CasaSugar

Best of 2009: Your Favorite How-To

CasaSugar — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:30:10 -0800

This year, you chose my How-To: Decorate With Thrifted Goods slideshow as your all-time favorite of 2009. It makes sense, since we were all looking for ways to economize this year. In this slideshow, I showed you how to integrate thrifted finds into your casa in ways that really helped your whole house to shine. Tell me, did you take any of my advice, and how have you decorated with thrifted goods in your home?

How-To: Tineke Triggs's Tips For Designing in a Down Economy

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

It's only sensible for a UC Santa Barbara mathematical sciences degree-holder turned interior designer to prize cost-effective design over frivolous luxury. Meet Tineke Triggs. In the short time since launching her full-service interior design company Artistic Designs For Living in 2002, she has already been recognized as the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Baylist winner for Best Interior Designer, and placed on Western Interiors’s Gold List two years in a row. Talk about numbers! Well, actually, let's let Tineke talk. She's offered to share her 10 tips for designing your home in a down economy. To hear them, read more.

Paint. A coat of paint is an easy and inexpensive way to completely update or change the look and feel of any room. Try a bold color on an accent wall for minimal work with maximum impact!
Wallpaper! This is not your mother’s wallpaper. Companies now make interesting, whimsical, sophisticated choices for every room in your home.
Custom furniture? Yes! While it may sound pricey, having custom pieces made by local craftsmen can be a cost-effective choice in achieving one-of-a-kind design.
Discount fabric stores. Finding less expensive furniture and customizing it with your own fabric from local discount fabric shops is always a smart choice.
Mix and match. Mix lower-end furniture pieces with a few high-end pieces. Buying pre-made drapery and adding accents to it add a high-end and unique look.
What’s old is new again! Refurbish older pieces to give them new life.
A light bulb moment. Interesting lighting can completely change the look of a room.
Pillows. Accent pillows provide homeowners with an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up a room.
Beyond design. Look for a designer who can help manage a project who understands a remodel. This will ultimately save time, money, and frustration on any design project.

Artistic Designs For Living specializes in space planning, structural design, and concept-to-finish project management for kitchens, baths, and living spaces. Be sure to check out Tineke's portfolio online!

Are You Looking For a New Home?

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Sales of existing homes in the United States rose 2.9 percent in April, as potential buyers took advantage of reduced prices on homes and low interest rates on mortgages. Have you been looking for a new home?

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How-To: Move Back Home Gracefully

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:00:40 -0700

This Old House recently offered advice for parents whose adult children were moving back home due to the economy. While the post offered smart tips about transforming a home space to welcome a 20-something or 30-something back into the nest, I thought that it might be more helpful to CasaSugar readers to look at the issue from the perspective of the child, not the parent. This is obviously a difficult transition for everyone, but there are some ways to make the move a smoother one. And lest you feel like an anomaly, take heart in an AARP statistic, cited in the article, finding that of 1,000 adults surveyed, 33 percent aged 18 to 49 live with their parents or in-laws.
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Open House: Keeping Costs Down and Fun Levels High

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:18 -0700

I've been taking some steps to try to cut back household expenses. Some of my friends, who've recently been laid off are employing similar tactics.

Sure, the going-out-on-the-town budget has shrunk, but I'm gaining more quality time with my friends and family. For instance, instead of going out to dinner and a late movie the other night, my friends and I opted to make food together, and then play board games at home. Not only did we have a great time cooking and hanging out, but we had more fun at home than we would have in a loud restaurant. Since then, I've been playing board games, such as Scrabble, at least a few times a week.

While other strategies such as planning affordable meals in and keeping the thermostat turned down are effective and practical, the new board-game nights are my favorite way of economizing. They don't use electricity, are cost efficient (you can pick up additional games at garage sales or borrow from friends), and provide a lot more family interaction than movies do.

Have you found any fun ways to economize?

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If Design Within Reach Closes, Will You Miss It?

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:30:10 -0800

Purveyor of modern classics Design Within Reach is standing on shaky ground these days. The furniture maker has hired an investment firm to consider strategic alternatives to remedy its depressed share price, including a possible sale of the company.
It's too soon to tell if the company will be sold, or even just shut down, but I'm predicting it'll go bust if the economy remains as-is. We've already seen, with the folding of many of our favorite glossies, that the shelter market is suffering, and the high prices of DWR products are out of reach for most even with a good economy. So tell me, will you miss DWR if it closes up shop?

Are You Shopping Local This Holiday Season?

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:00:28 -0800

Folks in New Orleans are making a pledge to shop local this holiday season, in order to boost the city's economy. With so many great products just a click away on our browser, it's tempting to shop online from the comfort of our homes. But most cities also have something for everyone on your holiday shopping list, in addition to unique products made by local vendors.

Sale Alert: Modern Economy Online Sale Kicks Off Tomorrow

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:00:38 -0700

Modern Economy's second annual online sale kicks off tomorrow with a range of fabulous home decor products from over 40 independent designers. Doors open at 12 p.m. EDT, but you can get early access to the sale at 11 a.m. EDT with the user name shopearly and password 2009sale. You can also get free ground shipping anywhere in the continental US (excluding rugs) by using the code ship175 at checkout. I've definitely got my eye on Sara Poloma's handmade pottery (left), but I'm sure there will be plenty to love. When the Modern Economy sale came to San Francisco, I left the sale with over 15 treasures! Mark your calendars!

Sale Alert: Modern Economy First Ever Online Sale

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:00:16 -0700

Modern Economy a recurring sale selling samples and overstocked goods of independent designers, which until now has taken place in San Francisco and Los Angeles, will hold its first-ever online sale, giving all of you budget-minded design enthusiasts a piece of the action. The sale will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8, with "doors" opening at 9:00 a.m. (PDT). To access the sale, go here. The last time Modern Economy came to San Francisco, I returned home with buckets of fab home décor accessories, including potholders by Deadly Squire, pillowcases by Dermond Peterson, ceramic plates by Rae Dunn, and tea towels by Tikoli. I'll definitely be hitting up this affordable modern design sale; maybe I'll see you there.

Does Your Town Have a Local Shopping Event?

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:30:04 -0800

In Oakland, CA, Plaid Friday was created by two local galleries as an independent business alternative to the big box store-dominated Black Friday. Plaid Friday is designed to help raise awareness about shopping local and supporting the local economy. Does your town have a local shopping event like this, such as a craft fair, art sale, or open gallery event? If so, tell me about it in the comments!