CasaSugar

How-To: Design Smart in Small Spaces

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:27 -0700

Recently, I gave you a glimpse of a Calgary apartment that interior deisign firm Corea Sotropa renovated. One of the firm's specialties is designing for small spaces. Corea Sotropa was kind enough to share some tips for designing for small spaces. Want to see all of the firm's great advice? Then read more.

Here are a few tips from Corea Sotropa on designing for small spaces:

Choose common materials, fabrics and colour palette throughout all the rooms to bring unity to a small condo or house.
Fresh flower arrangements are a quick and inexpensive way to add luxury to a small space.
Ensure there is a place for everything - if there is not appropriate storage for everyday necessities like magazines or CDs a small space will quickly look messy.
Place accessories sparingly - overloading a small space with accessories will look cluttered.
Choose furniture pieces to suit the scale of the space. When down-sizing from a house to condo it is unlikely that you will be able to re-use many of your existing upholstered pieces due to this change in scale.

Casa Quickie: Frame Your Faves

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:40 -0700

Take a cue from Funny People, and decorate your walls according to what you love. In the movie, Seth Rogen plays an aspiring comedian who is mentored by Adam Sandler, a seasoned vet of the comedy business. In a movie that's all about funny people, it makes sense that their homes should reflect their love with framed photos of comedians. Do the same in your house by letting your art and photographs reflect your hobbies or great loves. Are you a bird watcher? Frame vintage Audubon illustrations. Are you obsessed with cooking? Frame beautifully illustrated recipes along one wall of your dining room. Really, the possibilities are endless!

Don't Take Yourself (or Your Home) Too Seriously

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:00:45 -0700

"The best rooms never take themselves too seriously and yes, there is such a thing as death by good taste! A multi-layered interior should easily accommodate (and, at times, flaunt) some irony, wit or kitsch." - Met Home Creative Director Linda O’Keeffe

Photo by Todd Selby

Design Advice and Special Sale This Saturday at West Elm

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Are you going to be up early this Saturday morning? Tomorrow morning (June 20), all west elm stores are hosting Fall Design Events. The events will take place prior to opening (the time depends on the location, but most events are either from 8-10 a.m. or 9-11 a.m.). At the event, west elm's in-store team will talk through Fall design tips and show the new pre-Fall assortment.

Interested? Call ahead to your local stores for details and to RSVP. Oh, and best of all, you'll receive 10 percent off all purchases made that day just for attending class!

The graceful Woven Pendant ($199), made from textured layers of palm leaves, is one of the sneak peeks you'll get this Saturday (I'm coveting it!). For a preview of some of the other Fall products, read more.

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Armani on Fashion Versus Style

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:15:32 -0700

"Fashion is often about trends, whereas style is about more eternal qualities. The essence of good design for me lies in the consistency of approach. ... Good design should aim to produce things that are both beautiful and functional - your work should deliver what it promises to the customer. If it’s furniture - say, a chair - it should be well made and a pleasure to sit in; if it’s a kitchen, then you should be able to cook in it with ease; if it’s a leather bag, it should hold its contents well and be comfortable to carry. In fact, comfort is a key quality in everything I do. People want to look chic and smart and well dressed and beautiful, but they also want to be comfortable. The same, of course, is true for furniture. If I design a bed, I want people to sleep well in it. Then there is the promise of quality. If you are in the business of creating things for a discerning clientele, you have to produce your work to the highest of standards. Great quality is related to great design; you rarely get one without the other." - Giorgio Armani, in the current issue of Metropolitan Home

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Summer Style: Design Tips From Kyle Schuneman

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:15:48 -0700

If you're a fan of Kyle Schuneman's livable, stylish designs, you'll probably also be interested in hearing his words of advice on creating Summer style in your home (especially if you're entering the Summer style contest).

To hear his advice, read more.

Kyle offers the following advice:

Regarding Summer style, I think it is all about an effortless flow. I always think of Summer as a smell in the air - a light and fun idea that really has no rules. For Summer, I like using materials like glass and sisal to keep a clean and fresh look. For a flower store that I just revamped, I actually covered a chair in moss, which is a whimsical idea to bring a natural aspect to your design. Whether you complement your home with a great plant stand or a fun side chair in your Summer garden or a sculptural item in your sun room, just one special piece will be a great addition for Summer style.

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Summer Style: Flower Arranging Tips From Paul Lowe

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:45:18 -0700

It seems like I'm not the only one who thinks that one rule of Summer style should be keeping things simple. Interior and food stylist Paul Lowe, whose gorgeous floral arrangements I featured earlier this week, agrees that simple presentations can make a huge visual impact when it comes to flowers. I asked him if he could provide CasaSugar readers with some simple Summer styling techniques when it came to flowers, and he happily agreed.

Here's one of Paul's flower tips:

"When I work with flowers I always try to keep it simple. I don't like mixing too many types of flowers in a vase. I believe that one kind of flower in a vase makes a bigger statement then a mix of flowers. If you want to use a mix, put them in separate vases.

Want to hear another of Paul's tips? Then read more.

Paul also advises, "When you work with flowers you will always have some flower heads that fall of the stems. Don't throw them away. Fill eggcups with water and place the flower heads in them. This looks very cute on a side table."

To get more advice from Paul, read his blog, full of mouthwatering food photos and crave-worthy home and garden shots.

Photos by Frances Janisch

Ask Angel: west elm's Advice for Holiday Entertaining (Part 3)

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:45:35 -0800

West elm designer Angel recently started a new TeamSugar group called Ask Angel to help you solve all of your design conundrums! Here's some advice from her latest post, which ties in perfectly with this month's Home Entertainment theme.

Angel writes:

One of the fabulous things about my job is being surrounded by great design minds. With the seasonal whirlwind of decorating and entertaining swiftly upon us, I tapped west elm’s creative director of design – who is also an exceptional entertainer - Alex Bates to share her expertise and show us how to create a modern and chic mood flawlessly and easily without breaking the bank! I hope you love these as much as I do.

To see what Alex has to say, just read more

Alex writes:

There are lots of ways to make your home festive and fabulous for the holidays, and reflect your personal style. This season is all about glam and metallic accents. Just like your favorite patent wedge makes every outfit feel chic, there are a few little things that will make a big difference in your home this holiday season. You don’t have to be overwhelmed and you don’t have to spend a fortune. These simple ideas will help set the stage for a stylish holiday and create a look with staying power that will last into the New Year.

Light up the season and your home

Last, but not least, don’t forget the lighting. Remember, lighting sets the mood of any holiday party or room so get creative and replace harsh bulbs with soft candlelight. Combine different sizes and shapes of glass lanterns in monochromatic groupings for dramatic effect over a table. Carry the look through the room with complimentary votives and candles sticks on the table or mantle. The room and your guests will enjoy a flattering glow.

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Ask Angel: west elm's Advice for Holiday Entertaining (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:30:28 -0800

One of the fabulous things about my job is being surrounded by great design minds. With the seasonal whirlwind of decorating and entertaining swiftly upon us, I tapped west elm’s creative director of design – who is also an exceptional entertainer - Alex Bates to share her expertise and show us how to create a modern and chic mood flawlessly and easily without breaking the bank! I hope you love these as much as I do.

To see what Alex has to say, just read more

Alex writes:

There are lots of ways to make your home festive and fabulous for the holidays, and reflect your personal style. This season is all about glam and metallic accents. Just like your favorite patent wedge makes every outfit feel chic, there are a few little things that will make a big difference in your home this holiday season. You don’t have to be overwhelmed and you don’t have to spend a fortune. These simple ideas will help set the stage for a stylish holiday and create a look with staying power that will last into the New Year.

Mix the primitive and polished

Animal prints have gotten a great makeover in recent seasons and this year, they are popping up in new styles and patterns everywhere. A little animal goes a long way, try the patterns as an accent piece in the home. Combine timeless and chic animal prints with gold metallic holiday decorations for a fun twist, such as a zebra stocking pairs perfectly hanging on the mantel next to a tree decorated with gold or vintage ornaments. Or toss a throw pillow on your sofa and get a whole new look anytime you feel like it.

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Ask Angel: west elm's Advice for Holiday Entertaining (Part 1)

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:02:20 -0800

One of the fabulous things about my job is being surrounded by great design minds. With the seasonal whirlwind of decorating and entertaining swiftly upon us, I tapped west elm’s creative director of design – who is also an exceptional entertainer - Alex Bates to share her expertise and show us how to create a modern and chic mood flawlessly and easily without breaking the bank! I hope you love these as much as I do.

To see what Alex has to say, just read more

Alex writes:

There are lots of ways to make your home festive and fabulous for the holidays, and reflect your personal style. This season is all about glam and metallic accents. Just like your favorite patent wedge makes every outfit feel chic, there are a few little things that will make a big difference in your home this holiday season. You don’t have to be overwhelmed and you don’t have to spend a fortune. These simple ideas will help set the stage for a stylish holiday and create a look with staying power that will last into the New Year.

Mix up glam and nature

You and your home should shine this holiday season. A small detail can make a big impression with minimal effort. Gold or silver banded glasses are an easy way to add drama when setting the table or when setting the mood for a chic cocktail party. Simple lines can mix and match with holiday patterns or you can create a whole metallic table for a more dramatic statement. In the living room, add a mirrored coffee table. It will soften the room and the table adds a sophisticated decorator touch, especially when mixed with a natural sheep skin area rug. Mix the earthy and the elegant. A large vase filled with natural Manzanita branches and hung with crystal strand ornaments makes quite the statement in a hall or on a table, and reflects candle light beautifully. Carry the festive sparkle through your home when decorating your tree and mantle. Create an all silver Christmas tree with silver and crystal garland, adding a mix of silver and white ornaments. Collect vintage ornaments and mix them in to create your own style.

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