CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Lighten Up for Spring

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:00:19 -0700

In case you haven't noticed, it's Spring! Isn't that supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!? Yes, it is. So, it's time to lose a few pounds — and I'm not suggesting you get in shape for the beach. You really need to lighten up your windows! Move that thick velvet drapery to your storage closet in favor of some airy, sheer panels or shades. Spring light is nothing to shy away from; it should be whole-heartedly embraced. Not only will switching to sheer panels let in more light, but it'll give your home a more relaxed look. And, why shouldn't your home loosen up a bit when you're already sporting shorts and flip-flops? Here are a few styles that should fit the bill.

Blue Stripe Grommetted Linen Panels - $69.00	Matine Toile Roman Shade - Select Items - $119.00
Lantern Window Panel - $39.00	Medallion Window Panel - $34.00
White Crinkle Voile Curtain Panel - $14.99	Smocked Drape - $50.00
Carlisle Drape - $19.00	Paisley Panel - $49.50
Outdoor Sheer Grommet Drape - $69.00

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DIY: Canopy Headboard

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:30:15 -0700

You needn't buy a $19,000 four-poster to get the look of a romantic canopy bed. A few supplies and a spare afternoon and your bedroom will be fit for a queen, without the stuffy price tag. And, if that's not good enough for you, I'll show you how to live like a modern Marie Antoinette. This canopy headboard DIY, from Point Click Home, is easy enough for a neophyte crafter, but chic enough for the DIY maestro. Also, check out this post for another DIY headboard.

Supplies:

10" faux willow leaf wreath (or a tool wreath for the dudes)
Spray paint (white, gold, or silver)
2 yards 1" wide ribbon
Scissors
2 safety pins
2 sheer curtain panels
1 large nail
Hammer

To learn how to make this headboard, read more.

Here are the steps, from Point Click Home:

Lay the wreath down on newspaper outside.
Spray paint the wreath for an antiqued or frosted look, and let it dry.
Cut the ribbon into two separate one yard lengths (in half).
Pin a safety pin to the end of one length of ribbon, and slide it through the rod pocket of one of the curtain panel, gathering as you go.
Repeat using the other safety pin, ribbon length, and curtain panel.
Hide the ribbon from one panel between the leaves, tying it around the lower edge of the wreath.
Repeat with the other panel.
Trim off any excess ribbon.
Find the center of the wall, about four to six feet above your bed, and pencil it.
Hammer the nail into the wall.
Hang the wreath on the wall, and arrange the panels so that they wrap around the sides of your bed. Fini!

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Steal of the Day: Eileen Fisher Sheer Linen Shower Curtain

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:29:41 -0700

While I do love my patterned shower curtain, I think having a solid white curtain would create more of a spa-like atmosphere, combined with perhaps a teak bathmat, etc. The Eileen Fisher Sheer Linen Shower Curtain ($79, reduced from $128) certainly does the trick. Its delicate woven pure linen has a healthy, organic vibe to it, and its reinforced buttonholes omit the need for industrial-looking shower curtain rings. I love the way the curtains look all bunched up together here. I'd love to use more than one curtain to achieve a similar bunched and draped effect. What do you think?

Casa Quickie: Mix Curtain Patterns

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:00:42 -0700

In this scene from Tyler Perry's new movie I Can Do Bad All by Myself, I was struck by the great use of pattern in the curtains in this loft apartment. Not only are the two different patterns complementary, but the differing weights of the curtains also works out well. The more sheer curtains can be used for privacy during the day, while still letting sunlight filter in. At night, pull both sets of curtains for maximum privacy and comfort. Have you tried mixing curtain patterns at your home?

Found It! Aleksandr Petrovsky's Dining Room Chairs

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:00:11 -0700

I recently saw a few re-runs from season six of Sex and the City, and I was blown away, yet again, by Aleksandr Petrovsky's chic Manhattan loft apartment. From the to-die-for views to the sheer size of the place, it's utterly crave worthy.

In this scene, from episode 92, "Splat!" Aleksandr and Carrie's dinner party isn't going very smoothly, to say the least. SATC fans will recall that talk of vibrators and Billy Joel do not impress Aleksandr, and Carrie's pals all write him off as a snob. However, one element of the dinner party that everyone can agree on (in my humble opinion) is the fabulousness of the dining room chairs.

Want to know where to find them? Then read more.

They're the Cherner Side Chairs ($679) in walnut. Reproductions of the 1958 original, which was designed by Norman Cherner, the side chair features a molded plywood seat constructed from laminated plywood in graduated thickness. The chair is a true classic of modern design, and absolutely beautiful. See? Petrovsky might be a snob, but he's a snob with great taste.

Photo courtesy of HBO

Casa Beta: Chesapeake Bay Candle Signature Collection

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:30:21 -0700

I recently received the Chesapeake Bay Candle Signature Collection ($65) in the mail. The set contains six cream-colored, soy wax candles in six different fragrances. Each candle comes in a clear glass vessel, which is individually wrapped in cellophane and tied with a satin ribbon. I was excited to try all of the scents, but since I knew that it would take me a long time to get through all of them, I enlisted some help from my Sugar friends.

To see what we thought of the set, read more.

I loved the gift box that the candles arrived in, which features a beautiful tree motif. It's sturdy enough to re-use for another craft project or gift-giving opportunity in the future. However, one problem with it was that some of the oil from each candle was pooled in the cellophane of every packaged candle. This may have been due to the fact that the box was sitting on its side, and the problem could've been remedied by storing the box upright.

Green Bamboo Jasmine: PetSugar reported some pros and cons with her candle. She says, "The candle seemed to burn very slowly - I only had it lit for about an hour and there was barely any noticeable difference in melt rate, so it’d last for a while. When I woke up, I could still smell the effects from the night before. However, when removing from the packaging, this candle was wet/sticky and my hands smelled of strong fragrance even after I washed them. While burning, it still smelled very strong and distracting . . . but part of that could have been the residual scent from the liquid/ packaging on my hands. I think if I loved the scent, or loved smelly candles, I would have loved this. Its potency was but a bit too much for me to handle every day. "

Tonka Bean Fig: This candle was tested by FabSugar, who reports, "I lit the Tonka Bean Fig candle this past weekend and I loved it. It permeated through the house, smelled sweet, and reminded me of men’s cologne. It also burned great and didn’t leave a smoky residue in my house."

Amber Vanilla Hazelnut: Unfortunately, geeksugar's candle didn't live up to her expectations. "The candle was oily inside its packaging, which made it a pain to hold, and to light (it took me several tries and a burnt thumb). When I did finally get it lit, the smell - which was lovely to sniff cold - was very subtle. Too subtle, in fact. Not only did it not waft around the room with its smell, it didn't waft at all. The only way I could smell a scent at all is if I put my nose directly over the candle (far enough away that I didn't burn my nose hairs off, of course). I extinguished it after an hour since it wasn't smelling up my home like I'd wanted it to."

Sheer White Musk: I'm not normally drawn to musky scents, so I was surprised to enjoy this one. It was light, clean, and very earthy with some subtle notes of jasmine and violet. I used it in a room that was smelling a bit musty, and it definitely freshened up the room. But, it didn't really seem to waft well - my go-to candles can normally be smelled throughout the house.

Lily Orange Blossom: I love the smell of citrus blossoms, so I was excited to light this candle. While I loved the scent when it was unlit, once I struck a match to its wick, I had a hard time discerning the blossomy scent. I let it burn for about an hour, and while the scent was definitely there, it was very subtle, unless I was very close to the candle. I'm not a fan of overwhelming scents, but I would've enjoyed a more robust scent here.

Honey Lemon Crème: This candle has a lovely, rich scent that reminds me of sugar (or should I say honey?) cookies. Its scent, too, was quite subtle, but added a lovely, cozy smell to my home. Who needs to bake when you can simply light one of these candles?

Roundup: Luxe Looking Glasses For Under $150

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Mirror, mirror on the wall - or on the sofa, floor, or tabletop. While this beautifully styled photo may be going a little over the top on the sheer volume of looking glasses, there's no denying that each one is gorgeous and crave-worthy in its own right. Inspired by such a gorgeous, girly collection of mirrors, I found some equally lovely mirrors that are affordable. To see my favorite mirrors under $150, read more.

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Ask Casa: Furnishings For My New Sofa

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:40 -0700

Hi Casa,
I read your post about your new favorite color - that slate color with the blue/purple undertones - and I have to say that I totally agree. In fact, I just moved to a new apartment and bought a couch from West Elm in that color. I love the couch! It's called light charcoal, but I saw the fabric in the store and it has wonderful blue undertones. Anyway, I bought the couch and don't know what else to do in my living area! I thought decorating it would be so much fun, but I don't know where to go with chairs and the coffee table. I want to make the space have a light feeling, so obviously I need to start incorporating some lighter pieces. Do you have any suggestions? I have tons of space, so size isn't too much of an issue.
Thanks!
Aflower

To hear my suggestions for Aflower, read more.

Hi Aflower,
Great question! I'm glad I'm not alone in my love for this color! While I think the blueish slate color looks great with dark elements, I know what you mean about wanting to keep your space light. I'm not sure what your aesthetic is or exactly which sofa you chose, so I'll do my best to help you.

I think something like this West Elm Bridge Coffee Table ($299), which has a beautifully grained natural sungkai wood veneer, would look fantastic with a blueish gray and keep things light.

You can also lighten the room by choosing an upholstered chair or ottoman with a white pattern on it. For example, I think this Urban Outfitters Lulu Chair ($425) with its smokey background would look great with charcoal, but the white design really brightens things up. Head to your local fabric store to find a textile with a light or white pattern that works with your tastes and have a chair reupholstered in it.

If you go with drapery with a bit of shimmer to them, like these West Elm Silk Dupioni Window Panels ($69-$109), you'll instantly lighten things up. Or, you can go nearly transparent with simple Sheer Linen Window Panels ($24-$44).

You should definitely also hang mirrors on your walls to reflect your natural light. As I've mentioned before, mirrors do a fantastic job of opening a room up. You can even try using mirrored furniture to really reflect light around the room!

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Steal of the Day: Grosgrain-Ribbon Roman Shade

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0700

If only PBteen offered more colors than pink, purple, and blue, it would be my favorite resource for steals! This Grosgrain-Ribbon Roman Shade ($14-$16, reduced from $79-$89) is classic, chic, and absurdly cheap. It's a sheer organdy shade, so it doesn't block out all of the light, but we're not mole people, so that's fine! It has a wooden handle that pulls the panel up, which is certainly a step up from your average plastic mini blinds! I'm not so keen on this pink, but it would be fairly simple to iron a different grosgrain ribbon on top of this teeny-bop color. What do you think?

The Inspired Interiors of Benjamin Button

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:37 -0800

Since I'm a romantic at heart, I couldn't resist The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The love story between Benjamin (Brad Pitt) and Daisy (Cate Blanchett), which anchors the film, swept me away, while the amazing interiors, in hotels and homes ranging from Russia to New Orleans, kept me entranced. Here, Benjamin and Daisy laze together under a canopied bed. To cultivate a similar romance in your own home, try the Sheer Canopy Drape ($39.99) from Pottery Barn. To see more interiors from the film, check out the slideshow. Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

View Slideshow ›

Novica Floral Reverse Painted Glass Mirror - $99.00	Twig Mirror - $89.00
Antiqued Birdcage Mirror - $99.00	Tiled Bone Wall Mirror - $129.00
Novica Green Reverse Painted Glass Mirror - $149.00	Metallic Flower Mirror Wall Art - $54.00
Victoria Scalloped Mirror - $159.00	Mantelpiece Mirror - $148.00
Ella Bow Mirror - $199.00	Sarina Inlaid Mirror - $279.00
Abalone Shell Mirror - $30.00	Small Rococo Mirror - $149.00
Segovia Whitewashed Mirror - $99.99	Sublime Scalloped Mirror - $98.00