CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Uterus Vase

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:00:07 -0700

The Uterus Vase (email for price) made by The Plug and Stéphanie Rollin is a limited edition of twenty pieces, all lacquer and varnish upon a resin core. I have no words. Do you?

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Casa Quickie: Pull the Plug!

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:24 -0800

Did you know that many electrical appliances, including cell phone chargers, DVRs, and DVD players use as much electricity when they’re off as when they're on? If you're not using the appliance pull the plug! It'll help you to save money on your energy bill every month, and it will also help out the environment at the same time. As an added bonus, the occasional bending and unplugging will give you a nice mid-day stretch.

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How-To: Renovate Your Kitchen to Accommodate a Wheelchair

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:00:25 -0700

Su Casa member Hihowareya recently updated her kitchen with a cool DIYed backsplash, some fresh paint colors, and new lighting. She also made an important, practical change to her kitchen as well: she added an island and sink that allowed her wheelchair-bound mother to maneuver around the space and use the kitchen to her best advantage.

To find out how Hihowareya created this island on a tight budget, read more.

She writes,

The island is lower so [my mom] can reach the sink. The sink is a bar sink and we picked out basically the cheapest sink and faucets out there that would suit our needs, and that total came out to be less than $100. The sink is 15 inches by 5 inches deep, so it's tiny but it serves its purpose. The countertop to this island is a butcher block we custom ordered from Home Depot for $227 (that's including tax) and measures 42 inches x 25 inches. We bought two unfinished oak wall cabinets, placed them back to back, and then I stained them with the same stain as our original cabinets so they'd match (my mom wanted matching). There's also an electrical outlet on it, so my mom can plug in her teapot to boil water and make her tea, or plug in her bread maker and make bread and such. It's awesome how something so little can improve someone's independence tenfold.

Hihowareya reports that the entire island and sink renovation cost less than $400. What a great investment! She was able to give her mom more independence in the kitchen, and I bet that now, Hihowareya has another set of helping hands in the kitchen now as well. Have you made any renovations that improved accessibility for a wheelchair-bound family member? How did you go about it?

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How-To: Beat the Heat the Eco-Friendly Way

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:36 -0700

San Francisco is in the midst of heat wave, and as much as I love putting on my Summer dresses, I'm not a fan of looking like a stick of melted butter. If the temperature in your 'hood hasn't risen yet, trust me, it will. So, I have a few tips for conquering the heat when it does. Not so fast, they have nothing to do with blasting the a/c: you know that's not eco friendly. To hear my tips, read more.

Prevent phantom loads and the idle emission of heat by plugging your electronic appliances into a power strip, which you can switch on and off when not in use. Use one in your office for gadgets, one in your kitchen, and in any other place your appliances are piling up.
If you haven't already, switch to CFL bulbs, which give off less heat than regular bulbs and use about 70-75 percent less energy.
Ovens give off much more heat than microwaves, so zap your meals instead whenever possible. If you must use your oven, cook consciously by turning off the oven five minutes before the scheduled end time and allow food to finish cooking as the oven slowly cools, and avoiding opening the oven to check on food while it's cooking, which lets heat escape.
Use organic bedding made from breathable fabrics, which will draw the moisture away from your body during those hot Spring and Summer nights.
Plant trees and bushes in front of your windows to block the sun.
Close your blinds or shades on windows that don't face north during the day, to keep out the sun's heat.
Keep your windows closed to keep the daytime heat out.
If you need fresh air, open two windows across from each other to allow a breeze, or even put a fan in each window.

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How-To: Green Your Life Without Spending Any Money

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:22 -0700

So, I've told you how to go green in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room without spending money, and hopefully you'll take note. But, there are a few other ways you can become a better friend to the Earth by making changes around the house and in your lifestyle. To hear them, read more.

Donate any housewares and clothes you no longer need to a local donation center or Goodwill.
Get a library card.
Ride your bike, walk, carpool, or drive at a steady, reasonable speed whenever possible.
Turn your lights off when you leave a room and your house.
Prevent phantom energy loads by plugging your appliances into a power strip.
Set your thermostat at a reasonable 68°F.
Forgo turning on your elliptical machine and do some exercise that requires no electricity! Go for a run. Ride your bike. Lift weights. Work on your garden. Do some Spring cleaning.

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How-To: Go Green in the Kitchen Without Spending Money

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:38 -0700

So, you've learned how to go green in the bathroom without spending any money. But you shouldn't stop there! There's still more eco-friendly business to be done around the house. The kitchen is a hog when it comes to energy use and water consumption, so you should be particularly careful there. To learn some tips for going green in the kitchen without spending a penny, read more.

First of all, I shouldn't have to tell you this, but recycle! Learn what not to recycle and which plastics are recyclable.
Don't use anything disposable if you have a reusable alternative. That means, use microfiber towels instead of paper towels; porcelain or china dishware and utensils instead of paper or plastic; cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, etc.
Use your city's curbside compost.
Use your microwave instead of your stove top or oven whenever possible. It's more energy efficient. But, don't use plastics in your microwave, which can potentially leach chemicals into your food.
Do some Spring cleaning and organize your kitchen storage containers so that you're more likely to use it for leftovers. Cooking at home cuts down on wasteful packaging.
Use household supplies to make homemade and eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
Prevent phantom energy loads by plugging your kitchen appliances into a power strip.
Run your dishwasher on a full load, but not overloaded.
Use a tote bag you already own for grocery shopping instead of plastic bags.
Arrange grocery runs with neighbors or friends. It will make your errands more fun while cutting down on gas expenses. You may also be able to split bulk items with a friend, which will help you to save money. But obviously, don't shop unless you have to!

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Garden Therapy: EasyBloom

CasaSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:56 -0700

Gardening and technology aren't mutually exclusive; in fact, tech tools can often help a garden to reach its full potential. One tool that I recently had the opportunity to try is the EasyBloom ($59.95). This wand-like tool is simply inserted into the soil where you want plants to grow. Then, you plug the EasyBloom into your Mac or PC, and it gives you information on which plants will grow best in that spot. You can also use the information for plants that are already established in an area, learning about what they need to thrive, or what their watering needs are. How does it work this garden magic? The Easybloom senses temperature, available sunlight, and water saturation, analyzes that information, and then measures it against its 5,000-plus plant database. Given that many of my friends claim their black thumb makes it impossible to even keep a houseplant alive, I think I finally have the perfect comeback for them - why not try an EasyBloom?

To see a video explaining how the EasyBloom works, read more.

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Steal of the Day: Phonophone II

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:24 -0700

I love my iPod speakers, but they're definitely not as design forward as the Science and Sons' Phonofone II (on sale for $425, originally $495). The classic phonograph player, which was invented at the very end of the 19th century, is the inspiration for the Phonophone II, which has been updated for the 21st century. Made of cast ceramic, this art-meets-old-school-technology sculptural object was designed by Tristan Zimmerman for Science+Sons, and works as an amplifier for an iPod or MP3 player. The coolest thing about the Phonofone II, in my opinion? It works without external power or batteries! Using the acoustic power of the shape of the horn, you just need to plug in the earbuds from your iPod or MP3player, and the resonating sound will reach up to 55 decibels, which is about the maximum volume of laptop speakers. Sounds good to me.

Found It! Ace Hotel Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:42:12 -0800

The Side by Side Suite at the new Ace Hotel in Palm Springs cultivates a moody vibe with its curtained-off, king-sized bed and vintage furniture as well as great tech products, including 42-inch flat screens, MP3 plugs, and vinyl record players.

My eye was drawn to this great vintage coffee table. I'd seen it before. Do you remember it as well? To jog your memory, read more.

It's the Vintage Industrial Peg Leg Cart ($799) from American Furnishings. It was also seen in this Coveted Crib post.

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Ask Casa: Advice on Noisy Upstairs Neighbors

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:00:20 -0800

Hello CasaSugar,
I was wondering if you would have any advice on dealing with noisy upstairs neighbors in an apartment complex. I've already spoken to them about it, but honestly, it's not their fault! The noise isn't music or anything, it's just that the ceiling is so horrifically thin that I can hear every step they take (I live below two guys) as if they were wearing lead boots! Whenever they push a chair in or something, it makes a horrible screeching sound that shakes my walls. And when I'm not in college, I live in a house with five energetic kids, so it's not like I'm just over-sensitive to the noise!

It's disrupting my rest to the point where I can't sleep until they do, which is at 2 or 3 in the morning. Is there anything I can do to make my nights peaceful again?

Thanks!
Amy

To see my advice, read more.

Hi Amy,

What a stressful situation! Not getting enough sleep must be wearing you thin. I have several suggestions. I'd start with the first one, and then work my way to the final one, considering it your last resort.

Even though you've already talked to your neighbors, start another friendly dialogue with them. Do not be confrontational (in fact, taking them a basket of cookies might be a way to start things off on the right foot). Ask them if they've noticed any noise from you, or from other neighbors. Then, explain that even though you know they're trying to be quiet at night (say this even if they are not attempting to be quiet), you still can't sleep until they do because of noise.
Then, suggest they try techniques such as only wearing socks while inside, remembering to walk quietly, and putting throw rugs down to muffle the foot traffic noise. Tell them what time you try to go to bed, and then ask them if they can be especially conscientious of noise after that time.
Invest in ear plugs or a sound machine to drown out any noise.
Consider moving your bed and/or bedroom so it's out of the direct path of overhead traffic.
If your neighbors continue their late-night noisiness, give them a ring to ask them to keep things down.
Check out these tips for soundproofing a ceiling from the site Soundproofing America. See if your landlord would be willing to soundproof your ceiling, or compensate you for your time and cost of materials.
If none of these things work, call your landlord to see about getting a rent reduction due to the problem, or see if you can move to another apartment in the building.

I hope this helps!

Wishing you tranquil sleeping,
Casa