CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Try Toothpaste

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:15:33 -0700

Out of silver polish? In a pinch? You can use white toothpaste to clean the tarnish off your silver instead! Just run the silver under warm water and work the paste into a foam and then rinse it off. Since the toothpaste is more abrasive than polish, a little goes a long way - you don't need to use much. And, if there are any stubborn black spots in nooks and crannies, you can actually use a toothbrush (an old one) to get rid of them.

Recipe For Clean: Silver Polish

CasaSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:00:01 -0700

When getting our homes so fresh and so clean, don't overlook your silverware. If you've assembled your home cleaning kit you'll have most of the ingredients for this Recipe For Clean. Use it to make your silverware shine like the top of the Chrysler building.

Supplies:

3-in. square of aluminum foil
1 tbsp. of salt
1 tbsp. of baking soda
1 cup of warm water

To learn the steps of this recipe, read more.
Here's how:

Dissolve the salt and baking soda in the warm water.
Then, submerge the foil and your silverware in the solution.
Let it sit for one hour.
Rinse the silver under the faucet, and then wipe it dry with a cloth.

Or . . .

Rub any tarnished spots on your silverware with a non-gel toothpaste (white paste kind) with a soft cloth, and rinse.
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Coveted Crib: Julianne Moore's West Village Townhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

You may remember Julianne Moore's living room, which was featured in Domino, and which she actually designed herself. That's right: the girl's got talent that extends beyond the silver screen and into her silver sitting room! Proof of that design skill set is Moore's very own West Village townhouse, which is on the market for $12 million.

The late 1800s home has been meticulously renovated, retaining original architectural details like crown moldings and wide plank floors, but was updated with the latest modern amenities. Moore chose my favorite color as of late - gray - as a base for several rooms. Overall, the rooms look well-traveled (heavy on the Japanese designs), a bit rustic, and comfortably polished. Who knows where she's moving, but suspicion tells me she's looking for another design project. Prepare to salivate when you see photos . . .

How-To: Keep Your Flatware Drawer Tidy

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:35 -0800

Over the holidays, some of my friends housesat for us for a few days. When I have someone stay at my house, I try to make it as tidy and welcoming as possible, and one of my go-to tasks is tidying and cleaning the flatware drawer. It's rather disconcerting, in my opinion, to open a drawer, looking for a spoon for your ice cream, and find yourself staring at a messy and crumb-filled flatware drawer.

To see my tips for keeping your flatware drawer tidy, read more.

Start by purging your drawer of all mismatched, mangled, or shabby-looking silverware. Send any decent, but mismatched, silver to a local thrift shop or charity.
Remove any non-silverware items from the drawer. Measuring cups, spatulas, and other kitchen utensils should be placed in a separate drawer or container.
Take out all silverware and give it a good rub-down with this non-toxic polish.
Take out the drawer and clean it thoroughly, removing any spills or stains.
Replace everything and enjoy your newly organized drawer!

Ask Casa: Decorate My New Orleans Living Room!

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:45:46 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
I need your help! I just moved into a one-bedroom in New Orleans, and will be living on my own for the first time. My bedroom is furnished but in my living room, I have a television and TV stand, and that's it. So, I'm basically starting from scratch! Can you offer me some suggestions for my living room?
My style is classy, urban, girlie, and colorful, but not outrageously so. I want comfortable, welcoming furniture, not like "sleek" or anything. And, I want it to look mature! I like dark wood, and maybe dulled blues, greens, reds, or yellows for fabrics, so the space has color but isn't too bright. I also want to get cool New Orleans artwork for walls, so maybe if the color of some of my furniture can bring out some of those colors, that'd be nice. I'd also like a pull-out couch for guests. My budget: as cheap as I can get for good quality furniture; I am a recent grad, after all. Do you have any thoughts? Anything would help!
Thanks,
Brooke

To hear my thoughts and see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Brooke,
Thanks for thinking of me! I love starting from scratch: think of all the possibilities! It's hard for me to get a clear idea of your style, but I am going to try my best. I get the impression that you want a grown-up apartment. The best way to do that is to make conscious decisions about what you bring into your home, so everything looks composed. Beyond that, add original artwork, and invest in at least some good quality furniture.

I built a living room for you from the sofa up. I chose the Macy's Montreal Sofa in pear, which has plush cushions making it refreshingly casual, and warm but not overwhelming in color. It's also on sale, and available as a sleeper if you so choose. Next, an Ikea Ektorop Tullsta Chair is comfortable and classic but inexpensive. Try a Bemz slipcover with it to make it look more polished. Then, the Brocade Home Silhouette Side Table in Coffee is dark wood, as you like, and has nice feminine curves to give your apartment a bit of girliness.

A woven screen from World Market is inexpensive, and will add texture and an architectural element to your apartment. The Soho Bookcase, also from World Market, is also affordable and dark wood, and its clean lines will give your place a mature, urban feel. You can find a wing chair much like the Anthropologie Astrid Chair at a local flea market or antique shop (New Orleans has many) to add comfortable seating; have it reupholstered in a subtle botanical pattern with subdued colors, or a solid fabric with a nice texture. A low, round coffee table like the West Elm Angled Leg Coffee Table is welcoming and cozy.

Next, I chose a coordinating rug with other "dulled" but warm colors and a floral pattern for femininity, the Ballard Designs Calabria Rug. If it's out of your price range, a quick glance at ShopStyle will show you plenty more to coordinate (or check out these). Set a mother-of-pearl table lamp on a clean-lined Parsons side table in dark wood for a girl-y/urban mix. Long, silk or velvet drapes will finish everything off with sophistication. Then, add a mix of glass vases around the room (filled with fresh flowers, of course). Find a nice silver tray, wine bucket, corkscrew, and matching colors to create your very own bar; you do live in New Orleans, after all.

Then, pick up some original artwork. Check out some local antique print shops, and frame a lithograph of old New Orleans. Invest in a George Rodrigue or a James Michalopoulos (or his Jackson Square knock-offs), and a more affordable Simon Hardeveld. Restrain yourself from decorating with Mardi Gras beads and don't go overboard with the fleur-de-lys. For more accents, check out Hazelnut on Magazine Street.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

On the Market: Kiefer Sutherland's Warehouse Loft and Recording Studio

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:00:24 -0700

Are you in need of a place to have jam sessions and to lay your head? Well, you're in luck. Actor Kiefer Sutherland has put his 14,400-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 4-bath converted warehouse loft and recording studio in Silver Lake, Los Angeles on the market for $4.9 million, according to Big Time. The listing for the property reads:

Beautifully converted warehouse. This celebrity-owned, New York-styled loft has been done with quality and taste. It combines a 6,000-sq.-ft. living space while the rest of the building houses a state-of-the-art recording studio. It is unassuming from the street and beautifully dramatic upon entry. The residence has all rooms opening to each other, 25-ft. ceilings, polished-concrete floors warmed by radiant heat, fabulous cooks kitchen, and all a walk down the hall to the studio and offices.

Sutherland purchased the building in 2002 for $700,000, and converted its downstairs into a recording studio for his record label, Ironworks, and the upstairs into his own living quarters. It's a pretty cool space, and I love how its wild exterior mural keeps it understated from the street. If you happen to be a record exec, looking for a live/work space amongst LA's eclectic hipsters and creative class, look no further.

View 11 Photos ›

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Casa Verde: Natural House-Cleaning Hints

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:36:55 -0700

I know that a lot of you, like me, are making the transition to eco-friendly cleaning products, since most over-the-counter cleaners are bad for both the environment and your health. Of course, there are a lot of great eco-friendly brands out there, but you can also clean your house with ordinary and non-toxic substances you probably already have lying around.

Thanks to Mallomar for pointing me to this list of natural household cleaning tips from holistic health guru Dr. Andrew Weil. I can't wait to try some of these; I especially love the idea of replacing my bleach-based mildew remover with grapefruit-seed oil. Check out the list and tell me if you've tried any of these when you read more

Baking soda: An all-purpose cleaner; especially effective on glass coffee pots and glassware; removes red-wine stains from carpeting. A paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver; the paste can also remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste with a castille- or vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs. Pour 1 cup down the sink to clear a clogged drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water.
Boiling water: Use weekly to flush drains and avoid clogs.
Coarse salt: Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off.
Essential oils: Mix lavender or tea tree essential oils with water and spray on kitchen or bathroom surfaces for an environmentally and people-friendly antibacterial spray.
Grapefruit-seed extract: Add a few drops to water in a spray bottle for an odorless way to kill mold and mildew.
Lemon juice: Use as a bleaching agent on clothing, and to remove grease from your stove and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of (real) lemon oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.
Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wood furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice).
Potatoes: Halved potatoes can remove rust from baking pans or tinware - follow with a salt scrub or dip the potato in salt before scrubbing.
Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its antibacterial properties. Use it to kill mold and mildew, and on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors.
Toothpaste (white, plain): Cleans silver; can remove water stains on wood furniture - dab on, allow it to dry and wipe off.
White vinegar: Cleans linoleum floors and glass (from windows to shower doors) when mixed with water and a little liquid soap (castille or vegetable). Cuts grease and removes stains; removes soap scum and cleans toilets (add a bit of baking soda if you like). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning. Add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew.

Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:11:45 -0700

Reese Witherspoon will soon call the country her crib.
Looking for a bleach alternative? I've got one.
If you didn't catch my interview with Kim Myles of Myles of Style, dooo it.
Is your silver looking a little grimy? It may be time to polish it.
ReadyMade has gone e-green.
IDoSugar launched! Be sure to check out our registry roundups.
Andy Roddick is taking his tennis whites and soon-to-be bride to Gramercy Park.
April is Good to Grow month! Ready to "soil" yourself?

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Crave Worthy: Julian Chichester Library Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:30:55 -0700

Uh-oh: another cost-a-pretty-penny chair I've fallen in love with. In particular, I'm charmed by how the feminine pattern on this fabric blends perfectly with the more masculine lines of the wooden frame of this Julian Chichester Library Chair (inquire for price). And how cool does it look with that wide-planked flooring and worn interior? Based on a 19^th-century design, this contemporary chair can be finished in a simple, polished wood, or a more poppy silver leaf finish. Either way, you'll end up with something both gorgeous and enchantingly comfortable. Who wouldn't want to curl up all day with a good book if they were sitting in this library chair?

Montreal Sofa - $999.00	Calabria Rug - $79.00
Ektorp Tullsta Chair - $149.00	Silhouette Side Table - Coffee - $199.00
Mika Woven Screen - $129.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Astrid Chair, Snapdragon - $1,498.00	Angled-Leg Coffee Table - $299.00
Adjustable Metal Floor Lamp - $149.00	Chiara Table Lamp - $69.99
Parsons Cube Side Table - $169.00	Tyler Velvet Queen Sleeper Sofa - $1,299.00
Chemistry Lab Vases - $18.00	Tall/Wide Flat Vases - $5.95
Maxfield Serving Tray - $69.00	Luxe Ruffled Serving Bowl - $49.95
Speckled Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00	Black Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00
Simrin Surya Coasters - $44.00	Screwpull by Le Creuset Lever Wine Opener Gift Set - $79.98
Monogrammed Wine Bucket - $62.00	Silk Dupioni Window Panel - $59.00