CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: A New England Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:00:09 -0700

With a whitewashed frame and traditional outline, this New England farmhouse looks like it may have been there for the last 100 or more years, though it was only recently constructed. The generous use of windows on two stories ensure that the home's owners can enjoy the woodsy view, while the whitewashed house contrasts beautifully with the traditional red barn.

To check out other interior and exterior photos, read more.

Inside, exposed beamwork mix with bold color choices. I'm especially fond of the charcoal paint used in the sitting room. The light beams add architectural interest, while the dark walls speak to a more modern sensibility, which mixes with the classic furniture showcased in the home.

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Coveted Crib: A Very Modern Development

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Can traditional and modern elements successfully mix in a home reno? The answer, according to Saunders Architecture, is a resounding yes. When a family wanted to expand their traditional home, the firm proposed an approximately 100-square-foot extension that would starkly contrast the original home's architecture. Even though this addition was relatively tiny, the space is highly functional and efficient. An open kitchen with glass overlooking the stunning Bergen, Norway, port takes advantage of the views and expands the visual space.
A roof terrace almost doubles the space, while bicycle storage beneath ensures that the family has a safe place to store their two-wheelers. Thanks to a cohesive color palette, which is in one of the traditional colors used in this city's residential district, as well as matched cladding, it's hard to even tell, from a distance, that anything modern has been added at all. To see what I mean, read more.

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Do You Have a Kids' Table at Thanksgiving Dinner?

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:30:00 -0800

Some of my fondest childhood Thanksgiving memories involve sitting at the kids' table. I loved the sense of connection it gave me with my cousins, some of whom I only saw a few times a year. And of course, as soon as we finished eating, we could escape outside to play, before anyone could call us in for cleanup duty. Source

Roundup: Delft Blues For the Traditionalist

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:00:26 -0700

I personally tend to gravitate towards modern décor, though I ideally like to mix styles. But, as I was raised in a traditional-style home, I do have an appreciation for the sort of old, dusty way of decorating . . . antiques, worn-in wood furniture, classic shapes, reserved colors. Writing Casa, I often catch myself saying that some products would "work well in both traditional and modern homes." While I do believe this is true, there are also many purely traditional products that
are unlikely to be found in a contemporary home. I figured I'd round some of these up for you, using Delftware, a style of blue and white pottery that to me is the epitome of traditional, as inspiration. To see what I've found, read more.

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Before and After: A Traditional Swedish Clock Gets an Update

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:10 -0800

Su Casa member dezignerwannabe recently decided to update her traditional Swedish Mora clock. In case you didn't know, these Scandinavian floor clocks were created near the town of Mora, Sweden, around 1750, after bad farming seasons forced the Mora farmers to find another way to earn income. Many of the clocks were decorated with painted faces, but now, hardly any of the original artwork remains on the clocks, and most have been painted over with inferior, rosemaling-type designs.

Since dezignerwannabe wanted to update the look and color of her traditional clock, she decided to go for it, and, as she wrote in the title of her post, "I hope I don't regret it but after so many years it needed an update."

To see the update, read more.

I, for one, can't see how dezignerwannabe would have any regrets over this update. The teal-and-gold paint combination with rosemaling designs was really holding this piece back, and while it stood out, it didn't do so in a positive manner. The real beauty in this piece is its gorgeous shape, and the simple, white paint update that dezignerwannabe gave it allows its beautiful curves to really stand out.

Have you made any updates to any home accents, like a clock, credenza, or cupboard? If so, then share it in the Su Casa group.

Home Library: Majestic Metropolitan Living

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:10 -0800

Just a week after the fold of Metropolitan Home, I've got my hands on another city-centric design volume: Sue Hostetler's new book Majestic Metropolitan Living: Visionary Homes in the Heart of Cities. The shelter and design editor for magazines like Gotham, Hamptons, and LA Confidential, and the host of Plum Homes With Sue Hostetler on Plum TV (which "targets the most active, influential, and educated audience in the world"), Hostetler has tapped her cronies for tours of their unique and luxe urban dwellings.

The American dream of retiring to the pool and tennis courts in your countryside home is squashed by this book, which showcases a range of sprawling, real-life city homes. Each has an original sense of style, a warmth that defies traditional conceptions of "cold urban modernism," spectacular views, and in several cases, an outdoor space complete with a pool or lush garden. Many of the homes were created, not surprisingly, by converting former warehouses or other nonresidential buildings, or combining apartments.

Continue reading . . .

Love It or Hate It? Painted Stair Railing

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:15:46 -0800

I love it when homeowners get creative with their staircases, and this design is no exception. While it's a little more traditional in pattern and color, I find it utterly charming. The only problem that I can see is that it is potentially difficult to decorate around.

Source: Flickr User Allie_Caulfield

Inspired: Emma Thompson's Houndstooth Cape

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:15:53 -0800

I'm loving this houndstooth cape that Emma Thompson is sporting in Pirate Radio. Houndstooth, which is characterized by a duotone textile pattern comprised of broken checks, is traditionally seen in black and white, but other color patterns are also common.

Inspired by Emma's fab cape, I looked for more housewares-oriented houndstooth. One of my favorites is this Houndstooth Accent Chair (on sale for $749). Its sleek black arms are a great accent to the nubbier pattern of the fabric.

For even more houndstooth finds, check out the widget.

Faux Houndstooth in Cornflower - $119.00	Surya "Cosmopolitan" COS-8826 Black/Ecru Area Rug, 2' 6" x 8' - $339.00
MIO - Haute Houndstooth Surface - $20.00	CLOSEOUT! Preston Houndstooth Accent Chair - $388.00
Needlepoint Houndstooth Rug - $1,250.00	Auberon Bedding Collection - Shams - $119.00
Inhabit Living Faux Houndstooth Pillow - $60.00	Faux Houndstooth in Cornflower - $60.00
Houndstooth Chair, Accent - $949.00

Coveted Crib: A Not-So-Traditional California Beauty

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:00:57 -0700

When Jeffers Design Group redesigned this wine country getaway, the firm used a mix of traditional and modern elements to shape the space. Playful and classic textiles blend beautifully in living and bedrooms, while Moroccan lanterns add an unexpected element to a high-ceilinged room. Throughout the home, a mix of custom and antique furnishings keeps the feel of the space modern and welcoming.

Take a complete tour when you read more.

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Roundup: Orange Accents

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

I thought I'd continue the talk of warm colors with one color that's very trendy these days: orange. I see orange paired often with deep grays in spare, contemporary spaces. But it looks equally smart in traditional rooms, paired with turquoise or navy. A room painted in orange, or even a chair upholstered in orange, probably wouldn't be my thing. But I do like orange used in accents, especially if the color is continued throughout the room. So I thought I'd round a few up. From clocks and candles to wall hooks and letter trays, orange comes in all shapes, forms, and functions.

Source

Horchow Orange Porcelain Vase - $499.00	Wallter - Slat Rack - $145.00
Etro Mathet Embroidered Throw - $626.00	Bussolari - frida lacquered frame by bussolari - $125.00
Dot Wall Hook - $19.95	Dokument Letter Tray - $7.99
Slope 11"x17" Pillow in Orange - $129.00	Costes Orange - $85.00
Orange Amac Boxes - $0.39	Armand Diradourian Snake Pillow- Orange - $295.00
Vitra nelson ball clock - orange - $335.00	Jonathan Adler - throws by jonathan adler - $295.00
Vitra CLO Clock- Orange - $290.00