CasaSugar

Definition: Wood Veneer

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:30:15 -0700

Furniture is an investment, so you'd better know what you're in for when you foot the bill for that console you loved so much. One common term you'll come across when shopping for furniture is "wood veneer." This is essentially slices of a superior wood (walnut, mahogany, etc.) that have been glued to lower-priced wood (like pine). It's the next best thing to solid hardwood, because your furniture will be masked in a rare wood, but cost much less. Buyer beware, though: veneer can often peel, so it may need replacing. A product description will likely read something like "rich walnut veneer," meaning that it looks like walnut. If the description mentions "engineered wood," this means the veneer is glued to MDF, a less durable material made of compressed wood fibers, so double check before you buy.

Definition: Enfilade

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:23 -0700

You've probably walked straight through an enfilade without even knowing it. The term refers to an architectural feature where a set of rooms are aligned directly with each other. The arrangement, where all of the doors open on an axis onto each other, allows a view of the entire column of rooms from one end to the other. "Enfiler" in French means "to thread," so it's as if the doors of each room were strung on the same piece of thread.

You'll see this type of alignment in grand, Baroque European estates and palaces, such as this one in the Royal Academy of Arts in London (1768). It's also common in railroad-style apartments in the US, and in particular, New Orleans Shotgun houses (which get their name from the saying that a shotgun blast at the front door could pass uninterrupted through all the rooms to the back).
If you have this feature in your home, you can make the most of it by joining each room in the enfilade with a cohesive element, such as paint color, accessories with a shared color or shape, or even a set of curtains in the same fabric hung in each doorway. This will bring unity and tranquility to your house.
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Definition: Bombé

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:00:08 -0700

If you ever hear an interior designer shouting, "It's the bombé!" don't jump to conclusions. She might be referring to a cabinet. A bombé is a low wooden chest with a bulging façade and sides. Fittingly, "bombé" as it turns out, means "curved" in French. Most of these cabinets have drawers, often three, although some have doors like a sideboard. They're often used to store clothing in a bedroom or table linens in a dining room, and paired with a mirror placed above them.
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Definition: Ikebana

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:00:53 -0800

Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging. It was introduced to Japan in the sixth century by Chinese Buddhist missionaries. Ikebana is based on harmony of simple linear construction and appreciation of the subtle beauty of flowers and natural materials, including branches and stems. Rules that govern the formal schools of Ikebana include dictating the height of stems, types of containers, and placing stems at certain angles.

Craft magazine has a great article on Ikebana explaining everything in detail from craft author Brookelynn Morris. Check out her article here.

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Definition: Demi-Lune

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0800

We can thank the French for much of our decor vocabulary. The word "demi-lune" means "half moon" en Français. It's used to described the hemisphere-shaped tables you've come to know as "console" tables, which are designed to stand against a wall. Of course, consoles come in all shapes and sizes; a demi-lune is just a particular breed. Its feminine curves give it a more formal look, but really it's suitable for any home. And, since its tabletop has a smaller surface area than a rectangular console table, it's ideal for small spaces. Do you have a demi-lune?

Definition: Grille

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:49 -0800

Not a glorified retainer or an appliance used at your backyard barbecue, a grille is a lattice made of wood or metal that is used to protect glass doors on secretaries, bookcases, and china cabinets or to conceal heating and ventilation units. With an artistic design, perforated grilles are available in a vast array of patterns and can add a decorative element beyond its original function.
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Definition: Wainscoting

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:30:56 -0700

Wainscoting is a type of paneling on interior walls that is applied to the lower three feet to five feet below the chair rail. It was originally meant to provide a damp-proof wall cover for poorly constructed or flood-endangered houses, but it is now mostly used for decorative purposes. Originally, it was typically made of tongue-and-groove boards, but now beadboard and decorative panels are also standard.
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Definition: Radiant Floor Heating

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:16 -0700

Radiant floor heating is a highly efficient heating system that involves heating the floor with electric tubes or a hydronic (hot water tubes) system beneath the floor boards. The way it works is that heat is delivered directly from the floors, warming up any objects (furnishings) or people they strike, which in turn radiate that heat. It is more efficient than traditional forced-air heating because no energy is lost through the air ducts, and hydronic systems use little electricity and can also be heated by a variety of energy sources. Since heat rises, it also makes sense to have the heat source at floor level, instead of in elevated vents.
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Definition: Euro Sham

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:00:38 -0700

I was glad to read that I'm not the only one who hates it when guests sleep on pillow shams. Don't people know they are for decoration?

Perhaps it's easier to make the distinction between pillow case and pillow sham (which goes over the pillow case) when dealing with a Euro sham. These square covers, which often come with fancy bedding sets, are designed to fit the large Euro pillows that many people layer behind standard pillows to create added decoration and cushion. Euro shams typically measure 26-by-26-inches square.

Are you a Euro sham fan? Or do you think less is more in the pillow department?

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Primer: Vermicomposting

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:30:20 -0700

Vermicomposting, or vermiculture, is a method of composting that uses worms, either red wigglers or red earthworms, in addition to bacteria, as a catalyst for the decomposition of organic waste. It can occur on a large (tons) or small scale, but it's particularly suited to kitchen composting, where space is limited. To set up a vermicompost, you first must find a bin, anything from a reused plastic bucket to a retailer compost bin, that has holes in the sides to allow air to flow, and a spout that can be opened or closed or holes in the bottom to drain into a collection tray. The type of bin you use will fall into one of three categories: non-continuous (undivided container), continuous vertical flow (vertically stacked trays), or continuous horizontal flow (horizontally stacked trays). To continue the lesson, read more.

You'll add moist bedding to the bin, such as dried leaves, sawdust, hay or shredded paper, which mimics the worms' natural habitat and serves as a food source. Then, you add the worms to their new digs, and toss in your organic food waste. You can compost practically all of your food waste, aside from animal leftovers, including coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, plate scrapings, rotting fruit, vegetable peels, leftovers, moldy bread, etc. The worms will chew through the material, and their excrement will in essence be a nutrient-rich fertilizer. You can then mix your fertilizer with potting mix at a one-to-four-part mix, and your plants will eat it right up!
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