CasaSugar

Before and After: Living Room Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:45:08 -0800

Do It Yourself recently checked in with Linda Thornburgh, whose living room was awash with neutral tones and outdated furnishings, and lacked warmth and personality. She wanted a space that could be formal as well as comfortable, and decided to execute a full overhaul of the space.

To see how she transformed this room, read more.

Linda had a cozy window seat with storage installed in front of the large picture window. She mixed traditional accent pieces, such as turned leg tables and an arched bookcase, with more contemporary seating pieces, bringing the whole space up to date. Family photos and personal collections personalized the room. The living room really underwent a drastic makeover that is a far cry from the original space, where color and personal style were nowhere to be found. To call it impressive would be a vast understatement.

You can see more photos and read more about this makeover at Do It Yourself.
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DIY: Ceiling Medallions as Wall Art

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:55 -0700

Since I was recently fawning over that ceiling medallion light, I couldn't help but stop in my tracks when I came across these ceiling medallions used as wall art. Do It Yourself offered up this creative idea in its collection of quick home projects. The lightweight urethane medallions were simply painted in subtly varying shades of yellow and easily mounted on the wall of this living room. The medallions are affordable, around $20 to $30, so it's quite an attainable way to bring "art" into your home. Another thought? Pick up a medallion with a circular opening in the center, and have a glass cutter make you a round mirror to size, and you'll have an ornate mirror at a fractional price.
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DIY: How to Mat Your Own Prints

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:03:30 -0700

If you've started your art collection, you've probably encountered the high costs of having your first pieces framed and matted. Or, if you're thinking about starting your collection, you may be anxious about those costs. Either way, don't be fearful. Although a beautiful frame can really make a piece of art stand out, if you've chosen something that is unique and that is unequivocally "you," that alone will make the artwork. So, all you need is a simple, inexpensive frame, and to learn to mat your own prints.

To get the supply list and learn the steps that I learned from the small object, read more

Supplies:

a mat cutter (handheld or not)
a piece of acid-free matboard
your frame
a pencil
a box cutter
a straight edge ruler

Here are the steps:

Use the box cutter to cut out the size mat you need, depending on your frame size. If your frame came with a paper insert, that is a nice guide to use when cutting. From here on out, always work from the back of your matboard so you don’t mark up the front of it.
The border measurements are the same on the top, left, and right. The bottom border should be larger to give the piece visual weight. Mat borders need to be at least 2" thick, and even wider for larger work.
To figure out what your measurements should be, follow this example. If the mat is 8" in width and the artwork is 4.25" in width, the window of the mat should be 4" so that it covers the edges of the artwork somewhat, to hold it in place. Divide the window size by two to calculate the width of left and right mat borders. In this case it would be 2". So, the left, right, and top borders will all be 2" (since they need to be the same) and the bottom will be what's left over.
On the back of your mat, draw lines with your pencil to mark where the window will be, but be sure to extend the lines longer than necessary, so you can see where the corners cross.
Line up your mat cutter on the guidelines you marked. Position the mat cutter so that the angled blade is pointing toward the center of the artwork. Overcut each corner by about 1/4" to ensure that you get a crisp, clean corner. Push hard enough to make sure your blade is cutting through to the front of the mat.
After you’ve cut all four sides, your window should just slip right out. Put your mat into your frame, and your artwork behind the mat. Then tape your artwork with a small piece of duct tape on the top side to the back of the mat, and consult DearSugar for how to best display your awesome matted and framed art. Fini!

For more detailed steps, check out the small object's instructions.

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DIY: Fabric Wall Appliques

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:00:05 -0700

Renters, I know it's hard for you to Dress Your Walls because many landlords prohibit wallpapering, painting, nailing things, and doing pretty much anything that makes your crib look cool. So, you'll be interested to learn this do-it-yourself technique for making spectacular fabric wall appliqués that can be removed easily when your lease is up.

To learn the steps, read more

Here's what you need:

a fabric of your choice
liquid starch (i.e. Niagra)
a brayer

Here's how you do it:

Cut whatever motifs you like in various sizes and shapes from the fabric that you chose.
Dip each piece into liquid starch and wring out excess liquid.
Smooth fabric onto wall and roll on with the brayer.

Continue until you are happy with the pattern.
Voilà!

via love forever

Definition: DIY

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:37:35 -0700

Short for "do-it-yourself," DIY is an adjective used to describe home improvement, decorating, and crafts projects that you could hire a professional to do but instead opt to complete at home on your own. DIY could include everything from construction, lighting, and painting to furniture refinishing, landscaping, and sewing.

Though the term has been around for decades, the DIY philosophy has really caught on over the past 10 years, spawning such media as the DIY Network, devoted to home improvement, and crafty magazines like ReadyMade and Make.

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Cool Idea: Artwork as Headboard

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0700

Here's a post from the OnSugar blog Apartmentalizing:

Since graduating from my twin bed in high school, I've always been too lazy and cheap to invest in a headboard. I know there are lots of do-it-yourself solutions, but screwing things into my wall or bed always seemed like too big of a hassle to me. I love this idea from HGTV's website of using a large, colorful piece of artwork as a headboard of sorts. Now if only I knew where to find a cool painting for not too much money . . .

Want to see more posts like this? Start following Apartmentalizing or start your own OnSugar blog!

Does DIY Create Trouble on the Homefront?

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0800

DIY in my house means do it yourself . . . with a tiny bit of help. I create, plan, and carry out the projects around the house, but sometimes I dream too big and must reluctantly call my husband for reinforcement. He and I were made for each other, but we weren't meant to work on home projects together; it's very rare that we finish a task without biting each other's head off. Then when the job is complete, we have a good laugh about how horrible we are at working side by side. I can't be alone here - does tackling projects around the house put you and your significant other at odds?

Nice and New: Diesel Home Launches in the US!

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0800

Diesel's Successful Living home collection, which launched to the trade in Milan last year, is now ready for public viewing, lighting, and sitting in the US! The line includes lamps by Foscarini and furniture by Moroso, including tables, chairs, sofas, casegoods, and even a folding screen, ranging from $350-14,500. In tune with Diesel's edgy aesthetic, the pieces have three distinct themes: Music, Retro, and Discovery.

By far, the faceted Rock Pendant (left) and Bar Stool Stud (right) are the strongest, most original pieces. The pendant has a moody architectural quality, and it would triumph in any modern home. I love how subtle the bar stool's studs are; just that little bit of trim keeps it from being overdone. It looks comfortable, too! There's also a mirror with studded trim that's a riff on the BBDW Captain's Mirror; kind of cool, but I like the original better.

To hear more and see the rest of the collection, read more.

Other items, like those with hairpin legs and bent plywood forms, are clearly inspired by midcentury designs, but don't quite succeed. Some pieces, like the X-ray/turntable-inspired coffee table, or the media console à la amplifier storage, have a contrived rock 'n' roll thing going on that's too trendy for investment purchases.

What do you think? If you want it for yourself, the collection is available at Diesel stores in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

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Do You Ever Buy Yourself Valentine's Day Flowers?

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:06 -0800

While I'm hoping that my hubby will remember to get me flowers this Valentine's Day, in previous years, when I haven't been dating or married, I've always bought myself flowers. Even if you don't have a special someone on Feb. 14, it's always a good idea to treat yourself to some pretty flowers. And since you're buying your own flowers, you can pick out exactly what you want!

Source: Flickr User geishaboy500

Weird Furniture: Mario Philippona Design (NSFW)

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:00:57 -0800

Dutch sculptor Mario Philippona developed a series called "Sexy Furniture," which mimics female forms in challenging wood. These shapes, he writes in a statement on his website, are "the most attractive in nature," and have inspired him. He designs his works on life-size working drawings and assembles his sculptures from pre-cut layers of wood, so that they're anatomically correct. He sees perfectionism, he writes on his site, "in the way women use fashion, high heels, fitness, and plastic surgery to portray themselves," and cites artists Allen Jones and Salvador Dali as inspiration. His works are finished with natural oil and wax and handcrafted from regional timber, the colors and textures of which he uses to emphasize his forms.
Shown here is the Boobycase, a sideboard of sorts (and the least graphic of his pieces), which was inspired by "a woman with fantastic breasts, seen in the sauna." Its hinges are all wood integrated into the object. More of Philippona's Sexy Furniture, but CAUTION: for adult eyes only, when you read more.

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