PopSugar

The Red Bedroom Two Ways: Modern and Romantic

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:30:51 -0800

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary, and for most of us, that means decorating it to fit our needs and personal tastes. Most of us see our bedrooms as a place to relax, unwind, and seek a little romance. With those needs in mind, I've put together two different looks using a color palette of red, white, and black.

For the first look, I used modern, clean-lined furniture, such as the Modernica Case Study Easy Chair and the Queen Bergere Bed. Some quirky artwork above the bed gives the room a needed sense of whimsy.

For my red and romantic look, read more.

For this look, I chose venetian mirrors, a Jason Black Velvet Napoleon Chair, and a decadent, gorgeous chandelier. I love the moody, feminine feel to this room.

What's your style? Are you more of a red romantic, or a red modernist? Or is red not your favorite color in the boudoir?

Roundup: Your Tips on Keeping Toasty

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:30:11 -0800

Last weekend, I asked you for your tips on staying cozy and warm in the Winter months at your home. I shared that I often bring a space heater into the bathroom in the morning to keep the room warm while I'm showering (and to take the icy edge off of that tile floor). Many of you also responded with some fun comments on your Winter weather nesting tips.

kpelli73 shared, "Wool socks, a fire in the fireplace, blanket made by my grandmother, cup of hot tea, and a good book = super cozy day"
manxy said, "Fire in the fireplace, something cooking in the crockpot, maybe cinnamon buns in the oven (or some other bread product) all helps for a cozy home during the winter."
An anonymous commenter offered, "I light candles, put on warm fuzzy socks, sweats and a sweatshirt, and cuddle up under my micro-fleece blanket on the couch with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate, and a good book or movie."
mzizit wrote, "first get a warm shower . . . with drying off just enough to not be "dripping wet" but on baby oil . . . massage into moist skin . . . put on some sweats . . . and nuzzle up in a comfy place to read . . . either a book or on the net . . . that layer of oil is a great body insulator . . . keeps me toasty warm . . . (oatmeal helps too, keeps the inside warm) . . . great question."
postmodernsleaz said, "Fire in the fireplace, cozy flannels, wool socks, cozy slippers, hot tea, a book (classics are cozier, no?), and maybe some hot thick soup (chili, split pea, potato cheese, chicken tortilla). And of course, the ultimate cold day remedy - long, hot bath"
esmerb wrote, "Socks, sweater and blanket!"
ella1978 listed, "LOTS of blankets. Fuzzy slippers w/soles (so that your feet never touch the cold tile or hardwood). Warm sweaters/fleece. Hot Tea/decaf coffee. Small room heaters. In our bedroom, we put a heating blanket on the bed, run a small heater for an hour before bedtime, and run a humidifier while we sleep."
chloe bella offered, "One thing that really helps lower heating costs - if you have a guest room you rarely use, close off the vents in there and keep the door closed. As far as keeping warm, always make sure to dry your hair as soon as you get out of the shower, always wear socks around the house, and drink lots of hot tea and cocoa!"
Prof B Arahend gave some couple-oriented cozy advice: "Henessy or other fine brandy slowly sipped out of a hand-warmed, proper snifter does something to you that warms most people and makes them cozy (and randy). One such glass or two over the course of an entire evening is enough to have you making out in public and not noticing anything but the heat off her/his body, the amazing connection of the kiss . . . Cannot guarantee results, but on the last three times I tried it I did very well. For best results be over 21, have your sh*t together, know how to make conversation and enjoy in a room with lots of red velvet and candlelight , (or oriental rugs and books)."

So, did our readers miss anything? If so, add your ideas in the comments!

Source: Flickr User mccheek

Ask Casa: A Color Palette Query

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:47 -0800

Hi Casa,

I am moving into an apartment soon with roommates and want some help decorating. I get my own room and can style it any way I want but can't decide on the color palette.

I love dark moody lounge type colors (dark grays, reds, purples, etc.) and bright bold colors for furniture, but the room is not that big. I'm scared the dark colors would shrink it even more. Not a big fan of light pastel colors since most of my rooms in the past has been light blues and such but I love different shades of white. I'm aiming for a space where I can dim the lights and put on some music and chill but at the same time can transition into a workspace. Any suggestions? Thanks, Tiffany

To see my suggestions for Tiffany, read more.

Hi Tiffany,

What a great question for Color Theory month! If you remember my post on cool colors, the hues that range from blue-green to blue-violet, including gray, you know that cool colors tend to recede, which has a calm and relaxing effect. Warm colors, the hues from red through yellow, browns and tans included, on the other hand, advance, with a more stimulating effect. So to achieve the effect you're looking for, you should paint your walls in cool colors.

Take note, cool vs. warm is not the same as light vs. dark - it's about the actual hue. That's not to say you can't use dark colors. But if you do, just pick one that's more blue, green, or gray, or a purple that's more violet, instead of a dark red or brown.

Then, you can use lighting to turn your dark and moody bedroom into a stimulating workspace. Obviously your workspace should be bright, whether your set your desk near a window or just have proper overhead lighting. But you can actually purchase tinted bulbs, for instance soft pink, to bring warm colored (stimulating) tones to your workspace.

I like your concept of using bright bold colors on furniture. Whatever dark moody wall color you choose, just choose complementary colors (on the opposite side of the color wheel) for your bold furniture pieces.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Casa

Source and Source

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:46 -0700

This house is full of delightful pops of orange and red. - AT:LA
Make a reusable Swiffer cover. - Craft
Find a throw blanket made from a vintage sari. - Re-Nest
Get some ideas for green tricks and treats. - Danny Seo
Tour a cozy Paris apartment. - Decor8
Learn more about HGTV's Antonio Ballatore. - ShelterPop
Check out 20 great bedrooms. - The Nest

Chelsy Smiles With Royal Pals at Chinawhite

PopSugarUK — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:58:26 -0700

Royalty, socialites and music stars all gathered in London last night to celebrate the re-opening of Chinawhite. Natalie Imbruglia wore a red lace dress from Pearl Lowe's Peacocks range, while Princess Beatrice combined red with blue, black and white. Chelsy Davy went for an all-black ensemble as did Jo Wood, Leah Wood and Sara McDonald, who looked like she was having great fun with Noel Gallagher! Chelsy has plenty of reasons to smile, as she's back with Prince Harry and her father has bought her a £1.65million two-bedroom flat in Belgravia.

To see more pictures of the partygoers, just read more.

View 10 Photos ›

Dave M. Benett/Getty Images and XposureUncut.com

Inspired: Fall Colors

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:30:11 -0700

Turning leaves, golden grassy fields, and frost-crisped trees all help me to get into the Autumn spirit. But why leave that inspiration outside in the cold? Instead, transfer those colors to the coziest room in your house: the bedroom. With orange, red, yellow, and brown bedding, you can truly get into the Autumn spirit.

Start with these Marimekko Mojave Sheets (on sale for $19.95 to $99.95). Designed exclusively for CB2 by Marimekko designer Erja Hirvi, this Scandinavian take on Autumn leaves is crisp, cozy, and perfectly appropriate for the season.

Want more bedding that celebrates Fall colors? Then read more.

Source: Flickr User PhareannaH

On the Market: Spend Some Green on this Green Day House

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:57:25 -0700

While Green Day lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong may hail from working-class roots, his Bay Area home, which is now on the market for $4.85 million, shows that he's certainly not living on a boulevard of broken dreams.
I wouldn't read anything into the decor of the house, or Armstrong's punk sensibilities (or lack thereof), since I'm sure that this house has been staged within an inch of its life. Whoever staged it seems to have taken a little too much inspiration from Napa Style, Pottery Barn, and a really unfortunate mix of poorly sourced Moroccan influences.

The house itself isn't bad, though it's certainly not one of my favorite celebrity homes. To see why, and to view lots of interior and exterior photos, read more.

Located in the swanky Upper Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, the Mediterranean-style five-bedroom, four- and two-half bath home spreads across 7,000 square feet on a nearly 1/2 acre double lot. Built a little more than 10 years ago, the home features a pool, pool house, and professional music studio.

The listing for the property notes that the "original Julia Morgan steps [are] intact." Armstrong's house was built on the site of Red Gate, a gorgeous mansion built for Charles Wells by one of my favorite architects, Julia Morgan. The home apparently burned down in the 1991 Oakland fires. And while I'm sure that Mark Becker, the architect commissioned by Armstrong to build his home, is a fine designer and builder, hardly anyone can, in my opinion, compare to Julia Morgan's sublime style.

The home is being shown this month by appointment only, and if you have the dollars and the down payment, you can make an appointment here.

View 16 Photos ›

Source

Learn to Love: Watermelon

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:32:43 -0700

I was accused of being unpatriotic when I expressed a distaste for watermelon at an Independence Day barbecue a few years ago. My hostess forced a piece upon me, and I have been eating the melon ever since. Which is a boon to my diet, since there are so many healthful reasons to love this melon.

For starters, this red and juicy melon is one of the few foods high in the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene, along with tomatoes and pink grapefruit - remember, antioxidants also provide color to fruits and veggies along with phytonutrients. Watermelon is also a low-calorie food and one cup of melon balls contains just under 50 calories. Being 92 percent water, the melon makes for a great post-workout treat on a hot day since it will help replace fluids lost through sweating.

Considered a cooling food, the yellow variety of watermelon might help you heat things up in the bedroom. Research out of Texas (the largest producer of the seedless variety of the melon) indicates that watermelon has an effect on the human body similar to Viagra. Learn more.

How-To: Get Into Albert Hammond Jr.'s Bedroom

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:00:25 -0700

The bedroom of any member of The Strokes is something that millions of girls (including Yours Truly) have dreamt of seeing. So, it's my pleasure to announce that you're all one step closer to Albert Hammond Jr.'s sheets - but not if I beat you to it. Hammond has put his 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom, 1.5-bath East Village apartment on the market for $899,000. The property was originally listed for $1.2 million last August, but you know how the housing market is these days. Even though the guitarist and solo artist may not come with the deal, I'd be happy to own his digs (if not his heart). Bright, oversize windows and high-beamed ceilings give it a loft-like feeling and terrific views of the hipsters in Alphabet City. I'm loving the retro red bar stools and blue kitchen tile. Fabulous California Closets, used to store the menswear designer's extensive collection of three-piece suits, are also a plus. Oh, and aspiring rockstar girlfriends, there's bike storage in the basement to keep your fixed-gear safe. See pics when you read more.

View 7 Photos ›

Source and Source

Ask Casa: Serena van der Woodsen's Bedroom

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:00:28 -0700

Hey Casa,
I was wondering if you could give me some tips on how to get bedroom décor like Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl!
Thanks!
amloveaffair

To hear my suggestions for amloveaffair, read more.

Hi amloveaffair,
That's a great question! I love Serena's room. I don't blame you for wanting to get the look. I've covered snippets of Serena's bedroom before (here, here, and here) in my Get the Looks, but never in its entirety. So, thanks for giving me the opportunity!
Here are a few more items that will help you recreate Serena's posh bedroom!
The Pier 1 Vercelli Chest ($499) is a red, Asian-inspired, hand-painted dresser much like Serena's. Check out this widget for wallpaper, bedding, and lighting like Serena's.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Source and Source