CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Coveted Crib: Country Comfort in the City

casasugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:00:26 -0800

While this sprawling, comfy home seems like a mellow country abode, it's actually located in South London. That doesn't mean that it's without rural amenities such as chicken coop and garden, though. While the exterior is certainly fun and funky, the interior continues the country vibe with a lived-in arts and crafts style and fun vintage furniture finds. Take the complete tour when you check out the slideshow.
Source

DIY: Teacup Candles

casasugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0800

When I spotted these beautiful gold-trimmed antique tea cups at a flea market, I knew that I had to take them home. But how to use them? Instead of using them for a tea party, I decided to transform them into eco-friendly soy wax candles. Making them was super easy, and the most time-consuming part of the entire process was waiting for the layers of soy wax to dry. You can find all of the candle-making supplies at a craft store or candle/soapmaking supply store (such as Juniper Tree Supplies).

What You'll Need

antique, pretty teacups, with or without saucers
enough soy wax to more than fill each cup
essential oil for scent (I used Lily of the Valley)
wicks that equal your number of cups
double boiler
Pyrex cup or funnel
chopsticks or wooden skewers
stirring tool, such as a rubber scraper

To find out how to make it,

Guess the Decade

casasugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:53 -0800

The delightful site Found in Mom's Attic documents vintage advertising from the 20th century. I've rounded up some of the best home ads from the site. Can you guess which decade each ad is from? Source

Question 10

10 of 10

Which decade is this ad from?

The Correct Answer:

'50s

This ad is from 1950.

Before and After: A Vintage Chair Makeover

casasugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

TeamSugar member Sgdish had a plain vanilla, and stained, vintage armchair with a great frame that was just begging for a makeover. She decided to "be bold and choose two different coordinating fabrics" for reupholstery, but used the same fabric for the chair's trim as on its backside. The results are truly impressive and inspiring. To see the transformation,

Inspired: Vintage Circus Posters

casasugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I love the excitement, color, and sense of the unusual that's conveyed on vintage circus posters. These old posters, with their awesome illustrations, must've been a thrill for small-town kids, who probably waited all Summer for the big tent to set up in their town's park. While my favorite circuses today tend to not involve animals, I've always been drawn to the animal images from these circus posters.

To see more circus-inspired home finds,

Crave Worthy: Jayson Vintage Chair and Ottoman

casasugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I've never met a French furnishing I didn't like. The French are relentless purveyors of style, and they win me over again and again, be it with a Chanel frock or a Philippe Starck chair. The Jayson Home & Garden Vintage Chair and Ottoman ($2,995), seating from mid-20th century France reupholstered in dark gray linen, is no exception either. I love how this glamorous gilded Louis XV is juxtaposed with the masculine tone of the fabric. No, it's probably not the most comfortable chair and ottoman
on the block, but it would look darn good in my living room.

Etsy Find: Dessert Please Cake Plate

casasugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:00:39 -0700

You may not know this but Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods, also sells vintage items. When they first introduced vintage, I whined a little, saddened that it would no longer be 100 percent handmade. But, when I come across vintage items like this Dessert Please Cake Plate ($65), everything is okay in the world. You'll be hard pressed to find anything like this milk-glass beauty elsewhere, and if you do find a mass-produced version, retailers like Anthropologie will charge you upwards of $150 for it. I'd normally say that the combination of the rose garland, butterflies perched on top, raised polka dots, and teardrop doily plate are a bit too much, but this cake plate has a sort of Victorian, old-world charm that beguiles me.

How Would You . . .

casasugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:21:41 -0700

The original use of this set of Over-sized Vintage Painted Cages ($200) from the 1960s is unknown. But, they have a cheerful, carnival quality that could brighten up many homes. The possibilities for their use is endless; I'm seeing them hung as pendant shades in a long, narrow hallway, grouped to create a large chandelier, or perhaps strung from the trees as garden party décor. But, this post isn't about me is it? I want to know how you would use them in your home. Would you give them a function? Use them as lighting? Actually use them as birdcages? Or simply use them as décor? How would you temper their color, and keep them from overwhelming the eye? Or would you paint them to match your color scheme? Tell me by commenting below!

What Would It Take?

casasugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:59 -0700

This is an unusual table, to say the least. What would it take to convince you to integrate this vintage folk art crab table ($3200) into your home's décor?

What Would It Take?

Money. Lots and lots of money.

I'd put it in a beach house.

I'd put it in my house . . . as a joke!

What are you talking about? I love this!

Other, I'll tell you in the comments.

This Just In: Jayson Home & Garden European Flea Market Launches Online

casasugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Today marks the launch of the Jayson Home & Garden European Flea Market online. Thanks to the keen eyes over at Jayson, these rare finds — a mix of timeless European furniture and lighting, antique prints and oil paintings, gilded mirrors, hotel silverware, and more —have made their way from Europe and beyond to Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The market has been running locally there since April 18^th, but that's no fun for non-Illinois folk, so I’m ecstatic to see it all just a click away in my browser. Abbe over at Jayson Home & Garden was nice enough to share photos of the market, which you can get a peek at below.

To see the rare finds I’m craving the most,

Crave Worthy: Paul McCobb Velvet Sofa

casasugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:56 -0700

As I've mentioned before, I have a slight addiction to velvet furniture. This Paul McCobb velvet sofa ($5,000) is no exception. McCobb, who was known for his practical, flexible designs, worked in the US after WWII and catered to middle-class buyers, though since then his designs have been more coveted (and pricey). This vintage McCobb sofa is upholstered in a dreamy celedon hue, and features gorgeous curves, button tufting, and pretty plunging arms. I'm also rather attached to those slender legs as well. If you're in LA, head over to NoHo Modern to test this beauty out in person.

Less or More: Industrial Cart Tables

casasugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:00:32 -0700

For the next installment of this game, take a look at each of these industrial cart tables, and then see if you can answer my questions about them.

Love It or Hate It? Tree On Waves Pillow

casasugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:25:10 -0800

The Tree on Waves pillow ($95) from Ouno Designs is evocative of 1970s-style California Dreamin'. I don't know if I could pull off the orange-and-brown color scheme in my house, but it does bring a nostalgic smile to my face.

Love It or Hate It? Tree On Waves Pillow

Love It

Hate it

Undecided