PopSugar

Do You Use a Chest For a Coffee Table?

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:09 -0700

I love the idea of using a chest instead of a simple table in the living room. Not only does it add an unexpected element to the room, but it also provides great, hidden storage for games, blankets, CDs, or DVDs. This particular chest (which I love - is that a checkers board pattern embedded in the top?) is from Lovely_1's new home, which you can tour here.

Ask Casa: Best Ways to Store Vinyl?

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:39 -0700

Hi Casa,

I recently had the idea to start a record collection because I found some old vinyl albums that belonged to my parents and I live near a record store, and I also have a few CDs as well.

I was keeping one of my favorite vinyls in my bedroom but for some reason when I took it out of the cover it had cracked, now I'm wondering what is the best way to store vinyl records so this does not happen again as well as possible ways to store my CDs.

Do you have any design or organization tips? I've checked out Ikea or the Container Store but I don't want a bunch of separate containers scattered all over my room and I live with my parents so I can't just put a music collection in another room. Any ideas?

Thank you,
Peachy

To hear my suggestions for Peachy, read more.

Hi Peachy,

Between my husband and me, we probably have around 1,000 vinyl records at our house (at a minimum), so I understand your concerns! We used custom-made shelves that we bought inexpensively and stained (you can see them on the right side of this photo). Check out our other music storage solutions here.

Another great, inexpensive way to store records is by heading to Ikea and picking up some Expedit shelves. Record geeks note that each space holds 90-100 albums, so that should easily accommodate your needs (and the need to grow your collection).

I also love the solution that Gemma Ahern used in her apartment, which you can see in the top photo. She simply used a floating wall shelf from Ikea that she hung at a height about an inch above the height of a record, and then painted the shelf to blend in to the wall. This created instant storage, as well as space for books, a turntable, and sculptural objects.

As far as keeping your records in tip-top shape, always store them upright (not stacked) encased in the sleeve and a plastic or paper insert. Keep them out of direct sunlight, and if your record happens to warp, place it between two pieces of heavy glass, and lay it in mild sunshine for several hours, until the record lies flat.

Does anyone else have a brilliant storage solution? Tell Peachy about it in the comments!

Cheers,
Casa

Source

The Little Girl, The Doll and The Wardrobe

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:18 -0700

Give your girl and her dolls a wardrobe of their own! Before tossing the playthings' clothing and accessories in another plastic tub, consider investing in an authentic doll chest that will neatly hold the items and allow lil hands to access them without dumping everything on the floor. Like the trunks our mothers and grandmothers used generations ago, these armoires are designed to showcase the dolls' precious duds while teaching their owners about the importance of caring for their things. Whether opting for a wicker hamper ($65) or a sturdier wooden piece, these keepsakes create order and are easy on the eyes.

How Many Flash Drives Do You Own?

GeekSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:05:26 -0700

I'm all "keyed up" over this keyring flash drive. Get it? Keyed? Anyway, I have a thing for flash drives, but my problem (which I'm sure most of you can relate to), is that the things are so small that I end up misplacing them. And let's face it - if I've backed up some important docs on there, that's really not a good situation to be in.

But if I had this LaCie Iamkey 4GB flash drive, then I could back up that important content from my laptop and I'd always know where it is. Well, unless I lost my keys that is.

I know I've got a whole drawer full of flash drives just waiting to be used, so it had me wondering - how many flash drives do you own?

3 Ways to Back Up Your Data

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:06:07 -0700

Computer crashes are probably the most devastating event of a person's technological life. Not to mention one of the most expensive. So how many times do I gotta tell ya? Back up that data! It's easy to do, and once you do it, you'll not only have peace of mind but will have all of your photos, music, and personal documents safely out of your computer in case of any crazy power surge or (knock on wood) worse. Check out three easy ways to back up your most important data in this slideshow.

View Slideshow ›

A Place For Everything and Everything in Its Place: BackPack

GeekSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:25:49 -0700

OK, so I know aesthetics aren't everything, but even though I bought myself a nice-looking external hard drive to back up all my data, sometimes I just want to find a safe place to keep it out of the way and off my clean desk. If this sounds familiar to you, and you have an iMac or a cinema display, listen up: the BackPack is here to save you.

The BackPack attaches to the backside of your iMac's stand, and is height adjustable, so you can secure two or maybe even three shelves on the back of your machine. Store your external, your phone or iPod while they charge, or even a USB hub for more plug-in ports. And don't worry about scratches - there's no drilling or screws involved. I'm all about saving and utilizing space to the max, and for $30 bucks, you know I've got this on this year's back-to-school list.

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Casa Quickie: Roll With It

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:00:47 -0700

There's only so much we can do to make our storage look pretty without calling in California Closets for a pricey custom mahogany masterpiece - like Debi Mazar's shoe paradise. But just because you gotta work with what you got doesn't mean you're at a loss. When it comes to storing towels, roll them and stack them instead of folding them. This is not only the tightest way to store them, but the prettiest. And if, like me, you care about things like wrinkles, you'll be happy to know that "rolling with it" prevents those pesky creases and folds.

Source: Flickr User the_amanda

Cool Idea: Lockers as Wine Storage

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0700

I recently made a stop by the Roshambo Winery tasting room in Sonoma and noticed a peculiar thing. Keeping with the winery's offbeat aesthetic, a gang of vintage school lockers had been used as vino storage to create a retro, industrial feel. As it turns out, the lockers are the ideal depth to house a stack of wine bottles. Better yet, each shelf and locker allows for compartmentalization, so you can keep your sauv blanc separate from your cabernet. And if you'd like to keep the good stuff safe from the kids, you can always use a lock and key. Try salvage shops and 1st Dibs for vintage lockers. Or stop by your local school and see if they've got any to spare.

How-To: Store Your Household Batteries

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:00:17 -0700

Like humans, batteries are perishable products that deteriorate from the start of their lives. But, like eating well and using SPF, there are a few things you can do to slow their aging. Following an old wives' tale, my grandmother always kept her batteries in the freezer. As it turns out, that's not an ideal place to store them. Learn how to store your batteries when you read more.

Batteries should be kept in a cool, dry place - ideally around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Contrary to my grandmother's practice, Duracell and Kodak agree that batteries should not be kept in the freezer. You can store them in a refrigerator, but to prevent condensation you should keep in them a sealed plastic bag. Definitely do not store them in a warm place; this will inhibit their performance.
Whenever possible, keep your batteries in their original packaging.
Store batteries with their negative and positive terminals AWAY from each other, so that they're not conducting idly.
Keep lithium and nickel-based batteries stored at a 40 percent charge.
Store new and old batteries separately. If you store them together, power will be drawn from the new one, shortening its life.
Leave any plastic caps on your batteries (like the 9V ones) on until you need to use them.
If you are not going to be using any battery-operated appliance for a month, remove the appliance's batteries and make sure to store them as stated above.

Love It or Hate It? Lectus Pile of Books

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:15:20 -0700

Lectus Pile of Books ($811), a side table by Swedish designer Josefin Hellström-Olsson, offers storage in each of its stacked books. It's a little "out there" but I can see it making a statement in a modern home. What do you think?