CasaSugar

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:15:24 -0800

. . . Would you have an elaborate fresco painted on your wall?

Source

Roundup: Hurricane Lamps

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:00:23 -0700

Last night, I was disappointed to see that HBO ran a previously aired episode of True Blood. Watching this show, from Alan Ball, who also created Six Feet Under, is definitely a guilty pleasure. Tara Thornton, played by actress Rutina Wesley, is one of my favorite characters on the show. She's been taken under the wing of Maryann (Michelle Forbes), who's been adding some Greek mythology to the already fantastical set.

While I have my suspicions about Maryann's intentions, I must admit that her house is totally crave worthy, as are her fabulous breakfast spreads. I love the casually elegant al fresco breakfast setting here. Hurricane lamps are a must-have item for outdoor meals, as the tall glass cylinders will protect candles from flickering out. While a light source isn't needed for an outdoor breakfast, the hurricanes add to the elegance of the setting.

Want some hurricanes of your own? See my favorites when you read more.

Source

Summer Style: Sam's Wine Country Shack

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:06 -0700

While I wanted to love Bottle Shock, the film about California's vineyards featuring the blind Paris wine tasting of 1976, I had mixed feelings about the movie. However, I had nothing but love for the decidedly rustic digs that Sam (Rachel Taylor) inhabited on the Chateau Montelena vineyard.

While I can't imagine anyone actually living this exposed to the elements (at the very least some mosquito netting would've helped), I do love the overall effect of the building.

For some of my favorite decorating ideas from Sam's wine country shack, read more.

I loved the use of antique furniture in Sam's digs, especially the rocking chair and the iron bed frame. The al fresco wine tasting, shown below, also inspired me to eat out of doors on every sunny evening this Summer. The lack of rugs or busy textiles emphasizes the austere, uncomplicated look of this old, dilapidated building, putting the emphasis on the outdoors. In your own home, cut back on heavy Winter rugs and blankets, and take a cue from Sam by covering your bed with a white or light-colored blanket or duvet cover.

Try also moving some indoor furniture out of doors for an impromptu dinner or gathering. There's something absolutely magical about seeing a table normally reserved for the dining room out on a lawn or a porch.
Source

On the Market: San Francisco Multi-Story Mansion

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Need some space to spread out in San Francisco? Then check out this four-level home in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. The home has already dropped a few million dollars over a few weeks, and is currently offered for $9,995,000. While this is likely way out of most of our buying ranges, it's still fun to window shop.

The Georgian home's exterior features neo-classical ornamentation and a red brick façade. Over the home's four levels you'll find formal living and dining rooms, breakfast and family rooms, five to seven bedrooms, five baths and two half baths, fireplaces, a study, a wine cellar, and in true SF style, a "meditation room" (formally an au pair's quarters). Outside, you can drool over the gorgeous views from the garden roof deck, or dine al fresco on the terrace or near the rose garden. If you're tired of taking the stairs, you can also take the elevator.

This home was designed and built 99 years ago by architect Nathaniel Blaisdell, who designed numerous homes in this neighborhood. It was selected for the 2009 Decorator Showcase, a fundraising event for San Francisco High School, and the photos reflect the different styles of the designers chosen to decorate each room. Tell me which room is your favorite when you read more.

View 23 Photos ›

Source

Casa Beta: Graham & Brown Paste the Wall Wallpaper

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:15:12 -0700

Even if you know how to hang wallpaper like a pro, it's still a bit of an intimidating task. And removing it — be it by the soak-and-scrape method or with a steamer — is always a big ole, time-intensive pain in the butt. Or, it was, until the Graham & Brown Paste the Wall wallpaper came around.I came across this novel wallpaper technology, which claimed to make "wallpapering simple, clean, and quick for even the novice decorator," because it peels off in full sheets, requiring no steaming or scraping, and because you paste the wall itself rather than the paper when hanging. Could this be love? I was a little skeptical, so I asked Graham & Brown to send me a roll, so I could try it out myself. To hear my analysis, read more.

Hanging. Like any wallpaper, you still need to do your measurements, and line up the patterns correctly. I was working with a small area that had a built-in niche, so it was a little hard to manage, but that simply came with the territory. Pasting the wall rather than the paper made the process a lot less messy and time-consuming. No paste all over my fingers, no wallpaper sticking to itself. No muss, no fuss. After mixing the paste, I globbed it onto the wall and then lined up the top of the roll. It stayed on the wall while I lined up the rest of the sheet, and I had a few minutes to get it into place and smooth out bubbles before it dried. When there were areas that needed a little touching up at the base, I was able to peel the sheet up, realign, and then apply some more paste. I'd say it was the least intimidating and streamlined wallpapering experience I've ever had — and I wouldn't call myself a pro.
Removing. I did actually want to keep my wallpaper in place, so I tested the removal process in another area of my home. Just as described, the wallpaper peeled off in full sheets. I found that removal worked best when I peeled slowly but steadily. But honestly, the directions were quite to the point: "To remove, lift a bottom corner and peel steadily up." Then, I washed off the wheat paste with a good sponge-down of soapy water. This facile removal process makes wallpapering a great option for renters, who up until now, wouldn't be able to get away with making that sort of semipermanent change to their homes.
Selection. I'm pretty darn impressed with the Paste the Wall selection. There are 195 wallpapers in a variety of beautiful patterns for both modern and traditional homes. Pattern isn't your thing? There are even grasscloths and frescos available in a handful of subdued tones. I chose the Tempting-Turquoise paper ($60/double roll) by Linda Barker. It has a large-scale chrysanthemum design with a feminine palette of soft, apple green, turquoise, and shimmery gold on a grayish-brown background; it goes perfectly with the green paint in the next room.
Price. At $60 a double roll, I think Graham & Brown offers a great price for a designer roll. To give you an idea, papers by Ferm Living, which do not even use this technology, go for around $94, and even Pottery Barn's only paper, which does pull off in full sheets, will cost you $84. Some of Graham & Brown's other wallpapers cost only $10 less.

I'm impressed on many levels with Paste the Wall, and would certainly consider (and actually am considering) using it again in my home. I highly recommend it. If you think wallpapering a whole room would be a little overwhelming, consider wallpapering a nook or the ceiling.

In The News: Where the Sidewalk Ends

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:30:02 -0700

If you've ever lived in a large city, such as New York or Los Angeles, you know that space is at a premium, especially outdoor space. Yards are virtually unheard of, so what's a gal to do when she wants to dine al fresco? Why, take it outside - out to the sidewalk, that is. In a recent New York Times article, "The Dining Room Takes to the Streets," writer Penelope Green looks at a group of rather atypical rebels who assert their elbow room by dining on the sidewalks outside their homes or even in nooks atop the Brooklyn Bridge.

It turns out that hauling your dining table and chairs onto a sidewalk is actually perfectly legal. Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner of the Department of Transportation, says, “Public space is the glue that holds our city together and makes it worth living in . . . I always say the streets are the living rooms, so I guess that makes the sidewalks the front porches. We’re trying to remove the barriers to enjoying that space. The D.O.T.’s priority is safety. If someone wants to use the sidewalk for a casual dinner, they just have to be considerate of the neighbors.”

Andrew Henderson for the New York Times

Midday Muse: Inspired by Libraries

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:16 -0700

This past weekend, I finally visited my local library and picked up a few books and DVDs (and paid my late fines). While my little neighborhood library isn't nearly as glamorous as the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, MD, it still is a source of comfort, simply because I'm surrounded by books (plus my library has a great open-beamed ceiling). Take a look at the gallery below and see if any of these library interiors inspire you, and if any of the frescoes, tables, tiled floors, or shelves could be adapted to your home.

View 7 Photos ›

Source

String Lights: Illuminate Your Summer

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:58:38 -0700

White holiday lights, when used tastefully, can be a good outdoor adornment year-round. But string lights are such a bargain, why not buy yourself a special set for Summer?

These outdoor accessories add an elegant effect to al fresco dining, and depending on the style you choose, string lights can give your patio an entirely new vibe, from Euro cafe style to down-home charm. Here are five of my favorite string lights for Summer.

' />

Mirrored Hurricane Lantern - $128.00	Pixie Candleholder - $9.95
Woven Hurricanes - $12.00	Jaipur Hurricanes by Michael Aram for Waterford - $165.00
Smoke Circle Mosaic Hurricane - $79.95	Williams-Sonoma Classic Glass Hurricane - $68.00
Recycled Glass Hurricanes - $78.00	Blissliving Home Mini Hurricanes - $10.00
Mikasa® Hurricane - $39.99	Alhambra Hurricane, Ivory - $49.00
Recycled Glass Hurricanes - $49.00	notNeutral NotNeutral Season Hurricanes - in white - set of 2 - $28.00