CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Solar LED House Numbers

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:15:25 -0700

Considering how plugged in and geeked out our homes are these days, sometimes it baffles me that the simplest, often most crucial things aren't well-lit. Personally, I'm a big fan of motion-sensor lighting, so when you're walking toward your front (or back) door you won't trip and wind up falling flat on your back. But motion-sensor lighting doesn't help passersby who are trying to locate your crib. That's why I'm smitten with the Matter Inc. Solar LED House Numbers ($19.99). The solid aluminum fixture absorbs the sun's energy during the day to power two high output white LEDs for eight to 10 hours during the night, keeping your house numbers well-lit without draining the grid or your wallet. The laser-cut numbers are completely weather-resistant, too, which is a plus. Although I personally don't mind the modern, sans-serif shape of the numbers, I wish they were offered in a traditional serif to appeal to more homeowners. What do you think?

How-To: Display Your House Numbers

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:00:18 -0700

There's nothing more frustrating than a late delivery (especially if it's 2 a.m. and you've got the munchies). It's easy to blame UPS or your pizza delivery person, or whoever you're waiting for, but believe it or not, you could be at fault for your own delivery woes. When I say that I mean if your house numbers are poorly placed, you could be sending your guests, delivery people, and service men on a wild goose chase. Here are a few simple things to consider that will maximize the visibility of your house numbers from the street:

Put your numbers horizontally on the side of your mailbox facing traffic, not the door or the nontraffic side.
Put your numbers in a well-lit area above eye level close to your front door. Centered above the front door is best.
Make sure that no trees or bushes are blocking the view of the numbers from the street.
If your front door recedes, just place the number on the house itself, not the door.
You should also paint your numbers on the street curb about two feet from the driveway towards your house, with the number facing the street.

To hear more tips like these, read more.

Be sure not to park your car in front of the curb numbers, and brush away any leaves or debris.
Pick a color that contrasts with the number's background. If your house is white, choose black numbers. If your mailbox is green, choose red numbers, etc. If your house is brick, white numbers will show up well.
A lighted house number is ideal.
If you have motion detector porch lights, the numbers will not be visible from the street. Put a porch light on a timer to go on at night instead.
Brass or bronze numbers are practically invisible, unless the sunlight happens to hit it at a precise angle.
On the house or curb, the numbers should be at least four inches tall, and on the mailbox, at least three inches tall.
Choose a bold, sans-serif font. Serifs, cursives, etc. can make sixes look like eights, ones like sevens, etc.
Don't display the number vertically or diagonally. People read from left to right.

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What's Your Coffee Table Style?

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:15:26 -0800

At my house, I often pile coffee table books, magazines, and decorative objects on my coffee table. Of course, I try to keep it tidy through the use of trays, but sometimes the number of things on my coffee table gets a little overwhelming. While I admire the minimalist look, it's just not my style. What's yours?

Photograph by Tom Evangelidis

Casa Interview: The Good Wife's Stephen Hendrickson and Beth Kushnick

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:28 -0800

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a huge fan of the new CBS series The Good Wife. In particular, I adore Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Margulies) apartment. With classic styling and great use of color, it's definitely a look I'm currently coveting. Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to chat with the two people responsible for the look of that very apartment. The Good Wife's production designer, Stephen Hendrickson, and set decorator, Beth Kushnick, answered my questions about the look of Alicia's home.

CasaSugar: How did the production designer and set decorator define Alicia (as a starting-over mom, lawyer, etc.), and how did this play into their concept of her new apartment?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: We defined Alicia as a working mom who wanted to make a comforting life for her kids as they had to downsize from a large house in the suburbs to a much smaller apartment which she purchased and had renovated. We kept some furniture from the old house like the kids' beds and the dining room furniture. In addition the show creators wanted to keep Alicia's king size bed as a visual - that it was too big for her new bedroom and show that one side of it was now empty. We also created a maid's room in the back of the apartment for all of her husband's belongings.

CasaSugar: How did Alicia’s style as a North Shore mom change when she moved into Chicago proper?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: Her new apartment had a sophisticated color palette . . . Alicia's apartment also has more contemporary living room furnishings and an upgraded kitchen.

Read the rest of the interview, and check out photos of the set.

Cool Idea: Isabel Quiroga's StoryTeller Book Rack

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0700

I imagine some furniture lovers might find Isabel Quiroga's Storyteller Book Rack to be sacrilegious. Considering how many tables and desks sit abandoned on sidewalks and in thrift stores, many with dated or worn finishes, I think it's brilliant. Not only is this book rack made of old tables a great way to repurpose something that's no longer needed, but it proves that there's strength in numbers. While one coffee table may have held a couple art books and a set of coasters, the sum of them can house a whole library. Storyteller is the sort of the thing that'll make your friends say, "Wow. I wish I'd thought of that." Get out your chain saws.

Casa Interview, Part I: Domino Founding Editor Deborah Needleman (and an Awesome Giveaway!)

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:00:54 -0700

We design enthusiasts will admit that Domino will always hold a special place in our hearts - and bookshelves. But it was the stable of talented, creative people that truly made the beloved magazine an influence and an inspiration. So I was so delighted to have the chance to catch up with the founding editor-in-chief of Domino and co-author of Domino: The Book of Decorating, Deborah Needleman. It should come as no surprise that she hasn't lost her knack and passion for design.

Deborah's latest project is an exciting, interactive tool that she's created for HomeGoods, called StyleScope, which helps you find your own interior design style and learn to navigate the vast world of décor options. Home Goods, I hope you know, is a wonderful place to find designer home décor at prices 20 to 60 percent lower than department stores, and is also one of my favorite resources for stylish accessories. Deborah was kind enough to share some of her thoughts and tips on design and curating a stylish home that's uniquely you, and give us the lowdown on her life these days!

What are you working on these days? Any exciting projects on the horizon for you?
I am really enjoying the idea of just doing projects, consulting, writing, gardening - I probably shouldn't admit it, but it's quite a good relief to not be working so hard and to have a break from the pressure. I am considering on a couple book projects - one on table settings, another on decorators' gardens, and a more personal book on growing vegetables and flowers.

Before Domino, I was a garden writer - and it's nice to have time to garden like mad again. I'm also talking to people and companies about designing furniture and accessories and starting up new businesses. Sometimes I feel like I'm a professional meeting-taker. Last night the former creative director of Domino [Sara Ruffin Costello] and I hatched a plan to try to redesign all the ugly products at Duane Reade like Kleenex boxes, toothpaste, and shaving cream!

To read the rest of the interview, read more.

For the Summer, I'm just hanging out with my children, gardening, and being as lazy as possible. I've loved working with HomeGoods because oddly the store is a well-kept secret among design snobs - and I love spreading the word about great design sources. That was what Domino was about: sharing ideas and resources. And creating a style quiz was something we wanted to do but never got around to at Domino.

What current trends do you think have staying power?

Decorating that has personality and a sense of reality rather than rooms that are too matchy or too perfect. Rooms that are stiff and lifeless really depress me!! Mixing high and low design and price points will remain chic, and not simply for economic reasons - it shows personality and confidence. Also, now that nearly everyone is interested in design, there is no going back. It's a better decorated world than it used to be, and that is so nice!

What are your favorite go-to resources for furniture? How about accessories?

I am decorating my house upstate (well, really former Domino editor Rita Konig is!) and I can't get enough of the fabrics, rugs, cushions, and accessories from John Robshaw, Madeleine Weinrib, and John Derian.

What’s your number one tip for finding great bargains?
I am married to a man who will buy something truly awful because he "saved so much." Something is only a great bargain if you would want it even if it cost more. I learned from Domino editor Dara Caponigro to never let anything in my house I don't love. Even free stuff is not a bargain if you don't need or love it - it is junk, clutter. Also, you must know your own style more if you're wading through a flea market or garage sale than if you're in a boutique where the owner has done all the taste-editing for you already!

What types of furnishings should one splurge on/invest in? Any to cut back on?

It's so personal. It really only matters what matters to you. I believe in expensive sheets. I like sleeping, and good sheets are a wonderful indulgence.

How did working at Domino influence your own decorating habits or design choices?
As a reader, I craved a magazine like Domino because I was a person who I felt had good taste, but not great style, if you know what I mean. I could never make a decision because I could never decide who I was stylistically or how to express myself!! I surrounded myself at the magazine with people who I thought had great taste and great style (and all rather different style sensibilities actually), and who were all also really smart and nice - so they could teach me and the readers simultaneously. I learned to edit! I learned I could have a lot of different styles I like but just not all at once!!! And I learned to both be braver and to loosen up more. You can't avoid making some mistakes. But truthfully, I also learned that there is a lot to learn, that decorating well isn't easy, and that there are people way better at it than me - and that I still want their help! I love the advice of experts. Sadly, for me, the more I know, the more I know I don't know! Domino also made me realize how important decorating can be to the life of a home, and the life of a family.

This interview will be continued, so stay tuned for more. And we have a special giveaway for you CasaSugar readers on the way! One of you lucky readers will win a $500 gift card to HomeGoods. Check back for the rest of the interview and details about the giveaway tomorrow!

Michelle Kaufmann Designs Closing Doors

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:15:02 -0700

I am very sad to report that Michelle Kaufmann Designs is closing, due in part to the credit crisis and the closing of factories used to manufacture MKD homes. The green prefab firm, located in Oakland, CA, designed homes guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council. Homes such as the Glidehouse and mkLotus won MKD international acclaim, and were proof that prefab and green were a natural fit.

According to the LA Times:

Kaufmann has been working with her clients -- some with houses in construction, others earlier in the design process -- to put them in a position to build their projects with other firms, if they choose. She said she has been in preliminary talks with large home-building companies that may be interested in producing her designs or working with her as a consultant.

While I've been saddened by a number of stories in the real estate and architecture world lately, this one definitely hits me the hardest. Michelle Kaufmann is truly an inspiration, and I wish her the best of luck in her next, undoubtedly impressive project in the world of architecture and sustainable living.

Source

How-To: Go Green in the Bathroom Without Spending Money

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:29 -0700

With all the talk of living eco-friendly these days, it's easy to feel like you can never do enough to make a difference. And with so many new "green" products on the market, you might feel like you can't go green without spending a fortune. But there are plenty of ways you can make your home an environmentally friendly one without spending a penny. The bathroom can be an enemy to the environment when you consider all the water and products used there. To learn a few tips on going green in the bathroom without spending a penny, read more.

Take shorter showers! Keep your showers under 5-7 minutes. Set an alarm just outside your bathroom each time you get in, so you'll have no choice but to get of the shower to turn it off.
On that note, cut down the number of showers you take in general - no more showering twice a day.
If you run your water before you get in the bath or shower until the water temperature rises, collect it in a bucket and use that cold water to water your house plants.
Use a permanent razor with refillable blades instead of throwaway plastic ones.
Towels don't get dirty when you dry off after each shower. Reuse them until it's necessary to wash them.
Take a shower in the dark! I've found that taking a shower in the dark with a single candle or LED light on is supremely relaxing, and you'd be surprised how much light you don't need.
Let your hair dry naturally! Gasp!

Source

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:00:26 -0700

Here's another way to decorate with books.- SFGirlByBay
Give your bar stools a makeover.- Re-Nest
Learn more about cool, eco home-furnishing line Branch Home.- Design*Sponge
Remember to get yourself some free art.- Simply Stated
Add modern, floating house numbers to your residence.- Sheterrific
Get your outdoor entertaining lighting ready with these recycled hurricane covers.- Craft
What do you think of this new print from Keep Calm? - PoppyTalk

Casa Verde: Lawns That Don't Suck (Water, That Is)

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:51 -0700

If you're committed to living a greener lifestyle, but aren't quite ready to say goodbye to your grassy backyard, there's good news. There are definitely ways that you can keep your grassy expanse without feeling eco guilt. Perhaps the best alternative I've found is Eco-Lawn. This grass was developed to grow in a variety of conditions, including full sun, part shade, and deep shade. It also requires no fertilizers, and is highly drought-tolerant. I'm going to be testing some seed out soon, so I'll report back on how well it grows at my house, but given the number of rave reviews from customers, I'm fairly certain I'll like what I see.

A five-pound bag of Eco-Lawn ($32.95) covers 1,000 square feet of space. Once the grass is established, it features a deep green color and an even growing pattern, without clumping. Since Eco-Lawn's grasses have thin blades, water loss is reduced in hot weather, and their deep roots allow the grasses to access ground water, which means you have to water less. And since Eco-Lawn's blades grow at a slow rate, mowing is said to be reduced by 50 percent as well.

However, my favorite part about Eco-Lawn (besides its amazing eco qualities, of course), is the gorgeous lush look of the lawn. It reminds me somewhat of Zoysia Tenuifolia, or Korean grass, when it's not mowed.

For a video telling you all about growing Eco-Lawn, read more.

The Eco-Lawn site is filled with testimonials about the grass's beauty, hardiness, and ease of use, my favorite comment is from someone named Michael D, who writes, "Seriously, this grass is the softest stuff I’ve ever had the pleasure of running over. You never have to cut the stuff - it just falls over, stays short, and looks good. The only grass I plan on using around my new home. Screw mowing the lawn!"

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