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Crave Worthy: Anna Olsen's Kitchen

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:53 -0800

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Smörgåsbord.

I adore Anna Olsen's colorful kitchen and confess to only watching her cooking show so I can drool over her Le Creuset collection. So preeeetty.

Want to see more? Start following Smörgåsbord or start your own OnSugar Blog. Maybe your stories will be posted here on CasaSugar!

Do You Enjoy Cooking in Other People's Kitchens?

partysugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:10 -0700

Although it can be tough not knowing where the whisk or baking sheets are, I often find myself making meals in a kitchen that's not my own. I don't mind cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen; I look at it as a challenging adventure and even enjoy wearing the vintage apron that came along with the kitchen! How about you?

Cool Idea: Stenciled Shelving

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:32 -0700

I recently stumbled upon Craftster member Retroeva's post on her kitchen makeover. While I love the new look, my absolute favorite part of the kitchen is Retroeva's stenciled open shelving.

As you know, I'm a big fan of open shelving. I especially love it when a homeowner paints the back wall of the shelving with a contrasting color, or adds wallpaper to the wall. However, until now, I'd never realized the potential oomph that a well-chosen stencil could give this kitchen feature.

Want to see the reset of Retreva's fabulous kitchen? Then read more.

Retroeva writes, "After much debate I decided to paint my kitchen red, so I stalked the paint sections at the hardware store and pillaged the paint chips to tape on the wall to gawk at as the sun made its way through the sky and decided on Eddie Bauer's 'Crimson' which is part of his bungalow collection at Lowes. This is the second color of that line that I've worked with and I'm pleased."

I'd be pleased as well! The kitchen looks fabulous. Nice work, Retroeva!

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Q&A With Dream Kitchen Architect Cass Calder

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:00:16 -0700

Earlier today, I told you about Sunset magazine's Dream Kitchen Contest. Now, I want to introduce you to the man behind the Dream Kitchen's designs, San Francisco architect Cass Calder Smith.

Cass Calder Smith's firm, CCS Architecture, has been building and renovating modern spaces for almost 20 years. The San Francisco-based firm concentrates on commercial and residential projects, as well as kitchen design. A native of New York City, Cass has lived in California since 1972. The son of an Academy Award-winning filmmaker and a California landscape painter and designer, his childhood was influenced by both Greenwich Village intellectuals and rural California artisans, and he draws inspiration from history’s great architects and cities as well as the epic filmmakers of the last century. Cass was kind enough to answer some questions about Sunset magazine's Dream Kitchen, as well as kitchen design in general.

To check out the interview, read more.

CasaSugar: How did Sunset come up with the idea for the Dream Kitchen?

Cass: It's an offshoot of their dream house, but more specific. It also has an interactive design process that connects the design to their readers.

CasaSugar: Who owns the dream house?

Cass: DeMattei Construction is building the house as a spec home. It will be sold once the kitchen is completed. Right now, everything in the home is finished except for the kitchen.

CasaSugar: What is the architectural style/features of the San Jose home where the dream kitchen will be installed?

Cass: It's a new house with a Craftsman look and feel. The house is about 3,300 square feet with four bedrooms and four baths.

CasaSugar: What features do you think are essential for a home kitchen?

Cass: Everyday livability. It needs to be a social space for a family to do much more than cooking and eating. The Dream Kitchen is connected and fully open to the family room, so it's very much a large family room with a kitchen in it. Aside from that, the appliances and the cabinet configurations are very important.

CasaSugar: What do you think is extraneous for a home kitchen?

Cass: I don't like overly fancy finishes that are not in sync with the rest of the house.

CasaSugar: What are three things that every home owner should add if the kitchen is being renovated?

Cass: 1) Island for prep; 2) a second sink for clean up with its own dishwasher; 3) sexy/functional appliances.

CasaSugar: What flooring do you prefer for kitchens?

Cass: I like whatever is also being used in the adjacent rooms or areas . . . this tends to be wood, but I also like slab stone if it's honed.

CasaSugar: What do you see as smart new kitchen trends?

Cass: Appliance garages, nice hoods that add rather than detract, walk-in pantries, overall design as social spaces.
CasaSugar: I love the simplicity of the Pt. Reyes kitchen on your website; are you a fan of open shelving, such as the shelving shown in this home’s kitchen?

Cass: Yes I am, because most kitchens have lots of doored cabinets. Open shelving opens a kitchen up, and exposes the home owner's lifestyle, making it more casual.

CasaSugar: What are you hoping to see in the future in terms of kitchens in your work?

Cass: I'd like to see more specific kitchens that are related to each client's dreams and desires. For me, this means live fire cooking.

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Do You Have a TV in Your Kitchen?

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:15:57 -0700

When I complained to my mother the other day about what an impatient cook I am, she told me that my aunt passes cooking time by watching TV in the kitchen. I'm not a big television watcher, but the conversation left me wondering how many of you have a TV in your kitchen. Do you watch television while cooking or eating in the kitchen?

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Yummy Links: From Liqurious to Stephanie Izard

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:45:19 -0700

The creators of Tastespotting now bring you liqurious, a place to share your most lovely-looking concoctions. - Liqurious
This summer surprise your family with homemade drumsticks. - Baking Bites
Planning a trip to Europe? Be sure to dine outdoors. - Forbes Traveler
Ten delicious ways to use honey. - Glam Dish
Hosting a party should be fun not stressful. Here's how to become a frazzle-free hostess. - Simply Stated
Transform your kitchen into a modern rustic haven. - CasaSugar
You don't need to break the bank to enjoy imported wines, especially if you drink these luscious bottles. - Chow
Guess who Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard has a celebrity chef crush on? - People

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Foodie Flashback: Dream Kitchens

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:03:31 -0700

The annual International Home and Housewares Show begins next week in Chicago. Each year there are always a lot of interesting gadgets and gizmos - I'm sure we'll be hearing about a lot of items for our What Is This game - as it seems that everyone has something innovative up their sleeves.

Every time I think about innovative new kitchen gizmos, I always end up thinking of those vintage 1960s Kitchen of Tomorrow type of videos. So I decided to find a good one on YouTube when I came across this video for "Dream Kitchen" by Frazier Chorus. The song samples old kitchen commercials and the video is made up entirely of 1960s futuristic kitchen clips. It's a lot of fun, and answers the age-old question of "What is a kitchen anyway?"

To check out the video for yourself, read more.

Yummy Links: From Baked Apples to Organized Kitchens

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:01:13 -0800

Looking for a delicious, but healthy dessert? Try baked apples. - FitSugar
Does the world really need more fancy-pants restaurants? - Serious Eats
Why do we shun pasta? Here are two common pasta myths debunked. - Culinate
Love Dogs? Love Wine? Then join the Dog Lovers Wine Club. - PetSugar
Set your Tivos! Top Chef 4 starts March 19th. - Blogging Top Chef
This is a ridiculously simple tip, but one that will make sure you never forget your lunch again. - The Kitchn
How green is your takeaway container? - Chow
Get some quick tips on how to organize your kitchen. - CasaSugar

Reader Poll - Horizontal Kitchens: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:43:31 -0700

Kitchen Goddess group creator Twinkle, recently mentioned how trendy horizontal kitchens have become in her neck of the woods. Although she likes the way they look, she wonders about their practicality. She also wonders what you think of them. So do tell, do you love the idea or hate it?

5 Sexy Bar Tools For the Aspiring Bar Chef

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:30:46 -0800

Recently, a good friend has become quite enamored with the art of the bar. He's got a small kitchen and basic ingredients, but every time he hosts happy hour with a signature cocktail, it always steals the show.
This holiday, I'm looking forward to surprising him with a few essentials that will help transform his bar from typical to remarkable. Read on for some supplies that will thrill any mixologist.

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