CasaSugar

Etsy Find: Decorative Adhesive Labels

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:41 -0700

For those of you who don't find organizing traditionally fun, I bring you Remake Decorative Adhesive Labels ($5 for 16). Filing away your utility bills? Organizing your pantry? Slap these beauties onto your file folders or flour, sugar, coffee, or even makeup jars, and getting your house into shipshape might actually be fun, or at the very least, chic. This set has an aqua, chartreuse, turquoise, and periwinkle color palette, but other colors are available if you're not looking for a cool palette. What do you think? Do you dig them? I think I might have to go on a Spring cleaning binge, just to make use of these purdy things . . .

Before and After: J Paige's Amazing Kitchen Transformation

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:00:02 -0700

Su Casa member and artist J Paige bought her house six years ago, and while it was, as she notes, "dirt cheap," it also hadn't been updated in over 40 years. "The bedrooms had shag carpet and the kitchen had indoor/outdoor carpet (eck!) and ugly cabinets and plain laminate counters and matching laminate backplashes," she reports.

Instead of lamenting over the ugly, outdated look of her new house, J Paige set about remaking it into her dream home. She writes, "First, I tiled the floor, since that was in our budget at the time. Then we had new cabinets, a new counter, a dishwasher, and new lights installed. After that, we put French doors out the back of our kitchen and actually put a fan over the stove! But it took me over a year to finally figure out what I wanted to do with the backsplash. I am a mosaic artist and sculptor but it is always hard to get to work on your own house."

Well, even if it took a little while for J Paige to ruminate on the perfect kitchen backsplash, I've got to say that it was time well spent. To see the magnificent results, read more.

Wow! It's hard to believe this is the same space. I love J Paige's use of color and pattern in her mosaic backsplash. The whole kitchen is absolutely stunning. Want to see what else she's up to? Find out on her house blog.

Have you changed anything in your home? Post photos and stories in my Su Casa group!

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Great Design Ideas From 2009's Emmy Nominees: Weeds

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:00:13 -0700

In the past season of Weeds, the Botwins moved from their gated community of Agrestic, CA, to a beach town on the border of California and Mexico. Hunkering down in Nancy's mother-in-law's house, the family set about remaking their lives. The grandma-style design of this house delighted me last season. See how they put together the look of this fusty, grandma-style home.

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Top Design, Episode Four: "Bachelor Pads"

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:12 -0700

Poor bachelors. They never get a break it seems, especially when it comes to interior design. There's a reason for that of course, and this week's episode of Top Design exploits the belief that bachelor pads are "gross" as Shazia so succinctly expressed.

The designers were given the biggest amount of money yet to work on their bachelors - $10,000 - as well as the use of carpenters, seamstresses, and painters. Designers again were separated into teams, and they consulted with their individual bachelors to determine their design aesthetic (for James, it was "panty-dropping chic"). Bachelor Obi was very involved, and talked about how he wanted to have better feng shui in his apartment; he'd actually clipped design ideas from Elle Decor. Wow! The last bachelor, Eddie, had a mess of an apartment, with the only organized element in the house being his massive collection of shoes.

To see who rocked the bachelor bad, and who got booted from the show, read more.

To my delight, the individual "Pop Design" contest was back this week. I love that the designers get an opportunity to assert their individual tastes. This week, the Pop Design involved arranging flowers; most of the designers did a great job, and this was a challenge I would've loved to try my hand at as well. Nathan won for his sophisticated floral design.

Overall, the designers did a great job remaking the bachelors' apartments. James' apartment (you know, the panty-dropping-chic guy) looked way sophisticated with decoupaged screens, great updates in the bedroom and living room, and if anything, was simply too unbachelor-like. Obi's pad had a masculine Zen vibe going on, with neutral colors, dark wood, and a sophisticated, mellow vibe. Eddie's apartment was definitely an improvement, with the beginnings of clean, tailored lines. Unfortunately, the designers hadn't finished the main living room, and the judges weren't pleased.

At the judging (which included guest judge Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out, Andrea, Wisit, and Teresa's team had the top design for Obi's apartment. I had to agree that the designers did a great job keeping the apartment sophisticated while also remembering their client's personality and needs. The last team, of Shazia, Preston, and Nathan, were on the chopping block due to their inability to work together and their uninspiring design. Shazia definitely had a difficult time working with her team. When she tried to assert her opinion, she did it in an odd, petulant way that seemed really immature. In the end, Shazia was kicked out for her bad attitude and inability to assert her design sense.

Do you think Shazia deserved to go home? What stood out for you in this week's episode?

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Photos courtesy of Bravo

Roundup: Needlepoint

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:15:00 -0700

Historically, needlepoint may be thought of as women's work, but needlepoint was practiced by some totally fierce women. My favorite mythological needleworker is Penelope, who, in Homer's The Odyssey, fooled all of the men around her for three years with her needlework. Penelope's husband Odysseus was out on various adventures and presumed dead, and her new suitors were put off by Penelope's promise that she'd choose one of them after she finished stitching her father's death shroud.

The clever Penelope, who was convinced that her husband Odysseus would return (as he well did, just 20 years later), wove during the day, and then unwove each day's progress at night. Now that's faith.

To see some modern-day examples of needlepoint, read more.

Needlepoint has been referenced in historical texts for thousands of years, and has been seen more recently in movie remakes of Jane Austen novels. A type of canvas work made with yarn or thread, needlework is handstitched into canvas mesh into designs or patterns. Because needlepoint is stitched on canvas, it is generally more durable than many other needlecrafts, which makes it perfect for furniture. Today, there are a number of needlepoint styles available for the home, including pillows, ottomans, and rugs.

Source

Summer Style: An English Cottage Garden

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:15:18 -0700

Do you need some inspiration for remaking your home's garden or outdoor space? Susi has developed a beautiful English cottage garden across the pond from us, and the results are rather awe inspiring. From a kitchen garden to a pond to an outdoor dining area, I am absolutely in love with her beautiful outdoor space in Hampshire, England. Source

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Crave Worthy: Time Occasional Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:00:07 -0700

Designed by Prospero Rasulo in 2006, the Time Occasional Table ($1459) comes in a variety of glossy lacquer finishes, but I'm partial to this candy apple red shade. I'd love to see these flanked by black chairs in front of some gorgeously designed Parisian cafe. There's just something so compellingly cinematic about this table's eye-catching ruby shade and elegant, willowy stem. Wouldn't it be très magnifique as a set piece in a movie - perhaps a remake of An American In Paris?

Old Furniture Given Inspired New Life

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:30:16 -0800

The Chair Couture line features singular furniture re-imagined by designer Margaret Elman. The inspired Ms. Elman remakes French vintage pieces by reupholstering them in nature-inspired modern prints, often taken directly from photographs.

Each piece is individually matched to individual fabrics, and as you might imagine, this makes for an expensive repurposed chair or bed indeed. Still, if I had the extra money, I'd certainly throw down for one of these lovely, unique pieces. And if you by chance have extra money to spend, you can find out more information about your own custom Chair Couture heirloom here.
For a look at another piece, just read more.

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Coveted Crib: San Francisco Ex-Brothel Rowhouse

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:41:58 -0800

This Italianate townhouse, featured in This Old House was for years a brothel in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, then sliced into seven poorly-constructed apartments, and has now been returned to its original form as a single-family dwelling, built in 1878. The current owners, the Wynnes, recently hired "architectural designer Amy Hall McNamara and general contractor Eric Maykranz, a specialist in old-home restoration" to remake the building to meet their family's needs.

Along the way they uncovered and restored many wonderful, original treasures like an intricate floor medallion, a once gas-lit light fixture, an ornate mahogany staircase, walnut-inlayed maple floors, several stained glass windows, and a trio of magnificently cased, tally bay windows. Mixed with quietly traditional decor, and a few updates like a marble-top double bathroom vanity, a built-in glass-front cabinet bar, a circular kitchen floor plan, and handsome, wide openings between the living and dining rooms, the house pays tribute to its 19th century heritage without being hindered by it. For a tour of the elegant rowhouse revival,

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Designer Spotlight: Palo Samko

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:48:49 -0700

Brooklyn designer Palo Samko is profoundly gifted at marrying modern design with a rustic sensibility. His environmentally friendly products, which are made of recycled materials, are simply stunning, and absolutely crave worthy. Palo, a gifted woodworker, has started the eco-friendly Walnut Line of furniture, which is composed of chairs, cabinets, and tables made of walnut wood. He also has his Recycled Line, which is made from scraps found on construction sites, including plywood, old construction beams, and railway beams. Whatever wood he chooses, he remakes it into furniture that is simultaneously urbane and inner-city urban.

To see a gallery of his work, just read more

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Needle Art Half Apron - $24.00	Floral Pillows - $140.00
Pheasant Needlepoint Ottoman - $348.00	Kabuki Needlepoint Ottoman - $248.00
Needlepoint Stool - $839.00	Bird & Tile Needlepoint Pillow - $98.00
Needle Art Pot Holder - $12.00	Peony or Lily Needlepoint Pillow - $85.00
Marcella Fine Rugs® Jardin Rugs - $139.00	Paisley Needlepoint Pillow - $85.00
Floral Rug - $129.00	Floral Pillows - $198.90
Butterfly Needlepoint Rugs - $199.00	Geometric Pillow - Blue - $240.00
Portuguese Floral Rug - $769.00	Palm Leaf or Fern Needlepoint Pillow - $85.00
Monkey Medallion Rug - $219.00	Jacobean Floral Needlepoint Pillow - $119.00
Ashleigh Needlepoint Rug - $149.00	Bird on Magnolia Branch Pillow - $120.00