CasaSugar

Before and After: The View's Backstage Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:00:05 -0800

When I chatted with Thom Filicia the other day, he shared a few photos from his makeover of The View's dressing rooms. As you can see from this shot, before Thom took over, the show's dressing room was beige, blah, and uninspired.

To see Thom's vast improvement on this dressing room, read more.

Using gender-neutral colors and a bold mural, Thom created a dressing room that allows stars to relax in a stylish environment before appearing on the show. I love the color scheme Thom used, and that sofa is a must-have as well. What do you think?

Before photo courtesy of ABC/Donna Svennevik; after photo courtesy of ABC/Steve Fenn

Thom Filicia's Top Tips For Design

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:07 -0800

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview Dress My Nest host Thom Filicia. Thom, who recently authored Thom Filicia Style, talked about his experience making over The View's dressing rooms. Thom also appeared on the show to promote the Kimberly-Clark Room-a-Day Giveaway, which gives 16 participants the chance to each win a $25,000 room makeover. Thom also shared his personal philosophies for creating cohesive and beautiful rooms. Thom's style, which blends relaxed elegance with each client's individual sense of style, seemed to be a perfect resource for CasaSugar readers interested in making over their own homes. You can peruse some of Thom's design tips from his new book when you read more.

Mix Timeless and Timely: Timeless is a fresh look at traditional design and timely is a more livable version of what we know as modern design. Pair a classic rug with more contemporary furniture. When Timeless and Timely pieces are used together you’ll create an interesting, eclectic room that’s entirely your own.
Color Your World: There’s nothing that will transform your space as easily and affordably as paint. When looking to refresh your world, bring in your favorite color with the ease of a roller. And when looking to strengthen the foundation of your room bring in a stylish and bold rug layered on your basic wall to wall carpet. Pick colors that suit your personality. When painting a room don’t be afraid to be bold and choose the colors you love, not colors that are safe. And remember, a fresh coat of white paint can bring an old piece of furniture back to life and help it fit in anywhere.
Decorate Outside the Box: Don’t allow a home’s architecture to limit your decorating options. Just because your house is a colonial, it doesn't mean that you have to decorate like you’re a pilgrim. Your interior should speak as much about you as it does about your architecture, so be free in making choices and make sure your home tells your personal story.
Personalize Your Space: Your home should be an extension of your personality and reflect your individual aesthetic. Personalizing your space is key to any successful design. Choose artwork and accessories from throw pillows, to books, to picture frames, and interesting objects and artwork that collectively tells your story and make you smile.
Well Read: Layering your room with books is a great way to add depth, color, and visual textures. A stack of books can make a great, interesting little side table.
Lose the Matchy Matchiness: Each piece you select in a room should have character, be eye-catching, and tell your story. It doesn’t matter if your furniture, artwork, and textiles are collected during exotic trips or sourced from
local design shops. As long as the overall look is original with intriguing juxtapositions and unexpected contrasts you’ll create a room that is interesting, unique, and beautiful.

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Cool Idea: Amana's Colorful Fridge Line

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:22 -0800

Last week, I encouraged you to integrate color in your kitchen with a retro Smeg fridge. Turns out that another well-known refrigerator company is offering a range of colorful refrigerators.

Amana debuted 10 different concept refrigerator designs at the International Builders’ Show out in Vegas last month. The fridges were a collaboration between Amana brand ambassador Thom Filicia and the Amana design team.

Since Amana's not certain which refrigerator design it wants to debut first, it's launched a website to ask design enthusiasts like you and me to complete a survey ranking your favorite fridge designs. The best part? After you rank your faves, the site will tell you what your choice shows about your personality.

Intrigued? To see which fridge I picked as my fave, and what Amana says my choice reveals about me, read more.

I chose the Twilight. Apparently this fridge shows that my personality is "calm and soothing with a touch of grace and elegance. This perfectly describes both your personality and CD collection. Never a note or pair of socks out of place, you express yourself most vividly with a slightly raised eyebrow. Friends often wonder how you maintain your cool in all circumstances. We suspect large quantities of dark chocolate."

While I can't claim that I never have a pair of socks out of place (unless their place is separated with one lost under my bed), I do agree that dark chocolate definitely has a place in my life!

Did you take the survey? What does it say about you?

Your Favorite Male Interior Designer of 2008

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:00:09 -0800

As part of our Best of 2008 polls, you named Vern Yip your favorite male interior designer this year. Thom Filicia came in as a close second in the polls, but Yip takes the cake in my mind for his work renovating two very worthy community organizations for low-income families in San Francisco. I'm impressed with his attention to detail and covet the sense of warmth he brings to his clean-lined interiors. And, of course, I also enjoy his charismatic presence on HGTV's Design Star and Deserving Design.
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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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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:36 -0800

Do you live in LA and need a home makeover? Thom Filicia might be able to help. - AT:LA
Get an update on a front-porch renovation. - Charles and Hudson
Amazon introduces frustration-free packaging. - Simply Stated
Mark Cutler shares his favorite fireplaces.- PointClickHome
Indulge in Keller and Keller's gorgeous photographs.- Desire to Inspire
Nine green products you need to know about.- This Old House
Here's a brand new source for wool felt.- PoppyTalk
Tour a cute Portland home.-SFGirlByBay

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Rethinking Pink: Counting Sheep for the Cure

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:04:07 -0700

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Serta is holding the Counting Sheep for the Cure Bedroom Makeover. Those who have been touched by breast cancer can share their stories and be entered to win a $10,000 bedroom makeover designed by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s Thom Filicia. A $5,000 donation to Komen for the Cure will also be made in each of the two winners’ names.

Submit your essay online or drop it off at an America’s Mattress store, where entrants will receive a special Serta Counting Sheep for the Cure gift.