CasaSugar

Summer Style: Don't Forget the Lanterns

CasaSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:14 -0700

One of the most economical and pretty ways that you can decorate your outside space is with colorful paper lanterns. Not only are they inexpensive, they also look great during every hour of your party. If you choose brightly colored lanterns, like the ones shown here, they'll create a huge color splash during the day. At night, once the lanterns are lit, they'll provide a more muted, yet still colorful, addition to the party decorations. I love the festive look of hanging lanterns at garden parties, and just a few strings of paper lanterns can take a party's look from boring to brilliant. Do you decorate with paper lanterns at your parties?

Midday Muse: Parasol and Plums

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:00:57 -0700

Paper parasols aren't just for keeping the sun out of your eyes. They'll also add some instant Summer Style to your garden party. Just stick a few in larger shrubs or low-hanging tree branches, and let the fun begin!

Get the Look: Bastille Day Garden Party

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:00:48 -0700

In honor of Fête Nationale, or Bastille Day, I created a festive look for a garden party celebrating the holiday.

As France's tricolor flag wears red, white and blue, I decided to incorporate those colors, but not overly so, as many Fourth of July celebrations do. Inspired by Claude Monet's Red Poppies at Argenteuil, I chose a poppy printed tablecloth, and decided on French café chairs for seating. Of course, a cheese board is a must for any French fête, and a fleur-de-lys topped trellis makes instant royal French décor. Throw in a silver candelabra, some Diptyque candles, some appropriate reading, a red toile platter, and some blue accents and you'll be ready to storm the Bastille, figuratively. Voilà!

Steal of the Day: Glass Tealights With Garden Stakes

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:00:45 -0700

Ready to throw a garden party? With this set of Glass Tealights and Garden Stakes (originally $59.99, on sale for $29.99), your garden will be the hit of an evening party, as the glass tea lights gently illuminate its blossoms and greenery.

This set includes 12 powder-coated black metal stakes that are almost three feet high, and different colored glass tea light cups. They'd also look lovely illuminating a walkway at an evening wedding or reception. For extra garden party glamour, consider planting some moonflower seeds, which will bloom at night. Can't you imagine the night-blooming flowers twining up the garden stakes?

Steal of the Day: Hungarian Baby Bathtub

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:43 -0700

Since the advent of Summer is fast approaching, I thought I'd focus on two elements that are crucial to your experience at home this season — gardens and parties! The Garnet Hill Hungarian Baby Bathtub ($159, from $228) will serve up plants in the garden or drinks at parties all Summer long. You can get creative with it and use it in the bathroom to store towels. It'll fit in anywhere, really! The authentic antique tub, made of enameled porcelain, is sure to add vintage charm to your home, regardless of how you use it. I'm liking the idea of champagne though . . . .

How-To: Throw a Garden Bridal Shower

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:15:54 -0700

My lovely sister recently threw me a garden bridal shower. She knew that I wanted a low-key, simple affair that focused on my friends, and with that in mind, she came up with the concept of a garden tea party. This casual affair was a fun, backyard gathering that my sis made elegant with her decorating choices and signature style.

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Casa Quickie: Home Deliver Flowers to Someone Special

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Who doesn't love receiving a bouquet of flowers? Whether it's delivered from the local flower shop, or arrives in the hands of a dinner party guest, a bouquet really can make someone feel special.

So, what's stopping you? Do you have a friend who needs a pick-me-up, or a special relative who appreciates a pretty bouquet? There's no need to spend a lot of money. You can even use a grocery store bouquet that you've re-arranged. Or, if you're lucky enough to have a flower garden, trim some blooms, wrap them in ribbon and newspaper, and leave them on that special someone's doorstep. Who knows? Maybe the favor will be returned someday. And even if it's not, you can rest assured you've made someone's day.

Cool Idea: A Roof of Red Umbrellas

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:30:08 -0700

In a pedestrian mall in downtown Talca, Chile, a group of students created a covering from over 400 umbrellas by hanging them on lines suspended from scaffolding, creating a temporary, colorful public space. I love the ethereal look of this installation, and I think it could work wonders re-created in a smaller format, offering a bit of shade at your next garden party. While I think almost anything, if repeated enough times, can create a beautiful display, there's something about the umbrella that adapts itself well to design. Not convinced? Check out this trend of umbrella lamps.

Casa Interview: Patti Moreno, The Garden Girl, Part II

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:00:57 -0700

Through the rest of the month, as we celebrate Spring and a return to the garden, I'll be screening videos from The Garden Girl. The Garden Girl, Patti Moreno, is an inspiration to aspiring gardeners everywhere. She'd never even touched a trowel until the birth of her first daughter, and now she's established an urban garden paradise at her home in Boston. You can read the first half of my interview with Patti here.

Casa: Are there any plants that you consider no- or low-fail for folks who consider themselves to have less than a green thumb?

The Garden Girl: Mint is pretty hardy and a perennial which means it will come back year after year. I love using mint as a garnish to my lemonade. Last year, mojitos were the house cocktail all summer; I had friends lining up for my summer parties. There are tons of different types of mint. My most prized variety is Chocolate Mint - it's wonderful in coffee and hot chocolate and on ice cream. If you choose something you really love to eat, I think you’ll have more success. Another no fail crop is parsley and oregano. Simple and easy. Like most people, my family eats a lot of lettuce, which is easy to grow in the Spring and Fall, but needs a lot of water in the summer.

Casa: What has been the biggest project you’ve taken on?

The Garden Girl: The biggest project I’ve undertaken was building my new Urban Sustainable Living Garden last year. It’s around 500 square feet and the perfect size to grow enough for a salad at lunch and a vegetable at dinner the entire growing season for a family of six. It was a lot of fun, but the hard part was videotaping the whole process so I could share with others. Adding the video component slowed the process down, because I ended up doing everything at least three times! But I am really proud that I was able to do the whole garden entirely by my self. Ideally, you want to involve your family and neighbors, but I wanted to really show that the system of gardening that I’ve developed can be accomplished, by following through and being committed. I’m only 5’2” so if I can do it, you can too.

Casa: Can you tell us a little about some of the animals you have at your garden?
My bantam chickens are awesome. They’ve become pets of mine. I strongly suggest getting bantam chickens if you are interested in getting livestock. They are about the same size as a pigeon. They are also very trainable. I have Silkies who are perfect for the city because they can’t fly, but my favorites are my Aracauna bantam chickens that lay green and pink eggs. My hen "Rocket" is so cool. She thinks she's an eagle and tries to fly everywhere. Their eggs are delicious and about 2/3 the size of regular large eggs you get at the grocery store and taste so much better. Don't get roosters, it just makes your neighbors angry. I also keep angora rabbits and regular rabbits. I shave the Angora rabbits every three months and spin their fur into yarn, which I make into gifts and hats. My other rabbits just dig and turn the soil for me.

Casa: What are your favorite food crops?

The Garden Girl: Lettuce, lettuce and more lettuce. Growing up I had no idea there were lots of varieties of lettuce. This year I am growing, four season lettuce, bib lettuce, radicchio, kale and arugula. Arugula is so good. It is a huge hit at my mini farm stand I run during the weekends. For herbs, mint and as many varieties of Basil as I can grow from sweet basil to lemon to cinnamon. Fresh basil makes such good pesto sauce that when I entertain I never have leftovers. My other name is the Tomato Lady. I grow mostly heirloom varieties, but my favorite is Mortgage Lifter. Even the name is great. Mortgage Lifter got its name from a farmer who developed it during the depression of the 1930s. It sold so much on his home farm stand that within eight years he had paid off his mortgage. Now that is a tasty tomato.

Casa: What are your favorite flowers to grow?

The Garden Girl: Nasturtiums, which are edible flowers. They add great color to salad and taste peppery. I had a lot of fun with a cool variety of marigolds last year. I love perennials. Peonies are my favorite. I love seeing them bloom and multiply year after year. I have an area in my garden that is a perennial garden that is beautiful all year long. This year I want to get a cutting garden going and be able to have flowers in vases all over my house. I can't overlook my roses though. Not only are they pretty, but living in the city, I have them planted along my fences and under my windows making any trespassers who trespass wish they hadn't.

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How-To: Set the Table For a Fab Party

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:33 -0700

In a recent New York Times article, interior designer David Serrano (pictured at right, seated), who also owns the glamorous shop Downtown and Outside Downtown, offered some advice on setting a party table. Serrano says, "[Setting a table] is emblematic of your personal style . . . My job has always been to create a beautiful tabletop that will complement the great food and wonderful guests.”

Here are my favorite tips from Mr. Serrano:

Consider serving everything family style. This allows you to mix china patterns, display funky glasses that might not match, and in general, create a more festive atmosphere at the table.
Don't be afraid to mix things up. As Serrano notes, “I like new things mixed with old things, cheap things from Pier 1 mixed with fancy things from Hermès.”
If you're decorating for a birthday party, include party favors for everyone at the party. They don't have to be expensive; just make sure they are beautiful and useful. For instance, a tiny potted herb tied with a ribbon would be a great present for a chef or gardener's birthday party.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Set the tone of the table with one unique, eyecatching object, such as an unusual vase or decorative urn.
Avoid distracting objects, such as giant, fragrant floral arrangements.
If you use candles, make sure they're unscented.
Don't forget dessert! You can even coordinate frosting color on your cake or cupcakes with the colors of your tablescape.

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Cherry Blossom Battery-Operated Lanterns Set of 3 - $17.99	Fiesta Stripe Paper Lanterns - $39.00
White Battery-Operated Lanterns Set of 3 - $14.99	Red Battery-Operated Lantern Pack of 4 - $14.99
Round Paper Lanterns - $9.00	Round Paper String Lights - $12.99
Maru 16" Round Paper Lanterns - $6.99	Safari Print Paper Lantern Set of 3 - $12.99
Red Star Paper Lantern - $6.99	Orange Star Paper Lantern - $6.99
Red or Blue Floral Paper Lantern - $6.99	Black and White 9-Point Star Paper Lantern - $6.99
Flower Power Paper Lantern - $6.99	Round Botanical Paper Lanterns - $9.99