CasaSugar

Meg Ryan Reduces the Price of Her Bel-Air Mansion

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:11 -0700

Nearly a year ago to date, I let you know that Meg Ryan had listed her six-bedroom, seven-bath Bel-Air home for the tune of $19.5 million. With no bites, she took it off the market in February. Now, she's relisted the property with a new real estate agent, knocking the price down to $14.2 million. Even though Meg's been reeling in the big-screen bucks since the '80s, I suspect that even for her, a $5 million loss makes a difference. Think of all the Joe Versus the Volcano-style vacations she could take with that moola!

The listing for the Holmby Hills-area Spanish-style compound reads:

Museum quality restoration of a classic Spanish estate sited on promontory with wide open city and ocean views across layers of greenery. Wonderful arches, resort-like grounds and complete privacy. Stenciled and painted wood ceilings, tiles, ironwork, rich wood floors, doors and windows, arches, etc. French doors throughout open to loggia, dining pavilion, expansive lawn and pool. Stunning kitchen, generous living room and dining room, separate bar room, two family rooms and screening room.

To see interior and exterior photos of the property, read more.

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This Just In: Meg Ryan Publicly Lists Her Bel-Air Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:28:17 -0700

Meg Ryan has publicly listed her six-bedroom, seven-bath Bel-Air home for the tune of $19.5 million, according to Big Time. The property has been informally on the market as a "pocket listing" for some time, and has been shown to a slew of celebs including the Beckhams and Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, but the price was never right. The listing for the Holmby Hills-area Spanish-style compound reads:

Truly enchanting and romantic. A gated and private drive is the approach to this 1931 restored Spanish compound. Features include: double story stenciled beamed LR, a bar "a la" 1930's Los Angeles, Frml DR and superb Cook's kitchen; All rooms open to and overlook the 180o vu of the city. Incredibly pvt knoll setting with Pool and full GH. Family/Guest BRs have en suite baths & Mstr is separate and Exquisite! A Screening room w/separate entrance.

I'm dying to see the interior, but unfortunately there are no photos. The exterior is breathtaking though, and looks straight out of a scene from Under the Tuscan Sun (come on, you all know you loved it). Check out more exterior photos when you read more.

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On The Market: Nicolas Cage Relists Bel Air Manse

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:51 -0700

Nicholas Cage is one busy real estate hobbyist. Having put his Vegas manse on the market in July, he's now relisting his sprawling Bel Air mansion. Previously owned by such legends as Tom Jones and Dean Martin, Cage bought the mansion from Jones in 1998 for $6.49 million. I'm not exactly sure what huge changes Cage has made to the place, but they've got to be extensive to justify the initial asking price of $35 million. To get the details on this Bel Air English manor-style mansion, read more.

The nine-bedroom, nine-bath, 11,817 square-foot mansion, which is now back on the market at a reduced asking price of $29.99 million, features a wine cellar, Olympic-sized pool, and a theater. Cage, who owns properties across the world, piqued my interest last year with his purchase of a haunted NOLA house.
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Meg Ryan Publicly Lists Her Bel-Air Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:26:37 -0700

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Love It or Hate It? Jonathan Adler Barbie

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:48 -0700

Since Jonathan Adler has already designed a real-life Malibu dream house, it stands to reason that the designer would follow through with his own line of Barbie accessories, and even his version of the doll herself. The Jonathan Adler Barbie doll ($49.95) comes wearing a chic Adler-patterned trapeze top, along with miniature versions of real Jonathan Adler pieces, including a stylish Channing End Table, Bel Air Table Lamp, Three Stripes Vases, a Lacquer tray, and a Lacquer Barbie Silhouette Mirror. Do you love it, or know a little Barbie-loving girl who might?

Designer Profile: Michael S. Smith

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:53 -0800

Last week, I told you that Michael S. Smith had been chosen as the Obamas' White House designer. I can't tell you how thrilled I am by their choice. Smith blends modern comfort with a timeless elegance, and I'm excited that a Californian will be decorating the capital residence.
Smith, who divides his time between Los Angeles and New York, honed his designing chops at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Although just 44 years old, Smith has already received many prestigious awards, including Architectural Digest’s The AD 100 in 2002 and 2004 and 2003 Designer of the Year from Elle Decor. Smith's work has also graced the pages of Elle Decor Magazine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Town and Country, Domino, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, and W. Smith's new book, Houses, offers advice on decorating your own home through the example of 20 projects, including Smith's own Bel Air residence.

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This Just In: Domino Magazine Announces White House Decorator

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:36:32 -0800

My favorite interior decorating magazine, Domino, has just announced the news that Los Angeles-based decorator Michael Smith has been given the nod for designing President-elect Barack Obama and family's private White House quarters. Although a formal announcement should come later in the week, a spokesperson from President-elect Obama’s transition team confirmed the selection with Domino.

Smith, whose clients include Steven Spielberg, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Cindy Crawford, is notable for his elegant mixing of both old and new world styles to create sophisticated yet comfortable interiors. His new book, Houses, offers advice on decorating your own home through the example of 20 projects, including Smith's own Bel Air residence.

To get a peek at Smith's style, read more.

Deborah Needleman, Domino’s editor in chief, said of the Obamas’ choice of Smith, “It will be exciting to see Michael Smith’s great talent for making grand spaces intimate and livable at work in the White House. Smith’s interiors mix furniture and art from a broad range of periods and styles in a way that is harmonious and modern. Smith has the right amount of reverence for the past and faith in the future that will hopefully allow the rooms to reflect both the history of our nation and the executive mansion and the change and progress that the Obamas want to bring to America.”

Head over to Domino's site to check out in-depth slideshows about Michael and his work.

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This Just In: Nicolas Cage Lists Two New Orleans Properties

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:30:36 -0800

Prolific real estate investor Nicolas Cage is on the loose on a wild selling spree. Cage has already put his Las Vegas, Bel-Air, and Rhode Island properties on the market, and today we have news that he's listed his two properties in New Orleans. According to WDSU and Real Estalker, Cage has listed his historical property (shown right) in New Orleans's French Quarter, the most haunted home in the neighborhood, in addition to a Garden District mansion. The haunted home, known as the LaLaurie House (which I wrote about here), is listed for $3.9 million, $400,000 more than he paid for it in April 2007. To hear about the other property and see photos, read more.

The listing for Cage's 13,176-square-foot, six-bedroom, five-full-and-two-half-bath Garden District mansion, which was once an active Catholic chapel, reads:

The most superlative of Garden District mansions with the best of every amenity. Ample room for a large family and big-time entertainment venue with formal gardens, parking, and everything anyone could possibly want in a most grand of grand, star-quality home.

It also features a pool and central air, which are ideal for the broiling NOLA heat. If the house looks familiar, it's probably because I quizzed you on the owner of it once, as it was once owned by gothic novelist Anne Rice. I've passed by the property hundreds of times myself and I can tell you it's an idyllic example of New Orleans architecture; I'd love to see interior photos.

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On the Market: Kelsey Grammer's Flipping Out

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:30:35 -0700

It seems as if both Nicolas Cage and Kelsey Grammer are fans of English country-style estates. Nicolas Cage's British look-alike recently went on the market in Bel Air, and Kelsey Grammer and his wife have put their Holmby Hills English estate on the market for $19.9 million. Since the couple have only owned this home for a little over a year, after having purchased it for $13.7 million, it looks like this house is more of a business investment than a family home.

To find out whether or not this house will sell, read more.

While this price inflation may seem like a risky move in today's very shaky real estate market, apparently this isn't the case. According to the LA Times, "several local agents report that, in this price range, prices are holding steady and inventory is slim." So, while most homeowners face massive foreclosure increases, it seems as if those who can buy multi-million-dollar properties are relatively safe in their investments.

Grammer's 10,567-square-foot house is located on nearly an acre, and stretches out to include nine bathrooms, seven bedrooms, and seven fireplaces. Features include a media room, beamed ceilings, French doors, his-and-hers bathrooms as part of the master bedroom suite, and a pool.

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This Just In: Garner-Afflecks Gone House-Hunting

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:57:14 -0800

Rumor has it that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are house-hunting. Word is that they took a gander at Meg Ryan's Stradella Road property in Bel Air, which Victoria and David Beckham reportedly bid and bailed on last year. The seven-bedroom, six-bathroom house house is up for $20 million (!), and along with multiple living quarters, boasts ocean views, a games room, private gym and sauna, swimming pool and massive back garden. It also features extensive security features, including an 11-foot electronic gate, and eight-foot perimeter wall.
Another perk, if the lovely couple and their daughter Violet decide to call the manse home, Tom Ford, who lives in a Richard Neutra-designed home, will be their neighbor. To see photos of the house, read more

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