CasaSugar

Mischa Barton Lists Her Beverly Hills Mediterranean Manse

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0800

Mischa Barton's high-paid days as Marisa Cooper are long over, and unfortunately her career hasn't picked up as she expected it might when she left The O.C. after its third season. So the mortgage on the 7,600-square-foot, six-bedroom, 10-bath Beverly Hills home she scooped up in 2005 is one that I suspect she simply can't afford, and she's listed it on the market for $8.4 million. Seeing as she bought the property at the height of her fame for $6.4 million, she's set to make a pretty penny on this one if her asking price is met.

In a past interview about her home, Mischa said, "When I arrived in LA, I looked at 10 houses. This was the last one on the list. It was a little beyond my price expectations, but I immediately fell in love with it. It's almost as if I would be living in the country. There's no traffic, no loud cars, simply heavenly quiet."

The house boasts two detached guest suites, a lush courtyard, a large terrace, a pool, and beautiful Mediterranean architectural details. Barton's décor choices, are on the other hand, are less crave worthy. She's washed it with a peach and neutral palette, and outfitted it with gaudy, gold tables and ostentatious, swagged valances. I expected so much more from a fashionista like Mischa! Check out the photos and tell me what you think.

See dozens more photos when you read more.

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Rachel Ashwell Lists Her Shabby Chic Malibu Cottage

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0800

Purveyor of all things shabby chic, Rachel Ashwell has put her 1,783-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath Malibu cottage home on the market for $4.4 million. Her beautifully remodeled home features limestone flooring, a brick patio with a spa, and mountain views. It's also surrounded by gorgeous gardens and just steps away from a shared beach access lot with a deck. The interiors, not surprisingly, are dressed in Ashwell's signature white shabby chic style, and look quite cozy and calm. You'd wonder why she'd want to sell this cute home, but I think the fact that her business filed for bankruptcy last year might have something to do with it. From the looks of it, Ashwell's already moved out; it seems pretty empty. But, she also owns another LA area property, so perhaps this was just her beach house. Would you like to live in this Malibu home? Take a look at the photos and tell me what you think!

House Tour: Kim's Beaux Arts Beauty

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0800

I've been reading the cheeky blog Thank You For Asking, written by the very glamorous Kim, for a few months now, and after seeing a few extremely chic sneak peeks into her home, I asked if she'd be interested in giving us a house tour. Thankfully, she agreed! Kim lives in a 1920s Beaux Arts home in San Francisco's posh Pacific Heights neighborhood with her husband and three sons. It is no doubt one of the most gorgeous houses I've ever seen. More impressively, she decorated it herself!

Before moving to SF, Kim lived in London for seven years, where she sharpened her stylistic skills taking Christie's Fine Arts course. She says she picked up a lot of her furniture and artwork there, and on subsequent trips back. She also scours San Francisco's vintage furniture shops for a lot of her furnishings. She says they renovated their home with the help of architect Ken Linsteadt when they moved to SF in 1997. Their goal was to keep the beauty of the original architecture while upgrading some of the renovations done in the '70s, and they have no doubt done just that. Come take the tour, and prepare to swoon!

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Would You Upgrade to a Solar Water Heater?

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:02 -0800

Last month, California approved rebates of up to $1500 for homeowners and businesses that install solar thermal water heaters.

These heaters use the warmth of the sun to heat water for use in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. While a typical hot water system runs between $5000 - $7000, studies have shown that using a solar hot water heater can significantly cut your natural gas or electric bill. Would you switch to a solar water heater if you could take advantage of a $1500 rebate?

Source: Flickr User jhritz

Pregnancy Death Rate in California Higher Than That of Bosnia

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:18 -0800

California boasts three of the nation's leading hospitals in gynecology including UCSF, Stanford, and UCLA, but the state's most accomplished medical facilities aside, the death rate directly related to pregnancy is higher than that of Bosnia and Kuwait. A recent report said:

In 2006, 95 California women died from causes directly related to their pregnancies - out of more than 500,000 live births. That's a small number by public health standards. But if California had met the goal set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring the state's maternal mortality rate down to a level achieved by other countries, the number of dead would have been closer to 28.

The article cited possible factors being morbid obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hemorrhaging from C-sections. Elective induction without medical reason was also mentioned. Does this statistic alarm you or do you think it's still too small for concern?

The Prop 8 Revolution Will Be Televised (Sort of)

TresSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:08 -0800

After the Supreme Court blocked a plan to broadcast the trial of California's same-sex marriage ban on YouTube, two filmmakers have found a loophole. Using the transcripts and lookalike actors (including Oscar-nominated Tess Harper and 24's Gregory Itzin) to play the judge, lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, the filmmakers are reenacting the trial of Proposition 8 and posting it on YouTube. While E! tried the reenactment approach with the Michael Jackson trial, the Prop 8 version has a more legitimate if less engrossing feel. It's like C-SPAN with actors - you're glad it's out there, but you don't really want to sit through it. Check it out below.

On the Market: The Painted Ladies' Neighboring Sister

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:07 -0800

Anyone who's ever been to San Francisco, or watched the opening credits of Full House, is probably familiar with the city's famous Painted Ladies, situated on a block bordering Alamo Square Park known as Postcard Row. The group of colorfully-painted Victorian homes was built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who built a bigger, slightly different Victorian mansion for himself next door on the corner that anchors the block.

The 4,692-square-foot, five-bedroom, 4.5-bath home, called the Shannon-Kavanaugh House, is now on the market for $4 million, after being available for rental for parties and other events. The home has four stories ($1 million a pop!), an in-law suite with a private entrance, and an attic suite with a full bath. Its original features, such as stained glass windows, moldings, medallions, wainscoting, four fireplaces, and historic Bradbury wallpaper, have all been beautifully restored. Aside from the home's history, it also has great views of the city and an awesome location on the park.

See more photos of this historic home when you read more.

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Yummy Links: From Grant Achatz to Pepperoni Pizza

partysugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:50:40 -0800

Super Chef Grant Achatz has plans to open a bar in Chicago. - Eater
Endless Simmer has launched a recipe database. - Endless Simmer
On Valentine's Day, make dumplings with your little dumplings. - Chow
What are your top five favorite food smells? - The Epi-Log
Are California wines too pricey for recession drinking? - Grub Street SF
Learn how to make abstract chocolate garnishes. - Hostess With the Mostess
Find out which national delivery pizza chain's pepperoni pizza tastes the best. - Slice

Megan Fox Transforms Her Address

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:00:13 -0800

Tattooed Transformers starlet Megan Fox has swooped up a 5,200-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-bath home in LA's Los Feliz for the measly sum of $2.9 million.

Built in 1936, the Mediterranean-style house boasts restored original details, panoramic ocean and city views, custom hardwood floors, state-of-the-art security, and a pool with several terraces and lawn areas. The view alone would be enough to sell me, but it also has gorgeous features, including beautiful bones, white flat-fronted cabinetry, a Viking range, Carrara marble countertops in the bath and kitchen, and a free-standing tub. The pool area seems like an ideal place to entertain, too. Good work, Megan. Want to take the full tour?

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen Increase Their Curb Appeal

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:17 -0800

Actor couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen have purchased an absolutely charming home in LA's Brentwood neighborhood for $3.11 million. The four-bedroom, three-and-one-half bath home has a great, wide, columned front porch met by a stone walkway and beautiful landscaping out front; it's a far cry from the sequestered, gated celebrity homes we often see. Inside, the home is very nicely decorated, with lots of color and comfortable furnishings; if I were them, I'd want to buy it as is! The bones of the house are wonderful, too, with plenty of built-in cabinetry, dozens of windows, and handsome hardwood floors, as well as updated appliances like a Viking stove. Take the full tour - trust me, you'll want to.