CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: Malibu Minimalist

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:22 -0700

Hollywood interior designer Michelle Workman has designed spaces for celebs including John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez, but in my opinion, this Malibu pad deserves a starring role as well.

Michelle explains,

I was brought onto this job during the construction phase, and I wanted to bring the organic feel of Malibu into the home. My main focus was on the surfaces: flooring, countertops, tile and lighting. We ended up with a home that feels as if you are out of doors at all times; even the kitchen countertops look like swirling tidal pools. In an effort to mirror the many banks of windows that constitute the front of the house, Lucite chairs, occasional tables, and hardware were used in the kitchen. Everywhere you look organic is juxtaposed with steel or man-made materials.

Take a full tour of this wonderful space when you read more.
Like Michelle's style? Check out the three-day Champagne Sale this weekend at Michelle's retail store, The Red House Interiors, in LA. From Thursday through Saturday, enjoy extended sale hours and markdowns between 20 and 50 percent off at the store.

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Coveted Crib: Montecito Residence

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:58 -0700

The American Institute of Architects recently recognized this Montecito, CA, home's functional, graceful design when it named it one of 17 winners of its annual Housing Awards Program. Montecito Residence is a single-family home set in the dry, wildfire-prone Toro Canyon. Designed by Seattle-based firm Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, the Montecito Residence won in the One/Two Family Custom Housing category.

The home's minimalist look is both practical and elegant. Given the fire danger in the area, simple, fire-resistant materials such as steel and concrete reduce the risk of the structure being lost to a wildfire. The architectural firm utilized a raised roof that shields the house from the area's brutal sun. This umbrella-like roof also creates a central hallway that catches off-shore breezes, helping to naturally cool the house.

The minimalism continues on the interior as well, which helps to keep focus on the exterior landscape, and provides open interior spaces for relaxing (as well as for romps for the owner's three dogs). I'm impressed how practical materials, such as steel and glass, showcase the beauty of common-sense architecture and design.

For more photos of this stunning residence, read more.

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Coveted Crib: Modern on Lava

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:00:06 -0800

Architect Craig Steely pays close attention to nature when it comes to designing structures. He has to, since his modern home designs on the Big Island in Hawaii share space with lava flow.

Steely, an architect based out of San Francisco and Hawaii whose work has been featured in such publications as Dwell, Sunset, and the New York Times, was awarded recognition by the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects for this home. His passion for Hawaii's very particular landscape is apparent in his comment in a New York Times article that "The volcano is so immediate and fresh . . . You're constantly reminded how fragile life is."

While the proximity of lava flow would be a little too jarring for some homeowners' comfort, I recognize the attraction and thrill of living near it. The alien landscape of volcanic rock makes this steel-framed home all the more fascinating in appearance. Hovering on a cliff that overlooks the ocean, this 1,400-square-foot-home is wrapped in glass on all sides, allowing residents to take advantage of the gorgeous, otherworldly views. The interiors take cues from the landscape, with red-and-orange tiling muscularly wrapping a curved wall in the bathroom and limited furnishings echoing the minimalist exterior vegetation. Take a look at the gallery for the big picture on this Big Island beauty.

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Coveted Crib: A Modern Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:00:47 -0800

If you happen to be traveling through the Green Mountains of Vermont, you may be taken off guard by a decidedly modern interpretation of the classic farmhouse. Set on 44 acres of rolling hills and open farmland, this passive solar house, which won the 2008 AIA Vermont Honor Award in Sustainability and Design, manages to successfully marry vernacular architectural traditions with modern sensibilities.

The home, which was designed by Pill-Maharam Architects, has a laundry list of green features, including a LEED platinum rating, a 5+ Energy Star rating, a ground source heat pump, high efficiency lighting and appliances, and a 10KW wind turbine that supplies all of the energy for the home's heating, hot water, lighting, and appliances. Its wind turbine ensures that the home has a net zero energy output, and results in zero carbon emissions - incredibly impressive.

To see what this home looks like on the inside, read more.

This home manages to combine all of these fantastic green design features with a beautiful, modern look both inside and out. I love the minimalist furnishings in the rooms and the calming and warm color palette.

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Coveted Crib: The Crater Lake House

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:00:32 -0800

When the owners of this New Zealand home asked architecture firm Pacific Environments to renovate it, the firm created a stunning, minimalist vision for the 40-year-old house. Taking advantage of shipping rigging, stainless steel tubing, metallic finishes, and diagonal lines, the house has been transformed from its prior incarnation. To get the tour, check out the slideshow. Source

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Could You Live in a Gallery-Like Home?

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:30:09 -0700

In a recent San Francisco Chronicle article, homeowner Karen Justis says that she views her home as a gallery, saying that, "Art is of primary importance and everything else is a backdrop."

While I definitely admire her gorgeous home, I know that it's not a good fit for my personality or lifestyle - a little clutter makes a house a home, in my world. What about you?
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What Adjective Best Describes Your Decorating Style?

CasaSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:11:00 -0700

Most of us incorporate many styles into our home decor, but if you had to choose one adjective to describe your overall vision, what would it be?

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Trend Alert: Mod Minimalist Florals

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

For endless Summer style, it's hard to go wrong with florals - just ask Fab. But if fussy flowers aren't your thing, don't fret: The new trend isn't the technicolor florals you're familiar with. It involves bold, graphic, and slightly mod floral prints, often in one or two understated shades and nothing more.

Some of these textiles and home accents have a slightly Scandinavian flair, while others - like the Ikea Inger fabric ($5.99) - tend toward geometry. Check out my favorite finds below and tell me what you think about this trend.

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

Gift Guide: The Minimalist

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:15:34 -0800

A true minimalist is a tough person to shop for, but not impossible. He or she really may not want anything at all, but there are some things no functioning being can live without. You're probably thinking: food, water, shelter, right? Well, I'm thinking more along the lines of crucial homewares like discreet clocks and bookshelves, and home entertainment items like books on minimalism and a dock that hides all your unsightly charger cords. So for all of those bizarre non-consumer minimalists in your life, I've rounded up some gifts that will give them maximum pleasure. Just make sure you don't go crazy on the bows: they like their gift wrap stark.

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CLOSEOUT! Style&co. "Morning Bloom" Bedding Collection - $40.00	Sorcerer Wall Art - $29.99
Grey/Aqua Floral Turkish Cotton Bath Towels - $8.99	Lorraine Headboard, Helsinki Floral - $1,498.00
Quinn 18" Square Toss Pillow - $39.99	Songbird Duvet Cover & Sham - $79.00
Spa Outdoor Prints - $159.00	Graham and Brown Umbra Dotty Wallpaper - $60.00
Meadow Mini Duvet Cover Set, 100% Cotton, 200 Thread Count - $47.99	DwellStudio Wall Art Florette in Lemon - $80.00
CLOSEOUT! Style&co. "Trees" Twin Bedding Collection - $60.00