CasaSugar

6 Cheap and Easy Valentine's Day Decorations

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Valentine's Day probably isn't your biggest blowout when it comes to holiday decorating, but that doesn't mean you can't put a few pennies toward giving your home a cute seasonal look. Here are six super-easy and affordable decorating ideas that will make your house blush.
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Su Casa: Our Holiday Su Casa Challenge Winners

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:30:42 -0800

Last month, I challenged CasaSugar readers to show off their festive holiday looks in the Su Casa group, and offered two lucky participants the CasaSugar swag of their choice as motivation to get their photos in. Well, you certainly didn't disappoint! If you missed any of the great looks, check out this roundup of the holiday decorating. Thanks for getting me in the holiday spirit!

The first look I chose as a challenge winner was Mellymels's holiday decorating, which included incredible handmade paper decorations and a charmingly feminine white tree. Check out her Su Casa post for all of the fab decorations.

To see the other winning look, read more.

I loved Telescopeeyes's whimsical Christmas; she drew from a variety of sources, from vintage finds to Target, Kid Robot, and Etsy, to create her own highly personalized style.

Congratulations to our winners, and to everyone who showed off their beautiful, heartfelt holiday decorations. Thanks for making the holidays even more festive this year!

Love It or Hate It? Over-the-Top Holiday Light Displays

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:39:16 -0800

While some families go whole-hog when it comes to lighting up the night around the holidays, others see it as a waste of time and energy. Where do you stand?Source

Deck the Haus: Ikea Decoration Round-Up

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:41:25 -0800

I noticed a handful full of wintry decorations at Ikea that I adored, and couldn't choose just one for a Nice and New, so I chose four! I like the minimalist quality to this wheat Ikea Isig Wreath ($20). It kind of says, "Fine. I guess I'll celebrate the holidays. But only if I can eek out my festivity and save my decorations for next year, so I don't have to think about it again." These Ikea Statist Trees ($5) are just cute and dinky, and a nice place to hang your jewelry or house keys. This red Ikea Isig Lantern ($13) is both classic and classy (how 'bout dem apples?), and fits your basic pillar candle perfectly. It can be used indoors or outdoors, or you could buy two and do both! These Ikea Isig Lanterns ($13) are Kewl with a capital K, and also fit your basic pillar candle perfectly. And in case you didn't already, Ikea wants you to know that you should "never leave a burning candle unattended."
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Floral Centerpieces

partysugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:59:13 -0700

In terms of style and sophistication, a beautiful floral centerpiece can take a wedding to the next level. This year the trends in floral arrangements have shifted from modern to more traditional. One color of one flower in a cascading and flowing grouping is breathtaking and very now. Flowers paired and accented with fruit are another popular way to create a centerpiece. Keep flowers clean and paired down as over baring fluff and frill doesn't look contemporary. In a large space, centerpieces add drama and a sense of intimacy and in a small space they add personality. Centerpieces set the tone and mood of a wedding or party with blooming yellow sunflowers creating a warm welcoming feeling at a winery wedding and billowing white roses adding elegance to a winter wonderland wedding. The most important thing you need to remember is to think outside the box and don't limit yourself. Get creative and use your imagination to achieve a look that represents you, your fiance, and the style of your wedding. For more fresh ideas on creating the best floral centerpieces, read more

Combine multiple elements (the aforementioned flower and fruit, flowers and branches, various kinds of fruit in the same color, etc.)
For a less expensive option, fill large vases with fruit and simply top with branches and flowers.
Fill long cylindrical vases with flowers and water, anchor the flowers with pebbles, and place a floating candle on top.
Incorporate pieces of nature into the centerpiece by using wheat, feathers, vegetables, herbs, moss, etc.

For lush, luxurious settings arrange only flower buds (like lilly buds) in vases with no stems.
Substitute vases with over sized martini, wine, or margarita glasses. Pitchers and watering cans work well at outdoor garden weddings. Mason jars add a rustic feel to a country wedding. Cube and angular vases are sleek for the cosmopolitan wedding.
Classic flowers cool down with unique greens.
In a space that has soaring ceilings, make the room feel less intimidating with tall, full arrangements.
Pick colors and shades that reflect the season of your wedding: whites and dark greens for winter, peaches and lavenders for spring, oranges and hot pinks for summer, and yellows and burnt reds for fall.

Place a display of flowers on a cake tier or small cupcake tins.
Single bloom bouquets look graceful in old fashioned containers.
Flowers look artistic when immersed in water. Put a small glass bowl inside a larger one and fill both with water. Gently press de-stemmed flowers into the space between the inner and outer bowls.

Flowers that look like packages and tied with ribbons add a festive mood to the table. As do topiary style arrangements.
Long tables with centerpieces in a row down the middle are a great way to make guests feel equally important.

What did the floral arrangements look like at your wedding or last party? Share with us below!

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How-To: Decorate With Yellow

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:06 -0800

Yellow isn't my favorite color, but it's certainly a very powerful one. A room painted in a soft, pale yellow can instantly create a quaint, country vibe, while one pop of bright yellow in a dark room makes a space look modern and adventurous. But using yellow can be difficult. Some hues look dated if used in the wrong way, and it's also a color that can very easily clash. So check out this slideshow to learn how to decorate with yellow.

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Roundup: Gifts For the Dark and Elegant Decorator

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:30:16 -0800

I'm a huge fan of decorating with bright colors, but some of the most elegant women I know love to decorate with a more stark color scheme, including lots of black. It's an elegant and chic way to decorate, and as long as you add a few pops of color, it doesn't feel too dark and gloomy.

So, for all of you who have gal pals out there who love to decorate with lots of black, I've rounded up a few of the prettiest black accents that I could find online. Pass them on to a girlfriend this holiday season (or keep one for yourself!).

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Decorating With Warm Colors

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:00:14 -0800

Last week, we talked about decorating with cool colors as part of my series for Color Theory month. This week, we'll heat things up with a discussion of warm colors.

Warm colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, are associated with stimulation, appetite, and warmth. These hues give a room a feeling of closeness, since the colors appear to come forward. They're great to use for establishing a cozy mood in a room.

What warm colors have you used in your home?

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Tips For Decorating With Cool Colors

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:54 -0800

This week, we've looked at cool colors during Color Theory month. See my advice on decorating with gray, with lavender, and with turquoise. Or click here for all of my coverage so far. Today, I'm going to offer some tips for using a variety of cool colors to their greatest advantage.

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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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Diptyque Baies Noir Candle - $68.00	Marimekko ® Taikamylly wall hanging - $24.95
Vintage Poster Cognac Wall Art - $24.99	Raised Number Wall Clock - $39.95
A di Alessi Dozi, Magnetic paper clip holder - $24.00	notNeutral - Links Black Vase Set - $22.00
Ljusas Uvas Table Lamp - $39.99	Plush Living - Nook Daisy Silk Pillow - $64.00
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Black Paisley Serving Platter (14-in.) by Nautica - $29.95	Bjorkefall Candlestick - $5.99
Chilewich Dots Placemats - $6.99	Plush Living - Athena Black Label Pillow - $64.00