CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Casa Quickie: Ditch the Book Jackets

casasugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:00:48 -0800

Do you spend too much time ensuring that all of your coffee-table books maintain perfect jackets? In a recent LA Times article, Trey Russell, owner of Laguna Beach gift boutique Aris tells you to ditch that thinking — and those jackets. Russell maintains that "Book jackets just get torn, anyway, you might as well get rid of them . . . It creates a more monochromatic, less chaotic look." Try it in your own casa, perhaps in a display similar to this one, from Russell's home.

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Gift Guide: The Architecture Buff

casasugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:30:06 -0800

My sister, who's been drawing blueprints in one form or another since we were little kids, is currently finishing her second year of grad school at the architecture department at UC Berkeley. Since she spends about 18 hours a day in the studio as it is (I'm not even coming close to exaggerating), she probably doesn't want to spend her few free hours browsing through architecture books, at least during the semester. However, once the holiday break kicks in, I'm pretty sure that she'll be curled up on a sofa with a more recreational, picture-heavy architecture book in her hands.

If your family's anything like mine, there are at least a few folks in your immediate circle who can happily pass the evening leafing through books chock full of great facts and even better photos of buildings, architectural details, blueprints, and life stories of famous architects. One good place to start is with the volume Architecture: Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future ($95), a book commemorating the 150th anniversary of the American Institute of Architects. I found this book at Builders Booksource's online site, which is an amazing resource for books on architecture and building. Another great place to check for architecture books is at Chronicle Books, whose architecture section is chock full of gems, such as the recently released California Academy of Sciences: Architecture in Harmony With Nature ($29.95).

For more book suggestions,

Midday Muse: The Audacity of FLIPP

casasugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:00:43 -0800

One evening this weekend, I passed by one of my favorite local design shops here in San Francisco, FLIPP (Fashionable Living in Petite Places), and couldn't help but notice the window display. On a settee next to a vintage portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the shopkeepers set a copy of The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama — a subtle and handsome way to show political support. Considering that Obama's challenges ahead are being compared to those of Lincoln, it's also quite appropriate. Maybe this title will never find its way into your home, but I think we can all take a note from this image: with a little staging, perhaps sans the paper sleeves on our hardbacks, books can have a decorative effect in our homes, all the while making a statement.

How Do You Store Your Books?

casasugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:30:47 -0700

Right now, I've been stacking my books à la Sapien Bookcase. But, on a traditional bookcase, I think a mix of stacked and standing books gives a space a casual, not-so-stiff vibe. What about you?Source

How Do You Store Your Books?

I stack 'em.

I stand 'em.

I like to mix it up!

Steal of the Day: Invisible Bookshelf

casasugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:30:31 -0700

I've got to admit I think the Invisible Bookshelf ($10, reduced from $15) is one of the most clever inventions I've seen all year. But I'm really also digging its nearly invisible price tag! Although it looks like a magical illusion, there's actually nothing tricky to the bookshelf. You simply secure your largest book into the bracket, and then that bottom becomes the shelf itself. Bookcases are so last season, aren't they?

Steal of the Day: JCPenney Wide Leaning Bookshelf

casasugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:30:59 -0700

There are a variety of leaning bookcases out there in the home décor world, some of which would make a great desk for a small bedroom. But why shell out $399 for one when you can pay $99? The JCPenney 35" Wide Leaning Bookshelf ($99) is a pretty fab steal, made of engineered and solid wood with an outlet price. I like how it keeps things visually light (like the Invisible Bookshelf), a great alternative to heavy built-ins, but its tier of five shelves still offers ample storage. What do you think?

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

casasugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:49 -0700

Luxury publisher Assouline has teamed up with French trunkmaker Goyard to release a trunk custom-made to store 100 of Assouline's chic photo-biographies on art, fashion, design, and architecture. You can get your Goyard Trunk for the measly price of $20,000. Gotham magazine says, "You're guaranteed a great read as well as a chic tote." Well . . . I'd hope so for 20k. Tell me, if you had the dough, would you like one for yourself?

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

Absolutely – it's a collector's item! And gorgeous!

Maybe – if I really needed a tote, and wanted to read the books anyway.

Heck no – that's such a waste of money! I'd rather use my library card, thank you.

No, it's just not my style.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Cool Idea: Books As Décor

casasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:00:16 -0700

This weekend, when I stopped by the Berkeley Anthropologie, I was pleasantly surprised by the window display. Using old books (I'm hoping that these were books that would've been recycled, not ones that people still wanted to read), those clever Anthropologie folks folded individual pages, and then strung the books through their binding to hang them. They remind me a bit of paper chandeliers.

To get a closer look,

Before and After: A Color-Coordinated Bookcase

casasugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:15:39 -0700

Perhaps inspired by my own color-coordinated bookshelves, TeamSugar member Citygal decided to give her Ikea EXPEDIT bookcase a major overhaul of color!In under half an hour, her personal library was transformed from sloppy to sophisticated. She chose to go the rainbow route, beginning with red-toned books at the top, then to greens, blues, pinks, and finally whites and blacks at the bottom. Considering that her personal interests on her profile read "television, writing, books," it's no wonder that she's got a great collection — so why not show it off? In the past some of you have expressed that this method of organization is not for you. If that's the case, be sure to read my How-To on organizing your books. To see Citygal's reading rainbow,

Weird Furniture: Paperback Chair

casasugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:15:59 -0700

When you were deciding what you were wanting for your reading nook, you probably hadn't considered a chair made of paperback books. Myopic Books, a neighborhood bookstore in Providence, RI, did though. On display in their shop is this wacky chair made by artist David Karoff. With the exception of the wheels, all of the materials used to build the chair were recycled, including scrap metal and books from the discard bins at the local library. To keep the books in place, Karoff drilled holes through them, and slipped them onto the chair's (hidden) metal frame. I kind of love it, especially for a bookstore, but don't think it would work in my home. Would it work in yours?
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What You're Wanting: A Reading Nook

casasugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:00:30 -0700

I picked up a book by one of my favorite authors, Augusten Burroughs, a couple of months ago, but still haven't been able to "get into it." It just occurred to me that maybe the problem isn't the memoir itself, but my house. I really don't have a favorite reading nook that's cozy and pleasing enough to keep me focused — or maybe I need an Adderall prescription.
So, for this week's What You're Wanting, I want to know how you'd create the ultimate reading nook. What kind of chair(s), table, throws, accessories, lighting, bookshelves, or plants would you put in this space? Would you make room for a companion: a pet or a loved one? Or do you like to read in solitude? Add all the finds to your ShopStyle Living stylebook, and create a look tagged with the phrase My Reading Nook. Private message me if you have any questions. Oh, and as extra incentive, I'll give some Sugar schwag away to my favorite look!
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Cool Idea: Stacked Books Table Leg

casasugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:00:29 -0700

I recently attended a charity event at the Ted Baker store here in San Francisco. Given that Ted Baker is a purveyor of quirky British design, I wasn't surprised to find that the store itself was chock full of inspiration and original interior design ideas. One of these was a neon-green table with one leg built from a stack of books. Genius! Not only does the table just look cool, but it offers a fresh way to repurpose dusty old books. To add another dimension of authenticity to the store, the books used were British in nature, such as Britain's Offshore Islands, Great Britain, and Old English Customs. The weight of the metal table on the books and the fact that it had a sliver of metal leg at the top kept the leg from wobbling, but this might not be the case if you used other materials or a different table design. I did a little research and found a DIY for making table legs out of books, which involves drilling a hole through the books to fit a rod through; it's cool too but not as successful visually. The orange table beside it, which I did not get a photo of, had one leg that only went three-fourths of the way and sat on a slightly deflated basketball, which had been filled with cement or sand or something equally weighty for stability. Bloody marvelous.

Home Library: Bazaar Style

casasugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

After months of heated anticipation, I've finally had the blessing to read Bazaar Style, an interior design book from beloved Designer Spotlight, stylist Selina Lake, interiors writer Joanna Simmons, and interiors photographer Debi Treloar, which was just released in April. Chock full of salivating images of homes furnished with French flea market and Moroccan bazaar finds, alongside modern design classics, big-box buys, and inherited antiques, the book will reveal the potential in your beat-up furniture and a can of
paint, inspire you to paint the surround of a window to frame the view, and liberate you to break conventions, be it by setting your table with mismatched china, or duct taping fresh flowers to the wall. While the photography alone would be enough to sell me on this title, unlike some of its contemporaries, the ratio of editorial advice to image content is not negative, let alone meager; Lake and Simmons have channeled their industry expertise into hundreds of tips, suggestions, and solutions for achieving this unprecedented style in your home. To hear more about this impressive book and see some photos from it,

How-To: Organizing Your Books

casasugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:30:53 -0700

Unless you're of minimalist mindset, keeping books around can give your home a cozy look, add interest to a room, fill up empty space, make a place feel more like home, and reveal your personality to guests — not to mention keep you entertained. But when your library is simply causing visual and physical clutter in your home, it's time for a reassessment. It's time to hit the books! How you organize your books is another reflection of your personality — design-oriented, Type A, intellectual, etc, but actually logging down an inventory of your books will help you systematically and in case you lose track of them somehow. So, I'll give you a potpourri of options, and you can choose your own scent. To hear seven options,

Cool Idea: Open Book

casasugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0700

If, like me, you're always losing your page in your favorite novel, then Open Book (no price available) may be the perfect bookshelf for you. Designed by Nathan Wierink, this innovative and angular shelf lets you store books while keeping your place.

Home Library: Charlotte Moss's A Flair for Living

casasugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:30:28 -0700

Designer Spotlight Charlotte Moss's sixth book, A Flair for Living will be published by Assouline this May. The full color, large format volume shares her ideas on gracious style, exuberant entertaining, refined glamor, and home couture. Chock full of images of her elegant interiors, it is likely to inspire traditionalists. While my sneak peek at the book did open my eyes to several overlooked truths of decorating, such as, "A good mirror is a great investment. Every room can handle one," I was admittedly disappointed by the mass of editorial "fluff" (and uninspired graphic design).

Speaking of centerpieces, Moss writes, "Decorating a table is one of life's basic pleasures. Three meals a day means a lot of decorating practice. Begin with a beautiful set of white china, . . ." I find it hard to believe that a woman who runs a successful interior design company, a home boutique, and designs her own furnishings has the time to decorate her dining table everyday. But, much like the interiors she designs, Moss's new book is evidence that she places importance in the simple details of life and home, a skill we should all attempt to cultivate.
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Love It or Hate It? Bitossi Bookends

casasugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:17:12 -0800

Girl Meets Glamour spotted this Bitossi ceramic horse bookend on eBay. Made in Italy and featuring a brilliant-blue glaze, I think this bookend is pretty awesome. What's your take? Source

Love It or Hate It? Bitossi Bookends

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Home Library: Material World: Home Decor Projects For the Fabric Obsessed

casasugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:43:07 -0800

Since it's Hibernation month, I've been in the mood to hole up in my lair and finally get my long to-do list of home décor projects done. The arrival of Cat Wei's book, Material World: Home Décor Projects For the Fabric Obsessed ($15) in my mailbox hasn't help things much, because now my to-do is twice as long!
The book is a collection of 50 fun and inspirational projects from 20 international designers compiled by architect, interior designer, and television host (Trading Spaces Family) Cat Wei. While all of the projects do use fabrics, many of them don't require any sewing, so it's fit for both novice and seasoned sewers. Each project has a difficulty rating, so you'll know whether you're in over your head before you buy supplies. Some of the DIYs included show you how to customize things you already own, like fabric file folders and cord-wrapped waste baskets, while others show you to make chic home accents from scratch like oxford-shirt cushion covers and tomato-shaped floor pillows. The book is very user friendly with detailed instructions, visuals, templates, and supply lists for each project. I highly suggest it for anyone in the mood to get crafty with fabric this month.

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Gift Guide: Books for the Armchair Hostess

casasugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:00:50 -0800

If someone you know is suffering from a wealth of party theme ideas, a tendency to unnecessarily purchase cocktail dresses, or a habit of saving recipes she's never cooked, she may be an armchair hostess. If you tend to the problem now, she may have a chance at recovery. This awful affliction requires no medication to be cured, and only some light reading therapy. This holiday season, give your plagued friend the answer to her problems: a hostess book. Within days, hours even, you'll see your dear friend off of her lazy chair, actually using those dusty recipe tear-outs, renting dining chairs, and designing party invites with Photoshop. Below are the answers to her problems, which will most likely score you Saturday night plans this winter.

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Sale Alert: 20% Off Hennessey + Ingalls Books

casasugar — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 05:03:51 -0700

Hennessey + Ingalls, the largest art and architecture bookstore in the western United States, is now hosting their annual sale, offering customers 20% off all items through November 10. They have a huge selection of interior design titles, including books on minimalism, apartments, lofts, modern design, feng shui, storage, lighting, period styles, and books by all my favorite designers, from A to Z.

This Just In: Archivia Re-Opens

casasugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:59:39 -0700

If you're in New York and hankering for a good architecture, art, design, decorative arts, or garden book, stop by Archivia. Closed six years ago, the archicture and design bookstore has relocated to Lexington Avenue and doubled in size. Designers like Charlotte Moss and Carolina Irving have already visited. And as you might expect, the store, just like the books it showcases, is a testament to good design.

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Home Library: Decorating Is Fun!

casasugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:00:54 -0700

When I'm out junk-shopping, I love flipping through old home decorating books, both to get ideas and to scope out the timeless advice. So I can't resist this recently re-released interior-design guide Decorating Is Fun! How to Be Your Own Decorator ($23.10). Originally published way back in 1939, the book is precisely what it sounds like: a delightful celebration of decorating as a hobby, by famed hostess and designer Dorothy Draper.

Draper, who is known for her grandiose work at the Greenbriar Resort in West Virginia and the The Arrowhead Springs Resort in Southern California, popularized countless classic looks that still work wonderfully in modern homes, including black-and-white checkerboard floors and brightly colored front doors.

Home Library: Living Large in Small Spaces

casasugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:45:42 -0700

Ironically, this book by Marisa Bartolucci and Radek Kurzaj about making do in small homes is astonishingly big: nearly 400 pages, to be exact. Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet ($23.10) takes it name quite literally. Each chapter showcases a different living space, starting with a 100-square-foot dorm room and moving up in 50- or 100-foot increments until 1000 square feet never looked roomier.

The book is a must-have for anyone making creative use of limited space, but the homes contained within are so beautifully decorated, they could provide inspiration to anyone. You'll tour a tiny shotgun house in Houston, a 300-square-foot Manhattan apartment that manages to look classy despite being drenched in reddish orange, and designer Lotta Jansdotter's Victorian one-bedroom in San Francisco.

There are also countless ideas I've never seen before, and some I'll probably never see again, like a wet bar turned into a diaper-changing station and an old-timey boudoir with a bathroom sink. The trade-style paperback is also beautifully laid out and a joy to flip through.

Home Library: Creating a New Old House

casasugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:30:28 -0700

I love living in older buildings, which in contrast to new suburban homes make me say old-man things like "They just don't make houses like this anymore!" But admittedly, old homes do have their modern inconveniences. Russell Versaci's solution to that problem: designing new homes that look old, using traditional forms and salvaged architectural materials. His coffee table book, Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home ($26.37), makes a great case, with broad pages full of beautiful homes that you'd think were ages old if no one told you otherwise.

The book puts forth Versaci's pillars of new-old design, including working within architectural rules and using authentic details and durable materials. His points are illustrated immaculately by the gallery of homes that follow, including an 18th century German stone farmhouse/mansion, a Creole cottage with a pigeon roost, a Spanish-revival stucco in California, and a regal Maryland plantation. Even if you don't have the luxury of living in a new-old house, you'll get scads of decorating ideas on how to create the look in your own home.

Home Library: Creative Interiors Coloring Book

casasugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:37:47 -0700

You're never too old for coloring books, particularly if your coloring book can breed brilliant decorating ideas. So put down the magazines and design books for a minute and pick up this Rock Scissor Paper Creative Interiors Idea Journal and Coloring Book ($35). Designed for the kid (and design junkie) in all of us, this cute spiral-bound book includes line drawings of furniture, patterns, and interiors that you can "design" with the accompanying colored pencils. Those of you who keep a decorating file will also appreciate the pages of sketch and grid paper where you can jot down ideas.

Home Library: Budget Living Home Cheap Home

casasugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:26:01 -0700

I'm still mourning the demise of Budget Living magazine, which — in case you missed it — was one of the most wonderful and short-lived magazines ever. Guided by a "spend smart, live rich" philosophy, the surprisingly stylish periodical covered all things thrifty: cheap and chic fashion, entertaining on a budget, investing for dummies, and home decorating. The homes they featured were some of the most creative I've ever seen, and the fact that they were done on a budget made it even more impressive.

Thankfully, the editors left behind a book to remember them by, called Budget Living Home Cheap Home. I think it may be out of print, but you can find tons of copies online. If you opened to any page, you wouldn't know that this was an "on-the-cheap" decorating book: It looks more like a mix of stunning, chic design and DIY ideas.

Offering quick fixes and long-term solutions, the guide is divided up by room and style and features the best of Budget Living's home galleries. There's a crave-worthy living room that measures just 290 square feet, a Victorian mansion in the Catskills with a playful Addams Family look, and a bedroom decorated with massive collections of sock monkeys and ladies' gloves (trust me, it's awesome). I've gotten tons of ideas from Home Cheap Home about decorating and rearranging rooms, and it's also full of fun craft and home-improvement projects.

Did you ever read Budget Living? If so, have you checked out this book?

Home Library: Found Style

casasugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:30:33 -0700

I love incorporating found objects and beautiful old junk into home decor, but this style can easily look unkempt or chaotic if not done right. That's why anyone with a weakness for flea-market scavenging and junk collecting should check out Found Style: Vintage Ideas for Modern Living by David Butler and Amy Butler.

The charming, almost minimalist rooms featured in this captivating coffee table book offer some of the sleekest, chicest ideas I've ever seen for decorating with found objects. Page after page, Found Style presents clean palettes that balance vintage-y pieces with ultra-modern accents for rooms that are welcoming and novel. The publisher is currently out of stock of the book, but you can find a new and used copies on Amazon. To see a gallery of photos from Found Style,