CasaSugar

Fall Style: Marc Jacobs's Halloween Window Display

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:46 -0700

Leave it to Marc Jacobs to make Halloween décor chic, humorous, and pumpkin-free. Strolling through San Francisco, I stumbled upon his window display and I fell absolutely in love with his pink cow ghost. In her oversize coat and pink skin, the mannequin looks a bit tortured, too. His painted paper moon looks quite realistic, as does his flying tissue bat. I only wish I had room in my foyer to spook the trick-or-treaters with a mooing ghost.

Have you seen Halloween décor in your town's window displays? Have you decked out your own home in Halloween decorations? Be sure to add photos of them to our Lovely Little Vignettes group!

Mandatory Composting Begins in San Francisco Today

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:15:23 -0700

Beginning today, the city of San Francisco will require both businesses and residences to compost food scraps and biodegradable products or risk a fine for not properly sorting their garbage. While other cities require recycling service and participation, the law, which Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into effect in June, is the first nationwide to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables.

A study by the Department of the Environment found that 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfills is compostable, primarily food scraps, and 31 percent is recyclable - which is mostly paper. Seeing that SF already has an impressive 72 percent recycling rate, the legislation could send that rate soaring to 90 percent.

To facilitate the program, the city will offer free green compost carts to apartment buildings and businesses, as well as free kitchen pails for renters. Fines will be capped at $100 and are meant primarily to raise public awareness and encourage compliance. Has your city or town made any moves to require composting? Has your city had success with any recycling fines or mandates? Tell me by commenting below!

Source: Flickr User MayorGavinNewsom

Coveted Crib: Light and Visual in San Francisco

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:06 -0700

I was lucky enough to meet San Francisco-based interior designer Jiun Ho at the Metropolitan Home Modern by Design Showhouse in June. The dining room he created for the space was the most elegant room in the house by far; it could make even delivery pizza seem gourmet. So, it's no surprise that his residential client projects are equally impressive.

I came across a condo design he did for an international businessman who is an avid art collector and was blown away. Some designers make every room all about them - their signature style, their go-to fabrics, their furniture designs (ahem, Jonathan Adler). But Ho created a perfect background for all of the masterpieces on display using light colors, simple shapes, and modest proportions. The result is a space that's visually exciting in an understated way. And a gorgeous grand piano tops it all off. To take the full tour, read more.

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Scenes From the 20th Century Modernism Show

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:05 -0700

This weekend I attended the 20th Century Modernism Show and Sale at Fort Mason in San Francisco, which featured 50 national and international exhibitors (many local) of decorative and fine arts from all design movements of the 20th century. I was excited to see up close some works by artists I follow, like David Wiseman's porcelain blossom and bronze branches (and I even caught a glimpse of the artist himself) and a large collection of original works by the late great American Modernist Charley Harper from the Charley Harper Art Studio.
A few of my other favorite exhibitors were Battersea, R 20th Century, Peter Fetterman, 20th Century Interiors, Antik NYC, Off the Wall, and Eric Firestone Gallery. Peter Fetterman sells a range of black and white photographs, including many well-known pieces such as this image of Andy Warhol with Edie Sedgwick and Chuck Wein by Burt Glinn, which was fun to see. See more scenes from the show when you read more.

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Before and After: Restoring a Victorian Staircase

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:32 -0700

Last year, San Francisco renovator John Clarke Mills bought an 1890s Victorian that needed a ton of work. So far, he's worked on everything from the foundation to rewiring.

His latest challenge has been tackling the staircase, which had been separated. The house had been divided into two rental units in the past, and the lower banister had been removed decades ago.

John writes, "Since the house was split into two units at one point in its life a wall was put up between the upstairs and downstairs. We were hoping that inside the wall we would find ourselves a banister like our neighbors did, but no such luck. Obviously whoever did the work on our house didn't have the foresight that the neighbors did. Anyway, we were only left with one choice; rebuild it ourselves."

To see the results of John's hard labor, read more.

John turned to San Fransisco Victoriana to help re-create the components of the banister, based on how it looked in the upstairs hallway. The results are impeccable, and a wonderful re-creation of the original staircase.

John writes, "After 5 days of working straight for ten hours and a lot of follow-up work including stain, multiple coats of varnish, and paint we are finally finished. I think it turned out wonderful and couldn’t be happier about the results. It was a great learning experience and not all that complicated as long as you have patience and some good do-it-yourself experience. The pride of building something like this yourself and saving thousands on highly skilled labor is enough to make me want to do it again someday."

Have you ever taken on a house project this challenging? Read more about John's renovations on his blog.

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Source

American Craft Council Show Kicks Off Today in SF

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

It's no secret that crafting has experienced a rebirth over the past few years. But there's a difference between the découpage magnets I make for my refrigerator and May Luk's handmade ceramic vases with antique-inspired illustrations. It's called skill. If you need to see it to believe it, you're in luck.

The 34th annual American Craft Council Show, the largest juried craft show in the West featuring works by 250 local and visiting artists, kicks off today at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, running through Sunday. The crafts exhibited will range from tabletop pottery and other home décor like Luk's, as well as furniture, fashion, jewelry, and more, all handmade from a range of materials.

If you're in the market for green crafts, you'll be happy to find plenty of works by artists using found, recycled, and eco-friendly materials and techniques. There will also be plenty of work by rising indie craft artists praised for their use of innovative techniques and materials. If you want to make Friday night a movie night, catch a special screening of filmmaker Faythe Levine's documentary Handmade Nation - one of my March Must Haves. Find more details about show hours and admission prices here. To get a sneak peek of some other works you'll see there, read more.

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Cool Idea: Julene Harrison's Papercut Artwork

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:32 -0700

I've completely fallen in love with British artist Julene Harrison's papercut artwork - which you may recognize from my Love Your City? Say It With Art slideshow. From one sheet of paper, she cuts these ornate frames with stunning typography and intricate imagery inside them. Many have romantic messages like, "I Carry Your Heart I Carry It in My Heart" or "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and even "Will You Marry Me?" She's also created more eccentric papercuts like the one that reads "I Have to Return Some Videotapes," and been commissioned by a Finnish ad agency. Each is more charming than the next - so much that I was inspired to re-create a San Francisco-themed papercut like this one for a couple of friends who are moving away. To see it,read more.

I did a little Photoshopping to change the text to "You Will Be Missed," added in an airplane and a glass of wine, and replaced Coit Tower with a frame for a photo of my pals. I've made some papercuts before from paint swatches, but using thin white printer paper was much easier. Since I've been using X-acto knives for years for all of my decoupage crafts, I was comfortable cutting . . . but I can't compete with Harrison's talent for design!

Would you like one for yourself or a loved one? You can have Julene make a custom papercut for you with whatever words and imagery you like!

Coveted Crib: Firehouse No. 44

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:24 -0700

Here's something to ignite your envy. San Francisco firehouse Chemical Engine House 44, which was originally built in 1909 (when horses led fire "carriages") and served as a firehouse until 1959, has recently undergone an extensive renovation, transforming the historic structure into a modern masterpiece. The four-bedroom, four-and-two-half-bath home in SF's Noe Valley neighborhood is on the market for $5,175,000. The house includes four floors of living space, an observatory tower, a wine cellar, and a tasting room, all centered around a remarkable industrial spiral staircase and elevator atrium.

Want to hear about the firehouse's décor and designers, and see photos? Prepare to swoon, my friends.

Name This Type of Victorian

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:57 -0700

Built in 1886, the Haas Lilienthal House in San Francisco is a gorgeous example of this type of Victorian home.

Cheap Chic Ideas to Steal From Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design Showhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:09 -0700

If you checked out my preview of Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design Showhouse and Cool Idea slideshow, you no doubt noticed plenty of crave-worthy furnishings throughout. There were also plenty of cheap and chic elements that added to the high-design aesthetic but didn't cost an arm and a leg. There are many ideas you can easily replicate in your own home.

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