CasaSugar

Leo Says Goodbye to Malibu

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:00:39 -0700

Leonardo DiCaprio has sold his Malibu home for an undisclosed amount, according to the LA Times. The oceanview property was initially put on the market last November for $8.999 million, and was later relisted for $7.999 million.

The 2,374-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath midcentury oceanfront Malibu home boasts ocean views as well as a separate guest house with two one-bedroom suites. A staircase provides easy beach access for the new owners. The sale was prompted in part by DiCaprio's purchase of an eco-friendly Battery Bark condo last November, paying nearly $3.7 million for the condo. Riverside's green features include programmable thermostats, filtered air, filtered water, locally quarried bluestone, recovered barn wood, low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and carpeting, and recycled, salvaged, and biodegradable materials.

To see more photos of the Malibu house, read more.

The listing for DiCaprio's Malibu property reads:

Distinctive contemporary on the bluffs above the ocean complete with new stairway to the cove below. The interior is a collection of elegant open spaces looking out to beautiful gardens and your hot tub tucked away on the ocean front. A separate guest house containing two 1-bedroom suites. A four car garage and long winding driveway complete this beautiful estate.

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Leo Trades in Pacific Coast View, Lowers Carbon Footprint

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:25 -0800

Leonardo has finally closed on the eco-friendly Battery Bark Condo that he went to contract to purchase back in April, paying nearly $3.7 million. But, ever the environmental advocate, DiCaprio isn't swooping up energy-hogging properties left and right. He's made room for this purchase in his real estate portfolio and his wallet by putting his 2,374-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath midcentury oceanfront Malibu home on the market for nearly $9 million.
DiCaprio can gaze at the Hudson River through the energy-efficient triple-layered windows at Riverhouse, one of the greenest residential buildings in America. DiCaprio's new apartment building exceeds Gold LEED certification, using solar-powered energy and built with only nonpollutant materials. Among its other eco features are programmable thermostats, filtered air, filtered water, locally quarried bluestone, recovered barn wood, low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and carpeting, and recycled, salvaged, and biodegradable materials. There's no word on the exact square footage of Leo's new pad, but a listing for a similarly priced Riverhouse property measures in at 1,985-square-feet, with 3 bedrooms and 4 baths.

To see more photos of both properties and hear about his Malibu digs, read more.

The listing for DiCaprio's Malibu property reads:

Distinctive contemporary on the bluffs above the ocean complete with new stairway to the cove below. The interior is a collection of elegant open spaces looking out to beautiful gardens and your hot tub tucked away on the ocean front. A separate guest house containing two 1-bedroom suites. A four car garage and long winding driveway complete this beautiful estate.

View 16 Photos ›

Here are some photos of another Riverhouse apartment, most likely the model apartment designed by Thom Filicia:

View 17 Photos ›

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This Just In: Leonardo DiCaprio To Buy Eco-Friendly Condo

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:00:26 -0700

According to New York magazine, actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio is in the process of buying a unit at Riverhouse, an eco-friendly high rise in New York City. Although the price for Leo's unit is unknown, these units usually sell for between $800,000 to $4 million, depending on the size.

Riverhouse is truly an eco-friendly high rise (and I wouldn't expect anything less in a home purchase from the eco-friendly actor). The 264-unit building was built with only nonpollutant materials and uses solar-powered energy. Its eco features include programmable thermostats, which reduce energy use, around-the-clock filtered air, and a $1 million graywater and black-water treatment facility in the building's basement. The building is attempting to achieve LEED Platinum status, the highest rating through the US Green Building Council, and also features locally quarried bluestone, recovered barn wood. low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and carpeting, and recycled, salvaged, and biodegradable materials.

The building also includes a children's playroom, an organic bakery, an indoor 50 foot-long lap pool, and an indoor children's Light House. Leo's rep confirmed the condo purchase, saying, “Riverhouse is a prime example of how green technology is both accessible and achievable for new residential developments - it is a groundbreaking building.”

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Leo's Eco-Fabulous Toilet Comes At a Price

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:15:06 -0800

Ah, to be rich and eco-conscious in Hollywood today. Don't get me wrong-I love that Leo tools around in a Prius and Daryl Hannah drives a biodiesel El Camino. But still, sometimes I'm amazed by how much they'll pay for simple household fixtures. As part of an eco-fabulous remodeling project at his home, Leonardo DiCaprio has installed a $3,200 Toto toilet, which is fully loaded with a seat warmer, automatic flusher, and remote control. That's right-a remote control. Plus, the toilet seat automatically flips up when the user approaches it. Pretty high tech, huh?

While the toilet-reported to be the Toto Neorest 500-is supposedly also eco-friendly, at 1.6 gpf, it's still only average for water use. I think he may have done better with a dual flush toilet or even a composting toilet, though I don't know how well that would go over in LA.

To see a picture of the new toilet (yes, I know it's not as exciting as a picture of Leo, but still), just read more.

Here it is, in all its understated glory. What do you think? Is $3200 too much to pay for a throne?

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Leonardo DiCaprio

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:56:48 -0800

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Get the Look: Revolutionary Road

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:15:44 -0800

Among the many reasons to see Revolutionary Road - stellar performances, dark humor, a haunting story - I managed to find another: the stunning interiors inhabited by Frank and April Wheeler (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet). Set in 1955, the movie, much like Mad Men, captures a bygone era with authentic pieces that still look oh-so-stylish.

I found myself coveting just about every chair in the Wheelers' living room, not to mention the adorable accents in their kitchen. The story may be tragic, but the decor is a delight. For my recommendations on how to get the look in your rooms, read more.

Both the formal living room and the more casual sitting area incorporate near-neutral tones with hints of pale color. I love the way everything coordinates but isn't too matchy-matchy; notice how the room above mixes pale and dark woods.

The kitchen is bright and clean, with white walls, blond cabinets, and pale blue pots. But a darker wooden dining table and round-backed chairs add an unexpected studiousness to the space.

Oval Back Dining Chair - $159.00	Harvest Table - $2,900.00
Ceramic & Stainless-Steel Storage Collection - $26.00	Striped Cafe Curtain - $19.00
De La Espada 006 atlantico sideboard - $4,495.00	Martha Stewart Collection Blue Enameled Cast Iron Round Pot, 7 Qt. - $119.99
Martha Stewart Collection Blue Colander, 5 Qt. - $22.99	Alessi Bombe Miniature Teapot - $30.00
Vic Firth Mario Batali 7" Walnut Mills - $37.00

Photos courtesy of Paramount Vantage

The White House: A Model of Energy Efficiency?

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:00:54 -0800

2009 will certainly be the dawning of a new age for the United States, and now that Barack Obama has been named president-elect, he should be prepared to follow through on his aforementioned goals. He needs to walk the walk. In the green building department, he proposed investing in infrastructure, advancing energy efficiency and sustainable buildings, and developing a 21st century transportation system. Sounds great. But, as we all know, no man is an island, and he'll need some help (lots) along the way. The American Institute of Architects, which led the “Greening of the White House” initiative in the '90s, has offered to help Obama with these goals. To hear about AIA's green building proposals for the White House, read more.

To start, the group has recommended that a high-level advisor on green buildings be put in place in the White House to coordinate executive branch activities and promote green building issues to the public. AIA has also offered to help develop a White House Office of Urban Policy to address national energy and infrastructure issues. One of AIA's most notable proposals (to me, at least) is to work with the Obama administration to make the White House a model of energy efficiency, and make federal buildings in general less reliant on fossil fuels. As much as I love to see high-profile Hollywood types like Leonardo DiCaprio living in eco-friendly condos, you can't get more visibility on an international level than the White House. So I hope Mr. President-elect will accept this generous offer, and I'm eager to hear more specific details of how they'd like to create the Green House. And, if the White House edible garden petition is a success, 1600 Pennsylvania will be a prime example of eco-consciousness!
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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:30:51 -0800

Protect yourself with nine steps for keeping your home safe during the holidays.
Be sure to take my quiz to enter to win a $1,000 perfect holiday table from west elm!
Make your shopping a cinch with my gift guides.
Check out the authentic look of HBO's True Blood.
Cameron Diaz and Cameron Sinclair are Iconoclasts who talk and walk green.
Leonardo DiCaprio is going green by trading his Malibu pad for this NYC one.
Top Design's Ondine Karady is my latest Designer Spotlight.

Source

This Just In: Celine Dion Top Water Waster

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:00:14 -0700

Water conservation's been on my mind lately, since my local utility wants residents to cut water use by 19%. It seems like water conservation and rationing is big news all over. In fact, the central coast of Florida is in a drought, and the Palm Beach Post has revealed that the biggest water waster is crooner Celine Dion. While her heart may go on, apparently so does her sprinkler system, showers, and faucets, if her water bill is any indication.

How much water does the Canadian songstress use? Well, enough to fill a bathtub every four minutes, if that's a good visual. In more concrete terms, her Jupiter Island 5.7 acre property uses 6.5 million gallons of water a year - normal water usage is only 120,000 gallons a year. Here's hoping the singer will learn some tips from fellow celeb Leonardo DiCaprio and buy an eco toilet, as well as learn how to turn off that sprinkler system. I'd offer her the suggestion of shaving her legs without the water running, but apparently she's already got that covered.

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Love It or Hate It? Orchid Urinals

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:00:54 -0700

After seeing the two person toilet and the toilet/washing machine, and even Leonardo DiCaprio's eco-fabulous toilet, I didn't think there could be any more innovation in the bathroom. But, that's just silly, right? Of course there could be. San Francisco artist Clark Sorensen's Orchid Urinal Sculptures ($7500) are innovative, one-of-a-kind, beautiful, and fully-functional! Beat that.

Simply Modern Glass Coffee Table - $699.00	Surya "Naya" NY-5070 Ivory Beige Area Rug - $140.00
Mina Chair in Moore Spice - $699.00	Reese 85\" Sofa in Troy Flax - $1,200.00
Seascape Lighting Penelope Table Lamp - $230.00	Seascape Lighting Phil Table Lamp - $250.00
Knoll risom square side table - $460.00	Quinn Chair in Bezel Spice - $749.00
Hutton 98\" Two-Cushion Sofa in Vance Cloud - $1,799.00	Cappellini - cappellini low pad chair by jasper morrison - $1,492.00