CasaSugar

Before and After: A Change in Chelsea

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:21 -0700

Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door is at it again! This time the DIY expert and interior designer conquered her young sister's apartment in Chelsea, NYC, which is shared with two roommates. Communal living spaces often pose a problem, as each roommate has her own tastes, and recent grads often can't afford to be spending their hard-earned mula on décor. So with a budget of only $350, Camila made over her sister's living/kitchen/dining area. As you can see, this wall with cupboards was a bit of wreck before. She says, "I swear the busted chair was just like that. I did not stage it!" Want to see the after photo? Then read more.

A few punches of color face off with plain vanilla walls - and win. She painted the cabinets with chalkboard paint, which is ideal for notes between roomies. And the stools flanking the cabinets were a curbside find, which she upholstered in chic gray stripes. Accessories and some cute embroideries add girlish flair. This project is an inspiring one; it's not complicated, but it's certainly happy! See more before and after photos of the apartment at High-Heeled Foot in the Door!

Coveted Crib: Chez Sheila Bridges

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:01:37 -0800

You may remember interior designer Sheila Bridges from our Designer Spotlight or from Domino and ELLE Decor, or her spot on the Fine Living network. Voted one of America's best designers, she can transform any space with a bold use of color and whimsical accents, while maintaining a traditional sensibility. She doesn't reserve these techniques solely for her clients though; her Harlem apartment is perhaps the best illustration of her knack for design. New York Social Diary not so recently had an interesting interview with Sheila and captured many wonderful images of her Harlem apartment. My favorite room by far has to be her study, which she had painted with quotes from her favorite books. But there are wonderful, creative touches and patterns everywhere, which refuse to let your eyes rest. Take a peek at this slideshow to see it, and be sure to read the interview. Source

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:30:51 -0800

See what's fresh and new at Ferm Living.
eBay's getting greener with DIYs.
Check out a skateboard-inspired hotel room.
Grab handmade gifts for Dad.
Blu Dot chairs took over NYC.
Get tips for framing photography.
Check out this reader's shelf DIY.

Fall Style: Marc Jacobs's NYC Halloween Window Display

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:15:34 -0700

On Thursday, I posted a photo of the Halloween window display at Marc Jacobs's San Francisco store. Not surprisingly, a few of you called it "cute" and "cool." But community member Mica said the windows in Jacobs's West Village, New York store are "way crazier," with "a zombie swamp diorama in all three windows." She shared this photo of the window display. I must say, these decorations do look much spookier, but the San Francisco store takes the cake for chic and cute.

Source: Twitpic User micawave

Home Library: Downtown Chic

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:47 -0700

No academic course will teach you how to give a derelict house a gut renovation and turn it into a fantastically unique, high-style home. That skill comes with experience and serious design savvy, something which Robert and Cortney Novogratz accidentally learned they had.

After renovating their first home in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood 10 years ago, which then was a neglected, not-so-fashionable area, they realized they had a knack for building and decorating, together. Since then, they've renovated and designed numerous buildings in and around NYC, including an entire block in SoHo and a house in the country, and founded their own design powerhouse, Sixx Design. As a memoir of sorts chronicling seven of the couple's projects, the Novogratz clan - did I mention they have seven children? - published Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home, From Wreck to Ravishing. Hear my thoughts on the volume when you read more.

The first seven chapters of the book each cover a house the Novogratz couple have renovated, including lots of before and after shots. The duo offer advice learned from each experience, such as how to handle contractors, tips for buying a wreck, how to make your house renter-friendly, and how to mix high- and low-cost furnishings.

While the book jacket says each project proves "time and again you can bring charm to any four walls - and do so affordably," it actually just left me with a sense of envy, and with the reminder that the word "affordable" is all relative. The pair do have a knack for flea marketing and using vintage artifacts and architectural treasures in a unique way, but having the time to do so is a luxury in itself.

The book is full of tips like taming bold colors with neutral furnishings and mixing modern pieces with regional furnishings that in theory are helpful and affordable. But in reality it's the Cappellini coffee table, the luxuriously upholstered bed frame, and the couple's extensive collection of artwork that make me want to "get the Downtown Chic look."

This book is definitely a treat to read. It offers a sneak peek into one family's wonderful life as well as lots of inspiration, but in all likelihood, it won't solve the everyman's design woes. But then again, I guess you can hire Sixx to do that for you.

Get the Look: (Untitled)

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:35 -0700

I am beyond excited for Jonathan Parker's new satirical indie comedy (Untitled), about a brooding avant-garde composer who falls for a trendy NYC gallerist, which stars Adam Goldberg and Marley Shelton - watch the trailer here. Seeing as the plot is set in the quirky world of contemporary art and music, it's no surprise that there's lots of modern design to drool over. The sets look downright hip and are full of furnishings that bridge the gap been art and décor. Many are also furnishings readily available to you! So let's see how you can get the look of this exciting flick.

Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

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Madonna Wants to Re-Create Her Former English Manor in NYC

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:03 -0700

Since her split with Guy Ritchie, Madonna has parked herself in an Upper East Side apartment, moving on from their shared historic estate in Wiltshire, UK, the Ashcombe House. But, according to the Mirror, she misses the English countryside so much that she's asked her architects to re-create her country home room by room in her NYC digs. Let me add that the Mirror is not always the most reliable source, so this news bit still has rumor status.Apparently, she's hired people "to go out and troll the Upper East Side boutiques for candelabras, side tables, and period chaises" and even had the wood floors of her new Georgian-style townhouse "ripped up and replaced with terracotta tiles, similar to Ashcombe." There's even talk of bringing chickens into the Manhattan pad to make her kids feel at home - I'm going to go out on a limb and say that might be stretching the truth. Nevertheless, do you understand where she is coming from? Would you do (or have you done) the same thing? Or do you think she's nuts and should decorate like she lives in Gotham City, not the English countryside?

Source

Scenes From the 20th Century Modernism Show

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:05 -0700

This weekend I attended the 20th Century Modernism Show and Sale at Fort Mason in San Francisco, which featured 50 national and international exhibitors (many local) of decorative and fine arts from all design movements of the 20th century. I was excited to see up close some works by artists I follow, like David Wiseman's porcelain blossom and bronze branches (and I even caught a glimpse of the artist himself) and a large collection of original works by the late great American Modernist Charley Harper from the Charley Harper Art Studio.
A few of my other favorite exhibitors were Battersea, R 20th Century, Peter Fetterman, 20th Century Interiors, Antik NYC, Off the Wall, and Eric Firestone Gallery. Peter Fetterman sells a range of black and white photographs, including many well-known pieces such as this image of Andy Warhol with Edie Sedgwick and Chuck Wein by Burt Glinn, which was fun to see. See more scenes from the show when you read more.

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Home Away From Home: Gwyneth Paltrow's Fave NYC Hotels

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:08:28 -0800

In today's edition of Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletter, she has offered six of her favorite hotels in New York City to her readers, should they be planning a trip to the Big Apple anytime soon. So, I thought I'd offer a little of my design insight on each locale. Paltrow says she's stayed in all but one of them, as she's been redecorating her apartment for a year or so. Considering how stunning her Hamptons digs are, I'm sure her NYC apartment will be worth the wait! To see which spots made it to Gwyneth's top six, check out this slideshow! Not interested in NYC? Here are Gwyneth's fave Los Angeles hotels. Source and Source

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This Just In: Olsen Twins to Sell Their NYC Penthouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:45:07 -0800

According to the New York Observer, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have put their 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home in the West Village, NYC, on the market for $11,995,000. The twins have apparently been renting it out for $35,000 a month for a few years, but did help create it. They "bought four properties from the developer preconstruction and designed their own floor plan in collaboration with the developer."

The Corcoran Group calls the listing "one of the largest penthouses in the West Village to ever become available," and a "12 room trophy, commanding some of the most spectacular water and city views in all of Manhattan through 53 large picture windows."

Some of the notable amenities include a private elevator, a glass-enclosed wood-burning fireplace, and a 22' x 18' eat-in kitchen with an oversized granite island and Viking Professional 6 burner stove. Oh, and naturally, an oversized walk-in closet with Southern views of The Statue of Liberty. Corcoran's broker, Jared Seligman, also said, “You have a separate staff exit; you can have the most fabulous parties." I'd hope that with a preteen entertainment firm (Dualstar) raking in $1 billion a year, the Olsens could, at the very least, throw a good party...

To see a tour of their fantasy digs, read more

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Soure and Source