CasaSugar

Vanilla Ice Is Back With a Brand-New Home Reno Show

CasaSugar — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:00:00 PDT

Who knew? The latest news on the interior design front is that '90s hip-hop sensation Vanilla Ice (aka Robert Van Winkle) is getting his own TV show. It's no VH1 Where Are They Now or MTV Cribs, but a home renovation series on the DIY Network. Apparently while the rapper has been out of the spotlight for the last 10 years or so, he's been been improving his home improvement skills by buying land and flipping houses. Debuting Oct. 14, the Vanilla Ice Project will chronicle Ice's overhaul of a 7,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, five-bath home in Palm Beach, FL. "I think the process of transforming something from grime to shine influences me," he said. "This house was in need of a major upgrade and my proudest moment will be when this house is revealed." Sounds like Ice is back with a brand-new invention.

I'm definitely intrigued. Let's just hope his design skills are better than his fashion taste. Just for fun, I thought I'd round up some décor inspired by one of Vanilla Ice's wildest ensembles. Click each of the product images to shop!

Source

Casa Interview: Ahmed Hassan From Blog Cabin

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:15:56 PDT

If you read my posts about the DIY Network, you may remember that Ahmed Hassan is one of my favorite hosts. Along with his fun show Yard Crashers, he also hosts Blog Cabin, a new show premiering Aug. 14 that follows the construction of a cabin that bloggers have designed. Oh, and did I mention that the DIY Network is also giving this cabin away to one lucky DIY Network fan?

Ahmed recently answered some of my questions about the show and the sweepstakes. To see the video,

Casa Verde: Attention-Grabbing Explanation of Water Conservation

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:21 PDT

As I've mentioned before, the shows and hosts of the DIY Network always bring a smile to my face, and that's definitely true with Desperate Landscapes host Jason Cameron, who transforms scrappy-looking lawns into things of beauty, often while wearing a tight t-shirt. I don't know about you, but there's no better way to have mathematics explained to me than by a cute, congenial guy. To find out how much water you can save by using rainbarrels, check out the clip below.

Source

In the News: Observing, Not Doing It Yourself

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:45:59 PDT

A recent New York TImes article, "If I Had a Hammer, I Wouldn’t Watch TV" by Michael Grimes, looks at the DIY movement through a most passive of pastimes - the television. Grimes spent an entire day watching the DIY Network, which is affiliated with two other get-up-and-do-it stations, the Food Network and HGTV. From the high class of This Old House to the writer's obvious boredom with knitting show Knitty Gritty (all right, yes, how exciting can a show about knitting really be?), a full day of DIY programming was critiqued from the safe confines of Grimes's recliner.

The obvious irony in this is that while do-it-yourself programs and books are meant to inspire ordinary people to pick up a power drill and get cracking, often the books, TV shows, and instructions never make it past the stage of observation. There's also, of course, something very seductive about watching a two-month-long kitchen remodel happen in the space of an hour. It's so much cleaner, cheaper, and less time consuming. On the other hand, it also means that the only home that's going to look any different is the one on your television screen.

To find out more about this article, as well as the DIY Network,

read more. With perhaps a tinge of sarcasm and the regret of a few poorly executed DIY projects behind him, Grimes observes, "In the world of DIY all measurements are precise, and all edges fit. No one bends a nail. Couples do not bicker. The tools are top quality, the hosts genial and omniscient. This is a world in which all problems get solved." As an occasional DIY Network watcher, I know that there's a sweetness and sincerity to the shows' hosts and content that may strike some (including this NYTs writer, as cloying. I see it in exactly the opposite way though. These shows provide smart, commonsense advice on transforming your home and garden. It's always easier to sit back, turn on the tube, and start critiquing. It's much harder to pick up a hammer and actually get to work. With the DIY Network, that job becomes easier and more enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with that. Check out one of my favorite DIY Network hosts, Ahmed Hassan, in the clip below. Source

Sugar Shout Out: Who's the Fittest Female Celeb of 2011?

Katie Henry — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:55:08 PST

Million Dollar Contractor Joins Legion of Million Dollar-Titled Home Shows

Elka Karl — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:12:59 PDT

Adding the word "million" to a show title must make good marketing sense, judging from the number of shows with the word in their titles. Now, Million Dollar Listing and Million Dollar Decorators are joined in its million dollar-titled ranks by Million Dollar Contractor.

Starring "contractor to the stars" Stephen Fanuka, the new show will premiere on the DIY network this Fall. Fanuka is a New York-based general contracor who has produced high-end work for stars including Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, and Lindsay Lohan. Fanuka also regularly works with high-end interior designers such as Jonathan Adler and Thom Filicia.

In the series, Fanuka introduces viewers to a behind-the-scenes look at the over-the-top and opulent spaces his clients request. In an interview with The Editor at Large, DIY Network's programming director Steven Lerner noted that he hopes that viewers enjoy "[t]he details, the materials, and the insane amount of money people spend for the work [Stephen] does. We really get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most amazing spaces and construction and how it gets done. Even though they are million dollar projects, many of the same issues and problems that happen on-site, people can relate to at home."

Will you be tuning in to see Million Dollar Contractor?

Link Time - Matthew McConaughey to Play Ex-Stripper

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:30:36 PDT

Matthew McConaughey joins Magic Mike (aka the male-stripper movie) - Moviefone
Meet Tom Cruise's new leading lady - The Hollywood Reporter
See who will play Andy's parents on The Office - Zap2It
Dakota Fanning and Emma Thompson are teaming up - /Film
Get the latest update on the new season of Dancing With the Stars -Aol TV
Check out Rose McGowan's favorite films - Rotten Tomatoes
Find out what kind of over-the-top spaces you can expect to see on the DIY network's new show - CasaSugar
The creepiest images from the latest trailer of Daniel Radcliffe's new movie - Movieline
Adam Scott lands a leading film role - Cinema Blend

Style Me Pretty: Wedding Attire

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:45:26 PDT

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with LaurenConrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This month, Lauren's got the perfect answer to your wedding attire questions.

Last weekend I went to a lovely wedding on the beach (above is a photograph of me and my besties; I’m wearing a dress by Hoss Intropia). It was a beautiful ceremony, and all of the guests in attendance looked just as nice. In light of "wedding season" (and the all-too-familiar mystery of "What do I wear to ____?"), I thought I’d put together a post on wedding attire.
While it’s exciting to be invited to a wedding, decoding the difference between "formal," "semiformal," "cocktail," and "casual" attire as requested by the invitation can leave you wanting to reply, "I don’t." You may be wondering, "What does 'casual' mean anyway? Surely flip-flops and frocks cannot be appropriate . . . " (And you would be right!) Well, ladies, wonder no more . . . Below, I’ve decoded the puzzling meanings of wedding dress codes.

If the invitation says . . .

Black Tie. Black tie (or "formal" attire) is the most formal of all wedding dress codes. Most often, black tie weddings are in the evenings, so turn up the glamour and bring on the beads and sequins! I suggest wearing an evening gown (such as the Clementine Gown by Paper Crown, pictured above) or an elegant cocktail dress. Dramatic jewelry is welcome, and coiffed hair is a must.

Keep Reading . . .