CasaSugar

Victoria Smith's Go-To Holiday Gift Ideas

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:54 -0800

I do have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to holiday gifts, but I'm always impressed with what my design-savvy friends give each year. So, I decided to ask some interior design "tastemakers" for their favorite go-to presents. From designers and stylists to bloggers and shop-owners, some of the brightest stars in the design world have shared their favorite holiday gift ideas with me.

To kick things off, San Francisco-based Victoria Smith of the always-inspiring blog sfgirlbybay has shared her go-to gift ideas. But, she admits she's not a huge fan of the commercial side of Christmas: "I love the white twinkling lights, and the parties and dinner gatherings with friends - the celebrations. I do love that part."

On gifts for friends: "Most of my friends and I for years have agreed to always make our gifts for each other. Even when they sometimes don't come out quite as well as you had envisioned, we give them anyway, and just have a good laugh. From homemade pillow cases, to miniature snow domes made from baby food jars, and knit scarves, we've gone through some good gifts and some good laughs."

Hear more of Victoria's favorite go-to gift ideas.

Midday Muse: Subtle Holiday Decorating

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:02 -0800

San Francisco blogger and home decorating all-star Victoria recently offered some mellow holiday decorating ideas, including this pretty rose and candle vignette.

What I love about her holiday style is that it's gorgeously done and unmistakably festive, yet doesn't rely on overdone elements for her decorating ideas. While my holiday style tends to involve more traditional Winter holiday elements (think: evergreen boughs, mistletoe), I also appreciate her more subtle holiday style. What do you do in your house?
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Found It! Blue Velvet Armchair

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:00:56 -0700

Reading sfgirlbybay's "Unexpected Guests" column, where she offered a peek into the beautiful home of San Francisco artist Jinnie Lee, Lee's blue velvet armchair caught my eye — and not just because it's gorgeous. If you're a loyal Casa reader, it may look familiar to you, too. To hear where it's from, read more. The chair is the Room and Board Quinn Chair ($749), which I recently featured as a Crave Worthy. If possible, it looks more beautiful unstaged in a real home. My heart aches.
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Good, Better, Best: Triptych Mirrors

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:00:19 -0800

A while ago, I fell in love with Sfgirlbybay's folding vanity mirror (seen here and here), which I suspect she may have picked up at a flea market. I have since been on the hunt for a triptych vanity mirror, but I've not yet made the final splurge. I've come across several options that fit the bill and that I have mixed feelings about, because a part of me is still holding out for an antique one. I think all three are wonderful choices, if you can afford them. It often surprises me how expensive mirrors can be, though. To see the three choices I've come up with, read more.

Good: The Restoration Hardware Triptych Tabletop Mirror ($99) is comprised of three beveled-edge mirrors, framed in nickel-plated brass. In full, it measures 28" by 11", so it's fairly portable. But I don't know why it would need to be "ported." I like the shape of it and its simplicity. However, I'm not keen on the frame; it's a bit industrial for my tastes. Funny thing: The dish in front of it resembles the one in Sfgirlbybay's photo (not that it matters).

Better: The Anthropologie Etched Triptych Mirror ($228) is beautifully etched and more ornate and girly than the first. I worry, though, that this type of "faux" Venetian mirror is a trend that will lose its appeal. And at that price, you could probably afford a real Venetian glass mirror. Measuring 30" by 37", it's pretty large and joined at each end to sit easily on your vanity.

Best: The Graham and Green Deco-Style Bevelled Triptych Mirror ($468) is awesome. Like the first, it's also beveled, but its bronze tint and chunky samba-wood frame give it an Art Deco feel that's just plain kewl. It's also large (25" by 42"), which makes it easy to actually see your whole face, you know, if you needed to. The drawbacks here are that it's both expensive and sold from the UK, which will probably require a lofty shipping fee.

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Casa Craving Challenge: Fetching Magazine Racks

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:38:55 -0800

Since this is the last week of Home Entertainment month, I figured I'd relate this Casa Craving Challenge to one of my most cherished types of home entertainment - reading magazines. As my stack of design magazines grows, I'm always looking for polished ways to showcase them, like sfgirlbybay has here. So for this challenge, I'd like you to bookmark the most fetching magazine racks you can find. These racks can be specifically designed for magazines, or they can be made for another purpose (such as a wine crate)—so long they're easy on the eyes and can hold magazines, they'll pass! Show me all of your fabulous finds by creating Casa Cravings and tagging them with the phrase fetching magazine racks. I'll feature the results next Wednesday, Jan. 2. Please let me know if you have any questions. For a list of online home stores to try, read more

Amazon Home
Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Crate & Barrel
Design Within Reach
Gump's
Ikea
Jonathan Adler
Lekker Home
Linens and Things
Macy's Home
Pottery Barn
Restoration Hardware
Room & Board
Target
Urban Outfitters
Unica Home
West Elm
World Market

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Event Recap: San Francisco Biz Lady Meet-Up

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:30:27 -0700

Grace from Design*Sponge was gracious enough to throw a "Biz Lady Meet-Up" Tuesday night for San Francisco women involved in design, hosted by the DWR on Jackson St. There were several speakers there, including Grace, discussing small business concerns, marketing/PR, real life designer success stories, and retailing/wholesaling. The turnout was great (around 120 people), and it was really inspiring to see so many great women getting together to discuss shared interests and business concerns. All types of artists from textile to graphic to invitation designers were there, and even some noted bloggers.

If you missed out, be sure to see if the biz ladies will be meeting in your city, and read some highlights from the night:

Grace shared her four pronged PR attack list with everyone. Know your product. Know your publications. Make your press kit. And last but not least, make contact.
Cate Kellison, from Rose and Radish, talked about how she got her $140,000 business loan when she was in her early twenties, by using free, credible resources like SCORE and SBA. She also said that Excel is the "coolest tool on the planet," and highly recommended the book The 7 Habits to Highly Effective People.
Meg Mateo Ilasco told the artists selling products out there not to be afraid of raising your prices. She said, when "I doubled my prices, I found that my business had doubled too."
Emily, from Working Solutions, told everyone to "get your elevator pitch down," and said there's "a way to do it that's friendly and nice, and that's not push and shove."

To see additional photos from the event, read more

This Just In: SFGirlbyBay Featured in Aussie Glossy

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:45:20 -0700

I'm happy to report that my fellow blogger Victoria Smith, a.k.a. sfgirlbybay, and her magnificent San Francisco home were featured in the Aussie glossy, Real Living. Design*Sponge was nice enough to share beautiful photos from the issue, and I thought I'd pass them along as well. I love how Victoria's house is so light and airy; it looks like such a relaxing place to call home. It's inspiring to see how she's made blank white walls look so fresh. I also adore her pastel-toned accents, summery "hits of orange and pink," and her flawless mix of farmhouse and midcentury style furniture.

For a gallery of images from her gorgeous home, just read more

View 6 Photos ›

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:15 -0800

Take a tour of this very pretty Vermont home. - PoppyTalk
See how this closet was turned into a second bedroom. - AT:Chicago
Learn how to restore hardwood floors to mint condition. - Charles and Hudson
Make room for crafting, even if you live in a very small apartment. - Craft
Decorate your home with these gorgeous nature-inspired prints. - Shelterrific
I adore these vintage containers. Perfect for organizing your home! - SFGirlByBay

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Let's talk about your hangups.- Simply Stated
Anna Spiro writes about a new positive and uplifting decorating trend.- Absolutely Beautiful Things
I'm impressed by this DIY master bath vanity project.- AT:LA
I like this trend of dough bowls as decor.- AT:SF
Victoria Smith has a fresh, renovated site.- Sfgirlbybay
Make a Father's Day card from fabric scraps.- Craftzine
Danny Seo takes a field trip to Yankee Candle Co.- Daily Danny
Check out these six Father's Day gift ideas for $50 or less.- Shelterrific

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:48 -0700

Fall in love with Carolyn Barber's lovely vignettes.- Desire to Inspire
Wheel your bar carts into the great outdoors.- AT:SF
Check out the scene at Celebration Weekend.- Home by Sunset
Choose your favorite mode of inspiration.- SFGirlByBay
Take your pick of colorful throw rugs.- Simply Stated
Peek in on this charming office.- Design*Sponge
Check out some handy iPhone home-improvement apps.- Charles and Hudson
Discover two topsy-turvy tomato-growing methods.- Shelterrific