CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: Orchid Oasis

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Orchids are some of my favorite flowers and make beautiful houseplants. But their delicate shapes and colors also translate really well to housewares and artwork, making an ideal purchase for those lacking a green thumb. From orchid pillows and paintings to orchids made from felt and recycled materials, check out my slideshow to see orchids in every form.

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Love It or Hate It? Orchid Urinals

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:00:54 -0700

After seeing the two person toilet and the toilet/washing machine, and even Leonardo DiCaprio's eco-fabulous toilet, I didn't think there could be any more innovation in the bathroom. But, that's just silly, right? Of course there could be. San Francisco artist Clark Sorensen's Orchid Urinal Sculptures ($7500) are innovative, one-of-a-kind, beautiful, and fully-functional! Beat that.

Do You Decorate With Cut Orchids?

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:02 -0700

When it comes to floral arrangements, i rarely think about buying cut orchids. My potted orchids usually last for months (and I've been lucky enough to have one blooming continuously for 16 months!). Still, the blooms are absolutely gorgeous, and I can see the appeal of cut orchids.

Source: Photo by Andrew Grinton

Love It or Hate It? Orchid Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:15:35 -0700

Design Milk posted a photo of the Orchid Chair (contact company for price and availability) on her site last week. I love its sleek lines and bright finish, but I can't help but think I'd topple it over, given my grace issues.

Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:37:45 -0700

This week's Casa Craving Challenge asks you to design a room of your choice around this preppy striped Danish bench.
Our ferm LIVING wallpaper contest is running till the 29th of October, but you might want to get your photos in ASAP!
Speaking of which, check out the first featured entry from the ferm contest.
Have I gone contest crazy? Because I'm also giving away a Nikki McClure print.
Have you tried the Less or More game? Bet you don't know which one is more expensive!
If you're looking for a good resource for online art, you can't go wrong with Jen Bekman's 20x200.
Live in LA? Got spare time this weekend? Then get down to the green home tour.
I really want to know: Which room is your personal haven?
This week you and I both had rather mixed feelings about the orchid chair.

Do You Have a Foyer Console Table?

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:15:15 -0800

A console table in your foyer can make a great landing strip for your keys, purse, and other daily essentials. But it can also just be pretty and fill an otherwise dead space. I love this foyer by interior designer Anne Coyle. Orchids, check. Cherry blossoms, check. Ornate mirror, check. White furniture, check. Soft lighting, check!

Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:30:17 -0700

Try upcycling objects for flower displays.
Learn how to organize out in the open.
Check out these orchid-themed Etsy finds.
Get the look of Roxie's bedroom in Eastwick.
Ikea is celebrating the 30th b-day of the Billy bookcase.
An old home in France goes from scary to shabby chic.

Steal of the Day: Kiwi Orchid Napkin Rings

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:00:59 -0800

It's not hard to take your dinner table from blah to glam with these Kiwi Orchid Napkin Rings ($6) from Hazelnut, my favorite home shop in New Orleans. No need for fancy patterned table linens: these beauties will do the trick on a simple white table cloth, with white cloth napkins and some simple tea light votives. Just add a romantic homemade dinner and you'll be set (literally).

Show Me Your Casa!

CasaSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:55 -0700

This orchid is one of the minor miracles in my home right now. My mom gave it to me over a year ago, and it has continually bloomed since then. It makes me so happy to see its gorgeous, pink blossoms every day.

What makes you happy in your home? I'd love to get a sneak peek into your home, and see what makes you happy, whether it's a decorating change or a blooming flower garden. I love to see how you've interpreted your personal style in your home, and how you run with the design inspiration you find online and in magazines. And I'm always inspired by your homes myself. Beyond that, I like to know what you're working on, be it a quick or time-intensive DIY project, a full home renovation, a single-room redecoration, or the interior design of your entire home.
That said, please share your photos with me and other CasaSugar readers! Upload them to my group on TeamSugar called Su Casa. It can be just a snapshot of a little detail of your digs or a gallery of your home's entire renovation. I love before-and-after photos, too!! Think of it as a Look Book for home décor. If I see something I like in Su Casa, I might feature it on CasaSugar, so don't be surprised if you get an email from me!

To learn how to join and post in the group, read more.

To join the Su Casa group, just follow this link and click "subscribe" beneath the photo on the left-hand side of the page. Once you're subscribed, click Share in the upper left-hand menu of any TeamSugar page and choose what type of post you want to create. If you have just one photo and some text, create a blog; if you have a gallery you want to share, select "photos."

TeamSugar has a great primer on how to create a blog post, so check that out if you've never posted one before. Here's a rundown of the basic process:

Add a Title and the Body (content for your post). Don't forget to click the Check Spelling link and Upload an Image to make your post stand out!
Post this to a group? Click on the dropdown menu and select the Su Casa group. You will only be able to see groups you're subscribed to, so if you haven't joined Su Casa yet, you will need to.
Click on the dropdown menu and choose the Home and Garden Channel and add some keywords (use a comma, if needed!) in the Tags text box. Then click "I'm done" to view your post!

Cool Idea: Pink Walls and a Patterned Floor

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:00:28 -0700

Creative lady extraordinaire Medley recently turned a forgotten attic at a Craftsman home into a patterned and pink wonderland. She explains, "I have a degree in Architecture, and when I work full time, that's my main profession. I think that makes me a little bolder in my color selections than is typical. I also design jewelry, but that's mostly for fun. The inspiration for my room started with a similar shade of pink in an old article in Domino magazine. I went to the craft store with that in mind, and went through scrapbook paper, picking out a pallette with 2 shades of pink, robin's egg blue, and a dark purple. I planned all along to accent with black & white. The original plan was to have all black and white furniture and a robin's egg blue chenille or matalesse bedspread. At this point it's a work in progress. The scroll pattern for the floor was inspired by this floor in the Lena Corwin contest, though mine is more geometric and precise."

For more pictures of the attic room and to find out what paint colors medley used, read more.
For the walls, Medley used Behr paint matched to Ralph Lauren's Belmont Pink. For the floor, Medley used Behr Evening Violet for the scroll designs and Black Orchid for the background. The trim is Behr Swan Wing, and the radiator is Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch in Berry Pink.

I love the contrast between the pink and the patterned, darker floor. And as a lover of bold color myself, I appreciate Medley's choice of pinks. Beautiful work!

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