CasaSugar

Inspired: Fabulous New Book Covers

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:32 -0700

I can spend hours upon end looking through new releases at my local library or book store, and my browsing is often influenced by the beautifully designed book jackets. These book covers don't only inspire me to buy books, though; they often make me rethink home design, color schemes, or accent pieces. For instance, the cover of Italian author Margaret Mazzantini's latest novel has me thinking about moody blues and avant garde styling. To see some of my other literary inspirations, and ways you can use them in your own home, check out the slideshow.

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Open House: Could You Grow Old in Your Home?

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:00:34 -0800

Sometimes simple, elegant solutions can make all of the difference, such as these LED lights, which illuminate a low set of stairs at the Green Mountain Ranch. Design features such as minimal staircases, wide hallways that may accommodate wheelchairs, and showers with built-in seats are just a few of the features that make homes elderly-friendly. While my house is elderly-friendly in many ways, the long, uneven brick staircase that leads to the backyard is definitely not one of its more accessible features.

So tell me, could you grow old in your home? Is there anything preventing you from reaching the ripe old age of 80 or 90 within its walls? Tell me what makes your home elderly-friendly - or not - in the comments.
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Wallpaper Magazine's 2009 Design Awards Winners

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:32 -0800

Wallpaper magazine, which focuses a discerning and design-savvy eye on topics such as travel, design, entertainment, fashion, and media, has just released its Design Awards 2009 issue, which goes on sale today. The 2009 Design Awards, which include recognition for everything from best grooming product to best women's fashion collection, also showcases a number of home and interior design items as well. The judges, which included Kanye West, had their work cut out for them, but I have to say they came up with some great choices. Definitely check out the current issue (W* 119) of the magazine for the full portfolio of judges' portraits and full explanations of the winning entries. To see some of the home-related award winners, check out the slideshow. Source

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Casa Verde: Hexayurt for Temporary Shelter

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:00:32 -0700

I love to find examples of good design that's working for a good cause. In the case of designer Vinay Gupta's Hexayurt, those two elements are definitely present. The Hexayurt is, in Gupta's words, a "microbuilding." Gupta's design is a small, strong, and economic structure that can be erected in about two hours, and is made from easily accessible materials such as insulation board, plastic, and cardboard. The Hexayurt has a high R-value, which means that it is relatively comfortable in high and low temperatures.

Gupta's designs for the Hexayurt are in the public domain, which means that they are available for free download. While the Hexayurt was originally envisioned as a refugee shelter, it's recently gained popularity at campsites at the desert festival Burning Man.

To see a video explaining the Hexayurt, read more.

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What's Your Favorite Home Design Show?

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:50:00 -0800

As part of our Best Of 2007 polls, I want to know what design shows you watch.

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Before and After: A Squeezed-In Staircase

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:00:03 -0800

Designers Gabriella Gustafson & Mattias Ståhlbom from TAF were commissioned by a family in Stockholm, Sweden, to create a staircase in this cramped space.

To see the designers' surprising solution, just read more

The left-side photo shows the staircase looking up, while the right-side photo shows what the stairs look like from the top of the staircase. I love this design, but I wonder if sleepy stair travelers might go bump in the night if they don't pay attention to the pattern of the stairs.
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Hey New Yorkers! Going to the Domino Home Bazaar?

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:33:05 -0700

From October 11-14, the Domino Home Bazaar is hitting New York City.

Tickets are $20 per day and only valid for day of admission. This is a great deal though: You also get a 1-year subscription to domino (a $10.00 value) with your ticket, and 5.00 of each ticket purchased benefits the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), a collaborative and independent not-for-profit organization, that studies new treatments for HIV/AIDS and related diseases, and conducts a comprehensive HIV health literacy program. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

If any Casa readers are thinking about going, please let me know. And snap some pictures of your favorite home accessories while you're there! I'd love to see those photos.

Do You Watch Home Design TV Shows?

CasaSugar — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 06:00:31 -0700

Preview Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design Showhome in San Francisco

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:00:25 -0700

Yesterday, I toured Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design showhome in San Francisco, a historic, 7,700-square-foot house in the heart of the exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood, which has been transformed into an exquisite example of contemporary design with the help of a savvy developer and a handful of the country's top designers.

The house, known as "Baker Acres," was originally built in 1904 as a single-family home, but over the years has served as a boarding house for service men and women, a guest house for recent graduates and San Francisco transfers, and a hotel. Along the way, the building's exquisite architectural details, grand rooms, and dramatic staircase were destroyed, and the home was stripped down to a shell. In 2007, San Francisco-bred developer Regina Callan of RBR Development purchased the property, and updated and restored it with the latest technologies, building materials, appliances, and surfaces. The building's eco features now include a GreenPoint rating, recycled brick, solar panels, and energy-efficient appliances.

To hear which designers participated, and see many photos from my tour, read more.

As for the design, Met Home called in 14 of the most sought-after interior designs to bring this home into the 21st century with a unique modern living and design interpretation. The team includes Martha Angus, David Olydroyd, and Greg Steart of ODADA, Min | Day, Jiun Ho, Gary Hutton, Jay Jeffers, Dowling Kimm Studios, Nicole Hollis, Erin Martin, Steven Miller, Phillip Parton, Sand Studios, and Surfacedesign. Each designer applied his or her vision to a room or set of rooms.

If you live in the Bay Area, you can tour the showhome on weekends from June 20 to July 12, any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and proceeds benefit the San Francisco Ballet. Find more information here. If you don't live in the Bay Area, take a peek at my photos for a tour.

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10 Design Ideas to Steal From Celebrity Homes

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Unless they've got their own set of interior design skills like Julianne Moore, many celebrities hire experts to dress their coveted cribs to the nines. Since hiring a professional interior designer isn't in the budget for all of us plebes, we may as well take a look at the homes of the rich and famous and see what design ideas we can't steal.

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