Taylor Swift Buys Big Girl Penthouse in Nashville

BUYER: Taylor Swift
LOCATION: Nashville, TN
PRICE: $1,990,000
SIZE: 4,062 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Iffin Your Mama is being honest–and we always are–we'd tell the children that the only bits and pieces we know about 20-year old country music sensation Taylor Swift is that purity ring wearing tweener singer Joe Jonas broke up with her over the telephone sometime in 2008 and that her moment to shine at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards was tarnished when she was accepting the Best Female Video award and a seemingly intoxicated Kanye West–he was, after all, clutching a half empty bottle of Hennessey while walking the red carpet earlier in the evening–clamored up on the stage looking like a damn fool with his ridiculous haircut and blathering on about beautiful and big booty-ed Beyoncé's Single Ladies video. Beyoncé looked mor-ti-fide, Kanye was asked to leave and, later, a very dignified Miss Swift very graciously accepted his apology. Lo-werd have mercy children, it's a good thing Kanye West didn't rain on our damn parade because Your Mama would not have been nearly as nice as Miss Swift. We'd have told Mister West to go, ahem, screw hisself and then smacked his ass clear back to the Middle Ages because we are not nearly as forgiving as young Miss Swift is when it comes to public displays of jack-assery.

Anyhoo, thanks to the gender neutrally named Robin Black down in Music City, we've also recently learned that the 20-year old singer/songwriter just bought her first home. A few minutes clicking and clacking through the interweb turns up multiple reports about young Miss Swift snatching up a dee-luxe penthouse condo at The Adelicia complex in downtown Nashville.

According to our Robin Black who forwarded property records supporting his claim, Miss Swift forked over a very grown up $1,990,000 for her new bachelorette pad. According to The Adelicia's website, little Miss Swift's penthouse measures an adult-sized 4,063 square feet and includes 3 bedrooms and 4.5 poopers. Miss Swift's new home also has a double height living room wrapped in floor to ceiling glass and divided into two seating areas by a huge freestanding fireplace, a wrap around balcony, gore-may kitchen, dining room and an 80+ square foot wine storage room, which is kind of ironic if not particularly funny since Miss Swift is not old even enough to drink legally. Two of Miss Swift's three bedrooms are on the main floor while the upper floor includes a study overlooking the living room, an entertainment room, laundry facilities, and a master bedroom with twin vanities, a glassy bathroom with separate tub and shower and a walk in closet larger than many studio apartments in Manhattan.

According to one report, Miss Swift is all kinds of excited about shopping for tile and wallpaper and taking off her cowgirl boots and putting on her interior decorator hat. She reveals her plans to do over the day-core in a, "whimsical, quirky, eclectic tree house" style. Oh dear. Listen to Your Mama here Miss Swift, because we like you and we want to help you from creating a decorating disaster of epic proportions. Do not, and we repeat, do not do up your penthouse like a damn tree house. Not only will you get tired of that crap in six months or a year, no one will ever want to buy it when you decide to sell it because, let's be honest hunny, there really aren't that many–if any–people who will ever be the market for a multi-million dollar penthouse in Nashville done up and worked over like a damn tree house. Okay?

The 18-story mixed use tower offers residents all the luxuries and conveniences a fancy, modern day apartment tower should, including a 3,000 square foot gym with a yoga/Pilates room, a sprawling rooftop deck with Olympic length lap pool and a couple of community barbecue grills, a private pool-side lounge with catering kitchen for private soirees, private conference rooms, a resident's only dog park, and 24/7 concierge and security services.

Other buyers at The Adelicia are reported to include Dancing With the Stars dancer turned country music singer Julianne Hough, Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill, and filthy rich American Idol founder Simon Fuller who, like Miss Swift, also selected a penthouse unit according to property records. Maybe the can all get together at the private pool-side lounge for a meet and greet barbecue soiree.

Your Mama congratulates Miss Swift on her success–it's not every 20-year old who can purchase a two million dollar anything–and sincerely wish her a happy home and a Kanye West free MTV Video Music Award ceremony in 2010.

British Jokester Russell Brand Goes Hollywood

BUYER: Russell Brand (and Katy Perry)
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
PRICE: $3,250,000
SIZE: 4,706 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms

DESCRIPTION: Walled and gated, this stately home has been renovated and updated with style and flair. Wood floors, marble surfaces, and floor plan. The living room is large and bright, with den, formal dining room, a large chef's kitchen with family room, and 4 bedrooms/4.5 baths. The master bedroom is over sized and has unusually high ceilings and city views. The grounds are expansive, with rolling lawns, formal gardens, pool and spa, with a gated entry and driveway.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Okay chickens, Your Mama is going to try and clear up a little matter about the Los Angeles house controversial British comedian Russell Perry bought where he and girl kissing singer/songwriter Katy Perry will, allegedly, live in sin because we're hearing something very different that what has been widely reported.

Your Mama has received numerous emails the last few days from the children wanting to know if the international reports about Mister Brand buying Britney Spears' old house up in the Summit community above Beverly Hills, which–the poor lamb–has been unsuccessfully trying to unload for years.

We're not sure quite how that real estate rumor got started but, based on the very good word of Phoebe Fillsyourmamainonallthingslosfeliz, we can tell you that Mister Brand and Miss Perry did not only not purchase the former home of back in the superstar saddle Miss Spears', they didn't even buy a mansion in the guard gated Summit community at all. No babies, according to our well informed sources, Mister Brand bought a house in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, a far cry from the not quite Beverly Hills Summit community.

Property records show the 4 bedroom and 4.5 pooper property was picked up for $3,250,000, which is only an itty bit higher than the $3,200,000 the tax man's records show the seller–award winning music video director Mark Romanek and his wife Brigette–paid for the house back in May of 2006.

Situated on a corner lot above lovely Los Feliz Boulevard, the residence stands four stories tall and measures, according to property records, 4,706 square feet. The walled, gated and highly hedged property can be accessed via a walk gate at the front of the house or an electronic drive gate at the side the leads around to a motor court and three car garage.

According to property records, the residence was built in 1922 but has subsequently been fully updated and renovated with modern standards and a contemporary aspect. The white-walled rooms have dark chocolate wood floors, marble counter tops, and numerous French doors that open to multiple awning covered terraces and balconies with views of downtown and beyond.

The formal entry opens to a large, square-ish, step down livng room with fireplace. The corner living room opens to a small den/library as well as the dining room with a trio of arched windows, a crystal dripping chandelier and a shimmering, blue and silver wallpaper applied to one wall. The gore-may, eat in kitchen has white cabinetry with glass fronted uppers, marble counter tops, a large work island with breakfast bar, lots of windows for lights and all the high end cooking accoutrement one can and should expect in a three and some million dollar house.

Upstairs, antique carved wood double doors open to the rather large master bedroom, which has high ceilings, a fireplace, city views and enough multi-paned French door to make a cleaning gurl hate you. The master bath has industrial feeling, dark gray concrete floors set off by luxe amenities like a double vanity, spa tub and separate shower. At the time of the sale, one of the other three bedrooms was finished with a stunning stenciled and gold leafed ceiling which is the perfect decorative accent to some of Miss Perry's rather inventive and colorful 1940s inspired outfits.

The terraced grounds have flat lawns, stone balustrades, fountains, swimming pool, spa and several terraces for outdoor entertaining and early afternoon cocktailing.

In addition to buying a big house in Los Angeles, Mister Brand has also, it has been widely reported, listed his glamorous and dramatically decorated and excessively wallpapered, 5-floor London terrace house (shown above) in November of 2009. Listing information shows Mister Brand's London house has a double reception room on the first floor, 3-4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms–one of which Mister Brand uses as an office/study and another as a yoga room, and a hot tub in the wee back yard. The property is currently listed at £2,500,000, which becomes a much more substantial sounding 4,006,080 U.S. dollars at today's rates according to Your Mama's currency converting contraption.

As for Miss Spears, well puppies, as fer as Your Mama knows, when she's not strutting her stuff while on tour she's hunkered down in a huge leased house in a double gated community in Calabasas, CA. Her former 6 bedroom and 6.5 pooper faux-Tuscan white elephant in the Summit community that Mister Brand was erroneously reported to have purchased does not appear to be currently listed on the open market nor, according to property records, does it appear to have been sold.

Interior Decorating

We all have different ideas on how to design our homes – from what color we paint the walls, to the furniture we choose, and right through to the finishing touches that really finish off our chosen themes and styles.

But how do you get some good interior decorating ideas in the first place? Assuming you have a blank canvas of a room in which to start, how do you decide how the finished result will look?

Modern Interiors - Studio Pepe

Modern Interiors - Studio Pepe, originally uploaded by plastolux.

Black bedroom from London.

Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor

Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor, originally uploaded by xJavierx.

Pale gray living room + built-in bookshelves: Benjamin Moore 'Winter Solstice', from Elle Decor

In the office of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos’ Washington D.C. home, walls are painted Winter Solstice by Benjamin Moore. The table and chairs are flea-market finds and the mirror is from the Brimfield Antiques Fair.

Interior design by Elizabeth Martin. Photo by Simon Upton, Elle Décor, May 2009.

ARTFUL ARRANGEMENTS

ARTFUL ARRANGEMENTS, originally uploaded by Gustavsberg.

Framed artworks and mirrors bring a bathroom to life, making every visit to the room an extra special experience. Tiles and bathroom furniture act as stenography. Black mosaic tiles on the walls and floor, combined with exclusively simple, white bathroom products create a slightly bare, but simultaneously warm and intimate background.
Find more on www.gustavsberg.com

Modern wallpaper

Modern wallpaper: Blue & brown floral textured metallic print, originally uploaded by xJavierx.

Modern wallpaper: Blue & brown floral textured metallic print

Lasari Flock by Romo. Photo from romofabrics.com.

BLACK LIVING ROOM

23, originally uploaded by plastolux.

Modern Interiors - Specht Harpman

Modern Interiors - Specht Harpman, originally uploaded by plastolux.

Modern Interiors - Specht Harpman as seen on plastolux

GREY BEDROOM

, originally uploaded by kimdimsunshine.

sleepy bedroom

pink apartment Interior decorating

pink apartment Interior decorating, originally uploaded by baliboro.

pink apartment Interior decorating detail visit javabali.info

Scandic massage bathtub

Scandic massage bathtub, originally uploaded by Gustavsberg.

Big but small
If you cannot build a bigger bathroom, you can still trick the eye. By adding a mirrored panel to the front of your massage bathtub, you can create new surfaces and dimensions.
Light is important to well-being, too. Use the same “tricks” as are applied in authentic Oriental spas to create a sense of space with light from above. Choose light tiles, too.
Built-in cabinets with mirror doors produce even more clean surfaces. With so little to distract the eye, even small details can add personality to the room.
And warm water in motion brings relaxation to a body that has found its home.

Green White Bahtroom

Artic massage bathtub, originally uploaded by Gustavsberg.

Bubbly, green, sweet
Clean, white surfaces and straight lines form a fine base for all bathrooms – but this does not mean that you should avoid colours and patterns. White surfaces and white furniture give you extra space to experiment.
A straight-line massage bathtub from the ARTic range is perfect for tiling in with large, glossy white tiles.
And the straight lines are continued in the cabinet from the Logic range.
Here, it is the floor that provides the shapes and colours. Patterns from the plant kingdom generate a natural sense of well-being – particularly in bathrooms.

Nautical chic: Beautiful beachy blue + white bathroom + maps wallpaper

Nautical chic: Beautiful beachy blue + white bathroom + maps wallpaper, originally uploaded by xJavierx.

Elizabethan Classics English turn console lavatory sink in white and Strom Plumbing Sacramento bathroom sink faucet and cross handles in chrome, Vintage Tub & Bath; vintagetubandbath.com. 2" marble hexagon tile, Ann Sacks; annsacks.com. Ralph Lauren Clubhouse Classics Great Harbor White wallpaper (LCW22213W); ralphlauren.com.

Photo from Coastal Living.

Blue + white beachy bathroom: Farrow & Ball paint + antique fixtures, from Coastal Living

Blue + white beachy bathroom: Farrow & Ball paint + antique fixtures, from Coastal Living, originally uploaded by xJavierx.

Walls are painted Shaded White and sink base and medicine cabinet are painted Oval Room Blue, both by Farrow & Ball. Wainscoting and trim are painted White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

400 Series Woodwright double-hung window, Andersen Windows & Doors; andersenwindows.com. Savoy 3/4" penny tile in Ricepaper, Ann Sacks; annsacks.com. Sink, antique; similar item, Shaw's Original fireclay apron sink in white, Rohl; rohlhome.com. Opulence Two Handle Wall Mount Lavatory Faucet and towel ring, Danze; danze.com. Medicine cabinet, antique; similar item, Cartwright Inset medicine cabinet, Restoration Hardware; restorationhardware.com. Boston Functional Library two-arm wall light in Antique Nickel, Circa Lighting; circalighting.com. Amara bath mat, India Rose; indiarose.com. Subway Hand Towel in Slate; matouk.com

Photo from Coastal Living.

Beautiful blue + white living room + painted floors: Martha Stewart

Beautiful blue + white living room + painted floors: Martha Stewart Paint, originally uploaded by xJavierx.

Love all the color gradation in this room -- sky blue, powder blue, turquoise, teal -- and the unexpected shot of color from the floor is fabulous. And the dresser! And that throw pillow on the left! And, and! Oh, Martha.

Walls are painted Vintage Map; trim is Chamois Cloth; floor is Anjou Pear, all by Martha Stewart Paint. The knobs and detailing on the dresser are painted Vintage Map to match the walls.

Photo from www.traditionalhome.com, via marthastewart.com.

Ideas for small spaces: Gray walls + simple furniture: Ralph

Ideas for small spaces: Gray walls + simple furniture: Ralph Lauren 'Grange Hall', originally uploaded by xJavierx.

The second-floor office of designer Kevin Reiner's Ohio farmhouse, painted Grange Hall by Ralph Lauren. When painting small homes and spaces, Reiner advises using restraint: "I use no less than three and no more than five paint colors in similar tones throughout the house to create a flow."

Photo by Don Freeman, Country Living.