celeb style: molly sims

Oooh grey velvet - lovely!

Trina at La La Lovely Things' post about Molly Sims' Soho apartment yesterday reminded me I had another of her homes saved in a folder somewhere, so I thought I'd share. I love looking at celebrity homes, but I have to say that a lot of the time, more money equals less style (Mariah, anyone?). Their homes are so large, bathrooms look ridiculously sparse because they're living-room size, living areas are unlived in because there are so many of them and I often wonder how many of their seemingly endless amount of kitchen cabinets are empty. I'd say a fair few!! But this one I like - there is a nice mix of styles, eras and cosiness - and it's not too precious. There are even TVs! It can be annoying when aspects of real life are left out of the pictures in magazines sometimes. So, here is a little tour of Molly's Hollywood Hills home.

Do you think she did the picture wall herself? I love that it looks like the one in everyone else's home!

A nice, not-the-norm bed

For some reason I associate polka dots with Molly Sims so these deck chair cushions are very fitting!

Black + white = perfect!

Don't you just want to be sitting here with your fave people for a great big meal?

Look! A TV! And it's ON! Cute stack of suitcases

Large, yes, but this is nothing compared to some celeb kitchens!

Celebs use the loo too you know

White delight. All pics from Luxist

Want to see more celeb homes? Let me know and I'll drag a few more out of the files!

A rather amusing observation

India with baby Domino in another Domino-worthy room. Scan courtesy of Celebrity Babies

I just noticed India Hicks, beautiful interior designer and one-time covergirl of beautiful interior's magazine Domino has named her new daughter... Domino! Quelle coincidence? Apparently so.

As Domino's June/July '07 covergirl

According to Celebrity Babies, "she is named after the Bond Girl in Thunderball -- the 1965 James Bond movie set in the Bahamas, where the family resides." Which makes sense, I guess. Still, I think the design world will get a little giggle out of the name, seeing as Domino mag is such an obvious fan of the Hicks family (her father is famed designer David Hicks).

steal their style: storage step-up stool

Can't you just see little Apple and Moses standing here practising their scowls for the paparazzi?

Still on the celeb obsession: I fell in love with this cute little step-up stool in Gwyneth Paltrow's bathroom (above) and daughter Apple's room (below) from her Hampton's home.

Apple needs a little help into her huge bed.

I hadn't seen quite so stylish in Australia that not only was void of any kid's show character, but made of wood and with storage, until today! I was all set to buy and then paint the Ikea step stool for my rapidly growing baby boy who has started to brush his teeth beautifully but can't see the mirror, but then the Ezibuy catalogue arrived in my mailbox and I found this while flicking through it.

Kids Step-up Stool, $39.95, Ezibuy

Too cute - the top step is hinged and has a secret storage compartment underneath and the handles make it easy to move from room to room. And because it's painted MDF, you could also repaint it a colour of your choice.

Ahh, star style for less than $40 - gotta love that! Get it here.
And if anyone has ever seen anything like the mirror in Gwynnie's bathroom on Australian shores (or that actually ships to Australia), please let me know! I'm afraid we have a shortage of cool mirrors and rugs here - two things I'm forever searching for...
Bx

celeb homes

I sometimes wish real living showed off celebrity homes, but apparently our readers aren't interested, so I have to get my hit elsewhere! Now I can understand they want real homes (hence the title of the mag and all) but I also love the fact I can get inspiring ideas from people who can afford famous interior decorators to do their work for them for whatever the cost. Or just have a perve at their decor, ooh over some great find or laugh at their excess (such as Mariah Carey). What's even better is seeing something you own yourself - or similar - like Sarah Jessica Parker who has pretty much Ikea-ised her entire Hamptons holiday home.

The good: Jennifer Aniston's gorg rented Malibu beachhouse.

The not so good: Mariah Carey's New York home. A little OTT for my taste. From TFS

The "she's just like us": Sarah Jessica Parker's Hampton's home - straight from the shelves of Ikea! From TFS

The covetable: Kate Hudson's bathroom. It's bigger than most people's living rooms! From TFS

If you've wondered where to go to peek inside their private worlds or keep up with their real estate portfolios, here are a few places to go...
The fashion spot - yes it's all about celeb style, but also their home style. Enter Madonna, Brad Pitt, Cindy Crawford or Mariah's homes to name just a few.
Realestalker - a blog of celebrity real estate: who's selling/buying, where and why. Also usually features pics and floorplans of the homes on the market.
http://pro.corbis.com/creative/personalities/outline.aspx?i=2 - a photo agency that gives visitors a sample of their celeb interiors. At the moment, popular interior designer Kelly Wearstler's place is featured but check back regularly as they change them.
Big Time Listings - another real estate blog with pics and prices!
Casa Sugar - Usually just a recap from other sites, but occasionally new info, plus great home decor inspiration.

Anyone know of any other great celeb home sites?

bx

sneaky style inspiration

I'm a little obsessed with checking out interiors - in magazines, in movies and TV shows (I bought The Break Up DVD for Jennifer Aniston's character's apartment. And wardrobe. Oh, and hair...) And I'm sure my nearby homeowners sick and tired of my very obvious attempts to peek at their luxe living rooms and spacious decks on my daily walk along the waterfront reserve they face. But I've found another way to satisfy my interior cravings: real estate websites. Aussie sites like domain.com.au and realestate.com.au are great for local inspiration, but I'm in love with the incredibly lush Hamptons homes and New York lofts at corcoran.com and the pretty English homes at primelocation.com. It's a great way to indulge in a posh life for a few minutes, make note of unique ideas or fab furniture and most of all, be inspired by truly magnificent properties featuring the best money can buy. Even if you know you'll never be able to afford the contents of the home, let alone the building itself, it's great eye candy and source of inspiration. Just print your fave pics and add to your dream home scrapbook... Or is it just me who does that?

Love how this room looks real and lived in but still eclectically stylish

The trifecta: hair, dress, house - perfect!

Tip: Look for the posh areas of major cities - anything in Sydney, Eastern suburbs and Northern Beaches; London's Notting Hill, Hampstead or Belgravia and New York's Greenwich Village, Tribeca and The Hamptons. I want a house in the Hamptons. More specifically, I want Gwyneth Paltrow's house in the Hamptons. Quite surprisingly, given how she's always on about her privacy, she opened the doors of her summer home to American House & Garden. And it's perfect - there are a heap of style pointers to steal. And to my delight I noticed a few tiny similarities to my own style: the lamp in the bedroom (my version is the Freedom Bolero), use of graphic black and white fabric on an occasional chair and an ottoman in a Signature Prints fabric I had put on my list-of-must-buys after seeing it in the November issue of real living! Stretching the comparisons, I know, but I did feel a little smug at my "Gwynethness"! You can check all the images at House & Garden's site. Or for a heap of brilliant behind the scenes pics and a bit of gossip, check out the very cool Habitually Chic. Wish I had those contacts!

The bright and breezy living room

I want everything in this room. (except the shoes - have a pair already!)

Love contrast of dark wallpaper and bright white

Perfect! I could live right here...

PS: real living is launching an online department store in just a few more sleeps. You can buy great gifts for your friends and family, your kids, yourself and your home from October 23. The address is realshopping.com.au, but you can read all about it at our website. I already have a list of things to buy once it goes live (shh, don't tell my husband!)