CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: Covered Pumpkin Bowl

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:58:58 -0800

Grab this covered pumpkin bowl for your Thanksgiving table setting, but do it quick - it's on final clearance at Gump's, marked down to $34.99 from its original price of $75. Handcrafted in Italy, this earthenware bowl's thick stem serves as the lid's handle and makes a festive, harvest centerpiece.

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Leafy Autumn Accents

CasaSugar — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:22:34 -0700

In case you haven't noticed, I get really excited about the arrival of autumn. There's something about the crisp, cool air that makes me want to hang a festive but unfussy wreath and make spiced cider.

Of course, there's nothing more classically autumnal than images of falling leaves, so I've been scouting out some pretty fall accents with a leafy look. The best part about most of my picks is that while they look autumnal, they don't scream fall, so you can also use them year round. Check out my choices below and tell me what you think.

Love It or Hate It? Water Bowl Set

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:00:14 -0700

Design Milk is loving this Water Bowl Set ($350), designed by Michael Benzer, John P. Gilvey, Wendy Gilvey, and Jennifer Smith. But while the frosted-glass serving pieces have an elegant look, I don't think I'd want them in my home. What's your take?

Trend Alert: Wine With Everything

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:30:34 -0700

Drinking wine is more popular than ever, and now the oenophile trend is extending to home decor as well. Lately, I've noticed the iconic stemmed wine-glass shape is showing up in clever serving pieces - such as this Jansen + Co. Ming Oil and Vinegar Set ($28) - as well as candle holders, light fixtures, and one very cool doorbell. To see my wine with everything finds, just click on the photos below.

Casa Verde: Why Bamboo Is Better

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:30:48 -0700

Thought it's fast becoming an eco-friendly alternative to wood, bamboo is actually a grass that grows like a weed - in some cases, about two feet a day, but typically, about 30 feet a year. The sustainable material is showing up in everything from bowls and serving pieces to fabric and furniture, like this stunning Georgie Coffee Table. It's even moving into building materials, such as bamboo flooring.

Not only are the goods chic and clean-looking, but they're also guilt free, since bamboo is so easily replenished. According to Totally Bamboo, the plant is harvestable when it grows to about 60 feet, which takes just three to five years. Also, because it's a very hard wood, bamboo is incredibly durable. I especially love my bamboo cutting board, which looks good as new despite years of use.

Sale Alert: Up to 50 % Off at Lekker Home

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:41:03 -0700

I only discovered it a month or so ago, but Lekker Home is fast becoming one of my favorite online stores. Not only does it indulge my jones for sleek, modern home finds, but it also carries all sorts of creative designs I've never seen elsewhere. (I mean, a woodpecker-shaped piggybank? Awesome!)

Right now, Lekker is having a great summer sale through Sunday, July 29, offering as much as 50 percent off on select items plus free shipping on orders over $50. Check out my choices from the sale below.

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Before and After: KateDavis's Faux Bois Tray Makeover

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:04 -0700

Su Casa member KateDavis bought this white Melamine Serving Tray ($12.99) from Target, and decided it needed a bit of a modern makeover. She slapped on a piece of faux bois contact paper, instantly giving it depth and pattern. Want to see the finished product? Then read more.

Looks great, right?! If you'd like to see another wonderful faux bois contact paper makeover, check out how I transformed my ugly linoleum floors. Have you made any updates to your home accessories? Add them to our Su Casa group!

Roundup: Map Skills

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:51 -0700

Even if you served your time in geography class years (or decades!) ago, there's no reason to let your map skills get rusty. While I'm a big fan of the Ork Neighborhood Posters, there are plenty of other ways to get your map on around the house. Take for instance this cool Uganda Painting from Etsy seller noahwoods. Created for National Geographic Traveler magazine, this piece will add vibrant color to any wall in your home.

To see how you can add map skills to your bathroom, living room, or kitchen, read more.

House Tour: A Net-Zero Energy Home in Vermont

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:34 -0700

I recently visited beautiful northern Vermont, and the South Farm Homes development in Hinesburg. This six-home development aims for "net-zero" status, meaning that the homes will generate as much power as they use over the course of a year. Environmental features include active PV solar panels integrated into the metal roofing of each home and significant southern glass, which provide solar gain (as well as lovely views of the surrounding valley). The project is a collaboration between Rolf Kielman, AIA and Lee Grutchfield, AIA of TruexCullins Architects of Burlington, VT, and Reiss Building of Hinesburg, VT. The home that I visited also served as a temporary showcase for pieces and products made by local Vermont artisans and companies. I snapped photos of some of my favorite pieces in the house, which are definitely worth a peek.
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Casa Interview: Destination Wedding Planner Alison Hotchkiss (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:47 -0700

Alison Hotchkiss, the creative director of Alison Events and the author of Destination Wedding Planner, has plenty of smart advice on planning destination weddings. If you, or a couple you know, are planning a destination wedding, I highly recommend Alison's new book to lend a guiding hand in your planning process. You can read the first half of the interview here. Alison has more great advice in the second half of this interview.

CasaSugar: When you plan a destination wedding, do you try to use local artisans, caterers, and other services?

Alison Hotchkiss: I definitely try to use as much local support as possible. It’s cost-effective, puts money back into the community, and is a positive way to support the area. I will sometimes hire a local planner to serve as my eyes and ears locally, and then I have someone to help us when we’re there. Especially in smaller beach communities, a lot of negotiations and contracts are over a handshake, not a formal agreement, so it’s important to respect the way that the local community does business.

To see Alison's advice on everything from wedding favors to organizing activities, read more.

CasaSugar: What’s your take on wedding favors? Have there been any that have stood out? Have there been any alternatives that were creative or impressive?

Alison Hotchkiss: One of my favorite favors was from my Costa Rica wedding. All of the guests were given Holga cameras preloaded with film, so everyone was able to take photos throughout the ceremony. There was a big beautiful glass bin where everyone could drop their film and they could reload throughout the evening. At the end of the evening the bride took all of the film, processed it, and put it on the Pictage website, so everyone could see all of the photos that were taken.

Another trend I’ve been seeing is people paying it forward by offsetting people’s carbon footprint for travel. This is often seen on the bottom of the menu or program. Other couples have donated to schools or children’s community shelters. I’ve seen a lot more of that than people purchasing favors. I think it’s a waste of money to do a favor these days when there are so many other things you can put your money towards.

CasaSugar: How do you deal with gifts at a destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: I rarely see gifts at a destination wedding. Most people know to not bring gifts and to ship them in advance. If somebody were to get gifts they’d have to pack them and bring them back. You’d have to arrange for shipping, and oftentimes if you’re staying at a hotel that’s something they can execute for you.

One other great story is that some of my clients, in lieu of wedding gifts, the client included a notecard in the invitation asking everyone in lieu of gifts to “pay it forward” and do something for someone else, be it a family or an organization in their name, and then to write it on the notecard. Then, when people got to the wedding, the guests had the same card that had their name and their table numbers on it, so they replaced the name cards with the pay it forward card, and we had this really awesome display of what people had done to pay it forward. They ranged from deep, meaningful stories to really silly stories, such as “Oh, I paid for the person’s toll behind you,” and someone else said, “I rescued a bird off the side of the road.” That was a really cute idea and a great way to say, Let’s not focus so much on material gifts, and focus more on giving back to the world.

CasaSugar: Once guests get to the destination, have you found a fun way to organize activities? Do you let guests know a schedule beforehand, or spring it on them as a fun surprise? How would you say is the best way to organize this?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say the majority of people these days are creating their own wedding websites, which is the best way to communicate all of the information that can happen. It can have directions, wedding activities, local things to do and see, all of that. Or, rather than asking people to sign up beforehand on the web-site you can have people, during the rehearsal dinner, sign up for the following day’s tours. We have used a chalkboard so it was more fun than writing it on a 8.5x11 piece of paper. Different activities we have done are a snorkeling adventure, massage, or horseback riding. It’s nice to not have to determine things so far in advance.

CasaSugar: Given the economic climate right now, if you were going to recommend one area where guests can squeeze their budget, what can be downsized?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say music. We always tell people to go with a DJ vs. band, it’s thousands and thousands of dollars for a band. A band can run from $2,000 to $10,000. That’s one area. Another is limiting favors. You can also choose beer and wine instead of an open bar, or limiting the time of the open bar. Pick your battles and consider what’s most important.

Another area is the flowers. Instead of doing flowers, consider using a combination of herbs, flowers, succulents, and fruits. We did a wedding recently in the tropics and cut bougainvillea petals from the local branches and made a carpeted aisle for the ceremony. It was so vibrant and so colorful, and it was free. Use what you have locally.

CasaSugar: What would you have at your destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: All I know is I want it to be somewhere tropical (with good surf), laid back, and I would be totally happy with fish tacos, a DJ, and local beer, Oh and I think I am going to wear a short dress and lose the shoes!

CasaSugar: That sounds excellent.

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official New York City subway map shower curtain - $35.00	Midtown Rug - $299.00
Exploration Placemats - $31.50	Pillow World Map - $110.00
San Francisco Travel Map Towel Set of 2 - $15.98	City of Venice Triptych - $349.00
New York City Map Print - $695.00	Aaron Foster Wall Art - License Plate Map - $129.99
Wisconsin State Map - $249.00	Paris Maps - $275.00
Mint Table Globe - $295.00	Map Drum Lamp Shade - $29.00