CasaSugar

This Just In: Matthew Perry Shops the Market

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:00:30 -0700

Actor Matthew Perry recently purchased a humble 1,701-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2-bath home Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood for $883,000. The listing for the property reads:

This warm and inviting 3 bedroom home offers a great living room, elegant dining area, big kitchen with breakfast area and Italian tile floors. Inside laundry, hardwood throughout, spectacular yard with sparkling pool and grass.

If you remember correctly, Perry recently made a baller purchase of a modern Runyon Canyon manse for $4.5 million. So, this modest fixer-upper will clearly not be his primary residence. I am eager to see what he does with it, though. I'm thinking he should paint the exposed brick fireplace white, stain the hardwood floors a darker tone, ditch the mirrored closet doors and vertical blinds, and replace the kitchen cabinets (or paint them) and go for open shelving above. The pool area isn't in bad shape, though the brick wall could be removed, and some sculptural pieces, planters, and lounge chairs should be added. The front of the house could use some landscaping as well. What do you think?

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Roundup: Chevron's Goin' On

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:21 -0700

I spotted this Black Zigzag Lamp ($185) at Emilia Ceramics, a San Francisco-based ceramic import shop, and felt a revived love for chevron patterns. The contemporary lamp is handmade by Mexican pottery studio Talavera Vázquez in the city of Dolores Hidalgo. I've been drooling over Madeline Weinrib's cotton flatweave zigzag rug ever since I saw it, but aside from that, I've never felt much affinity for chevron/zigzag patterns. I thought I'd see what else is out there. So, check out my chevron finds.

Get the Look: Zooey Deschanel's Bedroom in 500 Days of Summer

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:00:06 -0700

After much anticipation, I finally saw 500 Days of Summer and loved it! Aside from the easy, romantic soundtrack, hip wardrobes, and counterintuitively hopeful plot, I fell for the movie's interiors, which are charming, inspiring, and easy to reproduce. In the film, Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is a recent transplant, and still has a few boxes sitting unpacked in her apartment. She also has plenty of interesting, vintage artwork in ornate gold frames, some well-traveled knickknacks, and as you might expect from any good indie flick, some cool posters. The most noticeable element of her apartment (a studio, I think) is the blue toile wallpaper you see upon entrance. French toile patterns date back to the 17th century, and they saw a rejuvenation in popularity about 10 years ago, when an antique or country look in interiors became popular. It's unusual to see it used in a city apartment, let alone that of a young woman. But somehow it works flawlessly for Summer, who rides around in a bicycle with a wicker basket, and is seen in conservative ensembles like wide-legged trousers with a vest (a girlish Annie Hall) or delicate, 1940s-style sundresses. To learn how to get the look of this room, read more.

You can find a similar blue toile paper by the Wallpaper Company at Home Depot. But, Thibaut Design is also known for making beautiful toiles.
A streamlined iron framed bed with a bit of a vintage feel to it is key. The Pottery Barn Savannah Bed & Headboard ($249-799) is a close match. Summer has strung Christmas tree lights on the frame of hers, giving it a romantic, ambient look when lit. Her nearly white bedding has a subtle pattern, giving it a well-washed, antique look. And, a patchwork throw pillow has nostalgic style. Here are a few products to help you get the look.

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Crave Worthy: Oly Studio Jordan Entertainment Console

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:00:59 -0700

In general, the words "entertainment console" conjure visions of bachelor pad-style black tempered glass TV stands you'd pick up at Best Buy with your flat screen. Why people find it acceptable to ignore the rest of their decor when choosing entertainment storage is beyond me. But, I will admit it can be difficult to find stylish TV furniture. If only beauties like the Oly Studio Jordan Entertainment Console (inquire for price) were more pervasive, living rooms everywhere might get a face lift. Its sliding doors are ideal for concealing the spines of all those Sex and the City DVD box sets you own. I love the weathered look of its light brown finish and its clean-lined, well-balanced shape. What do you think?

Cool Idea: Maps Krieg

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:00:28 -0800

In big cities, Craigslist is the master when it comes to looking for apartments. But, unfortunately people tend to fudge about what neighborhood their listings are in. Google Mapping dozens of listings a day can really cut into your day job - and who wants to be homeless and jobless?
So, along came MapsKrieg, a website that has mashed together Craigslist and Google Maps, so you can view apartment listings, photos, and details geographically on a map. Just type in the location you'd like to search by address and city or zip code, and it'll reveal clickable pushpins for each listing. Or, you can just navigate a listings table that lists the headline, rent, listing date, and says whether or not photos are available. Obviously, the site only supports cities that already have listings on CL, so you might be out of luck if you live in rural areas. The drawback is that as it stands, in beta, you can only search by location, not keywords like "studio," "furnished," "cat-friendly," etc. But, it's a start. I've got my own digs now, but I sure do wish I'd known about this handy site in my renting days.

Casa Quickie: Studio Resourcefulness

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:00:57 -0800

TeamSugar member CityGal is throwing a holiday party in her tiny New York City studio, which has French doors dividing her "bedroom" (only room for a bed) from her minuscule living room/oven-less kitchen. In other words, her party will be a little bit like the Flight of the Conchords episode when Jemaine throws a party in his new apartment: the empty cleaning closet.

No one's gonna rain on Citygal's party, though! She's created room for her guests by flipping her mattress on its end, which she'll conceal behind a curtain. This opens up the bedroom, making more space for the party-goers. You gotta do what you gotta do! If her trick's not for you, try my primer on maximizing space for a party.
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On the Market: Matthew Perry's Former Pad

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:00:06 -0700

Are you a Friends fan with an eye for modern real estate? Then you're in luck because, according to Big Time, the 8,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-bath Beverly Hills former home of Matthew Perry is on the market for $12.5 million.The listing for the property reads:

"Lautner-esque" Modern estate at the end of quiet cul-de-sac in Trousdale. Poliform kitchen opens to family room, which spills out to sizable back yard with large lawn, outdoor cooking & dining, and infinity pool & spa. Sensational city-to-ocean views can also be enjoyed from lavish master suite with Poliform closet and 2-story high living room. State-of-the-art Crestron system controls luxurious, advanced 14-person, tiered screening room, as well as most other automated features of the house.

To hear about Perry's real estate portfolio and see many more photos, read more.

Perry purchased the property in 1999 for $2.9 million, and sold it in 2005 for $6.1 million. This Spring, he purchased a modern three-bedroom in LA for $4.5 million. And this Summer he paid $883,000 for a modest fixer-upper in LA's Studio City. It's clear that Perry is a modern man who loves to shop the market. While this industrial modern estate isn't quite my taste, it's certainly quite dramatic and architecturally stunning. I'd love to spend a weekend there, or even a few months . . . and pretend to be Marcia Brady with a trust fund.

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Ask Casa: Art in the DC Area?

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:30:45 -0700

Hi Casa,

My husband and I just bought our first house (yay!) in the Washington, DC, metro area. We love going to the local art fairs, and we just want some real art. We are huge art fans though we haven't been able to buy very much of it. I know that you often find up-and-coming artists (or established ones) and was wondering if you could give me some suggestions. We love abstract art, deep colors, huge Dali fans, Picasso, etc. The wall we want to fill is a good size, so we could accommodate a 6-feet-tall-by-4 feet-wide painting or a five-feet square painting. I know this is a ton of information, but I don't know where else to turn and we would love to find new artists and help them out!

Thanks so much for your time and I love your site!

Idekosky

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Idekosky,

For a painting this large, you'll likely have to commission a work - but don't worry, it's actually a fun process. I've had art commissioned before, and the artist is almost always enthusiastic about the process of working with a buyer. I'd first look online at DC Arts, where you can find links to artists, photographers, and designers in the DC metro area. I found painter Eileen Wold through the site, and I'm really impressed by her series of smokestack paintings.

If your online search proves unsuccessful, I would take it to the streets for Mid City Artists Open Studios night, which usually happens in May. If you can't wait that long (and who can blame you?), I would examine the list of artists from Mid City Artists' website and directly contact any that seem to fit your tastes. You might like Sondra Arkin's abstract paintings (shown here), or the work of Brian Petro, who also works with large panels.

Don't be afraid to also approach emerging galleries or new art spaces or studio spaces, since these artists may be both less expensive and more willing to work with specific requests. Enjoy your hunt! It's a fun one.

Good luck,
Casa

Oh, and are there any DC metro area art mavens out there? Please leave your advice in the comments!

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Designer Spotlight: Laurence Pasquier

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:30:07 -0700

Interior stylist Laurence Pasquier has a background in textiles and a distinct, scenic style. She feeds her influences and inspirations by spending time in London and Paris, two of Europe's most cutting-edge cities. Pasquier is often hired by communication agencies to build sets for a launch, and magazines like Living Etc, Homes & Gardens, and Real Homes rely on her to style atmospheres for photo shoots. Pasquier also collaborates with various trend studios to advise companies on their creative endeavors, positioning brands and analyzing growing trends, translating her observations into attainable style. For inspiration check out the gallery below.

There's more where these came from, so read more.

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Designer Spotlight: Summer Thornton

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:30:20 -0700

Chicago-based designer Summer Thornton calls herself a "personal stylist for the home," and this apt description fits her perfectly. Concentrating mostly in ceramics during college, she shapes a home — an 1890's Lincoln Park condo, a North Shore mansion, a down-state country home — much like she would a clay pot, infusing it with color and texture and then sending it off to the kiln, ready to stand the test of everyday life. It's no surprise that she can make a Chicago high-rise and a country cottage look equally charming: she is rooted in both. She recently gave me a little introduction, saying:

I grew up in the country where I learned to appreciate the simple things. I was surrounded by nature with its colors, textures, and relaxed mood. When I moved to the city I became obsessed with the architecture of Chicago, the history and glamour of the city. My design style is really about combining those two aesthetics.

This duality translates to a slightly off-kilter traditional style: an industrial filing cabinet used as a side table beside a sofa filled with brocade prints and soft velvets, a cast-iron bed angled diagonally, retro chrome stools in a country kitchen. "I love to mix something high polish and traditionally 'formal' with something rough and lowly," she explains. Be sure to check out Summer's website to see more. And if you're not Chicago based, but want to replicate what you see, she says her favorite resources include Oly Studio, Osborne & Little, Jayson Home and Garden, as well as many antique and vintage stores. To see more images of her work, read more.

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Savannah Bed & Headboard - $249.00	Celia Bed - $799.00
Iron and Brass bed - $1,998.00	Areaware - string lighting by patrick townsend for areaware - $13.00
Copper Dragonfly String Lights - $14.99	Sanctuary Collection by L'erba "Tranquil" Bedding Collection - $89.99
Martha Stewart Collection "Textured Damask" 6-Piece Comforter Set - $200.00	Natori "Snow Leopard" Bedding Collection - $135.00
Millie Organic Patchwork Quilt & Sham - $49.00	Post Road - $19.99
Spring Fling Patchwork Quilt & Sham - $39.00