CasaSugar

Casa Interview: The Good Wife's Stephen Hendrickson and Beth Kushnick

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:28 -0800

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a huge fan of the new CBS series The Good Wife. In particular, I adore Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Margulies) apartment. With classic styling and great use of color, it's definitely a look I'm currently coveting. Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to chat with the two people responsible for the look of that very apartment. The Good Wife's production designer, Stephen Hendrickson, and set decorator, Beth Kushnick, answered my questions about the look of Alicia's home.

CasaSugar: How did the production designer and set decorator define Alicia (as a starting-over mom, lawyer, etc.), and how did this play into their concept of her new apartment?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: We defined Alicia as a working mom who wanted to make a comforting life for her kids as they had to downsize from a large house in the suburbs to a much smaller apartment which she purchased and had renovated. We kept some furniture from the old house like the kids' beds and the dining room furniture. In addition the show creators wanted to keep Alicia's king size bed as a visual - that it was too big for her new bedroom and show that one side of it was now empty. We also created a maid's room in the back of the apartment for all of her husband's belongings.

CasaSugar: How did Alicia’s style as a North Shore mom change when she moved into Chicago proper?

Hendrickson and Kushnick: Her new apartment had a sophisticated color palette . . . Alicia's apartment also has more contemporary living room furnishings and an upgraded kitchen.

Read the rest of the interview, and check out photos of the set.

Get the Look: Joanna's Studio From Eastwick

CasaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:11 -0700

While not nearly as earthy as her friend Roxie, Joanna Frankel, the enterprising journalist and newbie witch from ABC's Eastwick still favors an eclectic look in her classically modern studio apartment. Find out how to get the look of this Boston transplant.
Photo Courtesy of ABC

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Get the Look: Roxie's Bedroom in Eastwick

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:35 -0700

Roxie, Rebecca Romijn's character in witchy, sexy new ABC drama Eastwick, is an eccentric artist whose bohemian ways are reflected in her house's furnishings. Her bedroom especially rocks a boho-bordello vibe that suits this widowed mommy (who's dating a much younger man) quite well. To check out her boudoir, and to see how you can get the look yourself, check out the slideshow.

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Get the Look: Cameron and Mitchell's House on Modern Family

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:00:46 -0700

Tonight's the second episode of ABC's new winning comedy Modern Family, and I have to say I'm hooked. I love all of the family dynamics in this extended family, and I also have to say that I absolutely adore Cameron and Mitchell's home. The couple, who've been together for five years and have just adopted a baby, have a great style to their home. While I'm not a fan of the nursery, the rest of the house displays a pleasing mix of modern and cozy elements, with a great use of color and art. Take the tour with me!
Photos Courtesy of ABC

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Great Set Design From 2009's Emmy Nominees: Big Love

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:26 -0700

While Big Love is nowhere near as hip as Mad Men when it comes to its sets, there's no denying that the careful crafting of the show's look adds depth to the series. Since the show's central thesis is the importance of family (even if it is a rather unusual family), the set design reflects that idea, as well as the personalities of those family members. Let's take a look at the homes of Bill Henrickson and sister wives Barb, Nikki, and Margene.
Source

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The Authentic Look of HBO's True Blood

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:30:42 -0800

Although True Blood has had an uneven first season (the finale was last night), I'll still be tuning in next year. I have to find out what happens with my favorite characters, and I can't wait to see how the plot develops. One element of the show that I really enjoy is its authentic look, which is crafted by the nimble art and set direction of Bill Law and Catherine Smith. Filmed in Los Angeles and Shreveport, LA, the show's set design embraces small-town Southern style that is imbued with a creepy dread. Source

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What TV Series Did These Kitchens Star In?

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:47 -0700

My quiz on films in houses has been quite popular with y'all. But, I wondered if you're just movie buffs, or if you have an eye for television series set design as well. These kitchens may sit on a studio lot somewhere, but that doesn't mean they're anything short of pretty to look at. Take this quiz to see how sharp your eye is for TV kitchens!

Question 1 of 8

This kitchen was the hub of socializing for some of my favorite TV characters. What show did it star in?

Hazelnut's Bryan Batt Opens Up to House Beautiful

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:54 -0700

If you're a design enthusiast and a New Orleans fanatic like me, you know Bryan Batt as a co-owner (with his partner Tom Cianfichi) of one of NOLA's finest décor boutiques, Hazelnut. I featured the boutique back in February of '08, and now Batt is set to ink his own home décor book. If you're just mad for Mad Men, you know him as Sterling-Cooper's in-the-closet, recently fired art director Salvatore Romano.

This month, House Beautiful is getting to know him, too. The shelter glossy has the lowdown on Batt's bedroom behavior, from his no-TV rule to his underbed storage, and of course, his bedroom décor resources.

I'm always interested to see where people get their design inspiration. So it was fun to hear about the jumping off point for his bedroom design:

The painting is the whole point of the room. It's by a friend of mine. Suzie Allain, who's a local artist and designer here in New Orleans. She showed some things at Hazelnut, my store here, and I fell in love with this series of bamboo stalks. She did this for me custom and then the room evolved around it.

See more excerpts from the issue.

What TV Series Did These Living Rooms Star In?

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:06 -0700

You've all been kicking serious butt on my quizzes on kitchens featured on TV and houses featured in movies. So, why stop there? Take this quiz to see how sharp your eye is for TV living rooms!

Question 1 of 7

This stylish sitting area stars in what TV series?

Found It! Light Fixtures From Eastwick

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:14 -0700

I wouldn't say that the witch-centric drama series Eastwick is on the top of my faves list of this year's Fall TV lineup, but I will give the show set designers props for boldly mixing three very different (and busy) light fixtures in this kitchen. Each of the chandeliers in this photo would be a show-stopper on its own, but combined they create a space that's more about being an eclectic than a specific theme, such as Moroccan or midcentury. Wondering where you can pick up any of these three light fixtures? Then read more.

In the forefront is a mirrored star chandelier. There are plenty of retailers who sell these, but the Circa Lighting Mini Antique Mirror Star ($123) is a good and affordable match.

The other light fixture in the front is a traditional Moroccan lantern. Tazi Designs sells many variations of these, including this Bahia Pendant ($95).
The chandelier off to the right is a 1950s Italian lamp called a "Sputnik" chandelier. You can easily find these at auction houses like 1st Dibs, such as this Brass Sputnik Chandelier ($1,600).