CasaSugar

Ikea Offers to Furnish Narrowest House in New York

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:06 -0700

Last month, the "narrowest house in New York City" went on sale for $2.7 million, and it's still on the market. The terrifically narrow brick building, which was built in 1873, is located in Greenwich Village and built into an alley.

Now, Ikea's offering the future buyers of this squeezed-for-space home free design expertise and $10,000 in furniture.

"We know that space is at a premium in most homes and especially in this particular home. In fact, the Huffington Post quoted the real estate broker saying that you'd have to be 'clever in how you decorate' it," noted Janice Simonsen, Ikea design expert and spokesperson, in a press release. "We're so in love with small spaces that we're putting an offer on the table, albeit a skinny table – free furniture and design expertise to the eventual buyers."

Would the offer of free design advice and $10K worth of furniture from Ikea prompt you to buy this narrow and multimillion dollar home?

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How-To: Design Smart in Small Spaces

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:27 -0700

Recently, I gave you a glimpse of a Calgary apartment that interior deisign firm Corea Sotropa renovated. One of the firm's specialties is designing for small spaces. Corea Sotropa was kind enough to share some tips for designing for small spaces. Want to see all of the firm's great advice? Then read more.

Here are a few tips from Corea Sotropa on designing for small spaces:

Choose common materials, fabrics and colour palette throughout all the rooms to bring unity to a small condo or house.
Fresh flower arrangements are a quick and inexpensive way to add luxury to a small space.
Ensure there is a place for everything - if there is not appropriate storage for everyday necessities like magazines or CDs a small space will quickly look messy.
Place accessories sparingly - overloading a small space with accessories will look cluttered.
Choose furniture pieces to suit the scale of the space. When down-sizing from a house to condo it is unlikely that you will be able to re-use many of your existing upholstered pieces due to this change in scale.

Corea Sotropa’s Coral Suite Apartment

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:00:35 -0700

Canadian interior design firm Corea Sotropa recently renovated this Calgary apartment, imbuing it with a freshness that it had previously lacked. Inspired by a signature fabric embroidered with coral, the apartment now glows with color and energy.

Before Corea Sotropa stepped in, this apartment's open-concept kitchen and living room, hallway and bathroom were dreary and lacked architectural detail. Additionally, the apartment's flow was interrupted with room-defining walls. Removing the partitions between the kitchen and the living room flooded the suite with natural light and provided the ideal backdrop to the custom furniture, draperies, and mill work, which were all done in a fresh, crisp color scheme.

For additional photos, read more.

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Love It or Hate It? OFFI Paket Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:00:07 -0700

The OFFI Paket Table ($499) is a funky solution for small space living. When you have friends over, simply unfold it to dine, and then fold it back up and set it aside after you bid them adieu.

Home Away From Home: A Wigwam Holiday

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:38 -0700

Want a cheap vacation? Well, if you're a Brit, you can take your family on a wigwam holiday. Apparently, in-country vacations are increasingly popular on that side of the pond, due to the economic recession. Wigwam vacations, such as the Strathfillan Wigwams in Tyndrum, Scotland, shown here, are a great low-key, low-expense destination for frugal vacationers.

On this side of the Atlantic I know that many of my friends and family are economizing their holidays by vacationing in-state or staying with family or friends. And yes, many of them are camping, though I can't say that any of the campsite photos I've perused from their vacations are anywhere as adorable as the Strathfillian Wigwams.

To find out more about this holiday destination, and to tell me about your low-cost vacation plans, read more.

The wigwams are constructed from Sitka spruce or Norway spruce logs, which are homegrown in Scottish forests. Small logs or poles are bent into a curved shape to form its unique (and may I add adorable) whalebone" frame.

You can choose a wigwam holiday from one of 30 seaside, farmland, and woodland sites in beautiful settings across Scotland, northern England, and the Welsh Border Counties. All of the 30 wigwam holiday sites are rural, with many based at farms or camping parks. You won't be roughing it too much, since most sites include a central shower and bathroom facility as well as a cookhouse. The wigwams are fully insulated, and available for use year-round, and feature wooden floors and painted walls.

Are you tempted to embark on a wigwam holiday? Or have you been on one (or something similar) in the past? Tell me all about your experience!

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Summer Style: Luscious Little Cottage

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:05 -0700

When it comes to pretty in pink, the Luscious Little Cottage on Tybee Island, GA, has it covered. This 1920s-era home was bought from its original owners by interior designer Jane Coslick, who wanted to preserve the cottage's feel and look.Just steps from Tybee beach, the one-room cottage has room to sleep three, while an outbuilding nicknamed The Roost accommodates an additional two visitors. The Roost was actually fashioned from a restored elevated ticket booth, and features twin beds crafted from Tybee driftwood. Talk about Summer style!

For additional photos of this cute pink cottage, read more.

If you're eager to snap up this cottage, I'm sorry to say that another lucky family recently bought it from Coslick. However, check out another of Jane's cottages for a Summer rental.

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Sneak Preview: 2009 Sunset Idea House

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:00:12 -0700

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, head down to Menlo Park, CA, for Sunset Magazine's Celebration Weekend. While there are plenty of booths, activities, and displays I'll be sure to hit, my first stop will be this year's Sunset Idea House. Each year, the Idea House features progressive home designs that incorporate green materials and practices with Sunset's love of indoor/outdoor living. This year, San Francisco-based company Modern Cabana will showcase its Modern Cottage at Celebration Weekend. This small-space design is the perfect solution for families who need to extend their living space, but can't necessarily afford an expensive addition to their home - models cost between $11,000 and $30,000. Stop by this weekend to see the beautiful, final design, but in the meantime, check out my preview of Modern Cabana's Modern Cottage.

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Room Therapy: Any Suggestions For My New Studio?

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:15:09 -0800

Dear CasaSugar,

My application for my new apartment was approved, a down payment made, and now the apartment is officially all mine. I'm so excited, and can't wait to move in. My biggest concern was finding an affordable studio with as much space as the one I currently live in, and after much searching I found it. There is a large main room, which is the bedroom and living area. The kitchen is in a separate space, as well as the walk-in closet area, and the bathroom. I'd love it if other CasaSugar readers could offer me suggestions on maximizing the space, window treatments, and decor for my apartment.

Thanks!

Tiaramh

To leave a suggestion for Tiara, and to hear my advice, read more.

Hi Tiaramh,

Congrats on the new apartment! It's always exciting when you find the perfect spot, and I'm sure your cute pooch Coco is going to love your pad as well. My suggestion is to check out my posts on studios. There, you'll find petite furniture suggestions, featured projects and ideas from other studio dwellers, and smart ways to maximize your space.

Anyone else have suggestions for Taramh?

Congrats on your new flat!
Casa

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Ask Casa: A Corner Bookshelf For My Bedroom?

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:25 -0800

Hi CasaSugar,

I've been a longtime reader of CasaSugar because I love all things related to home. Unfortunately, I live in Manhattan, which means that unless you can afford a multi-million dollar pad, you're stuck with minimal space and awkward layouts.

I was wondering if you could help me locate something - I'm looking for a bookshelf that fits into a corner (that is also not too small like the ones at Target). I have this awful blank space in my bedroom and I'm hoping that a dark brown wood corner bookshelf would really let me display all of my colorful knickknacks, bringing some life into my otherwise sparse bedroom.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Fablawya

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Fablawya,

Although decorating in a small space can be a definite challenge, it can also be incredibly satisfying when you create the perfect layout for a home. I agree that using a corner bookshelf could help to breathe life into your small bedroom, especially when mixed with colorful and carefully chosen accents.

While using a bookshelf that fits perfectly into a corner is the most efficient use of space, I think that using a bookshelf that's visually arresting may be a more intriguing option. Try the Soho Bookcase (on sale for $189), or the Umbra U+ Pisa Bookshelf ($500), which are both good options. While they might not sit perfectly in a corner, their clean lines will actually improve the space by adding an unexpected silhouette.

For some other choices, check out the widget below.

Good luck!
CasaSugar

Somerset Corner Cabinet - $399.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Umbra U+ Collection Pisa Book Shelf - $500.00	Kingston 44" Corner Media Stand - $399.00
Sahara Folding Bookcase - $59.95	Four-Shelf Adjustable Bookcase - $135.00
Metal and Wood Four-Tier Ladder Bookshelf - $179.99	Five-Tier Corner Bookcase - $69.99

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Love It or Hate It? Collapsible Stool

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:45 -0800

According to David Ngo, the designer behind the Jacob's Stool, it is "designed to maximize the user's living space and bring added aesthetics to the room." The stool's legs collapse, and then it can be hung on the wall by its fabric hinges as a piece of art. I think it's an innovative solution for small-space living. What about you?
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