CasaSugar

Do You Close Your Bedroom Door at Night?

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:40 -0700

When I lived in a studio, I naturally always locked my apartment (i.e. bedroom and living room) door. But now that I live in a house just with my hubby, I usually leave my bedroom door wide open, unless I have guests. You never know who might wander in. If Derek Shepherd left his bedroom door open at night, I can't say I wouldn't be tempted to walk right in.

Photo courtesy of ABC

Cool Idea: A Mural-Coated Front Door

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

You guys are hardly strangers to painting murals on walls, so why not welcome visitors with some artwork as well?

A friend of mine snapped this photo of a front door in Harlem, where the residents dressed up an otherwise ordinary brick townhouse with a multicolored mural on the front door. I love the idea of greeting people with a bold coat of many paint colors; what do you think?

Love It or Hate It? A Barn Door in a Modern Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

This master suite features a barn door in a very modern color. Since it's much too big to swing open, the barn door has been fitted on a track, so it slides open and closed. I love how the less refined door contrasts with the chandelier showcased in the bathroom beyond. Do you like this style? Or is it too whimsical for your tastes?
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Guess What's Hiding Behind This Sliding Door?

CasaSugar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:30:32 -0700

This white, perforated sliding door conceals something that in most homes sits comfortably out in the open. Hiding it in the closet makes the room more versatile, and ideal for households who often host guests. Can you tell me what it is?

Casa Quickie: Step Into the Baby Color Pool

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:00:42 -0700

I've told you time and time again that you can't go wrong with white walls. And in fact, you can go very right with an all-white room. But, sometimes you need just a pop of color to add a little cheer and ease your urge to pick wall colors like crayons from a box. And, it can be difficult to settle on one color when you love them all. So, take a baby step by painting one of your interior doors a peppy color, and leave your walls white. Consider it a trial run. If you love the color and you want to go all the way, so be it. If not, repainting a single door couldn't be easier. But regardless, it will look unexpected and fabulous.
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Cool Idea: Door Panes Become Picture Frames

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:03 -0800

My grandmother was the ultimate creative, painfully chic and actually an interior designer herself. So, it didn't come as a surprise when she revamped this French door in her living room (which leads to a rarely used closet), using it to frame black-and-white family photos. She had mattes made to border each photo, or each arrangement of photos, and placed them behind the glass door panes. Then, she had a piece of plywood cut to size, and secured to the door to keep it all in place. It was the sort of great idea that needed to be well executed to succeed, and I think it did. The fact that she used black-and-white family photographs made it all the more nostalgic, timeless, and cohesive. Somehow I don't think color photographs would triumph there. What do you think?

Do You Have a Door Knocker?

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:46 -0800

While some prefer the modern doorbell, others go for a more traditional door knocker, such as this Williams-Sonoma Lion Door Knocker ($195). What do you have at your home?

Casa Verde: An Energy-Generating Revolving Door

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:59 -0800

When it comes to sustainable technologies, Royal Boon Edam is truly opening doors. The company has introduced the world's first energy-generating revolving door, which not only saves energy but also generates it with each person who passes through. The door was installed in the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in the Netherlands, which was recently refurbished by RAU, an architect firm specializing in ecological buildings. The energy that commuters apply to the door by pushing it is harnessed by a special generator, which safely controls the rotating speed of the door. Meanwhile, low-energy LED lights in the ceiling slurp up the stored energy to keep the door space constantly illuminated. To hear more about this inventive technology, read more.

What's more, red-to-green LED scales inside the door show how much energy is generated and "Human Powered Energy" stickers are adhered to the door, so that people are aware of their contribution as they pass through the door itself. With a daily capacity of 8,500 commuters, the average day-to-day schlep to work adds up to about 4600 kWh in energy savings per year, much more than a standard door that doesn't save any energy! In addition to that, your plain ol' revolving door makes heating and air conditioning more efficient as it prevents air flow in and out of a building. Though Royal Boon Edam's energy-generating revolving door is currently used in a commercial capacity, I think this is only the beginning, and I hope one day our doors will harness our own energy for homes as well - without making me sweat.
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How-To: Display Your House Numbers

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:00:18 -0700

There's nothing more frustrating than a late delivery (especially if it's 2 a.m. and you've got the munchies). It's easy to blame UPS or your pizza delivery person, or whoever you're waiting for, but believe it or not, you could be at fault for your own delivery woes. When I say that I mean if your house numbers are poorly placed, you could be sending your guests, delivery people, and service men on a wild goose chase. Here are a few simple things to consider that will maximize the visibility of your house numbers from the street:

Put your numbers horizontally on the side of your mailbox facing traffic, not the door or the nontraffic side.
Put your numbers in a well-lit area above eye level close to your front door. Centered above the front door is best.
Make sure that no trees or bushes are blocking the view of the numbers from the street.
If your front door recedes, just place the number on the house itself, not the door.
You should also paint your numbers on the street curb about two feet from the driveway towards your house, with the number facing the street.

To hear more tips like these, read more.

Be sure not to park your car in front of the curb numbers, and brush away any leaves or debris.
Pick a color that contrasts with the number's background. If your house is white, choose black numbers. If your mailbox is green, choose red numbers, etc. If your house is brick, white numbers will show up well.
A lighted house number is ideal.
If you have motion detector porch lights, the numbers will not be visible from the street. Put a porch light on a timer to go on at night instead.
Brass or bronze numbers are practically invisible, unless the sunlight happens to hit it at a precise angle.
On the house or curb, the numbers should be at least four inches tall, and on the mailbox, at least three inches tall.
Choose a bold, sans-serif font. Serifs, cursives, etc. can make sixes look like eights, ones like sevens, etc.
Don't display the number vertically or diagonally. People read from left to right.

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How-To: Install a Peephole

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:00:21 -0700

This month, I've been home schooling you in all sorts of household tasks. And, now I'd like to teach you how to be a Peeping Tom without landing yourself in the slammer. It's okay to do some espionage from the comfort of your own home, if you're trying to figure out whose on the other side of your door. And, in fact, to be safe, you should always use a peephole to ensure you're not opening the door to strangers. To install a peephole in your door, you'll need a drill, a 10- or 25-foot tape measure, a peephole, a slotted screwdriver, safety goggles, and a dust mask. To learn the steps, read more.

Here are the steps, from Barbara K!:

First, put on your safety goggles and mask.
Mark where you want the peephole to go.
Make a pilot hole all the way through the door using a small drill bit.
Read the instructions on the peephole packaging, and switch to the drill bit size recommended.
Drill halfway through the door.
Switch to the other side of the door, and repeat so there's a hole all the way through.
Make sure the right side is facing out, and put the two sides of the peephole in the door. Then, tighten.
Finish tightening the peephole by putting your screwdriver in the slots of the interior bezel.
Fini! Peep away.

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