CasaSugar

Does Your Home Have a Walkway?

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

Try as they might, not all walkways are successful in keeping people off of your lawn. But they are inviting and charming and signal to guests where to enter. This walkway is made of marble, but you can use stone, brick, concrete, slate, or even glass to build yours. Do you have one?

Crave Worthy: A Backyard Bocce Court

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:52 -0700

I've recently become a bocce fanatic - I'm even in a league. It's the ultimate social game because anyone of any age or skill level can play. So, when I saw this backyard bocce court at Ceja Vineyards, I nearly died and went to heaven. I'd kill to have one installed at my house. You can build your own by picking up perimeter and base materials locally and a crushed oyster shell blend from Boccemon for as little as $595, which is still an investment. To have a court professionally built, it could cost between $18,000-$35,000. Yikes, right? For now, I'm happy to play on uneven grass in my backyard or local park. Divits, wet soil, and other natural elements may leave things slightly out of control for the players, but I'm not in it for the competition. Would you like one built at your home?

Do You Have a White Picket Fence?

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:18 -0700

There's nothing like a curious agapanthus peering its head out of your white picket fence on a warm Summer day. A white picket fence may be uninspired, but it's still a classic, like an L.L. Bean bag or a pair of canvas sneaks. You almost can't go wrong with one.

Before and After: A Brooklyn Backyard Gets Beautified

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:00:54 -0700

When homeowners David and Vivian bought their brownstone, the backyard wasn't attractive in the least. A decrepit deck, falling-down retaining walls, and exposed soil made the whole space unappealing and uninhabitable. But with some gumption and planning, the husband-and-wife team took the yard from desolate to delightful. To see what they did, read more.

The couple terraced the yard, added stepstones, flowerbed borders, and a variety of foliage to the area. They created multiple "mini gardens" to break up the space, and for privacy and aesthetic purposes, covered an ugly chain link fence with a cedar fence. All in all, they saved about $10,000 thanks to their DIYs. Want to do something similar at your house? Get all of the details and instructions at This Old House.

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Su Casa: Hanako66's Backyard Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:30:25 -0700

Su Casa member Hanako66 recently put in a lot of work to make her yard and garden shine.

She writes,

These pictures were unfortunately not taken in the spring when everything was in bloom, but will give you an idea of what our yard looks like. I still really need patio chairs too! When my husband and I moved in, the yard was completely dirt. We installed all irrigation, plant material, grass, and our pavers all on our own. My husband even built me a planter for my garden! The only item that we contracted out was our concrete.

I'm impressed by the amount of work Hanako66 and her hubby did. All of that landscaping and building adds up to a lot of weekends! For more pictures of her beautiful outdoor space, read more.

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Casa Query: What's Your Favorite Outdoor Spot?

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:30:15 -0700

The beautiful Spring weather recently here in San Francisco has had me aching to be outdoors all day long. Be it unwinding with a glass (or two) of wine on my back porch, working in my garden, socializing on a friend's city rooftop, or playing with my dog in the backyard, when the sun is shining, I can't bear to be indoors. I know that not everyone has the pleasure of having rooftop or balcony access, but even enjoying a small patch of grass in your front yard is better than sitting inside on a beautiful day!
What's your favorite spot at home (or a friend's home) to be outdoors? Do you live in your front porch rocker? Read on your fire escape? Dip in your pool? Absorb the sunlight on your rooftop? Give me the lowdown in the comments below!
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In the News: Farms Sprout in Suburbia

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:00:40 -0700

The Wall Street Journal's "Green Acres II: When Neighbors Become Farmers" reports that a growing number of Americans are "turning grass into edible greens and maybe even greenbacks," by growing food in their front and backyards. Since 2006, in Boulder, CO, school-bus driver Kipp Nash has "uprooted his backyard and the front or backyards of eight of his Boulder neighbors," and spent his afternoons "planting, watering, and tending" these minifarms, growing vegetables like tomatoes, bok choy, garlic, and beets. Although not everyone in the neighborhood finds this suburban farming aesthetically pleasing, particularly not during the Winter months, the locally-grown food market has grown, leaving yard farmers with an opportunity to sell to nearby restaurants and other neighbors. Since land is expensive, and nearly a third of residential water goes to landscaping, the financial advantages of suburban farming are clear. But, environmentalists also support it because it "cuts the distance - and the carbon dioxide - needed to get food from farm to consumer." To see a video on the topic, read more.

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If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:15:00 -0700

. . . would you put this giant Zinc Top Birdhouse ($4,995) in your yard?

What Type of Outdoor Living Area Do You Have?

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:20:16 -0700

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Do You Shop at Garage and/or Yard Sales?

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:15:32 -0700

This weekend I gave you some tips on maximizing your garage sale, but I like shopping at yard sales even more than hosting them. How about you?

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