to guests - male, female and everyone in between.

CasaSugar: What have been some of the reactions from your clients that have surprised or delighted you?

Leslie Bamburg: Every time a client tells me they are happy with their design, it makes my day. And even though it happens often, I’m still always surprised when a client who claimed to not be interested in design gets inspired after we work on their home. The next time I see them they might have bought lime green patterned pillows for their sofa, for example, which totally work. You know who you are.

CasaSugar: How do you recommend a reader do a home prescription of her own? How can she look objectively at a room and see what’s missing/wrong?

Leslie Bamburg: You can never be objective about your own home. So get a prescription from Labexperiment. Seriously, though, it’s really hard to get distance from your own stuff, so the best thing is to bring in a friend you trust who will give you an honest opinion. You can also start tearing out magazine photos of rooms you like, then lay them all out and think about what is different between your space and those, and see if you can implement changes to make it feel more like the rooms you like. I don’t mean just copying the photos, but if a room you like has a focal element like a wallpapered wall, think about your space to see if you can make a similar statement in the same scale, like hanging fabric panels on the wall, or just painting it with stripes.

Check out some of Leslie's work in the gallery, and then head over to her site to start your prescription.

View 10 Photos ›

Source and Source

Ashfield Neutral Accent Rugs - $49.99	Joe Chair - $149.00
Park Avenue Settee - $3,999.00	XO - 'couture' chair by philippe starck for xo - $440.00
Carter Sectional, Sofa, & Chair by Gus Modern - $1,050.00	"Whitney" Tweed Headboard - $1,759.00
Rattan Dining Table & Gray Tweed Seats - $1,099.00	Blissliving Home Callum Bolster - $50.00
Tweed Drop-Front Shoe Box - $17.99	Painted Tweed Pillow - Cobalt - $150.00
Adrianna - $74.99	Bedford Hunt Suede-Trim Sham - $129.99
Adriana Tweed Sham - $119.99