CasaSugar

Think You Know Benjamin Moore?

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0700

How much sexier is Popping Poppy than FC-141? Sure manufacturers have to assign numbers to their hues, but it's so much more fun to play with colors when they have cool titles attached to them. So take this quiz and see if you can guess the names of these Benjamin Moore paint colors.

Source

Question 1 of 10

Yellows are always popular to keep homes neutral and mellow. Which sunny color is this?

Are You Offended by This House's Paint Color?

CasaSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:00:16 -0700

Some communities have ordinances against certain paint colors, and others wish they did after the fact. I personally think that anyone who owns a house should be able to paint it as they please. Some of these New Jersey residents, however, would disagree with me.

Source

Ask Casa: Looking For Banana Republic's Gray Shade

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:15:12 -0700

Hi Casa,
Thanks again for your awesome recommendations for Mansour Modern rug lookalikes. I actually have another question for you! I am totally in love with gray walls with white trim, especially the gray on the walls of every Banana Republic store I've walked into! I have tried to replicate this color (which is sort of a medium putty-ish gray) without any luck. Every gray I choose ends up being too blue, too purple, or too dark, and nowhere near what I see in the stores. I tried contacting customer service but I doubt this is in their area of expertise. Do you have any idea how we can find out the actual paint color? Thanks - you're a doll!

Glitterbug

To see my answer, just read more

Dear Glitterbug,

I forwarded your question to a friend with contacts at Banana Republic, and he wrote me back saying that he'd chatted with an architect at Banana Republic corporate about your query. The answer he came up with? The color is balanced beige in eggshell finish from Sherwin Williams. Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Casa

Source

Casa Quickie: Strain Paint With Pantyhose

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:50:16 -0700

After painting a room, it's a good idea to keep the can around for touch-ups. But you might find that the old paint gets lumpy over time. To get the lumps out, try straining the paint through pantyhose. Just stretch a pair of old tights or hose over a clean, empty paint tin. Then, pour the paint from the old can through the hose and into the new can.

Source

House Rundown, "Black Hole"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:30:00 -0700

This week on House, we deal with issues of trust in relationships, along with a head-scratcher of a medical case. My verdict: it makes for one really solid episode.

A high school senior is brought into Princeton-Plainsboro after she stops breathing and regurgitates liquid during a field trip. Not a pretty picture, but then again, neither is her bloody heart surgery (ick). As the docs race the clock to find the source, all scientific means turn up short, and they have to resort to newfangled methods.

On the other end of things, Taub is going through some trouble with the missus after she complains that they don't do enough together. He spends the rest of the episode making it up to her - but by the end we're left wondering if his intentions are pure.

But enough of the chitchat, let's talk questions. Just read more.

In the latest edition of "ways House can annoy Wilson," House suggests that Wilson buy some furniture for their bachelor pad. When Wilson concedes - albeit, by taking the shortcut and renting - House returns all of it. The wise doctor's reasoning: Wilson needs to pick out the pieces himself to figure out who he really is. I thought House was being a little pushy about his "lesson," but how cute is it when Wilson includes an organ for House in his newly decorated room? It's a nice, bromantic moment for the odd couple, but do you think Wilson lets House control him too much? I do.
Anyone else incredibly frustrated by Foreman in this episode? He shoots down every one of House's suggestions with his holier-than-thou attitude. I agree with the rest of the gang - he's a total buzz kill. Where is his brother anyway? At least that storyline let us see more of his human side.
I enjoyed seeing Taub's home life in this episode, even if it doesn't necessarily paint him as a good guy. When his wife complains about not doing things together, he begins texting her from work...as in, sexting. Okay, okay, so it's really House on Taub's phone. That part had me chuckling, but House continues to have his suspicions that Taub may be straying, and like usual, House's gut seems to be right. Even though Taub re-proposes (telling her he wants to be better, aww), the show closes with Taub being friendly with a nurse while House looks on with a critical stare. Do you think Taub is cheating, or is House just reading too much into things this time?
Creepy kid alert! How freaky are the imagined younger versions of this week's patient? Her visions completely remind me of The Ring. Do you enjoy this sort of horror slant, or would you rather the writers stick to basics?
Speaking of the patient, her case seems even more intriguing than typical. I love the cognitive power recognition testing, as we try to solve what's killing her. House figures out - using a mix of intuition and assumption - that the girl's boyfriend's father actually slept with the girl, passing on a parasite through his sperm. It appears to be a giant leap in reasoning, but House is right, of course. Were you surprised? I didn't see it coming at all.

Anything I missed from this week's episode? Did you like the medical case? How about the focus on Taub? Tell me your thoughts in the comments (and please help answer some of my questions!), or head over to the House! group to talk more.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Dark and Stormy Homes

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:15:43 -0700

To kick off the spooky month of October, I thought I'd take you on a tour of houses around the world that have been painted in a black palette. While I doubt that any of you currently have a black-colored home, you might be surprised at how chic many of these exteriors look. Take the tour, and then tell me if you'd ever consider a darker paint job for your home.

View Slideshow ›

Assisted Living: Picking Out Patio Cushion Fabric

Casa Community — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0700

CasaSugar Community member itownsend of the Assisted Living group is looking for some decorating ideas for the black iron tables on her new deck:

Hi Casa! I just had my back deck redone and am looking forward to having guests over and enjoying it this Spring. I bought a new table and chair set to match one I already own. I think I'm going to leave the woodwork its natural color and my house is red brick so I'm feeling a bit limited on my color palette. I'd like to do a fun print but the only outdoor fabrics I can find are solids. What do you suggest I use for my patio furniture?

To see what I suggest and to give her some of your own ideas, just read more.

Cheers to you for getting on your outdoor decorating so that when Spring arrives, you can enjoy it. Your fresh deck, brick exterior, and black wrought iron patio furniture will actually make picking fabric quite easy. You could play it safe with solids but I agree with you - patterns are more fun and generally better at hiding stains. Country Living has a line of Sunbrella prints that are dreamy and would add the perfect amount of spunk to your backyard. A kelly green, cherry red, and a beige Ikat are my top choices. If you're not feeling up for the sewing task, there are some great deals on outdoor cushions at Pottery Barn, Pier 1, and Ballard Designs. Does anyone else have any suggestions for paint colors? Please comment below! Have a decorating dilemma of your own? Be sure to post your photos and tales in the Assisted Living group!

Midday Muse: Front Door Fun

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:00:56 -0800

I spotted this hallway look over at House to Home and was impressed with the statement the rich coordinating reds make. Most don't take into account the color of their front door when decorating the foyer, but it speaks wonders! The hallway of this 18th century Georgian house is otherwise quite simple, but its neutral backdrop and matching color palette allow for its original features to shine.

Obviously, if you rent, painting your front door to match your decor palette is often out of the picture. But for those of you who own, it's worth thinking about. Would you ever paint your interiors to match your front door?
Source

Relax Already: Get Juvenile

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:23 -0800

Now that I'm an adult, I often think back to the days when I was a carefree little girl and the only things I had to worry about were which color dress to wear to school and where to get enough blankets to make a fort. When life's stresses get me down now, I take a cue from my girls and play like a kid. It really helps take my mind off frustrating grownup problems and calms me down so I can better deal with those adult issues. Here are some ideas:

Color, draw, paint, or knit. Do something crafty with your hands.
Play with your pet.
If it's nice out, enjoy the sunshine and the wind in your face with a bike ride. Don't forget your helmet!
Swing or play in a park.
If there's still snow where you live, go sledding or make a snowman.
Join a kickball team.
Read a kids' book or other easy read.
Play with a child - a good game of foursquare relieves a lot of stress.
Turn up some music and dance around the house.
Bake something scrumptious.

Before and After: CaraWilkerson's Master Bedroom

Casa Community — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0800

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member CaraWilkerson from the Su Casa group:

When we closed on our house a month ago, we had a lot of work to do in the master bedroom. Before, the white walls and old carpeting were a drag. By warming up the space with paint, exposing the hardwood floors, and adding a little personality with décor, we were in business!

Want to see the latest incarnation of her bedroom?