CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: Kate Walsh's Lovely LA Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:17 -0800

Kate Walsh's 1920s Spanish-style Los Angeles home is featured in this month's issue of InStyle, and I'm blown away by how glamorously laid-back it is. While elements like a Steinway grand piano, lush fur throws, and a 1960s Lucite console offer that prim Old Hollywood look you see in many celebrity homes, there is something really layered and livable about it that I found unusual. Turns out, Walsh eschewed her usual interior designer route and hired the set decorator of Private Practice, Melissa Levander, to put the space together. Come take the tour!

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Modesty Is the Policy For Colin Hanks's Los Angeles Purchase

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:30 -0700

You might expect the son of a renowned star like Tom Hanks to swoop up a sprawling Hollywood mansion at first chance, courtesy of Dad. But Colin Hanks is determined to be an actor in his own right and has his priorities straight. Thus, he's quietly purchased a modest two-bedroom, 1.75-bath home in Los Angeles for just over $1 million. While not opulent by any means, the property, designed by distinguished architect Paul R. Williams, does have historical value. It features a large open living room with high ceilings, a fireplace, and a bank of windows, a full dining room, and a sunny kitchen. The home's two bedrooms are raised a few steps and each have en-suite baths and a library. The house has wonderful city views and lush landscaping that I imagine offers lots of privacy for the budding star. I think it's a really sharp house, and elements like marble countertops, beautiful hardwood floors, and rich ceiling beams are great selling points. Take a tour when you read more.

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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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Mandatory Composting Begins in San Francisco Today

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:15:23 -0700

Beginning today, the city of San Francisco will require both businesses and residences to compost food scraps and biodegradable products or risk a fine for not properly sorting their garbage. While other cities require recycling service and participation, the law, which Mayor Gavin Newsom signed into effect in June, is the first nationwide to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables.

A study by the Department of the Environment found that 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfills is compostable, primarily food scraps, and 31 percent is recyclable - which is mostly paper. Seeing that SF already has an impressive 72 percent recycling rate, the legislation could send that rate soaring to 90 percent.

To facilitate the program, the city will offer free green compost carts to apartment buildings and businesses, as well as free kitchen pails for renters. Fines will be capped at $100 and are meant primarily to raise public awareness and encourage compliance. Has your city or town made any moves to require composting? Has your city had success with any recycling fines or mandates? Tell me by commenting below!

Source: Flickr User MayorGavinNewsom

January Jones Buys a Fixer-Upper in Los Feliz

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

January Jones's character in Mad Men may live in a picture-perfect house, but in real life, the actress doesn't mind a little work. January just snatched up a fixer-upper in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood for just over $1 million. The 2,200-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath 1920s Mediterranean villa is definitely dated, and a far cry from some of the slickly renovated homes of her contemporaries.

The kitchen, with its sad linoleum floors and vintage cabinets, could be reconfigured and remodeled. But overall the space is charming and bright with beautiful landscaping, and it would make an ideal place to throw a '60s-inspired cocktail party. See photos when you read more.

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American Craft Council Show Kicks Off Today in SF

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:15:00 -0700

It's no secret that crafting has experienced a rebirth over the past few years. But there's a difference between the découpage magnets I make for my refrigerator and May Luk's handmade ceramic vases with antique-inspired illustrations. It's called skill. If you need to see it to believe it, you're in luck.

The 34th annual American Craft Council Show, the largest juried craft show in the West featuring works by 250 local and visiting artists, kicks off today at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, running through Sunday. The crafts exhibited will range from tabletop pottery and other home décor like Luk's, as well as furniture, fashion, jewelry, and more, all handmade from a range of materials.

If you're in the market for green crafts, you'll be happy to find plenty of works by artists using found, recycled, and eco-friendly materials and techniques. There will also be plenty of work by rising indie craft artists praised for their use of innovative techniques and materials. If you want to make Friday night a movie night, catch a special screening of filmmaker Faythe Levine's documentary Handmade Nation - one of my March Must Haves. Find more details about show hours and admission prices here. To get a sneak peek of some other works you'll see there, read more.

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Cool Idea: Julene Harrison's Papercut Artwork

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:32 -0700

I've completely fallen in love with British artist Julene Harrison's papercut artwork - which you may recognize from my Love Your City? Say It With Art slideshow. From one sheet of paper, she cuts these ornate frames with stunning typography and intricate imagery inside them. Many have romantic messages like, "I Carry Your Heart I Carry It in My Heart" or "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and even "Will You Marry Me?" She's also created more eccentric papercuts like the one that reads "I Have to Return Some Videotapes," and been commissioned by a Finnish ad agency. Each is more charming than the next - so much that I was inspired to re-create a San Francisco-themed papercut like this one for a couple of friends who are moving away. To see it,read more.

I did a little Photoshopping to change the text to "You Will Be Missed," added in an airplane and a glass of wine, and replaced Coit Tower with a frame for a photo of my pals. I've made some papercuts before from paint swatches, but using thin white printer paper was much easier. Since I've been using X-acto knives for years for all of my decoupage crafts, I was comfortable cutting . . . but I can't compete with Harrison's talent for design!

Would you like one for yourself or a loved one? You can have Julene make a custom papercut for you with whatever words and imagery you like!

Nice and New: James Perse Furniture

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:00:12 -0700

If you're a fan of James Perse's cozy tees and casual California aesthetic, you'll be pleased to hear that the contemporary knitwear designer has extended his brand to interiors. He has debuted four collections of furniture for indoors and out to give your home that same simple and timeless style as your wardrobe. I love the no-frills, refined-yet-relaxed vibe of the Sonoma Sofa (inquire for price) from his upholstered NorCal Collection. It recalls Paolo Navone's Ghost Sofa, offering a lived-in, laundered look with only a comfortable attitude. It would work well with wood floors and neutral interiors. His collections also include some classic outdoor pieces upholstered with Sunbrella fabrics and made from sustainable teak. I particularly love the director's chair. The pieces are sold exclusively at James Perse boutiques. See more designs.

Coveted Crib: A Cool Calistoga Poolhouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:33 -0700

Poolhouses are often overlooked when it comes to good design; not so with this Calistoga, CA, poolhouse, whose straightforward, modern silhouette embodies pool design at its very best. Featured in Dwell magazine, the poolhouse has beautiful views both inside and out, featuring views of Mount St. Helena, the Palisades, and Napa Valley. Working with the landscape, the house is bermed into the hillside, while the pool, deck, and roof jut out toward the Napa Valley below. Adding to the natural look, the pool's infinity edge drops into the valley below.

To tour the poolhouse, read more.

Inside the poolhouse, materials such as exposed wood beams, steel frames, and concrete countertops provide durability and simple beauty, and keep the emphasis on the beautiful views outside. An open floor plan, augmented by glass doors which open to the pool, makes this a true Summer getaway.

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Debi Mazar Is Movin' Her Entourage

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:00:23 -0700

Although Entourage is back for another season, in real life, Vince's publicist Debi Mazar and her own entourage are on the move. The actress has listed her family's 2,096-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath 1930s Spanish-style hacienda in Los Angeles for $1.4 million. The property has a lush, gated front garden and a grassy back garden that make an ideal place for her 3- and 7-year-old daughters. Architecturally, it boasts original wood floor inlays and tiles, beautiful ornate moldings and ceiling beams. Mazar's indulgent custom shoe closet, which stores over 100 shoes, is a woman's dream come true.

As for the décor, I'm impressed. She's curated a funky mix of mid-century and Art Deco that shows a lot of personality. She could have used some help piecing it all together, but I'd say she's made great investments in furniture. I've got no word on where Mazar and her family are headed next, but she does balance her time in LA with time spent in her 14-century house outside of Florence. So, you can rest assured that she's got another nice place to sleep when this beauty sells. See interior and exterior photos when you read more.

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