CasaSugar

Midday Muse: Front Door Fun

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:00:56 -0800

I spotted this hallway look over at House to Home and was impressed with the statement the rich coordinating reds make. Most don't take into account the color of their front door when decorating the foyer, but it speaks wonders! The hallway of this 18th century Georgian house is otherwise quite simple, but its neutral backdrop and matching color palette allow for its original features to shine.

Obviously, if you rent, painting your front door to match your decor palette is often out of the picture. But for those of you who own, it's worth thinking about. Would you ever paint your interiors to match your front door?
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How-To: Light Your Home in Style

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:45:29 -0800

When it comes to decorating my own home, I've always found that I tend to focus on big furniture pieces and rugs first, and fill in the lighting and accessories almost as an afterthought. But it's important to think about how your lighting choices will affect not only the brightness of a room, but also the feel of it. House to Home has a helpful article about home lighting with a handful of style ideas that I thought I'd summarize for you.

Make a focal point out of your lamp by choosing a bold shade and simple base. Make sure to tie in the shade's color scheme with the rest of the room.
In your home office, use bright task lighting that directly spotlights your work area. Try clamp lights, which don't take up counter space and can be easily moved around.
Add drama to your dining room with a large, low-hanging chandelier. But, keep it flexible by attaching a hook to the ceiling which can adjust the height of the chandelier.
Light artwork and photographs with a picture light on the wall above them to give them direct light.

For more tips on home lighting, check out House to Home.
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Midday Muse: East Meets Modern

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:00:21 -0700

I prefer to mix and match elements in a room, instead of attempting an overarching theme. Yet for some reason, surprisingly, I am loving this Far East-style living room decorating idea from House to Home. At first glance, you might not notice the Eastern theme; it's very subtle and modern, and the blue palette is a bit nontraditional of the Far East. Look closer, and it's all there: the lacquered Chinese cabinet, the Chinoiserie patterned wallpaper, the Noguchi coffee table.Perhaps you're not loving this room, or simply don't gravitate toward Chinoiserie, but I think you can use it as a template that you can follow to design any interior. Choose a theme, and just a few subtle pieces that emulate the theme. Then, fill in the room with neutral colors, and natural accents (like the sisal rug here). Then, go against the grain of the theme in someway; instead of red for your Chinoiserie-themed room, go blue!

Midday Muse: Pretty in Pink

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:00:31 -0700

It's not very often that we see such a wealth of pink outside of the bedroom of school girl. But, a pretty-in-pink look can be achieved with sophistication without screaming "fairy princess." The key is to steer clear of overly feminine patterns, and pick up your pinks from a particular element, such as a rug. Here, the walls, curtains, and pillows echo the mauve tones of this one-of-a-kind kilim rug, and its terracotta tones are picked up by other accents such as the coral chair and bowl. Pattern is left mostly to the rug, and modern shapes and furnishings give the room a mature edge. Perhaps pink isn't for you, but focusing on one key element is a fool-proof living room decorating idea for any interior.
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How-To: Decorate Children's Rooms

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:30:34 -0700

Although decorating our own rooms sometimes seems like a daunting task, there's actually a lot less to consider than designing a space for another person, particularly your own children. It's no surprise we gravitate toward home décor items that please and interest us, and colors and textures we find soothing or stimulating; it's nature. But, when choosing furniture and accessories for another's room, we don't have that same innate instinct. Some children may be nurtured by a peaceful personal nook, secured by a cozy bed, or energized by their own place to play. While you should consider all of these things, it's crucial not to compromise your own taste or abandon your style when it comes to decorating your children's rooms. Check out this slideshow to learn a few more tips on designing for your offspring, courtesy of House to Home! Source

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How-To: Make Your Bedroom Glamorous

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:45:16 -0700

I enjoy the imperfections in my life, and I don't have any illusions of grandeur. But sometimes I feel like I should be entitled to a little glamour in my life, even if I'm not making appearances at red carpet events. Amy Adams's character, Delysia, in Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day has it right: a knock-out Art Deco apartment with the style, fashion, and flair of the days of the greats like Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. To fully execute this look in my home would require a major overhaul, and ditching some of my favorite mid-century modern pieces. But, I can still have a little slice of glitz by completing a glamourous bedroom makeover, and House to Home knows exactly how to do so. To hear some of the Brit glossie's tips for living like Delysia for a day (or longer), read more.

Make a wall frieze.
Opt for pink bedlinen.
Update your lamp with ribbon.
Add mirrored pieces.
Buy shimmery cushions and a throw.

Check out House to Home for more of their thoughts on going glam in the bedroom.
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Casa Quickie: Bring Summer to Your Fireplace

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:00:00 -0700

You can't have an endless Summer if your house looks like it's ready for a blizzard; you and your home should live and breathe the warm season until the leaves turn. So, if you've got a fireplace in your home, get to work and clean it! Store your fireplace tools and logs out of sight until next season. While it's still bikini weather outside, keep the chimney, flue, and logs off your mind, and opt for vibrant color and greenery instead. Create a summery arrangement of vases, plants, or candles (or all three) in your fireplace and on your mantel. Think of your fireplace like a shelving unit; stack your beach reads there, display your favorite knick-knacks, or lean artwork against the mantel.
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Open House: Home Ownership Blues?

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:30:00 -0700

I'm sure that, like me, you've been following the news of the mortgage crisis in the United States, and the drop in home prices due to it. Even if you don't want to follow it, you can't help but hear the coverage! While lower home prices are potentially good news for home buyers with stellar credit and a down payment, it's not so great for folks who bought their houses during the housing boom. We bought our home four years ago, and while our home has appreciated in value, thanks in part to work we've put into it and its great location, it certainly has been affected by the market downturn. Unfortunately, I also know some people who bought their house at a higher price than it's now worth, thanks to the market downturn.

What about you? Do you own your home? Does the downturn in the real estate market have you singing the home ownership blues? If you don't own, are you happy about it? Will you take advantage of the lower home prices now? Has the housing downturn affected your ability to sell your current home, or make a cross-country move? Tell me by commenting below.

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Home Library: Creating a New Old House

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:30:28 -0700

I love living in older buildings, which in contrast to new suburban homes make me say old-man things like "They just don't make houses like this anymore!" But admittedly, old homes do have their modern inconveniences. Russell Versaci's solution to that problem: designing new homes that look old, using traditional forms and salvaged architectural materials. His coffee table book, Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home ($26.37), makes a great case, with broad pages full of beautiful homes that you'd think were ages old if no one told you otherwise.

The book puts forth Versaci's pillars of new-old design, including working within architectural rules and using authentic details and durable materials. His points are illustrated immaculately by the gallery of homes that follow, including an 18th century German stone farmhouse/mansion, a Creole cottage with a pigeon roost, a Spanish-revival stucco in California, and a regal Maryland plantation. Even if you don't have the luxury of living in a new-old house, you'll get scads of decorating ideas on how to create the look in your own home.

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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