CasaSugar

Study Rates Norway Best Place to Live

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:00:02 -0700

According to an annual report by the United Nations, Norway is the most desirable country in the world in which to live, followed by Australia and Iceland. The United States ranks 13th in the study, while the UK ranks 21st. The worst places in the world to live are Niger, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone.

The study based its findings on criteria including literacy rates, school enrollment, country economies, and life expectancy. Norway's high rank is thanks in part to the discovery of offshore oil and gas deposits in the late 1960s.

What country do you live in? Do you think that your country is a great place to live? What makes it that way? If you live in the United States, what's so great about your state or city? I have to say that the efficient public transit, moderate climate, and sense of community really makes the Bay Area a great place to live, while the high property tax rates, rental rates, and overall cost of living make it less affordable, and desirable, than some other cities.

Tell me: what makes your country, state, or city, a great place to live?

Source: Flickr User photojenni

Coveted Crib: Modern Summer Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:00:30 -0700

I'm still dreaming about a Summer home on a fjord. The remote, rugged beauty of the Norwegian fjords is so stunning. What better complement to the landscape than the sleek, modern designs of Saunders Architecture. Take this home, for example. Split in two halves, the home opens up to form an outdoor room, while each building's roof extends to shelter the owners from Summer rains.

Part of my attraction to this home is its simplicity. The real showstopper here is the rocky, piney fjord, and the home's elegant, restrained design lets the natural world shine.

Take in the stunning views when you read more.

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Coveted Crib: A Minimalist and Sublime Summer House

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:00:47 -0700

While this is technically more of a room than a house, I'm still lusting over this remote, woodsy Norway Summer getaway. Part of its appeal is the location, of course. Situated on the 170-kilometer-long Hardanger Fjord, this area abounds in insanely beautiful landscapes, with waterfalls, glaciers, gardens, fields, and mountains to choose from. I can just imagine filling long Summer evenings with bicycle or kayak trips punctuated by a chilly dip in the fjord and followed by a glass of Aquavit on this modern deck.

Built by Saunders Architecture, which is based in Bergen, the house was self-financed as an experimental project that showcased the architects' desire to design uncompromising, original buildings that reflect their respect for the landscape.

For more stunning photos, read more.

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Casa Verde: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Opens

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:00:16 -0800

Today in Norway, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened its doors to the first deposits of what will eventually be 100 million seeds from over 100 countries. Seeds such as maize, rice, wheat, cowpea, eggplant, lettuce, barley, and potato were some of the first deposits in the seed vault. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault contains the most diverse and comprehensive collection of food crop seeds in the world.

Located on the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle, the vault was built 130 meters deep inside a frozen mountain. Its purpose is to serve as a library for food crop species that may become endangered or extinct due to climate change. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been built to ensure the safe storage of hundreds of millions of seeds for several centuries or more. Even if the worst-case scenarios of global warming prove to be true, the vault will remain naturally frozen for up to 200 years, thanks to its location in the Arctic Circle.

To find out what happened at the opening ceremony, and for a video about Svalbard, read more.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, along with the African Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai, together placed the first seeds in the vault. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, along with numerous dignitaries and agriculture experts, also deposited seeds during the ceremony, while music was provided by Norwegian musicians and choirs. Prime Minister Stoltenberg commented that, "With climate change and other forces threatening the diversity of life that sustains our planet, Norway is proud to be playing a central role in creating a facility capable of protecting what are not just seeds, but the fundamental building blocks of human civilization."

For more information on this important project, read more at Crop Trust.

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Study Reveals That Men Who Tidy Make the Ladies Happy

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:39 -0700

In another case of researching the obvious, an Oxford University study shows that women are more attracted to men if they believe they will help out with household chores and contribute equally with childcare. As a lucky woman whose husband does half the housework (and as a woman who has been in the opposite situation with boyfriends and housemates in the past), all I can say is: duh!

The study, which was reported in the Telegraph, examined heterosexual relationships in 13 countries, questioning 13,500 men and women between the ages of 20 and 45 from each country about gender, housework, and childcare responsibilities. Those sexy Swedes and Norwegians came out on top, with British men following in third place. The article notes:

Australian men – stereotyped for their love of beer, sport, and the great outdoors – came in last, rated as the least attractive in terms of pulling their weight around the house.

For the complete list, from best to worst, read more.

Sweden
Norway
Great Britain
United States
Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Republic of Ireland
Spain
New Zealand
Japan
Germany
Austria
Australia

Home Away From Home: A Wigwam Holiday

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:38 -0700

Want a cheap vacation? Well, if you're a Brit, you can take your family on a wigwam holiday. Apparently, in-country vacations are increasingly popular on that side of the pond, due to the economic recession. Wigwam vacations, such as the Strathfillan Wigwams in Tyndrum, Scotland, shown here, are a great low-key, low-expense destination for frugal vacationers.

On this side of the Atlantic I know that many of my friends and family are economizing their holidays by vacationing in-state or staying with family or friends. And yes, many of them are camping, though I can't say that any of the campsite photos I've perused from their vacations are anywhere as adorable as the Strathfillian Wigwams.

To find out more about this holiday destination, and to tell me about your low-cost vacation plans, read more.

The wigwams are constructed from Sitka spruce or Norway spruce logs, which are homegrown in Scottish forests. Small logs or poles are bent into a curved shape to form its unique (and may I add adorable) whalebone" frame.

You can choose a wigwam holiday from one of 30 seaside, farmland, and woodland sites in beautiful settings across Scotland, northern England, and the Welsh Border Counties. All of the 30 wigwam holiday sites are rural, with many based at farms or camping parks. You won't be roughing it too much, since most sites include a central shower and bathroom facility as well as a cookhouse. The wigwams are fully insulated, and available for use year-round, and feature wooden floors and painted walls.

Are you tempted to embark on a wigwam holiday? Or have you been on one (or something similar) in the past? Tell me all about your experience!

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Coveted Crib: A Very Modern Development

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Can traditional and modern elements successfully mix in a home reno? The answer, according to Saunders Architecture, is a resounding yes. When a family wanted to expand their traditional home, the firm proposed an approximately 100-square-foot extension that would starkly contrast the original home's architecture. Even though this addition was relatively tiny, the space is highly functional and efficient. An open kitchen with glass overlooking the stunning Bergen, Norway, port takes advantage of the views and expands the visual space.
A roof terrace almost doubles the space, while bicycle storage beneath ensures that the family has a safe place to store their two-wheelers. Thanks to a cohesive color palette, which is in one of the traditional colors used in this city's residential district, as well as matched cladding, it's hard to even tell, from a distance, that anything modern has been added at all. To see what I mean, read more.

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Cool Idea: Knit Your Own Pouf

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:00:15 -0700

I am in absolute love with this project, from Heidi and Anna at Pickles, over in Norway.
These lovely ladies offer free patterns for knitting, crocheting, and sewing, as well as a bunch of other craft projects on their site, with Norwegian (as well as English) directions.

This latest project brings the Flocks Pouf ($800) into the price range (and onto the living room floors) of all patient knitters. Pickles notes, "I found an amazing stool a while back, but it was super expensive and I wanted to see if I could make one myself. Loads of yarn, stuffing and needles later I completed Puff Daddy (Puff means stool in Norwegian) and Puff Daddy´s Baby."

Want to see more pictures of the Puff Daddy, and its smaller pouf relative, Puff Daddy's Baby? Check them out when you read more.

If you want to get the pattern for either of these stools, check on Pickles here and here to learn how.

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H&M to Launch Homewares Collection in 2009

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:33 -0800

I may just be speaking for myself here, but I think for most of us (despite good intentions), the new year is a time of failed resolutions. Sad, but true. Such is not the case for H&M, which will embark on a new venture in early 2009, making its foray into the arena of interiors with a range of home textiles and accessories. Whether you're looking for a quick bathroom update, a new look in the living room, or a punch of color in the kitchen, online and mail order shoppers in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands can count on H&M's expertise to inject a little fashion into your homes. And, of course, it will all come at an affordable price: cushions will range from $6 to $19, bed sets from $19 to $63, and towels from $11 to $19. Some key pieces in the range will be 35 different pillow cover designs and 15 bed linen sets. True to H&M’s clothing heritage, shoppers will be encouraged to mix and match, and with palettes of neutrals, monochrome, nautical blues and reds, and bright neons, it shouldn't be hard. There will be something for everyone, too: bold decorators might choose a Jackson Pollock-inspired paint splatter-printed cushions, while the back-to-basics person goes for H&M's organic bedding and cushions in clean white and soft beige. To see a bunch of photos of the collection, read more.

It looks fabulous, right? A bit of an Ikea meets Urban Outfitters vibe, with a little more pep! I can't wait until it makes its way to the States. All I can say is, Europeans, shop your hearts out and show H&M that they're onto something!

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Photographer to Watch: Gaelle Le Boulicaut

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:15:30 -0700

Gaelle Le Boulicaut has been a shutterbug ever since the age of 15, when she unwrapped a Rolleiflex from her father. But she picked up formal training at the Universite Laval in Canada and at the Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney, where she lived for 10 years. Le Boulicat now lives in France, and travels extensively for her work, which is characterized by a mix of natural and studio light, which create a casual feel in her subjects. Her laundry list of clients include ELLE Decor (Italy, France, England, Germany, Sweden, Norway), Marie Claire Group, Harper's Bazaar, Livingetc, House & Garden (UK, Germany), and more. So, it's no surprise that the interiors she shoots are as beautiful as her technique — styled to the nines and one-of-a-kind. To see for yourself, check out this gallery of some of her interior shots.

There's more where these came from, so read more.

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