Renovation Rescue: The Post-Courtney Love Loft
Architect Luca Andrisani revives a loft from the punk rock aftermath of singer Courtney Love and reveals solutions to preventing and rebounding from remodeling disaster.
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Renovation Rescue: Post Courtney Love
Before: The Wide-Open Space
Prior to the remodel, the loft had floor-to-ceiling windows on opposing walls that filled the space with natural light but the homeowner's plans to create a modular space risked creating a cave-like feel. Architect Luca Andrisani was presented with the challenge: How to create rooms without the losing light.
Post-Renovation
The added framework gives structure and warmth to the old overly-open space. Here, the clanking fireplace crackles quietly, light streams in, and the space is more inviting than Courtney Love would have ever planned.
Creating Rooms and Keeping Light
Most frequently used rooms were placed on the opposite ends of the loft next to the windows to take advantage of natural light and maintain an open loft feel. The bedroom was also placed next to the windows to take advantage of natural light and maintain an open, airy feel.
Solution to Open but Private Space
Rich wood grain walls are really practical pivot doors. They close to create intimate space and fold back when the owners are craving the open-feel of their loft.
Clever Shelves
A room divider with peek-a-boo shelves is also an unconventional way to provide natural light to the inner rooms of the loft.
Over-sized Doorways
The library is a cozy floating modular "room within a room." It was cleverly designed to receive natural light via two spacious doorways. Without feeling confining, the space acts as a hideaway within the larger structure.
Before and After: Bathroom
A solution to the massive amount of bulky pipes and ducts was to offset the master bath walls so the ceiling wouldn't be too low.
Before and After: Fireplace
Adding a fan atop the fireplace to improve airflow, then building out the facade was more practical than ripping out the entire fireplace to fix its existing problems.
Architect Luca Andrisani, LucaAndrisaniDesign.com
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Silver Screen Bedrooms
Photo: Production Design by Jeremy Conway
Everyone loves a good love scene-but what really gets our heart racing is a bedroom designed with passion. Great set design tells us more about the characters and hints at how the story will unfold. Whether a bedroom is styled for the action-packed romance of James Bond's Quantum of Solace, the quirky, irreverent Amélie, or Carrie's flirty and sassy look in Sex and the City-the design choices are incredibly calculated and worth a closer look.
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Designer Secrets to a Sexy Bedroom
Written by:Jill Connors, PointClickHome.com
We asked top designers to share their secrets for creating a sexy bedroom. And their answers? Let's just say these sultry solutions are the way to undeniable romance. They go through the room essentials piece by piece: bedding, flooring, window treatments, lighting and color, as well as some all-important personal touches. Go ahead; show some passion for the bedroom.
Bedding to Spend All Day In
Crisp white sheets in thread counts ranging from 450 to 650 create the sexiest tactile experience in terms of bedding. Keep the sheets plain; go no fancier than a top sheet with embroidery. And don't go overboard with too many pillows.
"Even if you're watching your wallet, the place to spend the money is the bedding." - Cathy Hobbs, founder of Aphereä
"People will over-pillow the bed," warns designer Eric Cohler, of Eric Cohler Design Inc. It's not sexy to have a romantic interlude put on pause while all the pillows are removed.
"For a two-person bed, you need at most two Euro-sham-size pillows (placed against the headboard), and four sleeping pillows." - Designer Rebecca Cole, Rebecca Cole Design
Seduction Must-Have: Pure linen sheets
(more below)
Flooring That Makes You Weak in the Knees
Wall-to-wall carpeting, in either 100% wool, or a wool-silk blend, will give the most sumptuous landing to your feet-or to your entire body if the mood strikes.
"For anything but a beach house-where wood floors are fine-you should have wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedroom. - Harry Heissmann, Senior Designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
"A wool rug with silk in it will create a beautiful shimmering effect in candlelight." -Designer Amy Lau.
Seduction Must-Have: Sheepskin area rug under a chaise lounge
Window Treatments to Shut Out the World
For total relaxation-essential to romance-a bedroom should shut out the outside world, by way of blackout curtains or layered window treatments. A three-fold layering such as wooden blinds, topped by sheers, topped by floor-to-ceiling draperies will create the most soothing effect.
"I love the elegance of a whole wall of drapery, ceiling to floor." -Designer Rebecca Cole
"Blackout curtains are a must in the bedroom so you can stay in bed as long as you want." -Designer Eric Cohler.
Seduction Must-Have: Silk or matte velvet drapery fabrics
Come-Hither Lighting
Choose lighting from a mix of sources, including table lamps next to the bed, wall sconces, or chandeliers over a seating area (never have lighting directly over the bed-it makes a naked body look ghastly).
"The allure of the bedroom is in the lighting." -Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz.
"Use gold paper on the inside of a semi-opaque or opaque lacquered paper lampshade, and it counteracts the unflattering glow of a compact fluorescent." -Harry Heissmann, senior designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
Seduction Must-Have: Dimmers on all lights in the bedroom
Color that Flatters
To create a womb-type nest, paint the walls a rich color, then keep everything else in the room light and neutral. Body-flattering choices for bedroom wall color include: pale hues of rose, blue, lavender or gray. Avoid green or yellow: No one looks good in a green reflection; yellow can make skin appear jaundiced.
"Go with your favorite color because a bedroom should have the things you love." -Cathy Hobbs, of Aphereä Design (whose own bedroom has burnt-orange walls)
"A wallpaper with depth and dimension can add color and spice to the bedroom." - Designer Amy Lau
"For the bedroom, I like a slightly shiny wall with a Venetian plaster finish."-Harry Heissmann, senior designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
Seduction Must-Have: Passionate sun-kissed reds or apricots for wall color
Final Touches to Set the Mood
Music: Nothing says romance like the right kind of music, so create a playlist just for the bedroom. Says designer Robert Verdi: "Don't use your everyday playlist. And make sure it's a playlist that can go on for hours-there's nothing worse than having the music stop before you want it to."
Candles: A scented candle appeals to the sense of smell, which is key to intimacy and arousal. Choose a long-burning candle, and try different scents-from jasmine to pepper-to find what you like.
Serenity: "The bedroom should be a soothing place for a couple," says designer Eric Cohler. "No cell phones, no Blackberry, no TV, no computer."
More from PointClickHome.com
If Money Were No Object: Beds
Bedside Essentials
We asked top designers to share their secrets for creating a sexy bedroom. And their answers? Let's just say these sultry solutions are the way to undeniable romance. They go through the room essentials piece by piece: bedding, flooring, window treatments, lighting and color, as well as some all-important personal touches. Go ahead; show some passion for the bedroom.
This bedroom? Not so sexy. Photo: Getty
Crisp white sheets in thread counts ranging from 450 to 650 create the sexiest tactile experience in terms of bedding. Keep the sheets plain; go no fancier than a top sheet with embroidery. And don't go overboard with too many pillows.
"Even if you're watching your wallet, the place to spend the money is the bedding." - Cathy Hobbs, founder of Aphereä
"People will over-pillow the bed," warns designer Eric Cohler, of Eric Cohler Design Inc. It's not sexy to have a romantic interlude put on pause while all the pillows are removed.
"For a two-person bed, you need at most two Euro-sham-size pillows (placed against the headboard), and four sleeping pillows." - Designer Rebecca Cole, Rebecca Cole Design
Seduction Must-Have: Pure linen sheets
(more below)
Flooring That Makes You Weak in the Knees
Wall-to-wall carpeting, in either 100% wool, or a wool-silk blend, will give the most sumptuous landing to your feet-or to your entire body if the mood strikes.
"For anything but a beach house-where wood floors are fine-you should have wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedroom. - Harry Heissmann, Senior Designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
"A wool rug with silk in it will create a beautiful shimmering effect in candlelight." -Designer Amy Lau.
Seduction Must-Have: Sheepskin area rug under a chaise lounge
Window Treatments to Shut Out the World
For total relaxation-essential to romance-a bedroom should shut out the outside world, by way of blackout curtains or layered window treatments. A three-fold layering such as wooden blinds, topped by sheers, topped by floor-to-ceiling draperies will create the most soothing effect.
"I love the elegance of a whole wall of drapery, ceiling to floor." -Designer Rebecca Cole
"Blackout curtains are a must in the bedroom so you can stay in bed as long as you want." -Designer Eric Cohler.
Seduction Must-Have: Silk or matte velvet drapery fabrics
Come-Hither Lighting
Choose lighting from a mix of sources, including table lamps next to the bed, wall sconces, or chandeliers over a seating area (never have lighting directly over the bed-it makes a naked body look ghastly).
"The allure of the bedroom is in the lighting." -Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz.
"Use gold paper on the inside of a semi-opaque or opaque lacquered paper lampshade, and it counteracts the unflattering glow of a compact fluorescent." -Harry Heissmann, senior designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
Seduction Must-Have: Dimmers on all lights in the bedroom
Color that Flatters
To create a womb-type nest, paint the walls a rich color, then keep everything else in the room light and neutral. Body-flattering choices for bedroom wall color include: pale hues of rose, blue, lavender or gray. Avoid green or yellow: No one looks good in a green reflection; yellow can make skin appear jaundiced.
"Go with your favorite color because a bedroom should have the things you love." -Cathy Hobbs, of Aphereä Design (whose own bedroom has burnt-orange walls)
"A wallpaper with depth and dimension can add color and spice to the bedroom." - Designer Amy Lau
"For the bedroom, I like a slightly shiny wall with a Venetian plaster finish."-Harry Heissmann, senior designer, Albert Hadley Inc.
Seduction Must-Have: Passionate sun-kissed reds or apricots for wall color
Final Touches to Set the Mood
Music: Nothing says romance like the right kind of music, so create a playlist just for the bedroom. Says designer Robert Verdi: "Don't use your everyday playlist. And make sure it's a playlist that can go on for hours-there's nothing worse than having the music stop before you want it to."
Candles: A scented candle appeals to the sense of smell, which is key to intimacy and arousal. Choose a long-burning candle, and try different scents-from jasmine to pepper-to find what you like.
Serenity: "The bedroom should be a soothing place for a couple," says designer Eric Cohler. "No cell phones, no Blackberry, no TV, no computer."
More from PointClickHome.com
If Money Were No Object: Beds
Bedside Essentials
Are JLo and Marc Anthony Heading for the Hills?
Bootylicious pop star Jennifer Lopez and her salsa-singing husband, Marc Anthony, are heading for the hills -- the hills of suburban Los Angeles, that is. According to rumors slip-sliding down the real estate grapevine, the couple recently signed contracts to purchase a sprawling estate in the guard-gated Hidden Hills community.
A Hotel-Sized House
Listing information and property records for the 3-acre estate, located in the exclusive Ashley Ridge section of Hidden Hills and last listed at $9.995 million, indicate the estate includes a boutique hotel-sized manse with 17,129 square feet. The two story country ranch-style house includes 9 bedrooms, and a dozen bathrooms spread throughout the the main and guest houses, which ought to provide plenty of room for Jenny and everyone on her block.
All the Bells and Whistles
Beyond the double height entry with its curving Norma Desmond-worthy staircase are formal living and dining rooms, a country-style gourmet kitchen and adjacent family room with paneled walls, a custom coffered ceiling and about an acre of beige wall-to-wall carpeting. As one can and should expect in a $10 million suburban palace, the property comes equipped with all the bells and whistles that celebrities desire, including a humongous home gym, game room, wood-paneled 20-seat theater, wine cellar, big bonus room and a recording studio, which was surely a selling point for this musically minded couple.
Let's Take it Outside
A circular drive leads through a porte-cochere that divides the main and guest houses and into a parking lot-sized motor court surrounded by garaging for 8 luxury automobiles and dark windowed SUVs. The park-like grounds also include a sport court, barbecue center, a gazebo with panoramic views, a free-form shaped swimming pool and spa and plenty of lush lawn areas where the Lopez/Anthony duo can install a celebrity-style swing set for their toddler twins.
She's A Suburban Girl
At first, it seemed a bit unlikely that the smoldering, Louboutin-wearing, ultra-glam La Lopez would spend big bucks on something so, well, suburban. But, then again, the Long Island-based Lopez/Anthony family currently call a multi-parcel estate in super-suburban but swank Brookville, NY home, so maybe it's not such a stretch after all.
It's Raining Celebrities
If the rumors are true, the Lopez/Anthony family will have plenty of famous folks to invite over for backyard barbecues and Saturday night karaoke because you can't swing a cat inside the gates of Hidden Hills without knocking over a celebrity or two. Some of the more notable property owners include Melissa Etheridge and her wife, Tammy Michaels, former desperate housewife Nicolette Sheridan -- who bought her mansion from Etheridge and Michaels -- Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, the Kardashian clan, and Lisa Marie Presley, who recently listed her sprawling 11-bedroom and 9.5-bathroom equestrian estate with an asking price of $12 million.
Bye-Bye Bel Air
Just before the Christmas holidays, the Lopez/Anthonys sold their Tuscan-style estate in the posh Los Angeles enclave of Bel Air, which they originally purchased in January of 2005 for $6.25M. The St. Pierre Road residence, which happens to be right next door to the house where the Jonas Brothers holed up for part of 2009, was first listed at $8.5 million. Records show the buyer, a hedge fund honcho, paid $7.5 million for the 4-bedroom and 6-bathroom mansion.
Photo: AFP/Getty Images
A Hotel-Sized House
Listing information and property records for the 3-acre estate, located in the exclusive Ashley Ridge section of Hidden Hills and last listed at $9.995 million, indicate the estate includes a boutique hotel-sized manse with 17,129 square feet. The two story country ranch-style house includes 9 bedrooms, and a dozen bathrooms spread throughout the the main and guest houses, which ought to provide plenty of room for Jenny and everyone on her block.
All the Bells and Whistles
Beyond the double height entry with its curving Norma Desmond-worthy staircase are formal living and dining rooms, a country-style gourmet kitchen and adjacent family room with paneled walls, a custom coffered ceiling and about an acre of beige wall-to-wall carpeting. As one can and should expect in a $10 million suburban palace, the property comes equipped with all the bells and whistles that celebrities desire, including a humongous home gym, game room, wood-paneled 20-seat theater, wine cellar, big bonus room and a recording studio, which was surely a selling point for this musically minded couple.
Let's Take it Outside
A circular drive leads through a porte-cochere that divides the main and guest houses and into a parking lot-sized motor court surrounded by garaging for 8 luxury automobiles and dark windowed SUVs. The park-like grounds also include a sport court, barbecue center, a gazebo with panoramic views, a free-form shaped swimming pool and spa and plenty of lush lawn areas where the Lopez/Anthony duo can install a celebrity-style swing set for their toddler twins.
She's A Suburban Girl
At first, it seemed a bit unlikely that the smoldering, Louboutin-wearing, ultra-glam La Lopez would spend big bucks on something so, well, suburban. But, then again, the Long Island-based Lopez/Anthony family currently call a multi-parcel estate in super-suburban but swank Brookville, NY home, so maybe it's not such a stretch after all.
It's Raining Celebrities
If the rumors are true, the Lopez/Anthony family will have plenty of famous folks to invite over for backyard barbecues and Saturday night karaoke because you can't swing a cat inside the gates of Hidden Hills without knocking over a celebrity or two. Some of the more notable property owners include Melissa Etheridge and her wife, Tammy Michaels, former desperate housewife Nicolette Sheridan -- who bought her mansion from Etheridge and Michaels -- Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, the Kardashian clan, and Lisa Marie Presley, who recently listed her sprawling 11-bedroom and 9.5-bathroom equestrian estate with an asking price of $12 million.
Bye-Bye Bel Air
Just before the Christmas holidays, the Lopez/Anthonys sold their Tuscan-style estate in the posh Los Angeles enclave of Bel Air, which they originally purchased in January of 2005 for $6.25M. The St. Pierre Road residence, which happens to be right next door to the house where the Jonas Brothers holed up for part of 2009, was first listed at $8.5 million. Records show the buyer, a hedge fund honcho, paid $7.5 million for the 4-bedroom and 6-bathroom mansion.
Celebs, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Celebrity Homes
Dreamy DIY Headboards
Ready to give your bed a fresh new look? Sink into our slide show of headboard designs.
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Ensure that this area remains a sanctuary by keeping all your stuff under cover.
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A gallery of simple ideas to make your slumber zone dreamy.
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Win a WOW Toilet Decorative Toilet Tank
WOW Toilet 
A what? A WOW Toilet. It's a transparent tank that you install yourself. Then, insert the company's pre-made posters (or create your own with family photos, wrapping paper or something else) for a customized tank. The posters can be easily switched out, so decorating for the holidays just got easier. The product's website offers step-by-step installation instructions.
The jury was still out when we looked at the WOW Toilet back in October, but if it's something you'd like to try, enter our giveaway below by leaving a comment with your New Year's resolutions for your home.
CONTEST RULES
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us your New Year's resolutions for your home.
* The comment must be left before 5pm EST on Friday, December 25, 2009.
* You may enter only once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a WOW Toilet tank kit (valued at $89.95) and four insert posters (valued at $19.80).
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
* Click here for complete Official Rules. Winners will be notified by email, so be sure to provide a valid email address!
The winner will receive one each of these four posters.
Hostess Gifts on a Budget
By Krissy Tiglias/The Nest
Holiday season means holiday parties are in full swing. You can't really show up at the festivities empty-handed. We've found a few gifts that are personal and won't break your budget -- promise! They max out at just 30 bucks.
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Spoil the Hostess, Spare the Wallet
The candy cane may have just met some serious competition. Brownie on a stick. Doesn't get much better than this.
Holiday Snowman Browniepops, $30 for six at Williams-Sonoma
You can't go wrong with fondue. Treat your hosts to something they can break out and enjoy without the hassle. Trust us: This is a gift that's sure to be a hit.
8-Piece Red and White Fondue Set, $17 (mix sold separately) at Crate & Barrel
Peanut butter or country bacon? Take your pick. Plus, these cute, striped canisters are countertop-worthy.
Dog Treats in Retro Tin, $10 at HarryBarker.com
Think they've got everything? They don't have this--yet. Wrap up a little retro popper and give them a taste of the good 'ol days (even if they're too young to remember them). Bags included.
Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper, $28 at Target
There are bound to be wine lovers on your holiday party list. A bottle is nice, but something to serve it in is even better. Besides, this can stand empty on the table and still look good (it's just not as much fun).
Oval Oak Wine Carafe, $30 at UncommonGoods.com
Always on the road? Treat them to some homespun ideas with a hip spin.
Wash & Sew Soap Kit, $8 at Anthropologie
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