CasaSugar

Coveted Crib: Alys Beach Homes

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:00:14 -0700

I just came across Alys Beach, a community of resort homes on the Florida Panhandle, and I am completely infatuated with the place. With beautiful white stucco walls and white-ridged roofs, it's a cross between English and Spanish architecture with classic, old-world charm.

It's also outfitted with every modern convenience, and each home is built using green construction techniques. Many homes have gracious, private, and storm-resistant courtyards such as this one, but the community also has spacious central courtyards for getting to know neighbors. And with gorgeous ocean views, rooftop terraces are another luxury. As for the interiors, they're as magnificent as the exteriors with tall, vaulted ceilings, expansive windows, rich wooden ceiling beams, and a minimal, antique industrial aesthetic. Take the full tour of this house when you read more.

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Art Basel Miami Beach Kicks Off Today

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:30:40 -0800

Generally acknowledged as the most important art show in the US, Art Basel Miami Beach, the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, kicks off today in Miami's hip Art Deco District, and will run through Dec. 7. Art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, and plain old art lovers alike come to this special mass exhibit to enjoy artwork from over 250 leading international art galleries, parties galore, and events featuring music (Yelle performed last night), film, and architecture. For those who've got the dough, Art Basel isn't simply a trip to the museum: it's a shopping event. At Switzerland's Art Basel in June, Brad Pitt picked up a cool $500,000 worth of artwork. And for others, it's a chance to be recognized in front of their peers; this week, the Campana Brothers will be honored with the prestigious Designer of the Year award. The event will also be a debut for less seasoned artists. If you happen to be in South Florida, I beg of you to check it out. If not, we'll just have to wait for the first photos to arrive! Until then, you can see some spectacular images from June's Art Basel event in Switzerland when you read more.

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Guess Who Lives Here?

CasaSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:56 -0700

A high-profile creative couple who recently got hitched live in this Palm Beach pad, which was featured in the November issue of Metropolitan Home. Can you guess who they are? Name one of them.

This Just In: Oprah Lists Her Miami Island Pad

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:30:08 -0700

According to Real Estalker, Oprah has put her 1,838-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo on Miami's Fisher Island for $2.09 million. The listing for the property reads:

Spectacular direct ocean views through walls of sliding glass and from covered privacy on a gracious seaside terrace [. . .] gorgeous design, inviting layout, and fantastic features combine to achieve a supreme level of plush waterfront, tropical living. Beautiful upgrades and details within this bright and airy Seaside Village home include wonderful water views from every room, custom wood built-ins and more!

There's no way this is the only property Oprah, who earned $275 million last year, calls home. She also sold her Buckhead, Atlanta property this year. Considering that she bought the property in 1996 for $660,000 cash and that the condo is notably understated for someone with her income, I'm guessing that this may just have been an investment property. Don't get me wrong — the views are magnificent, the décor calm and elegant, and the built-ins were beautifully executed. But, I'd expect something more along the lines of a Viking range and Sheila Bridges interior design, if she actually stayed there.

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This Just In: Rupert Everett Leaves Miami in the (Star)dust

CasaSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:45:43 -0800

According to Big Time, Rupert Everett has put his two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,350-square-foot pied-à-terre condo in Miami’s South Beach on the market for $1.15 million. The property, which he purchased for $670,000 in Sept. 2004 is on the seventh floor of 200 Ocean Drive, opposite Ocean Beach Park. Word has it, "He doesn't come to Miami that much anymore." Either that, or he couldn't appreciate his picturesque ocean view because his beautiful brown eyes were permanently damaged by his blinding "hunter" orange bedspread. I guess Ricky Martin isn't the only one leavin' la vida Miami.

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Su Casa: Floral in Florida

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:00:07 -0800

In addition to being a floral designer, TeamSugar member Vintagesugar is a serious crafter and collector. So it's no surprise that she's transformed her Florida ranch home, built in 1989, into a quirky paradise full of found objects and over-the-top accents. Walk through her whimsy with these pics.

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This Just In: Ricky Martin Leavin' La Vida Florida

CasaSugar — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:11:46 -0800

According to Real Estalker, Puerto Rican songster Ricky Martin yesterday put his prestigious North Bay Road, Miami Beach, residence on the market for $19.5 million. Martin originally purchased the property in May 2005 for $10 million then listed it for sale for $16.9 million in February 2007, and then took it off the market five months later. Apparently the 9,491-square-foot, seven-bedroom, eight-bath Mediterranean masterpiece didn't undergo any renovations or improvements during the time it was off the market, so the $2.6 million price increase seems somewhat unjustified. But, if you've got a spare $20 mill in your bank account and you're eager for the Florida sun, there's a travertine marbled, fully fireplaced, gourmet kitchened, wired media roomed, mahogany doored, jacuzzied, four-car garage bayview residence awaiting your hard-earned dollas. Does that make you want to shake your bon-bon or what?
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Kate's Chic, Budget-Beautiful Sun Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:25 -0700

Kate Abney, an editor at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, recently sent me a TwitPic of her fabulous sun room. I asked her if she'd send me a few more photos, and some background on her room and decorating style, and she graciously obliged.

Kate's apartment is on the second floor of a large, historic (1916) yellow-brick apartment building in the heart of midtown Atlanta. She notes, "We do have quite a lot of windows in the place (beautiful light!) but the interior is well-insulated and we are always more than cool enough - or toasty enough - in the summer or winter, respectively."

One of the rooms that really shows off this light beautifully is Kate's sun room. To see more photos of the room, and to find out all about how she decorated it, read more.

Since I know that readers are often curious as to where people sourced the objects and furniture in their homes, Kate was nice enough to let us in on the details. She notes that she picked up the printed cotton rug from Urban Outfitters for about $25, while the green upholstered chair was discovered at a vintage store for $50. "I'm still on the hunt for a cool Suzani lumbar pillow to toss on it," she notes.

Kate couldn't find the exact drinks table she was seeking, so she craftily created one using two Ikea planters, turning them on opposite ends and filling one with plaster-of-Paris.

"The Shaker-style blanket chest is an antique that's been in my family for years and once belonged to my great-grandfather. My uncle refinished it for me last year to the perfect matte warm brown finish. It's even gorgeous on the inside and perfect for stowing my laundry until I have a chance to take it to the laundry mat," Kate says. "The green botanical print cushion I actually made from a $10 CB2 table runner, just removing the seams, stuffing it and then sewing the end back up."

Kate ordered the mid-century upholstered footstool from an antiques store in Florida via eBay, while the arc lamp is a Bed Bath & Beyond knockoff, and the desk is from Target. Other room elements include a Jonathan Adler ceramic vase and a bent plywood chair shipped straight from France that she found through eBay.

What a great space, Kate! I wish I could visit and relax in your lovely sun room. I also admire your savvy sourcing of diverse accents and furniture. Nice work!

Do you have a well-decorated room to show off? Share it in my Su Casa group!

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Ask Casa: Books on Spanish Colonial Architecture

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Hello Casa,

My dream is to buy or build a Spanish Colonial home for myself one day. I was wondering if you could recommend some books on this architectural style for me. Some coffee table books would be fine, or something on the construction of the homes too and interior design . . . anything at all I would greatly appreciate. I also remember that you wrote a post about Reese Witherspoon and that her new house was a Spanish Colonial. That house was absolutely lovely too. Thank you in advance!

Always, PeachyKeen19
To hear my suggestions for PeachyKeen19, read more.

Hi PeachyKeen,

Thanks for thinking of me! I'm with you on this one; Spanish Colonial is one of my favorite styles of residential architecture as well. This is especially true of homes with original architectural details. There are a few books I think might be right up your alley.

Haciendas ($34.95) by Linda Leigh Paul, from Rizzoli Press (one of my favorites), highlights the interiors and exteriors of 25 Spanish Colonial homes, both traditional and modern, in Mexico and the US, and will give you a broad overview of the style. This book is quite photography-heavy, with 250 rich photos, but I think this is key for understanding the architectural elements. It also gives a great historical background on the style, with information on the hacienda's origin as homes for Spanish nobility, up to newer styles today throughout the US.
Spanish-Colonial Architecture in the United States ($16.95) by Rexford Newcomb traces Spanish architecture throughout the US, including Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This book is a must-have reference, much more text-heavy than the former, although it is illustrated with 195 photographs and 50 measured drawings. Newcomb is a distinguished architectural historian who's written several books on various styles of architecture. This book is well-documented (no fluff here), and offers a range of perspective views, detailed close-ups, measured front elevations, and floor plans to get down to the grit of the style.
Another title out of Rizzoli Press, California Romantica: Spanish Colonial and Mission-Style Houses ($40.95) is co-authored by actress Diane Keaton and LA-native D.J. Waldie. In architectural circles, Diane Keaton is praised for her preservation of historic California homes, and considered a committed preservationist. California is basically the hub of Spanish Colonial architecture in the US, so this is a must-read even if you plan to live elsewhere. The book features residential examples of both California Mission and Spanish Colonial styles, and introduces you to influential architects like George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Richard Requa, Lilian Rice, and Paul R. Williams.

Beyond that, with her cinematic eye, Keaton made a point to specially commission the photography for this book, so the photos alone are must-see. The book also gives you a tour of Keaton's own Spanish-style home, which I've actually written about before.

Hope that helps! And good luck finding your dream home.

Cheers,
Casa

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Before and After: An Airy Attic Office

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:00:39 -0700

The owner of a Queen Anne home in Florida decided that a home office might be the best choice for her small business. Her 700-square-foot attic space, which was recently featured in This Old House, seemed like the perfect fit, but it would require a lot of renovations. Her husband volunteered his services to realize her vision.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see how this attic was transformed, read more.
The attic was gutted, and three new windows were added. Heart-pine floors picked up the light, and exposed rafters, which were painted white, gave the space an open, airy feel. The attic was rewired to accommodate seven work stations and high-tech equipment, and AC ducts were also installed - a necessity in steamy Florida. I also love the airplane propeller, which adds visual interest to the space.

For more details, check out This Old House.
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