CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Stacking Fridge Keeps Shared House Peace

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:00:42 -0700

When I lived with housemates, the main points of contention in our shared living situation involved the kitchen. There were the piles of dirty dishes, and then there was the messy, rotten food-filled fridge. I like the idea of this stacking fridge from Electrolux, which allows people living in multiple-housemate situations to keep their personal food in each separate compartment. This would've saved me a lot of time cleaning out my housemates' way-beyond-expiration-date foodstuffs, had it been around five years ago. The fridge seems to still be in the concept stage, and I haven't turned up any information on energy efficiency yet (my guess is it's going to be an energy hog), so I can't give this design my endorsement until then. Do you live in a housemate situation? If so, would you be interested in a fridge like this, or do you think it might cause even more cleaning issues in your home?
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Room Therapy: Mixing Styles With Success

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:45:35 -0700

Hi, Casa!

A friend and I are moving into an apartment together, and we're facing the challenge of decorating and furnishing it. We'd both like to figure out how we can mix vintage, Ikea, and new decorations and furnishings and still make things look good. We have a color palette picked (light green, white, light gray, hints of yellow, and light wood). Any ideas or tips you could give would be great! Thanks!

Tee0206

To see my suggestion, and to leave a suggestion of your own, read more.

Hi Tee,

My house is definitely furnished and decorated with an eclectic mix of pieces as well (we have Ikea chairs around a beautiful, expensive Parsons table, for instance), and I think that most enthusiastic home designers use this same strategy.

I also love the color palette you and your friend are using in your new home. It seems like it will be simultaneously cheerful and meditative, which is a nice combination.

I'm going to direct you to three books that I think are really helpful in mixing styles. The first, though meant for couples, also works great for housemates. The Nest Home Design Handbook has great advice for mixing styles, as well as ways to balance two people's ideas on style and home layout.

Another great resource is written by one of my favorite interior stylists, Selina Lake. Bazaar Style is the perfect inspiration for integrating thrift store finds and flea market furniture into your home. Combine Lake's advice with the inspiration and ideas offered in Found Style, and you'll be well on your way to sorting out your and your friend's combined styles.

Cheers,
Casa

Anyone else have advice for Tee?

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Open House: Your Partner's Most Challenging Home Decorating Ideas?

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:00:36 -0700

Moving in with someone is always challenging, whether it's a new roomie, a romantic partner, or a new husband.

The home decorating ideas and habits of two different people are often sources of friction between newlyweds. I know that when I moved in with my fiancé, we had countless arguments over furniture arrangements, new linens for the bed, where to store the toilet paper . . . the list is seemingly endless.

So, for this Open House, I want to know what type of decorating issues you've had with your roommate or your better half. Has he refused to give up his polyblend duvet cover (you know, the one with the fugly maroon-and-brown stripes)? Has he insisted that those crystal candlesticks his Aunt Mabel picked for you (which weren't on your registry) take center stage on your dining room table? Does his CD collection live in college-era unfinished wood crates? Tell me all about it when you leave a comment below.
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Room Therapy: Help Me Make My Bedroom More Livable!

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:15:01 -0700

Hi Casa,

I'm a student who recently moved into a huge four-bedroom apartment with four other girls. We converted a den into a bedroom, which also means that my room opens into the sunroom. While there is a lot of space, there isn't closet space anywhere. I have questions about making this space more liveable.

How do I get hanging space on the cheap? I only have one more year of school to go! And don't want to spend too much money.
I inherited a really old bed (no headboard) and was wondering what's an easy/cheap way to make it look nicer?
The sunroom has huge windows that overlook the street. I love the sunlight but the lack of privacy makes me nervous especially since it's on the first floor. Any way can I create some privacy while still maintaining sunlight?
Thanks!
Princessjaslew

To see my suggestions, and to leave suggestions of your own, read more.

Hi Princessjaslew,

Back in my college days, I once lived in a house with six, yes, count them, six roommates, in a house where the laundry room was converted into a bedroom, so I sympathize. I think that most college students have had to deal with similar issues to yours, and even if my suggestions aren't perfect, other Casa readers will provide you with a wealth of ideas for your space.

Let's look at solutions for each of your issues:
- Hanging Clothes: Since you're in school and want to spend as little cash as possible, I recommend buying a couple Riggas ($19.99) from Ikea. My sister would use them at her sewing studio to hang up clothes she made, and while they're pretty bare bones, they will do the job. You can always spring for a more expensive wardrobe unit that has a space for hanging clothes, but for a college student on a budget, the Rigga is a good choice.
- Sprucing Up Your Bed: Start with beautiful linens that reflect your style, and some fluffy, comfortable pillows with matching or coordinating shams. In place of a headboard, try painting a trompe l'œil headboard. One of the Su Casa members also created an awesome illusion of a headboard using curtains. Framing pretty photos in matching frames and arranging them above your bed (as long as you don't live in an earthquake-prone region) is also an easy, cheap option.
- Privacy and Sunlight: When I lived in my college rental, we turned the second living room area in our Victorian apartment into a bedroom simply by hanging floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains in the open, eight-foot space between the two rooms. Would this work as an option for you? That way you can keep the sunroom cheerful and bright, and you can also choose to open the curtains when you want to welcome some sunshine into your bedroom, and then close them again for privacy. Otherwise, a combination of pull-down shades and a more light, pretty curtain could be used in the sunroom itself, with the same idea of using both for privacy and one for letting the sunshine in.

Before and After: A Change in Chelsea

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:21 -0700

Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door is at it again! This time the DIY expert and interior designer conquered her young sister's apartment in Chelsea, NYC, which is shared with two roommates. Communal living spaces often pose a problem, as each roommate has her own tastes, and recent grads often can't afford to be spending their hard-earned mula on décor. So with a budget of only $350, Camila made over her sister's living/kitchen/dining area. As you can see, this wall with cupboards was a bit of wreck before. She says, "I swear the busted chair was just like that. I did not stage it!" Want to see the after photo? Then read more.

A few punches of color face off with plain vanilla walls - and win. She painted the cabinets with chalkboard paint, which is ideal for notes between roomies. And the stools flanking the cabinets were a curbside find, which she upholstered in chic gray stripes. Accessories and some cute embroideries add girlish flair. This project is an inspiring one; it's not complicated, but it's certainly happy! See more before and after photos of the apartment at High-Heeled Foot in the Door!

Ask Casa: Stylish Bike Storage?

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:00:12 -0700

Dear Casa,
I live in LA, and for a while I was working and freelancing from home, so I spent some time decorating and turning the apartment into an enjoyable place to be.

There's just one thing that bothers me. Our living area is great . . . simple and comfortable, but there are two bikes sitting in it! My roommate and I both try to bike instead of drive, so we have to keep our bikes somewhere. But I feel like they're an eyesore. We have plenty of space for them, but they still stick out so much (we don't have outdoor storage options). I was wondering if you had any ideas for disguising them. Room dividers? Screens? I'll pose the question to the home group, but I thought I would ask in case you were in need of a post.

Thanks!
SoCalSugar

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi SoCalSugar,

Bikes, while great for exercise and commuting, are definitely a pain to integrate into your living space. However, I think that the photo of the bikes against the brick wall is amazing inspiration, and definitely shows bicycles' potential as sculptural objects.

Why not try the same idea in your own home? While screens are a possibility, getting your bikes off the floor will help to keep your home organized. I also love the idea of highlighting your bike storage area by painting a frame around it, or using wall stickers or stencils to delineate the space. A perfect option for this storage area is the cycloc, a cool, minimalist bike hanging tool that's available in four colors (the black version is made from all-recycled plastic), and that I previously mentioned here.

If you'd rather have something off the wall, try the Botticelli Free Standing Rack, which can hold up to four bicycles. And if screens seem like the best option for your house, I suggest the Shanghai Screen from World Market, which is currently half off.

Good luck!
Casa

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Ask Casa: Help! It's So Dry In My House!

CasaSugar — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:00:21 -0800

Hi Casa,

I just moved to a new place, and I'm having trouble with the humidity (or lack thereof). Within the first few days, I realized I was waking up every morning with a dry throat, dry eyes, and pain in my back. I have electric heat, and my roommates (are from Texas, but we live in Chicago now) like to keep it cranked up high. Yesterday I came home and it was at 79 degrees!!! I bought a cool-air humidifier, and I think it's helping a little, but do you have any other tips to raise the humidity in our house? Should I buy some houseplants or something? Also - what should we keep our thermostat set to? I think anything over 72 during the winter is extreme. (But then again, I was raised in Chicago) What do you think?
Thanks!
Juliet

To see my advice-as well as advice from a professional-just read more
Humidity is defined as the level of moisture in the air. It is generally recommended that a home's moisture level be maintained at between 35–45 percent, but in the Winter this can dip as low as 15 percent! It not only affects you, it can also dry out houseplants and hurt your home. There are many advantages to maintaining humidity in the air during the Winter. Warm air feels warmer and more comfortable when humidity is present; humidity can reduce static electricity problems and health issues such as bloody noses and dry, scratchy throats and eyes.

I emailed Francis Lazaro, an energy-conversation expert and auditor with the state of New Jersey, who wrote back saying "the high temperature setting inside this house is a major contributing factor for the low-humidity level and low-comfort levels. This comfort level is referred to as the Sensible Heat Factor (SHF). Clearly lowering the thermostat setting at least 5 degrees and preferably even more to 9 degrees will increase their comfort levels dramatically."

Francis also wrote a lot about psychrometrics, equilibrium, pressure-induced moisture Ffow, and other physics concepts. I'll be posting his entire answer on Team, if you're interested in reading about how air flow in houses works (I actually find it fascinating).

Along with turning down the thermostat, you may want to buy another humidifier and locate it centrally in your home to add humidity. Your landlord can also connect power humidifiers to forced air furnaces will add humidity (though in my experience, landlords rarely want to be bothered with this).

There are also some free and easy methods that will increase Winter air humidity. Instead of drying your sweaters, towels, and jeans in a dryer, hang them out to dry in your home on collapsible drying racks. If you do this around your plants, it will help them survive the dry-air temperatures as well.

You can also take glazed pots, fill them with water, and set them out in warm areas in your home. Since I'm a houseplant lover, and I know that many Casa readers are as well, consider that your plants will also be healthier in cooler air.

If your roommates complain about the colder temperatures, tell them to invest in lap blankets, sweaters, and wooly socks. It's how most cold-dwelling folks around the world get by! For more weatherization tips, Chicago and Cook County residents can turn to the wonderful nonprofit CEDA for help.

Do you have any more advice for Juliet? Leave your words of wisdom in the comments below.

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Ask Casa: Color For a Dark Hallway

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:00:08 -0800

Hi Casa,

My roommate and I live in a typical San Francisco apartment where the rooms build off of one side of a long hallway. We don't have good natural light in that hallway, and the ceilings are probably 18 ft. (that's a guess).
My question is, what is a good color to paint the hallway? We both agree it needs something to spice it up. I'm not afraid of bold color (the walls in my last room were coral and pink!), but I don't know if maybe a darker color would be better to make the ceilings seem less tall and the hallway less long. I'm just concerned with the lack of natural lighting.

thanks!!
Melyshka
To see my answer, just read more.

Hi Melyshka,

I, too, once lived in an old Victorian apartment that had a long, boring hall that ran the length of the space. I hated traversing the length of it when I first moved in, since it just seemed so stark and dark and dull. Here's what I did to spice it up. I think that these solutions might work for you as well.

First, I'd suggest painting the hall ceiling white, which will bring instant brightness to the hall. While I'm a fan of bold colors myself (my bedroom is a bright blue), darker bold colors may make the room look a bit dreary. Instead, consider light and bright colors on the walls, such as a goldenrod yellow or a tangerine orange. Any warm color that isn't too heavily pigmented will bring life to the walls. Also, make sure to use either an eggshell or semigloss finish, which will both resist dirt and bounce light off its surface.

Finally, don't stop once the paint is dry! To distract from those statuesque ceilings, hang framed art prints or beloved photographs at eye level down the length of the hall. Finally, dress up the floors with a long runner rug that complements the color of your walls.

Good luck, and I hope this helps you improve that dreary hallway.

Cheers,
Casa

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Ask Casa: A Home Security System for My Rental? (Part 1)

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:30:02 -0800

Arielb38 wrote to me asking,

I am about to move into a new rental in a new neighborhood, very different from where I have been living for the last 15 months. I was wondering if you are aware of any places that do a comprehensive review of home security systems. My roommate wants one, and I've never had one and don't really think that it's necessary. Looking at some of the consumer complaints about both ADT and Brinks makes me cringe, and I would rather not be stuck in an expensive, manipulative contract. I know it's not really your thing, but if you have any tips, or feel inclined to pose the question to your readers, I would be grateful.

To offer some advice for Arielb38, and to hear my response, just read more

Even though I've lived in some really rough neighborhoods in the past, I've had the good fortune to never have had my home broken into (though I have been held up at gunpoint). Two of my rental homes had functioning security systems (which the landlords paid for). Our house currently has no security system besides our dog. I also know of families who don't have security systems installed, but have placed signs in their windows advertising that they have an alarm. This may work, to a degree: The Greenwich Study of Residential Security found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was the alarm monitoring company’s yard sign. For more tips on home security systems, go here.

My first word of advice is to find out the crime statistics in your new neighborhood. You can easily access this information through your city's police department website. After that, if you still think you need a security system, talk to your landlord about having him or her install a system and possibly increasing your rent slightly to offset the cost. Your landlord can reset the code for new tenants after you move out.

To see more tips, tune in later today for the rest of my home security advice.
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Casa Craving Recap: Dorm Room Digs

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:30:50 -0700

Even if you haven't lived in a dorm in ages, it's fun to think about decorating them. So before back-to-school time, I asked you guys to help our dorm dwellers dress their new digs for last week's Casa Craving challenge. Thanks to everyone who played along!

Some of you had some excellent, practical advice for college students: Lintacious recommends "one good desk lamp that you can have on while your roommate sleeps." Other Casa Cravers chose products that were way more luxurious than any dorm I've ever seen, but I loved those too.

You can see all of the dorm room Casa Cravings here, as well as the lists users created with their items. (Learn how to create your own lists here.) Here are a few of my favorites.

Look #1, designed by Lintacious, who had a great selection of practical storage containers and fun knick-knacks, like a potato-shaped planter.

Two more looks, so read more

Look #2, designed by Glam Sugar, who lived up to her screen name with fancy finds like a mod futon and a white MacBook.

Look #3, designed by Ellewing, whose more practical booty - which includes a first aid kit - would make a great shopping list for anyone starting school this year.

Bed Bath & Beyond Product	Target : Natural Soft-Side Underbed Chest
Bed Bath & Beyond Product	Oxford Cotton Bedding from Lands' End
Pottery Barn \| Shop	Van Gogh Art Prints, Van Gogh Prints, Vincent Van Gogh Art, Van Gogh Posters, Van Gogh Art Posters
Companion 1 and 2 First Aid Kits by Fieldtex	STAPLES Business Depot \| BUREAU EN GROS	iPod Alarm Clock Radio at Hammacher Schlemmer