CasaSugar

Share Stories About Your Household's Christmas Eve Traditions!

Elka Karl — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:00:47 PST

Some families always open their presents after dinner on Christmas Eve. Others gather for caroling in their neighborhood. One of my good friends invites her friends over for cups of spiked eggnog and gingerbread cookies. Every family has a different way of celebrating Christmas Eve at their household. What's yours? Tell me by commenting below!

Adam Brody Lists His Trad Los Angeles Pad

Julia Walsh — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:00:40 PST

The O.C. alum Adam Brody has put his 1916 Hollywood Hills home on the market for just under $2 million, and the interiors are a bit of a surprise. Like his character Seth Cohen, Brody is a bit of hipster - I mean hello, he's dating the screenwriter of indie flick Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist! So if we're following stereotypes, I'd expect the actor to live in a midcentury modern ranch punctuated with pop art and bonsai landscaping.

Instead, Brody lives in a beautifully-restored, traditional home that looks straight out of Leave It to Beaver. It has gorgeous period floors, windows, and moldings, sophisticated white wood siding, Carrara marble kitchen counters; a lovely little pool overlooked by a cover porch; and a garden swing for heaven's sake! He's outfitted the interiors with Persian rugs, round-armed upholstered club chairs, and a wooden farm table. It's conservative perfection, and just what you'd expect from a young East Coast couple with 2.2 children. Ohh wait.

Take a tour of Brody's trad pad below!

View 7 Photos ›

8 Must-Have Staples For a Preppy Home

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:00:00 PDT

A bohemian girl who layers on the jewelry and plenty of patterned scarves is likely to be maximal when it comes to accessories and textiles in her home as well. On the same note, a preppy gal whose wardrobe is full of pink and green probably has an equally cheerful home. If you're after a preppy look in your digs, there are at least eight specific staples, most inspired by fashion, that you'll need to get started with. Come find out what they are!

Vintage Clothing For Classic Children

LilSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:11 PDT

Chain stores are great for providing everyday basics, but for special occasions lots of mothers prefer to outfit their offspring in frocks that make a statement. Matilda Ledger has been seen sporting vintage-inspired smocked sundresses, and Sarah Jessica Parker admitted that James Wilkie wears his uncles' and cousins' hand-me-downs. For youngsters seeking simple pieces, Belle Heir Vintage offers those from yesteryear.

Unlike garments relatives stuff into shopping bags and drop at the door, the company offers a variety of classic items featuring hand-stitching, smocking, pin tucks, pleating, embroidery, and button-work from the turn of the century through the 1960s. While the pieces come at an equally pretty price, moms in search of christening, baby naming, and wedding garb for their wee ones might be willing to empty their wallets. For those who like the vintage look, here are additional pieces to ogle.

Coveted Crib: A New England Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:00:09 PDT

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.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Coveted Crib: A Very Modern Development

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:30:00 PDT

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,

Pimp Your Crib: Traditional Nurseries For Little Boy Blue

LilSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:00:02 PDT

Following our look at pink girly girl nurseries, we thought we'd give the mams expecting boy babes something to drool over. While many modern nurseries are designed with lil boys in mind, traditional blue bedding and decor are still quite popular.

Pimp Your Crib: Think Pink With a Girly Girl Nursery

LilSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:00 PDT

While modern nursery design and offbeat colors get a lot of attention from parents-to-be these days, there are still a number of expectant mamas who go with traditional decor when assembling the babe-to-be's room. For women who want to create a pastel lair for their lil princess complete with a bed of roses, check out these options!

Do You Have a Kids' Table at Thanksgiving Dinner?

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:30:00 PST

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 PDT

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,