Shelterpop

Martha Stewart Crashes NYC Home Depot Workshop

Allison Mezzafonte — 2010-04-16T15:26:00 00:00

Photo: Steven Freeman/

It was just an ordinary night at The Home Depot's Painting Workshop. That was until Martha showed up.

Last night, ShelterPop and DIY Life editors were some of the lucky ones who got to attend The Home Depot's "Do-It-Herself" Workshop in New York City. The event, featuring Martha Stewart Living Paint, demonstrated decorative painting techniques. Hey, who couldn't use a how-to on painting two-tone striped walls? We sure could.

Martha's paint line launched at The Home Depot just last month so it made perfect sense that the featured products were hers. What we did not expect was a high-heel clad Martha to stroll in wearing a bright-orange apron ready to demo painting techniques. "Always paint in high heels," she said jokingly. "You can reach up higher that way."

Holy high heels, Martha! Photo: Allison Mezzafonte

Martha gave loads of great advice and even spilled some personal info -- like the color of her bedroom and various homes. Her bedroom ceiling is this beautiful Ballet Slipper Pink (below left); the walls are a File Cabinet Yellow (not shown).

We've extracted some highlights and our personal favorites from the night. Having never met Martha before, the general consensus on our team was a big, lovely thumbs up. She was very entertaining and seems remarkably down-to-earth, despite all those houses she owns! Ah, to be Martha.

And now: Pearls of wisdom from the woman herself -- plus some random facts and tid bits.

Ballet Slipper Pink (left); Cornbread (right).

1. Martha's color inspirations right now
Having just redecorated her East Hampton, New York home, Martha has some new-found color inspirations. Rugs, she says, were always a no-go in the East Hampton house since it's really a beach house. That all changed during this redesign and she has since introduced a golden-gray sisal rug in her living area. Those tones are complimented by colors similar to those in Martha's bedroom -- a yellow and a pink. In this case, it is Cornbread on the walls and Ballet Slipper Pink on the ceiling (both shown above).

2. "Be happy with gray!" says Martha
When DIY Life editor, Kristine Solomon, asked which shade of gray would look decorative, not dreary, on her apartment walls, Martha replied with a definitive "Sharkey Gray," explaining that her own daughter had her entire apartment painted this color. Kristine gratefully thanked Martha, explaining that her own mother will officially have to stop criticizing her choice of wall paint because, hey, "Martha picked this for me." Martha's reply? "Well, mothers don't know everything."

3. Neutral does not mean boring
She calls neutral paint colors the "Super Naturals" because she believes that you don't have to go bold to make an impact. Try using a few different neutral shades in your home and you'll see how nicely they blend and flow from room to room. It's easy, she says, to grow tired of bold shades like green and purple in your home. Maybe this is why us ShelterPop editors are always repainting our homes? Color addicts.

4. Use low-tack tape when painting
It's simple. The less tack, the easier it is to remove. If your tape is still pretty tacky, here's a fantastic industry secret: Put some lint on your tape. Stick it along your smock while you're working. It will make it less tacky. Also, never leave tape on over night because it could get stuck to the wall and tear.

5. Treat ceilings differently than walls
When it comes to ceilings, choose a glossier finish (semi-gloss or glossy). Walls should get flat or eggshell finishes. Martha suggests using color on ceilings for an unexpected pop. But, she says, never paint a low ceiling a dark shade. It will only make the space feel smaller. If you have a high ceiling, though, you can go dark.

6. Finishes, finishes
The walls in high-activity areas like the kitchen and bathroom should have more of a sheen. Bedrooms and living rooms are best suited with flat finishes.

7. A furry situation
Our favorite bit from the night was learning that Martha and her team have used the many shades of color found in her cat's fur as inspiration. They say inspirations can come from anywhere. Hearing this really drills that point home.

Learn how-to create a striped tone-on-tone painted wall (that Martha demo'ed herself!) over at Good Bones Great Pieces

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ShelterPop Welcomes Kristan Cunningham

Allison Mezzafonte — 2010-04-07T17:11:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Tran Tuan

Our favorite HGTV star and interior designer, Kristan Cunningham has joined the ShelterPop family as host of our new home decorating video series. Kristan's got accessible, affordable and down-right clever ideas for home decor. And we couldn't be happier to have her here.

You guys told us about your common home decorating challenges and Kristan has helped us tackle them. What to do with random family heirlooms? How to take an everyday table and make it something special? Can florals work for everyone? And what to do with all those gadgets?!

Best of all, Kristan breaks them down in an easy-to-understand manner that everyone can understand. These challenges (and many, many more) are some of the fun and easy projects we have to look forward to in the coming months.

Join us in welcoming Kristan to ShelterPop and come check out her creative, inspiring and approachable home decor projects. Have questions for her? Tweet them to us at Twitter.com/ShelterPop or write on our Facebook wall.

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A Dream Playhouse for Kids

Allison Mezzafonte — 2010-04-06T15:03:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends

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A Dream Playhouse

A Dream Playhouse
The Smiths, of Russellville, Missouri built this playhouse for their grandchildren with roughly $30K of their hard-earned money. For them, it's been worth every penny. "I wanted a place where my grandkids could come and relax and enjoy each other's company," says Lorraine Smith.
The Victorian-style playhouse is located in the front yard of Lorraine and Marvin Smith's home, and took a little less than two years to complete. A gazebo to the right lends a magical, fairytale-like touch.

A Dream Playhouse

The family at their groundbreaking ceremony in April 2006.

A Dream Playhouse

Two upholstered chairs from The Land of Nod cradle a table that was hand-painted by Lorraine's brother Mark.

A Dream Playhouse

A closet on the first floor holds an array of clothing that Lorraine bought on sale for her granddaughters to play dress up in. Her most recent purchase? A wedding dress that was on sale around Halloween.

A Dream Playhouse

Four dolls, one for each of the youngest granddaughters, sits atop stacked shelving units from The Company Store. In each shelf you'll find neatly folded clothing for the dolls, and their carriages directly to the left.

A Dream Playhouse

The girls at work in their kitchen. The wooden hutch and cabinet are both decorated and filled with real glass dishes.

A Dream Playhouse

In the laundry room, the girls have a complete play set from Pottery Barn, including a washer, dryer and iron. A patch-work clothes pin bag, meant to look like a little girl's dress, hangs from a hanger.

A Dream Playhouse

Stairs lead up to the loft and a purple door leads to the garage.

A Dream Playhouse

A hideout crawl space can be found beneath the stairs. Hanna (left), Lucia (right)

A Dream Playhouse

A roll-top desk in the upstairs loft holds art supplies and memory box frames hung on the wall (right) display photos from the groundbreaking ceremony of April 2006, as well as the pink ribbon that was cut that day.

A Dream Playhouse

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Welcome to Shelterpop!

Allison Mezzafonte — 2010-03-24T13:10:00 00:00

Colin Anderson, Getty Images

Welcome to ShelterPop, where we believe happy homes make happy people.

We're here to help you create a home you love: A home that reflects you, your personality and at the end of the day, one that you're happy to return to.

To start, we've got loads of ideas and inspirations that will get your creative wheels turning. Our color reports, projects, how-tos, new product round-ups and (yes!), even celeb-house tours will get you thinking of ways to infuse a hearty dose of personal style into your home. Then, once you're good and inspired, we're gonna show you to make it happen. Let's turn ideas into actions!

You see, at ShelterPop, we're not high-maintenance and we don't take ourselves too seriously. Hey, we've all had design disasters (that kelly green wall seemed like such a good idea at the time) and we can laugh at them now.

So we want to share our experiences with you. ShelterPop is a place to learn and be inspired. It's a place to feel happy.

So, go ahead and get started! Tell us what you love, what you want more (or less) of. Do you have a great design idea? Know of a fabulous design store? Did you design an amazing product? Want to show off your inspired home decor? Do it through comments or by emailing the editors. Talk to us! We can't wait to hear from you.

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Mini Designer Houses Auctioned Off for "Women in Need"

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-11-12T14:33:00 00:00

Filed under: Famous Homes, Design, etc, News & Trends, Cool Homes

Just in time for the holiday season, here's some good cheer worth spreading. From now through November 30, CharityBuzz.com is hosting a live auction of celebrity and designer-created papier mache homes to benefit Women in Need, an organization that provides housing and support for homeless women and their families in New York City.

Each home is a one-of-a-kind creation designed by a smorgasbord of VIPs including Diddy, the Beckhams, Halle Berry, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, the Today Show anchors and many more.

The highlights:

a blinged out chopper on Diddy's roof
Isaac Mizrahi's sparkly get-happy bubble-gum pink creation (above)
Bobbi Brown's house made of eyeshadow and blush compacts: makeup brushes for a chimney! (below)
candy-wrapper covered house by Dylan Lauren, appropriately of Dylan's Candy Bar
lots of other awesome creations below

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Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

Color us in love with these eyeshadow and blush compacts. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

A pretty and feminine house reflecting the creator's design aesthetic. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

A house dressed as a bride by the designer synonymous with bridal couture. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

This house looks sweet enough to eat. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

This one really is sweet enough to eat! Daughter of designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren's house candy-dressed house is inspired by her New York City-candy shop. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

A house suited for a king, or at least an entertainment mogul like Diddy. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

Just like its designer, this house is blinged out and fabulous. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

Five cars, one house. Guess the cars make the house? PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

Posh may not come to mind at first glance, but this house comes from the family of Post Spice aka Mrs. Beckham. PLACE BID

Fabulously Designed Do-Good Houses

VIEW ALL THE HOUSES HERE

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Clever Home Cleaning Solutions

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-10-20T15:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning, Cleaning

With a little bit of digging, and a lot of prodding, we pulled together some tried-and-true cleaning tactics, as well as some out-of-the-ordinary approaches to tackling the nastiest, most aggravating cleaning tasks that you hate to (but have to) do at home.

We've got the quick and easy solutions if you've only got a few hours. But if you're ready to roll up your sleeves and dive in, we've got the down-and-dirty approaches too. Pick your poison and er, enjoy?

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Clever Cleaning Tactics

The Challenge
Baking and roasting pans with a layer of gunk that never seems to wash off no matter how hard you scrub.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Make Do
Soak with water and a dryer sheet -- overnight is best. We've gotten unanimous approval ratings on this one.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Go All the Way
Get to the problem before it even starts. Lay two sheets of aluminum foil across the bottom of the pan. It'll serve as a buffer and keep the food from sticking. We found this one from the trusty folks over at TheKitchn.com.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

The Challenge
Globs of hair in the shower drain -- ick!

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Make Do
A preventative measure courtesy of, er, us! Don't let it get there in the first place! (If you did, click on to the next slide). It seems pretty basic, but here goes: when washing, conditioning and wringing out your hair, pull through to the ends so that any hairs that come out do so in your hands. No need to trash them mid-shower -- you'll only soak the bathmat. Instead, stick the clump of hair to the shower wall (sound gross, but trust us this works). When you're done, rub it in a circular motion with your pointer, middle and ring fingers. It will clump up into a perfect ball of hair for easy disposal.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Go All the Way
If it's that clogged, you'll probably need a snake. Get instructions on how to use one at This Old House.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

The Challenge
A dirty toilet bowl.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Make Do
Oh, sweet multi-tasking. Straight from Apartment Therapy. Kill two birds with one stone: clean your mouth and your toilet. Swish with an alcohol-based mouthwash and spit it into the bowl. Use a toilet brush and gently scrub the bowl. The alcohol helps kill germs and the mint leaves a nice scent. Another smart idea, drop a few Alka-Seltzer tabs in there. The citric acid and baking soda will clean porcelain the way it does dentures. Let it soak for about 15 minutes.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

Go All the Way
Before hopping in the shower, douse the bowl with a cleaning agent (baking soda is a nice natural alternative). When you get out, it will be ready for scrubbing. If you have really stubborn stains, an old pumice stone is great. Our friends at CasaSugar swear that it works wonders. Wet the pumice stone and rub gently over stains. They suggest wearing a pair of gloves to reduce the "ick" factor of this one. Yes, we agree.
Bonus Round!
Bring in the blacklight! It will show urine salts and missed cleaning in and round toilets. Frankly, we'd rather not know.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

The Challenge
Hard-to-reach dust build up in the grates of your radiator.

Clever Cleaning Tactics

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Time Rewind: Can You Have a Stylish Dorm Room?

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-23T11:22:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc

Photo: Flickr user: chriskeefe

I don't know about you guys, but my college dorm room was anything but stylish. If I'm going to be painfully honest here (and yes, this is going to be painful), I had my share of decorating no-nos. I definitely did the tapestry thing. I believe it was tie-dyed and it might have said LOVE (hey! I said might have). My roommate and I had white Christmas lights in the window. We once painted wooden snowflakes many-a-colors and hung them from the ceiling with dental floss. We each had a body pillow, mine was plaid. In retrospect, why does anyone need a body pillow? Anyway...what dorm room would be complete without a corkboard. Mine was smattered with photos of me and my boyfriend. They were from our prom. Oh, sweet youth.

Being pretty far removed from college days, and even further removed from the days of sending kids off to school, I feel out of touch with what's cool on the back-to-school front. Given all of the technological progress that's taken place since I donned that cap and gown, I'd venture to guess dorms can be pretty damn cool nowadays.

Well, our friends over at StreetLevel confirmed my assumptions. Check out their guide on How to Have an Awesome Dorm Room. No tapestries here. Pinky promise.

Photo: StreetLevel.com

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Mary Lou Retton's Home on the Market

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-14T17:38:00 00:00

Filed under: Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

Retton has cut her home's market price by ten percent after just three months for sale. Photo: Martha Turner Properties

After just three months on the market, Mary Lou Retton's Houston home has been reduced by 10 percent to $4.7 million, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

Ms. Retton, the gold medal Olympic winner, built the home with her husband in 2002. Having recently relocated back to Retton's hometown of Fairmont, W. Va., the family decided to put the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on the market. It's complete with a gym and a pool and it sits on two acres of land.

View pics from the real estate listing

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Live Next Door to the First Family

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-14T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebs, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

How'd you like to have President Obama as your next door neighbor? Photo: Matt Garrison Group

It's a home that comes with an undisclosed price tag and the hope of potluck dinners with the First Family. President Obama's next-door neighbors in Chicago have put their Kenwood mansion on the market.

The home is located at 5040 South Greenwood Avenue, a historic, affluent area situated between the lakefront, The University of Chicago, Washington Park and various proposed 2016 Olympic venues. It was originally built in 1906 by A.R. Clark, the original owner of President Obama's home at 5046 South Greenwood.

This 6,000 square-foot turn-of-the-century home rests on lot spanning over 12,000 square feet -- that's over three standard Chicago lots, according to the Matt Garrison, Managing Director for the Matt Garrison Group Homeselling System, a team within Coldwell Banker.

"It's unprecedented to have a home like this available next door to the sitting President," says Garrison . "Our marketing strategy is to get as much exposure to the house as possible without a price tag, give it four to six weeks and then see where offers start coming in."

In the first day of listing, the realtor's website had over 7,000 hits. A typical listing receives only 50 to 100 in one day. The group plans to identify serious buyers over the next several weeks. Once they've narrowed their search, the Secret Service will then step in. What they intend to do with candidates has yet to be discussed, however, it has been said that tours of the home will not be given until a screening by the Secret Service is complete.

The current owners are long-time friends of the Obamas. Bill Grimshaw is a political science professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology and his wife, Jacky, was Mayor Harold Washington 1983's campaign manager. Washington was Chicago's first African-American mayor.

The Obama's moved into their Kenwood home back in 2005, but the two families met back in 1993 when Mrs. Grimshaw hired Michelle Obama as the executive director of Public Allies. Once they became neighbors, however, the two families became even closer. "There was never a time that their girls didn't speak to us. They were extremely friendly," says Mrs. Grimshaw. "I have a special place in my heart for those little girls," she says, claiming they are what she'll miss most upon leaving her home.

One of her favorite memories of the First Family, was "Seeing Michelle outside leaning on one of the Secret Service barricades. I asked her what she was doing and she said, 'Teaching my daughter how to ride a bike'. I was so happy to see that even with all the secret service agents, life was normal."

So, how can the next neighbors expect to be greeted by the First Family? "With open arms," says Grimshaw, with the utmost certainty. "They'll be very protected and will get used to it. They'll just add another thing to their planning schedule," she says. "The Secret Service must know who comes and goes at all times."

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Live Next Door to the Obamas

This impressive, turn-of-the-century home rests on a lot three times to size of a standard Chicago lot. It is situated directly adjacent to 5046 South Greenwood, President Obama's Chicago residence (seen at left). This 17-room home was sold for $35,000 in 1973. Nowadays, houses in this area typically range from $1 to $2 million. It is unclear as to whether high-profile neighbors such as the Obamas will increase or decrease residential appeal.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

A spacious front porch is enclosed by shrubs for privacy. Could this be the location for future neighborly chit chats between the Obama family and the new residents? It just may be! The Obama family home can be seen through the shrubs.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

The living area boasts an abundance of woodwork, typical of homes built at the turn of the century. While the home is in need of renovations, it has a "solid wood structure with lots of original details," according to Matt Garrison.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

Former Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago's first African-American mayor, launched his campaign in this dining room. Jacky Grimshaw, homeowner, was Mayor Washington's campaign manager in his 1983 election. The dining table seen here was the same one at the time of the campaign kick-off.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

Another special detail of this home seen in the first floor office is the incredibly ornate plaster work.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

Beautiful wooden stairs lead from the first to second floor. Seen at top, original stained glass.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

A wide photograph displays the same staircase, a hallway leading to the dining room in the far right and the foyer with a fireplace at left.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

An adjacent coach house sits in the rear of the lot next to the driveway.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

Printable floorplans can be accessed at the 5040 Greenwood Ave website.

Live Next Door to the Obamas

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Will Madoff's Montauk Home Move Quickly?

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-09T17:10:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebs, Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

Sure, it's beautiful but is it full of bad vibes? Photo: Corcoran

As reports emerge about potential buyers and hoards of interested viewers, it seems as though Madoff's Montauk beach house may be snatched up faster than expected despite the circumstances under which it hit the market. The home, listed at $8.75 million, went on the market on Sept. 1 and already there are two confirmed bidders. As reported on CNN, it took only four days for Montauk real estate broker Joan Hegner to land two bids on the house and over a dozen prospective buyers. More are expected later this week. "We have people coming from Florida, from Germany," she is quoted as saying on CNN. "Since Tuesday, it's been bedlam. My poor dog is neglected."

We can't help but wonder: While the place is spectacular and the views breath-taking, would you want to live in a home tainted by the memory of what investors believe to be the biggest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history? All three homes below!

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Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The view of Madoff's former vacation home from the beach in Montauk, New York, photographed on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. He bought the relatively modest property in 1979 and estimated its value last year at $3 million. Now it's on sale by federal authorities for $8.75 million.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The pool is attached to the house by a wraparound deck.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

A view of the pool and the ocean from the front porch of the house.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The beach is just 150 feet away--a distance no longer allowed by zoning laws.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The dining room has a view of the ocean. The dining furniture, like everything else in the home, is for sale.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

Artwork from Madoff's Montauk home will also be auctioned.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

Duck decoys tagged for auction.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The living room has a cathedral ceiling and a stone fireplace.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The master bedroom.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

The master bath.

Bernie Madoffs Vacation Home

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Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack's $13.5 Million Carriage House

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-09T08:50:00 00:00

Filed under: Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

A view from the outside of this Upper East Side carriage house. Photo: Trulia

For many, having a vehicle in New York City is a big-time luxury -- no hailing cabs, no cramming on to overcrowded subway trains. Having a place to park it that doesn't involve dodging meter maids? Well, consider it a dream come true. Such is the case for John J. Mack, Morgan Stanley CEO.

Mack, with wife Christy, has reportedly purchased a $13.5 million carriage house in New York City's posh Upper East Side. For a moment, let's forget about the amazing third-floor garden that runs about 31-feet wide from the home's north to south end and the fact that there are over 9,000 square-feet to stretch out in. Why? 'Cause there's a 12-car garage on the first floor! (Did you hear that? That was my jaw hitting the floor.)

Now, I'd be avoiding the elephant in the room if I didn't make mention of the fact that reports of this purchase come less than a year after Morgan Stanley received its $10 billion bailout and less than three months after it was repaid. Make of it what you will, this home's got a 12-car garage in Manhattan and that is downright insane (not to mention a whole lot of gas money).

Pics after the jump. Assess for yourself!

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A New York City Carriage House

The home, located at 165 East 70th Street in New York City, lies between 3rd and Lexington Avenues. Typically, the Upper East Side's most coveted and over-the-top residences fall west of Lexington Avenue (this one is east). Is this considered "scaling back" for the rich of the richest? If so, we'll happily scale back.

A New York City Carriage House

Despite its hefty price tag, the home is reported to be in not-so-fabulous conditions. As reported in The New York Observer, city records indicate that American philanthropist Paul Mellon's 99-year-old widow Bunny sold the home last month. Bunny, it has been reported, lived up the street in a more extravagant home and used this one simply for storage.

A New York City Carriage House

It's hard to tell from this photo, but it appears as though this wooden door serves as an entryway to the garage.

A New York City Carriage House

Indeed it is! The prized first-floor garage holds up to 12 vehicles.

A New York City Carriage House

In a city that never sleeps, having your own quaint outdoor seating area is nothing short of a luxury.

A New York City Carriage House

Mr. Bruce Budd, interviewed by The New York Observer, was an employee of Ms. Mellon and stated that a lot of work is in store for Mr. and Mrs. Mack. "The third and fourth floors were just empty, in rather distressed condition, actually."

A New York City Carriage House

This bright and airy living area doesn't look in such shabby condition to us. Then again, it's possible the home was staged for selling purposes.

A New York City Carriage House

Another beautiful zen-like space that seems perfect for relaxing, or maybe reading over important financial documents.

A New York City Carriage House

Another spacious living area with a slightly warmer feel than the others.

A New York City Carriage House

The home's floor plan

A New York City Carriage House

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Bruce Willis Finds a New Place to Live

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-09-03T16:13:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebs, Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes

Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming prepare for their next big move. Photo: AP

There's a new pad popping up amidst the glitz and glam of good ole Los Angeles and there's one "die-hard" celeb who's ready to move on in. After checking out the place, we can hardly blame him.

Luxist reports that Bruce Willis, along with wife Emma Heming, has purchased a unit on an upper floor of The Carlyle, an exclusive new high-rise located on Wilshire Blvd. in the heart of Los Angeles' Golden Mile. The building, scheduled to open this month, listed its penthouse at $5.4 million.

Willis' three-bedroom, three-bath unit is about 5,000 square feet and has a private elevator. The building itself boasts a whole bunch of lavish features including a $1 million Dale Chihuly chandelier. Take a look inside to see the building's incredible interiors.

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Inside the Carlyle

The Carlyle is located on Wilshire Blvd. in the Westwood area of Los Angeles. The building is a crescent-shaped structure with 78 units, a dining room, wine cellar, pool and gym-spa.

Inside the Carlyle

The lobby is adorned with a $1 million Dale Chihuly chandelier seen here.

Inside the Carlyle

The building boasts a private dining room where residents can entertain and celebrate special events.

Inside the Carlyle

An open and airy bedroom has incredible city views.

Inside the Carlyle

This walk-in closet is the stuff dreams are made of -- rich woodwork, a spacious layout and plenty of room for clothes, clothes and more clothes.

Inside the Carlyle

German-designed Poggenpohl kitchens can be found in every unit, creating a sense of function and style.

Inside the Carlyle

All kitchen products are from Miele, another German-based company.

Inside the Carlyle

Private elevators open into the foyer where 11-foot ceilings create an open space.

Inside the Carlyle

Beautiful views of the city can be seen from the living room's sitting area.

Inside the Carlyle

A stylish yet intimate dining area is seen here in one of the building's units.

Inside the Carlyle

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Shopping for Area Rugs

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-27T15:12:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping

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Clever, Creative, Quirky: My Gift Show Top 5

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-19T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

As you probably already know, us ShelterPop'ers have been covering the NY International Gift Fair going on now in New York City. Despite its name, the fair isn't just about gifts -- although many of these products, I'd love to get as one. Designers big and small come from all over the world to put their creations on display while store owners and buyers come to purchase goods that will then be sold in their stores.

As members of the press, we get to go and ogle all of the amazing creations we wish we could have in our own homes. Let me cut to the chase. This is the stuff I loved. Period. I think you'll agree.

1. The Boogie Woogie Salt & Pepper Shakers
Creative Danes, two Scandinavian designers, are the makers of these ingenious salt and pepper shakers that come with wheels so you can push them from one guest to the next at dinner. Bonus: they don't tip over. (I tried them, they're genius!)

Giving a whole new meaning to "Pass the salt and pepper!"

2. Branch Home Felt Wine Rack
I love this rack because it's smart and extremely space efficient. Branch Home makes this collapsible felt wine rack. Cheers!

Now you see it...

Now you don't!

3. Ecojot's Recycled Gift Wrap
This isn't your run-of-the-mill gift wrap. From Ecojot, it's 100% recycled, acid and chlorine-free and it's pretty. I feel happier just looking at it!

This stuff will make you smile. Photo: ecojot.com

4. Sandy Vohr Animal Bookends
Hand-crafted leather bookends made by Sandy Vohr, an artist based in upstate New York who's been creating leather goods for over 40 years. Don't be fooled- these are not just for kids! In fact, I am contemplating a pair of frogs. She's got monkeys, bears, cows, pandas, giraffes and oh so much more.

Photo: sandyvohr.com

5. Three by Three Seattle's Magnetic Dry Erase Boards
It's magnetic, you can wipe it clean and order your family around. Dreamy! "Honey, don't forget the groceries!"

Take note!

Read more about why the gift show rocks!

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Shopping for Pendants Lamps

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-12T12:14:00 00:00

Filed under: Decorating, Shopping

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On the Market: Whoopi Goldberg's Loft

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-11T15:47:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebs, Wish We Could..., Luxury Living, Famous Homes, House Tours, News & Trends, Celebrity Homes

Whoopi Goldberg's New York City loft is on the market for a whopping $3.9 million. Located in the heart of SoHo, this 3,600-square-foot apartment boasts two bedrooms, two and a half baths and is nestled on Wooster Street,

Some of the loft's special details that make us wish we could afford this place: exposed brick, high ceilings, lovely wood floors, mahogany windows, vintage ceiling fans, a common roof deck and an entertainment system that comes with a 58" flat screen plasma TV. Now, onto the pics!

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Real Estate Love: A San Francisco Dream

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-07T13:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Wish We Could..., Luxury Living, Design, etc, House Tours

Light & airy, this living room's got incredible views and a whole lotta space. Photo: Gomez & Patton Real Estate

Today's obsession comes to us from San Francisco, a city I have yet to visit. I've heard people say it's much like New York -- at least in terms of cost -- so every now and again I like to peruse real estate listings out there to see what I can (or rather cannot) afford. Hey, a gal can dream can't she? Anyway, I came across this breath-taker of a condo and had to share. The irony of this gem of a home is that while I may never be able to afford it -- a cool $2.9 mill-- it still brings a smile to my face and warms my decor-obsessed heart. Here are the stats: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a foyer with a recessed bar, living room with fireplace, dining room, deeded storage room, hardwood floors, granite/marble counter tops, custom cabinetry, a parking space, oh and a private elevator. More pics after the jump...

I'd like to take a nap here, you? Photo: Gomez & Patton Real Estate

The kitchen, while pretty narrow, has great views, nice appliances and is downright beautiful. Photo: Gomez & Patton Real Estate

Check out the full real estate listing here.

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Real Estate Love: Queen Anne Circa 1888

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-08-03T10:33:00 00:00

Filed under: Wish We Could..., Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends

So what if it needs a little TLC? I'm happy to give it. Photo: residentialproperties.com

If you're anything like me, browsing real estate listings can lead to the most pleasant of daydreams. I love knowing what's out there -- some of which I maybe could afford with a whole lot of budgeting, most of which serve as mere eye candy. I like to think of it as my personal form of window shopping and I downright love it!

I don't do handbags, I do homes. Case in point, this stunning Queen Anne in Providence, Rhode Island. It boasts 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a fireplace and a full wrap-around porch (bestow my heart). Oh, visions of sipping a fresh-brewed iced tea while reading a book in a cozy little rocking chair. What does this beauty of a home conjure up for you? Learn more about this beautiful home here!

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The Greenest Block in Brooklyn

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-07-29T15:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Gardens & Outdoor Living, Gardening, Garden Tours, Design, etc, House Tours, News & Trends

You don't have to live in New York to have an idea of what Brooklyn looks like. Who hasn't seen "The Cosby Show," after all? It's no doubt an urban playground with a smorgasbord of cultures, landmarks and as you'd expect, a whole lot of concrete. Which is why I was so blown away by all that I saw while judging the "Greenest Block in Brooklyn" contest last week.

I was invited by the nice folks over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden who have hosted this annual contest for the past 15 years. My rainy (yet very green) day about town was spent in the company of Robin Simmen, Director of Brooklyn Greenbridge at BBG, Leann Lavin, Director of Communications at BBG, Stephen Orr, garden writer for The New York Times (he's also writing a book about sustainable gardens) and Marie Viljoen, professional rooftop landscape artist and blogger behind 66 Square Feet. What an honor it was.

The winners will be announced in early August after the final judges get to work -- we were just a few of many semi-final judges. Winners or not, some of the streets we toured were more verdant than many of those in the suburban town in which I was raised.

We trecked through the neighborhoods of Flatbush, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Lefferts Gardens to unearth the lushest, greenest block in Brooklyn. Curbside herb gardens, miniature corn fields and front lawn passion-fruit plants were just some of the day's highlights.

The contest is designed to encourage community activity amongst blocks in Brooklyn, some of which have been areas of high crime before community efforts, such as this one, began. The criteria for judging is based on street trees and tree beds, citizen participation, variety and sustainability of plants, horticultural practice, soil and mulching, maintenance, use of color and creativity. Take a look at the photo gallery below to see past winners (and a few pics from my day on the street). Most pics can't be revealed just yet as winners won't be announced for another month.

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http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

Would you ever believe growth so green and lush is lining the streets of Brooklyn? Call me naive because I surely did not.

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

A vibrant and colorful curbside tree bed.

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

Another well-manicured and colorful tree bed.

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

Talk about curbside beauty!

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
1st Place
8th Street Block Association for 8th Street between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West
Neighborhood: Park Slope

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
2nd Place Tie
East 25th Street Block Association for East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D
Neighborhood: East Flatbush

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
2nd Place Tie
State Street Cathedral Block Association for State Street between Hoyt and Bond Streets
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
3rd Place Tie
Schenectady Avenue Block Association for Schenectady Avenue between Avenue D and Foster Avenue
Neighborhood: East Flatbush

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
3rd Place Tie
Vanderveer Place Block Association for Vanderveer Place between Flatbush Avenue and East 23rd Street
Neighborhood: Flatbush

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

2008 Residential Category Winners
4th Place
Bainbridge Homeowners and Tenants Block Association for Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Stuyvesant Avenue
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

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Eva Mendes' Home Line for Macy's

Allison Mezzafonte — 2009-07-27T11:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping, Design, etc, News & Trends

Last month, we reported on our favorite celebrity home decor lines. Eva Mendes topped our list and this past weekend, the actress launched her bedding collection, "Vida by Eva Mendes" at Macy's Herald Square in New York City. The entire line is priced under $350 and the best (though somewhat odd) part? Everything is already marked down. We can't say why, but we can say that we are kind of psyched about this. Pretty bedding on a budget? Count us in! Plus, Macy's offers free shipping on home orders over $125. Promo Code: FREEPASS.

Check out highlights from the line below.

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