CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Turn That Frond Upside Down

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

I fell in love with the topsy-turvy tomato planters when I first found them a year or two ago, but I'm so excited to see the concept taken to a sleeker level.

Ranging in price from $25 to $75, the Boskke Sky Planters are made in New Zealand from black or white ceramic. They're modern, beautiful, and completely unexpected.

Created by designer Patrick Morris, the stoneware ceramic planters can conserve up to 80 percent of the water normally used to water houseplants, thanks to the self-watering system, which only needs to be replenished twice a month at most. These planters are also a great choice for studio apartments, as they free up valuable floor space.

Have you used upside down planters in the past? What was your experience? Do these planters turn your head as well?

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Roundup: Modern Roses

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:30:10 -0700

Do you think that roses should be relegated to old ladies' perfume bottles and shabby chic pillows? If so, I'd like to change your mind.

You'll be happy to hear that an updated take on the beautiful bloom is easy to find and decorate with. In fact, the rose is making a comeback in hip, modern homes. Take this Je Taime Poster ($40), for example. With a modern font and a blockprinted rose outline, I dare you to find anything fuddy duddy about it.

To find roses that are more modern than the norm, look for designs that utilize abstracted designs and simplified color palettes. See some of my other favorite modern rose finds when you read more.

Love It or Hate It? A Barn Door in a Modern Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

This master suite features a barn door in a very modern color. Since it's much too big to swing open, the barn door has been fitted on a track, so it slides open and closed. I love how the less refined door contrasts with the chandelier showcased in the bathroom beyond. Do you like this style? Or is it too whimsical for your tastes?
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Casa Verde: Ali Sandifer Studio

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

If you love the streamlined look of midcentury modern furniture, but want something that looks at home in your 21st century home, take a look at Ali Sandifer Studio. A furniture company based out of Chicago, Ali Sandifer Studio creates modern, beautifully designed furniture from sustainable sources.

Another thoughtful element of this furniture is that storage - a must-have in modern homes - is integrated into much of the furniture. All of the pieces are hand-produced in-house, so you can rest assured that the pieces are not only beautifully crafted, but that they're made in the USA as well. To see the full collection of Ali Sandifer Studio's furniture, read more.

As far as the company's eco cred is concerned, all furniture is made using domestic woods harvested from sustainable forests. Furniture is finished with natural oils and water-based sealants, avoiding the VOCs associated with veneers and stains.

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Love It or Hate It? Groovy Vladimir Kagan Daybed

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:28 -0700

Talk about eye-catching -I'm having a hard time looking away! This Vladimir Kagan Daybed (price not available) is built from Walnut slab, which is augmented with Lucite arms and legs. I am absolutely in love with the velvet Pucciesque original upholstery. What about you? Can you dig it? Or is way too groovy for you? (Oh, and for more groovy designs, check out my Old or New Design game!)

Roundup: Modern Planters

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:30:53 -0700

Your standard terra cotta planters are classics that will never go out of style. But for those of us who live in contemporary homes, a modern planter may be more fitting. So, I thought I'd round up a few planters that will assimilate well with your streamlined architecture. The Bullet Planter ($159.99) is a mid-century design, but I think it looks as modern and relevant today as it must have when it was originally manufactured in the 1950s. To see a few more modern planters, read more.

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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Coveted Crib: An Art-Oriented Home

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:24 -0700

While most homeowners appreciate well-chosen art as a part of their home's décor, this art-collecting San Francisco family has taken it to the next level. After a complete renovation of this house, the home's interiors are absolutely gallery-worthy. With canvas-ready white walls, the home's closets provide pops of orange, pink, and blue color - a surprisingly playful touch in this artful house. The home was renovated to create an open living plan, although the traditional facade of the house was unaltered. With subdued furnishings and expertly chosen appliances and hardware, the home is a stunning example of the beauty of restraint. According to architects Envelope A + D, "[t]he design seeks to create a heightened level of engagement by blurring the line between normal living and art experience."

What do you think of this home? Do you like the concept of a curated residence? Or is it too austere for you? Check out photos and tell me your opinion when you read more.

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Coveted Crib: Calm and Restrained in London

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00:29 -0700

Decorating is not like getting dressed. While buying all the clothes you love will result in a beautiful wardrobe, you must execute restraint when shopping for your home - otherwise your digs will be an uncohesive headache. But that doesn't mean you have to live in a white box or be super matchy matchy. The owners of this beautiful London home know what I'm talking about. They've chosen a calm, mostly neutral palette with touches of soft color and pattern. There's no more than one element that stands out in each room - a modern blue-wing chair in the living room, a wall of patterned wallpaper in the bedroom - which allows your eyes to rest. Beyond that, the home is accessorized but not overly so. There's no clutter or too many items competing for your attention in one place. Just looking at it, I feel calm. See what I mean when you read more.

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Coveted Crib: Lakeside Modern

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:15:16 -0700

Taking cues from the natural landscape - in particular, a nearby granite formation - this modern home in Horseshoe Bay, TX, features stone terraces that end at the lake's edge. Vertical concrete blocks and cast concrete are offset by generous windows. Porches and a courtyard marry exterior and interior spaces, while restrained colors and décor highlight the beauty of the home's design.
For more photos of this home, read more.

Built by San Antonio, TX, firm Overland Partners, this Texan home reflects the beauty of the natural landscape, while adding to it with its graceful design.

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Twinkle Living Rose Walnut and Grape Bedding - $52.00	Marseille Soap - Rose - $25.00
Indonesia Square Serving Tray, Floating Roses - $30.00	Blissliving Home Jenna Pillow - $75.00
Avalisa Imagination Collection Rose Stretched Wall Art - $59.00	Linen Rose by Court Of Versailles - $440.00
Plush Living - Nook Rose Silk Pillow - $64.00	Area Rose Pilow - $85.00
Novica Jasmine Rose Jar - $44.99	Graham and Brown Hemingway Design Wallpaper - Macintosh Rose pattern - $60.00
nani marquina Roses Rug - $3,100.00	3D Rose Vase - $175.00

Vessel Architectural Pottery G-21 Planter with S-2 Base - $620.00	Vessel Architectural Pottery TH-4 Planter - $1,295.00
Perch Campy Planters - $72.00	Gratia Planter- Square 24in - $625.00
Vessel Architectural Pottery F-508W Peanut Planter - $1,695.00	MuNiMulA - Planter Stand - $290.00
Tuttisuperterra Planter By Marco Ferreri - $310.00	Rubber Flower Pots (Set of 3) - $110.00
Vessel Architectural Pottery S-3 Planter - $395.00	Ore - skinny taper planter by ore - $285.00
Ore - trapezoid planter by ore - $741.00	Bordato Illuminated Planter - 30" - $525.00
Wire Planter Holder - $16.95	Extra Large Rubber Planter - $800.00
Bullet Planter Short - $159.99