CasaSugar

Have You Built Anything?

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:30:16 -0700

Be it a fence, a bookshelf, a house, or a garden box, I want to know. Have you built anything? Source

Eco Chic: Previously Developed Land

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:15:03 -0700

No one will tell you that building a new home rather than purchasing one that already exists is environmentally friendly — even if you use salvaged materials. So, if you're considering building a new home, find a lot that's previously been built on. Previously developed land (PDL) that is vacant or unused is a wasted resource. Building on PDL does not disturb wildlife, and keeps our natural assets intact. There may also be a cash incentive to leaving nature untouched. When asked about the value of New Jersey's natural assets, Bill Mates of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said they're worth a lot:

At least $26 billion a year worth of goods and services. And that $26 billion a year is worth about $850 billion in present value terms.

If you have no plans to build a home but have money to spare, consider purchasing undeveloped land and leaving it that way. It's the only property that can't be reproduced.
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This Just In: Portland to Reward Energy-Efficient Homes

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:30:28 -0800

According to an article in The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, is considering a carbon fee and inspection requirement that would tax builders hundreds of dollars for each new home that is not extremely energy efficient. Builders who construct buildings that save at least 45% more energy over Oregon code requirements would be paid cash rewards. Each new home sold would also be required to undergo an energy efficiency report be done by home inspectors.

"This is obviously an ambitious and potentially controversial undertaking, but with the new urgency and call to action on issues around global warming, this is the type of policy that Portland needs to be a leader," said City Commissioner Dan Saltzman.

The proposal will go before voters in January, and if passed, will go into effect in 2010. While this proposal will take significant innovation and work on the part of developers and builders, it is the type of measure that will encourage good building practices. Kudos to Portland!
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Designer Spotlight: Domestic Construction

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:02 -0800

While most Anthropologie catalogs are beautifully styled, the fabric rooms pictured in this particular catalog truly took my breath away. The stitched backdrops and room facades were designed by Trish Andersen and Maureen Walsh, whose design studio Domestic Construction focuses on interiors, environments, and unique fashion and home products. Trish and Maureen met at Savannah College of Art and Design. Each woman then moved to New York to pursue her passion separately, with Trish working as a display coordinator at Anthropologie and Maureen working on her clothing line, Uncle Bikes. With the formation of Domestic Construction, these two bright lights of the design world are truly showcasing their sparkle. Make sure to check out their Etsy site to purchase some of their designs. And check out some of their other products and installation work in my slideshow!
All photos courtesy of Anthropologie and Domestic Construction

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Nice and New: Hable Construction Cayenne Birds Pillow

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:15:53 -0800

There's not a thing about Hable Construction's new Cayenne Birds Wheat Linen Pillow ($130) that I don't adore. From the Thomas Paul-esque pattern to the hand-printed and hand-sewn material to the organically inspired colors, it's utterly charming. Its smart bird pattern is simple enough for a modern home but exhibits enough folksy flair for a country cottage as well. Its stuffer is made of feather and duck down too, making it a comfy accessory for an oft-used reading chair. And, you know I can't resist a good bird . . .

Nice and New: Hable Construction at Garnet Hill

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:00:01 -0800

For the past six years, Hable Construction, the practical yet stylish textile troupe, has worked with Garnet Hill to create an exclusive holiday program for the mail-order catalog. This year, their collaboration expanded to include more holiday items than ever. Once holiday gift wrap, tree skirts, and felt appliqué Christmas stockings lost their relevance, it was evident that Garnet Hill shoppers were still hungry for Hable. So, Hable designed several exclusive collections of bedding and pillow covers to serve sensible and whimsical decorators year round. I'm loving the airy, beachy ambiance of their sand-dollar percale sheets, and the strié of sage and blue stripes in their pillow cover collection. Take a peek at what they've got in store via the widget below.

Love It or Hate It? Justin Guinta Chandelier

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:25 -0700

New York-based designer Justin Guinta created this one-of-a-kind Construction Light Chandelier ($480) by assembling bursts of crystals onto a yellow plastic construction lamp. I like the concept - industrial design meets fancy schmancy - but I don't think it was executed very well. What do you think?

Love It or Hate It? Blow-Dryer Chandelier

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:30:55 -0800

The design team Domestic Construction created this amazing blow-dryer chandelier for a SoHo hair salon. I can also see it working in a glam girly powder room that's rocking a '70s disco vibe. Do you love it?

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Get the Look: Jennifer Carpenter's Tipi

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:30:35 -0700

In the current issue of O at Home, actress Jennifer Carpenter shares photos of her Laurel Canyon home, which was redecorated by Jennifer's friend Ariel Ashe, an interior designer with the firm Ashe + Leandro.

While I loved the entire home design, my eyes kept coming back to this cool tipi in Jennifer's backyard. In the article, Jennifer admits, "That was my idea. I always wanted a yurt."

When I was growing up, my family used a traditional tipi as an alternative structure for camping on our land, and I can vouch for their comfort. Although a traditional tipi would look too hippie in Jennifer's colorful, modern space, the updated tipi, which uses the Hable Construction Big Beads outdoor fabric in Java, is absolutely perfect.

To hear Ariel's tips for relaxed, easy living, read more.

Buy neutral furniture and bring color in with accessories. It's easier to replace a candlestick than a sofa that suddenly feels outdated.
Take a laid-back approach to art. We used game boards and Polaroids. And who says everything needs to be hung on the wall-or even framed?
Big names aren't always best. I like to mix highbrow and affordable furniture because it's hard to feel comfortable in a room that's all design, design, design.
Erase the barrier between indoors and out. Furnish your deck, porch, or patio as if it were your living room. Then you can't help but enjoy the good weather.
Don't bother with fussy drapes. In fact, if privacy is not an issue at your home, you have my permission to skip curtains all together.

Get more tips about Summer living, and check out the rest of Jennifer's house, here.

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In the News: Rammed Earth Construction Gets Updated

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:15:52 -0800

From adobe to cob masonry, people all over the world have built with earthen materials to create their homes. Now, one form of earth building - rammed earth - has been given a technological update. In the San Francisco Chronicle article "Sonoma Couple's House Shows Mexican influence," husband and wife Bruce Needleman and Edna Hayes recount the process of building their beautiful earthen home.

The rammed earth building technique, which entails pounding layers of soil, mixed with a small amount of cement, into molds, has been around for literally thousands of years: Pliny, who wrote before the Common Era, recounts Hannibal seeing rammed earth towers in Spain. However, this ancient building technique is perfectly at home in the modern world.

To find out how the Hayes-Needleman's home used an update of rammed earth, read more.

The Hayes-Needleman house used an update of rammed earth developed by David Easton. This technique is called PISÉ, or Pneumatically Impacted Stabilized Earth. PISÉ utilizes a new type of mold, which is a quick-lock form that cuts down the time needed for the building process. In PISÉ, a cement, water, and earth mixture is sprayed through hoses into the forms, and a wall of two- to three-feet high can be constructed in about an hour.

The Hayes-Needleman's house, which utilized this method, is a gorgeous, Mexican-influenced 3,600-square-foot house. It features terracotta roof tiles, lavender and cacti landscaping, a tranquil pool and courtyard, and two-foot-thick walls that make heating and cooling the house a breeze. In fact, even in hot Sonoma county, this house doesn't require air conditioning. Read the entire article to find out more.

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