CasaSugar

Casa Beta: Charles P. Rogers Shiro Sheet Set

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0800

I've been on the hunt for a new set of sheets for the last month or so, but I'm too picky to order them online and I haven't had time to go to the store to look for some. When it comes to sheets, I need to see and touch them before I buy them - or at least have a referral from a friend. So when a set of Charles P. Rogers Shiro 400 Thread Count Circle Sheets ($119) arrived at my desk to review, I was thrilled but still wary; I can be pretty hard to please. I brought them home and gave them a thorough test (sleeping - the best kind!) for a few days, followed by a good washing. Want to hear what I think of them?

Steal of the Day: Williams-Sonoma Link Embroidery Sheet Set

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:30:05 -0700

Sheets may not be the most exciting decorative home purchase, but you can't live without 'em, so I think a little ornamentation is due where they're concerned. That's why I'm loving the Williams-Sonoma Link Embroidery Sheet Set ($99.99-149.99). The chains of embroidered diamonds in orange, blue, or khaki give your basic white sheet a subtle hint of color and flavor, without looking overwhelming, tacky, or complicated. Like most, the set comes with one flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two standard cases, and you can also purchase extra cases if you're a pillow person.

Desire/Acquire: DwellStudio Draper Stripe Sheet Set

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:00:00 -0800

The design world is full of copycats. I never thought simple stripes could really be imitated, but as I'm finding out, it's been done. DwellStudio's Draper Stripe Chinois Blue and Ash Sheet Sets ($260), both simple gray-and-white striped sheets in subtly different colors, are paired by the textile company with saffron yellow bedding pieces. The palette is nice, and has been popular since it was introduced, but I wouldn't call it innovative - or more importantly, worthy of copying.

But one retailer that I'm sure you're all very familiar with has produced some very Draper Stripe-inspired bedding. And, it's much cheaper! Want to see it?

Steal of the Day: Ivory Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:36:45 -0700

Remember our primer on sheet thread counts? You'll be happy to hear that this ivory Egyptian cotton sheet set from Cost Plus World Market fits within the proper parameters for thread count at a solid 250-and best of all, the queen set is now on sale for $34.50 (nearly half off!). The set includes a fitted and flat sheet and two pillowcases. Did I mention there's free ground shipping? This definitely qualifies as a Steal of the Day.

The Seventh DIY of Christmas: Hand-Painted Monogram Tea Towels

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:00:10 -0800

Welcome to the seventh project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! I decided to make hand-painted monogrammed tea towels as a gift for a friend that has everything this year. I think taking the extra step to hand-paint this everyday item gives it a personal touch, and shows more effort than any store-bought item. I decided to paint the monogram in my own handwriting and made my own stencil, so it definitely took more time. But beyond that, it's a pretty straightforward project.

Supplies:

Tea towels - Choose flat ones, without much texture or raised weaving.
Washable textile paint - I used Jacquard 113 Navy Blue ($2.79).
A paint brush - A thin watercolor brush or small foam brush will do.
Clear Con-Tact paper
An X-acto knife
A cutting mat
Paper
A pencil

To learn the steps, read more.

Using a pencil, draw a few letters on a blank sheet of paper. Try serifs, non-serifs, and cursive - be creative.
Once, you've found a monogram you're happy with, outline it (i.e. make it thicker) so that you'll be able to cut it out.
Using your X-acto knife, carefully cut out your monogram on your mat. Some letters, especially cursive (like this S), will have closed parts, so you'll need to cut inside them.
Cut a piece of Con-Tact paper so that it's a bit bigger (at least 1/2 an inch) than your monogram on each side.
Peel the adhesive backing off the paper, and lay the paper over the monogram cutout letter so that it's sticking to your cutting mat.
Using the X-acto, cut around the letter so that the letter itself will be the negative space (where the paint will go). Be careful not to lose the shapes of any closed parts, you'll need them later.
Once cut, peel the Con-Tact paper off of the mat and center it on your tea towel.
Burnish the Con-Tact paper to smooth out any bubbles or lifts.
Apply two coats of textile paint onto the letter, being careful not to paint beyond the Con-Tact paper.
Let the paint dry for about two hours, and then remove the Con-Tact paper.
Touch up any spots carefully with a thin watercolor brush.
In order to be washable, your paint now must be heat-set by ironing the towel's backside. Follow the instructions on your jar of paint to do this.

Fini! Clearly, making the stencil takes up most of the time required for this project. But it allows you unlimited choices of typefaces. For a quicker project, you can use a store-bought letter stencil. See photos of each step below!

View 13 Photos ›

How-To: Be a Better Laundress

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Tired of pulling laundry out of the dryer and seeing that it's frayed or faded? Have you dyed your honey's tighty whities an embarrassing shade of pink? Don't worry, there's hope for you yet! You can still be an absolutely fabulous home laundress, when you use these tips.

Button-up pants and shirts, close zippers, and turn garments inside out to reduce wear from laundering.
Check for stains after washing and before drying, because drying sets the stains.
Don't use hot water unless you're washing items you believe must be absolutely clean and disinfected. Hot water wears down fibers.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Don't bleach wool, silk, or garments with more than 5 percent spandex.
White sheets made of cotton not treated for wrinkles look best longest.
Inspect and pretreat stains and soils with liquid detergent. Use a bleach pen for pretreating stained white areas of garments with stripes or patterns.
Always wash garments with like colors to avoid those pink-stained whites! However, if you're washing in cold water, your clothes' colors are much less likely to run.
If you have a lot of loads, sort items into further subcategories, such as into heavy and light clothing.
Avoid fabric softener, since it leaves a coating on clothes. Use dryer sheets instead. Or, for the lightest impact on your clothing, avoid the dryer altogether and hang your clothes.

Source: Flickr User http://www.flickr.com/photos/skenmy/941304465/">skenmy

Casa Interview, Part I: Domino Founding Editor Deborah Needleman (and an Awesome Giveaway!)

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:00:54 -0700

We design enthusiasts will admit that Domino will always hold a special place in our hearts - and bookshelves. But it was the stable of talented, creative people that truly made the beloved magazine an influence and an inspiration. So I was so delighted to have the chance to catch up with the founding editor-in-chief of Domino and co-author of Domino: The Book of Decorating, Deborah Needleman. It should come as no surprise that she hasn't lost her knack and passion for design.

Deborah's latest project is an exciting, interactive tool that she's created for HomeGoods, called StyleScope, which helps you find your own interior design style and learn to navigate the vast world of décor options. Home Goods, I hope you know, is a wonderful place to find designer home décor at prices 20 to 60 percent lower than department stores, and is also one of my favorite resources for stylish accessories. Deborah was kind enough to share some of her thoughts and tips on design and curating a stylish home that's uniquely you, and give us the lowdown on her life these days!

What are you working on these days? Any exciting projects on the horizon for you?
I am really enjoying the idea of just doing projects, consulting, writing, gardening - I probably shouldn't admit it, but it's quite a good relief to not be working so hard and to have a break from the pressure. I am considering on a couple book projects - one on table settings, another on decorators' gardens, and a more personal book on growing vegetables and flowers.

Before Domino, I was a garden writer - and it's nice to have time to garden like mad again. I'm also talking to people and companies about designing furniture and accessories and starting up new businesses. Sometimes I feel like I'm a professional meeting-taker. Last night the former creative director of Domino [Sara Ruffin Costello] and I hatched a plan to try to redesign all the ugly products at Duane Reade like Kleenex boxes, toothpaste, and shaving cream!

To read the rest of the interview, read more.

For the Summer, I'm just hanging out with my children, gardening, and being as lazy as possible. I've loved working with HomeGoods because oddly the store is a well-kept secret among design snobs - and I love spreading the word about great design sources. That was what Domino was about: sharing ideas and resources. And creating a style quiz was something we wanted to do but never got around to at Domino.

What current trends do you think have staying power?

Decorating that has personality and a sense of reality rather than rooms that are too matchy or too perfect. Rooms that are stiff and lifeless really depress me!! Mixing high and low design and price points will remain chic, and not simply for economic reasons - it shows personality and confidence. Also, now that nearly everyone is interested in design, there is no going back. It's a better decorated world than it used to be, and that is so nice!

What are your favorite go-to resources for furniture? How about accessories?

I am decorating my house upstate (well, really former Domino editor Rita Konig is!) and I can't get enough of the fabrics, rugs, cushions, and accessories from John Robshaw, Madeleine Weinrib, and John Derian.

What’s your number one tip for finding great bargains?
I am married to a man who will buy something truly awful because he "saved so much." Something is only a great bargain if you would want it even if it cost more. I learned from Domino editor Dara Caponigro to never let anything in my house I don't love. Even free stuff is not a bargain if you don't need or love it - it is junk, clutter. Also, you must know your own style more if you're wading through a flea market or garage sale than if you're in a boutique where the owner has done all the taste-editing for you already!

What types of furnishings should one splurge on/invest in? Any to cut back on?

It's so personal. It really only matters what matters to you. I believe in expensive sheets. I like sleeping, and good sheets are a wonderful indulgence.

How did working at Domino influence your own decorating habits or design choices?
As a reader, I craved a magazine like Domino because I was a person who I felt had good taste, but not great style, if you know what I mean. I could never make a decision because I could never decide who I was stylistically or how to express myself!! I surrounded myself at the magazine with people who I thought had great taste and great style (and all rather different style sensibilities actually), and who were all also really smart and nice - so they could teach me and the readers simultaneously. I learned to edit! I learned I could have a lot of different styles I like but just not all at once!!! And I learned to both be braver and to loosen up more. You can't avoid making some mistakes. But truthfully, I also learned that there is a lot to learn, that decorating well isn't easy, and that there are people way better at it than me - and that I still want their help! I love the advice of experts. Sadly, for me, the more I know, the more I know I don't know! Domino also made me realize how important decorating can be to the life of a home, and the life of a family.

This interview will be continued, so stay tuned for more. And we have a special giveaway for you CasaSugar readers on the way! One of you lucky readers will win a $500 gift card to HomeGoods. Check back for the rest of the interview and details about the giveaway tomorrow!

Ask Casa: Advice For Cleaning Light Bedding

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:00:05 -0800

Hey Casa,
I was wondering if you had any tips on keeping white/cream/light-colored bedding clean. We bought some awesome sheets that were blue and cream striped, but the colors really got dingy-looking. That turned us off from buying any light bedding again, which is a shame, because I almost always love bedding with lighter colors in it!

Thanks in advance!
amloveaffair

To see my advice for amloveaffair, read more.

Hi Amloveaffair,

As someone who has a pretty white coverlet for her bed, and a dog who's jumped on it with muddy paws, I can sympathize with your situation. My first piece of advice, as far as light-colored bedding is concerned, is to buy quality bedding with a high thread count. This will eliminate a lot of pilling that happens with lower-quality linens and will guarantee that they stand the test of time.

In addition, try these tips for keeping lighter-colored bedding bright and beautiful:

Wash your white sheets on a weekly basis. They should be washed separately in warm or hot water. Use regular detergent, but don't overload it.
If you get dirt, blood, or any other stain on your sheets, spot treat the stain immediately so it won't set in. Find out how to get out bloodstains here.
Only bleach your sheets when absolutely necessary, as bleach will damage the fabric. Try my bleach alternative.
If you add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to your sheets, it will brighten the white. So will sunlight, which is a good reason to line dry your clothes.
If you're out of lemon juice, white vinegar can be added to your wash cycle.
Rotate your sheets with other sets. This can help extend your sheets' lifespan for many years.
Store your sheets and other linens in a dry closet. Don't stack them too closely, since linens will store better if they have some circulation.

Hope this helps!

CasaSugar

Source

Ask Casa: A Home Office for Two

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
My boyfriend and I are moving into a small one bedroom, but luckily the living room is quite spacious. As children of the digital age, we always have our laptops out for work or school. Is there some sort of space-saving desk that allows for two workstations at a time? It would be easy to just get a long folding table, but I was hoping there was something more stylish. Thanks! SaranoemiTo hear my suggestion for Saranoemi, read more.

Hello!
Funny you should ask. A home office for two that was featured in the now-defunct Blueprint magazine is one of my favorites. Two simple Parsons-style desks were pressed up back-to-back with a sheet of colorful Plexiglass in the middle.The arrangement offers a bit of privacy for each person, and the Plexiglass can be use to hang paperwork and stick Post-its, etc. You'll essentially have two work zones, but you won't break up the room physically or visually, since the sheet is transparent. And, it doesn't require as much wall space as a long table or two desks set length-wise against the wall.

Depending on how much space you have to work with, you can re-create this with either the West Elm Parsons Desk or Parsons Mini Desk. Contact your local plastics supplier for the sheet of Plexiglass.

Hope that helps!
Casa

Source and Source

Casa Beta: Wall Candy Arts Rococo Chalkboard Decal

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:24 -0700

I know I said I am over wall decals, but I can make exceptions. The peeps from Wall Candy Arts approached me about their decals, and being the sweetheart that I am I gave their selection a gander. Most of their decals seem to be for children, which I'm all for: kids should have their fun. But, I was digging the Rococo Chalkboard Decal, so I asked to try it out. Wondering what that cryptic lettering is? Find out and hear my thoughts on the product when you read more.
It's "ART" backwards! (OK, I need to work on my handwriting.) Moving on . . . Functionally, I had no problems with the decal. It comes on a larger sheet, from which you must peel it off. Seeing as the design is a little ornate, it took a little time, to push back the smaller pieces to make the negative space. But, no more than five minutes. The decal was easy to apply to the wall. It pressed on perfectly the first time, no bubbles. It comes with a set of chalk, which is convenient. And, the chalkboard works just as an "old-fashioned" one would: you can wipe it clean with a paper towel, rag, or damp cloth. I also tried peeling off the decal and replacing it (seeing as it's reusable), and it reapplied flawlessly.

Onto the design. If you're someone who likes a modern Marie Antoinette style, you'll like this. It's a little girlish. Seeing as it's also both a chalkboard and a decal, it's pretty casual. So, I'd really only recommend using it somewhere like a kitchen, laundry room, or children's room where formality isn't key. I think it's a great alternative to painting an entire wall with chalkboard paint, which is popular these days, because really how many notes and grocery lists do you need to jot down? Wall Candy Arts also sells a simple, rectangular chalkboard decal for those of you who aren't keen on rococo.