Biscayne Bay Style: Andy Garcia

I have had a busy summer so far (unfortunately all work and no play) and decided to let  Design Shuffle write a guest blog today. Design Shuffle is a wonderful site that showcases the work of interior designers and home enthusiasts and they also appreciate film and design.

I have been a long time fan of actor Andy Garcia from The Untouchables and Godfather III to the HBO film For Love of Country (great soundtrack by the way) and had always heard of his home on the Biscayne Bay. Below is Susi of Design Shuffle's story, enjoy!

Andy Garcia's Biscayne Bay home was featured in the New York Times Home and Garden section in 2006. Inspired by the dream of his childhood in Cuba and the old plantation homes there, Garcia hired friend. Miami interior designer and architect, Deborah De Leon, to design the house after the original house was destroyed by hurricane Andrew in 1992. Built in 1999, the Garcia home looks and feels like a house that was built in the 1920s or 1930s with its wrap around verandas.  Consisting of five bedrooms and a separate music studio, pool and pier on the bay, the house is a gathering place for friends and family.

The large great room has a casual but elegant feeling with light slipcovered seating and dark woods. The opposing, large arch windows allow a cross breeze to cool the space.  The arches are carried over into interior doorways as well giving the space a harmonious feeling. With a table to seat twelve, the great room is often a gathering place for family and guests. The room has a musical theme with Garcia's Steinway and two 1950s Cuban conga drums, restored by Mr. Garcia. The art on the wall is a collage of Mr. Garcia, crazy with happiness, playing the congas with his boyhood idol, the mambo bassist Israel LÛpez, known as Cachao, on bass.

The exposed ceiling beams are structural, made from Guyanese hardwood, and appear throughout the house. The kitchen is a blend of warm creams and yellows with dark woods, vintage lighting and top level appliances. The large island and stools create a gathering space in this inviting room.

With a view similar to this, the Garcias can see porpoises, manatees and the occasional alligator in the bay.  This is definitely a slice of paradise.

For those of you who love an inviting Latin inspired interior, I am sure the Garcia's home will be one of inspiration. And for more on the talented actor, check out the cover story on Celebrated Living.

Photo Credits: New York Times

On the Block: The Debbie Reynolds Auction

One of the world's largest collection of the most iconic costumes in Hollywood film history goes on the block June 18th. Collected over half a century by actress (and icon herself) Debbie Reynolds, dealer Profiles in History will auction some 3500 sketches, 20,000 original photographs and scores of props, costume sketches and movie posters.

Some of the highlights include Scarlett's green velvet and bird feather "drapery" hat from Gone With the Wind, Marilyn's infamous subway grate white dress from The Seven Year Itch and Elizabeth Taylor's gilt headdress from Cleopatra. Claudette Colbert's gold lame gown from the 1934 version of Cleopatra. The Little Tramp's bowler hat and Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz along with Audrey Hepburn's black and white costume from My Fair Lady are must haves. Costumes from Travilla, Edith Head and Travis Banton will be featured as well.

The star of Singin in the Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown began her collection in 1970 when MGM studio was purchased and consolidated and the studios goodies were sold to an auctioneer.  She sifted through 300,000 costumes, scripts, furniture and props, curating a wonderful array of memorabilia fit for a museum. Reynolds spent decades trying to find the proper home but to no avail.

It is sad to think this incredible collection of Hollywood history won't make it to a museum and hopefully private collectors will give it a good home.

Monroe's subway dress

Audrey Hepburn's hat  from My Fair Lady

Marilyn Monroe's gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Click your heels three times

Scarlett's hat in Gone With the Wind

Elizabeth Taylor's headdress in Cleopatra above and below

Claudette Colbert's gilded creation in 1934's Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor's costume in  National Velvet

If you want to own a piece of film history, the auction takes place Saturday, June 18th at the Paley Center for Media, 465 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills at noon. And if you can't be there or Charlton Heston's Ben Hur tunic is not in your budget (it's rumored that Monroe's subway dress will fetch up to two million dollars), the catalogue is a must read and can be purchased here.

Photo Credits: Profiles in History, Twentieth Century Fox, MGM

An Inside Peek

Whether you are in the market or not, nothing is more voyeuristic than looking into homes for sale and even more so when the owner is a celebrity.

Sally Field's 5,964 square foot house in Malibu is on the market and can be yours for a mere 5.9 million. The house is complete with a horse paddock and tennis courts and with the recent cancellation of Brothers & Sisters, perhaps the price will come down:)

Featured in Architectural Digest last March, Jennifer Anniston's tranquil mid-century modern home in Beverly Hills takes zen to a new level. Designed by interior designer Stephen Shadley, the five bedroom- eight bathroom spread goes for a mere 42 million.

The 9,000 square foot house that Kiss From a Rose and Project Runway built (that would be singer Seal and model/tv/tycoon Heidi Klum) is available in Beverly Hills. Complete with the prerequisite swimming pools and added bonus of covered loggias, asking price is 6.9 million.

My personal favorite is singer Katy Perry's Christmas gift of a home (given by her then-boyfriend-now-husband Russell Brand). The Roman style estate is on the market for 3.395 million in Los Feliz and has over twenty sets of french doors. The exquisite exterior features a pool and a stone dining pergola along with a three car garage (used to store Perry's vast collection of costumes).

And last but not least, the former Pacific Palisades Mediterranean estate of the "Governator" and Maria Shriver (1986-1991) is on the market for 23.5 million and yes, this is the house where the infamous housekeeper was first hired. The 2.5 acre compound is complete with a large lawn for horse jumps, duck pond and seven bedrooms which could keep a even the most efficient housekeeper occupied for days.

You can see more celeb abodes on HGTV/Front Door's fun website Celebrity Homes here.

Photo Credit: HGTV, MLS

Bradley Cooper, The Interview

Since I have been traveling and playing a game of catch-up this week, I will make this post short and sweet. Just in time for The Hangover Part 2 -- here is my interview on Bradley Cooper for American Airlines's magazine Celebrated Living. Enjoy!

The Hangover Part 2 hits theaters May 26th, let the madness begin.

Photo Credits: Celebrated Living, Warner Brothers

Designs on Film Events

If you are on the East Coast this week, here are two events that might be of interest:

Tuesday, May 10th
Fairfield Theatre Company
70 Sanford Street
Fairfield, CT
2:00 PM
Lecture and book signing for Designs on Film

Wednesday, May 11th
F. Schumacher and Company
979 Third Avenue
NYC
11:00 AM

I will be joining a panel with Academy, Emmy and Tony award winning production and costume designer Tony Walton, The Good Wife production designer Stephen Hendrickson and set decorator Andrew Baseman to discuss designs on film and television. The panel will be moderated by Linda Sherbert, design editor of Veranda Magazine and a book signing and light lunch will follow. (The photo above is set decorator Hobe Irwin's wallpaper designs for F. Schumacher as seen in 1939's Gone With the Wind).

Hope to see you there!!

Photo Credits: MGM

Santa Barbara Seventies Style

Long before botox, backbiting behavior, pretension that knows no bounds and over the top spending bordering on bankruptcy that we know as reality tv, there was the PBS groundbreaking show "An American Family." The twelve part series chronicled the lives of Bill and Pat Loud and their five children in upper class Santa Barbara.

HBO masterfully recreated a fictionalized account of the series "Cinema Verite"(you can catch it On Demand throughout the month of May). Tim Robbins plays the philandering husband with Diane Lane as his feminist coming of age wife and their trials and tribulations are literally played out in full splendor (everything from a gay son to infidelity and separation). Like many of the housewives that followed decades later, the call of fifteen minutes of small screen fame beckoned and fireworks ensued.

The show also offers a wonderful look back at the seventies in Santa Barbara. Production designer Patti Podesta recreated the Loud's ranch house (outside of Los Angeles) complete with the classic sixties and seventies accoutrement  -- white laminate kitchen table, Eames chair, tweed sofa and period Brown Jordan patio furniture. For more on the show's set designs, see writer David Keeps of the Los Angeles Times blog LA at Home.

The TV Loud family....

and the real-life Louds

Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlab created the period wardrobe, a mixture of seventies

fashion moments blended with a relaxed California style. Modified Jackie O tortoise shell sunglasses, sheath tunic dresses, scarf tied hair and even Bill's crisp white shirts are just a few of the costumes that no doubt helped the characters channel the Louds.

Ali MacGraw meets Mary Tyler Moore in this look for Diane Lane

Seventies country club looks

Lane with James Gandolfini

Lolita Davidovich as the colorful boutique owner

Loud interiors above and below

Photo Credits: HBO

And she cooks too....

Not only is she an Academy Award winning actress, singer, wife of singer Chris Martin, philanthropist, model, mother and writer, she can cook too. Enter the latest in the celebrity cookbook genre with My Father's Daughter: Delicious Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness by Gwyneth Paltrow (Grand Central Life and Style, 2011).

Paltrow has established herself as not only a style icon but a respected foodie as well. Just witness the following of her website Goop that features everything that has to do with the words MAKE, GO, GET, DO, BE and SEE. While many of her recommendations on the site are vegetarian, I have always enjoyed reading what she will cook up next. She literally placed trainer Tracy Anderson on the map and her lifestyle habits have been a major influence to countless fans.

Flanked by Mom Blythe and brother Jake

The beautifully illustrated cookbook seems to be a natural extension from her blog with with recipes ranging from her mother actress Blythe Danner's healthy blueberry muffins to sole a' la grenobloise. Written as a tribute to her late fathwe (film and tv director Bruce Paltrow) who "introduced her to the joys of culinary exploration," it's obvious he instilled a deep appreciation of the art of cooking as a family affair. And while boiling water is a culinary feat for me, I appreciate the fact that many of the 150 recipes   require few ingredients and appear to be relatively simple. Those with children will appreciate the fact that she makes many of the adult recipes kid friendly as well.

Celeb chef Mario Batali penned the book's foreword who is also her partner in crime on the PBS show Spain...on the road Again. Coined as the "odd couple of TV," the thirteen part series is one big road trip as they  tour the countryside focusing on the food and culture. (Paltrow has loved Spain since she studied there at the age of fifteen).

Duck Ragu

The accomplished actress recently launched the book at a dinner and in attendance were the likes of rapper Jay Z, Jerry Seinfeld, New York Yankees Alex Rodriquez, Cameron Diaz and Martha Stewart just to name a few. The menu included Duck Ragu and Arugula Salad with Smoked Mozzarella Slow Roasted Tomato Crostini as a starter dish.

Tuna Rolls

Penne Puttanesca

Reportedly Paltrow has signed a record deal and given her penchant for style and couture, one wonders if she will follow in Stewart's footsteps.  Her entertaining tips were recently profiled on One King's Lane where she recommends the "four musts for a dinner party are good music, a relaxed attitude, alcohol and one funny guest." The self professed perfectionist's playlist includes REM, Santogold and MGMT....and  ironically no mention of Coldplay:)

Martha, move over...

As a Fashionista

Photo Credits: Grand Central Life  and Style

Other Famous Weddings of Note...

While many of us will no doubt be royal watching on Friday, a timely book came out this past month
that takes a look at other famous weddings of note.

Weddings and Movie Stars (Reel Art Press, April, 2011) features a variety of celeb weddings, many that rival that of a Cecil B Demille production. Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker and the many nuptials of Liz Taylor are just a few of the images (many seen for the first time) and behind the scene tales. Gowns by Vivienne Westwood, Balmain, Christian Dior and Givenchy also grace some of the book's 288 pages along with one of my favorite sections, weddings in the movies. Gossip and glamour, it's a great combination!

Audrey Hepburn's marriage to Italian psychologist Andrea Gotti
 in a dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy. The marriage took place in Lake Geneva in 1969.
@Bettman/Corbis

Elizabeth Taylor wedding portrait
for  Father of the Bride
MGM/TD

Taylor marries Richard Burton for the first time in March of l964 and looking demure in a daffodil yellow dress by costume designer Irene Sharaff who also designed her outfits for Cleopatra
Hutton Archive/Getty Images

The soon to be Mrs. Roman Polanski aka the late Sharon Tate weds in London
@Bettman/Corbis

Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) and Elaine (Katherine  Ross) make
their getaway in The Graduate and leaving audiences to wonder what happens next
@1978 Bob Willoughby/mptvimages.com

Joan Crawford (sans a wire coat hanger) poses for a publicity
shot for Reunion in France
MGM/The Kobal Collection

Real-life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz wedding scene for the film The Long Trailer in 1954.
Her polka dot gown and bag were designed by MGM costumier Helen Rose
Photofest

You can read more about the book at Reel Art Press. Happy wedding viewing!