CasaSugar

Do You Have Pocket Doors?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:00:48 PDT

A couple of you weren't keen on the way Kylie Minogue staged her London home, which can be yours for $6.1 million. While some may think the cotton candy pinks and blues are inappropriate for a home on the market, I think all will agree that this home has stunning interior architecture. I am particularly coveting the pocket doors that open up Kylie's dining room to the living room. And I love how she's painted them to match the walls.

My experience is that pocket doors are almost always left open, seeing as they take more care to close than the average door. But they are a great option for open plan living spaces, as well as a smart space-saving feature. Do you have any in your home? (Kylie, if you're reading, you don't need to answer this one.)

Cool Idea: Add Character to a Boring Builder Door

Casa Community — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Seefree from the Su Casa group:

For whatever reason, the builder of our house made the back door from a bathroom to the pool area very tall, skinny and with no interest. This door has always looked so sad and pitiful to me, so I decided to spruce it up. I wanted it to look like an old weathered door I'd found in Mexico, with layers and layers of paint. But I discovered the door is metal, so distressing it would be a challenge. Here's the homely door on the left before.Since I couldn't sand, chip, or ding it up, I decided to add texture. Out came the spackle and putty knife. I applied it pretty hap-hazard so it wouldn't look intentional and left chunks in some areas. I prefer pink spackle so I can see where it's going and you know it's dry when it turns completely white.

Continue reading to hear more about this project and see the results!

Cool Idea: An Old Door Becomes a Desk

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:00:00 PDT

CasaSugar Community member Lori Schmitt posted this desk that she made for her office in the Su Casa group. She writes:

I made this for my office! Adds so much character! And it's EASY! This is a project I have always wanted to do, find an old door and make a desk of it. This is a door I found at the Antiques and Collectibles show in Charlotte a few months ago. It's an 80-inch interior door. Its a pretty old door and exactly what I wanted. Chipped paint, nicks and scrapes, overall pretty weathered!! But it was a beauty to me!

To hear more about the project and see photos, head to Lori's blog, Around Applegate. Meanwhile, Assisted Living group member MandyWH is still looking for tips on turning a door into a dining table, so please comment there with suggestions you have.

Assisted Living: DIY Dining Table Help

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:00:00 PDT

Assisted Living group member MandyWH is looking for tips for turning her salvaged door into a dining table:

Hey guys! I'm moving into an apartment with an actual dining room for the first time ever, and my husband and I want to DIY our own dining table out of an old door. We found an amazing salvage yard nearby with absolutely endless door options, and we're pretty psyched about the idea! But we're not exactly sure where to start. We're thinking about looking at Ikea for table legs and are debating whether we'll sand and paint the door we choose (something like the one at right, maybe), cover it with tempered glass, or just leave it more or less as-is (after cleaning it, of course!). Does anyone have experience with this type of project? Any ideas/suggestions/warnings?

To see my thoughts and offer your own,

I've never handled this sort of project personally, so I'm no expert. My immediate thoughts are that if your door has grooves or its surface is not entirely flat, you'll either need to use sturdy place mats or add a glass top to it. Second, you'll want to make sure the door handle openings are either sanded smooth or filled - they tend to be rough and unfinished. Lastly, while Ikea does sell table legs, I wouldn't go there. Table legs in general are not very expensive at all. You're more likely to find some with more character and quality if you shop from a place like TableLegs.com, which has a great seletion. You can stain them to match your door, or you can find metal table legs at Tablelegsonline.com. If you want to get really creative, you might consider using another salvaged item, such as outdoor urns and planters, as table bases instead. Whatever you choose, please share photos!

Anyone else have any suggestions? Share below. Have a question of your own? Be sure to post your photos and tales in the Assisted Living group!

10 Stylish Front Doors

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:00:00 PST

Whether or not your digs are on the market, curb appeal is très important. The exterior of your home is the first impression your guests have of your style, and it impacts how much neighbors and passersby think you value your community. So you should remember to dress your outdoor entryway to impress! Here are a few fabulous front doors to inspire you.

Etsy Finds: Knock, Knock!

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:44 PST

Looking for a way to distinguish your home from that of your neighbors? How about customizing your front door? Etsy has some cool vintage and handmade items that will add drama to your doorstep. Check out my favorite handmade house numbers, door knockers, and more.

Do You Close Your Bedroom Door at Night?

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:40 PDT

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 PDT

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 PDT

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?
Source

Guess What's Hiding Behind This Sliding Door?

CasaSugar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:30:32 PDT

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?