CasaSugar

Before and After: A Victorian Transformation

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:45:47 -0700

Sunset magazine recently featured the 154-year-old Victorian home of a Napa Valley couple that had great bones, but was bogged down with layers of wallpaper and colored with garish blue paint. The home had been neglected for 30 years, but a lot of hard work combined with the couple's pared-down aesthetic transformed it into a welcoming, light, and airy space that any of you would swoon over. To see the transformation, read more.

Beautiful, right? It amazes me how someone could ignore such a coveted crib for so long! I'm glad this Victorian's new owners were able to see through the mess and awful color choice.
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Coveted Crib: A Cool Calistoga Poolhouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:33 -0700

Poolhouses are often overlooked when it comes to good design; not so with this Calistoga, CA, poolhouse, whose straightforward, modern silhouette embodies pool design at its very best. Featured in Dwell magazine, the poolhouse has beautiful views both inside and out, featuring views of Mount St. Helena, the Palisades, and Napa Valley. Working with the landscape, the house is bermed into the hillside, while the pool, deck, and roof jut out toward the Napa Valley below. Adding to the natural look, the pool's infinity edge drops into the valley below.

To tour the poolhouse, read more.

Inside the poolhouse, materials such as exposed wood beams, steel frames, and concrete countertops provide durability and simple beauty, and keep the emphasis on the beautiful views outside. An open floor plan, augmented by glass doors which open to the pool, makes this a true Summer getaway.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:20 -0700

Dina Goldstein's Fallen Princesses are a modern take on ancient fairy tales. - JPG Magazine
Forget the calories. Here's a reason to love bacon. - Anh Minh
Got a black thumb? These geraniums may be for you. - AT:SF
I adore this graffiti-inspired lamp. - Poppytalk
I'd love to spend a weekend in this rustic Napa Valley barn. - Remodelista
The Utah Heritage Foundation is saving midcentury modern homes. - Grassroots Modern
Build yourself a wood patio planter. - Charles & Hudson

Steal of the Day: Champagne Wire Cage Stool

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:00:29 -0700

I like bubbly. I like bubbly pear cupcakes. I like a lot of things that have to do with champagne . . . even the Napa Style Champagne Wire Cage Stool ($98, reduced from $288). A stool shaped like a champagne cap? Yes, it's a little kitschy, but it works. I wouldn't go so far as to pick up the coordinating bright orange faux cork stool (yuck!), but I think the wire cage stool is attractive on its own. The stool's design origins aren't completely obvious at first glance either, which is a plus. In other words, you needn't live in Napa Valley to own it. What do you think? Am I totally off-base?

Have You Ever Been in a Wildfire?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:00:25 -0700

In Southern California, homeowners have been in close proximity to wildfires, which have been made even more dangerous by gusting Santa Ana Winds. Even closer to my home, a Napa Valley area fire has threatened homes and wineries. I have, luckily, never been in or close to a wildfire. Have you?

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Wedding Planner: Advice From a Wedding Photographer

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:15:39 -0700

Wedding photographer Jessamyn Harris is known for taking lovely, striking images of couples in love. I recently interviewed her about her business, and she provided all of those brides-to-be out there with valuable knowledge about what to look for when choosing a wedding photographer. Read on to find out all about Jessamyn's advice for hiring a wedding photographer, and if you're interested in hiring her, you can do so here.

CasaSugar: What's your favorite part about being a wedding photographer?

Jessamyn: Definitely the people I get to work with. I am really lucky to work with kind and creative clients who genuinely want a beautiful wedding because they love each other, and to whom artistic photography is a high priority. Combine that with gorgeous details to photograph, and it's a pretty nice setup. The best moments are when I really feel the connection between the bride and groom during the big and small moments of their wedding day, and of course when I know I got an amazing shot.

To see a gallery of Jessamyn's work, and to get her advice for choosing your own wedding photographer, just read more.
CasaSugar: What are the most challenging parts of your job?
Jessamyn: The most challenging aspects to being a wedding photographer are much the same as running any small business that is so based on the identity of the business owner - in other words, it's all me. I do all of the booking, planning, shooting, editing, and designing myself, as well as all of the other aspects of owning a business. Most of the time this is awesome and rewarding (because I hated working a full-time job for someone else!), but the flip side of that is that it can be exhausting and hard to escape. At the wedding itself, I work very hard physically and also emotionally to keep everyone happy and comfortable while being photographed. This is also something I like about it, though, so there are really two sides to each aspect.

CasaSugar: What should couples consider when choosing their wedding photographer?

Jessamyn: The number one thing a couple should look at when searching for a wedding photographer is style. You definitely want to be sure that what appeals to you is thoroughly represented in the photographers' portfolios. For example, my style is a mix of fine art, documentary, candid/ lifestyle shooting, and most of my clients are interested in keeping the more traditional family portraits to a minimum, with some time for unique portraits of the couple being the main focus. Most of my clients want candid, natural shots of the connections and moments between people, as well as some classic and beautiful portraits of themselves in their wedding finery. If I get the sense that a potential client wants a more traditional style than I tend to shoot (my style is something like "quirky, modern elegance"), I'll refer them to someone who has a little more mainstream sensibility. Besides style, I definitely think it's important to have a personal connection, or at least high comfort level, with your photographer. These two usually go hand in hand, but be sure they are someone you'll actually want at your wedding day. The more comfortable you feel with the photographer, the better the photos will be.

CasaSugar: What are some of the most memorable wedding shots you've taken?
Jessamyn: I have a shot going around the internet from a wedding last Summer of the bride's former roller derby teammates who served as usherettes at the couple's beautiful Napa Valley wedding, all in roller skates! This same wedding had a bounce house, and some other very unique details (and was recently featured on Style Me Pretty. Otherwise, it's usually the shots that I can tell will take the couple's breath away, or a shot of the bride looking like a beautiful vintage painting as she gets ready to get married. I also offer a "photo booth" type of setup, and these are often very memorable as well! This weekend, I had a very pregnant woman and her husband pose themselves as if she was about to deliver the baby, and there have been many other hilarious and shocking self-portraits taken.

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Photographer to Watch: Paul Costello

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:16:53 -0800

Paul Costello is a San Francisco and Napa Valley native, who relocated to New York's West Village, after graduating from New York University with a degree in photography. Costello's editorial work has appeared in many of my favorite glossies, including Domino (including the latest issue), Elle Decor, and Vanity Fair. He also has a handful of advertising campaigns on his résumé, including Victoria's Secret, Continental Airlines, and Oscar de la Renta Home. His work includes fashion, interiors, travel, and lifestyle portraits.
To see more of Paul's portfolio, be sure to check out the gallery below and his website.

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