CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Cardboard Fireplace

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:50 -0800

I spotted this Cardboard Fireplace ($24) at Urban Outfitters and I kind of love it. For one, the bricks remind me of the cardboard bricks I used to play with when I was a kid. And two, I love a good faux fireplace - my "crackling fire" DVD plays on repeat in the Winter. But I do wish this fireplace had a prettier mantel, like a white one with ornate moldings. What do you think?

Casa Quickie: Cleaning Soot

CasaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:30:20 -0800

If your fireplace's brick surface is marred by a thick layer of soot, here's one nontoxic way to deal with it. Just mix up an ounce of soap with an ounce of table salt. Mix with enough water to make a cream and then rub it onto the brick's surface with a cloth. After 15 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush. It requires some elbow grease, but it will help cut the soot!

Source: Flickr User Ted Percival

Do You Chop Your Own Wood?

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:09 -0800

For those of us who appreciate a nice wood fire, we either have to buy wood already split, or get out an ax and do the job ourselves. Growing up, I got my fair share of chopping wood as a household chore, but I actually really enjoyed the task. Do you chop it at your home?

10 Chimney-Free Portable Fireplaces

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:33 -0700

This is the dawn of a new era of home heating. Traditional fireplaces with chimneys have always been something that adds value to a home; turning your heater up just doesn't have the same effect as sitting around a cozy fire. But now there's a wide range of portable fireplaces that burn eco-friendly ethanol ready to replace traditional fireplaces. They offer that same cozy vibe, but they can be used in any home, in any room - chimney or not - and can be taken with you when you move. The only problem is that many seem to be more modern in form, which doesn't appeal to everyone's taste. Come take a look!

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Do You Have a Corner Fireplace?

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:55 -0700

I spotted this image in the portfolio of Swedish stylist Sasa Antic and I thought it was peculiar, or at least unusual, to have a fireplace in the corner of a room. On the other hand, sometimes we feel forced to design a room around a fireplace that's centered on a wall. The idea of having one in a corner is actually appealing to me. It gives you the warmth and cozy effect of a crackling fire, but your focal point can be elsewhere, such as an arrangement of chairs or TV. Do you have one?

Get the Look: Cozy Autumn Fireplaces

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:00:52 -0700

I love spending a chilly Autumn night in front of a crackling fire. And nothing says Fall to me as much as a cozy fireplace. There are many ways to transition your Summer fireplace into the Fall spirit, so, on this first day of Fall, let's check out some beautiful and cozy Fall fireplaces.

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Would You Want a Marble Fireplace?

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:30:00 -0700

This photo, from interior-designer-turned-bakery-owner Rosie Daykin's Vancouver home, features modern, comfortable rooms, including this spacious living room. I love the marble fireplace, and wonder if you do, too, or if you find it too austere.

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How-To: Bring Summer Style to Your Fireplace

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Since most of us aren't using our fireplaces this Summer, why not take advantage of them this August by using them for decorating instead of firebuilding? See my favorite ideas for accentuating your fireplace in this last month of Summer.
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Casa Quickie: Think Outside the Mantel

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:00:36 -0700

Those of you who are lucky enough to have a fireplace mantel are probably overflowing with ideas about what to set on it and what to hang above it. Vases. Candlesticks. Objets d'art. Photographs. Paintings. Perhaps the most intriguing solution to this dilemma is to leave the space above the mantel blank.

In this living room, you'd expect to see the mirror hung above the mantel, but instead you find it on the adjacent wall. And the set of subtle, white candlesticks give the space polish, keeping it from appearing abandoned. It's captivating, surprising, and fresh! Try thinking outside the mantel in your home.
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Open House: How Do You Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel?

CasaSugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:30:23 -0700

I love the seashells that are carefully and artfully arranged on the fireplace mantel at the Park Lane Guesthouse in Austin, TX. The white of the shell is so compelling against the gray of the stone.

At my house, I also tend to add natural objects to the mantel, such as fresh flowers, agates, or shells. While I appreciate the austerity of a restrained, bare mantel, I'm more intrigued by mantels that showcase a homeowner's interest or hobby. How do you decorate your fireplace mantel? If you don't have one, how would you want to decorate it?