CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Times Square Ball Lit by LEDs

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0800

This year, when the Times Square Ball drops at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve, it will be bigger than ever, at double the size of any other Ball in history, and nearly 12,000 pounds heavy. However, this ball, which is lit up by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs, is also decidedly green: It only uses as much energy as two household ovens.

LEDs, or light emitting diodes, use much less power than traditional bulbs, and unlike CFLs, don't contain mercury. LEDs can last for years, and sometimes even decades. The LEDs on this year's Times Square Bulb will create 16 million colors and billions of patterns, while still achieving a 10 to 20 percent upgrade in energy efficiency, as compared to last year's ball.

In case you miss the ball drop, no worries: The new ball will reside above Times Square for public viewing from January through December of 2009.

View 8 Photos ›

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David Tutera's New Year's Eve Entertaining Tips

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:30:32 -0800

When it comes to advice on throwing your New Year's Eve party this week, look no further than party planner David Tutera, who’s planned star-studded events for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, and Star Jones, to name a few. He's given me a few tips on ringing in the New Year with your cohorts in style.

Create a sexy centerpiece. Tutera recommends using "every glass you own - martini glasses, wine glasses and champagne stems martini glasses, wine glasses and champagne stems - and place them down the center of your table filled with water." Then, he says to "add drops of pink food coloring in varying amounts so that there are different shades in each glass," and float votives in each glass for a colorful, sparkling centerpiece.

To hear a few more of his tips, read more.

Start the year by giving back. Tutera suggests asking guests to "Bring Their Own Donation," such as old blankets for animal shelters and money for saving the rainforest, instead of drinks or dishes.
Ring in the New Year right. Great minds think alike; like Yours Truly, Tutera suggests making your own confetti from scraps of colorful paper around your home. But, in his twist, you should, "add in inexpensive sequins or even small pieces of coordinating fabric and package them in small bags or cones for guests to throw when the ball drops." He also suggests tying "a small bag of hand-made confetti to each champagne glass that you pass out."
A low-cost party game. Tutera suggests creating a resolution board "from a framed mirror to a fabric covered piece of foam core," and placing it at your front door, inviting guests to share their resolutions. I say: save your resolution board and check in with your guests in three months and see how well they've followed through!

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Happy New Year!

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:30:42 -0800

Happy New Year! Here's hoping that you all enjoy health, happiness, and beautiful, well-appointed homes in 2009! Thanks for making 2008 such a great year here on CasaSugar. I know that you will all continue to inspire me in the new year.
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Happy New Year!

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:28:52 -0800

The ball has dropped, and it's a new year! I wish you and all of your homes the best in 2008. And of course, I can't wait to see how your New Year's resolutions get resolved. I've got lots of great posts in store for 2008, so be sure to stay tuned. Keep on commenting and contributing to our Su Casa group. I have a feeling that '08 will knock last year's socks off!
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Casa Verde: 5 Tips For a Greener New Year's Party

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:32 -0800

Celebrating the new year doesn't mean that you have to start 2009 with an extra large bag of trash. There are some smart ways that you can decorate and prepare for your party that will keep garbage to a minimum. What better way to start off the new year than with a clean and green conscience?

To see my tips, read more.

Use reusable cloth napkins and dishes, such as these CB2 Marilyn Plates ($ .95), which are made of melamine and can be reused at future parties in 2009.
Encourage your guests to carpool, or arrange to pick them up from the nearest public transit station, if one doesn't run close enough to your home for guests to walk.
Don't put away those holiday decorations yet! Reuse decorations, such as holiday ornaments, as chic centerpieces.
Make your own confetti out of old wrapping paper.
Encourage guests to make green resolutions for the new year.

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Casa Quickie: Make Your Own New Year's Eve Confetti

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:15:39 -0800

Short on confetti for your New Year's Eve party? Don't toss that holiday wrapping paper! Cut each sheet into a few small squares and send them through a paper shredder, and then send the shredded pieces through once more if necessary. Not only will you have festive confetti, but you can re-purpose your wrapping paper! Don't have a paper shredder? Try these shredding scissors. And of course, once the party's over, don't forget to vacuum thoroughly!

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New Year's Quiz

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:30:43 -0800

There are many traditions and customs surrounding the new year. A very popular tradition says that Lady Luck will grace your home if a handsome, tall, dark-haired man is the first person to step into your home in the new year.

Take the quiz

What's Your New Year's Resolution for Your Home?

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:22:00 -0800

I have a laundry list of chores and renovations to get done and furnishings to buy to perk up my home this year. A part of me thinks I always will, but some have higher priority than others. For example, my kitchen is aching for a new paint job, and I'm on a never-ending hunt for the perfect console table. Tell me in the comments: What's your New Year's resolution for your home?

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Casa Shops: Taigan

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:41 -0800

As the list of online designer sample sales grows, a new web shop has opened with a slightly different business plan. Taigan is a community of over 30 (and growing) specialty shops, boutiques, and galleries nationwide for members only. The site offers access to small, upscale shops in cities as far and wide as Chattanooga, TN and Aspen, CO, which may not otherwise have an ecommerce site.

Taigan gets its name from a rare hunting dog which is said to have "a discerning eye and keen sense of awareness," an analogy for the company, which hunt for all things little-known and beautiful around the country. Purveyor of art, antiques, home décor, fashion, and jewelry you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere online, Taigan does seem to have a card up its sleeve. But, after your 14-day trial is complete, membership costs $15 a month or $165 per year. For the average shopper, I'm not sure the cost is justifiable, but it certainly might be worth it for an interior designer.

Ask Casa: Help Me Choose Paint Colors

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:19 -0800

Hi Casa,

My boyfriend and I are about to move into our first house and I couldn't be happier! I can't wait to get in there and start putting our touch on things! The only problem is that I am having a tough time picking a paint color for the living room.

A few years ago, I bought a set of three prints that I absolutely love. I want to hang them above the sofa in our new place, but I'm having a tough time finding the right paint color to highlight them. When we first bought the prints, our living room was white and they popped beautifully. But now I'm a little sick of white and want to add some color, but I'm not sure what direction to go. The living room in our new place opens onto the dining room, so whatever color we choose will have to continue into the dining room too.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
KatieMise

To see my suggestion for KatieMise, read more.

Hi Katie,

Great prints! I love them. This isn't a tough one. When choosing a wall color for a wall with artwork, my rule of thumb is always to choose a hue that's an accent in the art piece, but not the primary color. You should choose a complementary color, too. In this case, the background colors of two of your prints are a greenish-blue and a true blue, and in all three prints there is reddish detailing. So, I think a red or watermelon hue would really make your prints pop. Not only are they on the opposite side of the color wheel from those greens and blues, but reddish walls will make the red detailing in your prints pop!

I made a couple of mock-ups to give you an idea. But the best thing to do is head to your paint shop and grab a few samples in these colors, and then bring them home to see what works with your prints. Then, test the paint on your walls before you paint the whole thing. If a whole room in a red color is too much for you, you can always just paint an accent wall and then leave the rest of the walls white. I think it works with the artwork, too, because red is a really important color in Asian culture.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Casa