CasaSugar

Registry Roundup: Services

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:00:12 -0700

When it comes time to register for your wedding, instead of signing up for a $1600 gravy boat that you'll use only once a year, why not register for some services for your home that you can enjoy year-round? Collecting essential home furnishings here and there isn't so painful, but when it comes to writing a check to your landscaper, housekeeper, movers, etc., you'll wish you'd asked for it as a nuptial gift. So, I've rounded up some great services that'll make your married life a whole lot easier (and affordable). To learn where to register for them, check out this post. Had you thought about hiring an energy auditor for your home to reduce your environmental footprint, not to mention your monthly utility bills? Could your closets use some organization now that they'll be home for two wardrobes? Will you and your future better-half be moving to a new home? Do you envision a weekly housekeeper in your new life? Take a look at the widget below for some fab, registry-worthy services. We also have a downloadable wedding registry you can use, and for a look at all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Source

Steal of the Day: Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:15:09 -0700

If you read my How-To on organizing your desk, you may remember that I wrote, "If everything has a place, you won't need to search for it. . . . That means, an inbox, an outbox, an on-hold box . . ." Something tells me that maybe not all of you have spent the time since then to get your desk into shipshape, so now is the time. You can get started by picking up the Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays ($39 for two) to serve as your inbox, outbox, or on-hold box. At 13-x-11 and 12-x -10 inches, they're the perfect fit to glam up your boring paperwork. If it bothers you that they read "Etc.," get some decorative paper and a calligraphy pen, and switch them to more appropriate names. You like?

Do You Use Layaway?

CasaSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:30:34 -0800

Stores like Kmart, Sears, and Toys "R" Us are bringing back layaway programs. This service lets customers pay a small down payment, and then holds goods until the entire price is paid off. Big-ticket items, such as electronics, are increasingly being paid for through layaway programs, especially since shoppers are reluctant to rack up more debt on their credit cards.

Casa Shops: Adelante and Curb Service

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:33 -0700

Whenever I visit friends in Austin, I try to drop by Adelante, a hip, laid-back women's clothing and lifestyle boutique. The shop, which has been in Austin since 1992, and called San Antonio home before that, is a family-owned boutique that offers everything from shoes, dresses, and jewelry to home accessories and vintage, refurbished furniture.

The owner, Tricia Roberts, has a great eye for fashionable, affordable finds, and I always find some must-have item when I stop by.

Now, Adelante has started Curb Service, a mobile shopping adventure that's fit into a retrofitted 1976 Airstream. Available for rent for private parties, showers, or other special events, this adorable trailer was once Tricia's husband's hunting getaway. To see how it's been transformed, read more.

The Airstream has certainly undergone a major transformation. It now features Palm Springs mod decor with fabric by Trina Turk, vintage accessories and furniture, and sea grass carpeting. For a private party, the Airstream is decked out in fashion, accessories, vintage cowboy boots, home accessories, and fashion finds, all for the partygoer's shopping pleasure.

Check out Adelante's blog for more information about the store. Next time you're in Austin, make sure to stop in and say hi!

See more photos of the Curb Service Airstream, the shop, and some of its great home finds in the gallery.

View 19 Photos ›

Source

Get the Look: Grand Slam Glam

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:00:53 -0700

I've been tuning into a lot of U.S. Open matches this week, and watching tennis always makes me want put on a cute old-school tennis dress and play a few sets. It also got me thinking that the preppy '80s vibe that tennis often conjures would make a great decorating theme!

Well-suited to a girl's room or a guest room, this look I'm calling Grand Slam Glam mixes pretty pastels and preppy details, with just a few tennis-inspired accents tossed in. Here's how to get the look.

The Palette: Think girly country-club chic, with lime green, light blue, and delicate pink. Present your palette in perfectly preppy patterns, including argyle and gingham. Then, just for fun, throw in a few snatches of tennis-ball yellow.

For the rest of the elements and to see my product suggestions, read more

The Furniture: I went with white and off-white furniture evocative of courtside style. This Cannes Cottage Headboard ($1,130) reminds me of a tennis net, while the Room Service Home Palm Floral Bench ($1,249) lends a spectator vibe.

The lighting: Keep it simple and let in lots of sunshine. You shouldn't need much more than a table lamp - perhaps one that echoes the shape of a trophy.

The accents: Get your game on with a vintage tennis poster and some preppy monogrammed pillows. For fun, I also threw in a few Victoria Hagan for Target Trellis Linen Coasters ($12.99) that remind me of tennis balls.

Pine Cone Hill Alice Quilt in Green	The Art of Tennis poster
Cannes Cottage Headboard	Blue Argyle Wallpaper
Shine Ava in Sky Blue	Palm Floral Bench Room Service Home
Pottery Barn Mongrammed Pillows	Target Victoria Hagan Trellis Linen Coaster Set

Get the Look: Nest-Inspired Breakfast Nook

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:00:46 -0700

Nothing says morning like the sound of chirping birds, and the bird motifs that are so ubiquitous now feel like they belong in the breakfast nook. So for this Get the Look, I'm designing a comfy dining area using subtle, natural elements. I was inspired by this Room Service Home Faux Bois Tableware ($34 to $58 per piece). I love the rustic yet delicate charm of the twig accents and nest motif. Here's how to get the look in your nest.

The Palette: Robin's egg blue should be in abundance, offset by dark woodsy brown and pale green.

The furniture: The Faux Bois tableware will look best against a natural wood or white table. I chose a sunny white one with rustic-looking chairs. For a bit of color, find a baby blue sideboard or buffet.

The accents: Bird-adorned pillows are a comfy addition to the wooden chairs, while curtains and table linens should complement the nest theme without being too cutesy.

The lighting: In addition to overhead lighting, I've found some elegant nest-inspired lamps that would look great on the buffet.

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

Have You Hired a Housecleaning Service?

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:15:47 -0700

While it may seem like a splurge, hiring a housecleaning service, even once a month, can really put a dent in your cleaning duties. Occasional housecleaning help is especially great for big jobs like scrubbing floors and bathrooms.

Open House: Least Favorite Fall Chores

CasaSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:30:04 -0700

Once the season turns, it's time to compile, and check off, all of those necessary Fall chores. From sweeping out gutters to raking up leaves, there's no end to the tasks that need attending to. My least favorite Fall chore is actually scheduling appointments with handymen and carpenters.

I don't have a problem with doing chores myself; it's the time spent waiting for service professionals, and taking time off of work to let people in and out of the house, that's difficult for me to manage. Plenty of my friends dread the Fall cleanup though, and often hire neighborhood kids to rake their leaves or clean around their homes. What's your least favorite Fall chore?

Source: Flickr User Sugarfrizz

New Decorati Service to Connect Consumers With Designers

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:15:36 -0700

It's always been difficult to find interior design help. If you're not tapped into the design scene, finding a designer is a hurdle from the start, and then once you've found one who fits your aesthetic, you feel obliged to sign up for a full-scale project. Apparently, that's changed. Decorati.com, the global online resource for interior designers, has just launched a free online service, Decorati Connect For Consumers, that connects consumers with designers. Be it an hour-long consultation, a room-by-room plan, or a full-scale redesign, consumers now need only to fill out a short online form to have their design requests answered. The service will forward the requests to interior designers registered with Decorati, who can then purchase the lead if they feel they're up to the task. And, you needn't be looking for a major overhaul to get the help you need. The service will give you access to help on smaller projects like paint color selection, drapery installation, or accessorizing, as well as virtual "e-decorating," in addition to standard local design. Ahh, the power of the Internet!
Source