CasaSugar

Would You Stick This Fellow in Your Garden?

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:00:23 -0700

GiggleSugar recently posted this zombie lawn sculpture, which she claims would make your garden absolutely perfect. She writes, "Just imagine the following little bucolic scene. You wake up, make some tea with honey, sit down in your lawn chair and stare at this thing's face while you enjoy your plants and flowers. Sounds like a perfect Saturday morning!"

Maybe this is GiggleSugar's idea of a great garden addition, but would it improve your view?

How-To: Stay Safe During a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:24 -0700

Since the breakout of the August wildfires north of Los Angeles, at least 53 buildings have been destroyed, and 4,300 people have been evacuated. As of this writing, more than 12,000 homes are under threat.

While some families have been reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Want to know how to protect your family and your home from a wildfire? Check out these smart pointers from the City of Napa, CA's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks" - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.

Sale Alert: Sundance Holiday Sale

CasaSugar — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:30:00 -0800

Sundance is currently offering up to 60 percent off of its festive holiday décor. So, if you're looking for stockings, ornaments, snow globes, festive hooked pillows, or nostalgic decorative items, Sundance is the place to go. As much as I like the look of CB2's holiday items, considering that Christmas is something that's celebrated year after year (and sometimes we even inherit our parents' holiday decorations), I prefer the classic look of this retailer's holiday décor. I'm loving this super affordable Set of 18 Vintage Jewel-Tone Ornaments ($12), this classic White Tree Hooked Pillow ($48), and for some odd reason, this kitschy Five Foot Santa Lawn Light ($49).

Coveted Crib: A Lush LA Garden

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:45:13 -0800

Actors Brenda Wehle and John Carroll Lynch recently shared their backyard garden retreat with the LA Times.The Sherman Oaks, Calif., home's garden features a lovely pool, grapevines that form a canopy over a breakfast patio, an infinity pool, and native plants.

When Wehle and Lynch moved into the home four years ago, they were confronted with a less than thrilling prospect for outdoor living, including a leaky, outdated pool that was surrounded by concrete, a tall wall along the property line, and a monoculture, water-heavy lawn. Working with Marilee Kuhlmann of Los Angeles-based Comfort Zones Garden Design, the couple transformed an uninspiring lawn and pool into a serenity-filled lush garden. Ornamental grasses, Mediterranean olive trees, native shrubs and perennials, and low-water, low-maintenance ground covers replaced the lawn, while an infinity swimming pool took the place of the leaky old one.

Check out a few of the pictures below, and then read the whole article here.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

How-To: Protect Your Family and Home From a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:30:12 -0700

As most of you probably know, California has been ravaged by fires this Summer. As I write this, one of my friends awaits evacuation notice at her Southern California home, and several others are keeping a close watch on fire patterns in their area. Fire scares me - it is erratic and unpredictable and frighteningly fast. And while I can understand why some homeowners are reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Here are some smart pointers from the City of Napa, California's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.

Source

Trend Alert: Garden Gnomes Come Inside

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:00:22 -0700

Ah, garden gnomes. What's not to love about these enduringly kitschy lawn ornaments? Thanks to a renewed pop-culture presence in Travelocity ads and the movie Amelie, garden gnomes have made a comeback in recent years, and in this latest movement, they're coming indoors as a part of playful home decor.

Even the snooty side of design is getting into gnomes: Check out this Philipe Starck for Kartell Gnome Stool ($321). There are even more fun finds below; just click on the photos to view.