CasaSugar

Etsy Find: Black Lacquer Chairs

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:30:36 -0800

I've been finding some very cute furniture pieces lately on Etsy. From the Fruit Stripe Dresser to the Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet, it seems as if more vendors and customers are discovering that Etsy's not just for home accessories and jewelry these days.

I love the purple exuberance of this pair of Mediterranean Chairs ($950). That eggplant hue will certainly make a statement in your living room or bedroom, though I think they'd also look fabulous in an office. Of course, I'm also attracted to their high-gloss black lacquer finish.

The clever ladies behind Spruce Home, a design studio based in Austin, TX, are responsible for these cool chairs. I'm definitely a fan of their work, and have featured it in the past. If these purple chairs aren't your style, check their Etsy store for other cool furniture finds.

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Roundup: Software

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:05 -0700

Home hardware is one of the last things we think about changing when sprucing up our homes - and that's especially true for renters. But if your home is feminine and elegant, or even shabby chic, why put up with gritty, masculine hardware? I'm hereby coining a name for delicate door knobs, sophisticated switchplates, and haute handles: software. From violet pressed glass to hand-painted ceramic, it's time to get your girl on.

How-To: Tineke Triggs's Tips For Designing in a Down Economy

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

It's only sensible for a UC Santa Barbara mathematical sciences degree-holder turned interior designer to prize cost-effective design over frivolous luxury. Meet Tineke Triggs. In the short time since launching her full-service interior design company Artistic Designs For Living in 2002, she has already been recognized as the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Baylist winner for Best Interior Designer, and placed on Western Interiors’s Gold List two years in a row. Talk about numbers! Well, actually, let's let Tineke talk. She's offered to share her 10 tips for designing your home in a down economy. To hear them, read more.

Paint. A coat of paint is an easy and inexpensive way to completely update or change the look and feel of any room. Try a bold color on an accent wall for minimal work with maximum impact!
Wallpaper! This is not your mother’s wallpaper. Companies now make interesting, whimsical, sophisticated choices for every room in your home.
Custom furniture? Yes! While it may sound pricey, having custom pieces made by local craftsmen can be a cost-effective choice in achieving one-of-a-kind design.
Discount fabric stores. Finding less expensive furniture and customizing it with your own fabric from local discount fabric shops is always a smart choice.
Mix and match. Mix lower-end furniture pieces with a few high-end pieces. Buying pre-made drapery and adding accents to it add a high-end and unique look.
What’s old is new again! Refurbish older pieces to give them new life.
A light bulb moment. Interesting lighting can completely change the look of a room.
Pillows. Accent pillows provide homeowners with an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up a room.
Beyond design. Look for a designer who can help manage a project who understands a remodel. This will ultimately save time, money, and frustration on any design project.

Artistic Designs For Living specializes in space planning, structural design, and concept-to-finish project management for kitchens, baths, and living spaces. Be sure to check out Tineke's portfolio online!

Show Me Your Casa!

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:00:54 -0700

Has your home seen any Spring changes yet? Spruced up an outdoor space? Purchased any outdoor furnishings? Whatever you're doing, I want to see it!

Show off all of your home views, both interior and exterior, in my group on TeamSugar called Su Casa, where readers can share snapshots and stories related to their homes.
A Su Casa post could be anything from a photo of a loved one's home to a tiny nook you're tickled by. Think of it as a Look Book for home style. If I see something I like in Su Casa, I might feature it on CasaSugar, so don't be surprised if you get an email from me!

To learn how to join and post in the group, read more.

To join the Su Casa group, just follow this link and click "subscribe" beneath the photo on the left-hand side of the page. Once you're subscribed, click Share in the upper left-hand menu of any TeamSugar page and choose what type of post you want to create. If you have just one photo and some text, create a blog; if you have a gallery you want to share, select "photos."

TeamSugar has a great primer on how to create a blog post, so check that out if you've never posted one before. Here's a rundown of the basic process:

Add a Title and the Body (content for your post). Don't forget to click the Check Spelling link and Upload an Image to make your post stand out!
Post this to a group? Click on the dropdown menu and select the Su Casa group. You will only be able to see groups you're subscribed to, so if you haven't joined Su Casa yet, you will need to.
Click on the dropdown menu and choose the Home and Garden Channel and add some keywords (use a comma, if needed!) in the Tags text box. Then click "I'm done" to view your post!

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Su Casa: A Simple and Stylish Bedroom Update

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:00:57 -0700

This Spring, even small changes can make your entire home feel fresh. Su Casa member Modus Vivendi recently shared her Spring bedroom update. Here's where her bedroom was before her update. To see how she changed things, read more.

I love this update! The entire space just seems really refreshed. Modus Vivendi writes, "For me, the bedroom is always the last room to get attention because it's the one the fewest guests ever see, but it was time for a little spruce up. I just painted an accent wall, moved in a picture I already owned, and added a throw pillow. I am so much happier when it's time for bed!"

Have you made any Spring updates? Share them in the Su Casa group.

Before and After: From Thrifty to Nifty

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:00:40 -0700

On a thrifting adventure with some friends, I spotted this corkboard tucked among the frames. It had definitely seen better days, but I liked its patterned wood frame, and it looked like it was in decent structural shape, so I decided to take it home. If you remember my post on decorating with thrifted goods, you'll know that a scruffy item often has endless potential.

To see how I spruced up this sad corkboard, read more.

First, I gently pried out the rusty staples, which were attaching the cork to the frame. Then, I mixed some acrylic paint colors together to create a soothing, deep blue-green color, and added some decoupage glue to add shine. I applied two coats of paint, and let it dry overnight. The next day I measured and cut out a length of Amy Butler fabric slightly larger than the corkboard, tucked it tightly around the cork, and staplegunned it into place. Then, I simply popped the fabric-covered cork into the frame, secured it with some finish nails, and hung it in the entry.

This new entry item has actually added a lot of necessary space on the wall for posting letters, messages, and notes. Do you have something similar in your home?

Etsy Find: Ottoman Empire

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Etsy seller Spruce Home, a design studio based in Austin, TX, has upholstered this ornate, wooden-based ottoman in Amy Butler's Nigella Primrose fabric, giving it a vibrant, modern update. The Ottoman Empire ($425) stands 14 inches high with a 30-inch diameter, the perfect size to use as a round coffee table, or set with a tray or some shelter books on top. Not only do I adore the aqua and cool green fabric used, but it looks like it'd be super comfortable used as a stool, foot rest, or even a dog bed! If this ottoman isn't for you, Spruce has a handful of other beautifully upholstered pieces available in their shop. Need a cane back chair? A striped sofa? A set of modular Herman Miller chairs? See what else they've got in store when you read more.

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Check out the Spruce Home shop for more details.

Roundup: Weekend DIYs

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:19 -0800

Need a project to help provide you with some weekend fun? Then check out my slideshow for all sorts of home-related DIY projects. From drying your Valentine's Day bouquet to sprucing up your window shades, there are plenty of projects to pep up your weekend.
Source

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Su Casa: Easy Paper Decorations and a White Tree

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:00:22 -0800

Since I'm starting to deck the house for the holidays, I'm looking for inspiration and new ideas for decorating my home. Luckily, I found some great inspiration on Su Casa from MellyMels.

Mellymels writes,

Since it's a recession and I am an artist I decided to make a lot of decorations from paper. I also got my very first artificial tree, since I have allergies and my boyfriend has asthma (plus the dog likes to eat tree needles).

I printed reversed letters on card stock and then cut them out so when they were flipped you couldn't see the printed lines showing me where to cut. Then I just used double stick tape to hang them them up. This is my first time living with a fireplace so I was determined to spruce it up.

To see her tree, read more.
I love the pinks and reds! Definitely check out the gallery as well for more gorgeous images from her home, including some grown-up garlands.

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Casa Verde: A Handmade Home Gets Some TLC

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:15:18 -0700

Last year, I told you about my brother's handmade home, which he built in an eco fashion for a surprisingly small amount of money. However, nothing much had been done with the home's interior. This year, he and his wife made a lot of interior changes in the home to spruce it up. To see what this previously unfinished home looks like now, check out the slideshow.

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Hoot, Hoot Switchplate, Double - $24.00	Bazaar Aisles Knob - $12.00
Dragonfly Patina Hook - $16.00	Monogrammed Door Knocker - $89.00
Vintage Knob - $10.00	Tea House Doorknob - $38.00
Traditional Violet Glass Knob - $9.00	Rosette Knob - $11.00
Elba Knob - $8.00	Lochloren Handle - $12.00
Elexia Handle - $18.00	Decorative Wall Hooks - $9.99
Prism Knob - $10.00	Single Outlet Cover - $15.00
Roost Flora Rack - $17.00	Melon Knob - $8.00
Zinnia Knob, Small - $6.00	Festival Flower Knob, Clematis - $6.00