CasaSugar

House Tour: Maya's New York Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:00:14 -0800

For those of us who dream about leaving the city and living a more rural lifestyle, crafter, DIYer, and mom, Maya, may just be living out our country life fantasy. Maya writes, "After living in many different apartments and flats for most of my life (mostly in San Francisco), I always yearned for a home in the country. I now live with my family in my dream home, an old farmhouse in rural upstate New York. Most of it was built in the 1850s, the addition was 1910. All of the floors are the original wide planks. There's so much unique, dark woodwork in the downstairs that we've gone for a very natural palette with a lot of white to brighten the space and accentuate the woodsy feeling."

Maya notes that nearly all of the furniture in her home has been found via Craigslist, auctions, and garage sales, which was at first a necessity, and now a conscious choice, since she says that she loves to fill her home with objects and pieces with a history.

She says, "Since I design sustainable home wares, many of my prototypes and seconds end up being honored on our couch or holding our books and magazines. I have a lot of artists in my family, including my children, so the walls are covered predominantly with family art. The rest of the pieces vary from my favorite indie artists to some vintage prints. I believe our homes should be a unique reflection of those who reside there and if you're lucky be in a location that inspires. I'm quite grateful for everyday I wake up to the birds calling, and the neighbors' cows lowing." Take a peek at Maya's inspirational country home, and then head over to her Etsy shop to pick up a few of her handmade goods.

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Do You Have any Furniture With Chicken Wire?

CasaSugar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:30:12 -0700

Traditionally, farmhouse kitchens often featured furniture with panel doors covered with chicken wire or screening. Pie safes and cabinets with chicken wire were usually used to store cooking dishes and food items. I love the country look of this cabinet and wouldn't mind adding it to my own home.

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Coveted Crib: Country Comfort in the City

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:00:26 -0800

While this sprawling, comfy home seems like a mellow country abode, it's actually located in South London. That doesn't mean that it's without rural amenities such as chicken coop and garden, though. While the exterior is certainly fun and funky, the interior continues the country vibe with a lived-in arts and crafts style and fun vintage furniture finds. Take the complete tour when you check out the slideshow.
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Coveted Crib: An Aspen Cabin Goes For the Old

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:51 -0800

When Aspen, CO, residents Cynthia and Frank Goldsmith decided their dream home should look like a 110-year-old Colorado homestead, they went to work, hiring an architect to recreate that iconic look. At the same time, the couple traveled to flea markets, antique stores, and salvage yards to find turn-of-the-century hardware, lighting, beams, doorknobs, and even hinges! The only items in this home that are new are the appliances, plumbing, and windows. Take a tour of this home, which was featured in Country Living, to step back in time. Source

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Coveted Crib: Country Living's 2008 Home of the Year

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:25 -0700

Contributing editor Danny Seo isn't the only thing about Country Living magazine that I'm enamored with. Check out the slideshow to see a coveted and classic home from Country Living's senior decorating editor Robin Mayer. I'm in love. Source

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Home Library: Japanese Country Style

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:15:08 -0800

When Yoshihiro Takishita was only a student, he discovered that a 250-year-old farmhouse - known as a minka - was going to be destroyed because it was in the path of a reservoir that was being constructed. Takishita was so taken with the building that he arranged to have it moved to Kamakura. Just as Takashita's thoughtful passion preserved that home, his book, Japanese Country Style preserves the beauty, dignity, and thoughtful design of 16 homes he also rescued from demolition.

A friend of mine who's a carpenter and timberframer first introduced me to Japanese country homes several years ago, and I have been a huge fan of this building style ever since. Many of the concepts and details Takishita highlights in Japanese Country Style are the same things that made me fall so hard for this style, including common-sense approaches to household tasks, storage needs, and environment. In his book, Takishita also shows how he has renovated the homes, and how these renovations have been adapted to modern living. The huge number of photographs (over 200!), artful illustrations, and use of Japanese wooden furniture, antiques, and other elements make this book a joy to read and explore, and many of the ideas can be adapted to anyone's home - I know I've incorporated several in mine. For all of you architectural and design enthusiasts out there, you can buy this lovely book here.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0800

Give your interiors Spring fever! - ShelterPop
Got ugly vinyl floors? Learn how to repaint and stencil them. - Craftzine
Tour the English country house from Death at a Funeral. - Hooked on Houses
A new company melds wallpaper with shelving. - Shelterrific
Preparing to paint? Learn how to degloss your paint surface first. - DIY Life
Scoop up nine feminine-chic style finds. - The Nest

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Open House: Country Style Décor

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:30:46 -0800

If you watch Samantha Who?, you may have noticed that Regina Newly, Samantha's mother, is all about the country style décor. Blue gingham? Check! (Har har.) Handmade quilt? Check! Roosters? Check! Check! Check! I've never been one for décor themes, regardless of the inspiration behind it. And, I am a little turned off by homes with a country style that are not actually in the country. I think if you live on a farm, or in a rural area at least, it's acceptable. I can't say I'll be getting the look of Mrs. Newly's home in my own, unless maybe we're talking about a set of farmyard place mats. Samantha's pad, on the other hand, I'd willingly move right into. Enough about me, I want to know what you all think of this countryside style. Do you like it? Do you have any pastoral accessories in your home? Do you like theme decorating in general? Tell me by commenting below!
Photo copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.

Home Library: Cheap Chic

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:00:08 -0800

Interior stylist, author, and owner of London shop Caravan, Emily Chalmers has made a career out of finding beauty in objects that require more ingenuity than income. Cheap Chic ($20), which was originally published in 2003 in hardcover, will be released at the end of this month in paperback, and is a perfect example of her talent at transforming overlooked secondhand objects into things of beauty.

I was lucky enough to take a peek at the book thanks to a review copy from the publishers. While I'm definitely a fan of Emily's philosophy to use "more dash than cash to create inspirational interiors," it's often hard to know how to style the thrifted, flea marketed, and found objects and furniture that many of us pick up on weekends and on vacations. If you've ever been stumped by how to integrate that dinged-up antique dresser into your home, then Cheap Chic is definitely a book to add to your home library.

The photos in the book come courtesy of Debi Treloar, who also partnered with Chalmers on her books Flea Market Style and Contemporary Country. The photos themselves are often shot with natural sunlight, and are imbued with a fresh, buoyant feel. While the book provides plenty of practical tips, exploring flooring choices, building materials, and sourcing furniture and accessories, it's truly the beautifully styled photos that bring this book to life.

For some of my favorite advice from the book, read more.

Check out five of my favorite tips from Emily, and then pre-order a copy of Cheap Chic.

Funky functional objects can easily be made to double as decoration - all they need is a showcase.
When it comes to furniture, it pays to acquire a few key items that have been chosen for their quality, particularly a proper bed.
Fabulous fabrics may have unlikely origins - your grandmother's shawls or your latest cast-offs, for example.
Old wrought-iron bedsteads from scrapyards and antique shops make romantic headboards and footboards for basic beds, while scaffolding poles can be turned into industrial-style curtain rods.
Decoration can cost no more than a walk on the beach. Collect objects such as striped pebbles, speckled seashells, and sculptural driftwood and put them on display.
Whatever you choose, ensure it is classic, since fashion fads are a waste of time and money.

Guess the Presidential Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:21 -0800

Happy President's Day! How well do you know the homes of some of the men who've held the highest office in the country? Test your residential presidential style with this quiz.

Question 1 of 5

This is the boyhood home of a 20th century president. Can you guess who?