CasaSugar

Do You Have a Hammock on Your Porch or Patio?

CasaSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:00:44 -0700

I love the tropical, relaxed look of the hammock on this porch. The hammock's style and luxurious fabric make it more of a decor statement than your average rope hammock. No matter what the style, though, I'm always happy to take a break on one.

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Casa Beta: MIO For Target Organic Cotton Fabric Hammock

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:00:50 -0700

Target sent over some items from its new collection of exclusive eco-friendly outdoor living products designed by MIO. You may remember that I tried out the gardening tool set, but now I'm onto the MIO Organic Cotton Fabric Hammock ($59.99) from the collection. It's made from 100 percent cotton, and has an attached storage pouch for the hammock when it's not in use. To hear what I thought of this hammock, read more.

I conveniently have a small fenced-in area on my rooftop, so the hammock was easy to hang with a short piece of chain and a spring link - and also easy to take down quickly when there's a rain shower. While the hammock is weather-resistant, I figured, why leave it out in the rain?

The hammock supports up to 250 lbs, and while I can't say that my weight comes anywhere close to there, I will say it held up perfectly for Yours Truly. Still, I wouldn't recommend it for more than one person at once. Beyond that, it is super comfortable. The hammock's canvas is pretty wide (55 inches wide by 80 inches long), and envelops you like a big hug, while shielding the wind. I am definitely guilty of taking multi-hour naps in it, which is testament to its comfort. You can also wipe the hammock clean with soap and water, which is convenient. So as far as function and comfort is involved, it's fantastic.

Let's move on to the design. The main canvas of the hammock is a versatile, natural, off-white color made from thick organic cotton, and it has smart green piping along the sides. Attached to one side is a green storage pouch that is absolutely cheerful, and which turns into a bag when you want to take it on the go. When opened to reveal the hammock, the interior of the pouch is a modern green and yellow leaf pattern that is fun and summery. In other words, it's completely adorable. Sold? Find your own MIO organic hammock at a Target near you.

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Cool Idea: Hammock Hang-Up

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:30:42 -0700

A recent New York Times article, "A Spare Stage for the Spectacle of Life," took readers into the Long Island home of artist Karin Waisman and architect Carlos Brillembourg, which is quite narrow yet still full of light and space for the couple and their daughter, Antonia. While I would certainly call the property a Coveted Crib, it's not the house itself that grabbed me.Perusing an interactive photo blueprint for the home, I noticed that the couple had used five hammocks as wall décor in their dining room. The space is notably minimal (white walls and chairs, oak floors and table), so evenly spaced on the wall and picking up the colors of a tray of veggies on the table, the hammocks are quite visually arresting. They're fitting, too; Brillembourg hails from Venezuela and Waisman from Argentina, and hammocks are ubiquitous in South America. I've been attracted to the colorful multi-stripe textiles used in traditional hammocks, so using them purely for decorative purposes was a successful move. Of course, if they'd like to step outdoors and enjoy the Southampton Summer weather, the family of three can each grab one, and still have two for the road . . .

Crave Worthy: Kokoon Free Standing Hammock

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:30:44 -0700

If you're too lazy to DIY a hammock and have got money to burn, the Kokoon Free Standing Hammock ($10,620) might be right up your alley. The luxe outdoor furnishing will bring Summer Style to your terrace or lawn, and serve as a private escape from whatever ails you this month, especially if you add its optional set of curtains. You might want to have someone check in on you every once in a while: I don't know that I'd ever want to leave it. And, when it's not in use it'll just look good in your yard; I love its x-shaped base . . . as much, if not more than those x-base tables and stools I've written about.

Would You Put a Hammock Inside Your Home?

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:15:56 -0700

When it comes to Summer style, comfort is key. Would you get comfy by outfitting your home with a hammock?
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DIY: Homemade Hammock

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:51 -0700

Yesterday I told you about how I sewed a hammock for my backyard by riffing on instructions from the Getaway issue of ReadyMade magazine. If you want to get the exact instructions from the magazine, head down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy. In fact, I urge you to do so, as there are a ton of other cool Summer projects that will keep you occupied and crafting this month.

Want to get comfy in your own hammock? Then read more.

What You'll Need

Sewing machine
Thread
Queen- or king-sized sheet or duvet cover
Rope for hanging hammock

How To Do It

Fold your sheet or duvet cover in half lengthwise, pin the edges, and sew. I only sewed the three open edges, leaving the folded side loose.
Now, after you've finished sewing, fold the top and bottom edge down about four inches. Pin, then sew each pinned edge, leaving the sides open. The sides are where you'll thread the rope through to hang the hammock
Sew this pinned edge a lot. After all, it has to support your weight in the hammock. I sewed it eight times on each side.
Cut your rope so you have about five feet on each side (or more, depending how long you need it to be to hang from your tree/deck/porch). Scoot the rope through the ends that you've just sewn

Tie each end to a sturdy object, such as a tree or a beam on your deck or porch. Knots that I recommend are double overhand stopper knot, water knots, and figure eight follow throughs. Gingerly test the strength of your knots and hammock. After you've determined the strength, kick back.
Grab a book and a lemonade, and enjoy the afternoon!

Cool Idea: ReadyMade Magazine's DIY Hammock

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:15:04 -0700

I picked up the latest issue of ReadyMade over the weekend, and was delighted to find it brimming over with fun, easy projects for Summer living. One project I started nearly immediately was making their hammock project, which was explained in the article "Re-Kindle." Basically, all you need for this project is an old sheet, a sewing machine, and some rope. I used a duvet cover I'd made a few years ago, and which had been gathering dust in the linen closet. The project only took about half an hour from start to finish (threading the rope through and remembering my rock-climbing figure eight and water knots took the majority of that time).

If you want to make one for your own yard, pick up a copy of ReadyMade at your local bookstore. You can also check back tomorrow, when I'll share my own version of building this hammock. And yep, that's my hammock in the photo. It's surprisingly comfortable and strong, given that it's just a few layers of cotton. Are you going to make one for yourself?
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Guess What This Hammock's Made From?

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:00:54 -0700

The fabric for this hammock is made from a recycled material. Can you guess what it is? (Hint: At one time, this fabric held something thirst quenching.)

Do You Have a Hammock?

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:30:17 -0700

You needn't have sand below your feet or be rocking about on a sailing ship to enjoy a springtime siesta on a hammock. The rope mesh makes for a comfy lounging spot that'll give your garden or porch a new function. Hammocks range in price vastly, from about $30 to over $200. So, claiming one for yourself doesn't have to strain your budget. If you haven't already, I highly recommend penciling some hammock time into your Spring schedule.
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Crave Worthy: Chesapeake Hanging Lounger

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:00:18 -0700

Since I'm excited about getting outdoors and into the garden this month, it's pretty understandable that I'm craving this Chesapeake Hanging Lounger ($1129) from Pottery Barn. It combines two of my favorite areas for lounging - a hammock and a bed - into one brilliant piece. This lounger is built for the outdoors, too, with a kiln-dried solid hardwood frame, stainless-steel hooks, and a water-repellent, canvas-covered mattress. I'm envisioning it under the deck, next to the calla lilies. Hm . . . I think I have to go take some measurements and see if it'll fit.