CasaSugar

In the News: Celebrating the Outdoors in a Manhattan Penthouse

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:49 -0700

What's the first thing you do when you buy a $4 million penthouse in lower Manhattan? If you're Matthew Blesso, you don't move in; instead, you allow two Yale professors to use the space as a giant experimental classroom.
Fred A. Bernstein's recent New York Times article In the Penthouse, a True Garden Apartment, celebrates this collaboration between architect Joel Sanders, landscape architect Diana Balmori, and real estate developer Matthew Blesso. The professors teach a course called Interface that integrates architecture and landscape architecture, the latter of which is often overlooked in projects. And so, with Mr. Blesso’s blessing, the two professors turned his $4 million apartment into an extended classroom. Luckily for all parties involved, the results were more than satisfactory for everyone, with Sanders and Balmori getting their living lab, and Blesso a truly unique living space.

To find out more about this penthouse, read more.

After renovating the penthouse for around $1 million, Blesso moved back in. Now, he performs his morning ablutions at a sink that's overshadowed by a large vertical garden on one wall. Striped dracaena add life to the staircase; outside, an outdoor shower and lush vegetation mingle, and mint plants climb up the bulkhead. The effect is soothing, design-forward, and wild at the same time.

Of course, I can't forget about this home's other design elements. The interior design is also a mix of chic and wilder elements, with products such as Tom Dixon lamps framing a graffiti mural, Livingstones scattered on the sofa and floor, Hans Wegner shell chairs lending a mid-century vibe, and other lovely pieces, which are wonderfully integrated in the home. Blesso, who's currently working on affordable housing developments in Central America, among other projects, definitely has a coveted crib. If you know what's good for you (and your need for real estate eye candy), head over to The New York Times to check out the full slideshow of his home.

Laurie Lambrecht for The New York Times

This Just In: Heidi Klum Loses Benjamins on Bank Street

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:00:23 -0700

Heidi Klum, the host of my all-time favorite reality show, just sold her West Village penthouse, which she's owned since 2002. The lucky new owners are photographer, gallery owner, and collage artist Steve Joester and his wife, Debra.

The Joesters spent $5.35 million for Klum's penthouse - a quarter million dollars under the the asking price. The three-bedroom apartment includes a library, open kitchen, two-and-a-half baths, a hot tub, rooftop deck, and exceptional views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.

To find out if Heidi and her family have plans of leaving Manhattan altogether, read more.

Lest any New Yorkers out there are concerned about fewer Heidi sightings due to this sale, fear not: According to the New York Post:

[F]riends of the Teutonic temptress say that she's looking to buy a substantial pad in downtown Manhattan.

She's outgrown the apartment," says a source. "She's very family-oriented and needs a lot more space for nannies and visiting relatives. Plus, she didn't like the kids climbing the small spiral staircase between floors.

Photo courtesy of Rankin and Source

The Scoop: Sophie's Penthouse LLC Buys a $7.1 Million Apt

PetSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:30 -0700

While still reeling over the death of Sophie the news has recently come out that Oprah's BFF, Gayle King, is living in a penthouse that was purchased last January in the name of the recently departed spaniel. It wasn't previously known how Gayle had financed the palatial digs but, according to deed-transfer records released yesterday, a company called Sophie's Penthouse LLC bought this expensive and expansive $7.1 million full-floor condo with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, large living room/dining area, and a 768-square-foot wraparound terrace! Wow! The penthouse tops the 36-floor building at 207 E. 57th Street in NYC. With celebrities choosing to leave millions to their pets, I guess this is a case of the reverse as, after the pooch's death, the deed has been transferred to Gayle giving her (what appears to be) a $7 million gift from Sophie. What's your take?

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Penthouse Dog Potty: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:15:18 -0700

Training a new puppy can be a tough job. One of the toughest has to be potty training! But fortunately with persistence and love, your pup will get the hang of the whole peeing-outside-not-on-the-carpet thing. But for some people, being there when your puppy really needs to go can be a problem.
Indoor potties just might help your pup learn where he can go, verses where he can't, during those times you are away – and I've got pals with small dogs that use a variation of this product. So, if you're a fan of the indoor potty idea, tell me what you think of this luxe Penthouse Indoor Potty! Coming with the platform, K9 grass, drainage tray, easy clean-up catch pan . . . and, oh, a $450 price tag, this one may just break the bank.

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Scarlett and Ryan Consider a Full Time Base in NYC

PopSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:00:00 -0700

Scarlett Johansson stepped out of her NYC apartment yesterday afternoon, heading off to run errands before reporting to the Cort Theater for her evening performance of A View From the Bridge. She's been dedicatedly going to and from work during her play's run on Broadway, and it looks as though Scarlett may be re-settling in the Big Apple for good. She and husband Ryan Reynolds are trying to sell their house in LA, and they're rumored to be moving into a $2 million penthouse on the Upper East Side as they set up a permanent home.

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This Just In: Mariska Hargitay to Sell Chelsea Penthouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:45:35 -0700

According to Real Estalker, actress Mariska Hargitay, also known as Olivia Benson on the hit series Law & Order: SVU (an obsession of mine) and her husband Peter Herman have put their 4,819-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath Chelsea penthouse on the market for $8.25 million. The penthouse sits in the O'Neill Building, "a full-service doorman condominium built in 1887 as the first full blockfront department store by Hugh O'Neill on what is called 'Ladies' Mile' and now a historic district," recognized by its two gold beehive-shaped domes, according to the listing. The property itself, which was featured in the New York Times, is built around one of these 16 ½-foot gold domes, which houses its media room. In addition to this unique feature, the spectacular duplex boasts a whopping 2,549 square feet of private outdoor terraces, a top-of-the-line eat-in kitchen, a walk-in laundry room, and large private storage, among other things. The couple paid $7 million for the property not long ago, in October 2007, and have decided to sell because their 2-year-old son, August, was recently admitted to an Upper East Side preschool. The family of three plans to move Uptown, closer to August's friends.

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Source

This Just In: O Sells Home

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:15:28 -0800

According to Big Time, power woman Oprah Winfrey has discreetly sold her 4,806-square-foot, 39th-floor penthouse in Atlanta’s Buckhead area for $1.8 million. The sale of the five-bedroom penthouse actually took place on June 4. Oprah paid $1.52 million for the property in mid 2003, but Big Time says, "it’s unclear what Oprah’s use was for the unit during the years she owned it." Among her vast real estate empire, she also owns another property in Douglasville, Ga., so it's unlikely she'll be disturbed much by the headaches of relocating.

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Get the Look: Gavin Newsom's San Francisco Penthouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:00:35 -0700

On Tuesday, I gave you all a sneak peek at San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's Russian Hill penthouse, which is on the market for $2.9 million. Several of you seemed to love it, so I thought I'd help you re-create the look of his living room in your home. The space was designed by Agins & Associates, based out of San Francisco. It's a blend of contemporary, traditional, and Moroccan furnishings with a primarily brown color palette. If you really want the look, you could also buy the real thing, but obviously it's not in the cards for everyone. If it's Newsom's slicked back hair that you love, maybe BellaSugar can help you. To re-create this look in your own home, read more.

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On the Market: SF Mayor Gavin Newsom's Prime Penthouse

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom, who recently announced his candidacy for governor of California in the 2010 election, is on the move. Newsom has listed his 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath Russian Hill penthouse for $2.9 million, which he purchased from family friend Peter Getty for $2.35 million in February 2006. The spread sits in the Bellaire Tower, a 20-story, art-deco 1930 highrise, but it's undergone a complete interior Hollywood regency overhaul by Michael Agins Interior Design. While the views of three bridges and water would be enough for me to sign the dotted online instantly, the interior structure is stunning as well, with arched windows and beautiful moldings throughout. The interior design looks flawless, but I think it could use a little more personality and color. Take a look at photos and let me know what you think when you read more.

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Casa Quiz: O Sells Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:45:21 -0800

A few days ago, I told you that power woman Oprah Winfrey has discreetly sold her 4,806-square-foot, 39th-floor penthouse in Atlanta’s Buckhead area for $1.8 million. Take this quiz to find out more details about the sale.
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Take the quiz