CasaSugar

How-To: Create a Simple and Elegant Patio Garden

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:41 -0700

Short on space? That's no reason to forego a garden. This homeowner took advantage of a nook to create a container garden that's both soothing and elegant.
If you have a similar space that could benefit from a bit of greenery, start with beautiful pottery. Since this will be a container garden, your containers should be coordinated or complementary, since all eyes will be on the containers as well as the plants. Choose plants depending on how much light the space receives, but make sure they're no-fuss, low-maintenance plants. Succulents are a great choice. You can also add visual interest by playing with height and dimension. Try some fast-growing bamboo to train eyes upwards.

For my suggestions for simple patio containers, read more.

14" Toulon Planter - $69.00	Blue Glazed Planter - $14.95
Octagon Urn Fountain - $259.00	Cloisters Tabletop Greenhouses - $228.00
"Tuscany" Pedestal - $120.00	Weston Planters, Square - $99.00
French Country Herb Trio (3-pc.) by Garden at Home - $19.95	"Acanthus" Urn & Pedestal - $125.00

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Before and After: A Patio Facelift

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:30:40 -0700

The crafty lady behind the blog Handmade by Alissa is a pretty sweet sister. When her sib Cate moved into a new house with a very unfinished cement blocked patio, she decided to give it a much-needed facelift by sewing some cheerful cushions and pillows. She sewed one long cushion to run along the cement block bench, two arm rests, and a handful of throw pillows. The result is not only pretty but cozy, and just the thing to get her sister entertaining outdoors. Ohhh . . . what you'll do for a free dinner! To see the results, read more.

Adorable, right? I love the bursting pattern and red and teal palette of her fabric. The string lights make a vast difference as well! Read more about it here.
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Summer Style Contest Entry: CocoChic's Patio

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:29 -0700

The CasaSugar Summer Style Contest continues, and I've got handfuls of wonderful submissions from you readers, revealing what your Summer style at home is. Of her Summer style, TeamSugar member CocoChic said that her apartment is very modern and her patio is gray stucco with a gray-painted cement floor, so her focus was "to bring the patio lots of color and make it feel warmer." She called upon her catch-as-catch-can attitude to do so, using an old bath towel as a rug, covering her Ikea table with a fringed vintage wrap, and setting a bouquet of hot-pink hydrangeas in an orange basket as tabletop décor. I'm getting a serious Selina Lake vibe from this table setting; it's very Bazaar Style. I love how CocoChic has managed to pull together a very sophisticated, yet colorful and Summery table setting, at no cost; that carefree attitude is what Summer is all about.

Have you entered the contest yet? It's simple: just send a photo illustrating your Summer style at home to my TeamSugar inbox or post it to the Su Casa group for a chance to win one of two $500 gift cards to Crate & Barrel.

Before and After: a Pretty Patio Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:45:37 -0700

In the process of putting some pizzazz in her backyard, one woman found this old, iron demilune patio table peeling with black and white paint that had clearly seen better days. A little elbow work, sanding, priming, and painting transformed it into a pretty, pink patio table. To see the magnificent results, and which lovely gal is this table's proud owner, read more.

TeamSugar member Sgdish is the DIY queen and owner of this table! I think it turned out beautifully, and is perfectly paired with her pink potted plant and chartreuse patio chair. If you're interested in posting pictures of stunning projects like this, make sure to join my Su Casa group!

Before and After: Haze's Highly Covetable Patio

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:00:49 -0700

Su Casa member Haze, who's proven herself again and again to be a most creative and talented lady, has wowed me yet again with the patio that she and her husband DC renovated. This photo shows what they started with. To see the fabulous results, read more!

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Nice and New: Ikea Ange Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:30:07 -0700

Ikea's new Ange Chair ($129) may look like it's made of rattan, but it's actually made of twisted paper. And lest you doubt the strength of paper, I should note that I used to have a bench made from twisted paper, and it was pretty darn strong (at least, it held up under the weight of a couple of ladies lounging on it on a Spring afternoon). I think a few of these would look great on a patio or deck. The twisted paper is covered with a clear acrylic lacquer, so it should be somewhat weather resistant, though I wouldn't push my luck: If it looks like Spring showers, bring this baby inside.

Nice and New: Galvanized Steel For the Garden

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:45:38 -0800

As part of its new Spring line of products, Ikea is offering some great-looking (and perfectly priced) galvanized products for the garden. I love the look of galvanized steel - it adds an instant sleekness and modernity to a patio garden, something that sometimes is hard to achieve with ceramic. Even better, galvanized steel is rust resistant, so it won't get funky after Spring showers. With prices starting at a mere 99 cents, it's hard to go wrong with these products. I'm especially fond of the cute galvanized Varen plant tags, which you can write on with pencil to identify your flowers, herbs, and veggies. Check out their full line of new garden products for more Spring gardening ideas.

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What Type of Outdoor Living Area Do You Have?

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:20:16 -0700

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Good, Better, Best: Modern Patio Umbrellas

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:48:03 -0700

As outdoor dining goes more and more upscale, patio umbrellas are also getting a high-design upgrade. Forget the floral-patterned parasols of your youth. Now, it's easy to find sophisticated sun shades that will make any patio look sleeker and chicer. Here are my picks for modern patio umbrellas to suit frugal and frivolous budgets.

Good: With its aluminum pole and elegant taupe shade, the 9-foot Hampton Bay Dana Point Market Umbrella ($111.75) will give your outdoor table a modern makeover without breaking the bank.

For two even better picks, read more

Better: The Room & Board Waikiki Umbrella ($299) pivots on its base, so you can adjust it as the sun moves; available in blue, white, and orange fabric.

Best: Along the same lines as the Waikiki, this super-versatile Design Within Reach Tuuci Razor Shade Platform and Mobile Stand ($1,500) rotates a full 360 degrees and looks stunning, too. It comes in white or silver, but I love the electric green.

Before and After: Patio Chairs From Trash to Treasure

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:38 -0700

If I ever discover that John Lennon wrote "All You Need Is Love" about a set of patio chairs, I won't be surprised. Sometimes all a piece of furniture headed for a landfill needs is a little affection. High-Heeled Foot in the Door recently transformed her set of four dated, slightly dirty patio chairs into cheerful, stylish, and clean seating with only $41 and a little gumption. I can't tell you how much outdoor furniture I've seen with this dusty gray mesh seating; it's as if people think color isn't allowed outdoors! Luckily, this girl knows better. See the after photo when you read more.

With just a can of spray paint and some inexpensive Ikea fabric, she made her very own fun Summer seating! The chairs do have great likes with those curlicue arms, so there's no reason to toss them. Learn the steps to this DIY here!

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