CasaSugar

This Just In: Home Magazine Folds

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. has announced that it will pull the plug on its struggling shelter magazine, Home, due to "sharp declines in the 'mid-market home sector'," according to the Wall Street Journal. Home will join the ranks of fellow folded shelter titles, Conde Nast's House & Garden and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's Blueprint. In a company press release, Jack Kliger, President and CEO of HFM U.S, said, "The current economic environment is difficult, and the mid-market home sector has been particularly hard hit. When the middle market recovers, we will consider future publication of Home using the special interest publication newsstand model." Another one bites the dust. In this uncertain real estate market, this comes as no surprise. But, considering that House Beautiful had a 19 percent increase in ad pages in its second quarter, and Domino increased circulation by 82 percent to 1.1 million in the first half, it seems that only the fittest survive.
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Open House: Where Do You Cut Back?

CasaSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:15:29 -0700

Unless you're a celebrity with money to burn, or just one very successful lay-dee, most of us have to cut back somewhere when it comes to furnishing and renovating our homes. I myself have been known to drop big bucks at high-end design shops and haggle over flea market finds in the same day. And although I'll concede that spending money on my house itself is in most cases a better investment than purchasing furnishings to fill it with, sometimes I just can't restrain myself from bringing home a beautiful lamp or having a chair reupholstered. Some of you may be renters, and it wouldn't make sense to spend on renovations. Or maybe you'll splurge on an antique dining table, but pair it with Ikea chairs. Maybe you spend on your interiors, but haven't given a thought to buying even a plant for your front stoop, let alone hiring a landscaper. Maybe you don't spend any money on your home at all. Tell me where you fit in by commenting below!
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Five Tips For Increasing the Property Value of Your Home

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:15:09 -0700

In anticipation of the new TLC series Hope For Your Home, which premieres this Saturday, I thought I'd share with you host Kirsten Kemp Becker's five tips for increasing the value of your property. A veteran Realtor, author and real estate company, and owner of a successful design company, Becker knows a thing or two about acclimating your home to the current economic climate. Here's a few ways she says you can do so yourself:

Plants on the outside. "The most economic way to achieve curb appeal is by refining your landscaping at the front of your house and by making sure the front door is the focal point. Guests, buyers, and appraisers will take notice of the entry experience and homeowners/sellers need to establish that emotional connection from the moment they pull up to your home. Remember the details: trim weeds, fix broken screens, hide the trash cans from view, and plant some fresh flowers in prominent planters."

There's four more where this came from, so read more.

Paint on the inside. "The biggest transformation in the shortest period of time results from paint. It can lighten a room, create an accent wall, and provide flow from one space to another."
- "If you can't afford new lighting or higher ceilings try painting a neutral color on the walls and a shade lighter on the ceiling."
- "To give a room a focal point or create more drama around one wall, try your hand at some color by painting it a shade of chocolate or charcoal to achieve a designer's touch."
- "If you can't afford to remodel the entire house and change your floor plan to make each room transition smoothly, try using the same shade of paint in all the public areas and down hallways - consistency of tone adds a feeling of congruency and openness."

Kitchens and baths. "Invest time and money into updating kitchens and bathrooms, but it doesn't mean ripping it all out and starting over - you can enhance what is already there. Learn to distract buyers' eyes from that which is not perfect by directing them towards areas that have been completely updated. A coat of paint and new hardware on existing cabinets and bathroom vanities can instantly update dated countertops tiles and fixtures. Take it one step further by using epoxy over existing tile or regrout to avoid demolishing and installing new tile, which saves time and money."

Declutter. "Stick with the timeless tried and true paint colors, accessories, and furniture in order to maximize the length of time and enjoyment out of your investment. Paramount to this is how you maintain your home. There is nothing like clutter to bury a home's value. If a professional can't see the space, appreciate the finishes or easily navigate around personal belongings and oversized furniture, they can't appraise it or sell it for top dollar."

Clean, clean, then clean again. "Even if a house has a poor floor plan, limited landscaping, or outdated bathrooms and kitchens, everything looks more valuable when it is well maintained and dust free. Pride of ownership shines through in a house that is clean and well cared for, which translates into higher profits in a sale and more attractive loan options for a refinance."

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Definition: Pied-à-terre

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:00:30 -0700

A pied-à-terre is a place of lodging for occasional or secondary use. In French, the term literally means "a foot on the ground." It was named such because basic crash pads used by traveling execs during the week were traditionally on the ground level of apartment buildings. Nowadays, pieds-à-terre are often luxury city homes for couples whose kids are grown and want to escape the 'burbs, and interior designed second homes in international cities for the jet-setting type.
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Do You Love Your Home?

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:55:05 -0700

I love my home! It may not be my dream house, but it's the right home for me right now. It has many flaws but I always enjoy contemplating my next decorating moves, even if it means "making lemonade." But, there may be many of you who live in dorms or rental apartments you're not quite happy with. And others may have purchased your ideal home or live somewhere that suits you to a T. Tell me where you stand by taking this poll.

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Midday Muse: An Extension of Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:11 -0700

Too many times, I'm guilty of thinking of "home" as my house. Every time I visit a community garden, drop by a public park, or take a stroll around my city, I'm reminded that home means much more than my house. Home is your neighborhood, your street, your city, your country - the entire world. The more that we can cultivate this attitude, the safer and more vibrant our homes will be, however broadly we define that term.

Casa Verde: Green Home Tips

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:02 -0700

Preservation magazine, the publication for the National Trust For Historic Preservation, has 10 green tips for an eco-friendly home based around the notion that "the greenest house is the house already built." Here are some that you may not have thought of or known about:

Keep original windows intact.

Studies show that older windows can perform as well as vinyl replacements. Weatherstrip them so that they seal tightly, caulk the exterior trim, and repair cracked glazing or putting around glass panels. You'll reduce landfill waste and the demand for vinyl, a nonbiodegradable material that gives off toxic byproducts when it's made.
Plant trees.

Evergreen trees on the north and west sides of your house can block Winter winds, and leafy trees on the south and west provide shade from the Summer sun. Using old photos of your house, try to match the historic landscaping.
Restore porches and awnings.

Porches, awnings, and shutters were intended for shade and insulation. To save energy, draw shades on Winter nights and Summer days.

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Round-up: Natural Air Fresheners For Your Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:40 -0800

Got a stinky smell in your home? You might want to pause before turning to that can of synthetic air freshener.

Did you know that most synthetic air fresheners - such as Lysol - do little to nothing to freshen the air? Instead, these chemical-laden products simply add more pollutants to your home when you spray them around your living room or bathroom. So, instead of making a bad situation worse, combat unpleasant smells with something that is derived from natural ingredients and won't detract from your home's indoor air quality. Take a look at the widget below for some of my favorite natural air fresheners.

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Could You Live in This Tiny House?

CasaSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:17:37 -0800

Jay Shafer has lived in tiny houses measuring in at under 100 square feet for over 10 years, mostly because he says he hates vacuuming. I'm intrigued, but know that I'd have a hard time living in a place like this. However, I think it's a great way to really figure out what material goods are needed, and which ones you can live without. Watch the video to check out all of the home's highlights, and to hear Jay talk about the method behind his tiny-home madness.

Su Casa: Schoolhouse Rock

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:01:04 -0800

Lydia Daum posted pictures in the Su Casa group of Chateau Wilmarth, the schoolhouse she owns with her sister.

Lydia writes:

My sister Luci and I have the tremendous good fortune of living in a turn-of-the-century school building. Back in the early 1990s, the local school district was going to tear down all the neighborhood schools, but chose instead to sell them to individuals or businesses. Thank god, 'cause they're on the National Register of Historic Places, for pete's sake. Over the years, we've made some changes here and there. Most all the remodeling and decorating has been done with recycled, reused, thrift store, and estate sale treasures. Luci and I live and work here, making art and roller skating from room to room. Hope you like the pics!

To check out a gallery of photos, just read more

View 15 Photos ›

Want to share your photos? Here's how to post in the Su Casa group.