CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Justin Timberlake Takes Tribeca

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:58 -0800

Justin Timberlake wasn't kidding around when he said Manhattan is the greatest city in the world. He's such a great admirer of the city that he decided to buy his own little slice of the Big Apple. According to Real Estalker, Timberlake recently purchased a 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath loft home in Tribeca for $4.774 million. The listing for the property reads:

This 3 bedroom, 3 bath room loft home offers gracious entertaining space in the extravagantly oversized living area as well as four exposures, 14 floor-to-ceiling arched windows, fabulous river views and completed with a brand new lighting package and built in Sonos sound system featuring inclusive Lutron technology controlling temperature, lights, sound, shades and more. This Tribeca Condo is adorned with the highest quality finishes and appliances including Wolf cooktop w/ grill and Wolf double wall oven, 48" Sub-Zero fridge and wine cooler, Miele DW, Miele W/D. Truly a unique TriBeCa residence.

JT's new pad sits a block from the Hudson River Park which will soon boast a mini golf course, so you can bet he'll be brushing up on his golf skills — even though he finds the game easy. To see more photos of the digs,

Christina Aguilera Takes Her Price Tag Down a Note

casasugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:44:35 -0800

Back in April, I let you know that Christina Aguilera and husband Jordan Bratman were preparing to ditch their Steve Hermann-designed Hollywood Hills digs, if a doting buyer were willing to part with a cool $8 million. Well, according to Real Estalker, the couple has flown the coop, but are still sitting on the unsold property. While they've moved into the Osbournes' former abode, their Hermann-designed home, like many houses around the country, remains unsold. So, the couple has decided to chop a little over one million smackers off the asking price, bringing it down to $6.9 million. Ouch, right? Well, actually Aguilera paid $5 million for the property back in '03, so she'll still be making a nice couple mil. on the property — if it sells at this price. And the price was likely inflated to begin with, considering its couture Steve Hermann label. Check out more details and lots of photos of the digs in my previous post.
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On the Market: Former Estate of Brooke Astor

casasugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:30:11 -0800

The former New York State estate of Brooke Astor, a beloved American philanthropist and socialite who passed away last year, is on the market for a whopping $12.9 million, according to Real Estalker. The sprawling 1927 stone mansion, designed by architect William Adams Delano, measures in at 10,000 square feet, with 13 bedrooms and 9 full and two half bathrooms. The property description reads:

At the heart of this bucolic 64.60 acre haven, the 1927 stone manor designed by prominent architect William Delano embodies the quiet elegance of a classic English country house. There are 6 marble fireplace and 13 bedrooms, including staff quarters...Indoor and outdoor pools are featured along with extensive dependencies including a greenhouse, 4-bedroom gardener's cottage, carriage house and barn.

You can read about another historic Astor family home in my recent Before and After. To see more photos of Briarcliff Manor,

This Just In: Natalie Portman Is Homeless

casasugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:30:47 -0800

Natalie Portman recently stopped by The Late Show With Dave Letterman and admitted to being homeless. Apparently, after she sold her West Village condo in October, she moved back to her parents' home in Long Island, where she'll camp out until she finds a new place. She said, "I'm a Long Island girl. Yeah, I just went and voted out there because I'm homeless right now and residing with my parents." Here are the pros and cons of living with your 'rents, according to Natalie:

Pros: It seems like a lot of fun in the beginning: "You get like . . . good meals, your laundry done."
Cons: "It's rough. I'm old to be residing with the parents." And, they scream at her: "They're like, 'Get a job!'"

Well, Miss Natalie may be homeless, but at least she has $6 million to keep her warm this Winter.

This Just In: Hayden Panettiere Buys a House to Cheer About

casasugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

Hayden Panettiere, better known as Claire Bennet the cheerleader who cannot die on NBC's Heroes, has taken time out from saving the whales to drop $2.635 million on a house in Los Angeles, according to Real Estalker.

The teenage Panettiere, who'll turn 20 next year, has room to grow in the 3,120-square-foot, three-bedroom, thee-bath house, which was constructed in 1962. The house, which is definitely modern in look and feel, features floor-to-ceiling windows, an open, loft-style layout, a newly renovated kitchen, a swimming pool, a stone fireplace, and a large deck, perfect for entertaining (or throwing huge parties).

To see interior photos of the house,

This Just In: Nicolas Cage Folds

casasugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:30:34 -0800

Serial real estate snatcher Nicolas Cage has listed his 45-acre undeveloped property in the Exuma Island Chain of the Bahamas for $7 million, according to Real Estalker. The property description reads:

This exceptional private island is quite simply one of the most beautiful islands in the Exumas. Easily accessed, the island is located between Lee Stocking Island and Norman’s Pond Cay and near to all amenities. This splendid 45-acre island enjoys beautiful beaches on the northeast side, a sandy beach with a well-protected cove on the western tip, and glistening crystalline waters. Excellent fishing and sheltered anchorage.

I don't know what the heck is going on with Cage's financial situation, but something is up. Cage has listed four properties since July alone, this one making the total five. Considering that Bangkok Dangerous's meek earnings barely cover the cost of this property, maybe Cage's hairline isn't the only thing that's receding.
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On the Market: Jade Jagger's Swank London Pad

casasugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:31 -0800

Jade Jagger, jewelry designer and daughter of Mick & Bianca Jagger, has put her 1,989-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath Queens Park, London home on the market for $2.4 million. The listing for the property reads:

This stunning three bedroom house provides exceptionally well presented living and entertaining space, well arranged over two spacious floors and boasts a fabulous location, moments from the beautiful open spaces of Queen's Park. Offering lavish, extremely well presented accommodation throughout, the property comprises fabulous reception and dining room, convenient eat-in kitchen opening onto garden, master bedroom with incredible en suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, two further generous bedrooms, glamorous bathroom with mosaic mirror wall and ceiling tiles and charming private garden to the rear.

To hear my thoughts on the house and see many more photos,

This Just In: Meg Ryan Publicly Lists Her Bel-Air Home

casasugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:28:17 -0700

Meg Ryan has publicly listed her six-bedroom, seven-bath Bel-Air home for the tune of $19.5 million, according to Big Time. The property has been informally on the market as a "pocket listing" for some time, and has been shown to a slew of celebs including the Beckhams and Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, but the price was never right. The listing for the Holmby Hills-area Spanish-style compound reads:

Truly enchanting and romantic. A gated and private drive is the approach to this 1931 restored Spanish compound. Features include: double story stenciled beamed LR, a bar "a la" 1930's Los Angeles, Frml DR and superb Cook's kitchen; All rooms open to and overlook the 180o vu of the city. Incredibly pvt knoll setting with Pool and full GH. Family/Guest BRs have en suite baths & Mstr is separate and Exquisite! A Screening room w/separate entrance.

I'm dying to see the interior, but unfortunately there are no photos. The exterior is breathtaking though, and looks straight out of a scene from Under the Tuscan Sun (come on, you all know you loved it). Check out more exterior photos when you

Woman Buys Foreclosed Home For Distraught Owner

SavvySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:30:25 -0700

Many people are reluctant to give anything to strangers that isn't unwanted clothes or out of fashion furniture, but Marilyn Mock has gone above and beyond in dishing out Good Samaritan deeds. When Marilyn purchased a foreclosed home for the stranger who was watching her home being auctioned by the bank, she surprised everyone but her husband, who is used to hearing about his wife's giving tendencies. His response to the news? "Whatever."

Tracy Orr, the owner whose home was being foreclosed, is hardly saying whatever to the stranger who paid $30,000 to save her house. The two women met just minutes before the auction began, when Marilyn struck up small talk with Tracy and asked her, "Are you here to buy a house?" Tracy was unable to contain her tears as she told Marilyn that her house was being auctioned off. After that simple exchange, Marilyn decided to bid on the home so Tracy could continue living there. She can't afford to just give the home to Tracy but said, "We'll just figure out however much she can pay on it. That way, she can have her house back."

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This Just In: Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott Are on the Move

casasugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:45:08 -0700

Not long after Tori Spelling listed her Westwood digs, she and husband Dean McDermott have purchased a 6,718-square-foot, 6-bedroom, 6.5-bath manse in Encino, California for nearly $2.5 million, according to Real Estalker. The property description reads:

Sophisticated inviting entertainer's floor plan. Dramatic 2 stry formal entry, richly appointed cstm finishes, french drs, 4 frplcs, over sized common rms, wood & stone flring, dining rm w/ silver leaf coffered clngs, study, office, gourmet eat-in cntr isl kit w/ Thermador, Bosch, & SubZero apls. Amazing mstr ste w/ sitting area, blcny, frplc, spa tub & multi-head shwr. Landscaped grnds w/ lanai, bbq, pool/spa & putting green.

I'm not loving the Tuscan-style exterior, but I think some lush landscaping could give it a facelift. The interior is impressive, though; the intricate parquet flooring is really eye-catching, the built-in bookcases and kitchen cabinets are beautiful and classic, and the sweeping foyer staircase is quite cinematic. I'm actually really drawn to the living room (above); I love the juxtaposition of the traditional, borderline waspy, navy and neutral palette used with clean-lined, modern furnishings. To see more interior and exterior photos,