CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Before and After: From Dull to Punk

casasugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:15:43 -0800

For some home decorators, music is a way of life, and that means that music must become a part of their home decorating scheme. Take Craftster member Anarchy_Onions for example. As you'll see, she isn't shy about incorporating her musical tastes into her home. I love it when people have a definite idea about what they like and dislike, so I admire Anarchy_Onions's moxie!

Anarchy_Onions started off with this plain-Jane dresser.
To see how she switched it up,

Before and After: A Bold Kitchen Makeover

casasugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:45:09 -0800

Susan Smart and Art Westerinen bought an over 100-year-old Shingle-style home two years ago. Since the home was compromised by tiny, cramped rooms, the couple decided to gut the entire home, starting with the kitchen, which was tight quarters at 11 feet square.

Here's how it looked before they started their renovation:

To see the impressive transformation,

Before and After: Thrifted Headboards Get Glam Update

casasugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:30:44 -0800

When Country Living editors Larry Bilotti and Robin Long Mayer discovered twin headboards at a garage sale, they grabbed them for $10 total, with the idea of transforming them into something new. Taking a cue from the indented panel in the headboard's design, they brainstormed ways to highlight this feature.

To see what they did,

Before and After: A Cape Cod Crib in Connecticut

casasugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:25 -0800

This Old House recently featured the home of a Fairfield, CT, family who drastically transformed their 1953 Cape Cod home after enduring serious renovations, including raising the roof to add four bedrooms and two baths upstairs. Shown here is the former living room, with busy, antiquated wallpaper and worn oak floors that certainly don't help to make the space feel larger. With a little paint, some floor stain, an overhaul of the fireplace, and a lot of DIY demolition, the Kuryluk family transformed the room into an airy, modern space that's up-to-date and stylish. To see the after photo,

Before and After: Tenderloin Family Apartments, Transformed

casasugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:00:19 -0800

Remember when I told you about how Vern Yip was teaming up with Bank of America to transform two Bay Area nonprofits? Well, this morning, I was fortunate enough to attend the unveiling for the Tenderloin Family Apartments. Managed by the Chinatown Community Development Center, it's a safe, high-quality affordable housing property in the heart of the Tenderloin district, one of San Francisco’s lower income neighborhoods challenged by issues such as homelessness, safety, and drug use.

Renovations of the community room were just completed, with the reveal and ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place this morning.

Here's how it looked before Vern worked his magic:

To get a sneak peek of the transformation,

Before and After: John Jacob Astor IV's Heavenly Pavilion

casasugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:15:47 -0800

The New York Times has a jaw-dropping article, "A Fixer-Upper to End Them All," and coinciding slideshow about the 1902 Stanford White-designed Beaux-Arts sporting pavilion in Rhinebeck, NY, which was purchased and renovated by Kathleen Hammer, a retired producer for Oxygen Media. The building was originally designed for John Jacob Astor IV, great-grandson and heir of the fur and real estate magnate, and originally served as a weekend retreat and entertaining spot.

Astor's elder son Vincent inherited the property, and his third wife, Brooke Astor, made it more of a residential spot. Brooke donated it to the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and it became a convent and nursing home, and later a residential home again.Shown above is the main hall of the home, which connects two wings. It can be closed off by French doors on all sides, and is the most central part of the pavilion. It measures 35 by 60 feet in magnitude, and for this reason was considered by Stanford White “one of the greatest rooms in America." Aside from its overwhelming size, the hall's heavenly domed skylight with elaborate plasterwork and vast fireplace are astounding, to say the least. Unfortunately, years of neglect left Hammer with a lot of work to do to restore it to its former glory. So, she hired the best person to do the job, Sam White, architect and great-grandson of the original architect. To see this room as it is today,

Before and After: An Ikea Clock Gets a Facelift

casasugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:30:54 -0800

Craftster member Ladypie decided to turn this dull Ikea clock into something a little more design forward. Here's how the clock looked before she got her hands on it.

To see how she upgraded this timepiece,

Before and After: An Editor's Refurbished Finds

casasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:45:29 -0800

Anne E. Collins, editor of PointClickHome , recently refurbished some antique furniture finds. She says, "I tend to fall in love with run-down objects. I look right past the chipping paint and wobbly frame and see (with rose-colored glasses) a decorating project." Anne picked these pieces up at the Old Country Store outside Rhinebeck, NY, and she and her husband spent a frantic few days stripping, painting, drilling, and repairing. For the whole story, check out her blog. Get started on her journey with this slideshow, and hear what Anne has to say about the process! Source

Before and After: A Fabulous Fireplace

casasugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:19 -0800

In a matter of six months, Suzy of Studio Annetta bought a house in Australia, moved in, gutted the house, renovated it, and then moved out. The house has since been sold, so she'll never get to enjoy her beautiful renovations, but you can! Shown here is the living room fireplace, a red brick eyesore with a Chinoiserie mirror on the mantel. The fireplace original to the house had been taken out, and stripped of its original moldings and architectural features. Suzy restored the room to its former glory, bringing in a more historically appropriate fireplace, painting the walls a bright white, and replacing the floorboards. The transformation is stunning, and really gave the space a sophisticated style with a historical presence. To see the after photo and more photos of her renovation,

Before and After: Living Room Makeover

casasugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:45:08 -0800

Do It Yourself recently checked in with Linda Thornburgh, whose living room was awash with neutral tones and outdated furnishings, and lacked warmth and personality. She wanted a space that could be formal as well as comfortable, and decided to execute a full overhaul of the space.

To see how she transformed this room,