CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: Slaughterhouse Fine

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:35 -0800

A former slaughterhouse in Ulricehamn, Sweden, was transformed into this fabulous coveted crib. Outfitted with furniture and accessories from around the world, the space feels much more metropolitan than you'd expect from a rural Swedish home. An extensive collection of artwork is mixed with both vintage and modern furniture. Antique Corinthian columns mingle with an Arne Jacobsen Swan chair, worn wood surfaces with plush velvet, and IKEA with Philippe Starck, creating endless serendipitous juxtapositions. Take the full tour when you read more.

View 12 Photos ›

Source

Former Fixer-Upper of DJ AM Is For Sale

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:30 -0800

The former Beverly Hills home of the late DJ AM has been listed for $3.8 million. The 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath midcentury home is private and gated with both canyon and city views. It boasts "rich mahogany floors, custom built-in theater, Crestron system, and flat-screen TVs throughout, two-sided fireplace, office, large kitchen with stainless steel appliances and carrerra marble countertops," according to the listing.

AM purchased the property for $1.9 million in the Spring of 2007, and made some wonderful changes to it before his death. I love how he landscaped the pool with grass and slate tiles to complement its prismatic shape and chime in on its modern aesthetic. When he bought the property there were also some awful Ionic columns out front, which were completely amiss with the midcentury architecture, and it looks like he replaced them with something simple or just covered them up with shrubbery. He also added one and one-half bathrooms. He modernized the two-sided fireplace in the living room and had a custom built-in theater built above it. And I suspect he installed a television which rises from the foot of bed. It's unfortunate that he wasn't able to see the profits of his terrific renovations.

To look at photos from before and after he renovated, read more.

Before:

View 4 Photos ›

After:

View 5 Photos ›

How-To: Take Your Bathroom From Simple to Swanky

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:41 -0700

Bathroom and kitchen renovations are often the most expensive kind. But with dated cabinetry and tiling plaguing homes across the country, they're also often the most crucial! Su Casa member Ckim8120 has taken the matter into her own hands, showing us that you don't need a contractor or a loan (!) to take your bathroom from simple to swanky. For well under her initial budget of $350, she transformed a spare bathroom into something that looks straight out of the pages of House Beautiful. You can do the same to your overlooked bathroom with just a few simple and affordable steps.

View Slideshow ›

Ask Casa: Kitchen Renovation Suggestions

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:00:06 -0800

Su Casa member Hihowareya is looking for suggestions on updating her kitchen. She is taking down the wallpaper and trying to decide on paint colors. The cabinets, she says, will have to stay, but she is considering new hardware. New flooring is also an option, but she needs something pet-friendly; she's considering cork. And, she's putting in a new island with a stainless steel bar sink and a butcher block countertop. I have a few suggestions for Hihowareya, and I'm sure she'd love to hear yours, so read more.

Hi hihowareya,
It looks you have a big project on your hands! First of all, I'm glad we're on the same page about the wallpaper. It has to go.

Since you can't replace the cabinets, I recommend painting them. Remove all the doors and the hardware. Then paint the frame and the doors in a semi-gloss white; you can't go wrong with something like Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White. This will brighten and update the room at the same time. And, kitchen messes wipe clean quite easily on semi-gloss.

I do suggest that you replace the hardware; the brass is pretty dated. Something like the Rock Candy handles used by Su Casa member Citygal would look fantastic. But I understand that the cost of new hardware can add up quickly, especially with so many cabinets. So, hunt for hardware in bulk, on eBay, and at architectural salvage shops first. You might even ask a local contractor if he can salvage any hardware for you. Also head to your local hardware store and check out the prices on basic handles in a more contemporary finish like stainless steel. If all else fails, spray paint or have your handles powdercoated.

Your blue countertops are definitely dated as well. I'd recommend replacing them with granite or quartz. It's an investment, but it's a change (unlike paint) that will increase the value of your house. So, it's worth it. Butcher block or concrete countertops are also great options that are more affordable but also contemporary.

Installing cork flooring is a wonderful idea because it's a sustainable material. You might also try bamboo flooring. You can save big bucks by doing all the installation work yourself. You can also install hardwood floors and take extra steps to protect them with additional layers of varnish and/or an area rug.

With all of this said and done, you'll have a lot of flexibility with your paint colors. White cabinets in particular go with anything. I recommend choosing your paint color to complement the colors in the adjoining rooms, or if you're stuck, you can't go wrong with an all-white kitchen! Or, you might try some contemporary wallpaper in the kitchen. Just don't worry about trying to match the colors to your appliances, because once they're on their last legs (which they may be) you'll have to replace them anyway.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Before and After: A Serious Fixer-Upper

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:00:00 -0800

When the Atlanta, Georgia-based renovation firm Laughing Sun purchased this home, it was in absolute disrepair. Once a gorgeous folk Victorian home, it was missing its original roof, and the once-soaring 12-foot-high ceilings had been pared back to only seven feet. It also was so leaky that the renovators were able to push the back wall of the house with one hand!

To see how this mess was turned into a masterpiece, read more.

Laughing Sun replaced the original steep Victorian roof and extended the footprint of the home to accommodate five bedrooms, a roomy kitchen, a center hall, and two and a half bathrooms. Check out the gallery to see the extensive, beautiful renovations that the firm put into place, returning this home to its 19th century glory.

View 9 Photos ›

Source

Open House: Your Biggest Splurge

CasaSugar — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:27:47 -0800

For many homeowners, the largest cost of decorating their home is a renovation. For renters, it's often a large, portable piece of furniture such as a sofa or armoire that costs the big bucks. Others pull out the Mastercard for a stunning rug, an eye-catching painting, or an iconic light fixture. Of course, once you've splurged on a focal point for one room, it's on to the next. It's kind of like having children: You don't stop paying until retirement. My most extravagant purchase was a piece of artwork, but now we're making plans to throw down on building a small "getaway" behind our house.

Tell me what your biggest splurge was by commenting below!
Source

Before: A Community Center in Need of Renovation

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:00:50 -0700

Years ago, I lived in the same neighborhood where this Boys and Girls Club is located. Community resources are few and far between in West Oakland, and the Boys and Girls Club is a welcome refuge for kids who need a place to hang out after school. The center, though, is in need of some renovation. Luckily, a very cool designer is soon going to transform the center. To find out who's going to renovate the center, check out the slideshow!

View Slideshow ›

Before and After: DeJaVuE's Basement Remodel

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:30:09 -0700

TeamSugar member DeJaVuE recently remodeled her basement, which had red brick and stone foundation walls and a dreary striped carpet. She installed wood floors and soft beige carpet, as well as drywall, but she kept some stonework on the wall as an accent. She painted the walls an army green, which lightened it up and gave it a more serene vibe. To see this fantastic remodel, read more.
Such a great transformation, right?! To see more photos, read DeJaVuE's Su Casa post.

Source

Before and After: Erin84's Bathroom Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:45:00 -0700

Su Casa member Erin84 recently gave the "ugly 70's-style bathroom" in her new condo a major overhaul, and the transformation is a vast improvement. She gutted the space, and then "used subway tiles on the floor and ceramic tiles on the walls." She says, "A new vanity and chandelier make it look like a completely different space." While the original bathroom may not be the biggest eyesore you've ever seen, the new vanity and tiles certainly are much more sophisticated and classic, and the chandelier adds a touch of glamour. Replacing the original trifold mirror with a single wall mirror opens up the space, relieving the bathroom's former cramped feeling. To see the after, read more.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Do you have a home renovation you'd like to show off? Then post photos in my Su Casa group! Source

Open House: Where Do You Cut Back?

CasaSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:15:29 -0700

Unless you're a celebrity with money to burn, or just one very successful lay-dee, most of us have to cut back somewhere when it comes to furnishing and renovating our homes. I myself have been known to drop big bucks at high-end design shops and haggle over flea market finds in the same day. And although I'll concede that spending money on my house itself is in most cases a better investment than purchasing furnishings to fill it with, sometimes I just can't restrain myself from bringing home a beautiful lamp or having a chair reupholstered. Some of you may be renters, and it wouldn't make sense to spend on renovations. Or maybe you'll splurge on an antique dining table, but pair it with Ikea chairs. Maybe you spend on your interiors, but haven't given a thought to buying even a plant for your front stoop, let alone hiring a landscaper. Maybe you don't spend any money on your home at all. Tell me where you fit in by commenting below!
Source