CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

And the Winner Is . . .

casasugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:30:43 -0700

Want to know which lucky lady is the second of two winners in my Summer Style Contest? Then

And the Winner Is . . .

casasugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:15:41 -0700

Want to know which lucky lady is the first of two winners in my Summer Style contest? Then

Win a $500 Gift Card From Crate and Barrel!

casasugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:30:32 -0700

You and one other lucky CasaSugar reader could be the recipients of a $500 gift card from Crate and Barrel. The catch? Well, there's no catch, actually. All you have to do is send in a photo showing off your home's Summer style.

To find out how to enter to win,

Summer Style Contest Entry: Visual Vamp's NOLA Living Room

casasugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:30:54 -0700

We've seen some beautiful outdoor spaces that have been entered as part of the CasaSugar Summer Style contest. Today, though, I have a great entry that shows a warm weather-friendly interior space. TeamSugar member Visual Vamp writes, "I live in New Orleans, and part of Summer style here is to take up all the rugs and live with bare floors, and cover the furniture in Summer white slipcovers. It's a fast and easy way to get an instant Summer look. Here's my version in my living room."

I love the crisp look of Visual Vamp's living room, as well as the antique-look fan. I have to admit that I'm also already a bit in love with her pup. What a cutie!

Have you entered the contest yet? It's simple: just send a photo illustrating your Summer style at home to my TeamSugar inbox, or post it to the Su Casa group for a chance to win one of two $500 gift cards to Crate & Barrel.

Summer Style: Sea Urchins Vase and Votive Holder

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:30:33 -0700

For many of us, what comes to mind when we think of summery décor is beach themes — shells, nautical elements, fish — the kind of Summer style that's been done before a million times, and not well. But your home needn't be a souvenir of your last vacation to Pensacola; there are sea-life accents out there that didn't actually wash up on the shore. I just came across the Global Table Urchin Votives ($12-$22), and was really won over by their life-like shapes and delicate, white, bone china. Then, I remembered the Roost Glass Sea Urchin Vases ($8-$12). I think the two would go particularly well together; I'd love to see a small arrangement of them on a side table. I also don't think they need be reserved solely for your Summer interiors; they're discreet enough to leave around the whole year through.

Summer Style Contest Entry: CocoAngel's Home Office

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:15:38 -0700

The CasaSugar Summer Style Contest entries continue to roll in, so I thought I'd share another inspiring entry with you. It's TeamSugar member Cocoangel's first Summer working at home, so she decided it was time to make her space "more like a place where [she] could think good thoughts." She painted her walls "this dreamy shade of blue, called Provence," and she says, "I just feel like I could dive in." On her desk, she keeps a starfish from a cousin who went to Florida, and photos from beach vacations that "make [her] smile when [she] takes a brain break from work." To see more photos and hear more about her Summer style, read her post. Have you entered the contest yet? It's simple: just send a photo illustrating your Summer style at home to my TeamSugar inbox or post it to the Su Casa group for a chance to win one of two $500 gift cards to Crate & Barrel.

Midday Muse: Parasol and Plums

casasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:00:57 -0700

Paper parasols aren't just for keeping the sun out of your eyes. They'll also add some instant Summer Style to your garden party. Just stick a few in larger shrubs or low-hanging tree branches, and let the fun begin!

Summer Style: Don't Forget the Lanterns

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:14 -0700

One of the most economical and pretty ways that you can decorate your outside space is with colorful paper lanterns. Not only are they inexpensive, they also look great during every hour of your party. If you choose brightly colored lanterns, like the ones shown here, they'll create a huge color splash during the day. At night, once the lanterns are lit, they'll provide a more muted, yet still colorful, addition to the party decorations. I love the festive look of hanging lanterns at garden parties, and just a few strings of paper lanterns can take a party's look from boring to brilliant. Do you decorate with paper lanterns at your parties?

What You're Wanting, Revealed: A Summer Porch

casasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:40 -0700

For this latest What You're Wanting, I wanted to know how you'd create a stylish Summer porch.

As usual, your creativity and thoughtful choices left me impressed. Now I wish our house had a porch! Thanks for the inspiration!

I loved the look that Tdamji put together. She writes that, "Hot Summer evenings can be spent relaxing here on this porch. The cool blues and greens juxtapose the deep browns and crisp whites in this fun, Summer porch decor." I love the muted colors in her look, as well as the relaxing, comfortable furniture she's chosen.

Tdamji wins the CasaSugar schwag of her choice for the look she put together. Congratulations!

To see another lovely look,

Summer Style Contest Entry: Rbid's Breezy Backyard

casasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:00:38 -0700

I wanted to show you another inspiring entry for the CasaSugar Summer Style Contest. TeamSugar member Rbid said that she wanted to share her beautiful backyard, but cheekily added, "Notice how it could use some Crate & Barrel outdoor furniture?"

I definitely advise you to check out the gallery, because Rbid's fountain is too cute — and believe it or not, she captured a robin bathing in it!