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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Former Fixer-Upper of DJ AM Is For Sale

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:30 -0800

The former Beverly Hills home of the late DJ AM has been listed for $3.8 million. The 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath midcentury home is private and gated with both canyon and city views. It boasts "rich mahogany floors, custom built-in theater, Crestron system, and flat-screen TVs throughout, two-sided fireplace, office, large kitchen with stainless steel appliances and carrerra marble countertops," according to the listing.

AM purchased the property for $1.9 million in the Spring of 2007, and made some wonderful changes to it before his death. I love how he landscaped the pool with grass and slate tiles to complement its prismatic shape and chime in on its modern aesthetic. When he bought the property there were also some awful Ionic columns out front, which were completely amiss with the midcentury architecture, and it looks like he replaced them with something simple or just covered them up with shrubbery. He also added one and one-half bathrooms. He modernized the two-sided fireplace in the living room and had a custom built-in theater built above it. And I suspect he installed a television which rises from the foot of bed. It's unfortunate that he wasn't able to see the profits of his terrific renovations.

To look at photos from before and after he renovated, read more.

Before:

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After:

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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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Source

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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Whitney Houston Lists Her Round House

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:57:15 -0700

Whitney Houston has put her 12,561-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-and-one-half-bath Mendham, NJ, house on the market for $2.5 million. The most notable element of the house, which was featured on her short-lived reality show Being Bobby Brown, is that it's entirely round. It also has soaring ceilings and beautiful natural light, but if you have a thing for angles, this house won't do. According to the listing, it was built in 1992, while Real Estalker says Houston snapped up the mansion at the height of her fame in 1987. But regardless, it looks pretty '80s to me! I do like her Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired glass panes, but the vertical blinds, peach-colored décor, and drapey window valances are beyond tacky. Take a look at the photos, and tell me what you think when you read more.

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Coveted Crib: Abbijane Schifrin's Technicolor Townhouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:33 -0700

The Gramercy Park townhouse of the late fashion designer Abbijane Schifrin is on the market for $8.75 million, and it's truly a dream. The five-story 1855 building sits on a delightful, tree-lined street and looks quite prim from the exterior, with a pair of 21 Club-esque jockeys and a cast-iron gate. But inside the house is dressed with glitzy gilt walls, bright turquoise and pink paint, and Mediterranean-style arts and crafts tilework - a drastic deviation from what passersby see. Dramatic art-deco furniture, animal-print upholstery make the zany space a treat to tour. The style is not for everyone but definitely fun! See more photos when you read more.

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October's Vogue Features Kelly Wearstler's Hollywood Home

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:02:13 -0700

Since so many of you have a love it or hate it relationship with designer Kelly Wearstler's unique style, I figured that you'd be interested in taking a tour of her Hollywood mansion. Good news - now you can.

The October issue of Vogue includes a special feature on interior designer Kelly Wearstler’s Hollywood mansion, gorgeously photographed by Francois Halard with a profile penned by Hamish Bowles. Definitely head over to Vogue for the complete tour, and also check out the outtakes, which are only available online.

There are definitely some fascinating facts to be learned, such as her scrupulously color-coded shoes and vintage hats collections, and her use of color (cerulean blue) and pattern (faux crocodile) in her young sons' bedrooms. I know that I find Kelly Wearstler absolutely fascinating (and fabulous), and this Vogue profile only reinforces that impression.

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Photos courtesy of Vogue

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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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.

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Source

Get the Look: Molly Sims's Lovely Living Room

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:00:48 -0700

Interior designer Kishani Perera designed Molly Sims's former Hollywood Hills home, and it's always been one of my favorite celebrity spreads. There's a lot going on in this corner of her living room, but since Perera cued the palette to cool blues, greens, and purples, it's not overwhelming. Her arrangement of black ornate framed mirrors really makes a statement, and the black beaded chandelier plays off of that, bringing in even more glamour. I thought I'd try to re-create this look for those of you who dig this modern Victorian style. See some products to help you get the look when you read more.

Photo by Max Kim-Bee

SUM Underwater Bamboo Wallpaper in Blue - $172.00	"Donovan" Wing Chair - $2,279.00
Jeremy Console - $3,795.00	"Tropical" Rock Crystal Lamp - $3,995.00
"Sauda" Chandelier - $1,124.90	Ruffle Edge Mirror - Wall - High Gloss Black - $599.00
Howard Elliott "Saratoga" Mirror - $360.00	Ruffle Edge Mirror - Floor - High Gloss Black - $699.00
Howard Elliott "Queen Ann" Antique Black Mirror - $245.00	Halden Mirror - $159.00
Areaware My Brother's Mirror - $190.00	Orrefors 'Delight' Votive Candle Holder - $40.00
Cerealart - flowerella vase by kenny scharf for cerealart - $300.00